2) The Parable of the Sower (Wayne Goff)
3) God and Man (Bill Crews)
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![\"peace\"](\"https:\/\/thegospelobserver.files.wordpress.com\/2019\/10\/peace.jpg?w=676\")
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\u201cBlessed Are the Peacemakers\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Jim McDonald<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBlessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God\u201d (Matt. 5:9). Christians are peaceable people. They cannot follow their Master and be otherwise! Isaiah wrote of \u201cImmanuel\u201d who, among other things, would be called \u201cPrince of Peace\u201d (Isa. 7:14; 9:6). Peter quotes from Psalm 34:12 when he wrote, \u201cHe that would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile; and let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it\u201d (1 Pet. 3:10f). Paul commands, \u201cSo then, let us follow after things which make for peace and things whereby we may edify one another\u201d (Rom. 14:19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus is called \u201cPrince of peace.\u201d Paradoxically enough he said, \u201cThink not that I came to send peace on the earth, but a sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: and a man\u2019s foes shall be those of his own household\u201d (Matt. 10:34-36). He did not mean that he intended that men be in opposition to each other; he knew that given the free-moral agency of man, that some (most) would rebel against him which would put them in opposition to those who follow Christ. Because Jesus said he came not to \u201csend peace on the earth but a sword,\u201d we understand that God\u2019s wish that we seek peace must not be \u201cpeace at any price.\u201d In Jeremiah\u2019s day there were those who cried \u201cpeace, peace when there is no peace\u201d (Jer. 6:14). We cannot seek a compromising peace, and we must remember it is not always possible for us to be at peace. The Holy Spirit knew this and so he caused Paul to write: \u201cIf it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men\u201d (Rom. 12:18). Paul wrote about some that \u201cthe way of peace they have not known\u201d (Rom. 3:17). With such, the only path to peace is through compromise and sin. In such a case, the faithful Christian really has no choice. He stands for truth and righteousness and lets the \u201cchips fall where they may.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Paul wrote \u201cLet us follow after things which make for peace\u201d (Rom. 14: 19), he had given direction in that context that, in matters of indifference, men were to live peaceably with other men. Some could eat meats, others could not. The ones who could not eat were not to judge those who could; those who could eat were not to set at naught those who could not (Rom. 14:3). We are also told that to be spiritually minded \u201cis life and peace\u201d (Rom. 8:6). But Jesus did not simply say, \u201cBlessed are they that follow after peace.\u201d He said, \u201cBlessed are the peacemakers.\u201d Consider at least two ways in which we are to be peacemakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, man must make peace with God. <\/strong>\u201cHe who makes himself a friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God. The friendship of the world is enmity with God\u201d (Jas. 4:4). We make peace with God by appropriating to ourselves the \u201cpeace offering\u201d we find in Christ. Christ is \u201cour peace.\u201d Through his sacrifice he made possible our peace with God. Still, we must act. We must believe and obey his terms for peace. \u201cBeing therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ\u201d (Rom. 5:1). This is an obedient faith, not faith only (Jas. 2:24). Those who are \u201cpeacemakers\u201d are called \u201csons of God.\u201d Such are \u201csons of God\u201d because they are acting like their Heavenly Father who actively sought to reconcile man to himself through the death of his Son. May we ardently desire that we shall be sons of God because as he made the sacrifice which allows for peace, we tell others about this available peace and praise his goodness in providing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via Truth Magazine,<\/em> Vol. XLVII, No. 1, January 2, 2003 \u201cNo king is saved by the multitude of an army; -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wayne Goff<\/p>\n\n\n\n The parables of Jesus are some of the most fascinating stories because they tie spiritual truths to obvious natural events. In the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8), Jesus compares gospel preaching to seed-planting. The \u201cseed\u201d (Word of God, Lk. 8:11) is sent into four different soils: (1) wayside; (2) rocky soil; (3) thorny ground; (4) good ground. These soils represent four kinds of hearts. So ask yourself: \u201cOf what soil am I made?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Wayside: <\/strong>This is the one who hears the word but the devil comes and takes away the word before he obeys it (Matt. 13:19; Lk. 8:12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Rocky Soil: <\/strong>This is the one who hears the Word and joyfully receives it and believes for a time. But when temptation, tribulation or persecution comes his way, he becomes weak, forgetful, and falls away from the truth (Matt. 13:21; Lk. 8:13). Christianity is just too hard for him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Thorny Ground:<\/strong> This is the one who is too busy with life to consider what is coming in eternity. He hears the Word of God but the cares, riches and pleasures of life keep him from completing his spiritual duties and he dies spiritually (Matt. 13:22; Lk. 8:14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Good Ground:<\/strong> This is the one who hears the Word with a good, noble heart, keeps it obediently, and bears fruit with patience throughout his life (Matt. 13:23; Lk. 8:15). Now if you have been paying attention to the parable of the Lord, then you know you want to be the \u201cgood ground.\u201d You want to be a good Listener of God\u2019s Word. You want to take it into your good and noble heart and apply it to your life. You want to do this over the entirety of your life so that at the end of this earthly journey, the Lord will say to you: \u201cGood and faithful servant.\u201d But the reality for most people is that they are one of the other three soils. (1) They never consider it. (2) They obey it for awhile until it gets to be too hard. (3) They would love to be a faithful Christian, and they love hearing the Word and going to church \u2014 but they\u2019re too busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, dear reader, it takes time and effort to bring spiritual fruit to bear in your life. You have to make the time, cultivate your spiritual tastes, and do it habitually. Going to church once a week will not get the job done. You must hear the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit patiently (Lk. 8:15). So says Jesus Christ Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014Via Roanridge Reader,<\/em> Volume 34, Issue 40, Page 4, October 6, 2019 -3-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill Crews<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that God sees the whole picture. He sees all the past; He sees all the present; and He has the power to see all the future. He can see the end from the beginning, and He knows the destiny of every person and the solution to every problem. He loves us and is always available to us, but He will force neither Himself nor His will upon us. As long as we live, we are allowed to choose. He is concerned about our true welfare and happiness \u2013 here and hereafter. With Him on our side every thing will turn out well (Rom. 8:28,31); but if He must be against us, nothing will turn out right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via The Beacon,<\/em> October 6, 2019 \u201cThe LORD looks from heaven; 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- Contents: 1) \u201cBlessed Are the Peacemakers\u201d (Jim McDonald)2) The Parable of the Sower (Wayne Goff)3) God and Man (Bill Crews)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- -1- […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":354,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258\/revisions\/354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Secondly, man must seek to bring about peace with others who are estranged from each other. <\/strong>He seeks to be a peacemaker when he preaches the gospel of peace; preaching \u201cpeace through Jesus Christ\u201d (Acts 10:36). There can be no greater \u201cpeacemaking\u201d than to teach a lost soul how he may be at peace with God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\nPsalm 33:16-17<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield\u201d (NKJV).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"sower\"](\"https:\/\/thegospelobserver.files.wordpress.com\/2019\/10\/sower.jpg?w=676\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Parable of the Sower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGod and Man<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\nPsalm 33:13-15<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201d
(NASB).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith<\/strong> in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, 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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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong> services:9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday:<\/strong>\u00a07 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a> (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"