____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ February 20, 2005 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) "Fainthearted" (Earl E. Robertson) 2) What a Day May Bring Forth (Steve Klein) 3) Impostors, Wars, and Persecution (Clarence R. Johnson) ____________________________________________________ -1- "Fainthearted" by Earl E. Robertson We use this word often in describing persons who lose heart and wish to drop out, or quit, living the Christian life. However, this word is used just one time in the New Testament (1 Thess. 5:14) The King James translation uses the word "feebleminded." This adjective is a compound being made up of oligos, meaning little or small, and psuche, soul; thus, small-soul or little-soul. It is used by the apostle Paul to the Thessalonians to encourage them to not lose heart but to hold the line. Such exhortation urges the Christian to remain faithful to the Lord regardless of its consequences. A problem over the resurrection of the dead had arisen in Thessalonica and Paul had written to correct this evil. Now it makes no difference how little this doctrine had been taught, some of the brethren had become fainthearted, and needed encouragement. "So encourage one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:18). Many are the times that we all need encouragement! Victory for truth is always a result of struggle. We must be longsuffering and patient in our efforts in the Lord's name. Elders Need Encouragement The elders of Ephesus were exhorted by Paul to be faithful: first, of themselves to the Lord, and second, to the flock over which the Holy Spirit had made them bishops (Acts 20:28). Disorderly elements try the patience of bishops. But hold out with them, the apostle would urge. This is holding fast the faithful word (Titus 1:9). Elders should be encouraged (and prayed for) to have the ability with sound doctrine to convince and exhort gainsayers (Titus 1:9). Members of the body of Christ should realize the duties of elders and so live and conduct themselves in a manner that becomes the gospel of Christ, and thereby make the load easier borne by elders! The work of elders is an uphill climb. Some are lazy and unconcerned about the work; others want to see the cause of Christ grow scripturally. In their efforts for such growth they are frequently criticized. This criticism usually stems from a part of the congregation who are always satisfied with the condition of the church if it doesn't cost them any THING -- time, money, preparation, etc. Elders must be ready to not only withstand this type of criticism, but to surge on in spite of dispositions. They must give account (Heb. 13:17). Christians Need Encouragement It must be recognized that by inspiration, Paul states plainly that some children of God are FAINTHEARTED. Just as there were some "small-soul" brethren in the first century, so there are some now. Words of encouragement and prayers to God should be offered for the despondent lest he be lost forever. The Septuagint gives Isaiah 57:15, saying the Most High giveth "patience to the faint-hearted." This is a very good way in which the word is used. It implies that the faint-hearted accepted the better way and thus was rescued. The lesson for us is that when the Christian falls he must not continue to lie in the mire of sin, but by the grace of God (which he may see through the efforts of brethren to exhort and correct him, Gal. 6:1), arise and rectify himself according to the scriptures, and thereby become reconciled to God and the brethren. There is another way in which this word is used: "A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?" (Prov. 18:14) This gives emphasis to the fact that all God's children must be alert to our own conditions. A wounded spirit can crush the entire man. When one's spirit has become "fainthearted" his power to love, to enjoy and to hope is gone. The Homiletic Commentary says when such energy has been lost "there is nothing to lift him up, and existence becomes an intolerable burden. The spirit can sustain the body under its trials, but sensual gratifications and physical comforts can do nothing towards alleviating spiritual distress" (Vol. 13, p. 547). Preachers Need Encouragement Preachers must preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2). The whole truth must be preached and this takes belief and strong conviction. Just as some elders shrink for lack of courage, and some Christians fail themselves and God, preachers fail to preach the whole truth in love as we are commanded (Eph. 4:15). Paul asked Christians to pray for him that he may speak boldly as he ought to speak (Eph. 6:20). Disciples prayed to God that preachers would speak with boldness the word of God (Acts 4:23-30). When we consider that some preachers are no more than "ear scratchers" (2 Tim. 4:1-4), we should be intelligent enough to know that the possibility of failure in our work as a preacher of Jesus' gospel is ever lurking at our door. Preacher's lives should measure up to their message, and their message must be the gospel (1 Cor. 9:16, 27). It doesn't do anyone any good to preach the gospel and not live it (1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Cor. 9:27). Preachers must live the gospel, preach the gospel and contend earnestly for it (Jude 3; Philippians 1:7, 17). Some preachers are afraid to do this! Some taking issues with me are quick to let me know that they do not want me to "let it out" that they are even discussing the issues of liberalism and modernism with me. Perhaps they fear the cost with the congregation with which they are identified. Rather than the liberal preachers being encouraged to contend earnestly for the faith, many are forbidden to even preach it in their own pulpits. Many have signed agreements with the brethren that they would not preach on certain subjects! It just might be that if they had the right kind of encouragement they might also have the right kind of conviction. So, do not forget to pray for the preacher. Pray that he will study the word of God diligently; pray that he will preach it faithfully with concern for fallen humanity. -- Via Truth Magazine XIV: 3, pp. 6-7 Nov. 20, 1969 ____________________________________________________ -2- What a Day May Bring Forth by Steve Klein Car accidents killed 42,643 people in the United States in the year 2003. 4,749 of those killed were pedestrians. Statistically, about 15 out of every 100,000 people die in auto accidents each year. On the day they died, those who lost their lives surely did not leave their homes in the morning thinking, "Today I am going to die in a car wreck." Similarly, most of the 494,382 people who lost their lives to heart attack and coronary disease in the United States in the year 2002 died unexpectedly. Few who are murdered or receive a diagnosis of terminal illness expect it. These are just some of the more tragic life-ending surprises that happen everyday. It's been said that, "The one certain thing that we can say about the future, is that we can't say anything for certain!" The Bible says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). Not only do we not know what will happen tomorrow, the reality is that there may not even be a tomorrow. In a life filled with uncertainty, Jesus would have us understand that the only safe course is to make certain that we are prepared for eternity. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). Notice the words "ready" and "watch" in these verses. They convey the ideas of being constantly prepared and alert with anticipation. There is wisdom in living every day as if it were your last. One day, it will be. Complete faith and trust in a God who is eternal, absolute and unchanging is the only reasonable way to deal with an existence that is temporary, uncertain and ever changing. This is what it means to "watch" and be "ready." "Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am; My hope is in You" (Psalm 39:4, 7). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, 2/6/05 ____________________________________________________ -3- Impostors, Wars, and Persecution by Clarence R. Johnson Jesus taught that before the destruction of Jerusalem, many would come in His name, "saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled: for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations" (Mark 13:5-10). Jesus' words here are often incorrectly applied to His literal second coming and identified with current events. But all the things Jesus foretold through verse 30 were to be fulfilled in that generation, long before our time. And indeed they were, as He said they would be. False messiahs and false saviors appeared on the scene. Some of them are briefly mentioned in the Scriptures. Others were mentioned in historical accounts of the times. See Acts 8:9-10 and Acts 21:33. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that during the time of Felix (mentioned in Acts 24), "The country was again filled with robbers and impostors, who deluded the multitude. Yet did Felix catch and put to death many of these impostors every day..." (Antiquities of the Jews, 20:3:5). Jesus indicated that before the destruction of Jerusalem, there would be political intrigue, insurrection and turmoil. In fulfillment of His words, four Roman emperors died violently in a period of one and a half years. Various struggles and seditions in the Roman Empire at that time are too numerous to detail. Josephus' Wars of the Jews records armed battles between Jews and Syrians, between Galileans and Samaritans, between various elements of Jewish society against the Romans, etc. There were earthquakes and famines, just as Jesus foretold. Acts 11:28 records one of the famines. Jewish and Roman historians have left accounts of at least one pestilence and five earthquakes during the time between Jesus' prediction and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Numerous Bible passages show how the apostles and their companions were persecuted, brought before kings and councils, etc. See Acts, chapters 4, 7, 12, etc. All these things were to precede the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple -- and indeed they did. The gospel was to be preached throughout the world. By 63 A.D., the apostle Paul could write: "The gospel...has come to you, as it has also in all the world... The gospel which you heard...was preached to every creature under heaven..." (Col. 1:5-6, 23). - Via The Susquehanna Sentinel, October 3, 2004 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________