The 23rd Channel

The TV is my shepherd; my spiritual growth shall want.
It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for His name’s sake,
because it requireth all my leisure time.
It may keep me from doing my duty as a Christian,
because it presenteth so many good shows that I must see.

It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world,
and keepeth me from the study of God’s Word.
It may lead me in the paths of forsaking church
unto really doing nothing for the kingdom of God.

Yea, though I live to be a hundred,
I shall keep viewing my TV as long as it will work,
for it is my closest companion.
Its sounds and pictures, they comfort me.

It presenteth entertainment before me
and keepeth me from doing important things with my family.
It fills my head with ideas which differ
from those in the Word of God.

Surely, no good thing will come of my life
because of so many wasted hours,
And I shall dwell in my remorse
and bitter memories forever.

“Wasted minutes become wasted hours, which may very well lead to wasted years.”

NOTE: Use your TV wisely, not wastefully.

SHARING

The Restitution Of All Things

This is a five week study that we are having in our Sunday evening service. Please see the “Articles & Outlines” section under “Outlines” for the outlines to accompany this study.

SHARING

The Nail

The circumstances and events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, make two things very clear:
1. Man’s nature towards God: one of enmity.
2. God’s nature towards man: that of redeeming love.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) The fact that men were so used (motivated) by sin and Satan, that they knew not what they were doing, speaks of man’s spiritually dead condition. ALL MANKIND was made a spiritually dead being by Adam’s sin and spiritual death: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” (Romans 5:12, 18a, 19a) “For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22a).

Thus, all who are born of Adam are born with an inherited spiritually dead nature that is estranged from God, is at enmity with God due to the fact this nature is sinful, and is also at conflict with one another. This spiritually dead sin condition is what has written human history and is determining the course of mankind today: “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:9, 13-18, 23)

When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, the human instruments that hung him there did so because of Sin’s enmity within human nature: “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” (John 15:25) It was the enmity of man’s sinful nature that drove the nails that hung Christ on the cross. It was the redeeming love of God’s nature, that let those nails remain so that atonement for sin would be made.

The reason Christ died was because God laid our sin upon Him on Calvary and He yielded Himself to die to pay the penalty for our sin: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Thus the judgment of the cross is: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.” (2 Corinthians 5:14) Since we are all the sinner for which Christ died, then we must repent and trust Him to save us—or we will perish.

SHARING

The Kiss

–Pastor Clayton Doss

You have heard about the kiss of death, otherwise known as the Judas kiss.

There is also the kiss of life. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10

One day, Mercy was out taking a stroll along life’s highway, and chances to meet one called Truth. There is love at first sight. A wedding is performed, and Mercy and Truth, in the persons of Peace and Righteousness, kiss each other and fall lovingly into each other’s arms. Is this not a picture of the romance of redemption?

However, unless Truth meets up with Mercy and makes Peace, death will ensue. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death…” Men may hide the truth, hinder the truth, and haggle with the truth, but truth will stand. Every evil thought, sinful act, or wicked intent is on everyone’s record, and that record must be faced one day…and then what? Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

But there is a way to clear the record. Truth found satisfaction at a place called Golgotha. One died there and satisfied the just demands of God’s Holy Law. And now, Truth can make friends with Mercy, and while maintaining its dignity and worthiness, can kiss Mercy and find blessed reconciliation. Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”

Have you been to Calvary? Were you there when Righteousness and Peace…kissed each other on your behalf?

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10

SHARING

How Long Since You Went Fishing?

“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

Most people, sometime in their life, have gone fishing. Usually, the urge to fish strikes when one is young. As a kid, I fished with homemade poles and string that floated, and cane poles, and at the last, I finally managed to acquire a rod and reel (which I still have). As a teenager, I built a boat, and Dad and I strung fishing lines across the Licking River, which joined our farm.

No one starts out as a master fisherman. At first, one may find themselves awkward and ill-equipped. And, often, one goes home empty handed. But if one is determined to catch fish, over time and putting forth one’s persistent effort, the methods and means that work are learned. There is much to learn: where the fish are; what bait will draw them; how to approach them and catch them without chasing them away. No fish is seeking to be caught. But a diligent fisherman can catch them by acquired wisdom.

“And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” (Luke 5:10b) A good fisherman is not stopped by the fear of going where the fish are, or of not catching fish, but is motivated by the fact that if he continues to fish, he will catch fish, and this makes it worth everything.

If we will accept the Lord’s call to go fishing for Him for the souls of men, He has promised that He will make a fisherman out of us, and that we shall catch men. We may start out feeling awkward and ill-equipped, but as we continue to go, under the direction of the Master, He will make us to become an able fisherman.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

In terms of being fishers of men, how wise are we? It took someone to answer the Lord’s call, to reach us. What if no one would have been willing?

SHARING