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Birdwell Lane Church of Christ Big Spring, TX |
Weekly Thoughts - October 2007
| <---- September 2007 | -- | November 2007 ----> |
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07 - 2 CHRONICLES 29:25 14 - LEAVING THE MOUNTAIN TOP 21 - IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT IMPORTANT TO YOU? 28 - ON PRAYER |
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2 CHRONICLES 29:25 A question has come up about 2 Chronicles 29:25: “And he {Hezekiah} set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Jehovah by His prophets.’ It is clear that Old Testament worship services included not only instruments of music (Ps. 33:2; 43:4;71:22, but also burnt-offerings of bulls and rams and he-goats (Leviticus 16:1-19), and clouds of “sweet incense” (Leviticus 16:12-13; Exodus 30:7; Deuteronomy 33;10), dancing (2 Samuel 6:14; Psalms 150:4), and handclapping (Psalms 47:1), and shouting (Psalm 47:1). It is clear also that the entire Old Testament worship services have been cancelled, nailed to the cross of Jesus (Ephesians 2:5-16; Colossians 2:14-16). It is clear also that the New Testament worship services include singing, the “fruit of the lips” (Hebrews 13:15; Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15), and playing, not on a literal harp (as in Psalm 71:22), but figuratively on the strings of the human heart, “making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19), and praying (1Thessalonians 5:17), and, on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). And the collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).The scriptures are clear, so where does the confusion come from? Certainly not God or His word. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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LEAVING THE MOUNTAIN TOP …It came about that He took along Peter and John and James, and went up to the mountain to pray…when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met Him… (Luke 9:28, 37). Coming down from the mountain we find Jesus armed and ready to do battle for whatever opportunity, challenge, or test came His way. He rebuked His disciples, took compassion on a distraught father, released a little boy from demonic possession and then taught a lesson on humility. Not bad for a day's work! So how did He do it? The same way you and I get prepared to deal with every-day life in the valley as it comes unrelentingly and mercilessly at us - go to the mountain. But note: Jesus didn't go to the mountain to get away from it all _ He went to be with someone - His Father! Nothing is more obvious in Jesus' life than His deep hunger to commune with God. But unlike Jesus, we make our mistake when we think the path to strength and renewal is found in getting away on vacation. As wonderful and refreshing as that can be (and at times needed), we must realize that the energy we seek to replenish and restore is found only in contact with the Life-giver Himself. But that's not all - Jesus took His friends-close personal friends who were defined by the word "Love." Rejuvenation was never meant to be a private endeavor, Even the Son of God wanted and needed His "buddies" to help him, strengthen Him and watch over Him (Lk. 9:28; Ml. 14:34). So, to the mountain we go. But as we do, remember that the strength we need comes only through divine contact and human camaraderie, just like it did for Jesus. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT IMPORTANT TO YOU? IF you think of Wednesday night as "Preparation time" for Sunday, it should be important to you. IF you think of Wednesday night as "A learning experience," it should be important to you. IF you think of Wednesday night as "A midweek hour of power" it should be important to you. IF you think of Wednesday night as "A time of Christian fellowship," It should be important to you. IF you think of Wednesday night as "A Bible study time," it should be important to you. WEDNESDAY NIGHT should be important to you. YOU are important to the life of the church at Birdwell Lane on Wednesday night. I encourage you to come out Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and join us in the study of "EZEKIEL" the prophet. You would be an encourager of all of us… and just maybe we would be an encouragement to you. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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ON PRAYER Only 15 seconds to utter, but 15 lifetimes wouldn't suffice to plumb the depths of the model prayer recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. Only 52 words but 52 volumes could mot get at the depth of its riches. Very often it is the first bit of speech memorized by little ones and the very last spoken by old ones. It is the only Bible some people know at all. Often referred to as the "Lord's Prayer" these petitions were never prayed by the Lord. He said, "after this manner pray…" The disciples had heard that John taught his disciples to pray. They had observed Jesus praying time and time again, seeing the difference it made in His life. They asked Him to teach them to pray. In response to their asking He gave them this model prayer. We all need a model prayer. Jesus gives us a model even a small child can put together without instructions. It is a model for the most intellectual as well. It is simple enough that the youngster can use it yet profound enough that theologians can never exhaust its meaning. Jesus gave us a model after which we can learn to fashion prayers. It works! The model Jesus gave us is simple to follow. The person of prayer is God who is Father. The purpose of prayer is God's will and His Kingdom. The provision of prayer is our daily bread. The pardon of prayer is forgiveness of sin. The protection of prayer is God's guidance away from temptation. The praise of prayer is God's Kingdom, power and glory. When life is confusing, when crisis comes our way or when fears assault us, it is good to look up and see "Our Father" is still there. What peace, what security when we pray. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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