WILL KNOWLEDGE SAVE?

In chapter four of Hosea, God condemns Israel for her refusal to obey His Word. In verse 1 we note, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” What a desolate condition!

This was a time when there is no truth. A time where the mercy of God is not accepted nor is the knowledge of His goodness respected. God says that the people have separated themselves by “swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery…” (cf. Hosea.4:2). In verse 6 the ancient prophet penned words of destruction due to the malady of the time, hear him, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

It is the case that the people of Hosea’s day had refused to acquire and live by knowledge of the Word of God. They never thought of the penalty for their neglect in all likelihood. They were going along to get along and practicing the same sins as the people about them while God had commanded them to be separate or different from those nations around them, but this seems to have never entered their thought process. They wanted to be like the nations about them when they desired a king. God granted them their wish, but their desire led to great suffering and turmoil.

As Hosea writes God is rejecting His priests and His people. He even forgets their children. A calamity exists in the land that does not respect and know God. We are taught in the Scriptures that eternal life is to “know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). It is rather obvious that there is trouble in our land this day in the year of our Lord, 2015.

Unless we come to a knowledge of God, man will be lost. We remember a classic passage in Judges 2:10 that address situations like this. “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” The first generation out of Egyptian bondage perished in the wilderness.

The second generation is the one that Judges is addressing who were faithful. The third generation was lost because they did not know the Lord. They served Balaam while forsaking the Lord.

Are we talking about an antiquated condition? No! A thousand times NO! We are describing present day America. We are talking about a time when God is respected less and less. There is lying, swearing, killing, stealing, adultery and the list goes on and on. Filth and turmoil fill our news programs while the Bible is closed on the shelf and most of all closed to our hearts. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Knowledge alone will not save. It must be applied to the heart of man. The condition of our time is such that we had better WAKE UP, OPEN UP and READ UP if we want to GO UP to heaven some day. All one has to do is read the front page of the newspaper and we see Hosea all over again.

Harrell Davidson

Wait On The Lord

We live in a fast paced world.  It seems like people thrive on fast food, fast Internet and fast cars.  They want to get ahead of the other guy.  We tell people, “Eat my dust” and compete in what some call a “rat race”.  We want things “ASAP” or “Done yesterday” (Is that even possible?)  Some even say, “I can’t wait for tomorrow!” (What else are they going to do?)  Such frenzied living has caused many to be stressed out and others to suffer from mental and physical maladies.

This impatient attitude has afflicted some of God’s children.  In the time of Isaiah, Jerusalem was beset round about by enemies.  They were crying out for deliverance and thought that God wasn’t listening or was unable to help in their time of great need.  This led many to despair and others to give up their faith and turn to idolatry.  They demanded that God operate on their time table.  However, in Chapter Forty, Isaiah comforts the people, reminding them of God’s wisdom and power.  He then instructs them to “wait” on the Lord and reminds them that those who patiently wait on the Lord will be blessed. (v. 31). 

Like Jerusalem of old, we must learn to trust in God and allow Him to work things out in His own time.  Christians are encouraged, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).  We are to walk by faith not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).  Those who are impatient with God are walking by sight.  Faith is unshakable acceptance that leaves no room for doubt.  When one walks by faith, he takes God at His word and trusts in His Wisdom.  Prayer must be offered in faith without wavering (James 1:5).  Persistence in prayer doesn’t imply doubt or impatience (Luke 11:6-8). 

One thing that will help with impatience in life (secular and spiritual) is to learn contentment.  Paul stated, “...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).  Paul declared, “...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12).  So, when things seem hopeless, wait on the Lord and He will deliver you!

Bruce Stulting

THE 28-MINUTE CHURCH

The 28-minute church. That reminds me of the 10-minute oil change and one hour dry cleaning. Can you imagine it? This “church” really exists. The preacher believes that people are too busy for an hour service, so he has come up with the 28-minute service. A little singing, a little praying, possibly a little communion, a little giving and definitely a little preaching. It’s had rave reviews and he is now up to five services on Sunday. Sounds convenient, doesn’t it? But there’s a few problems with his format: Where’s the fellowship? And how about the fact that members are exposed for hours to ungodliness at work, school and from the media-how does he think 28 minutes is going to prepare anyone for that onslaught each week?

Brethren, I say we need more time for prayers, singing, study, fellowship and all the rest of the things that people need to be strong Christians NOT LESS! Our culture cries, “Give me less of what I need and more of what I crave.” The Lord said, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” If had my way, every member of this congregation would attend every Bible class and assembly PLUS have home study, home training and family devotionals. We would also have quality time working and being together as a church family, not less. Is 28 minutes enough? I think not.

Author Unknown

WILL KNOWLEDGE SAVE?

In chapter four of Hosea, God condemns Israel for her refusal to obey His Word. In verse 1 we note, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” What a desolate condition!

This was a time when there is no truth. A time where the mercy of God is not accepted nor is the knowledge of His goodness respected. God says  that the people have separated themselves by “swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery…” (cf. Hosea.4:2). In verse 6 the ancient prophet penned words of destruction due to the malady of the time, hear him, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

It is the case that the people of Hosea’s day had refused to acquire and live by knowledge of the Word of God. They never thought of the penalty for their neglect in all likelihood. They were going along to get along and practicing the same sins as the people about them while God had commanded them to be separate or different from those nations around them, but this seems to have never entered their thought process. They wanted to be like the nations about them when they desired a king. God granted them their wish, but their desire led to great suffering and turmoil.

As Hosea writes God is rejecting His priests and His people. He even forgets their children. A calamity exists in the land that does not respect and know God. We are taught in the Scriptures that eternal life is to “know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). It is rather obvious that there is trouble in our land this day in the year of our Lord, 2014.

Unless we come to a knowledge of God, man will be lost. We remember a classic passage in Judges 2:10 that address situations like this. “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” The first generation out of Egyptian bondage perished in the wilderness.

The second generation is the one that Judges is addressing who were faithful. The third generation was lost because they did not know the Lord. They served Balaam while forsaking the Lord.

Are we talking about an antiquated condition? No! A thousand times NO! We are describing present day America. We are talking about a time when God is respected less and less. There is lying, swearing, killing, stealing, adultery and the list goes on and on. Filth and turmoil fill our news programs while the Bible is closed on the shelf and most of all closed to our hearts. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Knowledge alone will not save. It must be applied to the heart of man. The condition of our time is such that we had better WAKE UP, OPEN UP and READ UP if we want to GO UP to heaven some day. All one has to do is read the front page of the newspaper and we see Hosea all over again.

Harrell Davidson

A Spiritual Self-Examination as Suggested by Paul

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (II Corinthians 13:5)

There are times when a spirit of discontent, unrest, unhappiness, disinterest, even boredom, may overtake the heart of some Christians. In such times, we may be wise to follow the above injunction of the apostle to see just who has changed or moved—us or God. In view of these considerations, let each one do some honest personal soul-searching and self-evaluation. There are many other areas of thought than those below.

 TRUE OR FALSE?

• I see to it that the Lord always comes first in my life and in my family’s life—always (Matthew 6:33).
• I and my family are faithful in assembling to worship God at all worship services, including Sunday night and Wednesday night worship (Hebrews 10:25; 13:17).
• I am very involved every week in some aspect of the mission/evangelism work of the church (Mark 16:15).
• Whenever I learn of a need for some kind of work or help needed in the church, I always volunteer to cooperate according to my ability (Matthew 25:14-30).
• I see to it that I and my family are fed a full and steady diet of God’s Word that we may grow thereby as we worship faithfully in the public gatherings and take time at home to study His Word (I Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14; II Timothy 2:15).
• I spend time visiting those who are mentioned at church as being in the hospitals (Matthew 25:31-46).
• I can honestly say that I am doing more now for the cause of Christ than I was a year ago. I am more involved than ever in the Lord’s work and in bringing glory to God (I Corinthians 15:57; II Corinthians 11:23; Revelation 3:1, 16).
• The example that I am now setting is a source of encouragement to others to serve God, and if others followed my example of Christianity, they would assuredly go to heaven (Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 1:27; 2:14-16; I Timothy 4:12).
• When I become unhappy with something or someone in the church, rather than run away, I find that my unhappiness disappears when I start doing something for others, speaking positively for the Lord, and devoting more time to prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
• When I disagree with a brother or sister, or when one has sinned against me, rather than tell everyone else about it, I go first, in a humble manner, to the other party in order to solve the problem, disagreement, or misunderstanding (Matthew 18:16-18; 5:21-26).

Author Unknown

What Does “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” Mean?

“The voice of the people is the voice of God,” is the translation of the ancient Latin expression serving as the title of this article. In a democracy such a sentiment sounds good. Especially does it soothe the ear in a society that is permeated with humanism.

When one examines God’s infallible Will, he immediately notices that most of the time most of the people are not in sympathy with the Truth of God. More than this is the fact that the Bible reveals that God’s people are very rarely content to remain submissive to His Will over any extended period of time. Just six chapters into the Bible and some 1500 years from the creation, God is pleased with only eight people out of the whole human race (Genesis 6:5-6).

Concerning God’s chosen people of the Old Testament, the Jews, God said of them at the time of the golden calf incident: “...I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiffnecked people” (Exodus 32:1-9).

Paul warned that some members of the church would conduct themselves according to the aforementioned phrase, with not a few elders and preachers in the lead (Acts 20:28-31; I Timothy 4:1ff; II Timothy 4:1-4)! Therefrom a great apostasy resulted; and there is not any indication that mankind, in the church or out of it, has changed. That is, man has yet to learn that the voice of the people is NOT the voice of God.

It is still true that the Bereans “...were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11; also see II Timothy 2:15). Yes, all of us have, do, and will continue to benefit from those who have gone before us in their studies. Surely no one is opposed to such benefits and blessings in the least; but that is not the point under consideration. My point is this: THE MAJORITY POSITION ON ANY SUBJECT DOES NOT IN AND OF ITSELF ALONE MAKE IT RIGHT! When the people understand this point they will know why the Bereans were called noble by God, and they will understand Acts 17:11.

"Vox Populi, vox Dei” is Satan’s formula and has no place among the faithful of God. Let us strive to make the voice of God the voice of the people. Our plea, therefore, is: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God...” (I Peter 4:11); “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation...” (Romans 1:16); “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1); and “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21).

David P. Brown

For Faithful Christians

Too much of our writing, preaching and visiting is directed to the weak and unfaithful. We want to reverse that order here. This article is not addressed to you who have to be begged, petted and pampered before you will attend the services of the church, and still are absent as much as you are present.

This isn’t for those who grumble the most while doing the least! Those in that category can stop reading now, for this is not written to you. This is written to the faithful.

Our vocabulary is not large enough to tell YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE how much you are appreciated. It does not matter how many meetings we have each week, you will be present. Neither the weather nor company of any kind is able to keep you from your responsibilities.

Whatever attractions or detractions the world may offer, you will not forsake the Lord. You make whatever sacrifices are necessary. You have no more time than the unfaithful members do, but somehow you manage to find time to serve our Master with the finest and best of your time and talents.

Whatever good programs are put before the church, no one wonders what your response will be. You always support fully every good work. You will accept an assignment and when you do it, it is a foregone conclusion that you will successfully complete it.

You don’t flirt with sin and see how worldly you can become without completely apostatizing. You are appreciated and even more because you demand no special attention or praise for your service, and you do not consider regular and faithful attendance of each class and worship period in service to God as a grievous burden or a great feat of valor.

You are a good example to the youngest member and an inspiration to all. You make the work of each of us much lighter. Thank you for being what the Bible describes as a simple New Testament Christian.

Author unknown