THINGS FOR WHICH I AM THANKFUL

THINGS FOR WHICH I AM THANKFUL

Next week, D.V., we will celebrate another day of Thanksgiving. I am glad that we will, because – without exception – we all have much for which to be thankful.

It is not surprising to learn that etymologically "think" and "thanks" are related, and therefore the person who thinks gives thanks.

I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about the things for which I am thankful. Here are a few of them.

1. For God Himself, the creator and sustainer of all things, and my Heavenly Father. I am grateful for His love, grace, and mercy, without which I could not be saved. I am thankful for His goodness, His holiness, His discipline, and His providential care.

2. For Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior: His co-eternal existence with the Father, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His wonderful works, His matchless teaching, His vicarious death, His noble burial, His victorious resurrection, His glorious ascension, His magnificent coronation, His majestic reign, His abiding intercession, and His promised second coming to receive those who are His. I am thankful that He has redeemed me from my sins and keeps me cleansed as I walk in the light of His word. I am thankful for His meekness and gentleness, His boldness and courage, and all of His other wonderful traits set forth in the Holy Scriptures.

3. For the Holy Spirit who dwells in me and produces His fruit in me, who seals/marks me as God's child, who serves as a deposit on my eternal inheritance, and who intercedes for me when I am so overwhelmed with the burdens and concerns of life that I cannot articulate my thoughts.

4. For the Bible, God's divinely inspired, inerrant, and all-sufficient word that instructs me, comforts me, guides me, and provides me with all things that pertain to life and godliness.

5. For the heaven-born church of my Lord, bought and paid for by His blood and established by Christ Himself, that undenominational body of blood-washed souls who have come to Him in trusting faith and genuine obedience to the gospel, the church that is of God and not man.

6. For my wonderful local church family, the Mt. Juliet (TN) Church of Christ: her elders, deacons, ministers, teachers, every family and every member, and her great program of work.

7. For the wonderful privilege to worship my Lord privately on a daily basis, as well as in the assembly with my spiritual brothers and sisters every first day of the week.

8. For the great blessing of privately lifting up prayers, supplications, intercessions, and thanksgiving to the God of heaven and earth.

9. For the glorious hope of everlasting life in heaven.

10. For my wonderful earthly family who loves me, cares for me, and sees that all my earthly needs are met.

Perhaps you too are thankful for all of the above things...and more. If so, let God know that you are! Think! "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

Hugh Fulford

Article on church attendance

 

SOME CHURCH ARITHMETIC

 

Church Arithmetic Problem # 1: Can one person anywhere in the world today hear, believe, and obey the gospel, and become just a Christian without joining any denomination? If one person can do that, can two people do that? Can ten? Can 100? Can 100 people in a given geographical area who have become Christians only without joining any denomination organize themselves into a congregation and begin reading and studying the Scriptures on their own, committing themselves to following the Scriptures in all things to the best of their ability, worshiping as the Scriptures instruct, governing themselves as the New Testament instructs, committing themselves to living and serving others as the Bible instructs, and disciplining themselves and correcting themselves wherein they fall short in anyway either personally or as a congregation?

 

If there could be one such congregation, could there be two? Could there be ten such congregations? 100? Could there be an indefinite number of such congregations, made up entirely of people who had only heard, believed, and obeyed the gospel, becoming Christians only without ever joining any denomination? What is your answer to this "church arithmetic problem"?

 

Church Arithmetic Problem # 2: According to sources such as the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the World Christian Database, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are an estimated 45,000 professing Christian denominations around the globe. The Protestant Reformation in the 16thcentury led to the establishment of many different denominations who challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. Professing Christian denominations in different parts of the world have adapted their beliefs and practices to the social and cultural context in which they exist, leading to further divisions. For example, there are twenty-four denominations within the Catholic Church.

 

The Lutheran Church was the first protestant denomination and was founded by the followers of Martin Luther in c. 1530. Think about that for a moment. Christianity had been in the world for 1500 years before the first protestant denomination was ever established! How did the world get along for so long without a single one of the protestant denominations that we have today? Today, there are over forty different Lutheran denominations in the United States alone.

 

The World Methodist Council represents eighty Methodist-related denominations, but there are additional Methodist denominations that are not a part of this Council. There are dozens of different kinds of Presbyterian Churches, especially in the United States. There are more than fifty different kinds of Baptist denominations. There are hundreds of Pentecostal denominations. Many of them are part of the World Pentecostal Fellowship. On and on we could go, talking about the many denominations that exist in the world today. (The above information is available online from the sources named in the first paragraph of this section).

 

Now, here is my question: What if we started with the last denomination that was established and removed it from the thousands of denominations in existence? Would we destroy Christianity by taking away that denomination? Remember, we had Christianity before that last denomination was ever established. Now, let us proceed back to the next one, then the next, then the next—all the way back to the first one. Would we destroy Christianity by doing away with all the protestant denominations? Again, remember that we had Christianity hundreds of years before we ever had even the first protestant church.

 

What if we then went about dismantling the Catholic Church with all its elaborate hierarchy, topped off by the pope? What if we removed every rite, ritual, doctrine, and practice in the Catholic Church that could not be substantiated by inspired scripture? What if we moved all the way back to the days of the New Testament and the church that existed then under the direction of the inspired apostles of Christ? What if we did only what people did in New Testament times to be Christians? What if we believed and taught only that for which we could find Bible authority?

 

What if the people who had been members of all the various protestant denominations and the two billion plus Catholics decided they would just be Christians only without denominational affiliation? Would we not then have "one body (not multiplied thousands), one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith (not hundreds of thousands), one baptism (not many), one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"? (Ephesians 4:4-6). Does not this passage affirm that there is but one body (which is the church, Ephesians 1:22-23), one faith, and one baptism, just as it affirms that there is one but Lord, one Spirit, one hope, and one God? Based on this passage, would it not make just as much sense to ask which God do you believe in, which Lord do you serve, which Holy Spirit dwells in you, which hope do you have as to ask which church are you a member of, of what faith are you, or of which "mode" were you baptized? Biblically, is there not just one of each of these? Why can we not all be one in Christ just as He prayed in John 17:20-21? Why can we not just be the church of which we read in the New Testament? What is your answer to this "church arithmetic problem"?

 

Note: I am not so naive as to think that all denominational churches [Catholic or Protestant] will ever go out of existence. What is possible, however, is for those who are members of such man-originated churches to leave them and determine to be Christians only without denominational affiliation and without the doctrines, traditions, beliefs, and ceremonies not sanctioned by the Bible.

 

Church Arithmetic Problem # 3: Suppose an evangelist comes to a town somewhere in America and preaches only the gospel of Christ and what it requires of one to be saved from sin and become a Christian. Suppose that 400 people respond to the gospel, doing exactly what people did in the Book of Acts to be saved and made Christians. At the end of the meeting/revival, 100 join denomination A, 100 join denomination B, and 100 hundred join denomination C. However, the remaining 100 join no denomination, but resolve to meet together on the Lord's Day (Sunday) to study the Scriptures and to follow them in all things pertaining to Christian living, the worship of God, and the structure to which they should adhere as a congregation devoted to Christ and His will. Can that be done in today's world? What is your answer to this "church arithmetic problem"? Note: The last group, the ones who joined no denomination but chose to remain an autonomous congregation of Christians only, is a microcosm of what all faithful churches of Christ are today. We have no denominational hierarchy or headquarters. We have no human creed or catechism. We wear no denominational name. Our worship is in accordance with the way Christians worshiped in New Testament times. We seek to live as Christ has taught us to live. To the casual and uninformed observer, conditioned by a denominational mindset, this last group, on the surface, may look very much like those in Denominations A, B, and C. But to those acquainted with the Scriptures, it would be known that these people were not a denomination but just simply Christians, members of the one spiritual body of Christ, the church of which we read in the New Testament.

 

Hugh Fulford

Asset or Liability

Asset or Liability

 

For as he thinketh in his heart. so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee (Proverbs 23:7)

 

As I think about the message springing from this passage there are a number of thoughts that come to mind but there are two that stand out to me, the first of which is that the attitude of our heart, our frame of mind, is either our greatest asset or our greatest liability. Now, when you really think about this, our attitude has the power to control our life because it is our frame of mind that governs our actions or reactions to whatever is taking place in our life.

 

Actually, our attitude, frame of mind, is the key that determines how we conduct ourselves in the present time as well as being a huge factor in determining our eternal destiny. How we think, what we think has a tremendous bearing on our happiness, contentment and peacefulness on our daily walk each day. Success or failure often hinges on our frame of mind. In light of this passage from Proverbs 23:7, it just seems to me that all this is summed up in a statement I came across not long ago, "What a man thinks is really what he is." Just one man's opinion.

 

The second compelling message has to do with the truth that our attitude (frame of mind) springs from our heart. The things we say. the things we do, the choices we make are actually the result of what we have stored away in our heart. In our hearts, our minds, are found thoughts, intents, purposes all of which are the emotions that control our actions and reactions (Hebrews 4:12).

 

What comes out of our heart depends on what we put into it. Hence the great need to heed the advice of Solomon found in Prov.4:23, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life".  Luke 6:45 is a powerful, thought-provoking passage worthy of consideration, "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

 

Always remember that whatever springs forth from our heart under any given circumstance will be based on what we have put into it to start with.  I can think of no better way to close this week's Thought than with the message found in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

 

Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominationalism, with its Different Names and Different Doctrines, is Not Christ's True Church that He Established through His Death and Resurrection.

In His prayer to His Father, Jesus said:

 

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” John 17:6.

Jesus is referring to His apostles. Later in the same prayer, Jesus said:

 

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:20-23.

 

But all those who have believed the apostles’ word, ever since, are not “perfectly one” – not perfectly united, are they? Christ’s true church and denominational churches are in opposition to each other. Christ’s church believes the standard of sound teaching, 2 Timothy 1:13, but denominational churches are divided – having many different but specific names to differentiate themselves from one another: Baptist, Mennonite, Pentecostal, etc. These denominations also have different doctrines. Despite Paul’s appeal for unity in Christ, the church in Corinth had become divided within itself through the names of its teachers:

 

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarrelling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.

 

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labour. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is

 

holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:1-17.

 

Again, despite Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians to not destroy God’s temple (i.e. church) through their diverse beliefs, the Corinthians were doing just that - destroying the church through division.

 

Since that 1^st century division, look at the denominational churches today: hundreds of different churches having different names and different doctrines. But when the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he wrote this:

 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:1-16.

 

Part of that Scripture is worth repeating:

 

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” ... “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

 

“One body, called to one hope that belongs to your call - 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism ... “

 

God has called you to this unity of doctrine. Note “one baptism.” This is water baptism in faith that brings forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:38-41.

 

But many denominational churches do not teach or practise this baptism that saves. They believe in salvation by faith only. Dear friends, if you are caught up in this denominational shemozzle, we appeal to you to look for a true church that Christ built, leave denominationalism and come into Christ’s true church – the church God is calling sinners into.

... Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Ephesians 5:23.

 

And all who believed were together and had all things in common ... 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:44,46-47.

• Let God add you to the number of souls in Christ’s true church to ensure your salvation.
• “Retain the standard of sound teaching.” Keep your church united around that sound teaching.

 

An Exceedingly Precious Promise

An Exceedingly Precious Promise

 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose—Romans 8:28

 Life is a roller coaster of emotions. At any given moment it may be gladness or disappointment, success or defeat, joy or sadness. weakness or strength that besets us. Does God have the power to control all the incidents of my life for my benefit if I allow him to do so? I, for one, believe he does have this power. How he does it, I don't know. Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor?

 We must trust God when the bright side of life is shining on us and we must trust him when the dark side of life envelopes us. There is not one ounce of doubt in my mind that when we love him with all our being and trust him completely believing he will do what is right for us, our God in his own time and in his own way will mold any situation that befalls us into something that works for our good. There are two alternatives open to us: trust in God and his word and grow stronger in our faith, then go on rejoicing and praising him for his love and care. Or, we can trust in ourself or some other person or thing, then wallow in self-pity, become despondent and live a miserable life. It is up to us!

 All things work together for good includes that which is good as well as that which is not so good. With a strong faith in God, we can and will say, "I know it is true." Faith based on a complete trust in God can accomplish wonderous things. I am convinced that the more trust we have in God, those things that are not so good will teach us how weak and frail we really are and lead us to seek and lean upon the Lord for the blessings that will see us safely through whatever our lot in life may be at any given time (Psalms 34:8, Proverbs 3:5, Heb. 4:16). True and lasting happiness is found only in relying on the wisdom and power of God (Proverbs 16:20; Matt. 5:6).

 Putting our trust in God acknowledges our confidence and dependence on him to always do for us what he promises to do. "From the end of the earth I will call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2). For me, these words from one of my favorite songs, Higher Ground, sum it all up: "My heart has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears dismay; Tho' some may dwell where these abound, My pray'r, my aim is higher ground. I want to scale the utmost height, And catch a gleam of glory bright: But still I'll pray till heav'n I've found, Lord lead me on to higher" (Chas. Gabriel).  

   To God be the glory! 

Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

Why attend church?

 

WHY I QUIT ATTENDING BALL GAMES

 

With the football season – High School, College, and the Pros – in full swing and the Major League Baseball playoff games under way, I thought I would share with my readers why I have quit attending ball games.

 

1. The coaches/managers never came to visit me.

 

2. Every time I went they asked for money.

 

3. The people sitting in my row didn't seem very friendly.

 

4. The seats were hard and uncomfortable.

 

5. The referees and umpires made some decisions I didn't agree with.

 

6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing.

 

7. Some games went into overtime or extra innings and I was late getting home.

 

8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.

 

9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.

 

10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

 

11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know as much as the coaches, umpires, and referees and I do not need to attend the games.

 

12. I was afraid I might catch the latest strain of virus.

 

13. The weather was often disagreeable—oppressively hot, extremely cold, the chance of rain, snow, icy streets and roads, etc.

 

14. I don't want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

 

Do the above "reasons" have a familiar ring when it comes to why some folks have quit attending the services of the church? Hmmm.

 

(From the bulletin of the Stuart, Florida Church of Christ of July 24, 2022, with some slight editing).

 

Hugh Fulford

What If?

 

What If?

 

Hezekiah has become mortally ill and Isaiah is sent to him with the message: Set your house in order, you are going to die"—2 Kings 1:20

 What if you knew, absolutely knew, that you had only one more week to live on this side of eternity? Would you live that week any differently than you have lived previous weeks? Would the daily conduct of your life suddenly change? Would the importance of wealth, possessions, amusements and recreational activities seem less important now? Would you suddenly find time to do those things you know you should do but just couldn't find time to do them, especially those of a spiritual nature? Would you suddenly become very much concerned about seeking first the kingdom of God? Would feeding on God's word, being an example to others, seeking and setting affection on things above suddenly take on great importance? What if—opens up a pandora's box of interesting thoughts for me. How about you? My question now is simply this: Why do we not live every waking moment as if we knew we were going to die the next moment? The thought occurs to me that we had best be living that way because not one single one of us is guaranteed another moment, much less another week on planet earth (Heb. 9:27; 1 Samuel 20:3).

 For every person the end of time on this earth will be the end of something. For the faithful child of God, it will be the end of all conflicts with the flesh, the end of suffering and trial, the end of all groaning under the burdens of life (2 Cor. 5:1-6; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 14:13).  For the faithful, it will be the beginning of a new life with Christ (Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:6-9).

 For the unbeliever and disobedient, it will be the end of all opportunity to be saved (Rev. 3:20; 2 Cor. 6:2; Eccl. 9:10). One day Christ will cease his knocking and then those who have not obeyed would give the world for just one more knock but, no the end has come! For the unfaithful Christian, it will be the end of God's patience (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:1; 1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 5;14-17;2 John 8-9). The "end" will really be the beginning. Time will end but eternity will begin.  For the lost, it will be the beginning of an eternity of separation in a place of horrible punishment (Matt. 25:30, 41, 46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

 Proverbs 27:1: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."  All our hopes, dreams and plans for future tomorrows must be based on "the Lord willing" (James 4:13-15). Today, I leave you with this thought, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. that He may exalt you at the proper time" (1 Peter 5:6).

 Charles Hicks

 

 

Life Is Short Lived

Life Is Short-lived 

Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like shadow and does not remain (Job 14:1-2). 

There are a number of passages in God's word that put a special emphasis on how short-lived life on this earth really is (2 Sam. 14:14; Job 7:6-7; Job 9:25-26; Psalms 90:10; James 4:16). As Job speaks about the brevity of life in Job 14:1-2, he goes on to tell us in verse 5 to that the days and months of our life are determined by God. They are determined in the sense that God has decreed that it is appointed that man will die (Hebrews 9:27).

It matters not how young or how old we may be in terms of months and years, that moment when we will take that journey from whence we will not return is always near at hand (1 Sam. 20:3). Perhaps we should pause and listen to the words of Moses from Psalms 90:12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom."  We number our days only in the sense that we realize how short-lived they are and that the present one may be the last on this earth. Applying our hearts to wisdom we will live as dying people should live, taking into account that one day we will stand in judgment before the Lord giving account of how we have lived (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Acts 17:30-31).

 Realizing how short-lived our life is on the side of eternity should inspire us to savor each moment we have here. A number of years ago I often visited with an elderly lady in a nursing home facility. This lady's mind was sharp and we had some interesting conversations. One day I just had to ask her how old she was. I don't remember her exact age but it was in the mid 90's. I do remember what she said a few moments later. After a short pause she said, "that's a long time to live and then she added this, but when you think about it, it's not so long after all is it?" I recently turned 91 years of age and I tell you unequivocably, that lady was 100 percent correct.

 Cherish each moment you have on this side of eternity. Treasure the time you have with those you love dearly. Every day tell them that you love them, don't just assume they know it. Laugh with them, cry with them because the day is coming when you will not be able to do these things. Whatever you intend to do, do it now (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Be happy, enjoy your life to the fullest but as you do always fear God and keep His commandments and His only (Eccl. 12:13-14). Today these words from a beautiful song, Anywhere is Home, just sum it up for me: "I will labor on till I am called away, Till the morn shall dawn of that eternal day; Looking unto Him who keeps me in His care, Anywhere is home if Christ my Lord is there." What say you?

 Charles Hicks

 

 

Be of Sober Spirit

Be of Sober Spirit 

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

 Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then follows the creation of everything, including man. Verse 31 tells us that God saw all he had made and said, "it was very good." Genesis 2, God planted a garden in Eden where he placed the man he had created. God then created a woman to be a helper with the man. As chapter 2 comes to a close, all is well and good in the Garden of Eden. But now as chapter 3 begins, it all changes when the serpent being used by the devil deceives Eve into disobeying God (Genesis 3:1-13; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14; Rev. 12:9). The devil is alive and well today and is still attempting to influence people in the same way he influenced Eve in the garden. Simply put, that way is to cheapen the word of God in the minds of people.

 The devil works tirelessly in the effort to convince us that the Bible is just another good book in a long line of good books. It's okay to read it, but you don't have to believe it, after all, God doesn't really mean what he says. Isn't this exactly what he told Eve? And we know what the result of that was (Gen. 3:14-24).

 We live in a land of Bibles. It would be difficult to know just how many Bibles are in existence today. Most of us have several Bibles in our homes. Yet, sadly to say, for a lot of people, it is a lost book because the devil has convinced them that it is not an important book. You have a Bible, where is it? Is it just sitting out being displayed for others to see? Is it hidden in a book shelf with all the other unread books you own?  What does your Bible look like? Are its pages still clean and crisp as the day you bought it or are those pages worn, some with little folds in them. Do the pages have passages highlighted or little notes scribbled on them? The devil has convinced many that they have time for the morning newspaper, the nightly newscast, all kinds of books, magazines and novels and television but little or no time for the word of God. Many have time for golf, tennis, fishing, ball games, movies and all kinds of recreational activity but just not enough time to seriously feast on the word of God.

 The home robbed of the book of ages is a home where there will be ignorance where there should be understanding (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Tim. 2:15). It will be a home where there is uncertainty where there should be certainty (1 John 3:18-19, 24; 1 John 4:4, 13; 1 John 5:2. 13). It will be a home where there will be confusion where there should be peace and strength (Phil. 4:6-7; Eph. 3:14-21). It will be a home where there will be trust in man when there should be trust and reliance on God (Prov. 3:5-6, Psalms 118:8; Acts 5:29). Our faith is under constant attack by the devil. Don't fall prey to him by believing any of his lies. Arm yourself with the truth (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; John 14:15, John 8:32).

 Charles Hicks

 

 

 

 

FIVE STEPS TO CHURCH AND SEVEN TO HEAVEN

HUGH'S NEWS & VIEWS

 

FIVE STEPS TO CHURCH AND SEVEN TO HEAVEN

 

Some people belittle the idea of "steps" in the plan or way of salvation. They think it is too mechanical or legalistic or lacking in acknowledgment and appreciation of God's grace.

 

Beyond all question, we are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7). God's grace has been extended to all (Titus 2:11-12). Yet, not everyone will be saved. Jesus Himself said as much (Matthew 7:21). He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).

 

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He has invited all to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-30). I do not know of any way to "come" to Christ other than by taking steps. In the book of Acts, the church is described as "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 22:4). We must take some steps to enter the Way, and we must continue to walk (take steps) to continue in the Way. It is somewhat inconsistent to make so much of the church as being the Way and then belittle the concept of taking steps.

 

The title of this essay is that of a sermon preached many years ago in many places by the great African-American evangelist Marshall Keeble. As a boy in my early teens I read the BIOGRAPHY and SERMONS of MARSHALL KEEBLE, edited by B. C. Goodpasture. Brother Keeble's sermons were simple, yet profound. In the sermon referenced, he set forth the five steps one must take to obey the gospel, be saved from sin, and added to that number of people who constitute the church (see Acts 2:47). Those steps are: 1) Hear the gospel of Christ. The gospel is God's power to save, and without hearing the gospel salvation is not possible (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:17). 2) Believe the gospel (Mark 16:16; John 8:24; I Corinthians 15:1-2; Hebrews ll:6). 3) Repent of sin (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30-31; II Peter 3:9). 4) Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37 [KJV; NKJV]; et al). 5) Be baptized for the remission (taking away) of sin (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:31). Baptism is the climactic act or step that one takes to enter the body of Christ, the church (Acts 2:41, 47; I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27). To be sure, brother Keeble was not talking about taking five literal steps to a physical church building; rather, he was talking about the scriptural conditions with which one must comply to be saved and added to the church, the body of Christ, composed of all those who have taken the steps leading to membership is this one body!

 

Once one has obeyed the gospel by taking the preceding five steps, he must then take the steps that will lead to heaven, the eternal abode of all the redeemed. The apostle Peter, in a beautiful passage in his second letter, sets forth seven steps one must take to remain faithful to the Lord and be saved eternally. These steps are a summary of a faithful Christian life. They are: 1) Virtue; 2) Knowledge; 3) Self-control; 4) Perseverance; 5) Godliness; 6) Brotherly Kindness; 7) Love. By the development of these seven Christian graces, one can make his calling and election sure and have an abundant entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:5-11).

 

As has been noted, the penitent believer enters the Way when he is buried with Christ in baptism and then raised to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Once one has entered the Way he is to "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:17). We are "to walk worthy of the calling with which [we] were called" (Ephesians 4:1). We are to "walk in love," "walk as children of light," and "walk circumspectly" (looking around, knowing what is going on about us [see I Peter 5:8]; Ephesians 5:2, 9; 5:13). God's children are to "walk in the light" and "in truth" (I John 1:9; III John 4). In all of these passages the reference is to the way Christians are to live. One of the richest studies one could engage in is to note the many texts that speak of how the Lord's people are to walk. And walking involves taking steps.

 

I have not the slightest hesitancy in talking about the steps in the God's gracious plan of salvation. Many years ago, I took brother Keeble's sermon on "Five Steps to Church and Seven to Heaven" and developed my own sermon on "God's Twelve-Step Program." If the alcoholic needs to take steps to sobriety, how much more does the sinner need to take steps to salvation in Christ! When a person has been sick and in bed for an extended period of time, it is always encouraging when he is able to get out of bed and take a few steps. How much more so when the sinner begins to take the steps that lead to Christ and to salvation in His church, followed by the steps that lead to heaven! After all, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that [we] should follow His steps" (I Peter 2:21).

 

Hugh Fulford