We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

All is shadow here below! The world is a shadow; and it passes away! The creature is a shadow; and the loveliest and the fondest may be the first to die! Health is a shadow; fading, and in a moment gone! Wealth is a shadow; today upon the summit of affluence, tomorrow at its base, plunged into poverty and dependence! Human friendships and creature affections are but shadows; sweet and pleasant while they last, but, with a worm feeding at the root of all created good, the sheltering gourd soon withers, exposing us to the sun's burning heat by day, and to the frost's cold chill by night! Oh, yes! “Passing Away” is indelibly inscribed upon everything here below! Yet how slow are we to realize the solemn lesson: “What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue!” Unconverted reader, what is your life but a vapor that passes away?and what are its pursuits but shadows; unreal, unsatisfying, evanescent? Your rank, your wealth, your honors, your pleasures, are but phantoms which appear but for a little while, and then are lost in the deeper shadow of the grave, and the still deeper and longer shadow of eternity! Oh, turn from these dreams and hallucinations, and, as a rational, accountable, immortal being, on your way to judgment, fix your mind upon your solemn, endless future! You are going to die! And, oh, when that dread hour comes, so real and appalling, how will your past life appear?
Octavius Winslow

When church discipline is being carried out properly there are several additional attendant responsibilities: 1. Confidentiality. At every step the matter is to be kept confidential at that level. For example, in step two the only parties who are to know about the matter are the individuals bringing the charge and the witnesses. This is vital. Violating this principle can cause great damage. 2. The sin being confronted must clearly be a sin, not some vague complaint or personal preference. There must be a clear violation of a biblical command or principle. 3. One must always approach a brother who is in sin with true humility and love (Galatians 6:1-5). To approach one with a spirit of pride is both unbiblical and counter-productive. 4. The church must be consistent and show no partiality in carrying out church discipline. Each member must be treated equally with complete fidelity to the Word of God. 5. Earnest prayer should attend every step. God is the one who grants repentance and He must be approached regularly. 6. Disclosing lurid details of sins is not helpful and is often very destructive to both the charged brother and the church body. Great care should be taken in the public disclosure of such matters. 7. The entire church is to be involved in the final steps, the urging of repentance and if there is no repentance, the actual discipline process. It does no good for the church to finally withdraw fellowship from the person if many of the individual members continue to fellowship with him as if nothing had occurred. 8. Forgiveness should be immediate when the brother repents. Full restoration should take place when the matter has been cleared up. If the discipline process has been public, the forgiveness and restoration must also be a public matter. The whole church can then express the wonderful joy of seeing the process work and a brother restored. (In a case where church leaders have fallen, restoration to an office may take some time for trust in them to be restored. In some situations, a leader may never be placed back into a position of leadership). 9. Church discipline is very seriously frowned upon and often criticized or made fun of, not only by the public but also by a number of evangelical churches. Yet, it is Christ’s command to His church. Our allegiance should be to the Sovereign One over our church body – Christ. We must be zealous to carry out His commands rather than fearing criticism by those who are not aware of these biblical responsibilities or by those who simply ignore them. 10. Finally, it should be clearly taught that the immediate purpose is to recover our sinning brother, but that is not the only intent. A church that practices church discipline demonstrates to the world its desire for holiness. It is also a deterrent to sin among the remaining members and it brings glory to the Head of the church – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Curtis Thomas

    • Faith Use It Or Lose It

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    Faith Use It Or Lose It CR 101 FAITH: USE IT OR LOSE IT B3-02-6P “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the III. JERICO WAS TAKEN BY THAT KIND OF FAITH earth?” (Luke 18:8) A. Situation was impossible 1. Walls were 30 ft. thick INTRODUCTION: 2. Molten lead poured from wall A. How much do we believe what we say we believe? 3. In man’s view– IMPOSSIBLE B. Not “If” but “When…the Son of man cometh” B. God specializes in the impossible C. What will He find? He is looking for faith. “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” Mk. 10:27 I. SOME CHURCHES HAVE POSSESSIONS C. Joshua saw his problems A. Woe to those who have “departed from the faith” 1. Walls were insurmountable (without realizing it–without planned effort) 2. Soldiers poised at the top 1. It just doesn’t do any good to pray anymore 3. Israelites were murmuring 2. Church attendance isn’t really necessary 3. That Bible reading is not important to you IV. WALLS THAT MUST BE CONQUERED 4. You are too busy A. Wall of doubt B. Doubt replaces faith when God is pushed out 1. Men look at the visable–doubt the rest 1. A mark of superior intellect (In God we trust–everyone else pays cash) 2. Too busy making money to have faith 2. Spiritual battle fought with weapons: C. One day you reach for your faith & it is gone prayer, Bible reading, church att. FAITH 1. Shall he find faith on the earth? B. Wall of defeat 2. “But without faith it is impossible to 1. If we talk defeat–we are defeated please Him: for he that cometh to God must 2. “We are more than conquerors through Him believe that He is, & that He is a rewarder that loved us” (Ro 8:37) of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6) 3. “Thanks be unto God who giveth us the D. Faith is a noun–believe is a verb (action) victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” 1. Say, do, live what the Word says (1 Co. 15:57) Salvation, hell, blood, holiness, healing… C. Wall of despair 2. Faith opens the door of God’s blessings 1. Means “without hope” 2. Joshua saw the walls but he was not II. HOW DO WE RECEIVE FAITH? BY HEARING THE WORD!! “without hope”– he saw above the walls Whatever you need… listen to the Word! A. Faith…brought Abraham out…led Moses through V. THE FAITH AT JERICO …took Joshua over…snatched Elijah up!! A. The people marched silently around the walls B. Faith kept…Noah in the ark, Daniel in lion’s B. Silence except for ram’s horn and footsteps den, Jeremiah in the pit, David in a cave, C. After seven days of marching by faith, Job on the ash heap, Paul & Silas in jail, & 1. The walls were still there John on the Isle of Patmos (Read Heb 11:32-35) 2. The soldiers were still in view C. Heb. 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and 3. No cracks in the wall finisher of our faith” D. Joshua cried, “Ye men of Israel… shout, for God hath given you this city!” E. The people shouted in faith and the walls fell SUMMARY: A. That kind of faith will tear down your walls (Accepting the promise of His Word before you can actually see the victory) B. If Jesus were to come right now, would He find faith in your heart? C. Faith is the “yes” quality in the gospel… 1. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…” “YES, LORD, I BELIEVE THAT.” 2. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” “YES, LORD, I BELIEVE THAT.” 3. “The prayer of faith shall save the sick…” “YES, LORD, I BELIEVE THAT.”

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