A Moment With Your Minister…

At the present time in our Wednesday evening Bible Class, we are studying regarding the Holy Spirit.  On Dec. 6th we attempted to answer this question:  “Who is the Holy Spirit?”  Our topic on Dec. 13th was:  “What is the work of the Holy Spirit?”  In subsequent class periods, we intend to discuss:  “The Role of the Holy Spirit in Conversion” and “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

As we study what the Holy Scriptures teach concerning the Holy Spirit we can come to a degree of understanding, but since He is God there are some things that our finite minds will never be able to totally comprehend.   In spite of this fact, it behooves us to prayerfully study that which has been revealed so that we may come to know and appreciate Him.

It is apparent that we are not alone in our interest in this topic of study.  The article reproduced below was published last week in the bulletin of the Piedmont Road Church of Christ, located in Marietta, GA.   Read it and rejoice.  

Carl

The Holy Spirit Helps in Our Weaknesses

In Romans 8:26-27, the apostle Paul affirms:  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  Notice the following thoughts from these verses.

1. The Holy Spirit helps.  Vine says the word helps means “to take hold with at the side for assistance; to take a share in, to help in bearing, etc.”  The word was used to describe one who helps another carry a heavy load.  How thankful we should be that the Holy Spirit helps us carry the loads of life.


2. The Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses.  Some translations have “infirmities,” but the word simply means areas where we are weak and lack strength.  In context, the weakness is the difficulty of knowing how to pray in view of sufferings and trials.  MacKnight says this difficulty stems from “being uncertain what is good for us.”  It is good to know that God’s Spirit always knows what is best for us.


3. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Boles says these “groanings” are the deep needs of the human soul which man finds it difficult to articulate.  These are our groanings, not the Spirit’s.  The Spirit has no trouble putting his thoughts into Words to the Father, but we often do.  What a blessing to have the Spirit help us in this form of communication.
   

We often struggle to put into words our concerns due to our afflictions, anxieties, griefs, etc.  In this we are not alone.  Hannah, “in bitterness of soul,” prayed and her lips moved, but no words came forth (I Sam. 1:9-13).  Hezekiah said about talking to God:  “Like a crane or swallow, so did I chatter…” (Isa. 38:14).  David said, “I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (Ps. 77:4).  

In times when the communication of our inner thoughts is so difficult, it is a blessing to know that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, helping us with our weaknesses.  Though we may not know the manner of this phase of the Spirit’s work, we can rest assured that it is a fact.  And, as the late evangelist Johnny Ramsey used to say, “I may not understand how the Spirit works in helping me in prayer, but I will take all the help I can get!”  

If you have ever struggled in prayer, you know just what Brother Ramsey meant.  Each of us should thank God for the blessing of the Holy Spirit’s work in our prayer lives.

                               --John B. Tracy

A MOMENT WITH YOUR MINISTER 

Our Gospel Meeting is now history. As you reflect upon the Meeting, what thoughts come into your mind? What emotions surge through your heart? How do you assess our efforts? 

As I think about the Gospel Meeting, feelings of thanksgiving well up inside me. The periods of fellowship, as we worshipped together, were especially uplifting to me. For the blessings we received, I give thanks to Almighty God “who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Tim. 6:17b). I also want to express my thanks to those of you who worked so hard to make the Meeting a success. May God’s blessings be upon you. 

God’s word of truth was preached during the Meeting. Therefore, my fervent prayer is that it will find lodging in the hearts of those who came to hear it, and that it will bring forth fruit unto life eternal. I also pray that God will bless us with strength and a burning desire to reach out to the lost in our community. Will you join me in praying for these things? To God be the glory! 

Carl 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; Again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4) 

Whistle While You Work 

I grew up chopping cotton! Nearly from the time I could walk, I was given a short-handled version of a cotton-pickin' hoe. Chopping cotton is, I will admit, one step above picking cotton, but just a step. Both are drudgery! Well, to lighten the job we concocted--or had handed down to us--a little ditty that went like this: 

"Whistle and hoe, sing as you go! Shorten the rows by the songs that you know." 

And so you know what? It did make the rows seem shorter and the load seem lighter as we whistled and sang up and down those cotton rows. 

Do you have a hard row to hoe? Don't let discouragement creep in. Buckle down, sing and whistle a little as you can, and the row will get shorter and the load will get lighter. The story is told that the devil put all his tools up for sale except one. Hatred, envy, jealousy, malice, deceit, and many other implements were put "on the block." But discouragement was not for sale at any price, for the devil said, "It is more useful to me than any other tool. With discouragement I can stop more good works, and accomplish more for the cause of evil than with any other tool known to man or to the princes of darkness. Discouragement is not for sale!" 

So, whistle as you work! Sing a song as you struggle along! The rows will be shorter and the burden will be lighter. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).

Bulletin Digest 

We Welcome You!

We extend a hearty welcome to all who have come to worship with us today. Our prayer is that you will be so blessed that you will want to assemble with us on a regular basis.

What do you have a right to expect when you are with us at Bethel? Simply stated, you can expect to find:

1. Friendly neighbors, assembled to worship God, to remember Christ, and to receive edification from a study of God's Holy Word. Jn. 4:24; Acts 20:7; 2 Tim, 2:15
2. A wholesome respect for the Word as inspired by the Holy Spirit. No human creeds will be used. Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19.
3. Worship according to the simple pattern followed by the New Testament church. Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Jn. 4:24.
4. Worship according to the simple pattern followed by the New Testament church. Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Jn. 4:24.

Don't Forget!

THE GOSPEL MEETING HERE AT BETHEL CONTINUES THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING!

The Theme for this Gospel Meeting is “Revive Us Again!” To accomplish that purpose, our evenagelist Sellers Crain has prepared the following lessons for presentation:

This Morning at 10:00 -- “Four Spiritual Exercises That Will Change Your Life!”

At 11:00 -- “Revive Us Again!”

This Evening at 7:30 -- “Five Minutes After Death”

Mon. Evening at 7:00 -- “The Second Coming of Christ.”

Tues. Evening at 7:00 -- “The Great Day of Judgment.”

Wed. Evening at 7:00 -- “The Greatest Enemy of Church Growth.”

BE PRESENT FOR EVERY SERVICE AND BRING A GUEST!

The Things God Has Prepared

In 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, Paul speaks of those “things” which God has prepared for them who love him. Let us contemplate this thrilling context and some of the truths it teaches.

To the church of God in Corinth, Paul wrote the following words. “But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the things of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).

Four times in this text Paul uses the term “things.” Once it is employed comprehensively, “all things.” Once it is used of the “things of a man,” and twice there is reference to the “things of God.” The “things of god” are identified in the final sentence of verse9; they are “whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.”

This is within a context in which the apostle discusses “wisdom,” a concept very popular with the Greek mind (cf. 1:20). The Greeks gloried in wisdom (1:22). But the apostolic argument is this: God's will for man is not to be discovered in human wisdom; rather it is accessed by divine words-the gospel (cf. 1:21 ASVfn).

There is a passage in one of Plato's Dialogues in which he quotes Socrates as saying that we do not know “how to behave toward the gods and towards men”; someone, with a “special interest” will have to come to us and remove “the darkness” (Alcibiades II.150). From this background let us not some truths explicitly affirmed, or implied, in 2:11-12.

Lessons to Learn

First, no one knows the heart of a man except the spirit of the man within him. (a) There is a spirit “in” man –Paul was no materialist. (b) No man can know the spirit of another man unless that person revels the contents of his mind. There are no “mind-readers.” © The thoughts of one's mind are made known by words.

Second, the things of God are not accessed naturally. Rather, the Holy Spirit, who “searches” all things, even the deep things of God, has revealed these matters to humanity. “Searches” is a figure of speech suggesting intimate knowledge of every detail (cf. Romans 8:27).

These sacred “things” of God are embodied in “words” (v.13), not in dreams, visions, or other non-verbal modes of communication. One cannot know of Christ's birth, teaching, miracles, death/resurrection, ascension, etc., apart from the “words” that convey the information regarding these historical events. These are objective truths that necessitate objective revelation.

Third, the “words” that reveal the marvelous “things of God” are those matters, declares Paul, which “we speak.” The “we” represents those of the apostolic age who were empowered by the Spirit of God to supernaturally impart the treasures of the gospel. “Words” were the vehicles of sacred communication 9cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Any view of the scriptures that fails to acknowledge that their “words” ultimately are the “words of God,” is false. The Lord guided the inspiration process so that precisely his message was conveyed to the apostolic writers-no more, no less. The documents containing these “words” were collected eventually into a single volume-the New Testament. There is no accessing of the will of God apart from the New Testament record.

Fourth, the “things of God” are those things that were prepared by the Lord for those who “love” him (v.9c). Thus, the “things” are bestowed neither universally nor unconditionally. And “love” is not a mere emotion that is divorced from response. As Jesus said: “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15; cf 1 John 5:3; 2 John6).

This text from the first Corinthian epistle is rich indeed. It is very unfortunate that it has been misunderstood by so many in the religious community.

Wayne Jackson

Ignore This Lesson and You're History!

The mountain shook, and God spoke.  When the Lord's voice thundered from Sinai, a covenant was made with Israel, and mankind was educated in the ways of God.

When Israel arrived at Horeb, God required three days of preparation (Exodus 19:3-25).  The divine manifestation was an epic moment in redemptive history; that's the way Israel was to consider it.  God said, “I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).  He saved them; he was their God.

God's ongoing providence was dependent, however, on Israel's faithfulness-four commands regarding God, six about fellowman, and numerous other moral, civil, and ceremonial laws were given.  True religion has never been mere philanthropy, nor is there any place for a “just-me-and-God” theology.  Love for God and one's neighbor were the principles upon which the law and the prophets rested (cf. Matthew 22:37-39).

God commanded, he did not propose.  When God prohibited “any other gods before me,” he required Israel's fidelity to him alone.  When he forbade idol construction, he insisted on love and obedience (cf. Exodus 20:6).  When he banned vain talk of his name, he enlisted their love and honor.  When he commanded Sabbath keeping in Israel, he condemned religious neglect and a secular world view.

In all his prohibitions, God enjoyed the positive implications.  With positive commands, God necessarily prohibited certain actions.  As Creator and Redeemer, he says what we can and cannot do; he always has our best interest in mind (cf. Deuteronomy 10:13).

Christians need “Sinai insight.”  They need to learn how God deals with men and how men ought to respond to God.  Employing this defining moment, the writer of Hebrews reveals the essence of the Christian dispensation.

The inspired writer says we are come unto a mountain, but not Sinai.  He said we're come to Zion.  We've received a revelation from God concerning his covenant through Jesus Christ.  We've been saved; he is our God.

This mount of Zion, before which we stand, is the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and we've come before innumerable hosts of angels.  This is the general assembly and church of the firstborn people who are enrolled in heaven.  It is an awe-inspiring and humbling thing to view the church as God does.

But what of the cost?  It is that of blood that speaks better than Abel's, the blood of God's Son.  One commandment seems adequate for the moment: “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (Hebrews 12:25).

From these great texts we learn truths-depending on how we receive them-that will determine where we spend eternity.  God is our Creator; he is our Savior.  He has the right to command; he will judge us.  He always operates for our good, and he has made our redemption possible through the blood of his Son.  Through Christ's blood, Christians relate to God through the New Covenant, and are in the church, a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

A shaking-up is coming; a judgment looms.  Only those who maintain a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ will escape God's wrath.  He has lovingly provided for our eternal welfare by the laying upon his Son the iniquity of us all.

Kiss the Son, lest God be angry (cf. Psalms 2).  So the encouragement comes: embrace these truths, for our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).

Jason Jackson

Gospel Meeting!

The Lord willing, three weeks from today, Sellers Crain will be with us to preach in our Gospel Meeting.  The date for the Gospel Meeting is Sept. 17-20.  It can be an effort in which: lost souls are confronted with the good news of sal-vation in Jesus Christ, church members are edified, and God is greatly glorified!  In order for all of these things to happen, every member needs to do what is suggested in the article below.  Please read and act accordingly!   Carl

A Successful  Gospel Meeting Depends Upon Us…

1.   It Depends On Our Attitude!  Are we looking forward to it?  Do we realize its potential for good?  Are we excited about the cause of Christ?

2.   It Depends On Our Attendance!  Some meetings fail because 50% of the members do not attend any service except Sunday morning worship.  A few of these have even been known to leave the assembly after communion has been served.  To assure that our meeting will not fail due to our own poor attendance, let us clear our schedules so that we can be present for every service.

3.   It Depends On Our Invitations!  Regardless of all the advertising done through printed announcements, the newspaper, radio, and etc., visitors will usually attend only if personally invited by a Chris-tian friend.  How many of your friends do you plan to invite to the meeting?

4.   It Depends On Our Friendliness!  Do our visitors feel welcome and wanted in our services?  How many of us make a special effort to greet visitors and to invite them back?

5.  It Depends On Our Participation!  Nothing “kills” a service so effectively as a combination of back-seat sitting, inattention during the services, and poor participation in the singing.  How simple these problems are to solve!  Will we though?

6.   It Depends On Our Prayers!  Have we made a list of those who we would like to see obey the gospel, and have we made another list of wayward children of God who need to be restored?  Do we pray daily and specifically by name for each person on that list?  Have we asked God to provide us with opportunities to talk with them about the condition of their souls?  Are we praying for the preacher and also the one who will lead us in our singing?

7.   It Depends On Our Encouragement!  A word of love and encour-agement to one who needs to respond to heaven’s invitation means so much.  Words of appreciation to those who work in behalf of the meeting will also help to assure success.

                        --The Alamo Bulletin

Yes, my brothers and sisters!  A successful Gospel Meeting here at Bethel depends on us!  May God grant each one of us the strength and the determination to do our part!

A Moment With Your Minister

When I began preaching back in the 60's, as we tried to encourage members of the church to be faithful to the Lord in all things, it wasn't too unusual to hear this question meekly asked by those whose love for the Lord had become a bit lukewarm: "Do I have to attend all of the services?" Today it is quite rare to hear that question. Times have changed and now when we seek to encourage members of the church "to faithfully serve the Lord," we encounter a totally different attitude. Now, we often encounter a belligerent, defiant attitude, as seen in this challenge which they hurl at us: "You just show me a verse which says I have to be present for every service! I come for 'communion' on Sunday morning, and in my mind that's the most important part of worship, because the Lord himself instituted it. And please, don't trot out Hebrews 10:24-25! I don't think it has application in what we're talking about!"

Obviously, there isn't a verse of Scripture which states, "Thou shalt attend Bible Classes and every church service!" Even if such a verse existed, I sincerely doubt that it would be accepted by one whose attitude of heart is as rebellious and defiant as the person depicted above. Now, having mentioned this and realizing that attitudes prevalent in the world round about us are too often found in the hearts of those who claim to possess the spirit of Christ, we need to do some serious soul searching.

Dear fellow member here at Bethel: Are you striving to be faithful to the Lord in all things? What about your giving? What about your efforts to offer unto God the fruit of your lips in singing? What about your responsibility to feast on His word, so that you may grow in grace and knowledge? What about your attendance at the various services of the church wherein one is provided with opportunities in each of these areas? What about the example you set before your neighbors on Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening? Do they see the church of our Lord as a vital part of your life?

Your reaction to these questions will greatly affect the future of the church here! I hope your reaction is like that of the man who said: "I can't believe that a true Christian would ever want to miss a service of the church!" Amen! 

Carl

P.S. I want to commend those of our number who have been participating in the Tuesday evening “Door Knocking Campaign.” The goal of setting up Six Home Bible Studies in the community is a good one and with God’s help we can reach this goal. Be of good cheer! God will bless our efforts to spread the borders of His kingdom.

BIBLE TRUTHS:

1. The Old and New Testaments are equally inspired, but not equally binding. (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14; Heb. 9:15-17).

2. What made a Christian in the 1st Century will make a Christian now. (Luke 8:11; Acts 11:26).



3. What made a church of Christ in the 1st Century will make a church of Christ now. (Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18; Rom. 16:16).

4. To a penitent believer, baptism is for the remission of sin. (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

5. Baptism is a burial! The New Testament does not authorize sprinkling, or affusion, in lieu of immersion. (Rom. 6:3-4).

6. Christians should observe the Lord’s Supper each week. (Acts 20:7).

7. The name God’s people should wear is “Christian.” (1 Pet. 4:16; Acts 11:26).

The Cell Phone vs. The Bible!

I wonder what would happen if we treated our bible like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to our kids as gifts?

What if we used it as we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?'

This is something to make you go...hmmm?

Where is my Bible?

Oh, and on more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't ever have to worry about our Bible begin disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!




This-n-That

No matter what you call it: “Door-Knocking” or “Canvassing,” those how went out into the community adjacent to the Bethel church building on Tuesday evening did a great job. Those who knocked on doors handed out copies of the “House to House' publication and tried to set-up home Bible studies. Also, those residents who agreed to watch the DVD “Searching for Truth,” produced by World Video Bible School, were given one of the DVDs to review.

For whatever it is worth, I commend every person who came out last Tuesday. Brian Horner is spear-heading this work and stated that it will be an ongoing thing each Tuesday evening. So, if you were not able to help canvass last Tuesday evening do not be disappointed-be at the church building this Tuesday (Aug. 8th) at 7:00 pm., and Brian will give you an assignment.

Our upcoming Gospel Meeting is closer than you may think! The Lord willing, Sellers Crain, Jr. will be with us September 17th-20th, to preach a series of lessons from God's word. In order for this Gospel Meeting to be a success, you and I need to start promoting it now. This being the case, let me encourage you to take the time this afternoon to compose a list of people you would like to see in attendance at this meeting.

Then with your list in hand, write out invitations to each of those person on it. One week after you mail those invitation, call each person on that list. Ask if they received your invitation and if you can count on them to attend the meeting. Kyle Richardson is responsible for producing a flyer for advertising the meeting. Once we have those flyers in hand, make it your responsibility to help distribute them. Mail them to your friends! Get permission and post them in prominent places.

To God Be The Glory both now and forever!

A Moment With Your Minister...

Several years ago when I served as the pulpit minister of the Piedmont Road Church of Christ in Marietta, GA, the city o f Atlanta received the dubious distinction of being name: “The Most Dangerous City in the U.S.A. in which to live.” This was based on crime statistics released by the F.B.I. Today, with the number of murders, stabbings and other crimes reported on a daily basis by the news media here in Nashville, one has to wonder if Nashville is about as dangerous now as Atlanta was back in 1995.

I mention the foregoing things in order to make this point: The cynic observes this and then concludes that in all probability the situation is going to get worse instead of better. The cynic may be right, but those who know God also know that a better day is coming. Jesus came into this world to provide us with life, peace and hope! (John 10:10; Romans 5:1-2; Hebrews 6:17-20). Outwardly we may be called upon to suffer tribulation, but with the strength our Lord supplies, we can have peace within (John 16:33).

Since I am fully convinced that God wants us to “love life and see good days,” I intend to refrain from speaking evil of those who are not walking according to God's will. With God being my help, I will instead seek after His peace! I will pursue it. (1 Pet. 3:10-12). I pray that you will resolve to do the same and in the space remaining, I want to share some practical suggestions for our mutual pursuit of good days:

1. “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE” by emptying it of anger, wrath and malice, and by filling it with love for God and your neighbor. A failure to do this will rob us of happiness and peace of mind, because hate-like a cancerous tumor-consumes every good thing! (Col. 3:8; 1 John 4:20-21).
   
   

1. “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE” by keeping it free from worry! In the sermon on the mount, our Lord said unto those who were worried, or overly anxious about the things of this world; “...take no thought saying what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?” His solution? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33). It will also help if we will humble ourselves before God in prayer, as Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7.
   
   

1. “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE” by expecting little while demonstrating a willingness to live much. The cynic that we mentioned earlier, also says: “Expect little,' but then he adds, “that way you won't be disappointed.” When I speak of expecting little, I refer to eliminating an exaggerated view of one's own worth that always expects praise from others. Those with inflated egos will always be disappointed with the level of praise received. But, our Lord showed us that the royal road to happiness is the one that leads us to humbly serve others. Now, are you happy and fulfilled as a child of God? If you are not happy, try to forget “self” for a time, as you concentrate on doing some deed of kindness for someone else And, best of all try to do that deed of kindness without the beneficiary finding out who did it. God will bless.
   
   

Carl