"If a man does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready, He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His deadly arrows, fiery shafts," (Psalm 7:12-13 NASB). The Psalmist helps us to understand what our Lord said in Luke 13:3 "Unless you repent, you will perish." We are introduced to a person who obviously does not care about God's judgment, and is continuing in wickedness. God will justly punish the wicked for all that they have done (vs. 8-11). Each of us needs to realize the severity of God's judgment that we may better appreciate the opportunity that God has given to us to repent.
There are some who persist in doing evil and wonder why things do not go well with them. They fail to turn away from their wickedness when they continue in it again and again. How long is the Lord supposed to put up with them? The Psalmist says that God has made His weapons ready, and they are deadly. The evil that one persists in doing will come upon him (Psalm 7:16). Don't you get caught in God's line of fire. Repent while you have the chance! (Charles Spense of Atlanta, GA). Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. The Bible teaches that humans shouldn't murder each other (Romans 13:9). Yet many could care less about what the Bible has said about murder; these evildoers are going to kill someone anyway. A man shouldn't murder his wife, yet many men have done so. They cite pregnancy, the wife was too bossy, the wife was getting too fat, wife was aging too quickly, etc. This and more, one can hear, and murderers think these reasons give them the right to kill. After the murder, these killers know they are wrong because they try to cover up the crime. However, God isn't mocked, a man will reap what he sows (Galatians 6:7-8).
Have you ever been amazed at how the perfect murder always had some little clue left undetected by the killer, that allowed the crime to be exposed to the world. For example, here is something we all have heard on the news at one time or another. A person is murdered and dumped in a body of water, only to have a fisherman or some act of nature like the wind currents or rising or decreasing of water, reveal the body. Be assured that just didn't happen by chance—it happened because God is sick and tired of killers. He proves the killer who thought himself smarter than the police, ends up being more stupid than a mule (Job 5:12-13, Proverbs 26:27). Best advice is not to murder someone. If you don't like a person, stay away from him! You don't have to kill! Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. Many say they are pleased with their lives, so don't bother speaking to them about God. Now it is possible for a person to be satisfied with his life, and be displeasing to God (2 Samuel 11:27, Proverbs 14:12, Isaiah 55:8-9). For there are many drunks, crack heads, and sorry persons who leech off others, and they are very pleased with their life. Now, does such conduct make these people right? Do you think God is pleased with them? Should they continue that life because they are satisfied with it?
In Luke 18:18-25, we read of a rich man who walked away from Christ because he was pleased with his lifestyle and didn't want to do what the Lord required of him in order to become one of the disciples. Did that make this man right? He certainly must have been satisfied with his life, because he refused to change. This didn't make him right and neither will satisfaction alone make us right. What makes us right is complete obedience to God's word and relying on it to be our guide (Psalm 119:105, Acts 17:11, 1 John 4:1, John 5:39, James 1:22-25). Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. Based on what is happening in the world today, there are a lot of ways to die. One could be a victim of SARS, terrorism, crime, accidents, etc. The fact is death is out there, and it is snatching up many unsuspecting people daily. However, being in the church, and knowing what the word of God teaches and then seeing so many die and go into eternity unprepared, it is really very disturbing. Many of you reading this right now are unprepared to meet God after death. Many of you have foolishly convinced yourself that there is no God; that church isn't essential; or that you will be fine based upon what you have convinced yourself of. Well, the word of God has news for you. In Jeremiah 10:23, the prophet writes, "it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." What that means is, no person can decide if something is right or wrong, but he must rely upon the scriptures to show what is right or wrong. The scriptures have the truth which sets man free from sin (John 8:31-32, Romans 6:12-18, 1 Peter 1:22-25, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, John 5:39, 1 Corintians 15:1-4).
If you are unchurched, meaning that you don't go to church at all, you and your non-church-going family are in danger. The danger is you aren't a part of the family of God; you are in your sins, and where Jesus is, you cannot come (John 8:21, Acts 2:47, John 10:9). It doesn't have to be that way. You can make the change in your life to start living as God would have you. Don't throw this paper away or dismiss the message it carries to you. Contact us today, let's study the word of God in order to see what you must do to be saved (Luke 5:1-3, John 6:45, Acts 8:30-31, Acts 10:30-33, Romans 10:13-21). Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. Baptism is certainly nothing to be taken lightly, so we call attention to this vital subject. First of all, baptism isn't a matter of opinion, it is commanded (Matthew 28:19). Next we learn that baptism must be done according to the name of the Lord, (or by his authority) meaning that baptism must be done as God would have it (Acts 10:48, Colossians 3:17). Baptism requires much water because it is described as a burial or immersion, and sprinkling or pouring water isn't Bible baptism (Mark 7:7, John 3:23, Matt. 3:6, 16, Acts 8:38, Acts 10:37, Romans 6:3-4).
If you want to be in Christ, you must be baptized as the Bible teaches, and Bible baptism puts a person into Christ (Galatians 3:27). A person must also be in the Lord's church in order to be saved from hell, and baptism is the final act which places a person inside the church (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:23, Acts 2:47, John 10:9). Sin separates man from God, so it must be terminated, and that is the job of baptism (John 8:21, Isaiah 59:1-3). In Acts 2:38, we read that baptism is for the forgiveness (remission) of sins. Forgiveness is accomplished in baptism because baptism is the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16, Eph. 5:25-27, Hebrews 10:22, Romans 6:1-18). If a person wants to be baptized, that person must be a willing candidate; meaning the person to be baptized must believe on Christ (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:37-41, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:35-38, Acts 9:17-18, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 16:13-15, Acts 16:30-33). Therefore baptizing babies, and anyone who doesn't believe, is wrong. And last, but not least, baptism saves (1 Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16). This is because baptism is the final step that God has prescribed for man's walk toward salvation (Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 1:18-25). Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. War is certainly nothing new under the sun, because the Bible said, "a time of war and a time of peace," (Ecclesiastes 3:8). The reader shouldn't think the Bible is promoting war, but it is simply stating what will happen at given conditions and times upon the earth. If we could spend one day as the eyes of God, just imagine what kinds of things we would see happening upon the earth (Proverbs 15:3, Hebrews 4:13).
And of course, the Bible carries its share of war stories. In the Bible there was war because evil greedy kings attacked cities (2 Kings 18-19). The Israelites were God's chosen people, and when they forsook God and began to worship idols; God then used foreign armies to wage war and punish His people for their backsliding ways (2 Kings 24-25). After leaving Egypt, God commanded His people to fight and remove evil people from the land of Canaan, and live there themselves (Joshua 1:1-9; Leviticus 18:3, 24-30). Now don't gasp and say, "how could God order such a thing?" I remind you, my dear doubter, we are talking about God here, and if God ordered an attack, who is man to question His orders? (Romans 9:18-22). And consider the fact that God gives kingdoms, and God can take away those kingdoms whenever He wishes (Job 1:21, Daniel 4:28-37). In closing, let me state, that in order for a nation to protect itself, that country must sometimes declare war; so there is a such thing as a just and unjust war. We just have to make sure that if we fight in the future, that our cause remains just. Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. The church one can read about in the Bible was established by Jesus Christ when He shed His blood upon the cross (Acts 20:28, Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 3:11). The church of the Lord is the only one He will save on Judgment Day, and that church wears His name for it is His bride (Ephesians 5:24-33, Matthew 15:13-14, Eph. 5:23, Romans 16:16). The members of the Lord's church are called "Christians," not "born again Christians," because that would be like saying, "Joe is a human man." Neither is the preacher called "Reverend," because only God is Reverend (Psalm 111:9). The church of the Lord governs itself not by the creed books of men, but by the word of God only (Mark 7:7, John 8:31-32, John 17:14-17).
The Lord's church has a simple worship service because that is what the scriptures authorize (John 4:24). The members comes together upon the first day of the week to partake of the communion, which consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (the blood of the grape) (Acts 20:7, Matt. 26:26-29). The members give one time only according to what they might have prospered during the week, and visitors aren't expected to give anything (1 Cor. 16:1-4, 2 Cor. 9:7). The song services is vocal without mechanical instruments of music, choirs and solos, because the scriptures teach that the melody is to be made with the heart and each person is to partake (Eph. 5:19). There is also teaching and praying being carried out in the worship services as well (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7). Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. Since the war has created a renewal in the hearts of many people to pray, there are some things we need to keep in mind.
All of this is very important, so let us carefully consider these things before we pray. Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. Some say, "I know I will go to hell." Let it be known that those people are probably right, because Jesus said the majority of people will be in hell (Matthew 7:13-14). I wish every person reading this material could go to heaven, but sadly, I know that will not happen. But, people don't have to go to hell; they will do so because they chose not to do what God said (Matt. 7:21, Acts 10:34-35). For those who know they are going to hell, I suggest they start getting in some practice. Hell is forever, and it involves pain, so rather than wish the pain of a smashed finger to go away, one should make that pain last as long as possible. Such will not equal eternity, but at least it will be some kind of practice. Next time you get burnt by fire, don't jerk your body away from the flame; try to hold your body in the fire as long as possible. Even that will not match eternity, but at least it will be some kind of practice. Don't stay away from the scum of the earth. I'm talking about rapists, child molesters, wife beaters, robbers, Hitler types, etc. Make friends with such people and hang out with them, because they will be your neighbors in hell (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:7-8). Start getting used to darkness and weeping, try to cry as much as possible. Start walking down dark deserted streets at night, so you will have had some practice upon your entrance into hell (Matt. 13:41-42, Matt. 25:30). Don't be afraid of the Devil, he will be in hell and he won't be in charge. Satan will be burning like everyone else (Rev. 20:10). So, if one know he is going to hell, I suggest that person go into training for it, because eternity has no end.
Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. For thousands of years people have been dying. Their bodies are turned over to the grave while their souls go to the Hadean realm. Because of that continuous process one would naturally infer that the grave and Hades are never full. Rather, they are constantly yearning for more. The wise man uses this analogy to portray those who have insatiable appetites for the things of life. The eyes are the gateway to the senses, for generally nothing is desired that hasn't first been seen. In this passage the eyes are used for all the senses and, thus, would refer to all bodily appetites. Some cannot get enough sex, food, drink, entertainment, sleep, etc. The preacher hammers on this point in the book of Ecclesiastes. Jesus, on one occasion, pointed out the fact that a certain woman of Samaria was unfulfilled in regard to men (John 4:16-18). This revelation was preceded by his invitation to partake of that which brings real satisfaction (John 4:13-14).
Jesus is truly all one needs to achieve total satisfaction (John 6:35). As Christians we must learn not to allow our senses to fool us. Let us also teach our children to be content with the Lord's provisions. Covetousness, stealing, and the like will be avoided if such lessons are learned. (Written by Charles Spense of Atlanta, GA., in daily inspiration). Hope to hear from you or to see you at the services. |