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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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May 26, 2019
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Contents:
1) The Time Given Us (John R. Gibson)
2) Your Wreckage Can Be Repaired (Gary Henry)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
The Time Given Us
John R. Gibson
In his epic novel depicting a great struggle between good and evil,
J.R. R. Tolkien narrates the following conversation about the evil
threat of Sauron.
‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
‘So do I,' said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times.
But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to
do with the time that is given us.' Lord of the Rings, p. 50
Do we not often find ourselves like Frodo in wishing we lived in a
different time, under different circumstances? Those who struggled
to support their families during the Great Depression surely longed
for the "good old days" of economic prosperity. With our current
economic situation, how many young people are wishing they could
have entered the work force at a different time? It can be
depressing to think about the cultural and moral decline that has
taken place in this country over the last fifty years or so. Despite
the clear teachings of Scripture, fornication, adultery, divorce,
and illegitimacy are everywhere (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Matthew
19:3-9). Like the Gentile world of the first century many Americans
have refused to retain God in their knowledge, thus paving the way
for the grossest forms of immorality to become accepted (Romans
1:20-32).
Technologically there has never been a better time to live, but
there are so many things around us that we wish had not happened in
our time. One can hardly leave the house without being bombarded
with sensual dress, coarse language, and a general lack of respect
for what was once known as common decency. Even among the most
devoutly religious today, the truth of God that can set one free
from the bondage of sin (John 8:32; 17:17) has been replaced with a
subjective standard that encourages people to "serve God" by doing
whatever seems appropriate to them. For many, religion is a product
of the human mind (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33) to be enjoyed on Sundays
with little real impact on morals, business ethics, politics, family
life, etc.
We could go on and on and include such things as the ever present
threat of terrorism, but hopefully the point has been established.
Now, what are we to do when we honestly assess the time we live in
and the situations we face? Are we to sit and lament, wishing it
were a different time and circumstance or realize that we cannot
control when we live, but only how we live?
I imagine Elijah would have preferred to live in the days of David
rather than the evil time of Ahab, but in the days of Ahab and
Jezebel he was a mighty force for good. No devout Jew could have
wanted to spend his adult life serving a foreign oppressor, but that
was the time and circumstance in which Daniel found himself. Daniel
may have wished it was different, but that didn't stop him from
faithfully serving God.
It had to have been difficult for Timothy to read the warnings of
Paul that departures from the faith were inevitable (1 Timothy
4:1-3), perilous times were coming (2 Timothy 3:1-5), and the time
was nearing when many would lose interest in sound preaching (2
Timothy 4:3, 4). We cannot know how Timothy felt about the times he
would face, but we do know what Paul urged him to do and that was
serve God and preach His word in the time that was given him.
The saints at Smyrna lived in a time of poverty and tribulation and
had to live with the threats of imprisonment and death, but the
words of Jesus were not, "Lament that you live in such a time."
Instead, the Lord exhorted and promised, "Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
No doubt there are certain times that are more difficult
economically, culturally, politically, morally, and religiously, but
we need to accept the fact that the time in which we find ourselves
is the time in which we must live and serve our God.
If we live in the days of an Ahab, then let's resolve to be an
Elijah. We don't have to agree with every government policy to be an
influential Daniel. It is easy to get discouraged about America's
general lack of interest in spiritual things, but when faced with a
similar challenge Paul exhorted Timothy to "preach the word" (2 Tim.
4:1-5). That people do not realize their need for the gospel does
not change the fact that they need it. As with the saints of Smyrna,
we may see hard times economically and we may face oppression from
the forces of evil, but the Lord holds out the same promise to us as
He did to them. If we are faithful in this time in which we live,
the crown of life will be ours.
Rather than say with Frodo, "I wish it need not have happened in my
time," why not say with Mordecai, "Yet who knows whether you have
come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).
-- Via The Auburn Beacon, November 11, 2012
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-2-
Your Wreckage Can Be Repaired
Gary Henry
“. . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I
am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me
first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to
those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1
Timothy 1:15,16).
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, SAUL OF TARSUS BECAME A
RADICALLY DIFFERENT MAN. The change was not superficial or
temporary; it was deep and lasting. And later, writing now as Paul
the apostle, he could offer himself as an example to prove just how
sinful a person can be and still be saved by the gospel: “I obtained
mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering,
as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for
everlasting life.” If the prosecutor’s charge is that a truly wicked
person can never change, Paul is “Exhibit A” to the contrary. He is
a courage-giving example to anyone who has ever worried that they
might be a hopeless case or a lost cause.
Most people, if they’re honest, know what it’s like to struggle with
deeply ingrained character flaws. As we struggle to remove these
flaws, we become frustrated. In time, we may come to doubt that real
change is even possible. Sometimes we start thinking that way
because we’ve been influenced by a determinism which says that at
birth we are already “determined" — i.e., whatever we are, that’s
what we’ll always be. At other times, we may be plagued with a
victim mentality. We see ourselves as the victims of circumstances
and influences that are more than we can handle.
My suspicion, however, is that most of the time our problem is just
plain discouragement. The devil fights against us with a war of
attrition; he keeps coming back, coming back, and coming back,
trying to wear us down. After a while, our cause looks like it’s
lost.
But the great hope of the gospel is that, while life lasts, none of
us is a lost cause. Our defeats need not be final. Our failures need
not be fatal. Real change for the better is always possible.
Whoever you are, my friend, believe this: your wreckage can be
repaired. If God can turn a fire-breathing, murderous Pharisee into
the great apostle of grace, he can surely help you get pointed in
the right direction. Your fate is not fixed, and you’re not just a
victim. You are a living person capable of great growth.
“When you feel that all is lost, sometimes the greatest gain is
ready to be yours” (Thomas à Kempis).
— Via WordPoints, March 14, 2019
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News & Notes
Folks to be keeping in prayer:
Tommy Lindsey (Tory McCarthy’s grandfather)
was sent home a couple weeks ago, where he is now
receiving Hospice Care.
Waylon Murray (a 3-year old) will be having
surgery on his spine this Tuesday for cerebral
palsy. They will be clipping inactive nerves in
hopes of helping him walk. He also cannot talk.
Melotine Davis’ back surgery is less than 3
weeks away — June 13.
Others to also be praying for: Shirley Davis, Pat
& A.J. Joyner, Jim Lively, Bud Montero, Rick
Cuthbertson, James Medlock, Deborah Medlock, Mary
Vandevander, Michelle Rittenhouse, John Stoval, Kayleigh
Tanner, Amris Bedford, Danny Hutcheson, Rex &
Frankie Hadley, and Roger Montgomery
Wordpress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/05/26/the-gospel-observer-may-26-2019/
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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: 7 p.m. (Ladies’ Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://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)