Bulletin

Home Email About Us Services Articles Bulletin From God's Word Area Events Announcements Calendar Prayer Requests Plan of Salvation Audio Sermon Library Photographs	If You Believe, Say So By Doug Post January 25, 2004 One of the greatest tools of the devil is intimidation. If he can cause people to be afraid of social rejection or physical persecution, he is satisfied. A person who will not stand up for what he believes will soon stop believing at all. A person’s faith does not fail all at once, it is lost one compromise at a time. One little compromise will lead to another, until there is nothing left to compromise. In many social circles it is discomforting to speak of one's faith in God, of love for Jesus, or of faith in the Scriptures. Social intimidation causes one to remain quiet when others profane God's name or sneer at His teachings. One of the most cowardly groups recorded in Scriptures were faint-hearted Jewish rulers. John says about them, "Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God" (John 12:42,43). These rulers had faith, but they wanted to keep it a secret. A secret faith cannot last. The secrecy will destroy the faith, or faith will overcome the secrecy. Peter was bold to confess his faith when summoned before the Council. Forbidden by the rulers to speak anymore in the name of Jesus, he said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19,20). Those who believe in someone or something strongly enough will welcome the opportunity to speak up. If you are a Christian, stand up for Jesus and His teachings.
	COPING WITH CRITICISM By Doug Post An eminent British cabinet officer's wife is reported to have kept this motto embroidered on their living room wall, "To escape criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." Inevitably, criticism will come your way, even unjust criticism. So briefly, here are three suggestions to help cope with malicious statements and harsh criticism. Expect it! Heroes of the Old Testament, the apostles, first-century Christians and Jesus Himself were harshly criticized. Jesus said, "marvel not if the world hate you!" President George Washington's contemporaries said, "The present occupant of the White House is little better than a murderer. He is treacherous in private friendships, a hypocrite in public life, an imposter who has either abandoned all good principles or else never had any." Some said of Abraham Lincoln, "The president is a low, cunning clown. He is the original gorilla. Those who seek the ape man are fools to travel all the way to Africa (on safari) when what they want can readily be found in Springfield, Illinois." Friends, you too can expect criticism. Use it! Even destructive criticism may serve a useful purpose. The late Guy Woods said, "The unkind jibe, the uncharitable thrust, the disparaging remark may contain seed, which, when cleansed of their source, will spring up into useful harvest." Proverbs 15:10 says, "Correctionis grievous unto him that forsaketh the way and he that hateth reproof shall die." Finally, forget it! After having done our very best, we must develop the feeling of indifference toward hateful and ignorant judgments of others. The apostle Paul was one of the most criticized men of his day and he said, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment" (1 Cor. 4:3). If when criticized unfairly you do not develop a similar sentiment, it will dry up your strength physically, mentally, and spiritually. How do I deal with unfair criticism? Expect it. Use it. Then, forget about it.
	EXCUSE ME, PLEASE By Doug Post As I thought about sharing our faith I wondered why more people don't make efforts to do that. I came across this list that I wanted to share with you. The following excuses were supposedly actually turned in by parents to one school district. - Dear school: Please ackuse John for bring absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30,31. - Chris has an acre in his side. - Mary could not come to school. She is bothered by very close veins. - My son is under the doctors care. Please execute from P.E. - Please excuse Ray Friday. He has lose vowels. - Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault. These excuses sound pretty silly to us, but some people try to hand God excuses that are just as feeble and inadequate. Are you doing what God expects of you? If not, what will your excuse be?
	Be Humbled (1 Pet. 5:5-7). God is so great, that it behooves all of us to humble ourselves. Looking deep into our own lives and inadequacies will likely keep us humble. But the command is "be humbled," a passive imperative Let God rule in our hearts and our lives. Humbled people are not beat down by guilt. They are not consumed with making the self little. No, a humble man is one who doesn't consider himself at all. He is the one who puts God first in every thing (Col. 1:15-17). It would do us all good to hide behind the cross the way Paul did. Paul was not consumed with making a reputation or even unnecessarily defending himself against his many critics. Paul was an evangelist. His driving force was: "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2). His boast: “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Gal. 6:14-15). The consuming love of the cross will humble the thoughtful onlooker. How can one look into His eyes, see His love, recognize His pain, or see the price He paid for our sins and not be humbled? Be humbled under the mighty hand of God. The hand that created the world, that fashioned man, that led Israel out of Egypt to take the promised land, that parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River. The hand that protects you day in and out. Let him lead you and control your life. Do you know about God's hand? Isaiah tells us: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands" (Isa.49:15-16). Be humbled therefore under the mighty and deeply loving hand of God, and He will exalt you at the proper time. He will act in His time, not yours. He will act rightly and lovingly. He will bless you greatly. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday” (Psalm 37:3-6). Today, listen and submit.