[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 7/1/07
tedwards at onemain.com
tedwards at onemain.com
Mon Jul 2 12:22:23 CDT 2007
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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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July 1, 2007
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Contents:
1) Unanswered Prayers (Lewis Willis)
2) The Mystery Revealed (Edward O. Bragwell, Jr.)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Unanswered Prayers
by Lewis Willis
When I think of prayer, I think of it as the very essence of
the Christian's relationship to God. It is our link of
communication with him, as the New Testament is his link of
communication with us. I, therefore, regard prayer as a sacred,
individual right and privilege. Because of this view of mine, I
have always been hesitant to say much about the Christian and his
prayers. We must teach what the Bible teaches about prayer, leaving
the application of that message to each Christian. I try to do
that.
Jesus taught that men ought always to pray (Lk. 18:1). Paul
said that we should pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). James
taught us to pray for one another (Jas. 5:16). In the application
of these instructions, there are certain things that we must keep
in mind.
We must prepare our minds to pray by setting aside worldly
cares and concerns. We address the prayer to God who is our Father.
We are not praying that our will might be done, but that God's will
be done (I Jn. 5:14). We are to pray in faith that God will do as
his word says he will do (Jas. 1:6-7). Scriptural prayers are
offered with humility, in the name of Christ, that is, by his
authority and unto his glory (Jn. 14:13; Col. 3:17).
When Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim. 2:1), he told him that he
should offer supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of
thanks for all men. "Supplications" are our requests regarding our
needs. "Prayers" are any discourse with God, which would include
petitions, praise and thanksgiving. "Intercessions" are our pleas
to God on behalf of others. "Thanksgiving" obviously expresses our
thanks for the multitude of blessings, both physical and spiritual,
which we enjoy in this life.
When we offer our prayers, we always want to remember to be
thankful for the multitude of blessings God has bestowed upon us.
Christians are saved by the grace of God, through the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ, and through compliance with the terms and conditions
set forth in the New Testament. Someone was concerned enough about
us to tell us of the love of God and show us the things that we
need to do to be saved. Certainly Christians are thankful for this
blessing. But, we are also given great privileges, opportunities
and comforts that are physical in their nature and it would be an
act of utter ingratitude if we were not thankful for these physical
blessings as well.
Intercessions, our prayers for others, will include petitions
unto God in behalf of many. We intercede for our brethren, our
family, our enemies, our rulers, the sick, those who are lost and
for elders, deacons and preachers (Phil. 1:9; Matt. 5:44; 1 Tim.
2:2; Rom. 10:1; Jas. 5:13; 2 Thess. 3:1-2). Many prayers are
prayers of intercession.
I believe in the power of prayer (Jas. 5:16). I, therefore,
would encourage and admonish all of God's people to be regular and
fervent in prayer. For some reason, God appointed that we should
tell him of our petitions for others, and express to him our
gratitude. I could reason that, being God, he knows our petitions
and our thanksgivings. But my "reasonings" do not constitute the
rules governing prayer. Thus, we must simply do what he told us to
do -- pray!
Something interesting happened the other day. I was listening
to the radio and I heard a new song by a country singer. I have
thought about a line or two in the song ever since. I doubt that it
was his purpose to make it so, but it contained a powerful message.
I was so impressed with it that I have planned this article for two
weeks. The line said, "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered
prayers." Think about that a moment.
Suppose a person prayed for wealth. If he got the wealth in
answer to his prayer, would he be able to handle the changes it
would work in his life? Have you noted some of the problems people
have had who have won great lottery prizes? Some of them are in
prison for writing "hot checks." Great temptation would come to the
wealthy. Could you keep your faith intact in the face of these
temptations? "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers!"
Or, consider the prayers that we offer for people who are very
old or sick. We often pray that they would enjoy greater length of
life. But, old age and sickness can be a great burden, not just for
those who suffer these things, but for their loved ones as well.
Suppose a family member is suffering from cancer. He grows weaker
daily, and his pain is immense. Not wanting to give up our loved
one, we pray that he might live awhile longer. If the prayer is
answered, he has more days of weakness and pain. "Some of God's
greatest gifts are unanswered prayers!"
There are times when we think we know best. Based on that
assumption, we petition the throne of God for the things we desire.
However, we are aware that we certainly do not always know what is
best. That God does know is the essence of our trust in him. When
we offer our prayers according to his will, we are not only asking
as the Bible teaches us to ask, but we are also asking that his
will override ours in the provision of what is best. This is the
simple process of, in our minds, granting to God his inherent
supremacy in deciding what is best for all concerned. Most of us,
if honest, will readily confess that his will is better than ours
anyway. Our prayers will always reflect that truth. Continue to
pray to God. Let him answer your prayers. But, be prepared when he
does not answer as you ask.
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXXV: 7, pp. 193, 215, April 4, 1991
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-2-
The Mystery Revealed
by Edward O. Bragwell, Jr.
I often hear people say that the Bible cannot really be
understood. One reason some give is that the Bible is a mystery
that no one can understand. As proof, they point to the fact that
the Bible sometimes refers to itself as a mystery. Now it is true
that in many passages the Bible does characterize the things within
it as a "mystery." The question that must be asked is if these
things continue to be a mystery. Let's first look at what is meant
by the word mystery. A mystery is "something unexplained, unknown,
or kept secret" (Webster's New World Dictionary). The Greek word
"musterion" (moos-tay-ree-on) which is translated mystery in the
New Testament literally means "to shut the mouth" and means "a
secret" according to Strong. So the things that are contained in
the Scriptures are things that at least at one time God kept His
mouth shut about or kept secret. But the question is whether these
things are a mystery or secret any longer or has God made His will
known to us so that we can understand. A careful consideration of a
few Bible passages should give us the answer to this.
1. Rom 16:25-27: "Now to Him who is able to establish you
according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according
to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has
been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the
everlasting God, for obedience to the faith -- to God, alone wise,
be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." Notice that although
the "revelation of the mystery" had been "kept secret since the
world began" that Paul says it "now has been made manifest" and "by
the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations." Does
that sound like the things in the Scriptures are still covered up
(kept secret) or have they been uncovered (revealed) so that we can
know and understand God's will?
2. 1 Cor. 2:7-10: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a
mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for
our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they
known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it
is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into
the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who
love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For
the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
Notice here that Paul said that he and others spoke the "mystery"
or "hidden wisdom" of God. But they were able to speak these things
because "God has revealed them to us." When the Holy Spirit made
known the things of God to Paul and others, it no longer was
secret. It is no longer a mystery, but can be known and understood.
3. Eph 1:7-10: "In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which
He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made
known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure
which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the
fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him."
We see here again that the "mystery of His will" has been "made
known to us." It is no longer kept secret. We can know it and
understand it.
4. Eph 3:3-12: "How that by revelation He made known to me the
mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you
read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it
has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and
prophets. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this
grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has
been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to
the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known
by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly
places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in
Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with
confidence through faith in Him." There are several things brought
out here. We see that Paul had the "mystery" revealed to him. This
mystery had not been revealed in "other ages," but had now been
"revealed" or uncovered. Paul wrote down what he received and when
we read it we can "understand" what was revealed to him. Also Paul
had within his power to "make all see" what was once a "mystery"
that had been "hidden in God," but obviously no longer was hidden.
God's word is therefore no longer a mystery, but something that has
been revealed so that we can understand it.
5. Col 1:24-29: "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and
fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ,
for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a
minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to
me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been
hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to
His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and
teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving
according to His working which works in me mightily." Notice again
that here the "word of God" is characterized as "the mystery which
has been hidden," but "now has been revealed."
These passages ought to be enough to convince us that the Bible
is not a mystery which cannot be understood by us today. On the
contrary, God's will was once a MYSTERY shut up in His mind UNTIL
He saw fit to REVEAL it to us by the apostles and prophets, who
wrote it down in what we now know as the Bible. We can understand
it now. All we have to do is read it and follow it.
-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia,
April 15, 2007
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-3-
News & Notes
Bob McGregor (Joe's brother), whom we have reported as having
cancer, is now undergoing kidney failure. The hospital tried
dialysis, but to no avail. It appears that it is just a matter of
days for Bob. Please be remembering him and his family and friends
in your prayers.
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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