“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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Contents:
1) “Behold, I Thought” (Bobby L. Graham)
2) “Because He Lives…” (Lewis Willis)
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“Behold, I Thought”
Bobby L. Graham
In 2 Kings 5 we have recorded an incident that took place during the period of the Divided Kingdom and probably in the reign of Jehoram. This miracle performed by Elisha, successor to Elijah, centers around Naaman, a man mentioned only here and in Luke 4:27, who was army commander for King Benhadad of Syria.
The record relates that Naaman was highly regarded by the king, being what many today would call “a good soldier.” Nevertheless, Naaman had the dreaded disease of leprosy, which would render him unclean for the ceremonies of the Law of Moses if he had been under that Law. Leprosy afflicted people in both light and severe forms. In view of Naaman’s capacity for his military exploits and court duties (v. 18), it is probable that his leprosy had not advanced to a severe stage.
In an earlier raid on the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Syrian forces captured a young woman who was forced into servitude for the wife of Naaman. It was this young servant that wished Naaman might visit the prophet Elisha for healing. Benhadad then intervened on Naaman’s behalf with Israel’s king, who became outraged because of what he was expected to do.
Upon hearing of the king’s rage, Elisha sent for Naaman, whom he directed to dip seven times in the Jordan River (v. 10). The details of the ensuing events form the basis for our present study.
Naaman’s Pride: “Behold, I Thought!”
The fury of this notable military leader is significantly included in the inspired account to depict the pride of presumption. Naaman thought (presumed) that ceremonious ritual would play a part in his healing (v. 11). Furthermore, he thought the rivers of Damascus superior to the Jordan (v. 12). Finally, he evidently thought he could do better elsewhere, as he left in a rage (v. 12). In all of this thinking, he thought big (v. 13). At this time of inflated ego, his servants took the wind from his sails through an appeal to his desire for cleansing.
Naaman’s Cure: Thinking God’s Thoughts
The pride of Naaman’s heart had deceived him to presume to know what was best. Such is always the course of one who thinks independently of God’s inspired direction. All who take pride in their independent thinking need to be careful that they not go beyond the thinking of God, set forth in His Word. While it is sometimes good to form one’s conclusions apart from what others have decided, God must always be included in one’s counsel. To do otherwise is to be guilty of presumptuous sin.
After the rebuke of a servant in verse 13, Naaman then accepted God’s simple solution and then enjoyed God’s profound benefit in verse 14. The cure of this malady, which man has been unable to devise even yet, was so simple when this man so accustomed to giving orders humbly accepted divine directions. The essence of Naaman’s cure was his willingness to think God’s thoughts. Only when we today have the faith to accept God’s way in every phase of life can we think God’s thoughts and be blessed by Him.
Naaman’s Gratitude: “Now I Know”
The proud presumption of an earlier moment had been transformed into reliance upon God and thankfulness to Him. Verse 15 describes his extolling of God’s power and majesty. He also offered a gift to Elisha and finally requested two loads of dirt from the land of Israel, whereon he might make sacrifice unto Jehovah.
Lessons To Learn
The New Testament says that “the things written before time were written for our learning” (Rom. 15:4). In keeping with this principle of deriving benefit from recorded sacred history, let us be sure to consider the following:
1. God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts (Isa. 55:8,9).
2. Man must always humble himself before he can obey God.
3. God will not accept man’s substitutes.
4. Wise rebuke sometimes comes from unexpected sources.
5. Full compliance is the only obedience.
6. God’s benefits should evoke gratitude in our hearts and lives.
These lessons have definite application to people needing to complete their obedience to God in becoming Christians, as well as to the lives of all claiming to belong to Christ.
— Via Guardian of Truth XXXI: 3, pp. 65, 87, February 5, 1987
https://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume31/GOT031028.html
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“Because He Lives . . .”
Lewis Willis
The mind is a marvelous and mysterious thing. Often we can account for the thoughts that race through our minds because of what we are saying or doing. At other times, things come to our minds and we have to wonder why we had that thought. The other morning I woke up and the very first thought I had was about a song I heard years ago with the above title. I couldn’t remember, and I cannot now, all the words of any single verse of the song, but the following words are vivid in my mind:
Because He lives. . .
I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives. . .
All fear is gone.
Because I know. . .
He holds the future,
My life is worth the living
Just because He lives.
I do not know who the author of the song was, but I like the message it contains. When I thought of the song, I immediately thought about 1 Corinthians 15. In this chapter the Apostle Paul reminded the brethren that he had preached the gospel to them. They had received it and were standing before God on the terms of that gospel. Paul said that they would be saved if they would “keep in memory what I preached unto you.” He then said he had declared to them the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
There was not anything terribly unusual about the death and burial of a man. However, the resurrection from the dead of that man was noteworthy. It was this significant factor that Paul stressed in his argument in Chapter 15. He cited the evidence associated with the resurrection of Christ. After He was raised He was seen by Peter, then by the twelve, after that, by above 500 brethren at once, then He was seen by James, and again by all the Apostles, and finally He was seen by Paul, “…as of one born out of due time” (1 Cor. 15:5-8). These witnesses could attest to the fact that the Son of God came forth from the tomb, triumphing over death and the grave. He lives!
It should not surprise us that many people of that day would deny the Lord’s resurrection. There were some who denied that it occurred and that not only was Christ not raised, no one else would be either. Paul addressed the results if Christ had not been raised. He affirmed the following if there is no resurrection: (1) Christ is not risen; (2) the preaching of the Apostles was vain; (3) their faith was vain; (4) the Apostles were false witnesses; (5) they were still in their sins; and (6) those who had died in the Lord were perished (1 Cor. 15:13-18).
All of these things would, indeed, be true if Christ had not been raised from the dead. However, the evidence and testimony of the witnesses to the fact of the resurrection was overwhelming. It could not be denied. All who refused to accept it were dealing with the facts dishonestly. The only conclusion was, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). The hope of the Christian supersedes all of his problems. Nothing that the world can throw at the Christian will steal this hope from him.
Thus, Christ lives! And the author of the song states the secret to a faithful Christian life. Because Christ lives, I can face tomorrow. I do not know what tomorrow may hold – I do not know its problems or its successes – but I can face them whatever they are. This next statement in the song, many of us have difficulty comprehending – because He lives, all fear is gone. The mysteries of tomorrow can bring fear. But most of those fears are of “the unknown.” Once we know that which is unknown, we can adapt ourselves to the ever changing scene. We can do this because we know He holds the future. He may not hold it like I think He should, or as I might like Him to hold it, but the future is in His hands. The grand blessings that He shall bestow upon us will more than overcome the horrors that Satan may thrust at us.
Therefore, life is worth living just because He lives! Another day! Another opportunity! Another blessing! Another challenge! I do not know how much “life” I have left to live. But one thing I know – it will be worth every minute of it that God in His patience with me permits me to live. And I intend to make the most I can out of it for the glory of God, for the well-being of my family, for the salvation of the lost and for my personal happiness. How about joining me for the rest of our lives?
— Via Guardian of Truth XXXI: 5, p. 134, March 5, 1987
https://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume31/GOT031057.html
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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 Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
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.)