Volume 48 # 46, -- November 14, 2008
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How
Does God View Scripture?
God views Scripture as the good news message that leads us into
Christ and His kingdom, the church. The only way to know the Lord and walk with
Him is though the Scriptures. God inspired the Scriptures in order that we could
know His will, obey Him and go to heaven in the end. "All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The Bible is the product of God having
inspired holy men to write exactly what He wanted written. The sixty-six books
of the Bible are the very words of God.
Psalm 19:7-14 allows us to observe how God views Scripture.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the
eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the
LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold,
yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover
by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from
secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not
have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from
the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my
heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
God views Scripture as perfect. "The law of the
LORD is perfect, converting the soul..." (Psalm 19:7) Scripture is a
perfect message that will make the man of God perfect when he follows it. It is
so perfect that it restores or converts the soul. Nothing should be added to it
and nothing should be taken from it. "For I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these
things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And
if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and
from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19) The
word of God is the perfect tool by which lost souls can be brought back to the
Master.
God views Scripture as sure. "...The testimony
of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7) The word of God
is "sure" or faithful. The Bible teaches fairly, truly and
completely. No vain or false message is found anywhere in the word of God. You
can confidently rely upon what you read in your Bible. God's Word is neither
changing nor ambiguous. It is a message that can be studied, meditated upon,
believed and obeyed by the simple. The simple are those that are humble and
teachable. Solomon pleaded, "Ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools,
be ye of an understanding heart." (Proverbs 8:5) Even the simple can
understand the gospel message. God can use weak and unlikely people as
instruments in His service when they surrender to His will. Paul said, "But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." (1
Corinthians 1:27)
God views Scripture as right. "The statutes of
the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart..." (Psalm 19:8) In the word of
God we have absolute truth. The statutes of the Lord are in exact agreement
with the eternal rules and principles of good and evil. God's statutes agree
with the right judgment of man and the right and wise counsels of God. When God
speaks on a matter it is always right. "Therefore I esteem all thy
precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way."
(Psalm 119:128) True happiness comes from surrender to the Almighty. Solomon
tried everything that there was to try and then he concluded that the way to be
happy is to keep God's law. "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find
good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he." (Proverbs 16:20) It
makes sense that God's right statutes would rejoice the heart.
God views Scripture as pure. "...The
commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." (Psalm 19:8) In
the twelfth Psalm David wrote, ''The words of the LORD are pure words: as
silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Psalm 12:6)
The Scripture brings spiritual light into our lives. Proverbs
God views Scripture as clean. "The fear of the
LORD is clean, enduring for ever..." (Psalm 19:9) The godliness described
in God's word is clean itself and makes us clean as we obey. Jesus said,
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."
(John 15:3) The proper reverence or fear of the Lord will lead to our obedience
to God. We must not take the things of God lightly. Solomon sought for the
meaning of life and concluded, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes
12:13) Service to God demands reverence and serious devotion to His cause!
God views Scripture as true and righteous.
"...The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."
(Psalm 19:9) There is no unrighteousness or untruth in any of God's commandments.
Everything He has spoken is fair, right and for our well being. We should value
God's word more than we would precious gold. Let us love, delight in, study and
obey this true and righteous message! "More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb." (Psalm
God loves every sinner and desperately wants everyone to believe
His word and receive eternal life. He has given us the Scripture so that we can
know and fully understand our responsibility to Him. The Scripture teaches us
that we must hear the gospel (Romans
- - -
- Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of
Prayers: James Arnold (father of Kyle Arnold), Jerry Barr, Jan
Blackwell, Shirley Boutwell, Charles Box, Sr., Dannie
Box, Ida “Jean” Brazell, Dorothy Buck, Olive George
Collins, Shirley Curry, Nell Davis, Bobby Fullington,
Judy Green, Roy Goodwin, Billy Heartsill, Margie
Henry, Jeff Hughes, Dot Killingsworth, Mary Lawrence,
George Lewis, Becky McCeary, Carol McDonald, Mable McLain, Renny McNaughton, Roland Mitchell, Reba Miller, Margaret Munro,
Curtis Newton, Abby O’Connor, Cynthia Olive, Jeff Owens, Betty Pitts, Mary
Powell, Zachary Reynolds, Don Shirley, Tete Stabler, Sarah Stidham, Ted Tindal, Corrine Till, Juanita Turner, Richard Watts, Mary
Williams and Kim Willett. Crowne
Health Care: Mary Alexander, James Alford, Gene Buck, Gladys Childs, Kathy
Johnson, Wallace Murry, Myrtle Perdue, and Ralph Sims
(grandfather of Romona Newton). Pine Needle: Mary Lou
Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey,
and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean
Hayes, and Doris Taylor.
2. Ladies Bible Class: On
November 19th the Ladies Bible Class will meet at the home of
Virginia Lowery. Anyone that would like to ride the van should be at the
building before
3. Sign-Up Sheets: The
sign up sheets for 2009 are on the bulletin board. Please sign up now.
4. Food Committees: There
is a need to up date the food committee lists. If you are not on a food
committee please sign one of the committees to help.
5. Birthdays: Celebrating
a birthday this week are: November 18th Alaina Bagents, November
19th Thomas Till, and November 20th Beverly
Lassiter.
6.
Birthday Correction: We are sorry
that we had the birthdays wrong for John Robert and Jeremiah Holladay. The
correct dates are John Robert, January 4th and Jeremiah, January 14th.
7. A Big Thank You: We extend a “Big” thank you to Stacey, Patricia,
Marcus and Kendal Harrell for hosing “Trunk of Treats” and the “Fall Festival.”
We love and appreciate you all!
8.
9. Congratulation: Johnny
Hobbie is now the new pulpit preacher at the Maul
Road Church of Christ in
10. Parent/Youth Meeting: Attention,
parents and youths! Mark your
calendars. There will be a youth event
planning meeting following the evening services on Sunday, November 23rd. We will be meeting in the fellowship hall
directly after services. At this
meeting, we will schedule youth events for the rest of this year and as much as
we can of next year. Please bring your planners/calendars
and ideas with you so that we can all plan and be prepared for the youth’s
future events.
11. Area Event: (a) November 16th-18th
– Gospel Meeting – Wald Church of Christ – Speaker
Jerry Davidson – Time Sunday Bible Study 10:00 am, Worship 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
and weeknights 7:30 pm. (b) November
16th-19th – Gospel Meeting – County Line Church of Christ
– Speakers Jeff Grimes, Mark Jones, Jack Cates and Caleb Cochran – Time Sunday
Bible Study 10:00 am, Worship 11:00 am, Worship 2:00 pm, and weeknights 7:30 pm
(c) November 16th-19th
– Gospel Meeting – Haynesville Church of Christ – Speaker Charles Box – Time
Sunday Singing 2:00 pm, Worship 3:00 pm, and weeknights 7:00 pm – Theme Arise
and Let us Build
God Helps Us as Christians
It has been said by many before, “bad things
happen to good people.” One’s living right and doing right does not prevent him
from suffering. Imagine how life would
be if it did. Imagine how life would be if a bad thing never happened to a good
person being obedient to God’s Word. Everyone would want to become a Christian
from no higher motive than a desire to escape pain. When we look to the book of
Job, we can understand that sometimes our lives will be difficult and that does
not mean that we are not pleasing to God. In fact, with Job, it meant just the
opposite.
God does not shield his people completely
from any discomfort or suffering. However, God does help us as Christians in
our suffering. God helps me as a
Christian.
Christians can receive God’s help through His
comfort. Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” The Old Testament
scriptures can give us this patience and comfort. The Psalmist, David, wrote
“God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Isaiah teaches about
the help God provides for His suffering people. Isaiah 40:31: “But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and
not faint.”
Our God is the Omnipotent! Our God is the
Almighty! He can change our troubles to blessings.
Peter writes about the trials of faith and the benefits of them. He tells us
that these trials are more precious than gold tried with fire. 1 Peter 1:7:
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
Although all scripture gives us comfort, one particular passage of scripture should give us great comfort. Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
- - - - Jeff Stacy
Many receive
advice, only the wise profit by it.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)