WEARY YET PURSUING

We studied on Sunday night about Gideon and his army of 300 men as they pursued the army of the Midianites with their 10,000 men. They had the Midianite army on the run and they were continuing to pursue them. When they came to the Jordon River and crossed over, Gideon made the remark that they were “weary, yet pursuing.” (Judges 8:4). They were exhausted yet still in pursuit. They ask for some food and were denied by the leaders of Succoth and of Penuel. Gideon would deal with them later. I pointed out some remarks about their continuing to pursue that I gathered from a sermon outline from Winfred Clark.

There were small in number, yet pursing. If you are familiar with this account, you know the odds were not very good for Gideon, except for one thing. God was with him and God had told him to reduce his army to that number. Even now as 300 pursued 10,000, he still had God on his side. It is still difficult sometimes for us to maintain our faith when we are few in number and the enemy is great in number. Whether it is a small congregation trying to do the Lord’s will or a young person in school, it is sometime difficult. Gideon teaches us that we can remain faithful. We can continue on in pursuing that goal of eternal life.

There were weary, yet pursing. They were tired and hungry. One translation has, “exhausted but still in pursuit.” (NKJV). From the physical standpoint, they are worn out. From the spiritual standpoint, they are going to continue on because they are doing what God wants them to do. Reminds me of the statement in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” It does not mean that one never becomes tired in doing the right thing. It does mean that one is not to become so tired of doing the right thing that they cease to do it. You don’t give up because you are tired. Even when strength is exhausted, there must be the resolution to persevere. In sporting events you will see a player slap his chest or tap his head to indicate he needs to come out. There are no substitutes for us in this spiritual race. There are no time outs! This is a great lesson for parents as you try to teach your children to do the right thing.

They had little help, yet pursued. The people of Succoth and Pinuel refused to help them. They continued on regardless. They are folks today who want to avoid conflict and so they go with the flow or what is popular. We must still do God’s will whether we have help or not. Small, weary, little help, yet pursuing. Never, never, never give up!

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GENTLENESS

The epitome of gentleness is a loving mother, holding and nursing her newborn baby. With cooing baby talk, she lovingly caresses, inspects and cuddles the infant close to her breast.

The apostle Paul used that analogy to describe his attitude and concern for new converts in Thessalonica: “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thes. 2:7 ESV). Although Paul more frequently used analogies about fathers to describe himself and his “children,” the unusual use of this analogy about mothers provides stronger emphasis for his gentleness.

In Correction

Because care and nurture are normally associated with mothers while discipline and admonishment are thought to be more characteristic of fathers, it is notable that in the same chapter of 1 Thessalonians Paul said: “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (2:11-12). However, charging, exhorting and correcting are to be done with gentleness.

Virtually every passage that requires responding to or correcting those in error emphasizes the gentle attitude in which it should be done. “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Pet. 3:15-16).

In no way do these passages say not to correct others. Rather, they direct the proper attitude in which correction should be done. Gentleness makes the correction more likely to be received and also keeps the corrector from lapsing into sinful strife.

Bon Ami was a popular kitchen and bathroom cleanser decades ago. Its commercials pictured a 260-plus pound, burly wrestler-type with a 5 o’clock shadow and tattoos— exactly the kind of guy you would not want to meet at night in a dark alley—gentle cuddling a newborn baby to his chest. The caption said, “tough but gentle.” That is how we need to be in our teaching and admonishing. Being gentle has to do with demeanor, tone of voice, and choice of words. It involves including some compliments with whatever correctives are needed.

In the Church

We are familiar with the fact that 1 Timothy contains the qualifications of elders. An elder is to be “not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome” (1 Tim. 3:3). The contrast of gentleness versus violence and quarreling helps round out the picture of what it means to be gentle.

Although every Christian is a servant (doulos or “slave”) of the Lord as described in Romans 6, there seems to be another sense, dating back to God’s use of the phrase “my servants the prophets” in the Old Testament, in which a servant of the Lord or “the Lord’s servant” (2 Tim. 2:24) is often a term used for a preacher or proclaimer of God’s Word. Based on that, we may say 2 Timothy contains the qualifications of preachers. Timothy was told, “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness” (2:23-25).

Both elders and preachers are to manifest the quality of gentleness, as should every Christian, for gentleness

is a fruit of the Spirit along with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. . .[and] self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

In Wisdom

There is an important connection between true wisdom and gentleness. “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Jas. 3:13- 18).

Along with gentleness, a host of similar characteristics expressed both positively and negatively are manifested by anyone who possesses divine wisdom. However intelligent and well-educated someone may be, when his demeanor is argumentative, seeking strife, and characterized by pride and envy, then—if he is in any sense wise—his wisdom is of the earthly, unspiritual and even demonic sort. In a typical movie scene, a seriously wounded man is being let down the side of a steep cliff with ropes tied to a stretcher. The colonel in charge keeps saying, “Gently, gently!” Wounded men must be handled gently. So, too, must the spiritually wounded.

--(from The Gospel Advocate, July 2011) … Cecil May, Jr., The Forest Hill News, 09/11/11

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DISCIPLESHIP AND SELF-DENIAL

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’” (Matthew 16:24).

SELF-DENIAL IS A DIFFICULT DISCIPLINE, TO BE SURE, BUT IT IS ONE OF LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT VIRTUES. If we wish to become “disciples” in any serious sense, then we must learn to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Christ.

One reason that we find self-denial so difficult is that it goes against the grain of our culture. The social environment in which we live is increasingly dominated by self-affirmation rather than self-denial. This ethic comes through loud and clear in the lyrics of our popular music. For example, a hit by one of the most powerful pop stars of the past decade tells us, “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.” Another song, this one even by an artist known for his spirituality, says, “You’ve got to do it in your own way.”

What is wrong with this philosophy? It is certainly true that when tough personal decisions have to be made, we have to have the courage to act on our own convictions. When we’ve analyzed a decision from every angle and considered the advice of others, the time comes when we have to make up our own minds. Integrity requires that we do what we believe is right, even if this conflicts with the collective judgment of everybody we know.

But the philosophy of self-affirmation advocates far more than the simple following of conscience. Instead, when we’re told that “you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” it’s understood that what we’ve “got to do” is whatever we WANT to do. One of the scariest statements I have ever heard illustrates this ethic. The remark came from an up-to-date friend who said with evident satisfaction, “It feels so good at this point in my life finally to have the courage to do what I WANT to do and not what anybody else says I OUGHT to do.” In our culture, “want” trumps “ought” every time.

As “self-actualized” people, then, it is hard for us to learn self-denial. We do not find it easy to yield to God when what we want is on a collision course with His standards of what is right. Yet self-denial is what we must learn. Somehow we must recover the old-fashioned virtue of SACRIFICE — the willingness to let go of everything except that which most greatly glorifies God.

“We tend to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which allow us more spiritual freedom than total surrender to Him would allow” (Oswald Chambers).--Gary Henry – WordPoints.com 12/04/11

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MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dec 11, 2011

THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE

WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00 AM

Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Clay

Scripture Reading... Heb.7:1-4. . Austin Clay

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith

Opening Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Jr.

Lord’s Supper-Preside: Roger Draper

Serve: Steve Anderson, Ted Russell,

Mitchell Brooks, Zach Cole

Closing Prayer.............................. Harold Smith

Greeter— Steve & Maria Anderson

Greeter— Roger & Cynthia Draper

Count Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush

AM Sermon— Confession

PM Sermon— Morality

WORSHIP---SUNDAY---6:00 PM

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . George Clay

Song Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith

Scripture Reading.. Heb. 7:5-7.. Austin Clay

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks

Lord’s Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Robert Hackett

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Addison Halliburton

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craig Anderson

BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Clay

Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece

First Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacky Carver Sr.

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Larry Kemp

Prepare Communion for November

Vicki & Dianna

Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement.

We are asking each family to bring items for the pantry to be used for needs in the community as they arise: Items for week: CEREAL

MONTROSE BULLETIN BOARD

NURSING HOME: Hoss West,

Those on the sick list:

Kathy Harville—Carolyn Halliburton’s sister

Richard & Kathy Hommrich (Tim’s parents) Alzheimers NHC Nashville

Billy Joe Clay—St.Thomas Hospital

Tim Hommrich—hip replacement surgery Wednesday

Renee Halliburton—surgery Wednesday.

Randy Maberry—undergoing treatments.

Sawyer Cole – doing well.

OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 12/04/11

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,876.00

Upcoming Events

Bible Bowl - Dec. 11^th. at Highland Heights 2:00 PM

We will prepare Christmas baskets on Dec. 14^th.

Dec. 15^th is our Budget Meeting

Dec. 31^st. is our get together at the Barn.

Please continue to bring items for the pantry. We will be giving away much of what we have this month.

BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR DEC.

01 Gal 6; Eph 1,2

02 Eph. 3-6

03 Phil. 1-4

04 Col. 1-4

05 I Thess 1-2

06 I Thess 3-5

07 II Thess 1-3

08 I Tim. 1-3

09 I Tim. 4-6

10 II Tim. 1-4

11 Titus 1-3; Phile. 1

12 Heb. 1-3

13 Heb. 4-6

14 Heb. 7-9

15 Heb. 10-1

16 Jam. 1-5

17 I Pet. 1-2

18 I Pet. 3-5

19 II Pet. 1-3

20 I John 1-3

21 I John 4-5;

22 II John 1, III John. 1; Jude 1

23 Rev. 1-3

24 Rev. 4-6

25 Rev. 7-9

26 Rev. 10-12

27 Rev 13-15

28 Rev 16-18

29 Rev 19-21

30 Rev 22

31 Pray