We discussed I Peter 4 in the young adult class this past Sunday. It is interesting to me to see how Peter taught that we should deal with the problem of suffering, especially suffering as a result of being a Christian. He tells the Christians to Òarm themselves.Ó When we see that word, we generally think of taking up physical weapons to defend ourselves. It is the same idea, but he qualifies it with the rest of the verse. ÒArm yourselves likewise with the same mind.Ó What mind is that? The same mind as Christ who suffered for us. You go back to I Peter 2:21 and you read, ÒFor even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:Ó We need to arm ourselves with the same attitude that Christ had. ÒWho, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (I Peter 2:23). We need to try to think and react as Christ would. Let this mind be in youÉ (Philippians 2:5).
When you decide you have had enough of living like the world and you make the decision to follow Christ, you may face some persecution, even in America. If and when people speak evil of you, do not give up. Peter would say that they need to be sober and watch in prayer, to have fervent charity among themselves and to use hospitality one to another without grudging. Think seriously about what you are doing, pray about it, should great love for one another and show concern for one another. We need to encourage one another and spend time with one another to help us when we are facing difficult situations.
Peter would go on to talk about suffering as a Christian. ÒIf ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are yeÓ (I Peter 4:14). You see an example of that in Acts 5:41. You should never be ashamed of suffering as a result of living the Christian life (I Peter 4:16). We need to use this opportunity to glorify God. When we have this attitude, we have committed the keeping of our souls to him in well doing (I Peter 4:19). If you have to suffer for wearing the name Christian, how will you react?
Repentance from a Positive Viewpoint
Repentance has been called Òthe hardest command;Ó yet, what wonderful blessings attend the command, ÒRepentÓ (Acts 2:38). Yes, and what notable sources we have to motivate us to repent (Rom. 2:4). Jesus had difficulty getting people to repent (Matt. 11:20-22). It is not hard to get a man to believe; in fact, it is far more difficult to overthrow the testimony and evidence that produces faith. It is not hard to get a genuine penitent to consent to baptism. But, repentance is different. Noah could not get the antediluvians to repent (2 Pet. 2:5). Jeremiah largely failed in pleading for Israel to repent. John the Baptist preached repentance to Herod, but Herod did not repent (Matt. 14:3-12). Repentance is the most difficult command in the Bible because it strikes at the very taproot of our troubles Ñ pride. It is hard for a man to say, ÒIÕve sinned;Ó and, this is involved in repentance. Now, in more detail, and from a positive viewpoint, what is repentance?
I. Repentance is the making up
of oneÕs mind to cease doing evil and to do good, to stop serving Satan and to
begin serving God, to do an about face, to stop going in the wrong direction
and turn again and start going in the right direction.
Thayer in his monumental lexicon defines the word as, Òto change oneÕs mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of oneÕs past sins.Ó Matthew 12:41 states that the Ninevites repented; and, Jonah 3:10 says, ÒThey turned from their evil way.Ó Therefore, repentance is turning from evil. In Matthew 21:29 we read of one who said he would not go, but afterwards became regretful and went. Therefore, repentance is a change of mind, prompted by godly sorrow, resulting in a change of life. Impenitence is say, ÒNoÓ to God. The prodigal (Luke 15:11-24) repented, and, in so doing, he made an about face, turned again, and went home. In 1 Kings 8:47-49 we read that when the people would repent, they would return unto the Lord with all of their heart and with all of their soul. Therefore, repentance is turning again. In Ezekiel 18:30-32 GodÕs people were called upon to Òrepent and turn yourselves.Ó In so doing, they would cast away their transgressions and make themselves a new heart and a new spirit. This is repentance. Marshall Keeble used to tell of a little dog snapping at his heels. He said he tapped him on his head with his walking cane and Òhe repented;Ó that is, the dog turned and went in the opposite direction. From these observations we can see why repentance and turning are so often mentioned together in the LordÕs word (Acts 26:20; Ezek. 14:6; 18:30). Too, we can understand why Hebrews 6:1 speaks of Òrepentance from dead works.Ó
II. Repentance is a privilege granted
from the Lord after one believes.
ÒHim did God exalt...to give repentance to IsraelÓ (Acts 5:31). ÒThen hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto lifeÓ (Acts 11:18). (See also 2 Pet. 3:9 and Rev. 2:21). When God shut the door of paradise he opened the door of repentance. Now, as far as we know, God never granted Òrepentance unto lifeÓ to the fallen angels. It appears that when they sinned they were lost forever (2 Pet. 2:4). Thank God for the blessing of repentance! Indeed, repentance is a privilege granted from the Lord to each of us.
III.
A brief study of the original words translated Òrepentance.Ó
In the New Testament when the word ÒrepentÓ is used as a command to an alien sinner (Luke 14:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19) which he must obey to obtain forgiveness of sins, it always conveys the thought of a change of mind resulting in a change of life, preceded by a sorrow for the past. In such cases it is always a translation of the Greek word metanoeo. When the word ÒrepentÓ is used to indicate sorrow or regret it is a translation of the word metamelomai, a different word. By a reading of 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (KJV) the difference in these words can be seen: ÒFor though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent [metamelomai, regret], though I did repent [metamelomen, regret]: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance [metanoian, reformation]: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance [metanoian, reformation] to salvation not to be repented [metameleton, regretted] of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.Ó
IV. Deductions:
It can be readily seen that repentance relates itself to the mind, the will of man. Yes, it involves the getting of a new mind (Phil. 2:5). And, since the mind controls the actions (Prov. 4:23; 23:7), one can readily see how important repentance really is! In fact, when one genuinely repents, the battle is 90 percent over! Yes, and when one genuinely repents, he does not (1) try to rationalize himself out of sin by saying, ÒItÕs not so bad,Ó nor (2) does he offer God an apology for his sin by saying, ÒItÕs not my fault,Ó nor (3) does he blame someone for his sin by saying, ÒIf it had not been for him.Ó Have you genuinely repented?
--Wendell Winkler, Gospel Advocate, Dec. 12, 1974.
WHAT KIND OF TREE
Once
upon a time there was a tree. This
tree was very proud of the fact that she was an orange tee. Every time that someone walked by she
would say, ÒI am an Orange Tree! I know that I am an Orange Tree because I have
the heart of an orange tree.Ó She even told all of the other trees around her
that she was an orange tree.
Spring
came and she had blossoms and she said, ÒLook at my orange blossoms!Ó Other
trees around her were a little concerned about the blossoms (which did not look
like orange blossoms to them) but, they said, that if she believed in her heart
that she was an orange tree, then she must be an orange tree.
When
the blossoms became fruit, they were lemons. But the tree kept saying, ÒI am an
Orange Tree, because I feel in my heart that I am an orange tree!Ó What kind of
tree was she?
According
to Matthew 7:20, we will be know by the fruit that we bear, not by what we say
that we are. What kind of fruit trees are we?
--Submitted
by Sherry Jo Anderson
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Apr 18, 2010
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glen Reece
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Halliburton
Scriptures Reading..ICor.16:1-4ÉAddison Halliburton
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Harville
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
LordÕs Supper-Preside:
Mitchell Brooks
Serve: Jimmy Smith, Ricky Kirby
Brian
Smith, Roger Draper
Closing Prayer.......................... Tim
Hommrich
GreeterÑ Billy & Karen
Halliburton
GreeterÑ Jimmy & Melanie
Smith
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ Essentiality of
Baptism
PM SermonÑ Keeping On (Prov. 10:4)
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Billy Halliburton
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Scripture Reading..I
Cor.16:5-8. Addison Halliburton
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
.Robert Hackett
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Larry
Kemp
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
AnnouncementÉ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Billy Halliburton
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . Kaleb Bush
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. Ricky Kirby
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . ..Mitchell Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. Roger Draper
Prepare Communion for April
Diana & Janie
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: Ketchup
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,
Those on the sick list:
Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou
GehrigÕs disease
Hoss West
Vaughn
Allen
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 97
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 48
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
$2708.00
Several events going on in month of April.
Our meal and bowling in Cookeville is April 23rd. Eat at Golden Corral beginning at 5:30 PM.
Senior Night is April 25th. (Cole Bush)
There will be a Baby Tea Sunday April 25th from 2-4 PM for Kayla Harville at Candace RichmondÕs home on Turkey Creek. She is having a boy (Turner).
It was good to see PFC Cody Anderson yesterday
01 I Kings 4-8
02 I Kings 9-11
03 I Kings 12-14
04 I Kings 15-17
05 I Kings 18-20
06 I Kings 21-22; II Kings 1
07 II Kings 2-5
08 II Kings 6-9
09 II Kings 10-12
10 II Kings 13-15
11 II Kgs 16-18
12 II Kgs 19-21
13 II Kgs 22-24
14 II Kgs 25; I Chr 1-2
15 I Chr 3-8
16 I Chr 11-13
17 I Chr 14-16
18 I Chr 17-19
20 I Chr 20-22
21 I Chr 23-25
22 I Chr 26-29
23 II Chr 1-4
24 II Chr 5-7
25 II Chr 8-10
26 II Chr 11-13
27 II Chr 14-17
28 II Chr 18-20
29 II Chr 21-24
30 II Chr 25-27