“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).
Contents:
1) “One More Night With The Frogs” (Kenneth Thomas)
2) Be Not of a Vengeful Spirit (video sermon, Tom Edwards)
3) Changing Text Size in Your Email and Web Browser (a helpful tip)
4) News & Notes
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“One More Night With The Frogs”
Kenneth Thomas
Many years ago in northern Illinois, we had a gospel meeting that featured two brethren from somewhere in Texas, preaching on alternate evenings. Their names were John Sherro and Bill Wiley. I was anxious to hear the sermon that Bill Wiley announced he would be preaching the next evening of the meeting. He titled it “One More Night With the Frogs.” It was, of course, taken from the story of Moses and Aaron when they went into Egypt to deliver, by the power of God, the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. I really got a lot from his sermon. The following outline was taken from an article by Terry Frizzel and given the Ken Thomas touch. Hopefully, you will benefit from this article, as I did from that sermon in the distant past.
Someone has likened sin to a thread. If another person wrapped a thread around you once, it would be easy to break it and escape. But what if you stood there until that thread had been wrapped around you 100 times, or 200 times? Eventually, several strands of that little thread would become strong enough to prevent your escape. Sin works in much the same way. If we would choose to obey God when we first have opportunity, and turn away from sin when we first realize we are involved in it, it would be much easier. Too many people are like Pharaoh; they would rather spend “one more night with the frogs.” I once read a story about an eagle that saw a little lamb stranded on an ice flow. The powerful eagle swooped down and landed on the ice and began to eat the helpless lamb. Up ahead was a giant waterfall over which, in a few minutes, both the eagle and his prey would fall if he did not take to the skies in time. He continued to feast on the lamb, thinking that just before the flow of ice in which his prey was trapped went over the edge, he would spread his powerful wings and take to the skies, thereby avoiding certain death.
The only problem was that the eagle failed to realize that his feet had caused the ice to thaw and sunk down into the chunk of ice, which then froze over his feet. When he lifted his powerful wings and began to flap them for his takeoff, low and behold, he was trapped and was swept over the waterfall to his untimely demise.
Remember David? Rather than turning from his lust when he saw Bathsheba bathing, he chose to “spend one more night with the frogs,” and eventually committed adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:2-5). David could have avoided adultery if he had broken the thread of sin when he first lusted after Bathsheba. But that little thread became David’s cocoon, which led to his having a drunken feast (2 Samuel 11:13), and eventually to Uriah’s murder (2 Samuel 11:14-17). Why didn’t David take care of this sin when it would have been so simple to defeat?
The question is a little difficult when we apply it to our own lives. Why do we spend “one more night with the frogs?” Why do we choose to continue in sin? “Next week I’ll change my life.” “Next month I’ll be more faithful in attendance.” “Some day I’ll become a Christian.” “Some day I’ll…” Sadly, we need to remember the sober words in the book of James, “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). In Pharaoh’s case, “one more night with the frogs” eventually cost his son’s life. Will it cost you your soul?
This article caught my eye because of the title. Our good brother has done a masterful job of taking an old story and making a good present-day application. While the article speaks for itself, I would like to add some “food for thought” for our readers.
Christians are often the very best at “putting things off” until a later date. Why do we do it? I’m afraid it is due to lack of respect for, and understanding about, the uncertainty of death or of the Lord’s return. The scriptures clearly teach both things. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10-12). We know God cannot lie, so why do we leave undone those things that will cost us an eternity of separation from God?
Time is not on our side. We do not control the clock’s ticks, and we never know when it will stop — either for the world or our own lives. God has given ample warnings, examples, and reasons to obey Him while we have time and opportunity. Unfortunately, many are squandering their opportunities. Only their hearts know the reasons why. So many times when I offer the invitation, I wonder why those who know what to do — do not act. What can I say? What could I do to touch their hearts and persuade them to obey? Truth is — the ball is in their court, and they must choose — I cannot do it for them.
Dear reader, please consider the brevity of life, the blessing of time, and the certainty of death and eternity. One more “night with the frogs” might be one night too many!! (KMG)
— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, March 2003
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Be Not of a Vengeful Spirit
Tom Edwards
To play the video sermon with the above title, just click on the following link while on the Internet:
https://thomastedwards.com/wordpress/Vengeance.mp4
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Changing Text Size in Your Email and Web Browser
If the words in the bulletin look too small for you, you should be able to enlarge what you see by holding down the Control Key (Ctrl) and tapping on the Plus Key (+). To then make it smaller again, hold down the Control Key (Ctrl) and tap on the Minus Key (–). Or you can also hold down the Control Key (Ctrl) and then press the Zero Key (0) to restore to the normal view.
If you have a MAC, it uses the Command Key along with the Plus and Minus Keys for adjusting the size.
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News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Alex Wilson who passed away in Ohio on July 28.
A.J. & Pat Joyner have both been diagnosed with Covid-19.
Tim & Barbara Kirkland also have the Covid-19.
Alisha Hunter has been very sick with Covid-19 and various of her family members have been exposed.
Becky Lindsey is ill and can also use our prayers.
Olivia McCarthy is recuperating well from Covid-19.
Martha Lively is also healing from Covid-19 with no longer a fever, but still with some congestion and headache.
Jim Lively has had some more falls recently — 3 in one week.
Also to keep in prayer: Rick Cuthbertson, Jeff Nuss, Michael Rittenhouse, Nell Teague, Rex Hadley, Deborah Medlock, and Shirley Davis.
It is good to resume our 9 a.m. Bible class today! Danny Bartlett will be teaching on the book of Ephesians.
It is also good to resume our “song service” for the first Sunday of every month, beginning at 5 p.m. today.
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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 Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
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; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…
6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; 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:
9 a.m. Bible Class
10 a.m. Worship Service.
We also have a Song Service at 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm/ (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)