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Happy People

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“Happy is that people whose God is the Lord”, Psalms 144:15.  

People are seeking happiness universally.  Men of all ranks and stations pursue it.  The general inquiry is: How shall I find it?  To this we hear answers like:  “Seek in gold.  Everything can be had for a price.  “Another say: “Seek it in paths of human greatness.”  A third answer is: “pleasure and comfort.  These alone will bring happiness.”

What are the results of these inviting pursuits?  Poor deluded men try one or all of these and find that he is not really happy but more dissatisfied and wretched than ever.  How then could one say that happiness might be achieved if the finest this world has to offer, falls so for short?

The Psalmist says that God’s people are happy and in saying so seems to say that they have found a formula that has escaped the wisest of worldly men.  He says that happiness is a natural result of being a child of God.  How can this be?  The true Christian is happy for many reasons:

*He is happy because of divine peace.  Peace with God through Jesus is promised in John14:27.  This peace casts our fear and relieves the heart of many anxieties of life and death.

*He is happy because of divine adoption.  Gal.4:5-7 teaches that he has the privileges and rewards of a faithful son.

*He is happy because none can take these things away.  Rom.8:35-39 clearly states that no power on earth can remove God’s people from Him without their consent.  Yes, these are HAPPY PEOPLE.

J. R. CHISM

In Sunshine and Storm

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In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 NIV

It’s easy to feel happy on a sunny day, when all is well, the birds are singing and life is going along swimmingly. But what happens when waters are rougher, bad news comes, or the days feel just plain hard?

God wants us to feel gladness when times are good.  He has made each and every day.  We are called to rejoice in all of them whether good or bad.  Happiness is determined by our circumstances, but true joy comes when we can find the silver linings, hidden in our darkest hours-when we can sing his praises no matter what.  We don’t know what the future holds for us here on earth, but we can find our delight in the knowledge our eternity is set in beauty.

God, please help us to understand that our happiness and true joy is in you. Help us to find a deep and abiding satisfaction in each day that goes beyond human understanding

        SELECTED.

Dismissing Worship Services Because of the Coronavirus

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Does Acts 5:29, that “we ought to obey God rather than men,” mean Christians must defy the government’s order of sheltering-in and not assembling?

Local congregations of the Lord are autonomous, meaning self-governing. However, God’s authoritative word transcends all congregations and is the sole authority by which all should be led. In all matters of doctrine, God’s word directs (2 Tim. 3:16-17). In matters of opinion, there is discretion within the bounds of God’s will, never beyond God’s will (Rom. 14:1-4). Elders and faithful leading brothers without elders can make decisions in behalf of the congregation (Heb.13:17; 1 Tim. 5:17; Col. 1:2). There is much confusion as to whether church leaders have the authority to cancel worship services because governing authorities have mandated it so due to the Coronavirus.

1. Many say we cannot cancel services because of Acts 5:29, that “we ought to obey God rather than men.” The context of Acts 5:29 was the Jewish council persecuting Christians to stop Christianity altogether (5:17-20,22-23,25,27-29,40). But that is not what is happening now with the shelter-in bans and restrictions because of the Coronavirus. The reason for them is not persecution, but protection. They are enjoined up all citizens and businesses, not just Christians and churches. Christians are not being singled out. We are all part of a world-wide health emergency.

2. Not assembling for worship is only sin if we “forsake the assembly” (Heb.10:25). Meaning, if we blow it off for frivolous reasons or even for persecution (12:4), which the virus is neither. The Coronavirus is not frivolous or a means of persecution. Most of us have encouraged someone who is sick to stay home on Sunday to protect them from getting worse and infecting others. The same was true regarding the contagious disease of leprosy (Lev. 13:43-45). If “one” can stay home away from worship without sinning because of sickness, then all can.

3. Unlike the flu, one can be asymptomatic with the Coronavirus, meaning sick without symptoms. Therefore, every member should be viewed as though they have the virus, not as though they don’t. Hence, we have social distancing of 6 ft away. It is contradictory to ignore the health order and come together as though the pandemic is not serious and then practice social distancing which physically acknowledges there is a serious health risk. Because that would not only be an indication of defeating the purpose for which isolation is intended, which is to minimize contaminating others, but would also acknowledge that one is knowingly putting others in unnecessary danger.

4. God gave governing authorities for the protection of its citizens (Rom. 13:1-5). The laws and bans being instituted because of the Coronavirus are intended to protect lives which is consistent with God’s will. If these laws aren’t contrary to God’s will, we should all adhere (Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). Many brethren have rightly cancelled worship services because inclement weather to also protect members. Meeting for worship is not at all costs. If it was, no one could miss for any reason. It is faithful Christianity that is at all costs (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:39).

5. Jesus as well as the old law taught mercy over sacrifice (Mt. 12:7-13). Read Micah 6:6-8. Notice that without mercy sacrifice means nothing. Mercy compassionately helps (Lam. 3:22; Tit. 3:4-5). Disregarding the well-being of others lacks mercy and compassion (Lk. 10:30-37, [33,37]). Christianity and worship are not at the expense of others to needlessly put them in harm’s way. Who tells the aged widow she must drive on ice to not miss worship? That isn’t even Christian (Mt. 10:16; Acts 16:27-28). Yet, some equally have members treacherously venturing out in the midst of this crisis.

6. Being isolated at home should not prevent us from giving God worship, no more than it did with John being isolated on the isle of Patmos, who was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:9-10). My family will come together at home on Sunday and give God worship until we are able to assemble again with our brethren. 

http://bhcofc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Dismissinng-Worship-Services-Because-of-the-Coronavirus.pdf

Right and Wrong of Judging

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There is only one righteous Judge of all humanity that all human judging ought to imitate which is God (Gen. 18:25; 2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 12:23). He judges righteously by his righteous word. “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness” (Ps. 119:172; cf. 19:7-9; 2 Tim. 3:16). “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.” (Ps. 67:4; cf. 96:13; Rev. 19:11). “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31; cf. Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10-11). “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”

(John 12:48; cf. Rev. 20:11-12).

Many believe it is wrong for people to judge others but they are unaware that God commands it. Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). The Lord taught our standard of judging others should be righteous too. The only way for us to rightly do this is by the word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). Through the scriptures alone we are able to determine what righteousness is. Since everything which is consistent with God’s will/word is righteousness, we must conclude that anything that is contrary to God’s will/word is unrighteous and therefore wrong. “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). “…sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4; cf. Heb. 2:2; Jas. 4:17). So, if someone is sinning and the sin is pointed out, it is not that person who is judging them, but God who said the activity was wrong through his word.

This means many have misunderstood Matthew 7:1 that says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Jesus is not saying to judge in John 7:24 and not to judge here in Matthew 7:1. This context is about unrighteous judging. We should righteously judge others the same way we want to be judged (Matt. 7:2,12). It is wrong and hypocritical to judge the wrong in others while ignoring our own (Matt. 7:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. 13:5). However, it does not mean that one has to be perfect or sinless to judge others. No, just faithful. The Lord wants us to help others by correcting their transgressions through his word (Matt. 7:5; 28:19-20).

 

How True! How True

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The greatest need of the church, today, is not a “Pulpit That Will Draw”, but “Pews That Radiate”. Where were you Sunday night? Yes and where were you Sunday morning and Wednesday evening? Were you somewhere, doing something for which you had more enthusiasm than you had for being a Christian?

Not only is the world listening to the preacher’s word but they are watching your life.  Immorality or indifference from the pew often erases great sermons from sinner’s minds.

If the folks coming, for a visit on Sunday morning, mean more to me than to be in my place at the Lord’s with God’s family, I doubt if there is really a place set for me Sunday night to piously nibble on the left  overs.

Hebrews 10:25, KJV: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

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