____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ March 18, 2007 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Gleanings from Genesis: The Experience of Cain (Wayne S. Walker) 2) I Don't Want To Be Involved (Don C. Truex) 3) Deep Roots (Shane Williams) 4) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Gleanings from Genesis: The Experience of Cain by Wayne S. Walker The Old Testament is filled with examples for our learning. Some of these examples illustrate positive precepts that God expects us to imitate. Others contain negative admonitions of behavior that God wants us to avoid. The experience of Cain falls into the latter category. The story of Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve, is found in Genesis 4:3-8. Cain became a tiller of the ground and Abel became a keeper of sheep. Evidently, God commanded them to bring an offering. Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock, while Cain brought of the fruit of the ground. It is here that the trouble begins. I. We may learn about obedience. "And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering." Why? To answer this, we need to see the importance of faith to obedience. Abel offered by faith (Heb. 11:4). We know that faith comes only by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Thus, the Lord must have specified what kind of offering he desired. Abel followed the Lord's instructions, acting by faith, and was blessed. Cain acted out of rejection of and rebellion to God's wishes. 1 John 3:12 tells us that Cain's works were evil while his brother's were righteous. The lesson for us is that we also must "walk by faith" (2 Cor. 5:7). This, of course, applies to everything that we do, but it should be applied especially to the realm of religion. To do so, we must strive to please God, not ourselves or other men (Gal. 1:10). Furthermore, we must accept God's word as final authority and do nothing outside what is revealed (2 Jn. 9). The same kinds of arguments that are made to justify instrumental music in worship today could have been used by Cain to justify his vegetable offering. So far as we know, God did not say "not to." But he did specify what he wanted. Therefore, he rejected Cain's substitute. II. We can learn about anger. When Cain did wrong and displeased God, he became upset. Actually, it was God who had the right to be angry with Cain's disobedience. But we are told, "And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?'" Cain directed his anger towards righteous Abel. It has always been quite common for those who have turned away from God to be angry with those who are following God. Paul asked those among the Galatians who had been bewitched by a different gospel, "Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (Gal. 4:16). Cain's anger turned into jealousy and envy which then became hatred and malice. What we need to learn is to be careful of anger. Yes, there are times when righteous anger is in order. However, even in these situations we must understand that we should "be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Eph. 4:26). Rather, we must work to control our anger, "For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (Jas. 1:19-20). Moreover, we must not allow our anger to become envying, which is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:21). Nor should we ever allow anger to linger until it turns to malice harbored in our hearts (Eph. 4:31). Cain could have used his anger constructively to motivate him to do better. Rather, he let it lead him down the wrong path. III. We may learn about sin. God described sin to Cain as not doing well. "And if you do not do well...." It is a transgression of God's law (1 Jn. 3:4), an act of unrighteousness (1 Jn. 5:17). In addition, sin is enslaving. H.C. Leupold translated v. 7, "And if thou dost not do right, then at the door there is sin, a crouching beast, striving to get at thee, but thou shouldst rule over it." This statement reminds us that the author of sin, Satan, goes about as a roaring lion, seeking victims to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Therefore, when we yield ourselves to Satan's temptations, we become servants of sin (Rom. 6:12-18). However, this account teaches us that we can "rule over it," that we can overcome sin by faith (1 Jn. 5:4). In order to do this, we must come to control the lust within us that permits us to be tempted (2 Tim. 2:22; Tit. 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:11). We must also strive to avoid opportunities where we will be tempted to sin (Jas. 1:13-16). And we must also learn, when we are faced with temptations, to resist the devil by saying, "No" (Jas. 4:7). In addition, we must look to God's word for strength (Psa. 119:11). This is what Jesus did when he was tempted (Matt. 4). We do not have to sin in the manner that Cain did. Rather, we can follow the example of our Savior and conquer Satan. Conclusion Let us remember that sin is progressive. Cain began with a seemingly innocent act of disobedience. This led to anger, jealousy, and hatred, which eventually culminated in the sin of murder. While sin in our lives may not result in so drastic an act, each of us is faced with two choices. Either we can go the way of Cain, living a life of disobedience and sin. Or we may follow the example of Abel in his faith and obedience. It is the little decisions that we make along the way that start us on one road or the other. Therefore, we need to be careful of even these "little things." And when we do sin, we need to be grateful that God has made it possible for us to have forgiveness and to avail ourselves of that privilege before we become hardened in our sin. If we do this, we will benefit from the experience of Cain. -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 4, p. 106, February 18, 1988 ____________________________________________________ -2- I Don't Want To Be Involved by Don C. Truex In theory, none would deny the importance of the local body of believers. Our participation, however, sometimes belies the true sentiment of our hearts. Much of this discrepancy would be alleviated if we were to truly come to understand the concept of "membership" in the body. Listen to Paul: "For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" (Romans 12:4,5). Membership in a local church implies much more than simply having one's name and picture in a directory. It acknowledges that we are willing to fulfill the "one another" obligations that are essential to the relationship, i.e. "love," "serve," "bear with," "admonish," "forgive," etc. What can we do to be better involved in the local church? Let me suggest several things. First, realize your dependence. No Christian can function effectively by himself. Just as a hand severed from an arm ceases to function and will inevitably die, so also a Christian who does not participate with the other members of the body is destined to decay and die spiritually. Sometimes you hear a brother say, "I don't need the local church. I can function just fine by myself." Really? Then you're saying you know more about spiritual health than the apostle Paul. He taught that one member can never say to another, "I don't need you!" (1 Corinthians 15:21). Second emphasize equality. No member of a local body of believers should feel smug or superior to any other (Romans 12:3). God designed both the physical and spiritual body so that all the members are important. The applications of this principle are legion. Members of our physical body are quick to aid any injured member; they do not ambitiously draw attention to themselves in order to protect a weaker member of the body. So also in the local church, when we learn to "bear one another's burdens" to "bear the infirmities of the weak" -- when we do that, the body as a whole is strengthened. Third, work for unity. God designed the human body to love harmony and hate discord. In fact, when there is discord in the human body we say that it has a "disease." The principle holds true spiritually as well. That's why Paul encourages us to endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). Now, how healthy would the body be if every member functions just like you? -- Via Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 11/9/97 ____________________________________________________ -3- Deep Roots by Shane Williams Have you ever tried to remove a tree or stump from your yard? How about something as simple as a big bush? Where I grew up in California, a quarter of our front yard was full of Junipers. We decided to replace them with a lawn and I still remember how much work was involved for that to be accomplished. Even with shovels, and axe, lots of rope and a half-ton pickup, it was still a whole lot of work! Who would have thought it would be so difficult? I sure did not. Strong, deep roots had anchored those bushes firmly in the ground. In the Bible, godly people are often likened to trees with strong deep roots (Psa. 1:3; Prov. 12:3; Jer. 17:7,8). The branches of growing trees not only reach higher, but their roots grow deeper. It's impossible for a strong tree to have high branches without having deep roots. It would become top-heavy and topple over in the wind. The same is true with Christians. It's not possible for us to grow in the Lord without interweaving our roots around His Word and deepening our life in His instructions. Would you like to be a tall, immovable tree? That comes only through a life of Bible study, discipline, and faith -- conditions that produce deep roots. -- Via The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 7, No. 9, Jan. 2007 ____________________________________________________ -4- News & Notes We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Jean Young (Susie Lykins' mother) who passed away March 14. Let those of us who are Christians be praying for her loved ones during this time of their grief. There will be a Gospel Meeting this coming Sunday through Friday (March 25-30) at the Park Forest church of Christ in Baton Rouge with Pat Jones as the guest speaker. The sermons will be as follows: Sunday 9 AM: "The Parable of the Sower" Sunday 10 AM: "What's the Meaning of the Lord's Day?" Sunday 6 PM: "Marriage Made in Heaven" Monday Through Friday services will begin at 7:30 PM. Monday: "Can I Trust the Story of Jesus?" Tuesday: "Watch and Pray" Wednesday: "How to Keep Your Convictions" Thursday: "The Misunderstood Christ and His Misunderstood Church" Friday: "Waiting for a City" The Park Forest church of Christ meets at 9923 Sunny Cline Drive (at the corner of Aletha). ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________