The Reporter -- 9282014 (Published weekly by the Walnut Street Church of Christ, Greenville, Alabama Please visit our worship service: Sunday Bible Study 9:30 a.m., Worship 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Visitors will be treated with love and respect. No one will be singled out or embarrassed. Please accept our invitation. The Prayers of The Righteous One of the ways that we can describe the New Testament is that it is filled with practical teaching for daily living. James was inspired to write concerning the danger of Gods judgments upon the extravagant, rich. Their undisciplined living and cheating of their fellow men would result in eternal condemnation. The prayers of the righteous will help us to make money in godly ways, and to use it for the glory of our Creator. Christians, in James’ day, were facing difficult persecution. The prayers of the righteous would help those faithful brethren to patiently endure hardships. Even if a Christian is mistreated in this life, God will settle the account at the Judgment Day. The prayer of the righteous helped the prophets of old and Job to bear up under very difficult trials and suffering. The prayers of the righteous will help us to carefully guard our tongue and use it wisely. (James 5:12) The prayers of the righteous must be offered for those who have strayed away from the truth. If we are sincerely praying for the unfaithful, then we will be motivated do what we can to bring them back to the faith. Pray that you will not be led astray by material things. Wealth is not wrong within itself. However, wealth is often allowed to crowd the kingdom of God out of the hearts of believers. The prayerful, will be much more likely to use their wealth correctly. (James 5:1-11) Those who love and serve God will use their possessions to be a blessing both to God and to man. The person whose heart is controlled by the wealth would much rather see the wealth corrupted and spoiled than to put it to some good use in God’s kingdom. The rust of their gold and silver witnesses against many, that they have not honored God with their substance. “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” (Proverbs 3:9) When wealth comes into your hands, you should pray to God for wisdom to use it to His glory. Wealth gained and used without humble and prayerful consideration will bring weeping, mourning and misery. Pray that your riches do not hinder your journey to heaven. Wealth, prayerfully gained and prayerful used, will be treasures that are laid up in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20) The prayers of the righteous will help prevent my attitude from being, “me first.” The “me first” attitude will cause my life to be a wasted life. People think that wealth will make them happy. However, wealth gained and used without righteous prayers will bring misery and dreadful judgment. A person who is able to pray a righteous prayer would never cheat the poor laborers out of money. The righteous would never be able to live with themselves if they were cheating others, and at the same time living in luxury. The person who is able to pray a righteous prayer knows that the cries of the poor, abused souls come into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Sabaoth is a military term meaning armies or hosts. We should pray that our attitude and action will honor God concerning our wealth. Christians must patiently wait in this life. Often we must wait for God’s deliverance, just as we must wait for the crops to grow. Prayer helps us be strong in heart, knowing that God will take care of the wicked in judgment. Job and the other prophets experienced much misery and trouble. Yet, under all these things they continued to pray, to bless God and serve Him faithfully. Pray that you can use your tongue to glorify God. James condemns vain and rash swearing. “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” (James 5:12) The expression Above all things shows the importance of the right kind of speech. Above all things carries the idea that this is a matter we should especially give our attention to. Pray to God that you will use your tongue for His glory only. James forbids swearing that is purposeless, profitless and profane. A Christian does not need to confirm his word with an oath. Pray sincerely for God to help you use your tongue as an instrument to His glory. A Christian must always tell the truth in all circumstances. Therefore, avoid the use of an oath to strengthen your assertions in ordinary conversation. To take an oath in court, when lawfully called to do so, is not the matter being considered in this Scripture. Christians fall into condemnation for not telling the truth, simply. There should be no need for the use of oaths in our daily speech. The Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain or misuses his tongue in other ways. Pray righteous prayers in your daily Christian living. James wanted us to understand the importance of prayer in the daily life of a Christian. Christians must be righteous people and when they are their prayers are powerful. Christians should pray in times of trouble. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13) The prayer of the righteous helps us to sing wonderful Psalms from a pure heart. Not only must Christians pray themselves, but they should ask other righteous people to pray for them also. (James 5:14-15) There is power in prayer. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) Elijah was a righteous man and his prayers stopped the rain. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:17-18) God answered the prayers of this righteous man, Elijah, and He will do the same for us if we will be righteous. Pray that the unfaithful can be restored. The most urgent thing for any person is to become a Christian. To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 2:38), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16). Sadly, many become Christian and then turn back to walk no more with the Lord. The epistle of James closes with an admonition to restore the erring. Pray fervent, righteous prayers for those who have turned away from the Lord. (James 5:19-20) Teaching, prayer, reproof, pleading and every sincere effort should be put forth to recover the wandering backslider from his damnation. We have a great responsibility to take care of our own soul. We also have responsibility to watch over the souls of our brethren. The book of James closes with no farewell greetings. He closed his epistle by talking about the power of the prayers of the righteous and the concern that we should have for the lost. Remember, To save anothers soul is the surest way to save your own soul. ----Charles Box News & Notes 1. Prayer List: In Need of Prayer: Floyd Atkins, Jordyn Bagents, Laura Bagents, LeRoy Boutwell, Camren Coleman, Bonnie Croley, Kay Davis, Evelyn Duke, Robin Falkenburg, Melissa Gunter, Richard Harrell, Jerry Holladay, Peggy Lassiter, Shelia McCullough, Eugene Morgan, Carson O’Connor, Alice Padgett, Bob & Ann Rainey, Clarence Ray, Linda Reynolds, Laura Rutherford (mother of Ashley Pierce), Dianne Salter, David Sessions, Larry Smith, David Stallings, Shirley Schofield, Alyssa Tucker, Leroy Waller, Barbara Woods, Wayne Young, and Janet Zalewski. Crowne Health Care: Roy Bender, Dorothy Buck, Jewel Cauthen, Gladys Childs, Arlene Coletrane, Ruth Davis, Betty Findley, Bessie Frazier, Davis & Ruth Hester, Kathy Johnson, Sarah Knight, and Annie Ruth Tetter. Pine Needle: Lydia Ann Raybon & Elizabeth Perdue. Luverne Health & Rehab: Wayne Stallings 2. Sympathy Expressed: Our sympathy and love is expressed to: (a) Lydia Ann Raybon and her family in the death of her sister-in-law, Annie Ruth Phillips, and (b) Trina Croley and her family in the death of her aunt, Helen Roberts. 3. Anniversary: Celebrating an anniversary this week: October 1st Ed and Sue Bagents and October 2nd Kenneth and Ann Smith. 4. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week: September 28th Dusty Bagents and Timothy Rowell, September 29th Rebecca Burnett, and September 30th Annie Ruth Tetter. 5. Thanks: Thanks to Darrell Powell and Jacob Till for the help they are giving at Crowne Health Care on Saturday. 6. Thank You: Thanks! Gifts of thoughtfulness and caring are kept forever in the memory of the heart. Finding words to thank you isn’t easy, but perhaps these heartfelt words will help to show your thoughtfulness will always be remembered with more gratitude than you could ever know. The Family of Mable Tindal 7. Ladies Bible Class: The Wednesday morning ladies Bible class meets at 10:00 a.m. The class is studying from Granville Tyler’s book “Old Testament Lessons Vol. 6”. All ladies are invited to participate in this class. 8. Challenge for Walnut Street Church: Challenge # 1 Each Walnut Street family is challenged to purchase a copy of “Muscle and a Shovel” each month and share it with someone. Challenge # 2: Each member of the Walnut Street Church of Christ is challenged to extend two serious invitations each week for people to attend our services. Challenge # 3: Each member of the Walnut Street Church of Christ is challenged to call two other Walnut Street families each week in order to spread love and encouragement. Challenge # 4: Each member of the Walnut Street Church of Christ is challenged to attend Bible class on Sunday morning and on Wednesday night. 9. Area Events: (a) October 3rd – Area Wide Singing – Georgia Road Church of Christ – Time: 7:00 p.m., (b) October 5th – 7th – Gospel Meeting – North Lowndes Church of Christ – Speaker: David Phillips – Time: Sunday Bible Study 9:00 a.m. and Worship 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. and weeknights 7:00, (c) October 5th-8th – Gospel Meeting – Luverne Church of Christ – Speakers: Jerry Cantrell, Andrew Crowe, Steve Foster, and George Merritt – Time: Sunday Bible Study 9:30 a.m. and Worship 10:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. and weeknights 7:00, (d) October 5th – 8th – Gospel Meeting – New Haven Church of Christ – Speaker Kenneth Burleson - Time: Sunday Bible Study 10:00 a.m. and Worship 11:00 am & 1:30 p.m. and weeknights 7:00, and (e) October 12th-15th – Gospel Meeting – Rock Hill Church of Christ – Speakers: Danny Rolling, George Merritt, Dean Kelly and Jimmy Mathews – Time: Sunday Bible Study 9:45 a.m. and Worship 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. and weeknights 7:00, (f) October 25th – Fall Party – Home of Jason & Ashley Holladay – Time 4:00 p.m., and (g) October 26th – 29th – Gospel Meeting – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Speaker: Jason Hilburn – Time: 7:00 each evening. Authentic Be authentic! Real, true, and bona-fide are a few synonyms for this word that is commonly spoken. But, finding examples of authenticity in our surroundings isnt quite so easy, especially when were looking for authentic people...or authentic Christians. Our Lord talked about those who are inwardly something different than they appear outwardly, calling them hypocrites. So, what is an authentic Christian. A true Christian is not one who never makes mistakes. If you feel that you may not be an authentic Christian because of your past, or because of current temptations that youre struggling with, listen to what God says: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8) And, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (I John 2:1) Walking in the light includes occasionally stumbling in sin. But we can depend on our Savior to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. An authentic Christian loves the light and has no reason to hide in darkness. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. (John 3:20) Mama always said, You show your true colors when no one is looking. Whats great about an authentic Christian is that whether they are home alone or in the auditorium of the church building, they are the same person. Perhaps the most beautiful part about a genuine, true Christian is that our dark deeds can be illuminated and then healed by the Light. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins... (I John 1:9) Gods grace makes hiding sin obsolete and detrimental. And, the body of Christ, His church, is meant to be a safe haven and an island of rest in the midst of a broken world. Therefore, were encouraged to confess our sins to one another. (James 5:16) We can be authentic, though full of flaws, and still be made pure in Gods sight. Are you hiding? Come to the Light and be free from darkness. ----Darrell Powell The value of consistent prayer is not that God will hear us, but that we will hear Him.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 21:11:48 +0000
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