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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, NASB).
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June 9, 2019
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Contents:
1) "Christ Will Be Magnified' (R.J. Evans)
2) Don't Leave Home Without It (Joe R. Price)
3) Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)
4) News & Notes
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-1-
"Christ Will Be Magnified"
R.J. Evans
“According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I
shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now
also Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by
death” (Phil. 1:20).
The above text is taken from the letter Paul wrote to “all the
saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and
deacons” (Phil. 1:1). Though Paul was being held as a prisoner
in Rome at the time of the writing of this epistle, he made several
expressions concerning the joy of being a child of God throughout
the letter. In fact, the book of Philippians has been referred to as
“the epistle of joy.”
In reviewing the words of our text, we see that Paul expressed some
noble desires—that in nothing he would be ashamed and with boldness
Christ would be magnified in his body whether by life or by death.
If any ever questioned Paul’s dedication and faithfulness to the
Lord, reading this letter, along with his other letters, should
completely remove any questions or doubts. In this article, let us
observe some of Paul’s desires for himself, for others, and for the
Lord.
What Paul Desired Concerning Christ
He wanted to make sure that Christ was magnified in his body
“whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20). He was willing to
faithfully serve and glorify God, even if it meant dying for that
purpose. On one occasion, when some of his brethren pleaded
with him not to go to Jerusalem, Paul answered— “What do you mean by
weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound,
but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts
21:13).
Thus, whatever it took, Paul wanted others to learn of Christ, to
recognize Him as the Savior of the world, and to come to Him in
gospel obedience. He was willing to be “defamed” and viewed as “the
filth of the world, the offscouring of all things” (1 Cor. 4:13). Do
we have the same desire that Paul had concerning Jesus? What have we
done that Christ might be magnified in the world?
What Paul Desired For Others
What he desired for others is expressed in a number of scriptures.
Notice Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God
for Israel is that they may be saved.” But not just for Israel— “I
have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save
some” (1 Cor. 9:22). Consider how devoted and dedicated Paul was to
the work of converting others to Christ— “For I could wish that I
myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen
according to the flesh” (1 Cor. 9:3).
Paul had a tremendous desire for men and women to come to Christ in
gospel obedience. I feel confident that he wanted to see others do
well materially and physically, but above all else, he was concerned
for their spiritual welfare. He expressed such a desire in his words
to his brethren at Colosse in Colossians 1:9-10. How strong is our
desire to see sinners obey the gospel and be saved? How strong is
our desire to see Christians continue to grow in the Lord?
What Paul Desired For Himself
Most of Paul’s desires concerned his Lord and others. But there is
one desire that he had for himself that stands out above all others.
He had a tremendous desire to be with the Lord. Notice Philippians
1:23: “For I am hard pressed between the two having a desire to
depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” Paul had already
had a glimpse of the life beyond the grave as he described having
seen “Paradise and heard inexpressible words” (2 Cor. 12:4). Since
he understood so much about it, and since he was not too attached to
this world, he had a burning desire to be "with Christ." How much
and how strong is our desire and longing to be with Him?
May we all learn from Paul’s desire that---"Christ will be
magnified." By so doing, may it help us realize that we
have plenty of room to grow “with the increase which is from God”
(Col. 2:19).
-- via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales,
Louisiana, September 30, 2018
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-2-
Don't Leave Home Without It
Joe R. Price
You remember the old American Express catch phrase at the end of
their commercials: “American Express, don’t leave home without
it.” Well, this morning as I arrived at the office I realized
I had left home without my Bible and the documents I intended to be
working on today (and hence, the seed of this article).
There is any number of things we should not leave home without,
including:
1. Faith in Christ. Each day as Christians go to school or
work it is vital that their faith be solidly in place: “For we walk
by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Faithless teachers challenge
the faith of our children by teaching them such things as organic
evolution and the social values (I use that word accommodatively) of
humanism. Unbelieving classmates will often disagree with Biblical
standards of purity and decency and tempt young Christians to
compromise their faith and “have some fun.” Immoral co-workers will
test your allegiance to Christ by their vulgar language and
lack of godly values. The normal tasks of the day put trials before
every child of God. Faith must be maintained as we live in a
faithless world. Without faith we will not please God (Heb. 11:6).
Faith: “Don’t leave home without it.”
2. Responsibility and integrity. You will be exposed every
day to people and situations that test your commitment to truth,
honesty, and dependability. At work, the Christian should serve his
employer “not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as
bond-servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with
goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that
whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord,
whether he is a slave or free” (Eph. 6:6-8). Trustworthiness,
dependability, and honesty: “Don’t leave home without them.”
3. Love for God and man. The attitudes, decisions and
actions of every Christian are to be the result of love for God and
others. “’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your
neighbor as yourself’”.(Matt. 22:37-39). Love “does no harm to a
neighbor” - even when that “neighbor” harms it (Rom. 13:10, 8-9;
Matt. 5:38-45; 1 Cor. 13). We do not know God nor have His approval
if we do not love others: “He who does not love does not know God,
for God is love” (1 Jno. 4:8). Love: “Don’t leave home without it.”
-- Via the Elon Challenger, vol. 15, No., 11, July 2018
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-3-
Philippians 2:5-8
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ
Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not
regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of
men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross"
(NASB).
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-4-
News & Notes
Folks to be keeping in prayer:
Danny Bartlett writes that his wife “Jan was diagnosed with
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, breast cancer. She has a surgeon
consultation scheduled for June 12th and probably a Lumpectomy
followed with radiation for about six weeks. Prognosis is good, but
it is cancer. Prayers would be welcome.”
On June 4, Nancy Pickerd had a terrible fall that resulted
in shattering her shoulder and socket and breaking her humerus bone
in four places. She will be having surgery for titanium
replacements on June 12.
The back surgery for Melotine Davis will be this Thursday
(June 13).
On May 30, Pat Joyner began cardio therapy, which she will
continue 4 times a week (Monday through Thursday) for 9 weeks
.
The family and friends of Tommy Lindsey and Kayleigh
Tanner.
Others to also be praying for: Shirley Davis, A.J. Joyner, Jim
Lively, Bud Montero, Rick Cuthbertson, James Medlock, Deborah
Medlock, Mary Vandevander, Waylon Murray, Michelle Rittenhouse,
John Stoval, Amris Bedford, Danny Hutcheson, Rex & Frankie
Hadley, Jon Newman, and Roger Montgomery
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/06/09/the-gospel-observer-may-9-2019/
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The
Steps That
Lead to
Eternal
Salvation
1)
Hear the
gospel, for
that is how
faith comes
(Rom. 10:17;
John
20:30-31).
2) Believe in
the deity of
Christ (John
8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of
sins (Luke
13:5; Acts
17:30).
4) Confess
faith in
Christ (Rom.
10:9-10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in
water for the
remission of
sins (Mark
16:16; Acts
2:38; 22:16;
Rom. 6:3-4;
Gal. 3:26-27;
1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in
the faith, living
for the Lord;
for, if not,
salvation can
be lost (Heb.
10:36-39; Rev.
2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m.
& 5 p.m. (worship)
Tuesday: 7 p.m. (Ladies’ Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
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(Gospel Observer website with pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go
(Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but
back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
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