____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ December 15, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Importance of Togetherness (Andy Diestelkamp) 2) The Mission and Message of John the Baptist (Clarence Johnson) 3) The Simple Gospel: The Dangers and Consequences of Envy (Stan Cox) 4) Do You Want to Change? (Jim R. Everett) 5) News & Notes ___________________________________________ -1- The Importance of Togetherness by Andy Diestelkamp From the beginning of the church there was togetherness (Acts 2:42-47). Those who believed were together and had all things in common. Perhaps our abhorrence of communism has caused us to skim over these texts as irrelevant, but let us not confuse government-imposed sharing of the wealth with the voluntary spirit of brotherhood. The Jerusalem church continued with one accord in the temple, and this togetherness even spilled over into house-to-house togetherness on a smaller scale. Brethren, for us to be an influence and encouragement to one another we need to spend time together. Certainly in some churches the problems of sinful attitudes are so acute that some might question whether assembling is as valuable as I am making it out to be. The church in Corinth was coming together supposedly to eat the Lord's Supper, but their divisiveness and selfishness was making that impossible (1 Cor. 11:17-21). In light of the problem, it would seem that the easiest solution would have been to just have everyone stay home. However, despite the negativity associated with their assembly, the solution that Paul offers is not to quit coming together (or to break into two assemblies), but to wait for one another (vs. 33). The Lord's Supper is the only congregational fellowship meal authorized, and churches are supposed to take it together. Apparently Paul thought being together was important. Assembling together is something that we are not supposed to neglect. It is an important forum in which to motivate one another to do what is right (Heb. 10:23-25). Think about those who were reading this letter in the first century. Most are agreed that the motive for the letter seems to be to encourage Jewish Christians to remain faithful despite the strong pressures to return to Judaism. These were very likely persecuted people. Persecution may have been one of the main reasons that people were neglecting to assemble. Assemblies, groups, and multitudes are much more conspicuous. Still, they were admonished not to forsake this important time together. Is persecution the reason why so many neglect their assembling with the church today? If our persecuted brethren of the first century were told not to forsake this important time together, and to do it all the more often, what would our twenty-first century brethren be told? Our comfortable affluence has us convinced that we don't really need to spend time together. We are self-sufficient and "have need of nothing," (Rev. 3:17). It is just another way in which we are deceived by riches and become unfruitful (Mk. 4:19). Don't be so proud of your independence, and don't put your trust in your self-sufficiency but in the living God who is the giver of all good things. "Be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" (even your time), that you may "lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim. 6:17-19). -- Via Think on These Things, October-November- December 2002 ___________________________________________ -2- The Mission and Message of John the Baptist by Clarence Johnson John the Baptist came in fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi. He "came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins" (Mark 1:4-5). His lifestyle is reminiscent of that of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. His appearance was much like that of the ancient prophet. As it turned out, his ministry had several similarities to that of the previous prophet. As Elijah had prophesied to King Ahab things Ahab did not want to hear, John prophesied to King Herod some things that Herod found greatly disturbing and displeasing. There were at least two things besides his rough physical appearance that distinguished John from most other preachers and religious leaders: his message -- and baptism. John's message was one of repentance. He had come to turn the Israelites to the Lord, but this task could not be accomplished until Israel had a change of heart. Israel must repent! When individuals appeared before John, seeking to submit to his baptism, John demanded of them some evidence that they had repented of their sins. When a person really changes his mind about sin, he will also change his practice of that sin. This does not insure that he will never make the same mistake again -- but it does mean that if he makes no attempt to alter his unacceptable lifestyle, he has not shown fruit or evidence of repentance. See Matthew 3:8. John's message was that the Messiah and the Messianic kingdom were at hand. The time had arrived for the people of God to make themselves ready for Christ's reign. John preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose" (Mark 1:7). He tied his message of repentance in with the fact that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:1). John's baptism was for those who had repented -- and it was "for the remission of sins." No individual was, or is, qualified to participate in heaven's kingdom unless and until his sins have been forgiven. This does not suggest that those who come into God's kingdom are necessarily "better" than others, nor that they automatically make a smaller number of mistakes than others. They certainly are not sinless. The one overriding difference is that they have met the conditions of forgiveness. To the straying Israelites of his day, John promised forgiveness if they would repent, be baptized, and exercise faith in the One coming after him, Acts 19:4. Even today, these conditions prevail, though for us who live after Christ's ministry, faith in Christ must come before we repent and are baptized (Acts 2:36-38; Mark 16:15-16; Gal. 3:26-27). -- via The Susquehanna Sentinel, September 29, 2002 ___________________________________________ -3- The Simple Gospel The Dangers and Consequences of Envy by Stan Cox The Bible records for us an amazing feat, performed by a young man of faith. I refer to the slaying of Goliath by young David. The great victory of David over Goliath was a victory which made all of Israel grateful. This included Saul, who took David into his house where he was befriended by Saul's son Jonathan (cf. 1 Sam. 18:1-5). However, the friendship of Saul and David was not destined to last. It was destroyed by one of the most insidious weapons Satan has in his arsenal, the sin of envy. David performed in battle so well that the people began to talk of his prowess. The women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7). Notice Saul's response to all of this: "Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed {but} thousands. Now {what} more can he have but the kingdom?" So Saul eyed David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 18:8-9). So many emotions resulted from the envy of Saul. Anger, jealousy, paranoia, all led to murderous intent. On a number of occasions Saul tried to have David killed: * Threw a spear at him while David was playing music (1 Samuel 18:11). * Duplicitously plotted his fall at the hands of the Philistines (1 Samuel 18:25). Note after the Lord delivered David, we read in verse 29, "And Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David's enemy continually." * Instructed Jonathan and his servants to kill David (1 Samuel 19:1). * Threw another spear at him (1 Samuel 19:10). * David fled, and Saul pursued him until his own death at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31). The Lord was not with Israel during the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. Saul and his three sons were killed, including Jonathan, and the Philistines overran the cities of the Israelites. It can be said that the envy of Saul ruined the rest of his life. His realization that David was the anointed, future king disturbed Saul so much that he became obsessed with his attempt to have David killed. This is a striking example of the terrible power envy can have. It is the first step in a progression of sins which can end in such tangibly damaging sins as slander, gossip, violence, and even murder. Other examples of envy and its consequences: * Jews delivered Jesus out of envy (Matthew 27:18). * Jews expelled Paul and Barnabas from Antioch of Pisidia because of envy (Acts 13:45,50). * The Corinthians divided in part from envy (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). * Some preached Christ from envy, supposing to add affliction to Paul's chains (Philippians 1:15-16). At one time, we all were guilty of envy. But, brethren, that should not now be. We ought all to examine ourselves, and purge envy from us. It is not proper for children of God (cf. Titus 3:3-7). -- Via The Watchman Magazine, December 2001 ___________________________________________ -4- Do You Want to Change? by Jim R. Everett Do you look at yourself sometimes and say that there are things you would like to change? You are not too happy with the way your hair is turning gray or that you may be a little too "chunky"? -- Clairol can fix the hair but it takes self control to fix "chunky." Perhaps you find it difficult to climb a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing? You know there is a lot at stake but you just do not have the time or determination right now to follow through with needed changes? Mark Twain said something like, "Habits can't be flung out the window; they have to be coaxed downstairs, a step at a time." CHANGE IS NOT EASY. It requires, first, a change of mind with great determination to carry through with what is needed. It is easy to fall back into old patterns of thinking and behaving. In England, many years ago, if a pickpocket was convicted, his right hand was amputated. If he continued his thievery, his left hand was cut off. One fellow lost both hands but persisted in his thievery by using his teeth -- old habits die hard. Not only is change possible it becomes a reality, if we really want to make a change in our lives. Though there are serious results to worldly behavior, there are eternal consequences to disobedience to the Eternal God. With eternity in view, we should really work at changing our character into the character of God (2 Peter 1:2-9) and turning unfaithfulness into faithfulness (Revelation 2:10). Christ will give us the strength, if we will but use it (Philippians 4:13). But, with some folks, getting around to changing is like our son-in-law's response to dieting -- "tomorrow." ___________________________________________ -5- News & Notes We are glad to have each of you who are visiting with us today. If this is your first time, we would appreciate your filling out a visitor's card -- and please come again! To the members: You might like to take advantage of hearing Bill Crews preach on Sunday evenings, after our own 4PM service, since their service begins at 6PM. I've been doing this regularly since I've been here and thoroughly enjoying it. Also, if you like to sing spiritual songs, their "sing night" is on the first Sunday evening of every month. The songs and Scripture-reading are all based on a particular theme for that night, and a short talk is also presented toward the close of the service. Brother Crews, as you know, does an excellent and thorough job in preaching, which is very edifying. ________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________