May 7, 2000 Volume 1 Number 19
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A Question From God (2) In a familiar story God asked Moses a question. God asked him in Exodus 4:2, “What is that in your hand?" Moses responded, "A rod." Centuries had rolled by since God had said that the descendants of Abraham would sojourn in Egypt, a strange land. In fact it had been four generations. This promise is recorded in Gen 15:13-16. It reads, “Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. (14) "And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. (15) "Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. (16) "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." Even though it had been a long time God had not forgotten His promise. The time had now come. God has chosen a deliver. That deliverer would be Moses, he would be God’s chosen instrument: In our story he is asked the question concerning the rod, a stick, a shepherd’s staff, as worthless as it was for most things, it is now going to be called the Rod of God (Ex 4:20). What
Is In Your Hand?
What a
question for everyone of us! But,
what is the application: Well,
I'll ask the question this way, “What talent do you have”? Or “What
are your possessions”? And “Will you dedicate them to the work of
the Lord”? We sometimes
hear people wallow in their self-pity at their lack of ability.
They are simply not thinking correctly.
It is not how much talent one has but what makes the difference
is how we us what we have. When we use human wisdom we often come short.
God often uses those things we might consider weak to show his
strength. In 1Cor 1:25,
27-29 Paul says, “(25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (27) But God has
chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God
has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which
are mighty; (28) and the base things of the world and the things which
are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to
nothing the things that are, (29) that no flesh should glory in His
presence. Now compare that
to Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Have you not read these? Do
you believe what God as said? By
human wisdom it would have been foolish for a sling to be used against
Goliath by David, or Samson's jawbone of a donkey against the
Philistines, or even, Gideon's 300 against the hordes of well-armed and
well-trained forces which greatly outnumbered them.
There was one, and only one basic difference--GOD WAS ON THEIR
SIDE! God took care of
those who did his bidding. 5
Talent, 2 Talent, 1 Talent There is a familiar parable found in Matt 25:14-30. Within the parable we find that three men were given talents. Each one was given according to their ability. The 5 talent man and the 2 talent man did what was expected and were rewarded accordingly. The one talent man chose not to use his abilities and hid what was given him. He, unlike the others, was punished for not using his abilities. The lesson for us is simple. Your life (including your one or many talents) is yours and you may do with it what you like. You can make it a blessing to many or a disgrace to all. A talent that may appear to you as little value, God can do wonders with it. But, there is one thing necessary. Whatever the talent is---it must be dedicated to God! Start with yourself! Whatever your capabilities may be, dedicate them to serving God, eliminate your excuses and apply yourself. We have many talented men and women here in Oroville. We also have many who are not using their abilities. With much effort and more importantly God’s help we are on our way to paying the building off. Some goals were set long before I ever came here. One was to pay the building off, which we will, Lord willing, do in August. Another was to have a full-time preacher. And yet another was to have an eldership. We have met one of the three. The only way we can meet those goals and others is to do our part. Don’t be lulled into thinking that an eldership is not necessary. It is indeed necessary; it is part of God’s divine arrangement for His church. It is time for each man to step up and evaluate his life and ask himself this question, “Am I qualified to be an elder”? If the answer is yes then you have been doing your part in preparing yourself for the Lord’s use (2 Tim 2:20-21). If the answer is no, then you need to begin the process of evaluating yourself and strengthening those areas of weakness so you can become qualified. For those who think it is many years away, remember, when an eldership is established next come deacons. You may not be elder material yet, but what about a deacon. You have to start somewhere, why not start today? Use your talents for the Lord! #Carlos Aguilar Home
and Family: Young men and women have made some of the world’s
greatest accomplishments. Alexander the Great became king before he was
thirty years old. Some of the great works of Shelley, Byron, Keats,
Chopin, and Mozart were composed when they were teenagers. Jesus and the
Apostles were in their thirties when they began the greatest of all
works, the establishment of the Church. Now, young adults are doing much
of the mission work of the church. The church needs consecrated young people. Times are
perilous and our cause is the greatest that the world has ever known.
The very hope of the human race lies in wise youth committed to high
principles. Young people need the church - they need Christ. Those who
are indifferent to the way of the Lord are inviting sorrow on their
lives and souls. Jesus says to young and old alike, "If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me" Mk 8:34. Here are ten things that you can do to serve God and
gain life's greatest blessing: (1) Obey The Gospel of Christ - Christ commands us to
believe in Him Jn 8:24, to repent of our sins Acts 2:38, to confess His
name Matt 10:32-33, and to be baptized into Him for the remission of our
sins Rom 6:3-6. Every young person who can understand these commands
should obey them. There is nothing you will ever do, that will mean so
much to you in coming years. (2) Keep Yourself Pure - I Tim 5:22 - If you like a
real challenge, the challenge of conquering our own will is life's
greatest, for sin is easy. Besides the personal satisfaction that moral
purity brings, it brings also the blessings of God Matt 5:8. (3) Build Your Personality on Christ’s Example - True
greatness lies in spiritual things. Emphasize prayer, study, and
righteousness, and they will bless you. "For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul"'
Matt 16:26. Those who follow Christ learn how to do good unto all men,
even their enemies. Their lives radiate the beauty of his way Matt
5:14-16. Christianity brings peace with God, peace with others, and
peace within. (4) Lead Others To Christ - Christ has commanded His
disciples to take the gospel to everyone. You can be a soul-winner.
Nothing enlarges one's faith and spiritual capacity like teaching the
lost. (5) Get Educated About Christ - You CAN get an
education and be educated about Christ if you really want to. Your doing
so will help you in a thousand ways. A good education will help you to
be the best and most productive citizen possible in God's kingdom. (6) Prepare For A Decent Profession - 'The New
Testament strongly commands honest and honorable work I Thess 4:11,12.
The Christian life is not that of a parasite but one of industry and
service. (7) Build Your Home Wisely - Next to obeying the gospel
of Christ, the greatest favor you will ever do yourself is to build a
home based on Christ. When you marry, Marry a Christian. (8) Prepare For Leadership - The church needs every
competent leader and teacher that it can get. Develop your talents for
leadership by sincere and zealous practice of spiritual
responsibilities. Be useful in His service. (9) Encourage And Help Others - Everyone bears a
burden. When we help bear other's burdens and encourage them in Christ's
walk, we fulfill the law of Christ Gal 6:2. (10) Be Faithful Throughout Your Life - Read Rev 2:10
Many perils will beset your pathway. Temptations and disappointments
came to the Lord and they will come to you. All who live godly in Christ
Jesus will suffer some persecution 1 Tim 3:12, but God calls us to a
life that man cannot destroy and to treasures that are eternal. He will
never leave us or forsake us Heb 13:5. Keep your faith and it will keep
you. There is great potential in your life. God will bless you as you
develop it in His service. ~excerpted from
The Bible Research Library IT'S
CATCHING!
All of us have experienced "catching" something from
our kids, our neighbors or our fellow workers. The flu, running
noses, sore throats and more -- all are examples of things contagious. WE SHOULD WANT
TO "CATCH" . . . 1. A GOOD
INFLUENCE. A good influence is only obtained through hard work
(Phil. 2:12-16). But, we are often helped in this effort by the
good influences of others. "Even so let your light shine
before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
who is in heaven." (Matt.5:16) WE MUST BECOME
IMMUNE TO . . . 1.
GOSSIP. Like a cancer, gossip grows until it hurts many innocent
souls. Remember, it takes a listener to make a gossip! "Who
shall dwell in Your holy hill?...He who does not backbite with his
tongue...." (Psa. 15:1-3) by Joe R. Price You
should know that- Baptism
requires-- Water
Acts 8:36; 10:47; Jn 3:23 Going
to water Acts 8:36; Matt 3:5-6 A
burial Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12 A
planting Rom 6:5 A
washing Acts 22:16; Eph 5:26; Tit 3:5; Heb 10:22 A
birth Jn 3:5; 1 Pet 1:22-25 A
raising out of the water Rom 6:1-4; Col 2:12 A
coming out of the water Acts 8:39 You
should know that- your
obedience to God is-- The
only acceptable response to God's grace Matt 7:24-27--one must hear and
do Necessary
for your salvation Jn 14:15; Heb 5:8-9 The
opposite is also true: disobedience will cause you to be lost
2 Thess 1:7-9 ~excerpted from
pearlstreet.org "I am oftentimes driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go!" -- Abraham
Lincoln We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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