____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "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). ____________________________________________________ January 27, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Making Bricks of Mud by Robert F. Turner Paul was set upon by a mob, and then dragged from their hands by the police. Falsely charged, he spent 2 years in Jewish prisons, and was then sent to Rome to appear before Caesar. His traveling days ended, and threatened with death by savage beasts (II Tim. 4:17), we could understand his being depressed and feeling "all is lost." Instead, he wrote to the Philippians, "the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (1:12-21). He could write, "I rejoice!" Discounting his personal discomforts, he saw the good side of the bad -- saw victory in defeat. I know his selflessness, his trust in the Lord, is the key. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Paul had to learn this attitude; but I am impressed that he learned it so well it seems to have become a part of him. He "learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (4:11); and this kind of thinking spawned hope instead of despair. Throw mud at Paul and he made bricks of it, and built a house. Send him a lemon, and he would enjoy the lemonade, and thank you for them. It is hard to defeat a person with such an attitude as that. We do not refer to an artificial Pollyannish attitude, out of touch with reality. Paul sought relief from his "thorn in the flesh" (II Cor. 12:8), but, when this was denied him, he could "glory in my infirmities," making the most of them in defending his apostleship (vs. 7-11). He did not enjoy being forsaken by his brethren any more than do we, but he could "pray God that it may not be laid to their charge" (II Tim. 4:16-17). He was confident that the Lord would save him. Nor is this simply the SELF-reliance, "indomitable ego" that is so highly recommended by psychotherapists. Human philosophies "plug in" to no higher source than man himself, and, when society fails (as it does repeatedly), the individual despairs -- sometimes ends it all in suicide. But the "look up" attitude of a true believer in God removes fear of the future, his soul is anchored (Heb. 6:18-20), and he "shall not be moved." As one rancher friend of mine put it: "Things are going to pick up!" -- via Plain Talk, March 1981 ___________________________________________ They Can't Live It by Bill Hall Many who have never entered the Lord's service explain their hesitancy with the words, "I'm afraid I just can't live it." We usually try to quell their fears, but the truth is, they can't live it, for their concept of what it is they are trying to live is a completely false concept. Consider the man whose wife became a Christian. He was sure she couldn't "live it." He watched her carefully, and sure enough, one day under considerable stress, she lost control, yelled at the children, and said some things a Christian ought not to say. "If she were a Christian," the man thought, "she wouldn't talk like that; I knew she couldn't live it." On another day the preacher came around, and in reaction to something someone said, he turned a bit red, although he otherwise controlled his temper. But the man saw the tinge of redness, and immediately he concluded, "That preacher can't live it either." He eventually observed faults in other Christians, and finally concluded that none of them could "live it," that the whole church was a bunch of hypocrites. Of course he never even tried, for he knew his weaknesses all too well. He knew he couldn't "live it." Poor man! He thinks that the Christian life is a life of perfection; that all "Christians" fall into one of two categories: either they are perfect or they are hypocrites. He knows he can't live up to perfection, to the standards he has set for others, and is thinking with an almost self- righteous attitude, "One thing about it, Preacher, I'm not going to be a hypocrite." But, there is pardon for the sincere Christian's imperfections. "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (I John 2:1). And that Christian who sincerely strives to live for the Lord, and daily seeks His forgiveness, though he should have a thousand weaknesses, is no hypocrite. There are hypocrites in the church, and we offer no defense in their behalf. But weaknesses do not necessarily imply hypocrisy. Let the faithful Christian, then, not be intimidated by the constant charge of "hypocrites in the church." And let the sinner forget about living "it," if by "it" he means perfection, and let him come to Christ, through whom he can go to heaven. -- Via the Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, April 29, 2001 ___________________________________________ "Rend Your Heart" by Tim Johnson "So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful" (Joel 2:13). Rending one's garments was the action of one experiencing distress. Such actions, however, might be only superficial. According to Joel, that which really needed rending was the heart. One could tear his garments into shreds and still not be right with God. The basic need is the recognition of the guilt of sin and godly sorrow from a broken heart. Because of sin in his own life, David knew the kind of heart that pleases God. After his sin with Bathsheba, he wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart -- these, O God, You will not despise" (Ps. 51:17). In the 34th Psalm, he further showed the vital need of the broken heart: "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Ps. 34:18). Paul knew that, where there was no sorrow for sin, there could be no forgiving of sin, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation" (II Cor. 7:10). -- Via the Gospel Guide, July 1999 ___________________________________________ Conscience by Robert F.Turner Conscience reveals what each man believes he "ought" to be (Acts 23:1,24; 24:16; 26:9-11). It is indicative of his inward feeling of moral right, of the noble ideal for which he feels he should strive. It is his prod toward his conception of moral heights, and his brakes against doing what he believes is wrong. Conscience is not the ultimate standard of truth, for that must come from God via revelation; but conscience toward God tells the individual's attitude toward God. That is why man must do what he truly believes God wants him to do (Rom. 14). While one is trying to do what he believes God wants him to do, (1) he may have an erroneous concept of what God desires (that was the case of Saul, in persecuting Christians), or, (2) he may, through weakness of the flesh, act contrary to his good intentions (Rom. 7:22-f). In this case, he is made miserable by his conscience -- is humbled before God, and appreciative of forgiveness in Christ. We are all imperfect creatures, and should, at times, feel these pangs. But what of those who take part in, condone, and support that which is contrary to God's word, or without any divine authority? They may know no better, and be acting in good conscience before God. In this case, further information from God's word is most welcomed. Because they truly want to do His will, they gladly open their Bible, investigate, and change their conduct to fit the evidence. In this way they maintain a good conscience before God (I Pet. 3:21). Sadly, however, we must acknowledge that there are those who have no such noble character (Acts 17:11). They are angered if their practice is questioned. They love the praise of men more than the praise of God (Jn. 12:42-43). If their conscience toward God continues to function, they lead a miserable life, fighting with themselves, overwhelmed with feelings of guilt. Undesirable -- yes, but there is yet hope while the battle rages. How terribly sad to see some whose conscience is seared (I Tim. 4:2), and who can reject God without a qualm. --via Plain Talk, June 1980 ___________________________________________ Are You In Christ? by Steve Klein The very name "Christian" suggests that one who is worthy of the name has a close relationship with Christ. The scriptures emphasize this closeness by referring to Christians as being "in Christ" (II Corinthians 1:21). Two individuals cannot get any closer! The things that can be found in this relationship are the things that meet our deepest needs, such as forgiveness of sins, a fresh start in life and something to hope for beyond death. In fact, God "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places IN CHRIST" (Ephesians 1:3). Since all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23), we all need forgiveness. We can find it in Christ. In Him we have "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). Having messed up our lives with sin, we also greatly need a fresh start in life, and we can find it in Christ. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). A hope of eternal life is also found in Christ. Christians know that "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (I John 5:11). The things that are in Christ are the things everyone needs, but everyone is not in Christ. Many think they are, but are they really? Have they done what it takes according to scripture to have access to the blessings found in Christ? How does a person get into Christ, anyway? Only two verses in the Bible contain the phrase "into Christ." They are Galatians 3:27 and Romans 6:3. Galatians 3:27 states, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Romans 6:3 states, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Obviously, when a believer is baptized he is baptized "into" Christ and thus "puts on Christ." Believers who have been scripturally baptized are in Christ. They have believed before being buried in the watery grave of baptism for the remission of their sins. Are you in Christ? -- via The Exhorter, February 25, 2001 ___________________________________________ Sentence Sermons You can't win or gain respect by demanding it. You must earn it! A man is not paid for having hands and a head, but for using them. Beware of the half-truth; you may have gotten the wrong half. A person who gambles with money is also gambling with his soul. If we would do what we should there would be less time to do what we should not. -- Via The Instructor, July 2001 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Let us be praying for Robert ("Barney") Combs (of Avondale, PA) who fell on the church parking lot Sunday evening (1/27). He is now hospitalized with a fractured arm, has been experiencing dizziness, and has had some problems with mobility. In addition, he might also have a touch of pneumonia. I'm sure he would appreciate the prayers of the saints. I'll be teaching a class on the book of Jude this Tuesday evening (8 PM) at the Mt. Airy church of Christ in Philadelphia. If you plan to be in the area, we would enjoy having you. The church meets at 45 W. Durham Street. ________________________________________ evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________