[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol002 Iss 032

Sat Sep 29 21:46:47 CDT 2007

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514

bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetcofc.com

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

VOLUME 002::ISSUE 032::September 30, 2007  

ARTICLE ONE: The Importance of Listening

ARTICLE TWO: Can A Christian Be Lost?

Article One: The Importance of Listening

How significant is listening? Listening is the fullness of hearing. It is possible to hear someone talk and not listen. In order to hear and listen, one must be paying attention. My wife becomes very annoyed with me when she speaks and I do not listen. Perhaps I am distracted by some other noise or voice or whatever I am currently involved with; I can hear her talking, but I do not listen. The lesson I learn is that my wife is like most everyone else-she does not like to repeat herself after she has said it once. I should give her my attention and listen.

Jesus would often end His teachings with the statement, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" We need to open our ears, and pay attention. We need to listen to some important things in this life. Many opportunities for "listening" come along only once in a lifetime. It is regretfully too late when we find ourselves saying, "I should have listened." Let's consider some of those things and why we need to open our ears to hear them.

We Need To Listen To God: 

Our God is a communicator. He has seen fit to reveal His will to mankind in the form of words (James 1:17-25). We have His words preserved for us, even today-the Bible is the word of God. According to those "words" the section known as the New Testament is our source of God's teachings for today. 

We need to listen to the word of God as we have it here in this volume (the Bible), God will not send it again-He will not repeat Himself. Jude 3 tells us "the faith" was once delivered for all.   Hebrews 1:1-2 states that "God has spoken. in these last days through His Son". The words for these last days-the words of Jesus Christ are exclusive to the New Testament (John 8:31-32; John 12:48-50; John 14:23-26). 

Why listen to God? The will of God (His word) is about you. The preparation and possibility of your salvation is plotted from Genesis 1:1 throughout the Old Testament and comes to life in the New Testament's examples, instructions, warnings and promises. The salvation of mankind is the theme of the Bible, from its beginning to its end. You, being part of mankind, are the focus of the Bible. 

You cannot succeed without God (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23). God has given you what you need to succeed (Psalm 19:7-11; James 1:21-25). True success in this life is searching for and finding your Creator (Acts 17:25-31). True success in this life is the salvation of your soul (Matthew 16:26). True success in this life is preparing for eternal life in Heaven (John 14:1-6; 1 Peter 1:6-9). God has spoken; He has delivered His will to you for your life, your salvation, and your eternal life in Heaven. Are you listening?

We Need To Listen to Our Brethren:

Now that we move our ears in a different focus we are not looking for further instructions; we are listening for something else. We are listening for their requests of help, comfort, or direction. 

We have already spoken of God's willingness to supply our needs. Among those needs is companionship or togetherness on the road of faith. God designed the church to meet those needs (Ephesians 1:4). The church was built by Christ (Matthew 16:18). The church is populated by the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16-17). The church is made up of brothers and sisters of like precious faith (2 Peter 1:1-2). 

Any relationship is sustained by conversation; both speaking and listening. The church is a family of brothers and sisters working together for the cause of Christ (Philippians 1:27).  We are to be unified in our relationship (Romans 15:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:20-27). 

Why do we need to listen to our brethren? We need to be aware of their needs (Hebrews 10:24-25). Often, when speaking with our brethren, we offer "suggestions" of need without openly saying we need.  We need to consider one another (pay close attention, listen carefully) in order that we do not miss some clues that indicate need.

                        When listening we also need to pay close attention in order that we might come to the right conclusions. Because we can hear and not listen completely at the same time we need to guard ourselves from "conclusion jumping" (Evil suspicions)        (1 Corinthians 13:5; 1Timothy 6:4). Listen carefully so as to not come to the wrong conclusions about your brethren. Always give them the benefit of any doubt and ask them personally to explain themselves if you for any reason do not understand. 

Your brethren need you to listen, so that together we can withstand the world and successfully inherit eternal life. Are you listening?

We Need To Listen To Others:

Again, with others, we are not looking for further instructions beyond, or differing from, God's revealed word. Whether they are currently aware, or not, the world is accountable to their Creator. They will stand in judgment for all that they have said and all that they have done (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). This is not a little problem, this is a big problem. The world is filled with souls who desperately need God, and the plan of salvation made available through His Son. 

Why listen to others? We have to listen for their cries for help. The world is lost and dying in their sins. They are not going to make it by following their own hearts (Romans 3:23; 1 Timothy 6:9). We have what they need-the hope of salvation and life everlasting-the gift of God (Romans 6:23). 

The world is in need of a Savior and there is only One (Acts 4:12). We must carry the gospel message out to the world (Matthew 28:18-20). We must hear those who are asking for help, we must listen to them and give them what they need (Romans 1:16). Yes, the world is in need and those who recognize their need are asking for help; you have the source of help. Are you listening?

Conclusion:

We have some listening to do. We must listen to God in order to be pleasing to God.       We need to listen to our brethren, helping one another to be pleasing to God. We need to listen to others, to hear their cries for help and bring them to place in which they too will be pleasing to God. Are you listening to God, to your brethren, to others?

If you are not a Christian today I want you turn this bulletin over to the last page. On that page there is a chart entitled "The Gospel Plan". Please listen carefully to that chart. The instructions there will lead you to pleasing to God by becoming a Christian. Will you listen? ~tss

Article Two: Can A Christian Be Lost?

Can a Christian be lost? Can a Christian do anything in this life for which they will face condemnation in Hell for all eternity? The answer to that question will vary dramatically depending on whom you might ask. You may hear "Yes"; you may hear "No"; you may hear anything in between. This is one of those questions that is far too important to be left unanswered. It is also far too important to be left to guessing or "I think so." reasoning. Let's consider the evidence that Paul shared in answer to this same question. Paul introduces the fact that disqualification is possible in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Then continuing from those thoughts he builds his case by using the example of the Israelites and the Promise Land (1 Corinthians 10:1-12)

The Israelites Were Accepted (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

We need to know that Israel was acceptable to God. They were in a relationship designed by God for them. He was their God; they were His people-when He sent Moses to free them (Exodus 3:7); when He sent plagues on Egypt (Exodus 10:3); 

When they came out of Egypt (Exodus 20:1-2). The Israelites were in a relationship of promise and reward. The Israelites had a relationship that could bring them great things if they simply committed to God who gave it. 

God brought them into this relationship through Moses. As they passed through the sea with water on both sides and the cloud over them Paul says that they were baptized into Moses-they were put into a relationship with God through Moses. In this relationship they had an identity (The People of God Exodus 6:7), a law (Exodus 20:1-17), and great promises (Exodus 3:8).

Each of the Israelites was provided with equal opportunity to faithfully serve God.

God had a common care for all of them:    They ate the same spiritual food-manna (Exodus 16). They drank the same spiritual drink-water supplied by God in the wilderness (Exodus 17:1-7). God made no distinction between the faithful and the unfaithful as they wandered.

Many, However, Did Not Enter the Promise Land (1 Corinthians 10:5-10)

The Promise Land was theirs to have, if they would do God's will (Deuteronomy 6:1-3). God would be "their God" and they would be acceptable to Him as long as they continued in faithful service (Psalm 95:1-7) but they did not continue as they should  (Psalm 95: 8-11). The people turned their hearts aside to desire evil; they broke God's commands: They went after idols; they committed sexual immorality; they murmured and complained. Because of their actions, many were not allowed to enter the land. Ones from among those who were acceptable to God became disqualified. They were in God's favor and became lost. They were acceptable and became unacceptable to God, because of their turning away from God's will to follow after something else.

These Are To Be Lessons For Us Today (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11-12)

Did you notice some similarities we have with the Israelites and why they are an appropriate example for us to learn from? They were brought out of the bondage of Egypt-we have been brought out of the world and the bondage of sin (Romans 6:16-18). They were baptized into a relationship with God through Moses-we were baptized into a relationship with God through Christ (Romans 6:3-4). They were given God's will to follow-we are also given His will for our lives (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:3). They were wandering, waiting for the time when they would enter the land of promise-we are also waiting for a time when we will enter or promised place (John 14:1-6). They were expected to continue doing God's will in order to enter; so are we (Luke 9:62; Revelation 2:10).

Many of the Israelites did not enter into the Promise Land; that could happen to you and me when it comes to our home in Heaven. We must maintain our faithful service always or we will not enter our promised home of Heaven (Hebrews 10:35-39; 1 Peter 1:6-9). 

Conclusion:

If you are a Christian today, you have entered a relationship that can lead you to eternal salvation-everlasting life in the glories of Heaven (Matthew 25:34). Your responsibility in the matter is clear-you are expected to serve faithfully all the days of your life (Revelation 2:10). You can, however, be lost if you turn back to sin (Hebrews 10:38).

God has promised and provided, we need to pursue.  We need individual effort-and collective help-to reach our goal. I will help you and you will help me. Together we can bolster each other's faith and find our entrance to Heaven. Today, if you are not a Christian, you need to be. Yes, it is true that some who become Christians will not stay faithful and will not make it to Heaven. However, only those who do become Christians will have an opportunity to be accepted (Matthew 7:21). Will you join us? Will begin your journey toward Heaven today? ~tss

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

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