____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ September 5, 2004 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Power of Example (Al Sandlin) 2) "All Turned From Me" (Larry Ray Hafley) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- The Power of Example by Al Sandlin "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me" (I Corinthians 4:16). "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). "Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us" (II Thessalonians 3:9). "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me" (II Timothy 3:10-11, NKJV). "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (I Corinthians 10:6). "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (I Peter 2:21). The greatest path to perfecting any skill or knowledge is that of an approved example. The Lord God was very careful to use in the New Testament era the examples of men and women of faith and even those who were hypocrites, e.g. Ananias and Sapphira, to demonstrate His expectations of His children. In the passages cited above, not one verse is mentioned to laud and honor the person themselves but to instruct the reader to follow the example lived in the lives of Paul and Jesus Christ. In school when a student is introduced to new concepts in mathematics or science, the power of example and illustration is used to aid the student in acquiring new knowledge. Our daughter and son-in-law are using caterpillars to teach their children about metamorphosis. They take the hairy worms and put them in a jar to observe daily until the children one day see a moth or butterfly emerge from what was once a caterpillar. Christians can learn from such a simple example the concept of becoming imitators of their Master, the Lord Jesus. A "metamorphosis" is required in Christians as we see in Romans 12:2, where we are instructed to "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The word "transformed" comes from the same Greek word from which we get "metamorphosis." The example of Jesus must be followed if we are to be found acceptable to our God. As disciples of Jesus we must not only be able to express the idealism of the example of Jesus but we must "...follow his steps" (I Peter 2:21). Commendatory praise is given in Hebrews chapter 11 to those men and women of faith. It was only when they demonstrated their faith in the works they did that they proved "...what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). Argumentation with God and His expectations is not included in any of the examples of faith in Hebrews chapter 11. The extent to which Timothy, the apprentice, followed his mentor, Paul, the apostle, is particularly noteworthy. Notice how thoroughly the young man followed his teacher: "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me" (II Tim. 3:10-11). Doctrine. It is not the intent of this writer to divert loyalty from Jesus Christ to the apostle. It is the intent of this writer to show that the doctrine embraced by Christians must be the same doctrine embraced by the inspired apostle! "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11,12). The example seen by Timothy in the apostle pertaining to doctrine was that which was revealed by Jesus Christ -- not any mortal. The revealed truth of Jesus Christ is the only doctrine Christians may embrace in order to be true disciples of Him. Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are My disciples" (John 8:31). Manner of life. Here is Paul's testimony concerning his manner of life: "For to me to live is Christ..." (Philippians 1:21). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). The transformation from persecutor of Christianity to promoter of it is what Timothy saw in the apostle. Truly, one is a Christian only as he daily walks as Jesus would walk. Purpose. The apostle had a definite aim for his life. He was not just wandering aimlessly through life but rather had specific goals to be accomplished. He instructed Timothy in I Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life." Then, toward the end of his life he summarized his purpose as he said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:7). Certainly, his purpose in life is worthy of imitation by all who desire the "crown of righteousness." Faith. The apostle reminded the Ephesians thus in 6:16, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Then John wrote, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4). Furthermore, it is only those who overcome that will be allowed entrance into heaven itself. Jesus said in Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Longsuffering. The second epistle to Timothy was penned by the apostle as he sat in prison in Rome facing certain execution. The apostle exhorted his son in the faith, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (II Timothy 1:8). Paul's sufferings were to be a source of encouragement to Timothy -- not discouragement. Love. One can only imagine the numerous instances when Timothy saw the apostle demonstrate in his manner of life that..."Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (I Corinthians 13:4-7). Let us appreciate and embrace the examples in scripture portrayed by those who have God's acceptance and stamp of approval. -- Via The Mentor, 9/22/02 ____________________________________________________ -2- "All Turned Away From Me" by Larry Ray Hafley Without anger or bitterness, Paul observed that "all they which are in Asia" are "turned away from me" (2 Tim. 1:15). Later, he lamented about another case, saying, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge" (2 Tim. 4:16). That last sentence is remarkable! What an attitude it represents. How many of us would have said, "After all I have done for those so called brethren! And what do I get? Nothing but cowardly rejection from hypocritical weasels! Well, someday the Lord will judge them for this, and then they will be sorry they ever did this to me! It will serve 'em right, too!" The Lord faced similar denial. "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (Jn. 6:66). His own "familiar friend" betrayed him. One of his most ardent disciples denied him. Those whom he came to seek and save crucified him. Still, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Lk. 23:34). Could you and I have prayed that prayer? Stephen, while dying, prayed for those who killed him, saying, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60). That dying prayer ushered him into life. Praying a curse would have brought real death. We may be ever so devout and faithful in attendance at worship; we may sing loudly and give liberally; we may meet and greet everyone with a kind word and a warm smile, but until our hearts are full of love and able to pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us, we are not his disciples. We have, in essence, turned away from him. We are not walking with him and in him. We are not allowing Christ to live in us and through us when we lash out and lash back at those who speak evil against us and seek to do us harm (Matt. 5:43-48; Gal. 2:20). Instead, we are going back and walking no more with him. May God help us all to love the unlovely and to give our hearts and tongues to prayer and forgiveness rather than to cursing and bitterness (Rom. 12:14). "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 Jn. 2:6). ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes There will be a Gospel Meeting September 12-15 at the Northshore church of Christ in Mandeville (LA) at their new location (since July 4) at 67288 Armel Road. Mike Wilson (of Birmingham, AL) will be the visiting preacher. Weeknight services will begin at 7:30. Sunday: 9:30 am: Using Ecclesiastes in Evangelism 10:30 am: The Concept of Team Evangelism 6:00 pm: How to Build Faith in Lost Souls Monday: Confronted With Suffering Tuesday: The Prophet Who Believed a Lie Wednesday: Some Things in Hades We Need in the Church ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________