1) Teach Me Your Way (Psalm 86:11) (Mike Johnson)
2) What Must I Do…After I Become A Christian? (Bryan Gibson)
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Teach Me Your Way
(Psalm 86:11)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Johnson -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan Gibson 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) Teach Me Your Way (Psalm 86:11) (Mike Johnson)2) What Must I Do…After I Become A Christian? (Bryan Gibson) ——————– […]<\/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-3379","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\/3379","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=3379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3382,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3379\/revisions\/3382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Psalm 86 is a psalm of David, and verse 11 is a part of a prayer he prayed during a time of extreme distress. People are trying to kill him (14), and he turns to God for help. He implored, \u201cTeach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>
It is interesting, although experiencing turmoil, that the Psalmist wanted<\/span><\/em> to learn. The desire to learn is essential in gaining knowledge in anything, and this concept is especially true with the Scriptures. Consider Ezra\u2019s heart described in the Old Testament (Ezra 7:10). \u201cFor Ezra had prepared his heart<\/span> to seek<\/span> the Law of the Lord, and to do it<\/span>, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Other passages in the Bible teach this idea.\u00a0 For example, 1 Peter 2:2 says, \u201cas newborn babes, desire<\/span> the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.\u201d<\/em> (Some translations render the Greek word \u201ccrave\u201d or \u201clong for.\u201d)\u00a0 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, \u201cBlessed are those who hunger<\/span> and thirst<\/span> for righteousness, for they shall be filled\u201d<\/em> (Mt. 5:6). Thus, wanting to learn God\u2019s will is essential.
Consider the following illustration.\u00a0 A young man was trying to learn the language of another country and was having trouble \u2014 it was a slow process. Finally, however, he met a woman from that country and learned the language in practically no time.\u00a0 What was missing earlier? It was the motivation! Similarly, we must be motivated to understand God\u2019s Word to succeed.
To successfully learn God\u2019s Word, it is also vital that we have a love for it.\u00a0 Consider the attitude of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:97 as he says, \u201cOh, how I love<\/span> Your law!\u00a0 It is my meditation all the day.\u201d <\/em>The first part of the verse relates to the second part \u2014 those who love the law of God are more likely to meditate on it \u201call the day.\u201d<\/em> Sadly, some may not care for Bible study because God\u2019s Word condemns them for sins they are not ready to stop practicing.
Further, the text (11a) says, \u201cteach me YOUR<\/span> way.\u201d<\/em> We must be willing to submit to God\u2019s will, not follow our own.\u00a0 From the earlier verses, it is clear that David knew who God was and wanted to humbly submit to His will, not someone else\u2019s.
After expressing a desire to learn the Lord\u2019s way, he says (11b), \u201cI will walk in your truth.\u201d<\/em> The writer wanted to understand God\u2019s way, not just for intellectual curiosity or to be able to have a conversation about it, but he wanted to \u201cwalk,\u201d or live, by God\u2019s Law. In the earlier verses, we learn what God has done, but we must do our part to know and obey His will.
Yet what is truth? Pilate asked this question at the crucifixion of Jesus (Jn. 18:38). Philosophers have also asked it throughout the history of mankind. The Scriptures teach that God\u2019s Word is truth. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed to God for His apostles just before His arrest, \u201cSanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.\u201d <\/em>(Note also Eph. 3:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:13; Gal. 1:12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.)
We also see in Proverbs 23:23 that truth is vital as it says, \u201cBuy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.\u201d <\/em>The writer compares truth to a commodity. First, we should do anything it takes to \u201cbuy\u201d it; then, we should not give it up for any price. Only truth (\u201cYour way\u201d<\/em>-11a) can make us free (Jn. 8:32).
Then he says (11c), \u201cUnite my heart to fear Your name.\u201d <\/em>Many people have divided loyalties, as their hearts may not be entirely into an endeavor. This type of heart is also found as people try and serve God. Since God alone is God (10c), the Psalmist did not want a divided heart where he might partially serve God but also serve idols or other gods. If he did this, he could never walk in God\u2019s truth (11b).
Are we motivated to learn God\u2019s truths?\u00a0 Do we, like the Psalmist, strongly desire to know God\u2019s ways so we can walk in his truth with an undivided heart?
\u2014 Via Seeking Things Above<\/em>
\u201cIf ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014 Colossians 3:1
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat Must I Do\u2026
After I Become a Christian?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do what the very first Christians did\u2014join together with other Christians in
a local church and continue \u201csteadfastly in the apostles\u2019 doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers\u201d (Acts 2:42; 11:26; 20:7). Because you will be involved in what this church does, make certain that everything this church does is according to Christ.
Do not forsake or neglect the assemblies of the church. God designed these to help you grow, and so if you miss, you\u2019ll just get weaker and weaker (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Now that you have \u201cturned to the Lord\u201d (Acts 11:21), you must \u201cwith purpose of heart\u2026continue<\/strong> with the Lord\u201d (Acts 11:23).
Do not live for yourself any longer; live for Jesus, who loved you and gave Himself for you (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 2:20).
Put Christ and His word first<\/strong>\u2014before yourself, before your friends, before husband or wife, before father or mother, before son or daughter, before anyone or anything (Matthew 10:34-39; 6:33).
Be willing to surrender all to Jesus\u2014your talents, your money, your time, and yes, even your own life. Give Jesus all you\u2019ve got, because that\u2019s exactly what He has done for you (Romans 8:31-32).
Do not let peer pressure keep you from standing up for Jesus (John 9:20-22; 12:42-43; Mark 8:38; 1 Corinthians 16:13). \u201cTho\u2019 none go with me, I still will follow\u201d (I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, <\/em>v. 2).
Do not keep living the way you once<\/strong> did (Ephesians 4:17); \u201cwalk in newness of life\u201d.(Romans 6:4).
Regard yourself as \u201cdead<\/strong> to sin, but alive<\/strong> to God\u201d (Romans 6:11)\u2014and then live that way.
Be a \u201cslave of righteousness\u201d (Romans 6:18); do whatever it demands of you.
Change your priorities. Seek the things above (Colossians 3:1), things like kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, love, peace, etc. (Colossians 3:12-17). You should no longer have any interest in being like the world. Conforming to the image of Christ is now your main focus (Colossians 3:9-10).
Do not \u201clook 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 4:18). Keep your focus on that \u201cwhich endures to everlasting life\u201d (John 6:27).
\u201cRegard no one according to the flesh\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:16), or according to the standards of the world. Everything about you now is \u201cnew\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:17), including a new way of looking at people. Don\u2019t focus on their nationality, race, color, level of intelligence, financial standing, their sordid past, etc.\u2014 focus on their soul, focus on the fact that Jesus loves them and died for them (Hebrews 2:9). See the value in every soul.
Love others the way Jesus loves you (John 13:34-35). Look out for their interests as well as your own (Philippians 2:3-4). Be willing to sacrifice for them, just as Jesus did for you (1 John 3:16-18).
Spend considerable time in the word of God, so you can grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:1-3). The word of God provides food for the soul; you simply cannot live without it (1 Timothy 4:6; Matthew 4:4).
Spend much time in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which will enable you to \u201cobtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need\u201d (Hebrews 4:16). Do not try to make it on your own; you will need His help, and you will need it every single day.
Show God how grateful you are for what He has done for you\u2014do as much for Him as you possibly can (1 Corinthians 15:10, 58). You can start by teaching (or getting someone to teach) your family, friends, and neighbors the gospel of Christ (Mark 5:19; Luke 8:39; Acts 8:4).
— via the Weekly Bulletin<\/em> from the Prattmont church of Christ, May 4, 2025
——————–<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0
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\u00a0<\/strong>in 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>
https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"