[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 8/3/08
tedwards at onemain.com
tedwards at onemain.com
Sat Aug 9 15:04:20 CDT 2008
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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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August 3, 2008
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Contents:
1) Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls (Irvin Himmel)
2) Sweet Hour of Prayer: Psalm 28 (Bubba Garner)
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-1-
Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls
by Irvin Himmel
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that
winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30).
Every life is like some kind of tree. A righteous life is like
a good tree bearing good fruit. A wicked life is like a bad tree
bearing bad fruit. Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth
forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit" (Matt. 7:17,18).
Fruit of a Righteous Life
A righteous person produces fruit that may be considered "a
tree of life." This includes the following:
(1) Good Influence In Word and Deed. The faithful child of God,
"by his good deeds, is as a tree of life to those whose lives he
sustains" (Whiteside). Many around us can be uplifted by the power
of a good example. The Christian wields a wholesome influence as
the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matt.
5:13-16). Good words have added weight when backed by good deeds.
(2) Food For Souls Through Teaching. The truly righteous man is
more than a "Good Samaritan." He feeds hungry souls the bread of
life. While people of the world often perform humanitarian acts
that aid the temporal man, the Christian sees his main task as
helping the spiritually destitute.
(3) Encouragement That Helps Weary Souls. "Tree of life" means
"that tree which bears fruit that contributes to the life and
happiness and good health of those who eat it" (Lanier). The
righteous have the right to the tree of life, that is, access to
heaven (Rev. 22:14). And each life which reaches out to help others
who have grown fainthearted is lifting them from death to life.
"The effect of a righteous life on others is like that of a
tree of life; and the result which flows from a life of wisdom is
the winning of souls" (L. G. Thomas).
Wisdom of Winning Souls
The winning of souls is a wise thing to do, and the winning of
souls requires wisdom. Where is the wisdom of winning souls?
(1) Souls Are More Precious Than Gold. Every human being is
endowed with a soul which dwells in a physical body.
However, that which kills the body does not kill the soul
(Matt. 10:28). The soul is one's most priceless possession. "For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
said Jesus (Matt. 16:26).
(2) Souls Won Are Saved From Death. While the soul does not die
physically, it can die in the sense of being separated from God.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:20). "Brethren, if
any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him
know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way
shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins"
(Jas. 5:19,20).
(3) Winning Souls Increases The Influence of Good. Every time
one soul is won to the Lord the influence of good multiplies just
that much on this earth. Each soul won to the Lord becomes a
potential for winning additional souls. I can think of no better
way to improve conditions in this world than by turning men and
women from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.
(4) Winning Souls Brings Joy. The New Testament tells about
people who rejoiced when they were baptized (Acts 8:39; 16:33,34).
Sometimes people weep for joy when they obey the gospel. But there
is joy in the heart of the soul winner as well as in the heart of
the converted sinner. Paul referred to his converts at Philippi as
his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1). It is a great thrill to have a
part in leading someone to the Savior.
How Souls Are Won
The New Testament teaches Christians how souls are brought to
Christ. Here are some truths to consider in this connection:
(1) By The Gospel, Not A Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit.
No apostle, no evangelist, no teacher in the New Testament
instructed sinners to pray for God to send the Spirit to save them
from their sins. In every case of conversion the gospel was
presented, and by the power of God's word sinners were drawn to the
Lord. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which
hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It
is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me" (Jn. 6:44,45). Indeed, the gospel of Christ
"is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16).
(2) Through Persuasion, Not Force. God does not attempt to
coerce people against their wills to serve him. We should use every
righteous means to convince people to accept the gospel, but we
cannot force them to turn to the Lord. Paul said, "Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11).
To "persuade" means to prevail upon or win over by bringing about a
change of mind by the influence of gospel promises, warnings, and
exhortations. People who are baptized because of high pressure
tactics turn back as soon as the pressure is removed. To pressure a
person is one thing; to win him to the Lord is another thing.
(3) Through Godly Living. Peter advised women whose husbands
were not Christians that they might be won by the conduct of the
wives (1 Pet. 3:1-4). Many who will not listen to the oral
presentation of the gospel can be influenced when they see the
gospel in action. We should live daily with the thought of winning
others who may be watching our behavior.
Bearing fruit is inseparably connected with winning souls in a
righteous life. God does not want us to be barren or unfruitful (2
Pet. 1:8).
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 3, pp. 70-71, February 1, 1990
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-2-
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Psalm 28
by Bubba Garner
I was involved in a car accident. It was minor, but it was my
fault. It wrecked my whole week. It was all I could think about.
Until my daughter had to get three stitches in her upper lip after
a close encounter with a seesaw. She became my world at that
moment. Until the next morning when the daughter of one of our
families suddenly collapsed and had to be placed on life support.
Her father had recently finished teaching a class on the Miracles
of Jesus. "We could use one right now," he said in the somber,
subdued waiting room.
Life has a way of reminding you of what is truly important.
Just when you have fretted over the fact that your team didn't win
the big game or your car is not working right or one of the
appliances needs to be replaced, you are shocked out of selfishness
by something that has real value. In a moment, all of the trivial
things that seemed important at the time are thrown aside so that
your mind and heart can give full attention to the matter at hand.
Since life is so uncertain and can change so quickly, it is also a
subtle reminder that you have little control over what happens.
Staying in touch with people is critical when critical times
come. We keep them informed, we update them on any progress, we let
them know what we are feeling. But we must not forget the superior
form of communication, one where there is no limit on the number of
minutes used, no access fees or connections charges. It is a free
access to God that man has enjoyed from the beginning. Long before
there were cell phones, email, and the combination thereof, there
was prayer.
What is it about prayer that it can sweeten even the bitterest
of times?
Prayer reassures us that the Lord is listening. David prayed in
Psalm 28, "Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee
for help, when I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary"
(28:2). Like a little child who raises his hands to be picked up by
his father, David was certain that the petitions he was raising
were being heard by his Father in heaven. The "sweet psalmist of
Israel" (2 Sam. 23:1) understood the significance of the sweet hour
of prayer. But David was not the only one who had the ear of God.
The Father was listening to all the prayers offered in all the
assemblies of His children on the last Lord's day. He was listening
to all of the families who bowed and "returned thanks" around their
dinner tables. He heard every cry from every waiting room,
emergency room, and back bedroom. How incredible to think that He
who created all the world cares about what's going on in mine. Our
Lord listens.
Prayer reminds us that God can do what we cannot. Psalm 28 is
David's call for help. Perhaps it was written while he was on the
run from King Saul or at a time when he felt surrounded by his
enemies. But he did not strap on his armor and attempt to fight
them on his own. The Lord had delivered him from the paw of the
lion or bear that threatened his sheep. The Lord brought him a
victory over the giant Goliath. The Lord's power would prevail over
the enemies of His anointed. "The Lord is my strength and my
shield," David confessed (Psa. 28:7). No other weaponry was
necessary.
There will be occasions when our safety is threatened by the
seemingly impossible, a situation that makes us admit, "I can't do
anything about it." But God can. No matter how scary the lion or
bear, no matter how tall the giant, no matter how many the enemy,
no matter how bleak the diagnosis, no matter how great the
difficulty. This is still our Father's world. Trust in His strength
to do what you can't.
Prayer enables us to express our deepest cares. In this psalm,
the heart of the man after God's own heart is opened wide. In his
cry for deliverance from his enemies, David pleads for the Lord to
"requite them according to their work and according to the evil of
their practices" and "according to the deeds of their hands"
(28:4). He is not calling for personal vengeance, but for the Lord
to punish the wicked because they do not honor His work or His
will. In any case, David does not hide the most intimate feelings
of his heart.
God wants to hear from His people, but He is not interested in
the mere repetition of meaningless phrases that do not originate
from the heart. He wants us to pour out our cares before His
throne, to make all our "wants and wishes known." He will never
betray our confidence; our faith in Him will never be disappointed.
When David did that, he could boast, "my heart trusts in Him, and I
am helped" (28:7). Perhaps our help has not come because we are
still withholding from Him from Whom nothing is hidden.
I never know what to say to someone in the wake of a disaster.
But I've learned that it's not as important what you say at those
times, but Who you say them to. Prayer can turn even the darkest
hour into something sweet.
-- Via Expository Files 15.8; August 2008
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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