____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ August 19, 2007 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Prophet Haggai (Clinton Douglas III) 2) The Narrow Door (Curtis E. Flat) 3) "Preparation" (Johnie Edwards) ____________________________________________________ -1- The Prophet Haggai by Clinton Douglas III With the Babylonian exile in the past, God's people had returned to their homeland with full intentions of rebuilding the temple. However, after laying only the foundation, the work came to a squelching halt. Due to discouragement, despondency, and carnality, some sixteen years passed and the project was not finished. Not pleased with the situation, God raised up the prophet Haggai and sent him to the people with a series of messages (sermonettes), designed to stir up the nation to complete the temple. In a word, God chose the right man! We don't have any background on this fine spokesman, but the following is clearly seen or implied in the book that bears his name. Think of Haggai as the man who: Had the Spark! Yes, he had the faith, the initiative, and the driving force to provoke his respective audience to repent of their ways and do the work God enjoined upon them. In fact, Haggai's central focus and purpose was to build the temple. Build the temple. Build the temple! He asked "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" (NKJV). His challenge did not fall on deaf ears (cf. 1:4,12,14,15). Had the Right Attitude While the people to whom he spoke exerted an attitude of complacency, such was not true of Haggai. Quite evidently, he had the attitude we all need when it comes to doing the Lord's work. The people were saying "The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built" (1:2b). Haggai's response was in so many words, it's always time to do God's work! His business must always have priority. With that in mind, he told them, "To carefully consider their thoughts." Even to this date, brethren, we must not allow material things to rob us of spiritual insight and faithful service to our Creator (see 1:2-7)! Had Guts and Courage The prophet Haggai like ourselves, was given a message to preach. Having received his message, he would boldly proclaim it and let the chips fall where they may. The question is, do we have such boldness to take the message God has given us and deliver it with the same force as a Haggai? We desperately need such boldness (cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 8: 4; 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:1-5). Had God's Blessings and Backing It is conveyed throughout the book of Haggai that the hand of the Almighty God was with him and was behind his every message. In fact, the Lord desired to extend his blessings to all his people, and would do so readily, if they would resume their work and finish the temple (1:13). It might be of interest to you to note that the phrase "Thus says the Lord" or its equivalent is given some 26 times in this short book of only 38 verses. Had Anticipation We can see too, that in Haggai's preaching there was expectation and anticipation. He and the Lord expected things to happen and that a change for the better prevail. And guess what? Things did change! Thank God for such a change. It's always refreshing and joyous to see the good results from having proclaimed God's powerful word (2:1-6). Had Interest and Will Last but certainly not least, we can learn from Haggai that when God's will becomes our will much good will result. On the other hand, to ignore God's will severely limits our blessings, potential, success, and our full joy! Conclusion Truly, Haggai had all the right stuff. Because of him (and God), the temple was rebuilt as ordered. Consequently, God's glory was re-established among his people (cf. 2:1-9). Hopefully, this lesson will put some fire under the likes of you and me, my beloved brethren, and we'll begin with more urgency to do what the Lord commands and demands of us. Let it be so! -- Via Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 13, October 16, 1997 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Narrow Door by Curtis E. Flat In a scene found in Luke 13:22-24, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. From one village to another he went. He taught as he went. The people listened. One responded to his teaching by saying: "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" The reply of Jesus was: "Strive to enter in by the narrow door." Here the kingdom of God -- the church of the Bible -- is thought of as a building with an entry that is called a narrow door. The question had to do with those being saved. Jesus answered as if the one asking the question knew the kingdom would be made up of the saved. Later we find that the church is actually made up of the saved people (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23). But Jesus did not stop at this point. He added: "For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Jesus did not explicitly say "when" this seeking and rejection would be done, but the verses which follow certainly indicate that this will be at the time when entry is not possible. Consider The Door Since so much revolves about the door, let us consider this door. Jesus was surely saying that this door into the kingdom was a door of escape. It is the means of escaping the domain of darkness at the same time there is entrance into the kingdom. Consider Colossians 1:13: "For he delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son." Of course, Christ is that door of entry (John 10:9). Inside the door the blessings are to be found in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Consider The Narrow Door Jesus said that the door is narrow. It is narrow in the sense that it excludes so many. It is for those who "strive." This door is too narrow for the self-righteous. "For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20). It is too narrow for those who have to have their own way in religion. Paul said of his people in Romans 10:3: "For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God." This door is too narrow for the immoral people. In Galatians 5:19-21, the apostle said that such cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. It is also too narrow for those morally good people who are outside of Christ. The good Gentile of Acts 10:1-3 certainly shows that to be so. It is also too narrow for any others who do not obey the gospel. According to 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 9 when Jesus comes, he will be "Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power." INDEED, THE DOOR IS NARROW! The Shut Door After describing the door as being narrow, Jesus went on to show that the time will be when it is shut to some. Jesus continued: "Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open the door to us,' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets' and He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves being cast out" (Luke 13:25-25). How sad! This may be at death (Heb. 9:27). This may be at the judgment (Matt. 25:1-13). The shut door depicts hopeless exclusion. Still, to be on the inside when the door is shut will mean everlasting safety. STRIVE TO ENTER THE DOOR! -- Via Gospel Guide, Volume XXVI, No. 3, March 1994 ____________________________________________________ -3- "Preparation" by Johnie Edwards Preparation is essential to every endeavor. Folks prepare for retirement, a trip they are planning on taking, for the children's college, for a job and the list goes on. Few seem to see the need for making preparation for the greatest of all events: that of life after death! 1) Preparation Requirements: Preparation for eternity falls into two areas: First, primary preparation involves hearing the gospel preached (Ac. 2:22); believing or faith (Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6); repentance which involves a change of mind that results in a change of life (Mt. 21:28; Ac. 17:30); a public confession of faith; confessing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Mt. 10:32; Ac. 8:37) and being baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) for the "remission of sins" (Ac. 2:38); into the one body (I Cor. 12:13); to be added to the Lord's church (Ac. 2:47). After making the initial preparation, one is now ready to continue to make preparation for eternity. Salvation has to be worked out (Phil. 2:12). Stedfast faithfulness is required of each member (I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10). This includes faithful "church" attendance (Heb. 10:25); worshiping "in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24); being "ready to every good work" (Tit. 3:1); "fighting a good fight, finishing the course, and keeping the faith" (2 Tim. 4:6-8). 2) Heaven Prepared For The Prepared: No one will go to heaven by accident; but by preparing to go. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins teach us that only "they that were ready went in..." (Mt. 25:1-13). As Jesus was about to leave His apostles he proclaimed: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:1-3). 3) Prepare To Meet God: As God challenged Israel of old, he demanded: "...prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" (Amos 4:12). We will meet God prepared or not! So, don't let your life slip away without making the proper preparation to meet God in judgment and plan to live with Him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity (Mt. 25:46). -- Via The Ellettsville Church Bulletin, April 2007 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________