____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ June 26, 2005 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The One Not Chosen: Joseph Barsabbas (Tony Mauck) 2) The Healing of Epaphroditus (Steve Klein) 3) Taking Heed Lest We Fall (Bobby Graham) ____________________________________________________ -1- The One Not Chosen: Joseph Barsabbas by Tony Mauck Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sthur, Nahbi, Geuel -- any of those names ring a bell? Probably not. Joshua and Caleb? "Oh, yeah, I remember them." Ten names that will go down in infamy. We hardly recall their names because they are the ten spies who came back with the faithless report about taking the land of promise. We remember Joshua and Caleb because of their contrasting response, their great confidence in God to be able to deliver what He promised. Let's try another: Matthias. Sure, you remember Him too. He was the one who was selected to replace Judas Iscariot and be numbered among the apostles (Acts 1:21-26). How well do you remember the other disciple whose name was thrown into the hat with Matthias, the one not chosen to be numbered among the 12? The name Joseph Barsabbas is likely not on the tip of your tongue. Most likely, he who was also called Justus would not make your list of great Bible characters. Not that we should equally compare Joseph Barsabbas with the ten names of infamy aforementioned, but he is often passed over nonetheless because he was not chosen. Not to be confused with evil Barrabas or Joseph who was called Barnabas by the apostles, Joseph Barsabbas is perhaps an under-appreciated disciple of the Lord. What if you had been Joseph Barsabbas the day the lot fell upon Matthias and not you? It hurts to be passed over. Would feelings of inadequacy and disappointment have beset you? Did he pause to think, "I wonder why God chose Matthias and not me"? Have you ever felt passed over, unappreciated, unacknowledged or undervalued in the Lord's cause? The story of Joseph Barsabbas is for you. Four observations about this disciple in Scripture: Though Not Chosen, Chosen of God Despite not being numbered among the 12, Joseph could find consolation that he was still numbered among the people of God, the chosen, Eph. 1:4; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 2:9. "Chosen of God" is a place of honor or blessing even if we are not chosen for other tasks in God's kingdom or our deeds for the Lord go unnoticed by others. All Are Not Apostles, Are They? Everyone could not serve as an apostle of our Lord (only 12 positions available!). In 1 Cor. 12:29-30, Paul could well have said, "Remember Joseph Barsabbas." Not everyone could be a tongue-speaker or miracle-worker in Corinth, but everyone could practice the love of Christ, 1 Cor. 13:31 through 14:1. Everyone cannot serve as elder. Everyone cannot effectively fill a pulpit. No room exists in the kingdom for rivalry, competition, envy and jealousy, Eph. 4:1-3. Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice The challenge to be selfless can be no greater than right here. I would like to think Joseph congratulated Matthias, patted him on the back, offered support and said something to this effect: "I'm glad for you, brother. May the Lord bless us both as we continue to strive for His kingdom and glory!" For many, the first part of Rom. 12:15 is much harder to do than the second part. It's okay if someone else gets the nod other than me. We should rejoice in how the Lord is able to use them. It's okay if someone gets praised, noticed, and I do not. Remember, the Lord always notices, Heb. 6:10. Excel Still More Joseph Barsabbas was not being rejected as a Christian. Who really knows why God chose Matthias over him? Certainly, yield in the kingdom varies from disciple to disciple, Luke 8:15. Not everyone can be the five-talent man, Matt. 25:14-30. Joseph's non-selection changed nothing. His mission was still to see maximum yield for his Lord and King. How are you going to handle disappointment in the kingdom and in life for that matter? How will you respond to the selection of others above yourself? 1) Do not wallow in self-pity. 2) Determine to imitate Christ in your thinking and character to the best of your ability. 3) Cultivate your talent. Tap into all of your ability for service in the kingdom. Who knows what the Lord may yet be able to do through you? 4) Kill jealousy and rivalry in your heart. Rejoice with, acknowledge, appreciate and encourage those who excel among us, 1 Thess. 5:11-18. 5) Stay focused in your aim and constant effort to fulfill the greatest command, Mark 12:30-31. Chosen of God is enough! It's more than enough. It's the ultimate. -- Via Abundant Life, April 2005 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Healing of Epaphroditus by Steve Klein The New Testament tells of many miraculous healings performed by Jesus and His apostles. Blind men were given sight, lame men walked and lepers were cleansed. These recorded events reveal to us the power of God and the truth of His word as spoken by those who worked the miracles (Hebrews 2:3-4). The healing of Epaphroditus is different. Epaphroditus was a member of the church at Philippi whom they sent to minister to the needs of the apostle Paul. Paul regarded him as a "brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier." Yet, while in Paul's company, Epaphroditus fell seriously ill. In Philippians 2:27, Paul writes to the Philippians that, "indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." We are not told exactly how Epaphroditus was healed, other than that "God had mercy on him." There is no indication of miraculous healing, even though the apostle Paul was present and had been given the power to perform such miracles. On other occasions, "God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick and the diseases left them..." (Acts 19:11-12). Yet it seems that Paul did not use this power just to help a friend and brother on this occasion. Note that Paul was concerned that Epaphroditus might not recover; surely that would not have been the case had Paul healed him miraculously. On another occasion, another friend and co-worker of Paul's was not healed in such a timely way. In 2 Timothy 4:20 Paul mentions having to leave "Trophimus in Miletus sick." There are a couple of vital lessons to learn from the healing of Epaphroditus and the non-healing of Trophimus. The first is that, even in the age of miracles, God did not guarantee miraculous healing to all of His people. Miracles were reserved for confirming God's word. No matter how worthy and faithful saints may have been in New Testament times, they did not expect and did not receive miraculous healing every time they got sick. This fact escapes the notice of most modern Pentecostals and Charismatics. The second lesson is that even though a person may not be healed miraculously, he is still healed by God. It was God who "had mercy" on Epaphroditus. The God, who created the human body along with the elements and biological forces that sustain it, can and does grant healing to men through natural means. When we receive healing from God through natural means, let us always remember to thank Him -- to say with the Psalmist, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:2-3). And when healing is not granted, let us say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, April 3, 2005 ____________________________________________________ -3- Taking Heed Lest We Fall by Bobby Graham "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). In these few words the apostle says that the child of God can fall from God's grace; and that there is the need to be careful to avoid falling; and that the person who especially needs to take heed is the one thinking that he is secure. In all areas of endeavor -- physical labor, mental effort, athletic competition, prevention and control of disease, there is the need for those who think themselves to be strong and immune from opposition to exercise vigilance. So it is in the realm of the spirit. The question from the practical side poses itself: How can I take heed? Here the Word of the Lord supplies the answer that is designed by the Lord to serve not just as an answer to the question, but also as the solution to the problem of falling. 1. Buffeting of the Body: While the word here rendered buffet in 1 Corinthians 9:27 means to bruise, the Lord is not urging us to actually abuse our bodies. His emphasis is upon what the latter part of the verse refers to as "bringing it into subjection, lest we become castaways." It is extremely necessary for God's people to learn self-denial, even as our Lord said in Matthew 16:24: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." One must learn to consider the body from the standpoint of its being useful for God's purpose rather than from the standpoint of physical gratification and satisfaction that is opposed the standard of righteousness. 2. Using the Whole Armor of God: Ephesians 6:14-18 discusses the armor needed for successful combat in the spiritual realm: "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication..." A use of only a part of the complete armor constitutes a weakened effort in the battle against sin and a lack of appreciation for the Divine provision. Using the complete armor and a standing in the strength provided are to be done in conjunction with prayer and supplication. Is it any wonder that God's people so often fail? They fail to take heed in this matter, which is so urgent in our effort to remain faithful. 3. Resisting the Devil: Active opposition is the idea of resisting, not passive drowsiness. God's children can best prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan and ultimately discourage their continuation by open resistance to the Devil. The promise of inspiration is that the Devil flees from such resistance. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). The case of Jesus proves what the promise of James means. After Jesus steadfastly resisted the Devil, "then the Devil leaveth him, and angels came and ministered to him" (Matthew 4:11). In taking these measures, we take heed to ourselves, to God and His provisions, and to the attacks of the Devil. In doing so, we take heed lest we fall. -- Via Gospel Guide, Volume 33, No. 3 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________