2) Some Bumper Stickers I Like (Bill Crews)
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“God of All Comfort”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bryan Gibson -2-<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill Crews\u00a0 1) Hear\u00a0<\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street “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) “God of All Comfort” (Bryan Gibson)2) Some Bumper Stickers I Like (Bill Crews)——————– -1- “God of All Comfort” Bryan […]<\/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-3360","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\/3360","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=3360"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3363,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360\/revisions\/3363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
What do you do when you\u2019re like Paul\u2014when you\u2019re filled with anxiety for the souls of others; when you\u2019re burdened beyond measure, almost to the point of death; when you\u2019re troubled on every side, persecuted, and struck down; when you suffer stripes and imprisonments, tumults and sleeplessness; when you\u2019re cold and naked, hungry and thirsty; when you\u2019re attacked by false brethren; when things are so bad that you have no rest in your spirit and anguish in your heart (2 Corinthians 1:8; 2:1-4, 12-13; 4:8-9; 6:4-5; 7:5; 11:23-28)?
That\u2019s enough to make anyone \u201close heart,\u201d but Paul didn\u2019t (2 Corinthians 4:1, 16). Instead, he offered this perspective: \u201cWe are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
So what kept Paul going, what kept him from losing heart? The same thing that keeps us all going\u2014the comfort which God alone can provide. And did Paul ever receive it: \u201cBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort<\/strong>, who comforts <\/strong>us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort<\/strong> those who are in any affliction, with the comfort<\/strong> with which we ourselves are comforted<\/strong> by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort<\/strong> too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort<\/strong> and salvation; and if we are comforted<\/strong>, it is for your comfort<\/strong>, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort<\/strong>\u201d (2 Corinthians 1:3-7, ESV).
But exactly how did God comfort Paul? We may not know all the means God used, but we do know some, and they\u2019re revealed in the first seven chapters of this same epistle. Let\u2019s see how God did it, because it will help us understand how he comforts us, too.
By the coming of Titus, at just the right time. <\/strong>\u201cOur bodies had no rest\u2026we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus\u201d (7:5-6). Wonder how many times we\u2019ve had a faithful brother (or sister) come (or call, text, email, etc.) at just the right time?
By the love and encouragement of brethren.<\/strong> When Titus came, he brought comforting words concerning the Corinthians\u2014 that they still had affection for Paul; but more importantly, that efforts to lead them to repentance had been successful (7:7-12). Their obedience was a great source of joy and comfort to Paul (7:13-16), not to mention the prayers they offered on his behalf (1:11). Sound familiar? Let\u2019s not grieve so long over the unfaithful (12:20-21) that we can\u2019t find comfort in the faithful.
By giving him the opportunity to preach the glorious gospel of Christ.<\/strong> \u201cTherefore, since we have this ministry\u2026we do not lose heart\u201d (4:1). And what an opportunity preaching provides\u2014to diffuse the \u201cfragrance of His knowledge in every place\u201d (2:14), to reconcile men to God through Jesus Christ (5:18-21), to transform people into the image of Christ\u201d (3:18), and to give them the hope of one day being \u201cpresent with the Lord\u201d (5:8). How comforting it is to know that whatever we suffer for preaching the gospel is absolutely worth it (1:6; 4:11- 15; 6:10).
By teaching him the love of Christ.<\/strong> \u201cFor the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). If the love of Christ and the purpose it gives our life can\u2019t keep us going, we\u2019ve got a serious heart problem.
By offering him the hope of eternal life.<\/strong> \u201cTherefore we do not lose heart\u2026for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). That\u2019s what suffering looks like\u2014\u201clight\u201d and \u201cbut for a moment\u201d\u2014when you look through the lens of eternity.
\u201cBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort\u201d (2 Corinthians 1:3).
— via the Weekly Bulletin<\/em> of the Prattmont church of Christ, February 16, 2025
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSome Bumper Stickers I Like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Everyone is supposed to know that \u201cI\u201d followed by a heart-shaped symbol means, \u201cI love.\u201d They have cropped out everywhere in the form of bumper and window stickers. \u201cI love N.Y.\u201d (or some other state). \u201cI Love My Cat.\u201d \u201cI Love My Dog.\u201d \u201cI Love My Truck.\u201d And so on without end. l was pleased to see one man\u2019s car whose bumper sticker proclaimed, \u201cI Love My Wife.\u201d Good for him! <\/strong>The Bible says, \u201cHusbands. love your wives, and be not bitter against them\u201d<\/em> (Colossians 3:19). Are wives to love their husbands? \u201cThat they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children\u201d<\/em> (Titus 2:4).
In our war on illegal drugs in this nation (a war we appear to be losing, even to this very day), we are using the slogan \u201cSay No To Drugs.\u201d Or we use the word \u201cdrugs\u201d with a circle around it and a slanted line through it. Young people especially are being urged to say \u201cno\u201d to drugs. A so-called friend usually introduces them to a product that spells the end of a normal life, the beginning of a miserable life, ending, possibly, in death. This, too, has become a common bumper and window sticker.
I saw a bumper sticker that read, \u201cSay No To Sin.\u201d How much better! <\/strong>And how much more our young people need to be taught this! It covers it all, illegal drugs and everything else that is illegal or immoral (whether legal or not). The Bible says, \u201cBe subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you\u201d<\/em> (James 4:7). And, \u201cBe sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world\u201d <\/em>(1 Peter 5:8\u20139). And, \u201cFlee fornication\u201d <\/em>(1 Corinthians 6:18). And, \u201cFlee from idolatry\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 10:14). And, \u201cBut flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart\u201d<\/em> (2 Timothy 2:22). And, finally, \u201cBut thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness\u201d<\/em> (1 Timothy 6:11). Jesus said, \u201c\u2026For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 12:34). He also said, \u201c\u2026 every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 12:36). And He ended that discourse by saying, \u201cFor by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned\u201d (Matthew 12:37). All of this applies equally to the signs we attach to our cars and SUVs as it does to the words that fall from our lips.\u00a0\u00a0
— via the Roanridge Reader,<\/em> Volume 35, Issue 7, page 3, February 16, 2020
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2) Believe\u00a0<\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent\u00a0<\/strong>of sins.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 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<\/strong>\u00a0in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized\u00a0<\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).\u00a0 This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).\u00a0 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 \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (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\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>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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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday:<\/strong> 9 a.m<\/strong>. Bible Classes (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service
Wednesday:<\/strong> 7 p.m.<\/strong> Bible Classes\u00a0
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evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
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