____________________________________________________ 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 20, 1997 ____________________________________________________ "Make Friends of God's Children" by Wayne S. Walker ``I am a friend to all who fear You, to all who follow Your precepts'' (Psalm 119:63, NIV). We have all heard the sayings, ``Birds of a feather flock together,'' and ``A man is known by the company he keeps.'' While these statements are not taken from the Bible, the thought that they convey is certainly a Bible principle. We are definitely influenced by the kind of people with whom we associate. Hence, one thing that will help us be holy as God is holy is to ``make friends of God's children.'' God's word certainly warns us against making close friendships with those whose lives do not reflect the principles of Christ. ``Do not be deceived: `Evil company corrupts good habits''' (1 Corinthians 15:33; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). This, of course, does not mean that we must refrain completely from all association with the world, else we would have to go out of the world (1 Corinthians 5:10). If this were the case, we would not be able to have an influence for good in the world (1 Peter 2:11-12). But we must be very careful that we do not allow the relationships that we have with people of the world to influence us for evil. So, to help us accomplish this aim, we need to make sure that our closest friendships are with those of like precious faith. Those early disciples in Jerusalem evidently made friends of God's children because in addition to their continuing in their public assemblies, they were ``breaking bread from house to house'' as ``they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart'' (Acts 2:46). In a local church, the relationship between the members should be more than just worshiping together. It should involve a being ``of one heart and one soul'' (Acts 4:32). And this will include a desire to be together in our social activities as well as in our spiritual work and worship. We are taught to love our brethren (John 13:34-35). Of course, we are taught to love our enemies too (Matthew 5:44). Yet, we certainly do not maintain friendships with them nor socialize with them. However, we are taught in addition to have ``brotherly love'' or ``brotherly kindness'' (Hebrews 13:1; 2 Peter 1:7). The root meaning of the word so translated carries the idea of friendship. It is sometimes said that we must love our enemies, although we may not necessarily like them. But this word tells us that we should not only love our brethren, but also work at liking them and try to be friends with them. We are also told, ``Be hospitable to one another without grumbling'' (1 Peter 4:9). The basic meaning of ``hospitality'' is ``love to strangers'' and certainly we should have that (Hebrews 13:2). But here we are told to show hospitality to one another, i.e., our brethren. Nothing is a better evidence of true friendship than providing and taking opportunities to associate with fellow Christians in our homes and enjoy one another's company. As we visit with one another and do things together we show that we have made friends of God's children. -- Via Search for Truth, April 1997 ___________________________________________ Habakkuk 3:17-19 ``Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail, And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places.'' ___________________________________________ MY LORD AND MY GOD! by Ron Halbrook Thomas had first doubted the report of the disciples who told of the risen Saviour. But when Jesus appeared in a closed room before Thomas and the other disciples, Thomas himself uttered the most beautiful confession a man can make: ``MY LORD AND MY GOD!'' (Jn. 20). On Judgment Day, it will make all the difference in the world whether a man has made that confession. Jesus said, ``Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father...But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven'' (Matt. 10:32-33). The message of faith is this: ``If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus...thou shalt be saved'' (Rom. 10:9-10). Confessing Christ is not a ``do-it-once-and-be-done-with-it'' affair. The Bible warns about those who ``profess that they know God but in works...deny him,'' and those who have ``a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof'' (Tit. 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:5). Timothy ``professed a good profession before many witnesses,'' even as Christ ``before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession'' (1 Tim. 6:12-13). In other words, our very lives must be constant confessions of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is worthy of the confession, ``My Lord and my God!'' because he was born of a virgin. His name is Immanuel -- God with us. He died on the cross for sinners unworthy of such a gift. The Father raised him from the dead that he might rule and reign in glory. ``The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool'' (Ps. 110). In his hands are ``the keys of hades and of death'' (Rev. 1:18). God showed John a vision of thousands of angels ``saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing'' (Rev. 5:12). He is worthy because he ``made himself of no reputation...and became obedient unto death.'' God highly exalted him and gave him ``a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father'' (Phil. 2). Have you confessed him? Are you living it???? -- Via church of Christ at Park Avenue ___________________________________________ ``Help Those Who Are Weak'' by Wayne S. Walker ``We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves'' (Romans 15:1). Those who have experienced some problem or tragedy in their lives often find that they when they reach out to help others, they themselves are helped to deal with and overcome their own difficulties or grief. And the same thing is true in our relationship with God. As we help others, we help ourselves draw nearer to God and be more holy like Him. Indeed, God intended the life of the Christian to be a life of service. Jesus said, ''...But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant'' (Matthew 20:26). One specific way that we can be of service is to help those who are weak in the faith. All of us have experienced times when we are weaker than at other times, and we all have areas of our lives where we may be somewhat weak. As Jesus told His apostles, ''...The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak'' (Matthew 26:41). Of course, we can use our weaknesses as strengths if we but recognize them and use them as opportunities to develop greater trust in the Lord. God told Paul, ''...My strength is made perfect in weakness,'' so Paul concluded, ``For when I am weak, than I am strong'' (2 Corinthians 13:9-10). Yet, when we have to strive with weakness, it is always good to have another to lend a helping hand. ``Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ'' (Galatians 6:2). And if we appreciate the help that others have given to us in our weaknesses, we ought to be the more willing to help others in their weaknesses. Perhaps because of Paul's own experiences, he exhorted the Ephesian elders, ``That you must support the weak'' (Acts 20:35). And he encourages all Christians to ``uphold the weak'' (1 Thessalonians 5:14). This implies that there are brethren who may easily stumble, and that we must not expect or leave them to stand alone. One way in which we help the weak is by considering their consciences and not acting so as to lead them to violate their scruples. In 1 Cor. 8:7-12 Paul talks about those early believers whose conscience was weak in that they could not eat meats sacrificed to idols. Stronger believers understood that they could eat without violating God's will, but Paul cautioned them not to do so if it wound the conscience of a weaker brother. And in everything that we do, we need to be concerned about how our actions may influence those who are weak so that we do not lead them to violate their conscience. Sometimes, people allow weakness to turn them away from the Lord. In such cases, we can help by seeking to ``restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted'' (Galatians 6:1). The reason why this is so important is that when ``anyone among you wanders from the truth...he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins'' (James 5:19-20). This shows that we help ourselves to be more holy when we help those who are weak. -- Via Search for Truth, April 1997 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES I learned just yesterday that Joe Galford and his wife Betty were involved in a serious car accident the Thursday before last, and Joe has been in intensive care in Charleston, WV, since. Betty was released Friday (18th). He and his wife were heading to Charleston when the car went against the guard rail and then toppled down the hillside about 400 or 500 feet. Betty received broken ribs, and both of them had their lungs to collapse. Joe also received a lacerated liver and a crushed heel, which is so severe that there is a possibility that his foot might have to be amputated. Please be praying for them. Joe is the church's landlord, as well as mine. He is a dedicated Nazarene, a sincere man who has abounded in generosity through the years, and the one who had been printing up our church bulletin for several years before he sold his business. Others to also be praying for: Ron Music's mother, June, has also been very sick recently. Her double pneumonia has never cleared up entirely from last December, and her kidney has been malfunctioning. I would like to also solicit prayers for Linda Mancini, nee Putney, who is a good friend of my sister, and now undergoing chemotherapy for Lupus. Jack Howell has written the following: ``Bill McCuistion, a faithful gospel preacher for 36 years, is terminally ill at this time...he has been diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer, which has also spread to the lower lungs and the lining of the stomach...Bill will be 55 years old in June this year and has been preaching the Gospel since he was 19 years old. He was in Bellaire, Texas, for several years as well as other places but has spent the last 17 years preaching in the Pacific Northwest; i.e. Washington and Canada with his last teaching and preaching in the Russian communities in Washington. He spoke Russian fluently and wrote materials in Russian and had a real desire to work in Russia but ill health would not permit that...Bill is married to a lovely lady Linda and has 3 children; 2 daughters Beth and Laura and a son Jonathan...The family is definitely in need of the prayers of brethren and also some financial assistance...Any financial help should be mailed to: Keith Miller, 5370 Belfern Dr., Bellingham, WA 98226...." ___________________________________________ If you live nearby, we could arrange to show Bible film slides in your home if you would like. We currently have a five-lesson series by Jule Miller that touches on highlights from both the Old and New Testaments. Call or write to find out more. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, 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@wwd.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.wwd.net/user/tedwards/go ________________________________________