The Cornerstone
This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief conerstone." Acts 4:11
Volume 6 * Number 7 * February 12, 2006
Christ’s Rights
In the present world, there are all kinds of talk and debate about rights. Gay rights; women’s rights; criminal rights, animal rights and the right to say and do anything you would like. What about Christ’s Rights?
Christ has the right to make Divine Law It is His right because He is Creator of all things. (John 1:1-3)
Christ has the right to restrict religious activities It is His right because He created His Church and therefore He determines what is acceptable and what is not. (Colossians 3:17)
Christ has the right to determine the reward or punishment of man It is His right because He is the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His Law, His Rule, His Judgment. (John 12:48)
Christ alone has the right to save! It is His right because salvation was His work (Luke 19:10) and He gave His very life for it. (Romans 5:8)
In a world that is all about individual rights, why is it that Christ’s rights are not considered or respected?
Stacy Crim
Revived Again
A bulletin was written with great truths said,
But nobody prospered, as it was not read.
A prayer was spoken, hoping God heard,
But few members even caught the first word.
The plate was passed, but no one gave,
A fine sermon preached, but no soul saved.
Even the hymns that were meant to give strength,
Drew complaints, because of their length.
Finally supper elements were passed ‘round
All sat silent, with heads bowed down.
But it was not to reflect, to pray, or weep,
As the bread came by, they all were asleep.
After announcements, came the last amen.
The folks jumped up, they were revived again.
As one brother pulled his coat off the rod,
He said, "Isn’t it wonderful to worship God."
Moral
As we gather the first day of the week,
To pray to God and to hear Him speak,
Let us not sleep, nor watch the clock.
Men may be fooled, but God is not mocked.
-Ron Roberts
Worshiping God is a privilege. David said, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Ps. 122:1). We should be joyful as well with the opportunity to assemble with the saints.
The poem above was not written due to anything I have witnessed at West Knoxville. Several have mentioned reading the bulletin. During the preaching in the worship service I have seen no members dozing off. The hymn singing is with enthusiasm, and the prayers are spoken and heard with great conviction. I have no complaints about what I have seen, and the Roberts family is glad to be a part of the work of the Lord in this location.
We need to continue to grow by faithful attendance and attention in the assemblies. In Nehemiah 8 the people came to the priest and requested preaching of the law. The text tells us the people stood when the book was opened (5). They responded with saying amen, lifting their hands, bowing their heads, and having their faces to the ground (6). The King James Version tells us they were attentive even though the service went from morning until midday (3). Worship is not something only the leaders do. Those who direct in the service have obligations to make the Bible clear (8), but all who are God’s people need to enter into the worship. This is fellowship among the saints.
Jesus tells us that we are to worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24). That is, we are to have the right attitude as we do the right actions. The attitude should be one of joy and reverence from all of God’s people.
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The Eunuchs Secret
Joe Fitch
Look at a man who found the way of salvation (Acts 8:26-39). Do you know the secret of his success?
He had AN OPEN BOOK. We first meet him reading from the scriptures (Ver. 28). "Have you not read" (Mt. 12: 3,5;19:4; 21:16 etc.) and "What saith the scriptures?" (Rom. 4:3) are inspired appeals for open Bibles. Jesus said the Sadducees were wrong about the resurrection "not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." (Matt. 22:29). Is it strange to find people wrong about spiritual things when they never open their Bibles?
"Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:4). Confusion is banished by knowledge. Reading an open book — is the first key to "understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).
Many people avow they are looking for truth yet they never open their Bibles. They claim to love truth but refuse to discuss the scriptures. Something is wrong somewhere! ". . . thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
The man from Ethiopia also had AN OPEN MIND. Many people protest they cannot understand scripture. The problem may not be so much hard scripture as hard hearts. People observed the miracles of Jesus but just "couldn’t see" that he was Christ. Why? They closed their eyes. (Matt. 13:15). It is hard to see anything with your eyes closed!
Consider the parable of the good Samaritan (Lk. 10: 29-36). Why couldn’t the priest and Levite see the wounded man?
Was he hidden? No, they knew he was there. The Samaritan had no problem finding him. Suppose we move the wounded man into the middle of the road where you can’t walk around him — the priest and Levite will just look up, step over, and keep walking! Attitude makes the difference. The Samaritan was willing to see.
Prejudice (pre-judging) is an enemy of the quest for truth. A verdict is reached before the evidence is heard. Nathaniel didn’t ask Phillip how he knew Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ; he just said, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:45, 46). He made up his mind when he heard Nazareth mentioned. Likewise, Jesus was discredited in Nazareth — his family were all common people( Mk. 6: 2-4). Stephen preached the truth and was killed (Acts 7: 51-60). These people were — as he charged — "stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears" (closed minded).
"Come and see" (John 1:46) is the only answer to prejudice. An honest heart will consider the facts — and change when wrong. Others will find excuses or ignore the situation completely.
An OPEN MIND and an OPEN BOOK can be the secret to your success. It was for the Bereans. " they received the word with all readiness of mind — an open mind — and searched the scriptures daily — an open book — whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Or you can close your mind and Bible and drift gently on waves of self satisfaction to hell!
Plan Talk Vol. 6, No. 10 December, 1969