VISION
When Epcot was finished in 1982, Walt Disney had already passed away. Disney executives asked WaltÕs wife to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. When she was called up to the podium, one of the executives said to her, ÒMrs. Disney, I wish Walt could have seen this.Ó
She replied, ÒHe did.Ó
He had a vision for what he wanted to see take place with Disney World. He had made plans years before as to what he wanted to happen.
What about us today when it comes to spiritual things? What is our vision for the church in this generation? We need to think about what we as individuals can do to make sure the church continues to exist in certain areas and that it is sound in the faith. It takes planning and vision. I was thinking about the momma bear and two cubs we saw last week in the mountains. One of the workers at the visitors center stated that they thought she was looking for a place to hibernate for the winter. She was planning ahead. We are just now approaching fall and she is already making plans for winter. Do we plan ahead? We may plan for physical things, but what about spiritual things?
The problem with planning and having a vision is that it takes work. Solomon stated long ago, ÒGo to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed manÓ (Proverbs 6:6-11). We can make a spiritual application to those words. We have to awake out of our sleep and get busy doing what we can to make the church grow, to have vision, to plan for the times that are ahead. The body working together as a unit (Ephesians 4:16). Do you have vision?
COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS
1 John 5:3 Ò For this is the love of
God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.Ó
I venture to say that there are
literally multitudes of people throughout this world who proclaim their love of
God. Those who truly love God do not think of his demands (commandments) as
being burdensome, harsh or difficult to obey. We must understand that it is a
vain effort for anyone to say they love God and then proceed to complain about
any of his commands as being grievous and thus walk this pathway in a way that
is contrary to GodÕs will.
It is imperative that we understand
that keeping the commands of God to the best of our ability is evidence of the
love we have for him. The commands of God found in the bible are many in
number. Which ones are we to keep?
Take notice in our text that John says Òthe love of God is to keep his commandmentsÓ. John did not
say, Òkeep someÓ or Òkeep a fewÓ or Òkeep those you like or agree withÓ. The
inference by John is that we keep ÒallÓ of GodÕs commands.
How dare anyone say they love God
and then refuse to obey him in all things. How dare anyone say they love God
and refuse to comply with his plan to save (Romans 10:17; Matt 7:24-25; Hebrews 11:6; John 20:30-31; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Matthew 10:32-33; Acts 8:37; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16: Revelation 2:10;
Matthew 10:22). How dare anyone
say they love God and then embrace and teach a way to be saved that does not
come from God. The sinners prayer, the mourners bench, faith only, just be a
good moral person, sprinkling or pouring for baptism, once saved always saved
are ways that come from man. They cannot be found in GodÕs word and are
therefore nowhere to be found in his commandments.
How dare anyone say they love God
then fail to be a worker in his kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:58; Titus 3:1; James
2:14-18). How dare anyone say they love God and not live lives of purity (1
John 2:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Matthew 5:8). How dare anyone say they love
God and then pervert his word by adding to it, taking away from it or
substituting for it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18;
Galatians 1:6-9).
The writer of Ecclesiastes sums it
all up for us when he says in Ecclesiastes 12:12 ÒFear God and keep his
commandments for this is the whole duty of man.Ó
--Bible Thought, Charles Hicks
Sept 18, 2011
SHORTCUTS
TURN OUT TO BE DISAPPOINTING
ÒThe blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with itÓ (Proverbs 10:22).
IF WE DO NOT KEEP A PROPER PERSPECTIVE ON OUR POSSESSIONS, THE TIME MAY COME WHEN THEY GIVE US MUCH GRIEF. However tempting it may be to set aside our spiritual priorities and go straight for the monetary rewards of Òlife under the sun,Ó we should resist that temptation. Shortcuts to destinations like ÒpleasureÓ and ÒfulfillmentÓ often turn out to be disappointing, and that is certainly the case with material wealth. Possessions gained at the expense of higher values have an uncanny way of turning against their owners and breaking their hearts.
We probably donÕt have as much control as weÕd like over the process through which wealth is acquired. But there is something else we donÕt have much control over, and that is the circumstances that will allow us to ENJOY our wealth once weÕve acquired it. We all know of individuals who have managed to acquire a fortune and then, perhaps through some serious family problem or other unexpected tragedy, have found that they were not in a position to derive any pleasure from the fruits of their labors. It is naive to think that we have enough control of our circumstances to keep the sweet taste of our possessions from turning bitter.
For this reason, Solomon spoke of the individual Òto whom God has given riches and wealth,Ó and added that it was also God who had Ògiven him the power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his laborÓ (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Both the ability to gain wealth and the freedom to enjoy it are Òthe gift of God,Ó and we should never allow ourselves to forget that fact. Even if God allows us, in the short term, to disregard Him and still gain great wealth, it is well within His power to surround us with circumstances that turn our joy into sorrow. John Jewell said it bluntly: ÒWhat God does not bless will waste and consume you. It will do you no good.Ó But let us be careful on this sensitive issue: even if our possessions have been gained with GodÕs blessing, IN NO CASE WHATSOEVER ARE WE TO ALLOW THEM TO DISPLACE OUR DESIRE FOR GOD HIMSELF. He is the one and only desire that will never disappoint us.
ÒIt is a mistake to love things that will inevitably decay, and to be annoyed when they doÓ (Guigo I).
Gary Henry Ð
WordPoints.com 09/10/11
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sept 18, 2011
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . ÉÉ Steve Anderson
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper
Scriptures Reading...Heb. 3:12-15 ..Addison H.
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
Harold Smith
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
LordÕs Supper-Preside:
Mitchell Brooks
Serve: Jimmy Smith, Ricky Kirby,
Brian Smith, Billy Halliburton
Closing Prayer.......................... Tim
Hommrich
GreeterÑ Billy & Karen
Halliburton
GreeterÑ Jimmy & Melanie
Smith
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ Righteousness
Is
PM SermonÑ But a Step between me and Death
WORSHIP---SUNDAY---6:00 PM
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .. ..Steve Anderson
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver,
Sr.
Scripture ReadingÉHeb.
3:16-19É Addison H.
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .
Robert Hackett
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . É . . . Kaleb Bush
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .. . . Larry Kemp
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:30 PM
AnnouncementÉ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . Roger Draper
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Jimmy Smith
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .. Mitchell Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .Billy Halliburton
Prepare Communion for
SEPTEMBER
Melanie Smith
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: Canned Meats
NURSING HOME:
Hoss West
Those on the sick list:
Donald Kittrell-cancer
Kathy HarvilleÑCarolyn
HalliburtonÕs sister
Richard & Kathy Hommrich
(TimÕs parents) Alzheimers
John William Leonard is doing
well following surgery.
SYMPATHY extended to the family of Mrs. Gearldine Kemp who
passed away Friday, Sept. 9th.
Graveside services were held Sunday, Sept. 11th.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 48
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Daily Bible Readers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,591.00
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 16-19. Fall Lectureship with Paul Sain.
Oct. 22nd. Hayride at Bush residence
Nov. 10-12 Singing
school with John Anderson
01
Lam. 1-3
02
Lam. 4-5; Ezek. 1-3
03
Ezek. 4-6
04
Ezek. 7-9
05
Ezek. 10-12
06
Ezek. 13-15
07
Ezek. 16-18
08
Ezek. 19-21
09
Ezek. 22-26
10
Ezek. 27-29
11
Ezek. 30-32
12
Ezek. 33-35
13
Ezek. 36-38
14
Ezek. 39-41
15
Ezek. 42-44
16
Ezek. 45-48
17
Dan. 1-3
18
Dan. 4-6
19
Dan. 7-9
20 Dan. 10-12
21
Hos. 1-4
22
Hos. 5-7
23
Hos. 8-12
24
Hos. 13-14
25
Joel 1-3;
26
Amos 1-4
27
Amos 5-7
28
Amos 8-9; Obed.1
29
Jonah 1-4
30 Micah 1-4