[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/10/08)

Sun Aug 10 18:45:28 CDT 2008

Walking in the Light

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105)

August 10, 2008

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION:

Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are
encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com
<http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>  and then click on "Richard's Home Page"
to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material
and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
"Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to
richard at thetfordcountry.com

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CONTENTS:

"But As For Me and My House.." (Richard Thetford)

"The Blood of Christ" (Richard Thetford)

"Baptism" (Owen Olbricht)

"You Tell on Yourself" (Selected)

SENTENCE SERMONS

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BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE..

Richard Thetford

Joshua told the children of Israel exactly where he and his house stood in
their relationship to the almighty God in Joshua 24:15. In a time where man
was "doing their own thing" in their worship, Joshua told them to choose
whom they would serve, the god's of men, or the God of heaven. He encouraged
them to put away the foreign gods and to incline their hearts to serve the
Lord God of Israel. This man of God, Joshua, was a faithful and trustworthy
servant of God. This man that we have grown to love by reading of him in the
pages of the Old Testament was doing the work of the Lord, encouraging all
who would listen to him to turn from the ways of the world and serve the one
true God.

Sound familiar? Each Lord's Day across this great country of ours preacher
after preacher stands before a congregation of people encouraging them to
turn from the ways of the world and serve the true and living God of heaven.
Many who hear the words of the preacher say to themselves that they will try
to do better in their personal life and become more devoted to the Lord's
work. Yet, this is only idle thought because they soon return to their homes
and continue doing their own thing. However, there are a few that will
listen to the preaching of the gospel of Christ and strive to do what they
can to become obedient to our Lord. Every preacher should be as convicted as
Joshua in their service to the Lord and are earnestly trying to encourage
and help others serve the Lord.

Are we really trying to serve the Lord or ourselves? It would be so good to
have a congregation full of Joshua's that are proud to say "but as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

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THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Richard Thetford

The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:7: "In Him we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace".
There are two things that Paul points out here that we have through the
blood of Christ Jesus and that is redemption and forgiveness of sins. Most
of us know what forgiveness is, but do we understand what redemption is?
Webster's New World Dictionary defines redemption as: "to get or buy back;
to pay off; to set free; rescue; to deliver from sin and its penalties; to
fulfill as a promise; to atone for". This is what Jesus did for man. He
rescued us from sin, He set us free from the bondage of sin, He bought us
with a price, the price was His own body and shed blood on our behalf. Jesus
became the perfect sacrifice and it is through His blood that we now can
have this redemption, forgiveness of sins! 

What Does Christ's Blood Do For Us?

In Matthew 26:28 we can read where the blood of Jesus takes away the guilt
of sin. It also brings peace to our souls (Colossians 1:20) and reconciles
(makes us compatible) us with God (Romans 5:10). Christ's blood does so much
for us but the one thing that really stands out is the fact that it takes
away ALL sin! John writes in 1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light as He
is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." When we understand this point,
that as long as we "walk in the light", meaning doing ALL of God''s will,
then we can have peace of mind knowing that our sins are completely washed
away! In addition, Christ's blood sanctifies us (Hebrews 13:12), Justifies
us (Rom 5:9), purchased the church (Acts 20:28), and enables us to overcome
(Revelation 12:11).

How the Blood of Christ Is Applied

As we discussed earlier in 1 John 1:7, the blood of Christ is applied to us
by walking in the light of God. To walk in the light means that we will DO
what God instructs of us which means that we will be baptized into Christ's
death (Romans 6:3-4). Then we can have communion and enjoy all the spiritual
blessings with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16;
Ephesians 1:3)!

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BAPTISM

Owen Olbricht

Baptism includes at least three aspects: Giving something, receiving
something, and becoming something. Without these three aspects, baptism is
incomplete.

GIVING SOMETHING: In baptism one gives all that he is to God by: (1) Giving
his heart in complete trust to God (Col 2:12) and (2) Dying to self in order
to be alive to Christ (Rom 6:1-6).

RECEIVING SOMETHING: Those who give themselves to Christ in baptism receive:
(1) Salvation (Mark 16:16), (2) Forgiveness (Acts 2:38), and (3) A new start
in life (John 3:3-5). Baptism itself does not impart these gifts; for these
come from Christ. In baptism God has chosen to give gifts to man.

BECOMING SOMETHING: Through baptism, one becomes a new creature and a member
of the body of Christ. This takes place through the birth of the water and
the Spirit (John 3:3-5).

In baptism one strips off the garment of self and sin and puts on Christ
(Gal 3:27). Those who do this then become members of the one body of Christ.
Every person baptized into Christ becomes a new creature.

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YOU TELL ON YOURSELF

Selected

You tell what you are by the friends you seek,

By the very manner in which you speak,

By the way you employ your leisure time,

By the use you make of dollar and dime.

You tell what you are by the things you wear,

By the spirit in which your burdens bear,

By the kind of things on which you laugh,

By songs which on your mind are engraft.

You tell what you are by the way you walk,

By the things of which you delight to talk,

By the manner in which you bear defeat,

By so simple a thing as how you eat.

You tell what you are by the books

you choose for the well-filled shelf,

In these ways and more, you tell on yourself,

So there's really no particle of sense,

On any effort at false pretense.

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SENTENCE SERMONS

When a man starts throwing dirt, you can be sure he is losing ground.

Once time has been killed, it cannot be resurrected.

Just because a sheep bleats a lot does not mean he produces a lot of wool.

Fewer wants, not greater wealth, will bring contentment.

To become truly rich, one must properly spend himself.

God's way to heaven can be found in God's Book!

You had better prepare for eternity. You will be there a long time!

Confessing your sins is no substitute for forsaking them.

Sin may be very sweet in the beginning, but it is bitter in the end.

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SERMON

Preparing Our Heart to Seek the Law of the Lord (With PowerPoint Charts) 

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C

Montrose, CO   81401

(970) 626-5558

www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org <http://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/Editor

Richard Thetford

Building: (970) 249-8116

Home: (970) 626-5558

E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com

Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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RICHARD THETFORD

1491 Canyon Drive

Ridgway, CO  81432

(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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