. ____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ December 28, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) It's Wise to Fear God (Huey Hartselle) 2) Establish Your Hearts (Tim Johnson) 3) The Call to Love (Robert Jackson) 4) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- It's Wise to Fear God by Huey Hartselle "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). Can any person be really wise and not reverence the true and living God? The Mighty Creator of all things and Giver of every good and perfect gift, Who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him! (Zechariah 12:1) We are His offspring. He framed man's body and created him in His own image by giving him an immortal soul. We all depend on God for life and everything to sustain it. "For in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). But even more significant, He gave His only begotten Son to be sacrificed on the cross as an offering for our sins. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is through Christ's redeeming blood that we can come unto God and have our sins all forgiven. Friend, this pardon takes place when a believer in Christ, who has repented of his sins, is baptized into Him. Ananias instructed Saul, a penitent believer, to "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Also we should remember that God will call each of us to a great day of judgment. "God will judge the secrets of men by my gospel" (Romans 2:16). In view of the greatness and goodness as well as the justice of God, how foolish is the person who will not give the profound respect and obedience due Him. Even though God has manifested awesome works, most men do not really fear Him. This was true of Israel of old. They showed their lack of respect by turning from Jehovah to worship the idols of their heathen neighbors. Their disloyalty, immorality, indifference, and self-satisfaction brought them captivity. "But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; they revolt and departed" (Jeremiah 5:22). Today, God continues to show great power in providing material and spiritual blessings, yet the attitude of most people toward serving Him has not changed. Amazingly, we see more evidence of fear of men than fear of God. Often decisions in life are made by whether or not they will bring the praise and approval of our fellowman. Frequently there is compromise of principle to avoid man's censure and displeasure. Apparently most do not consider displeasing God as very serious. This is just the reverse of what one's attitude should be. Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28). God's sovereignty and authority should cause us all to bow with reverential awe. Our fear should be more that of not wanting to offend such a Holy One by disobedience, rather than a feeling of dread and terror. The wise course for our lives is to commit our hearts to trusting and pleasing God. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Life without God has no real meaning and is destined for damnation. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil" (Ecclesiastes l2:13-14). Indeed, it is wise to fear God. -- Via Bible Study ____________________________________________________ -2- Establish Your Hearts by Tim Johnson James 5:8 - "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." This is very good instruction for those who want to spend eternity in heaven. But just exactly what should you do to "establish your hearts?" 1. Receive God's word (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23). Jesus relayed this parable to His disciples to teach them about the various kinds of hearts that exists within men. To make sure they understood, He explained the parable as well. We can see from His explanation that there are wayside hearts, too hardened to ever receive God's word. There are stony hearts, which receive God's word, but have no commitment. There are thorny hearts which receive the Word, obey it, but fall away because they allow the cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches and lusts of other things to take precedence over following God's commandments. Then there are good hearts, which receive God's word gladly, commit themselves to obeying it fully, and teach it to others. Is your heart a good heart? 2. Love God (Matthew 22:37). Once we have received God's word in a good heart, we must develop a love for God because of all the things He has done for us. He gave us our very existence. He has provided all we may need to sustain our physical lives. He has given us His word which we need to sustain our spiritual lives. He gave us His Son so that we might have the remission of our sins. Truly, He first loved us! Do you love Him? 3. Sanctify God in our hearts (I Peter 3:15). To sanctify is to set apart as special. The church of God in Corinth was made up of those who were sanctified in Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 1:2). In speaking to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:32, Paul said that God "is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Just as He has set us apart from all others and made us special, God should be set apart and made special in our hearts. Is God special to you? Can others tell that He is special in your life? Are you prepared to give a reason that God holds such a special place in your life and why you carry the hope of heaven with you? 4. Let the word of Christ dwell in your hearts (Colossians 3:16). God has given us His word to prepare our hearts. We are to allow it to dwell within our hearts. In Deuteronomy 6:4-12, God told the Israelites through Moses that His word should be in their hearts, it should be taught diligently to their children, it should be spoken of in their houses, when they are walking by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise up. His word should be as a sign on their hand and frontlets between their eyes. And it should be written on their doorposts and on their gates. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God speaks of days that would be coming during which He would put His law in the minds of His people and write it upon their hearts. This is speaking of you and me today. He does this because His word is profitable to us for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction (II Timothy 3:16-17). We then should "...give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...meditate on these things... (I Timothy 4:13,15). Does Christ dwell in your heart? There are various other instructions found in God's word concerning establishing our heart for the coming of the Lord. God has left it up to each one of us, individually, to make this preparation (Philippians 2:12). But, He has not left it for us to do alone: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work" (II Thessalonians 2:16-17). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, August 3, 2008 ____________________________________________________ -3- The Call to Love by Robert Jackson The uniform or badge that a person wears will identify him with a certain group or work. This is true of the Christian. He must wear the badge of love. He is called to love. Listen to the words of John: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34,35). We see that men will know that we are of Christ if we have love one to another. Love is Manifested by Self-denial. Jesus, the one of perfect love, manifested in his life self-denial. He was so dedicated to the will of his Father that he was willing to deny self of all things. His love for others caused him to forget his own sorrows and pain. This is true love. We ought to be so concerned about each other that we will be willing to deny self. This will help us to even bear our own burdens when we are busy helping others. Love is manifested by attitude of lowliness. Someone, in expressing the love of Jesus said that our Lord did not possess a peacock complex. Never once did he strut around or show off such an attitude. He was a very humble individual. We must be humble in our life. Without humility, we will be defeated. We cannot parade around with the high and mighty attitude. We must discipline ourselves to be humble. Love is Manifested by Attitude of Forgiveness. Another look at love through the life of Jesus was the attitude of forgiveness. How often did our Lord say to people, "Thy sins be forgiven." Even to the ones who put him on the cross he uttered words that will never be forgotten (Luke 23:34). We hear some say today that they are men of love, but at times, show very little forgiveness to others. It is impossible for one to say they have love if they are not willing to forgive. Love will forgive. What is needed today is for people to heed the call of love. Love the Lord by obeying his will (Mk. 16:15,16). -- Via The East Florence Contender, Vol. XL, No. 5, May 1996 ____________________________________________________ "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:11,12). ____________________________________________________ -4- News & Notes Steve Lefort (Harris' brother) has had three surgeries and various treatments for different cancers in the last seven years. He has now been diagnosed again with spots of cancer on his liver, lungs, and pancreas. Since it is just spots, surgery will not be performed; but Steve is receiving medicinal treatment. Let those of us who are Christians be praying for him. Linda Lefort (Ray's wife) recently had surgery due to cancer of the throat. She is now recuperating. Let us also be including her in our prayers. ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards@onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________