[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (9/9/07)

Mon Sep 10 22:47:05 CDT 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)

September 9, 2007

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:

"A Peculiar People" (Richard Thetford)

"Condemning the World" (Jarrod Jacobs)

"Confessing Christ" (Richard Thetford)

"Alter Your Direction" (Jerral Kay)

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A PECULIAR PEOPLE

Richard Thetford

Have you ever had anyone refer to you as a peculiar person? If you are a
Christian you can take that as a compliment because God's people are called
peculiar. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light."

Why are Christians peculiar?

Christians are peculiar because they are different. Peter says that "they
think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,
speaking evil of you" (1 Pet 4:4). In 2 Corinthians 6:16-17, Paul says that
Christians are to be separate from the world. A Christian is peculiar in
many different ways. They are peculiar in Name as referenced in Acts 11:26
and in 1 Pet 4:16. Here we can read that this peculiar person is called
Christian. The Christian is also known for their great faith (Rom 1:8) and
the life that they lead (1 Pet 4:3-4). A Christian always strives to gain a
deeper and broader knowledge of the gospel of Christ and as a result knows
God (Heb 8:10-11). Speech is also another way that we can tell that a
Christian is peculiar. Paul says "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned;
that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to
say of you" (Tit 2:8). So why would we want to be a peculiar person? First
and most of all so that we can be counted as one of God's people (1 Pet
2:9-10). Also because Christ gave Himself on the cross for us, and to obtain
mercy, to be redeemed, to be in the light, and to show forth God's
excellencies. We should all strive to become a peculiar people!

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"CONDEMNING THE WORLD"

Jarrod Jacobs

How many times have we heard people say words to the effect, "If you tell me
that there is only one way to Heaven, then you are condemning me (or "my
family," "others," etc.)."? Is this a valid charge?

Friends, when one takes a stand for the truth, he will be condemning those
who are not following the truth. Please read Hebrews 11:7. "By faith Noah,
being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an
ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and
became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." When Noah built the
ark, following God's plan to the letter (Gen. 6:22), the Bible says he
condemned the world. How did Noah do this? He condemned the world in three
ways:

1) He condemned the world by living by faith (Heb. 11:7). God told Noah what
to do and he did it without question (Rom. 10:17; Gen. 6:22). His family
followed his lead (I Pet. 3:20). The rest of the world refused to listen to
God (through the preaching of Noah, II Pet. 2:5) and drowned in the Flood.
Notice that this verse begins and ends stating that Noah lived "by faith"
(Heb. 11:7).

2) He condemned the world by heeding the warnings of God (Gen. 6:13). Again,
when the people heard Noah's preaching, they refused to follow God's will
and get into the ark. When Noah was warned of "things not seen as yet," he
heeded the warning. In like manner, we are warned by God of an eternity in
Hell for our disbelief and disobedience. Are we heeding the warning of the
Lord who has said He will come "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them
that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II
Thes 1:6-9)?

3) He condemned the world by preparing for the coming flood. Noah's
preparation of the ark showed that he not only believed in God, but believed
God. Those who have faith in God will do what He says to do (Rom. 10:16).
Noah prepared for the Flood and condemned a world of fools (Matt. 25:1-13).
In Matthew 25:1-13, we see where those prepared were rewarded and those who
refused to prepare were condemned.

Did Noah talk down or act rude to the people? Of course, not! Nevertheless,
he condemned the world at that time because he followed God and had the
backbone to stand for his convictions and preach God's word to others. He
did God's will regardless of the consequences to himself or his family.
There are too few people like this today. Let us stand behind God's will and
have the backbone that was characteristic of Noah! Have we complained that
someone was "condemning" us? Perhaps it was because they were doing God's
will, and we were not! Let us repent while we have time (Lk. 13:3; II Cor.
6:2).

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CONFESSING CHRIST

Richard Thetford

Once we have repented (to turn from our sins and start serving God), then we
should be determined to confess Christ. One way to do this is to take a
stand for Jesus in our daily life. In Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus said:
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also
before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men,
him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." When we determine
in our heart to follow Christ, then we will let our lights shine for Him in
our life. In every situation that arises we must be ready to "stand up" or
"confess" Jesus as Lord of our life. The reward for doing so is to have life
everlasting with God, but the penalty for not doing so is severe - eternal
condemnation in hell. When we truly repent then we will be glad to confess
Jesus before men. Before his baptism the Eunuch confessed Christ by saying:
"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). Are we always
ready and willing to confess Jesus as the Son of God before men, and to live
our lives accordingly?

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ALTER YOUR DIRECTION

Jerral Kay

A newly commissioned naval captain took great pride in his first assignment.
One story night he saw a steady light moving in his ship's direction. He
ordered the signalman to send the following message: "Change your course 10
degrees to the South." The reply came back: "Change your course 10 degrees
to the North."

The captain, determined not to give way to another vessel, countered: "Alter
your direction 10 degrees, I am the Captain." The answer flashed back
promptly: "Alter your direction, I am the Lighthouse."

There are times when we all identify with the Captain; when we allow
self-will to set us off course on a collision course with destruction.

"I have my rights," we say, determined to have our own way. But God's
penetrating and unchangeable beacon reveals a rocky shore ahead, and finally
we must do as the Captain surely did. Some do not turn away from the reef of
sin as they sail through life; unfortunately they will suffer for all
eternity. "Hold to your faith and a good conscience, which some having
rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck..." (1 Tim 1:19)

Our prayer for ourselves, and for the church should be as Jesus prayed: "Not
my will, but Thine be done." 

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SERMON

The Enemy Behind! (with PowerPoint Charts)

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

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Meets at:

2740 Commercial Way, Suite B
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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