Volume  III    Issue   LI   October 26th, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    Sometimes we as human beings feel that we have all of the answers to every question ever asked.  This is a dangerous way of thinking.  It is in those times that we will fall (II Corinthians 10:12).  One quality that we as human beings do not have is the quality of knowing all the right answers and following them all the time.  As a matter of a fact, when man is made to make up his own conclusions it often turns disastrous (Genesis 6:1-7 and Genesis 11:1-9).  We as human beings need to accept the fact that we cannot guide ourselves in the right direction without God’s help.  (Proverbs 14:12) “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  If anyone will find hope in God through Jesus Christ they will have to stop looking in the wrong places.

    Today people look at what God says as just suggestions.  They fail to realize that they will be held accountable for those things (John 12:48 and II Corinthians 5:10).  Adam was clearly instructed from God on a matter that later he does not follow: (Genesis 2:16-17) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”  In the very next chapter of the Bible we find out that Eve enters into a discussion with the wicked one.  The wicked one adds one word and a spin on top of that to get Eve to desire the forbidden fruit: (Genesis 3:4-5) “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

    Because Eve was deceived and Adam followed her, death entered into the world (I Corinthians 15:1-22).  You can see that Eve looked to the wrong place for advice.  Many people do that today.

    So many times when someone has a spiritual question they look to someone who proclaims to be a preacher.  That is good and bad at the same time.  The Bible teaches that there are many false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20).  When going to a preacher a person must realize that what they say may not be right.  One should always request that whatever a man says be backed-up with scriptures (I Peter 4:11).  This example was laid forth by Jesus’ answers to Satan wherein we three times find Him saying “it is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7; 10).

    A good Biblical example of getting bad advice from a man who preaches the word of God is found in an account involving David.  David desired to build God a house of cedar.  Nathan, a prophet of God, gave David permission.  The problem with that is Nathan did not have authority from God to grant that permission.  God handled the situation by saying: (II Samuel 7:7) “In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?”  God’s plan was for Solomon to build a temple, not David (II Samuel 7:12-13 cf. I Kings 6:1ff.).

    Sometimes a preacher might lie.  This is a trait that appears in many false teachers (II Peter 2:1-3).  The account of the young and old prophet illustrates what can happen when a “man of God” lies and claims that God gave authority for something.  The one who believed the lie (young prophet) was consumed by a lion for following the word of men over the word of God (I Kings 13:1ff).  We must look for hope in the right places.

    The right place to find that truth is the word of God, because the word of God is truth (John 17:17).  Do not believe someone who says you cannot understand the truth.  Jesus made a promise that you could: (John 8:32) “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  We may feel that someone would never lead us down the wrong path, but they can.  It may not be out of deceit.  Maybe someone we may ask a spiritual question to just doesn’t understand the truth on the matter themselves.

    The church of Christ is to be the pillar [support] and ground [foundation] of the truth (I Timothy 3:15).  That does not mean there are not counterfeits, for there are.  You can know for sure that any religious body that was formed by men does not follow the New Testament pattern.  Jesus came and promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), not the many that exist today.  We must examine today’s religious bodies and religious teachers (I John 4:1).  Jesus made it clear in the “Parable of the Sower” that a good and honest heart was needed for the word of God to take root and bear fruit (Luke 8:5-15).  What kind of heart do you have?

    If you looked for the answer to the question “what must I do to be saved” and you heard the answer from the word of God, would you do so?  The people present on the Day of Pentecost asked that question.  They had heard the word of God, it pricked their hearts as they believed it, and Peter answered them like this: (Acts 2:38) “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  In verse forty we find that they were taught more before confessing Christ and being baptized in verse forty-one.  Would you come today and allow us to teach you that you too may be saved?

Personal note from Brian:

Brethren,

Three years ago today I preached my first of many sermons as the local evangelist laboring with you brethren.  I stand amazed at the spiritual growth of everyone here.  It is great to be part of a balanced group of militant brethren who have not lost their love one for another and for those whom we are trying to save with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Not many Gospel preachers today have the luxury of being able to preach the whole counsel of God boldly and clearly without conflict, as I enjoy here.  While it should be expected of brethren to accept the truth without compromise, you brethren are truly a rare find.  For this, I thank you.

We will be losing some brethren as they move to new locations.  This year may also bring new faces if the providence of God so supplies us with opportunities of growth.  You brethren are near and dear to my heart, and are the closest family I ever have known.  Please continue to keep strong in the faith while running the spiritual course that is before you.

All I have to offer to you is the pouring of my heart and soul into the work of a Gospel preacher.  I am thankful that this is all you expect.  Let us all continue to grow together in being the light we are in the community of Butler and Western Pennsylvania while remembering how far we have come in our labors together.

- Brian A. Yeager
 
 

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – George Papp
Assisting – Bill Graham and Young Jay
First Prayer – Jay Wagner
Closing Prayer – Steve Burgoon

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Joan Croyle, Tony Sassano, Julie Rado (cancer), and Marie Glunt (cancer).

Thank you - to those of you who helped in any way for the success of our Gospel Meeting with Wayne Goforth.
 
 
 
 

                       MOVING... 

 The Papp’s will be moving next month and the Lockwood’s will be moving the first of next year.  These fine Christians will be greatly missed, but they know they will always have a family in Butler to visit