[Biblemat] Good News for Norwalk: Volume II, Number 43: October 28, 2007

Sat Oct 27 22:13:00 CDT 2007

Good News for Norwalk

For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God for 
salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16)

A publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
Volume II, Number 43: October 28, 2007

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Sobriety

Think for a moment about various tasks that you perform in your life that 
require much thought and dexterity. Perhaps you operate heavy machinery, 
perform surgery, fix a delicate object, or even drive a vehicle. How much 
concentration and control are necessary to perform these functions? What 
would most likely happen if you were not able to concentrate upon the task 
at hand, or you were not able to control your hands or body as you would 
like: would you still be able to succeed?

Most people recognize that there are many functions in life that require our 
full attention and that if we are being impeded by something else, we often 
make mistakes and fail in many ways. This recognition attests to the need 
for sobriety.

When most people think of being "sober", most automatically apply the idea 
to alcohol or another form of drug: someone who is "sober" is not drunk on 
alcohol or high on some various drug. This is certainly an acceptable use of 
the term, but the word is more expansive than that: to be sober is to be 
free from any intoxicant. Certainly, alcohol and drugs represent 
intoxicants, but, power, fame, sex, money, and many other things can 
intoxicate people. Anything that excites a person so that he constantly 
desires the same form of excitement can intoxicate.

The Scriptures speak often about the need for the Christian to be sober. In 
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, Paul compares the Christian with others in terms of 
being "in light" versus "in darkness", and as "sober" versus "drunk", using 
the idea as it is most familiar to people. Nevertheless, many times the 
Scriptures speak of being "sober minded" (2 Corinthians 5:13, 1 Timothy 3:2, 
Titus 1:8, Titus 2:2; 5; 6). Paul charged Timothy to be sober "in all 
things" in 2 Timothy 4:5.

It is manifest, then, that God expects the Christian to live his or her life 
free of such intoxicants-- indeed, alcohol and drugs are included, but also 
anything else that would redirect the Christian from his God. Too many 
people become intoxicated with money, social status, sports, or other 
activities or concepts that otherwise would be harmless but have consumed 
the mind. The love of money is considered to be "a root of all kinds of 
evil" (1 Timothy 6:10), and not a few people have put the cares and concerns 
of this world before concern over their eternal soul to their own detriment 
(Matthew 13:22). Idolatry, simply defined, represents anything which a man 
places before the One True God; just as Israel served Baal, how many today 
serve money, social status, sex, drugs, alcohol, and the like? Such is not 
pleasing to God (Galatians 5:19-21)!

God has charged humans to put first His Kingdom and His righteousness 
(Matthew 6:33), and the rest of the necessities of life will follow. If we 
are going to be able to serve God as effectively as we can, we must not 
allow our minds to be intoxicated by anything: we must be sober, watching 
out for the Devil's schemes lest we sin (1 Peter 5:8).

Sobriety must be a constant in our lives; living the Christian life requires 
our greatest focus and dexterity (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Let us live 
soberly today!

Ethan R. Longhenry
evangelist at norwalkchurch.org

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The Scriptures on Sobriety

But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of 
faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 
5:8).

But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an 
evangelist, fulfil thy ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).

Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope 
perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of 
Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be 
sober unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7).

Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh 
about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

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The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio

Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for 
Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk 
area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies!

Our location:
386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city 
limits)
Norwalk, Ohio 44857

Our assemblies:
Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am
Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm

Our Bible studies:
Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am
Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm

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For More Information

If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or 
desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at 
evangelist at norwalkchurch.org.

Good News for Norwalk is a publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, 
Ohio, for the promotion of God's truth in our world. For more information 
about the church of Christ in Norwalk, please visit our website at 
norwalkchurch.org.

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
MSN Messenger ID: deusvitae at hotmail.com
Yahoo! Messenger ID: discipuliiesus

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