Month: September 2024

Edd Sterchi Via Bulletin Gold

The nation of Israel had escaped slavery from Egypt.
But now they found themselves being pursued by their
former captors. At the shore of the Red Sea they felt that
they were trapped. Many of them thought about going
back to Egypt into slavery. Others were bemoaning
their current dilemma. The LORD then said to Moses,
“Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to
go forward” (Exodus 14:15). Other Bible versions have
God saying for them to “move on.” God has always
wanted His people to trust in Him and keep moving
forward.

This got me to thinking about God’s people today.
Many seem to have the same mindset as the Israelites.
Some desire to go back to their life they had before
Christ (of living in the bondage of sin). Others do not
look to the future with hope and bewail their current
problems. But we need to be people who trust in God
and keep moving forward. Don’t look back – keep
moving forward in faith, trust, hope, service, spiritual
growth, love, forgiveness.

“Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to
them, that your progress may be evident to all.”
(1Timothy 4:15)

John Gipson Via Bulletin Gold

If I read the signs of the times correctly, we consider
tolerance to be the greatest sin imaginable. Tolerance,
on the other hand, has been exalted to the chief of all
virtues. And woe to that person who would speak out
against any religion or claim that Christ is the only way
to the Father. Such intolerance!

Forgive me ifI have the sneaking suspicion that there
are those who are willing to tolerate everything because
they believe nothing. If everything is innocuous,
toleration is easy

Apparently, the only exception the tolerant are willing
to make is intolerance to those whom they perceive to
be intolerant. In that case, no quarter will be given, and
toleration vanishes.

But what if Caballero was right when he said, “Error
tolerates, truth condemns.”?

What if Jesus was speaking the truth when He said, “I
am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to
the Father but by me'”? Where is your toleration now?

Preachers would do well to heed the words of
Elizabeth Achtemcier: “As preacher, your job is to
preach the text, not apologize for it.” And that goes
for all of us who seek to share the gospel of Christ.

By Clifton Angel

Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mnourn, for they shall be
comforted” (Matt 5:4). The late V.P. Black organized mourning
into three categories: natural, unnatural, and godly.

Natural mourning is the result of suffering in this world of
decay: “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by
sin; and so death passed upon all men” (Rom 5:12). Many may
assume Jesus is speaking of natural mourning at Matthew 5:4.

Truly God is the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:34) and He knows
and cares about our natural mourning (cf. 1 Cor 10:13; Rev 21:4):
however, at Matthew 5:4, Jesus is not speaking of natural
mourning.

Unnatural mourning includes worldly sorrow, ungodly fear,
and unnecessary guilt. Worldly sorrow is insincere and selfish. If
not repented of, it leads to spiritual death (2 Cor 7:10). It is the
person who is only sorry because he got caught. Ungodly fear is
deceptive, futile, and destructive (cf. Matt 6:25-34; Phil 4:4 9;2
Tim 1:7: Rev 21:8). Unnecessary guilt happens when we will not
forgíve ourselves for something for which we’ve already been
forgíven (cf. 1 John 1:7-9; 3:20). Certainly, it is not unnatural
mourning Jesus is speaking of at Matthew 5:4.

Godly mourning is the result of an honest heart recognizing sin
and the consequences of it (2 Cor. 7:10; Rom. 6:23). It is
connected to being “poor in spirit,” since the person who is poor
in spirit recognizes he is in need when he sins, and he is nothing
without God. King David’s godly mourning is evident in the
words of Psalm 51: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to
thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender
mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from
mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge
my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:1-3)

What does it mean to be among them that mourn? 
It is the grief felt and expressed over the acknowledgement of
one’s sin and its consequences. The blessing is that with
proper direction, this soul will be comforted. “Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
my yoke is easy. and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Joseph D.Chase by Via Bulletin Gold

It really is up to you! You can see the myriad of
problems that plague us in this world and worry about
them. You can complain about them, You could curse
them or many other actions. However, there is only one
way that we, God’s family, ought to respond to these
troubles…

God has given us the opportunity to shine our lights
before men and so glorify the God of heaven (Matthew
5:16). I can decide to work for the Lord and right
wrongs that I see, lift up the broken and hurting. I can
become a part of God’s solution for a lost and dying
world..”Go out and make disciples…”, visit the poor,
the widowed, the orphan (James 1:27), offer a simple
cup of cool water in the name of our Lord Jesus. When
we do the Lord’s work it makes the world a better place.
We bless and are blessed when we view problems as
opportunities.

It won’t be easy, but I assure you it will be worthwhile.