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:
(I Corinthians 10:31 and I Peter 4:11)
Understanding is defined by Webster as:
“To grasp the meaning of <understand Russian> b : to grasp the reasonableness of <his behavior is hard to understand> c : to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of <understand finance> d : to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of <understands children>.”The Bible teaches us that understanding is very important. As a matter of fact it is essential for us to be spiritually alive. Proverbs 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” This proverb teaches us that once someone leaves the path of understanding they are among the spiritually dead, and it also shows us that once one has left the path of understanding they remain among the spiritually dead. The word of God is a map that leads us through the path of life (Psalms 119:105). It teaches us the things we need to know to accomplish a life in the flesh that will produce for us a life in Heaven with God (II Peter 1:2-4). When we obtain that knowledge and understand it, we must keep it. We must not allow anyone or anything to rob us of our path of understanding.
Keeping the Faith
Whenever someone obtains something they have two choices. They can obtain it and then let it go, or they can choose to keep it. Faith is something that we obtain from the word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith is defined in the Bible as: Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Once someone has faith in God there are many things that will challenge that faith (I Peter 1:6-7). Faith and understanding work together. When one hears the word of God they must understand it (Matthew 13:19). Once you have that faith and understanding it surely is something to hold on to. The ultimate goal of the devil is to get each one that is saved from the wrath to come to rejoin him in the kingdom of darkness (cf. Genesis 3:1ff). Our goal is to be watchful of Satan who is our adversary (I Peter 5:8). In our fight and race we must keep the faith so that we too can share in the reward that Paul told Timothy about (II Timothy 4:6-8). The reward is worth the fight!
Conclusion
When a little child wonders away from his or hers parents the child feels frightened once they realize they have left the safety of the parents. We as Christians should be fearful when we start to veer from the path of understanding & faith. When we as Christians begin to allow our adversary to get a hold on us we must take out our tool of defense and use a “thus saith the Lord” to restore our own faith and to defeat our adversary (Ephesians 6:17, Matthew 4:1-11, and James 4:7). God told us that our faith would be our shield (Ephesians 6:16). Is your shield of faith up? Have you allowed the path of understanding to be something in your distant memory? All Christians should be doing constant spiritual self-examinations to be sure that we are “in the faith” (II Corinthians 13:5).
Quick
NotesThose Serving Today:
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – Jay Wagner
Assisting – George Papp and Brian
Yeager
First Prayer – Steve Burgoon
Closing Prayer – Bill Graham
Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Desiree’ Crist, Joan Croyle, and Goldie
Buterbaugh (Carol’s mom).
Ladies Class:
September 22nd – see Kim L. for more
details.