[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (11/25/07)

Sun Nov 25 18:41:42 CST 2007

Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

November 25

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the San Juan church of Christ here in Montrose, Colorado, then
click on the San Juan church of Christ Web Site at
<http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

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CONTENTS:

"Be Ye Steadfast" (Richard Thetford)

"What Constitutes Obedience?" (Richard Thetford)

"Sadly, Some People Choose Not to Obey" (Richard Thetford)

"Let's Negotiate!" (Selected)

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BE YE STEADFAST

Richard Thetford

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and urged them to "be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor 15:58). That is a
beautiful charge and one that every Christian should keep on their mind to
keep focused in life and their duty for God. A true Christian is certainly
steadfast and so is the word of God and our hope (Heb 2:2-4; 6:19).
Christians should strive to be steadfast in faith as Peter tells us in 1
Peter 5:9 when he uses the word "firm" which is another form of
steadfastness. We should also be steadfast in our prayers, confidence, and
in our worship to God (Rom 12:12; Heb 3:14; Acts 2:42). We realize as
Christians that it is important to be steadfast in our faith in Jesus, but
some may still wonder why. We are commanded in 1 Cor 15:58 to be steadfast -
why? To be approved. Paul tells the Romans "...patience, experience..." (Rom
5:4). When we are patient under the daily pressures, then we become a better
Christian, one that has proven their self and through that steadfastness we
become much stronger! One that is steadfast also produces joy (Col 2:5). We
also need to be steadfast to resist the devil, to be holy, and not to be
enticed (1 Pet 5:9; Col 1:22-23; 2 Pet 2:14). One can strengthen their
steadfastness by enduring tribulation as Paul mentions in Romans 5:3-4. And
of course the greatest reason to be steadfast in Jesus is because "we are
made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end;" (Heb 3:14). Steadfastness reaps eternal benefits!

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WHAT CONSTITUTES OBEDIENCE?

Richard Thetford

A passage of scripture comes to mind when I hear the word "obedience" and
that is from 1 Samuel 15:22 which says: "And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as
much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of
the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, {And} to heed than the
fat of rams". We all need to understand that to obey the voice of the Lord
is our first obligation. The truth is what guides us unto salvation and all
men should obey the truth of God (Gal 3:1-5; 1 Pet 1:22). We can learn from
the scriptures that no man was saved by obedience to anything other than
God's word. King Saul obeyed the voice of the people and that led to his
downfall (1 Sam 15:21). Adam obeyed the voice of Satan (Gen 3:1-6). Saul of
Tarsus obeyed the voice of his conscience (Acts 26:9). Only when one obeys
the commandments of God is one able to be saved.

So how do we obey the truth? Before answering this question, let us first
see how we disobey it. We disobey the truth by refusing to do anything at
all (John 5:40). We disobey the truth by adding anything to it that God has
not commanded or allowed. The Proverb writer says: "Do not add to His words
Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar." (See also Rev 22:18; 2 John
9) Besides adding to God's word we disobey Him by taking away that which He
has instructed us to do (Rev 22:19; Deut 4:2). The only way that we can obey
the truth is by doing the exact thing that God commands for us to do. "Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but
he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on
that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name
cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness" (Matt 7:21-23). Some may think they are doing God's will
because it "feels right", or "it is a good work" but that does make it
right!

This point is driven home by the example of Moses when he struck the rock
when he was not commanded to do so (Exod 20:7-12). It seemed such a small
thing when Uzza touched the Ark to stabilize it, yet it caused his death (1
Chron 13:9-10). If we offend in one point we are guilty of all "For whoever
keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one {point,} he has become guilty of
all" (Jam 2:10). Let us strive to do ONLY those things which ARE AUTHORIZED
by God!

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SADLY, SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO OBEY

Richard Thetford

Jeremiah records in Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the
ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not
walk therein." When reading this passage of scripture you are probably
saying to yourself "I can't believe that these people would have the nerve
to come right out and say that they will NOT walk in the paths of
righteousness". Yet many today might as well be proclaiming the same thing!
Many CHOOSE NOT to walk in God's way and as a result will suffer the eternal
punishment (2 Thes 1:7-9). As the Lord promised rest for their souls if they
would walk in His way long ago, Jesus promises rest for our souls if we will
obey Him today. In Matthew 11:28-29 He says: "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."  Won't you obey Jesus and come unto His eternal rest? Come
learn of Jesus at the San Juan church of Christ!

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LET'S NEGOTIATE!

Selected

The hunter raised his rifle to kill the bear. When about to pull the
trigger, the bear spoke in a soft soothing voice, "Isn't it better to talk
than to shoot? What do you want? Let's negotiate the matter."

Lowering his rifle the hunter replied, "I want a fur coat." "Good," said the
bear, "that's a negotiable question. I only want a full stomach. Let's
negotiate a compromise."

They sat down to negotiate, and after a time the bear got up and walked away
alone. The negotiations had been successful. The bear had a full stomach,
and the hunter had his fur coat!

Satan says to us, "Let's negotiate." But the Christian must learn that there
are some things not negotiable. We cannot compromise the church with the
world. We must not compromise truth with error.

Christ, His Word and His church, deserve our very best and utmost loyalty!

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SERMON

Is One Church As Good As Another? (with PowerPoint Charts)

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

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Meets at:

1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C
Montrose, CO   81401
(970) 249-8116

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study....................10:00 A.M.
Worship.........................11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study......................6:30 P.M.

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

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Richard Thetford

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

1491 Canyon Drive, Ridgway, CO  81432

Home: (970) 626-5558

Please visit my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com>
www.thetfordcountry.com

Evangelist, San Juan church of Christ

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

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