[Biblemat] B> The Elon Challenger

Thu Sep 27 19:04:31 CDT 2007

The  Elon Challenger
ELON  CHURCH OF CHRIST
New  Hope, Alabama

Seeking to challenge  your interest in things 
spiritual & eternal  (Eph. 6:10-18).

Volume V   Number  1
September,  2007

__________________________________________________

God's Inspired  Message
Mike Johnson

In I Thessalonians 2:13, Paul wrote, "For this  reason we also thank God 
without ceasing, because when you received the word of  God which you heard from 
us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it  is in truth, the word of 
God, which also effectively works in you who  believe."  Negatively, he 
states that they had not received his preaching  "as the word of men"; positively, 
they had received it as the "Word of  God."  Paul was thankful that they had 
received him as an inspired teacher  of God's Word.

There are other passages in I Thessalonians where  Paul points out that his 
message was from God.  In chapter 4, he revealed  that the commandments which 
were taught were "through the Lord Jesus," and the  person who rejected their 
teaching "does not reject man, but God who has also  given us his Holy Spirit" 
(vs. 2, 3, 8).  Later, when instructing them  about the second coming of 
Christ (4:15) Paul said, "For this we say to you by  the word of the Lord .... "

Paul, and other inspired individuals, spoke God's  message.  The Holy Spirit 
guided them (Eph. 3:3-5, II Tim. 3:16-17), and  they wrote God's Word down so 
that we might have it today. I Corinthians 2:12-13  says, "Now we have 
received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is  from God, that we might 
know the things that have been freely given to us by  God.  These things we 
also speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches  but which the Holy Spirit 
teaches, comparing spiritual things with  spiritual."  The NASB renders the 
last part "combining spiritual thoughts  with spiritual words."

What is your attitude toward God's Word?  Do  you look at it as a message 
from God?  The way that we view God's Word will  have a direct bearing upon how 
we respond to it.  If we do not view the  Scriptures as being a message from 
God, we will not be willing to conform our  lives to its teaching when there is 
a conflict with our practice. If we view it  as being from God, there is a 
greater chance that we will do what it says, no  matter what.  Furthermore, any 
preaching or teaching that is Scriptural,  should be regarded as a commandment 
from God.  We need to welcome  SCRIPTURAL TEACHING as THE WORD OF GOD and THEN 
OBEY  IT!

__________

 Use of the Bible
Mike  Johnson

People use the Bible in many different  ways.  Sadly, some only use the Bible 
as a place to
record marriages,  births, deaths, etc. Some people  use it to swear on, 
sometimes calling for  an entire stack.  Others use it just as an ornament for a 
living room  table, thinking that others will be impressed.

However, the Bible is the Word of God and should  be looked upon with much 
respect, and it should be used for the purpose which  God intended. It is 
important to note that the Bible:

    *   is able to "saved our souls" (James  1:21), 
    *    is to be our guide ( Ps. 119:105),  
    *   must be obeyed (Heb. 5:8-9), 
    *    will judge us (Jn.  12:48).

How do you regard the Bible?  Do you live by it?  Do  you learn from it?  It 
is important to regard God's Word in the right way  and to use for its 
intended purpose.

__________

 CALLING FOR  "THE
OLD Paths"   (1)
Charles Maples  Sr.

"Thus says the Lord, 'Stand in the ways and  see, and ask for the old paths, 
where the good way is.  And walk in it,  then you will find rest for your 
souls . . . "(Jeremiah  6:16)

We live in a time when people are surrounded with  various religious systems 
and practices, the teachings and claims of which are  in conflict, and so the 
multitude; in "the ways;" stand in confusion, most of  them getting further 
and further from God!  Religion either leads man  closer to God (if it is "the 
good way"), or it leads them farther from God (if  it is NOT "the good way").  
Men are constantly devising NEW WAYS, according  to their own wisdom.  It was 
so in Jeremiah's time (cf. Jer. 11:8); it is  so in our time!  Men today; even 
many of our brethren; need to heed the  admonition given by God through 
Jeremiah.

One test for the "Good Way" is ANTIQUITY.  As  we look among the many ways, 
searching
for the "Old Paths," that which is  "Good" will be found to be OLD, and that 
which is not old will be proven by  Inspired Scriptures NOT to be "good!"  
However, not ALL old teachings and  practices are "Truths;" just because they are 
old.  They might even be TOO  OLD (eg. The rites and ceremonies of the Jewish 
Law are too old for us today --  See Colossians 2:14-17).  As the Jews were 
reminded by the Lord that they  were to begin counting time of their 
instructions from the exodus from Egypt  (Exo. 12:1-2; 20:1ff), so the Christian goes 
back to PENTECOST (the first after  the resurrection of the Christ - Acts 2; cf. 
Acts 11:15), for the beginning of  our "pattern."  We must not go back beyond 
that for authority for teaching  and practices in this dispensation; nor may 
we accept any teaching so
new  that it is not found in Inspired Scriptures given by Christ, through his 
chosen  writers. (See John 16:13f; 2 Tim. 3:16f; Col. 3:17)

DISCRIMINATION is required.  The children of  Israel were to "stand in the 
ways and see;" that is, to examine the different  "ways" that would lay claim to 
their attention and allegiance.  They were  reminded that those who would 
desire to walk in the way which God prescribed  could know the way by its being 
both "Old" and "Good."  We are to "stand in  the ways" (with our New Testaments 
in hand) and determine which is the "Good  Way;" remembering that "There is a 
way which seems right to man, but its end is  the way of death." (Proverbs 
14:12) Those of us who are "calling for the Old  Paths" today are echoing the 
pleading of Jude, as he appealed to "the common  salvation ...the faith once for 
all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3) We are  striving to abide within "the 
doctrine of Christ." (2 John 9); to give a "thus  saith the Lord" for 
EVERYTHING that we practice, "in word or in deed" (Col. 3:  17); to "Speak as the 
Oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11).  We verily believe  that we ARE walking in "The Old 
Paths," but we are still investigating, to be  sure that we are "in The 
Faith" (2  Corinthians 13:5). 

We urge you, dear reader, to be of the same  disposition (See Acts 17:11); 
come to walk in the "Old Paths," that you might  "find rest for your soul."

        _maplescharles at bellsouth.net_ (mailto:maplescharles at bellsouth.net) 

__________

Some quotes worth pondering . . . 

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is  trading what we want most for 
what we want at the moment."

"Not being able to do everything is no excuse for  not doing everything you 
can."

__________

Brightening up the life  of someone else will put 
a fresh shine on your  own.
__________

Evangelist: Charles G. Maples  Sr.
Phone-256-530-0772
Evangelist & Editor: Mike Johnson
Phone  -256-776-2223 

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