Calvin Synod Herald, 2008 (109. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

2008-01-01 / 1-2. szám

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CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.” (Luke 12:20-23)

III. THE GOAL IS CONTENTMENT IN HEAVEN’S PROVIDENCE

A. Contentment requires little of the world. “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Timothy 6:8)

B. God meets the needs of His people. “For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)

C. Biblical history argues the case for trusting a gracious Providence; God has a good reason for everything He does.

“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.”(Deuteronomy8:3-4

D. Do not go looking for trouble. “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

IV. TROUBLE COMES EASILY

A. Worldly riches tempt people to do self-destructive things. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Timothy 6:9)

B. The real concern must be the state of the soul because that matters to God. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12) “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott Reformed Presbyterian Church Manassas, VA

Please notify the Business Manager: Wilburn A. Roby Jr. if you changed or are about to change your address. Change of Address form is on page 12.

Let Us Start the New Year with Hopes and Expectations

Scripture reading: Luke 4:14-19. Text: “He (that is Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to Preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to Proclaim the Year of the Lord’s Favor.”’ Luke 4:16-19.

We enter each New Year with the expectation that the trend will turn around, namely, instead of just hanging on we will get ahead. We hope and pray that the church will grow spiritually, numerically, and socially. We wish to become a motivating, stabilizing, and reconciling force in the world.

How can we reach this goal? There are several ways to do it; however, one of our first and most important obligations is to preach the gospel. The word “gospel” means good news in the original Greek language. We feel that the world is “hungry” for the “good news” but the problem is, the good news the Bible offers and what people expect to hear, are not the same. How wonderful would it be if we could preach that “good news” what Jesus had done in the synagogue? Please see our text. We should call the people to repent, turn around, follow our Lord and become believers, that is, have faith. Let us remember one of the most important requirements: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.

What Are the Roles or Duties of the Church to Help People to Become Faithful?

Helping People to Obtain Faith. For this there are the sermons, religious literature and broadcast, as well as to witness personally. Apostle Paul had made it clear: “Consequently, Faith Comes From Hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17. Also the same apostle had encouraged Timothy in this way: “I give you this charge: Preach the Word...” 2 Timothy 4:1-2. Apostle Peter had the same to say: “He (Jesus) commanded us (the disciples) to Preach to the People and to testify that he (Christ) is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Acts of Apostles 10:42.

Nurturing and Strengthening The Faith. Even the apostles had asked the Master: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!”’ Luke 17:5. The Savior had charged Peter: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, Strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32. It was recorded about Paul and Barnabas: “They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. Acts