Have you read your Bible today? October 18, 2011

Jerry Kilgore is a "true blue" friend and a faithful Christian.  Among his various e-mail logos is one that asks, "Have you read your Bible today?"  That is a good questions and one that I recommend we always strive to answer in the affirmative. 

I find time (several times!) every day to eat. I find time every day (almost) to read the newspaper.  Most days I watch a little television – very little, I might say.  Every day I work at my computer, send out e-mails, etc.  Every day I try to read my Bible. I must confess, however, that in rare situations, for whatever reason (travel, schedule filled with numerous activities, lack of self-discipline), a day may occasionally go by when I don't literally pick up The Book and read directly from it.  I am fortunate to have been able over the years to memorize large sections of scripture, and to call them up and reflect on them.   So even on those days when I don't actually read from the Bible itself, I try to nourish my soul with passages from the word of God which "I have laid up in my heart" (Psalms 119:11).

Why is it so important to read and mediate on God's word every day?  First, it is food for the soul, and without that food the soul will grow weak and die.  Christ said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48).  Only by reading God's word can we know of Christ and His teaching and partake of the life-sustaining bread. Second, the Bible is milk for the newborn child of God.  Young Christians are to "desire the pure milk of the word, that [they] may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). Third, God's word is solid food for the more mature Christian – "for those of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).  Fourth, the Bible is water to a thirsty, parched soul.  To the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of this water (the water from the well) will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). Fifth, the word of God is a delectable "sweet treat."  "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalms 119:103).

What a rich and varied supply of food for our soul God has provided  in His wonderful word!  No wonder Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone [physical food, hf], but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).  But how is our appetite?  Do we "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matthew 5:6)?  Or, are we feeding our bodies and starving our souls? 

Most of us have a Bible.  Within eyesight of where I sit here at my computer desk writing this article I can count nine copies of either the entire Bible or of the New Testament in various versions.  In other parts of my office, throughout our house, and in my car are several other copies of the Bible.  What an eternal tragedy it would be to never open them to read the life-giving and life-sustaining message they contain! But you need only one copy of the Bible – provided you will read it and let it nourish your soul. 

Have You Read Your Bible Today?

Jerry Kilgore is a "true blue" friend and a faithful Christian.  Among his various e-mail logos is one that asks, "Have you read your Bible today?"  That is a good questions and one that I recommend we always strive to answer in the affirmative. 

I find time (several times!) every day to eat. I find time every day (almost) to read the newspaper.  Most days I watch a little television – very little, I might say.  Every day I work at my computer, send out e-mails, etc.  Every day I try to read my Bible. I must confess, however, that in rare situations, for whatever reason (travel, schedule filled with numerous activities, lack of self-discipline), a day may occasionally go by when I don't literally pick up The Book and read directly from it.  I am fortunate to have been able over the years to memorize large sections of scripture, and to call them up and reflect on them.   So even on those days when I don't actually read from the Bible itself, I try to nourish my soul with passages from the word of God which "I have laid up in my heart" (Psalms 119:11).

Why is it so important to read and mediate on God's word every day?  First, it is food for the soul, and without that food the soul will grow weak and die.  Christ said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48).  Only by reading God's word can we know of Christ and His teaching and partake of the life-sustaining bread. Second, the Bible is milk for the newborn child of God.  Young Christians are to "desire the pure milk of the word, that [they] may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). Third, God's word is solid food for the more mature Christian – "for those of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).  Fourth, the Bible is water to a thirsty, parched soul.  To the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of this water (the water from the well) will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). Fifth, the word of God is a delectable "sweet treat."  "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalms 119:103).

What a rich and varied supply of food for our soul God has provided  in His wonderful word!  No wonder Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone [physical food, hf], but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).  But how is our appetite?  Do we "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matthew 5:6)?  Or, are we feeding our bodies and starving our souls? 

Most of us have a Bible.  Within eyesight of where I sit here at my computer desk writing this article I can count nine copies of either the entire Bible or of the New Testament in various versions.  In other parts of my office, throughout our house, and in my car are several other copies of the Bible.  What an eternal tragedy it would be to never open them to read the life-giving and life-sustaining message they contain! But you need only one copy of the Bible – provided you will read it and let it nourish your soul. 

Hugh Fulford

October 18, 2011

GOD'S TWELVE-STEP PROGRAM - October 11, 2011

For many years Alcoholics Anonymous has used a "Twelve-Step Program" to help its members overcome their addiction to alcohol.  The program has been extremely effective.  The discerning student of the Scriptures will discover that God also has a "Twelve-Step Program." 

Last week I told you something about Marshall Keeble.  He was a powerful and effective evangelist who led thousands to Christ during his sixty-five year ministry. One of his favorite sermons was titled "Five Steps To Church And Seven To Heaven." Simple math reveals that brother Keeble had discovered God's twelve-step program. What did Keeble emphasize in this simple yet powerful sermon?

First, a word about the word "church" and what is meant by the word.  According to the New Testament, the church is the body of people who have been redeemed from their sins by the blood of Christ.  The Lord adds to the church those who are being saved (Acts 2:47).  Thus, when brother Keeble talked about their being five steps to church he was saying that there are five steps to being saved from sin and added to the spiritual body of Christ.  What are those five steps?

1. Hear.  To be saved one must hear the gospel, the good news of Christ's death for the sins of mankind.  "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

2. Believe.  Having heard the gospel of Christ, one must believe it.  Paul declared that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…." (Romans 1:16).

3. Repent.  Jesus said, "I tell you . . . but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5).

4. Confess.  This is a confession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  (Romans 10:9-10).

5. Be Baptized.  Baptism is in order to the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and to have sins washed away (Acts 22:16).  At the point of baptism one is saved and added to the church. (Acts 2:47).

Then what?  The spiritual journey has not ended.  In fact, it has only begun.  From the watery grave of baptism, one is raised to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). The apostle Peter lays out seven wonderful Christian graces/qualities that Christians must add to their faith.  These are named in II Peter 1:5-7 and consist of the following:

1. Virtue.  Simply defined, this is moral excellence.

2. Knowledge.  This is an understanding of God's will as revealed in His word.  All Christians are to grow in such (II Peter.3:18).

3. Self-control.  This has to do with bridling our attitudes and actions.

4. Perseverance.  This relates to patiently persisting in the doing of what is right.  The Christian is to stay with the job of following Christ.

5. Godliness.  Simply put, this is godlikeness—the child of God coming to look more and more like his Heavenly Father. 

6. Brotherly-kindness.  Paul wrote, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).

7. Love.  This is the queen of all the Christian graces  (I Corinthians 13:13).

If one will take the five steps to church and then follow up with the practice of the seven Christian graces, Peter assures his readers (including us today) that "an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:10-11).  Are you following God's "Twelve-Step Program"?

MARSHALL KEEBLE - October 4, 2011

 One of the great gospel preachers of the 20^thcentury was a black evangelist by the name of Marshall Keeble.  He was born inRutherford County, Tennessee in 1878 and died in Nashville in 1968 at the age of 89. Over the course of his life his mode of travel ranged all the way from mule back to jet airplane.  He preached all across the United States in such major cities as Seattle,Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami,Detroit, Atlanta, as well as many others.  He preached in Africa and visited missionaries around the world. 

In Preachers of Today (Volume III) [1964], Keeble reported that he had baptized over 25,000 people and established more than 200 congregations of the Lord's people.  By the time of his death he had been an evangelist for some sixty-five years.  It was my privilege to hear brother Keeble on several occasions, the last of which was in the spring of 1967 when he came to the Madison Street Church of Christ in Clarksville, Tennessee (where I was serving as the local minister) for a one-night special engagement.  Even at an advanced age, Keeble was still powerful in the pulpit, and his sermon to an audience of over 1000 that April evening resulted in five baptisms and five restorations to the Lord.

Brother Keeble was limited in his formal education but not in his intellect or in his knowledge of the Scriptures and in a unique ability to relate to his audience and make the Scriptures come alive to his hearers. Writing in the July 2010 issue of theCarolina Messenger, Dr. J. E. Choate, retired professor of Bible at Lipscomb University inNashville, said: "There is no end to the Keeble stories and most are true."

Keeble was a master at the use of humor in his preaching.  He said: "I am a little funny or comical, but it's been a joy to me.  It's kept my enemies from bothering me.  I have carried a lot of humor just to flavor my message.  You can put too much flavor in anything.  Does me good sometimes to go home and lay (sic) in bed and laugh at myself.  People are so easy to teach if you know how."

In a California meeting Keeble was challenged by a young man who said to him: "You have spoken about every other church; now what about mine?"  Keeble answered, "I don't know what church you are a member of."  The young man responded, "The Latter Day Saints." Keeble shot back, "You're too late!" The next night the young man moved a little closer to the front and when the invitation was extended he came forward to be baptized into Christ!

Keeble did not hesitate to call the names of religious parties, identify their doctrines, and contrast human doctrines with the plain teaching of God's word.  He was sometimes criticized by his brethren for being so bold as to call names.  Keeble explained: "Jesus called names.  He called Lazarus by name. If he hadn't called him by name everybody in the cemetery would have gotten up!"  He said: "I call names sometimes.  God deliver me from a hintin' preacher!"

He preached to his own brethren.  He said: "My brethren are like dogs sometimes; you've got to pet this one to keep him from biting that one."  He said: "The worst man in town will respect you if you deserve it. Even a bootlegger will respect you if you deserve it; but start drinking his stuff and you're gone, sure 'nuf gone."

Marshall Keeble's strength as a preacher lay in his complete trust in the Bible as the inspired and authoritative word of God.  He said: "The Bible is right.  You can go home and fuss all night.  The Bible is right.  You can walk the streets and call Keeble a fool. The Bible is right.  You can go home and have spasms.  The Bible is right."

I loved Marshall Keeble.  I loved to hear him preach.  The late B. C. Goodpasture, long-time editor of the Gospel Advocate and benefactor of Keeble, said Keeble really had only one sermon—salvation.  Well, if a preacher only has one sermon, what better one could it be than salvation?