The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
April 3, 2005
In
This Issue:
Gospel
Meetings
by
Gilbert Alexander
The
Healing of Ephaphroditus
by
Steve Klein
Pointed
Perceptions
by
Perry Hurst
Gospel Meetings
Gospel lessons are often presented in a series of studies called gospel meetings. The purpose of such studies is to make available, to all who will attend, an opportunity to hear God's word taught. Lessons range from basic teaching about God, His word, the difference between the Old and New Testaments, Christ's death on the cross for the sins of mankind, how to become a Christian, love, faith, and hope, to teaching that further instructs people on such subjects as God's eternal purpose, the church of the Lord and its work, all relationships of Christians, daily application of Bible teaching to life's experiences, the importance of marriage and family, and true worship. This is by no means an exhaustive list of Bible subjects taught in gospel meetings.
In view of what is taught in gospel meetings, why would anyone think that such occasions of study are just for the benefit of preachers? What is your attitude toward such opportunities for study? Do you know that there were times when the Lord's people met daily for some length of time in order to take advantage of an opportunity to study God's truth? Note Acts 2:42-47; 5:42; 10:48; 19:9.
How do you react when you are invited to attend a series of studies of God's word? David said, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Ps. 122:1). We have much more than David had. Are gospel meetings a burden to you or a blessing? Or do you just ignore them? Have we reached such a high plane of knowledge that we do not need to hear lessons such as the ones listed on the preceding page? Is our memory so keen that we do not need to be reminded of fundamental truth that is preached so clearly in gospel meetings?
Can we sing from the heart, "O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day"? During this time of year especially, there is great opportunity to enrich our faith and knowledge, to worship God and study with His saints His will through the many series of lessons made available to us in gospel meetings. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15).
-- Gilbert Alexander
Via The Admonisher, Jackson Drive church of Christ, Athens, AL
This article originally appeared in the April 25, 2003 issue of
The News-Courier
The New Testament tells of many miraculous healings performed by Jesus and His apostles. Blind men were given sight, lame men walked and lepers were cleansed. These recorded events reveal to us the power of God and the truth of His word as spoken by those who worked the miracles (Hebrews 2:3-4).
The healing of Epaphroditus is different. Epaphroditus was a member of the church at Philippi whom they sent to minister to the needs of the apostle Paul. Paul regarded him as a "brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier." Yet, while in Paul's company, Epaphroditus fell seriously ill. In Philippians 2:27, Paul writes to the Philippians that, "indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow."
We are not told exactly how Epaphroditus was healed, other than that "God had mercy on him." There is no indication of miraculous healing, even though the apostle Paul was present and had been given the power to perform such miracles. On other occasions, "God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick and the diseases left them . . ." (Acts 19:11-12). Yet it seems that Paul did not use this power just to help a friend and brother on this occasion. Note that Paul was concerned that Epaphroditus might not recover; surely that would not have been the case had Paul healed him miraculously. On another occasion, another friend and co-worker of Paul's was not healed in such a timely way. In 2 Timothy 4:20 Paul mentions having to leave "Trophimus in Miletus sick."
There are a couple of vital lessons to learn from the healing of Epaphroditus and the non-healing of Trophimus. The first is that, even in the age of miracles, God did not guarantee miraculous healing to all of His people. Miracles were reserved for confirming God's word. No matter how worthy and faithful saints may have been in New Testament times, they did not expect and did not receive miraculous healing every time they got sick. This fact escapes the notice of most modern Pentecostals and Charismatics. The second lesson is that even though a person may not be healed miraculously, he is still healed by God. It was God who "had mercy" on Epaphroditus. The God, who created the human body along with the elements and biological forces that sustain it, can and does grant healing to men through natural means.
When we receive healing from God through natural means, let us always remember to thank Him -- to say with the Psalmist, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:2-3). And when healing is not granted, let us say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).
-- By Steve Klein
The Psalmist said, "This is the day which the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps. 118:24). This passage causes us to reflect upon an attitude that we ought to have each day of our lives! But how can that be? How can we have such a positive feeling of joy each day? We have trials, sorrows, temptations, heartaches, pains, disappointments, needs, etc. Joy in the midst of all these struggles? Some may think it to be impossible, yet we find the key to such a positive outlook in I Cor. 4:17-18. Please read it, reflect upon its truth, then rejoice and be happy!
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Cor. 4:17-28).
"Heaven Holds All To Me!"
- Perry Hurst
Via The Golden Springs Speaker,
Golden Springs church of Christ, Anniston, AL, Sept. 12. 1993