The Reporter     Volume 47 # 15,  --  April 13, 2007

Beatitudes From The Epistles

 

   All serious Bible students are familiar with that section of scripture where we find Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. A part of that sermon is that teaching that we call the "Beatitudes." (Matthew 5:3-12) Those that follow the principles set forth by Jesus will be blessed or will enjoy "true" happiness. The epistles also contain powerful beatitudes:

 

   Blessed are the forgiven: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered." (Romans 4:7) Forgiveness is the great need of all that have been ignorant of God's law or who have simply violated God's law through unrighteousness. When sins are forgiven they are literally sent away from the life of that person. The person is truly blessed who has sins covered over by the blood of Jesus! Without the blood of Jesus there is no forgiveness of sins.

 

   Blessed are those who endure temptation: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) Temptation comes to everyone. Those that persevere and endure these tempta­tions will be blessed with a crown of life. These trials of one's fidelity, integrity and virtue are the proving ground for eternity.  The crown of life is the blessing promised to those who endure the temptations of life.

 

   Blessed are those who learn and do: "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25) Those who look carefully into God's book with the intent to obey will be blessed. These blessings are promised, not to the talker, but to the doer. The doer is one who obeys or fulfills God's perfect law of liberty.

 

   Blessed are those that persevere: "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11) To endure is to persevere or to "hold fast to." Steadfastness, constancy or endurance must mark the life of a Christian. Christians must remain loyal to the faith even through great trial.

 

   Those who do the Lord's commandments will be blessed with an entrance into heaven and with the tree of life. (Revelation 22:14)  To be­come a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and be bap­tized to be saved. (Acts 2:38)

 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Mildred Johnson and Hiram Taylor (father of Stuart Taylor). VA Hospital, Birmingham: J.C. Lowery (brother of Agnes Hammonds & Dennis Lowery). In Need Of Prayers: Jody Barr (accident), Linda Bender, Emily Cain, Marie Curlee, Nelson Daughtry, Buddy Davis, Roy Goodwin, Montine Hardin, Latrelle Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Billy Heartsill, James Hill, Andy Hobbie, Darrell Jones, Dot Killingworth, Wanda Kyser (mother of Ann Cauthen – 13301 C Roy Miller Road, Grand Bay, AL 36541), Mary Lawrence, Steve McCreary, Steve Osborne, Glenn Phillips, Mary Powell, John Reynolds, Ottey Simno, R.B. Stabler, Roger Strange, and Melissa Woodruff. Crowne Health Care: Linda Conway, Ileane Fussell, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Doris Taylor and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson, Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, and Jean Hayes.

 

2. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in Iraq: Sam Sanders, Jason Godwin, Michael Howell, Kimberly Williams, Taylor Bodie, and Lynn Kervin. Pray for them often!

 

3. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: April 20^th Hannah Owens, and April 21^st Jerry Sander.

 

4. Disney On Ice: Bobby & Mary Lou Terrell have offered to pay for any K-6^th graders to attend Disney on Ice on May 5^th at 11:00 a.m. in Montgomery. Let Darrell know ASAP if you would like to attend. (Parents of young children are also welcome)

 

5. Sign-Up Sheet: There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for the Marriage Seminar. If you are planning to attend please sign the sheet where the ladies will have an idea how many they will need to prepare lunch for.

 

6. Guyana Trip: Darrell and Jamie Powell, Marcus Harrell, Tyler Ray, Meaghan Till, and Morgan Till will be in Guyana June 2^nd-11^th. Prayers and financial support would be greatly appreciated. (Each must raise a minimum of $1,310.00 for this trip.)

 

7. Backwoods Christian Camp: Our week at Backwoods will be July 8-13. Camp fees will again be paid from the Carl Sessions Camp Fund for all Walnut street youths that participate. Registration forms are at the Welcome Center. Get them filled out and back to Darrell right away!

 

8. Your Help Is Needed: We all need to work together to make sure we turn off lights, lock doors and in general help keep the church building clean and secure. If you see lights on please turn them off, even if you did not turn them on. If doors are unlocked please lock them. If you turn the water on to water plants please make sure it is turned off!  Please help keep the auditorium clean. Thanks for your help!

 

10. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) April 15^th – 18^th – Capitol Heights Church of Christ – Gospel Meeting – Speaker Alan Watkins – Time weeknights at 7:00 (b) April 28^th – Prattville Church of Christ – Ladies Day – Speaker Sherrie Hilliard – Shining the Gift of Gods Light in Our Community – Time 9:00 a.m. – RSVP by April 23^rd 334-365-4201. (c) May 5^th – Prattville Church of Christ – Men’s Workshop – Becoming Ephesians Fathers God’s Home Improvement Plan – Time 8:30 – 3:00 – RSVP by April 30^th. (d) June 15^th – 16^th – Backwoods Christian Camp – June Bug 2007 – Science and the Bible – K4 – 4^th grade – Cost $30 – Time begins at 5:00 p.m. Friday ends at 3:00 p.m. Saturday (e) September 24^th – 26^th – Regions University – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Embassy Suites, Montgomery.

 

 

Does Your Love For God Affect Your Life?

 

   Imagine a life where the only worry you have about telling lies is whether or not anyone will find out. A life where your only concern about missing worship services is figuring out a believable excuse to tell the preacher. Imagine a life in which you give little or none of what you earn back to the Lord, and what you do give goes into the plate reluctantly. A life where your decisions are not affected by your relationship with God. What did David mean when he wrote: “With my whole heart I seek you;” (Psa 119:10)? What is complete devotion God.

 

   The Lord has asked some difficult things of His children. “Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44), Forgive endlessly (Mt 18:21-22), Give with a cheerful heart (II Cor 9:7). Some of these commands don’t come naturally to us as humans. So how do people become faithful Christians and desire to obey the Lord’s will? LOVE! There are a million tasks that we might not want to do, but if we are motivated by love, any task can become more appealing. Think of anything that you don’t like doing…then imagine that it needed to be done for someone you love. When we grow to love the Lord wholeheartedly, none of his commands will seem grievous; even when they’re not easy. John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (I Jn 5:3). His commands are not easy, but they are not “burdensome” when we truly love Him.

 

   Now, imagine a life in which you don’t fret over whether to miss services for an all-star game. A life where you wouldn’t be in a dilemma when acquaintances invite you to participate in worldly activity that is not becoming of a Christian. A life in which you aren’t torn between Wednesday night Bible study and the American Idol finale, and the super bowl doesn’t come close to having the appeal of assembling with God’s faithful on a Sunday night. A life where your thoughts are filled with dreams of heaven and your desires are set on pleasing God. Where your words are pure and you are the same godly person wherever you go. Is this your life? Does your whole heart belong to the Almighty God?

- - - - Darrell Powell

 

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)