____________________________________________________ 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 3, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls (Irvin Himmel) 2) Sweet Hour of Prayer: Psalm 28 (Bubba Garner) ____________________________________________________ -1- Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls by Irvin Himmel "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). Every life is like some kind of tree. A righteous life is like a good tree bearing good fruit. A wicked life is like a bad tree bearing bad fruit. Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" (Matt. 7:17,18). Fruit of a Righteous Life A righteous person produces fruit that may be considered "a tree of life." This includes the following: (1) Good Influence In Word and Deed. The faithful child of God, "by his good deeds, is as a tree of life to those whose lives he sustains" (Whiteside). Many around us can be uplifted by the power of a good example. The Christian wields a wholesome influence as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matt. 5:13-16). Good words have added weight when backed by good deeds. (2) Food For Souls Through Teaching. The truly righteous man is more than a "Good Samaritan." He feeds hungry souls the bread of life. While people of the world often perform humanitarian acts that aid the temporal man, the Christian sees his main task as helping the spiritually destitute. (3) Encouragement That Helps Weary Souls. "Tree of life" means "that tree which bears fruit that contributes to the life and happiness and good health of those who eat it" (Lanier). The righteous have the right to the tree of life, that is, access to heaven (Rev. 22:14). And each life which reaches out to help others who have grown fainthearted is lifting them from death to life. "The effect of a righteous life on others is like that of a tree of life; and the result which flows from a life of wisdom is the winning of souls" (L. G. Thomas). Wisdom of Winning Souls The winning of souls is a wise thing to do, and the winning of souls requires wisdom. Where is the wisdom of winning souls? (1) Souls Are More Precious Than Gold. Every human being is endowed with a soul which dwells in a physical body. However, that which kills the body does not kill the soul (Matt. 10:28). The soul is one's most priceless possession. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" said Jesus (Matt. 16:26). (2) Souls Won Are Saved From Death. While the soul does not die physically, it can die in the sense of being separated from God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:20). "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19,20). (3) Winning Souls Increases The Influence of Good. Every time one soul is won to the Lord the influence of good multiplies just that much on this earth. Each soul won to the Lord becomes a potential for winning additional souls. I can think of no better way to improve conditions in this world than by turning men and women from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. (4) Winning Souls Brings Joy. The New Testament tells about people who rejoiced when they were baptized (Acts 8:39; 16:33,34). Sometimes people weep for joy when they obey the gospel. But there is joy in the heart of the soul winner as well as in the heart of the converted sinner. Paul referred to his converts at Philippi as his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1). It is a great thrill to have a part in leading someone to the Savior. How Souls Are Won The New Testament teaches Christians how souls are brought to Christ. Here are some truths to consider in this connection: (1) By The Gospel, Not A Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit. No apostle, no evangelist, no teacher in the New Testament instructed sinners to pray for God to send the Spirit to save them from their sins. In every case of conversion the gospel was presented, and by the power of God's word sinners were drawn to the Lord. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (Jn. 6:44,45). Indeed, the gospel of Christ "is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). (2) Through Persuasion, Not Force. God does not attempt to coerce people against their wills to serve him. We should use every righteous means to convince people to accept the gospel, but we cannot force them to turn to the Lord. Paul said, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11). To "persuade" means to prevail upon or win over by bringing about a change of mind by the influence of gospel promises, warnings, and exhortations. People who are baptized because of high pressure tactics turn back as soon as the pressure is removed. To pressure a person is one thing; to win him to the Lord is another thing. (3) Through Godly Living. Peter advised women whose husbands were not Christians that they might be won by the conduct of the wives (1 Pet. 3:1-4). Many who will not listen to the oral presentation of the gospel can be influenced when they see the gospel in action. We should live daily with the thought of winning others who may be watching our behavior. Bearing fruit is inseparably connected with winning souls in a righteous life. God does not want us to be barren or unfruitful (2 Pet. 1:8). -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 3, pp. 70-71, February 1, 1990 ____________________________________________________ -2- Sweet Hour of Prayer Psalm 28 by Bubba Garner I was involved in a car accident. It was minor, but it was my fault. It wrecked my whole week. It was all I could think about. Until my daughter had to get three stitches in her upper lip after a close encounter with a seesaw. She became my world at that moment. Until the next morning when the daughter of one of our families suddenly collapsed and had to be placed on life support. Her father had recently finished teaching a class on the Miracles of Jesus. "We could use one right now," he said in the somber, subdued waiting room. Life has a way of reminding you of what is truly important. Just when you have fretted over the fact that your team didn't win the big game or your car is not working right or one of the appliances needs to be replaced, you are shocked out of selfishness by something that has real value. In a moment, all of the trivial things that seemed important at the time are thrown aside so that your mind and heart can give full attention to the matter at hand. Since life is so uncertain and can change so quickly, it is also a subtle reminder that you have little control over what happens. Staying in touch with people is critical when critical times come. We keep them informed, we update them on any progress, we let them know what we are feeling. But we must not forget the superior form of communication, one where there is no limit on the number of minutes used, no access fees or connections charges. It is a free access to God that man has enjoyed from the beginning. Long before there were cell phones, email, and the combination thereof, there was prayer. What is it about prayer that it can sweeten even the bitterest of times? Prayer reassures us that the Lord is listening. David prayed in Psalm 28, "Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, when I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary" (28:2). Like a little child who raises his hands to be picked up by his father, David was certain that the petitions he was raising were being heard by his Father in heaven. The "sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Sam. 23:1) understood the significance of the sweet hour of prayer. But David was not the only one who had the ear of God. The Father was listening to all the prayers offered in all the assemblies of His children on the last Lord's day. He was listening to all of the families who bowed and "returned thanks" around their dinner tables. He heard every cry from every waiting room, emergency room, and back bedroom. How incredible to think that He who created all the world cares about what's going on in mine. Our Lord listens. Prayer reminds us that God can do what we cannot. Psalm 28 is David's call for help. Perhaps it was written while he was on the run from King Saul or at a time when he felt surrounded by his enemies. But he did not strap on his armor and attempt to fight them on his own. The Lord had delivered him from the paw of the lion or bear that threatened his sheep. The Lord brought him a victory over the giant Goliath. The Lord's power would prevail over the enemies of His anointed. "The Lord is my strength and my shield," David confessed (Psa. 28:7). No other weaponry was necessary. There will be occasions when our safety is threatened by the seemingly impossible, a situation that makes us admit, "I can't do anything about it." But God can. No matter how scary the lion or bear, no matter how tall the giant, no matter how many the enemy, no matter how bleak the diagnosis, no matter how great the difficulty. This is still our Father's world. Trust in His strength to do what you can't. Prayer enables us to express our deepest cares. In this psalm, the heart of the man after God's own heart is opened wide. In his cry for deliverance from his enemies, David pleads for the Lord to "requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices" and "according to the deeds of their hands" (28:4). He is not calling for personal vengeance, but for the Lord to punish the wicked because they do not honor His work or His will. In any case, David does not hide the most intimate feelings of his heart. God wants to hear from His people, but He is not interested in the mere repetition of meaningless phrases that do not originate from the heart. He wants us to pour out our cares before His throne, to make all our "wants and wishes known." He will never betray our confidence; our faith in Him will never be disappointed. When David did that, he could boast, "my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped" (28:7). Perhaps our help has not come because we are still withholding from Him from Whom nothing is hidden. I never know what to say to someone in the wake of a disaster. But I've learned that it's not as important what you say at those times, but Who you say them to. Prayer can turn even the darkest hour into something sweet. -- Via Expository Files 15.8; August 2008 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________