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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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February 16, 2020
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Contents:
1) Why So Many Superlatives? (Wayne Goff)
2) Where Diligence is Needed (John Edwards)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Why So Many Superlatives?
Wayne Goff
The New Testament seemingly is full of superlatives. For example,
Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that works in us.” Really? “Exceedingly abundantly”?
Isn’t that a little much? Well, that all depends on your concept of
God. If your concept of God is rooted in the Bible’s revelation of
Him, then no, that’s not a little much! In fact, even that
superlative only scratches the surface of God’s power, might and
ability. Friend, what is your concept of God?
God revealed His desire to help us beyond our wildest
expectations in order that we might develop the deepest
trust and confidence in Him, which in turn would lead to our
eternal salvation. Absolute trust and confidence in God is essential
to our faith. After all, didn’t Jesus, the Good Shepherd, promise in
John 10:10 that “. . . I have come that they may have life, and
that they may have it more abundantly.” (“Abundantly”
comes from the same Greek word in both references.) The kind of life
Jesus promises to those who love Him with all their heart, soul,
mind and strength is a life that far exceeds anything they could
have otherwise. Isn’t that what you want? If so, then trust and obey
Jesus!
While on earth, Jesus calmed the winds and waves on a tempestuous
Galilee, which caused those who saw it to be “greatly amazed . .
. beyond measure,” (Mk. 6:51, same word). God is a God
of immeasurable wisdom, power and ability, so superlatives are the
best way to describe Him.
“Awesome” is a word that often describes God in the Bible.
Unfortunately the word has been marginalized from being over used to
describe things that are not actually awesome. When God appeared to
Jacob in a dream, he awoke and exclaimed, “How awesome
is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this
is the gate of heaven!” (Gen. 28:17). The place was awesome
because God was there! Israel was told to put their trust in God
because “. . . the Lord your God, the great and awesome
God, is among you” (Deuteronomy 7:21; see also Deut. 10:17;
28:58; Nehemiah 1:5; Ps. 47:2; etc.). “Awesome” means
“to fear, to revere; to cause to be afraid or full of dread.” This
describes Jacob’s thoughts perfectly. One does not come into the
presence of God and think anything else! “Holy and Reverend
(Awesome) is His Name!” (Psalm 111:9).
The salvation procured for us through His mercy, by “the washing
of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” has been “poured
out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus
3:5-6). God saves us in a way that exceeds the need, but He desires
to leave no doubt!
God determined to show “more abundantly to the heirs of
promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to
lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to
lay hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:17-18). God
leaves no room for doubt in the work that He does to us and for us.
If there is any doubt, it resides solely in our inability to believe
in an Awesome God! What should be the reaction of sinful man?
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on
him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”
(Isaiah 55:7). You cannot ask for more than that!
-- Via The Roanridge Reader, Volume 35, Issue 5, Page 2,
February 2, 2020
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-2-
Where Diligence is Needed
John Edwards
The Scriptures stress the need for diligence, careful and persistent
work or effort.
IN TEACHING OUR CHILDREN. Israel was instructed, “And thou shalt
teach them diligently unto thy children . . .” (Dt. 6:7). How much
effort do we put into teaching our children the words of the Lord,
and to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and might?
IN COMMANDMENT KEEPING. Deuteronomy 6:17 says, “Ye shall diligently
keep the commandments of the Lord your God . . . ” Joshua
exhorted, “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law
. . .”. (Josh. 22:5). King Artaxerxes decreed, “Whatsoever is
commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done . . .”
(Ezra 7:23). We need that same fervor for doing what God commands
today! The Psalmist said, “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy
precepts diligently” (Ps. 119:4).
IN KEEPING THE HEART. Wisdom literature teaches, “Keep thy heart
with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov.
4:23). Moses appealed to the nation of Israel, “Only take heed to
thyself, and keep thy soul diligently . . .” (Dt. 4:9). It is the
persistent effort of every individual to keep his heart!
IN SEEKING THE LOST. Remember the lost piece of silver? “Either what
woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not
light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she
find it?” (Lk. 15:8). No doubt, there will be more rejoicing when
there is more seeking!
IN SPEAKING AND TEACHING THE THINGS OF THE LORD. It is said of
Apollos, “. . . he spake and taught diligently the things of the
Lord . . .” (Acts 18:25). Think how many would come to know the Lord
if each of us would do this today!
IN FOLLOWING GOOD WORKS. Among “widow taken into number”
requirements is the condition: “. . . if she have diligently
followed every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10). The Christian is “. . .
created in Christ Jesus unto good works . . .” (Eph. 2:10), to be “.
. . zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).
IN SEEKING GOD. God “. . . is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him” (Heb. 11:6). It is true that, “if thou shalt seek the
Lord, thou shalt find him” (Dt. 4:29). Paul preached, “That they
should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find
him . . .” (Acts 17:27). Some may never find the Lord for lack of
diligence in seeking! Will you?
IN LOOKING. The Hebrew writer admonished, “Looking diligently lest
any man fail of the grace of God . . .” (Heb. 12:15). If the notion
of "once in grace, always in grace" is true, why the
admonition to look diligently? We do not want to “fail of the grace
of God” for “by grace ye are saved” (Eph. 2:5)!
IN ADDING TO FAITH. Peter reminded disciples, “. . . giving all
diligence, add to your faith . . .” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). Virtue,
knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and
charity are seven additions that require careful work. Diligent
faith-adding is a must “. . . to make your calling and election
sure” (v. 10)!
IN BEING FOUND BLAMELESS. Looking for new heavens and a new
earth, “. . . be diligent that ye may be found of him in
peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:14). How will we be
found in the day of the Lord?
How about dedicating yourself to “abounding in all diligence” in
this new decade (2 Cor. 8:7)?
— Via The Terre Haute Speaker, Volume 9, Number 1, January
5, 2020
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News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Ann Vandevander (Melotine Davis’ sister-in-law) had another
fall recently that required major, emergency surgery. She will be in
the hospital for up to 60 days.
Emma Thomas (Bennie Medlock’s sister) had a stroke recently
that has affected her speech. She has been transferred to a hospital
in Savannah.
Jan Bartlett has started her 4 weeks of radiation treatments,
5 days a week.
Pat Joyner was recently in the hospital to intravenously
receive an iron infusion. She might also have to have a bone marrow
biopsy to check on her blood cell production. With the iron
deficiency and still recovering from her recent surgery, she had
been physically weak.
Also: Rick Cuthbertson, A.J. Joyner, Rex & Frankie Hadley,
John Bladen, Kelly Stoneheart, the Medlock family, Jim Lively,
Shirley Davis, and Kerry Williams.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2020/02/16/the-gospel-observer-february-16-2020/
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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 Jesus 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)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912)
281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (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/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)