– Nahum –

The Almost Forgotten Book

 

One small, almost forgotten books in the Old Testament is the book of Nahum. Nahum should be studied along with the book of Jonah. He did not write this book as a warning, or in an effort to get the people to repent! God had already sent that message by the prophet Jonah years before. When Jonah preached the people repented. Over the course of many years they turned away from God. Nahum gives the account of what happened to Nineveh when they failed to keep their promises to God. Nahum begins with the truths earlier expressed in Exodus 34:6-7. "And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." Some of the lessons learned from the book of Nahum are:

 

God is a jealous God: "God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;" (Nahum 1 :2) God is pictured both as a jealous God and an avenger.

 

God is patient, but there is a limit to His patience: "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet." (Nahum 1:3)

 

God is so powerful that sinners cannot stand before Him: "Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him." (Nahum 1:6) These words are much like those written by Isaiah. "What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help?." (Isaiah 10:3)

 

    God is a God that expects us to keep our promises: "...O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off." (Nahum 1:15) During the days of Jonah the people of Nineveh promised to leave sin and serve God. They did not keep their promises and the pay was destruction. (Romans 6:23)

 

 

Nahum teaches us that God is the Sovereign ruler of the universe and our only hope for deliverance. Only our sin stands in the way of many blessings from the hand of our benevolent Creator.

 

- - - - Charles Box

Faithfulness Leads To Great Blessings

 

Faithfulness to God is a wonderful blessing because of the strength it brings to so many. God and others are happy over souls that have stayed faithful in the church. It was shown in early Bible days that people can and must serve God faithfully. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2) Let us never be like the Jews of Old Testament days. They turned away from God and lost their blessings.

 

When one stays faithful the church gains members: Every member of the church is an important member. Each member is a part of all other members of the church. "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." (Romans 12:4-5) Those that stay faithful help the local church stay strong and growing. The church grows only because God blesses the efforts of "the faithful" that spread His word and that serve others.

 

When one stays faithful the Lord has a true servant: The faithful brother or sister in Christ is a "servant." "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:27-28) Greatness in God's king­dom comes through service. "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11) Can the Lord correctly say to you "well done?" At the Judgment the faithful will hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:23) Strive to be among the faithful!

 

When one stays faithful other Christians gain a true brother or sister: Those that love and serve God faithfully are a blessing to other Christians. How wonderful to enjoy the sweet fellowship among brethren in Christ. Jesus said, "...Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:46-50) Those that stay faithful are true brothers or sisters to other Christians. Not many descriptions could be more touching than when Paul called Onesimus, "a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you." (Colossians 4:9)

 

When one stays faithful the community gains a powerful Christian influence: It is God's will that Christians shine as light in a world of darkness. There is much sin, evil, and corruption in the world. Yet Paul wrote to the Philippians saying, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2: 15) The very life of a Christian must be an honor to Jesus Christ and to His cause. If a Christian loses his influence he is good for nothing. (Matthew 5:13)

 

When one stays faithful he saves his own soul. Those that draw back, "draw back to perdition" or perishing. "But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 1 0:39) Those that stay faithful save their souls. The faithful can pray the prayer of Psalm 86:2, "Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee." Our soul is at stake. Let us never be casual about our faithfulness to the Almighty. Our life, faithful or unfaithful, will determine where we will be in eternity.

 

  If you are not a Christian you should become a Christian today. (Acts 2:36-41) If you are a Christian stay faithful to the Lord in daily Bible study, in your commitment to God and in daily living. The Christian that remains faithful is a blessing to others and will be blessed eternally. God's word says, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10) What a wonderful victory is ours through Christ! Think about your eternal home and stay faithful to God.

    

  ---- Charles Box

News & Notes

1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Heather Bagents. In Need Of Prayers: Jerry Barr, Terry Bennett (brother of Sandra Roberson), Shirley Boutwell, Dannie Box, Ida ','Jean" Brazell, Dorothy Buck, Shirley Curry, '""Bobby Fullington, Jean Gafford, Judy Green,. Roy Goodwin, Billy Hartsill, Adrian Hillbum, Jeff' Hughes, Mary Lawrence, Elizabeth Marshall, Gentry McCeary (son of Becky McCeary), Renny McNaughton, Roland Mitchell, Reba Miller (mother of Pam Till), Elizabeth Perdue (after hospital stay), June & Bill Perry (sister & brother-in-law of Sandra Roberson), Mary Powell, Gilbert Pugh, Zachary Reynolds, Don Shirley, Sarah Stidham, Rebecca Stinson, Leroy Tindal, Ted Tindal, Richard Watts, Mary Williams, and Kim Willett. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, James Alford, Gene Buck, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, and Myrtle Perdue. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.

2. Baptized Into Christ: Anna Lewis was baptized into Christ. Please welcome her to Walnut Street. Her address is 360 Executive Drive Apartment 3C, Greenville, Alabama 36037 - Phone 371-5300 - (December 23rd).

 

3. Please Pray For: Pray for Ben Newton, Jason Godwin and Dennis Phillips Jr. as they serve in Iraq.

4. Birthday: Celebrating birthdays this week are: September 22nd Jewel Cauthen, September 2i" Deborah Stallings, September 2Slh Patsy Nall, and September 261h Pat O'Connor.

5. Secret Pal Program: For all ladies that wish to participate in the "Secret Pals" Program for 2008-2009, the forms are on the table in the foyer. Please return them to Nell Daughtry by October 1 st. The ladies will meet October 5th at the home of Nell Daughtry at 2 p.m. to reveal last year's Secret Pals.

6. Ladies Bible Class: The Ladies Bible Class has resumed on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. All ladies are invited to participate.

7. New Bible Class: Jeff Thomas is teaching a Bible class on Sunday morning and Wednesday night on "Overcoming Addiction Through Christ." See Jeff Thomas or Charles Box for information.

 

8. Thank You: Your prayers and kindness have greatly helped speed my full recovery. The love of my church family never ceases to amaze me! In Christian Love, Elizabeth Perdue

 

9. Bill & Ann Walz Address: Bill, Ann and the boys made the move to Michigan on Monday. There new address is 1030 North Western Avenue, Cheboygan, Michigan 49721 - phone 231-268-9744.

 

10. A Note From Christine Lucas: Dear Walnut Street, Thank you for Hie cards, e-mails, phone calls, and encouraging words. Our move was a success, thanks to everyone who helped! Larry is steady working, Patrick is in school in the second grade and Kaitlyn just' had her fourth birthday and is my "unpacking buddy". Everything is unpacked, furniture in place and pictures hung. It sure is good to be home. Keep the calls and e-mails coming. Its always nice to stay in touch and hear from each one of you from time to time. The Strasburg Church of Christ has welcomed us with open arms as they always have and are glad to have fresh smiling faces in their congregation. Love to all and may God bless you all. Larry, Christine, Patrick & Kaitlyn Lucas

 

11. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) September 29th -October 1 st - Spiritual Enrich­ment Forum - Marriott Legends Hotel & Convention Center, Prattville, Alabama ­Hosted by Amridge University - See bulletin board for schedule of times and speakers. (b) October 3rd - Area- Wide Congregational Singing - Georgia Road Church of Christ ­Time 7:00 p.m. (c) October 5th-9th - Gospel Meeting - Walnut Street Church of Christ ­Speaker Ron Bryant - Sunday 6:00 p.m. and Weeknights at 7:00.  

 

An Answer From The Bible

 

  Is it only the members of the church of Christ that that will go to heaven? The church of Christ is the only church purchased with Jesus' blood. (Acts 20:28) The church of Christ is the only church over which Christ is head. (Ephesians 1:20-22) The church of Christ is the only church Christ promised to save. (Ephesians 5:23) To which church does Christ add the saved? Only to His church! (Acts 2:47) In the beginning there was only one church and all the saved were added to it.

 

What age is the right age for baptism? The Bible gives no specific age. The person that is baptized must believe (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:3.0), and confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) before they can be baptized to wash away sins. (Acts 22:16) They must also make a commitment to be faithful to Christ after baptism. (Revelation 2:10) Babies and small children should not be baptized.

Is instrumental music in church worship bad, since the Bible did not specifically condemn it? There is Bible authority to sing. (Ephesians 5:19) There is no authority to use an instrument. It is an addition to what God’s commandment. (Revelation 22:18-19) God did not tell Noah not to use some other kind of wood. He simply said use Gopher wood. (Genesis 6:14-16) Any kind of music other than singing cannot be done with God's authority.

 

Do we have a specific order of worship? There is no specific order for our Lord's Day worship. There are, however, five specific things to be done: (1) praying (Acts 2:42), (2) singing (Colossians 3:16), (3) giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), (4) Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7), and (5) preaching. (Acts 2:42) God gives no specific order in which these are to be done. However, it is very important that these and only these things be done each Sunday!

You can only be sure you have truth when your answer comes from the Bible. We are commanded to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Can you prove your religious teachings by the Bible?

-          - - - Charles Box

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Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)