____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ April 26, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Can You Read? Why? by Morris D. Norman I once gave a friend a book on a religious subject for a kind deed he had done for me. I did not know that he could not read; he had concealed it well. He later confided in me that the gift gave him the incentive to learn to read, not just so he could read, but specifically that he might be able to read the Bible, both privately and publicly. He was not a young man, perhaps near middle life then. He was a good man, faithful to the Lord. He had worked hard from early life and made a comfortable living. However, the incentive to learn to read was not there until he had grown spiritually to the point that he wanted to know first hand the words that God had revealed. What is the point? Just this: why do we do what we do? What are our incentives in life? We teach our children to read and to write, but for what? To get along in this world, that's why. To open up the volumes that have been written by men so as to educate them in the things of this life: to be doctors, lawyers, school teachers, and the numerous other pursuits that are open to them by reading. Do we ever impress on our children (or are we impressed ourselves) with the fact that by reading we are open to the eternal wisdom of God? That by words chosen by the Holy Spirit and revealed to inspired men of the first century we can know the mind of God? And what do we read? And what do we read to them? We read the newspapers, sports magazines, paperbacks (filled with ungodliness) with little time given to God's volume. We read to our children Mother Goose, Sesame Street and other fantasies. They nor us know little of Bible narratives and the deep lessons that can be learned from them. It is tremendous to have doctors, but if we heal the body and not the soul, we are lost. Law makers, lawyers and law enforcement are important to an orderly society; but those ignorant of God's law and its application are out of order with God and guilty of anarchy. School teachers are sorely needed, but if we educate for this world only and not for the kingdom of heaven, there is no profit. ``For what shall a man profit, if he gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?'' (Matthew 16:26). Learn to read, teach your children to read; to read with understanding, but with priority. Educate yourself and your children, but to be better in the service of our God. Learn to communicate (written and vocal), but forget not to teach God's word. If our incentives for advancement are for this world alone, we have missed the whole purpose of life. Too many who claim to be Christians know far more of the things that have to do with this passing life than of eternal truths. SHAME!! SHAME!! We can converse at length about politics, economics and sports; but are lost and even bored in the briefest discussion of spiritual matters. Give your children the best education available, but impress on them that it is for the kingdom of God, and that in whatever their pursuits it is for God. ___________________________________________ THE POWER OF SATAN by Harry L. Lewis The Bible has much to say about witches and witchcraft (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Isaiah 8:19-20; 2 Kings 23:24; Jeremiah 27:9-10, 28:8-9; Micah 5:12-13; Nahum 3:4; Revelation 21:8, 22:15). Friends, when we read what these passages say about witches and witchcraft, we must come to the conclusion that God has taught us that they were people who tried, invariably, to put one over on their subjects. THEY LIED! DID SHE HAVE WITCH'S POWER? The ``Witch of Endor'' is sometimes alluded to as an exception. Some say she really had the powers she claimed. Brother T.G. O'Neal said in an article in Searching the Scriptures, Volume 19-20, Page 90, May 1978, ``Some will ask about the `Witch of Endor' and did she not have powers? One needs to observe that in 1 Samuel 28 she is not called the `Witch of Endor.' The text says `a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor' (verse 7). Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land (verse 3). When he saw the Philistine army `He was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled' (verse 5). Saul `Inquired of the Lord' (verse 6), but `The Lord answered him not.' It was then that Saul turned to the woman with a familiar spirit. He did not want her to tell him anything; he wanted her to get God's prophet, Samuel. The action of the woman in verse 12 would indicate she was not expecting Samuel to appear for `She cried with a loud voice.' Is this not an exceptional case of the working of the Lord?'' He used this situation to get the point across to Saul, and, at the same time allow him to sink still further into the mire of sin. SHE WAS TERRIFIED No one was more afraid that day than the very woman who CLAIMED to have the power to talk with the dead. She was afraid of Saul who could take her life, as he had many others. She was also afraid of the God who had inspired Samuel in the first place. Samuel told Saul nothing that he had not told him before. In other words, Samuel just said ``I told you so.'' Also, Samuel did not do his talking through the woman of Endor, but spoke directly to Saul. The God of heaven got His message to Saul, and Saul was shown just how far he had sunk; for he consulted a witch. God was using the witch to show Saul how far he had gone astray. God was not using the witch to contact the dead, for this would be sin--i.e. a violation of His own law! SATAN ALWAYS LIES! Satan has always used the lie to get to men. He is very subtile sometimes as he makes his great lies appear as great good. Notice in Genesis 2:17; 3:11ff; how he made it appear that the sin would be good for Eve. Notice how it appears good when men hold a Bible up, cry and preach. Look, however, at 2 Corinthians 11:13ff; 1 John 4:1ff as we are informed that Satan's helpers may appear as ``an angel of light.'' Holding a Bible up and crying while you preach does not necessarily mean the TRUTH is being preached. Look again at Matthew 7:21-23, and notice how some were so deceived that they still thought at the time of judgment that they had done many wonderful works for, or in the service of, God. Satan has always used deception in all that he does. He does not represent anything as it really is. He is THE deceiver! In every situation where Satan tries to convince you to sin, he misrepresents the facts, and always promises more than he can deliver. Sin itself is deceptive by its very nature. THINK ABOUT IT! ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________