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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" (Matthew
28:19-20, NASB).
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March 3, 2019
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Contents:
1) "Lest We Drift Away" (R.J. Evans)
2) The Appeal of Religious Error (Bill Crews)
3) In Order To Be Happy... (Greg Gwin)
4) News & Notes
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-1-
"Lest We Drift Away"
R.J. Evans
"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have
heard, lest we drift away" (Hebrews 2:1).
God’s plan for His people is for them to grow closer to Him, not
drift away from Him. The child of God should allow his light to
increase and shine stronger. “But the path of the just is like the
shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day" (Prov.
4:18). Jesus tells us to “Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”
(Matt. 5:16). In our dedication and service, we are to “abound more
and more.” Our love for each other as brethren is to “increase more
and more" (1 Thes. 4:1,10).
Thus, we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Yet, many are losing ground
rather than gaining ground. Unfortunately, these Christians
are drifting away.
Why Do People “Drift Away”?
To put it plain and simple, they have allowed Satan to influence
their lives. Satan uses the things of the world to pull us away from
God. So many times a Christian may allow “the cares of the
world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the word, and he
becomes unfruitful” (Matt. 13:22).
Forsaking the worship assemblies also results in drifting away. As
someone has said, “Christians are like cars, they start missing
before they quit.” Thus, Christians become "drifters" when they no
longer attend services faithfully as they should (Heb. 10:25). Also,
the failure to read and study the Bible, and to spend time in
prayer, have had a part in many formerly strong Christians drifting
away from God (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Thes. 5:18).
Some Results of When We “Drift Away”
To put it in one sentence: It is a “hard” way to live (Prov. 13:15).
When a child of God allows himself to “drift away” from the Lord
(Heb. 2:1-2), he becomes an apostate in a miserable spiritual
condition. The Bible describes it in this manner: “But it has
happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to
his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to wallowing in the
mire'" (2 Pet. 2:22).
God Calls Upon the One Drifting Away to Return
God desires that the one who is drifting away from Him, or sliding
back into sin, to return to Him. Notice His words to His people
during the days of Jeremiah: "Return, you backsliding children, And
I will heal your backslidings" (Jer. 2:22). This
illustrates that God still loves His people and is willing to heal
or forgive them. But in order to be forgiven, they must be
willing to "return" i.e., repent, pray, and confess their sins (Acts
8:22; 1 Jn. 1:9). In other words, when one returns to God for
healing, God will deal with him in loving mercy — “He who covers his
sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will
have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
As we go back to the latter part of the verse cited above, Jeremiah
3:22, we find that there were some who did respond to God’s call in
Jeremiah’s day— “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our
God” (Jer. 3:22). This example should encourage Christians today to
do the same. Talk with any child of God who strayed or drifted away
from the Lord and later returned. You will not find anyone who
believes returning to God was a mistake. Thus, may we all faithfully
serve Him, giving heed to all He has commanded us, "lest we drift
way" (Heb. 2:1).
— From the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales,
Louisiana, February 10, 2019
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-2-
The Appeal of Religious Error
Bill Crews
In most cases the man who is teaching the truth and can by it truly
save and benefit people will find few who are interested, whereas
the man who is teaching some other doctrine and will by it
ultimately harm and doom people will find many who are interested.
Religious error, because of its false promises and its deceptive
nature, will always have a greater appeal to people in general than
will the truth. The truth will only benefit those with good and
honest hearts or those who are willing to change their hearts to be
good and honest (Luke 8:15). Everyone did not reject Jesus, but most
did (John 1:11-12; 12:42; Matthew 23:37).
-- Via the RoanRidge Reader, Volume 34 Issue 08 Page 03,
February 24, 2019
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-3-
In Order To Be Happy . . .
Greg Gwin
I've made up my mind! I am determined to be happy!! Enough of this
sadness. Away with all this discouragement. I'm finished with
dejection, depression, and despondency. No more gloom and doom. I
WILL be happy!
Now, what do I need to achieve my goal? If I am to be truly happy,
I'll need
a. Money - and plenty of it.
b. And I must have friends - the kind that never fail,
and always act just like I want.
c. Of course, success is important; I will need to have
unlimited success in every endeavor that I undertake to do.
d. My family will have to behave perfectly, and respond
immediately to my every whim.
Surely, with all of this, I can be happy. Right? WRONG!
The wise, powerful, famous, and wealthy king Solomon sought after
happiness through every avenue known to man.
The end result was "...vanity and grasping for the wind. There was
no profit under the sun" (Eccl. 2:11).
Contrast Solomon with Paul, who lost his wealth, gave up his fame
and power, and ultimately suffered extreme persecution and
imprisonment. Yet he could write, "I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11). How could this
be? Verse 13 explains; "I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me."
It is on this basis that Paul instructs us: "Rejoice, in the Lord
alway" (vs. 4). True happiness is not found in external "things." It
comes only from faithfully serving God (Eccl. 12:13, 14). Are
you happy?
- Via The Beacon, February 24, 2019
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“The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works."
— Psalm 33:13-15, NASB
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-4-
News & Notes
Folks to be remembering in prayer:
Billy Harris Sr. went into the hospital Friday, due
to internal bleeding and fainting. He first experienced that at work
that day and then again when in the hospital. It is said
to have been caused by a “pocket” in his intestines that had been
causing the bleeding. It coagulated and ceased for a while
that afternoon, but then started back up again. They gave him
a blood transfusion and are now waiting on his blood count before
giving another. (It is thought that being on Ibuprofin for 2
weeks, 3 times a day, for the pain in his foot, has caused the
bleeding.) His wife asks for our prayers for him. (Update:
More blood was given to Billy, and they performed a cauterization on
the area of the intestine that had been bleeding. They also
had him swallow a video camera that was in a capsule to check for
any more problems. The bleeding has stopped, and he is now
back home.)
Others to also be praying for: the family and friends of Gene
Kaplan, Arthur Laverne Robertson, and of Eddie Fullard; A.J. &
Pat Joyner, Jim Lively, Elizabeth Harden, Anita Young, Doyle
Rittenhouse, Bennie & Deborah Medlock, James Medlock, Melotine
Davis, Shirley Davis, Mary Vandevander, Michelle
Rittenhouse, Marilyn Roberts, John Stoval, Everleigh and Hazel
Greer, Danny Hutcheson, Roger Montgomery, Mary Aldrich, Rex
& Frankie Hadley, and Tommy Linn
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/03/03/the-gospel-observer-march-3-2019/
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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: 2 p.m.
(Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m.
(Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom
Edwards (912) 281-9917
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 sermon)