When The Devils Gone

7/21/09 / Keith McNeely 

            What do you do when the devil is gone?  The Bible says Jesus was led up into the wilderness and was tempted while there.  We further are told that after this temptation the devil “departed from him for a season” (Luke 4:13).  My question for you is what do you do when the devil is gone.

            Hopefully when you are tempted you follow James’ advice to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  The point is how do you use your time when the devil is not tempting you.  A great use of our time is to read, study and learn God’s Word, the Bible.  What better way to develop ourselves than to study the Bible.

            Great character building traits are found in God’s Word, for example we are told to do unto others as we would have them do to us, this is called the golden rule, and it is absolutely a great character trait.  Compliments to you when you battle the devil, but when he is gone be willing to build yourself up in God’s Word.

            The Curry St church of Christ endeavors to empower people to effectively battle the devil.  Bring your Bible and come visit.

They Were Astonished

7/21/09 / Keith McNeely 

            The Bible says regarding a group of individuals that had heard Jesus teach that they “were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”, you can read this in Luke 4:32.

            The teachings of Jesus are effective, that is to say, they have effect on those that are willing to learn them right out of the Bible, the greatest book to ever have been written.  The dictionary says to be astonished is to be amazed to a great degree.  Jesus very words, His teachings amazed His hearers in His day, but yet we to can continue to study, learn and live by them even today.

            Further the teachings of Jesus were powerful.  Our verse says “for his word was with power”.  Think about Jesus word being powerful, His word certainly was authoritative, further His word had powerful effects on those that heard Him.

            Neighbor, are you allowing Jesus’ word to have powerful effect in your life?  At the Curry St church of Christ we are ever looking at the words of Jesus seeking their powerful effect, bring your Bible,, and come join us.

What Shall We Do?

John 6:28 / Keith McNeely

            They asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (John 6:28).  What a great question!  How wonderful I our world would be if more individuals would take pause and consider this powerful question. 

            Notice the question in detail, first “what shall we do”, they obviously took their responsibility to God in a personal way, further they realized living for God involved action.  Second notice they asked “that we might work the works of God” they illustrate the idea of being specific in life, specifically speaking they wanted to do God’s work.  When they specified God’s work they eliminated all others, now that is great news. 

            Neighbor are you ever adjusting and altering your life in ways so that you can be doing God’s work?  Jesus’ answer was short and to the point, He told them to believe on the one that God had sent-Jesus.  Neighbor to believe in Bible terms involves more than just mental ascent-it involves following the Lord whole heartedly.

THE TREASURY OF FRIENDSHIP

(Unless otherwise noted scripture quotes are from the KJV.)

Solomon said "Two are better than one... ...For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: But woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). This causes us to realize that friendship is a treasure. One would wisely remark that "A friend is a present you give yourself". Friendship is like "a soothing ointment for the cuts and bruises of life."

Do birds of a feather flock together? In nature they do and we must recognize in life this is true also. We need to learn that friendship requires maintenance. Solomon would again advise "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." (Proverbs 22:24-25). The lesson is, if you and I want to become angry and raging people simply make friends with this type of people. Paul addressing this from another angle would advise "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33). Beware of the influence that friends have on you, but also be thankful that you to can have influence on your friends for good. Being a light for Christ. Yes, birds of a feather do flock together.

Selecting and keeping friends is a job that we should not take lightly. After accepting the responsibility there are certain steps we can follow that will take us to the mountaintop of friendship where the TREASURY OF FRIENDSHIP can be found. Several "be's" that buzz around friendship include;

1. Be friendly "A Man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." (Proverbs 18:24);

2. Be helpful in adversity (Proverbs 17:17);

3. Be humble "...In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (Philippians 2:3);

4.Be unselfish (Philippians 2:4);

5. Be sincere because Christ spoke of some that would "Say, and do not." (Matthew 23:3);

6.Be tolerant "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13).

Yes friendship is a ship that must be sailed. Sailing is indeed work, polishing the ship, keeping the "rigging" in order, launching the boat, and continually adjusting the sails so the ship sails true. If we will take the time, opportunity and responsibility to keep up our friendships of this life they will truly be a "Present we give ourselves." Begin now to enjoy the treasury of friendship.

NO BENCH, NO TIMEOUT and NO HALF TIME

(All scripture quotes from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)

The little fellow had on one of those shirts that detail some of the rules of dedicated athletes. Certainly you are familiar with these, in basketball they say "Take it to the hoop", Nike had the famous "Just do it" campaign. The little fellow in question (somewhere between ages 9 and 12) had a shirt on that screamed out that in his game there was "No bench; No time out; and No half time". It makes me tired just thinking of it. I immediately thought there must be a lesson for those of us living the Christian life, after reflection I learn there are many. Lets look for and find a few in an effort to build up our Christian life.

FIRST, The fact is clear-Christianity is like a race- "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). This does not bring much quick encouragement to us when we know in a race there can only be one winner! Yet the text is designed to give long term, sustaining encouragement-this makes since as we remember the deeper context of Hebrews (written to encourage Christians that are beginning to weaken).

This beautiful text goes on to give several great lessons to the Christian desiring to successfully run the race. We are told to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,". It is easy to picture runners on a track. They endeavor to find the lightest shoes, and clothing in order to win. Imagine if they had a huge back pack, say 60 pounds or so, it would guarantee instant defeat! What about you and I that continue to try living the Christan life with that huge pack of sins that we continue to carry around? Certain defeat is no less inevitable.


Second, How should you and I run? Hebrews dictates that we "Run with patience". Like wise Paul states the obvious by reminding that there can be only one winner in every race. He goes on to declare that we need to run "That ye may obtain.", that is that you may win. Thus you and I must run so that we win!

Third, the prize goes to the winner. Jesus reminds "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give ever man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12). Think how harsh, yet how real. The Christian life is a race, there are no second place finishes allowed and the Lord only rewards the winner! Thus we each need to live our Christian life in the model of the young man's shirt "No bench, No timeout and No half time. Christian, there are no second place trophies to be given on judgement day.

EPILOGUE
Truth has been told, No second place trophies are awarded. Yet, one noted Christian stalwart, Peter gives us encouragement to get up if we have fallen by the wayside and once again be a faithful runner. Peter strongly denied the Lord (Luke 22) even refusing to be named among the Lord's followers, yet he later becomes an ardent defender of Jesus the Christ. There is indeed room on the race track for you, come on, get up and get back in the race before it is over.