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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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July 9, 2017
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Contents:
1) "We Shall See The King Some Day" (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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"We Shall See The King Some Day"
Tom Edwards
In this world, we sometimes have our troubles, disappointments, and
sadnesses. It might involve the car breaking down, losing our
health, losing a job, losing a loved one, etc. Times like
these can be difficult. But may we never lose sight of the
fact that in spite of whatever would come our way, “We shall see the
King some day”!
As you probably recall, this quote is taken from a hymn we have
often sung. It was written by Lewis Edgar Jones who lived from
1865 to 1936 and wrote this particular hymn in 1906.
Had this song been written back in Job's day, I imagine he would
have sung it from his heart. For he was a man who had that
kind of hope. As seen in Job 19:25-27: “As for me, I know that
my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the
earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I
shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes shall
see and not another. My heart faints within me!” So,
yes, Job knew the answer to his rhetorical question, “If a man dies,
will he live again?” For he also indicates that in the same passage:
“All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes" (Job
14:14).
The hope we have in seeing God in heaven can help us through this
earth life. It was certainly an aid to Moses. For by
his looking to the “reward” and “seeing Him who is unseen,”
Moses was able to choose rather “to endure ill-treatment with
the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
of Egypt” (Heb. 11:25-27).
The hope we have, as Christians, in seeing God can also give us that
motivating power through our times of troubles and
difficulties. The last of the apostles, John, certainly knew
about persecution upon the Lord's people. But he would have
them, also, to look to the Lord and His coming again for
encouragement through their struggles and making themselves ready
for that great day! “Beloved,” he writes, “now we are children
of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We
know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall
see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on
Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:2,3).
In the previous chapter, John also writes: “And now, little
children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have
confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His
coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that
everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 Jn.
2:28,29). John also shows that the way we are to “abide” in
the Lord is by keeping His commandments (cf. 1 Jn. 3:24).
It is in the second stanza of the hymn that speaks of seeing
the King “After pain and anguish, after toil and care...” Who
has ever lived without experiencing a measure of suffering to some
degree, whether it be physical or emotional? This life can
sometimes be likened to a road filled with numerous potholes that
cannot be avoided. But let us not forget that even the
struggles of life can be for our good! As John Neal points
out, “A certain amount of opposition is a great help to man.
Kites rise against, not with the wind.” Sometimes it was in
the “furnace of affliction” by which God “refined” and “tested” His
people (cf. Isa. 48:10). Peter speaks in similar language of
“the proof of one's faith” being “tested by fire” through “various
trials,” yet resulting “in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ...” and “obtaining as the outcome of your
faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:6-9). Therefore,
as James writes, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James
1:2-4).
We not only have our toils, but also our cares, as the hymn goes on
to say in the second stanza. And concerning those cares, we
know that even now we can turn to the One who wants to help us
overcome them. For Peter exhorted the brethren, who were
undergoing extreme difficulties (a “fiery trial,” 1 Pet. 4:12), to
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He
may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety [care,
KJV] upon Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6,7). Yes,
prayer is for the here and now; and it is one of the ways in which
we are to deal with our troubles, as seen also in Paul's
instruction: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,
shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil.
4:6,7).
Surely, the ultimate comfort will be heaven itself – where “there
shall no longer be any death...mourning, or crying, or pain” (Rev.
21:4).
But while we are here on earth, there are still spiritual battles to
be fought and won. As the hymn includes, we shall see the King
“After foes are conquered, after battles won...” The fight we
are to engage in is the good “fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12).
For faith is needed as part of our spiritual armor that we are to
put on, which consists of “loins girded with truth,” a “breastplate
of righteousness,” feet shod with “the preparation of the gospel of
peace,” “the shield of faith,” “the helmet of salvation,” and
“the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:10-18).
It is a battle between flesh and spirit: “For I joyfully concur with
the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the
members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making
me a prisoner of the law of sin...” (Rom. 7:22,23). This clash
is also seen in the next chapter: “For those who are according to
the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who
are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the
mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is
life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward
God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not
even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please
God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Rom. 8:5-9).
So this spiritual warfare also pertains to our very thoughts, which
we each must control: “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not
war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not
of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of
fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty
thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking
every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
It is through the flesh that we can be tempted to sin (cf. James
1:13-15; 1 Jn. 2:16,17). But notice what Paul did about that:
“but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I
have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor.
9:27). Paul, of course, did not literally beat his body, but
the figurative expression stresses the determination he had to be
faithfully obedient -- even through difficulty and pain – in order
to maintain his relationship with God.
Fighting spiritual battles are not always easy – and especially when
they lead to intense emotional or physical agony. Yet, Jesus
still gives hope and encouragement: “Do not fear what you are about
to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten
days. Be faithful until [unto, KJV] death, and I will give you
the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).
One day God is going to gather everyone before Him. And though
maybe not always with our hymn title, yet how often have we reminded
ourselves of that fact that one of these days we are going to see
the Almighty God! Oh, what a day that will be for the
redeemed! Will you be ready then? May we each be!
And as we go through life, let us continue to remind ourselves that
“We shall see the King some day”!
(All Scripture from the NASB, unless otherwise
indicated.)
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News & Notes
We are glad that Doug Pennock is now feeling better, since
he had not felt up to par the last few weeks. Tests had
recently been run, and all with good results.
Others also to remember in prayer:
The family and friends of Barbara Darsey, Shirley Davis, Pat
Joyner, Ronald Renfrow, Randy Bartlett, Mary Lou Prevatt, Cheryl
Crews, Jim Lively, Mary Vandevander, Cicily Thompson, Kelli
Fleeman, Penny Medlock, Michelle Rittenhouse, Rachael
Gerbing, LaDonna Andrews, Buddy Gornto, Sunny Nichols, Gary
Cradick, Billy Lowe, Tom Haney and his wife.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/the-gospel-observer-july-9-2017/
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17;
John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark
16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not,
salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.
(worship)
Tuesday: 7 p.m. (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (Gospel Observer
website with pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer
website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)