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A Christian’s Voice – May 8, 2005

A Christian’s Voice From Van Buren: Man uses his voice and pen to convey thoughts. Paul mentions using words that by his voice he might “teach others” (1 Cor. 14:19). John says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17). My aim is to challenge, inform, and invite – us all to Listen to the VOICE of God. Editor Bill Sexton. 802 Adeline Lane, Van Buren, AR 72956-3530. Phone 479-474-2617. Car phone: 479-650-8399>>> I Have Voice Mail, call me and I can pick it up

Volume 7 May 8, 2005 Number 25



This Week’s Challenges

We are practicing: Memory, Meditation, and Application

1. Memorize: (Ezra 3:6)

2. Mediation: See how the people who returned after 70 years of captivity to restore the worship, but the foundation of the temple what not the first order of business.

3. Application: If we are trying to restore the worship, God’s plan as He revealed it, we have to start and work according to the plan revealed in the New Testament, today!

Comment from another brother in India,

My Dearly Beloved Brother in Christ Bill Sexton,

Thank you for your continually messages through the CHRISTIAN VOICE. These are very useful to us to use these sermons among the people who are attending to worship in our Local Congregations and open meetings also. I have been preparing these lessons in to Telugu Language and will distribute to all of our brethren by Xerox papers.

I appreciate our brethren who commenting to this Edition. And we are praying for you and your health that may God our almighty will use you in His work as a Powerful Vessel. Closing with Love.

Yours Fellow Laborer in His Service

G.Ambedkar,India

Editor’s Comment: How wonderful to have brethren around the world that we can communicate so freely with today, and learn of their success in reaching others with the gospel.

Sayings: “Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? “Success formula: “To get things accomplished, plan your work and then work your plan.”
Christian Parent Arrested After Being Denied Say-So in Son’s Education Jody Brown, Agape Press
A Massachusetts group battling judicial activism and the advancing homosexual agenda in their state is reporting that the father of a kindergarten student was arrested on Wednesday during a scheduled meeting with the principal of his son’s school. The father of the six-year-old had been attempting to get his son opted-out from discussions portraying homosexuality as acceptable. David Parker and his wife Tonia had been in contact with the school principal regarding material brought home by their son. The “Diversity Book Bag” included a book titled who’s in a Family, which portrays same-sex parent families as morally equivalent to traditional families. The Parkers attempted to make it clear they wanted their son removed from the classroom any time discussions or displays dealt with homosexuality — and they sought a commitment from the principal that their desires would be accommodated. “You are not permitted to infringe upon our religious beliefs and parental rights or obviate our freedom of choice, to exclude our son from material that would expose him to beliefs contrary to the Word of God in our Christian faith,” the Parkers wrote in an e-mail to the principal. During a meeting with the principal Wednesday, April 27, Mr. Parker reiterated his requests and they were reportedly denied by the principal, the director of education, and the superintendent. Parker refused to leave the school unless his requests were granted and school officials had Parker arrested for trespassing

Today’s Schedule of Yours truly: 10:00 AM at Waveland Church of Christ, Philippians chapter 4; 11:00 AM Sermon: Formula For Success-Choose Right Grandmother (1 Tim. 1:3-5;.6:00 PM, attend evening service. at Access Road in Van Buren.


MOTHERS….!! Do We HONOR THEM???



II Timothy 1:5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

Paul, the aged apostle, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote to Timothy, a young man, relative to his background. Paul was appreciative of the influence that Timothy’s mother and grandmother had had in contributing to his present state of faithfulness to God.

Timothy, would then naturally, be required to show respect and be appreciative of his mother. That is true of us today: Mothers and Grandmothers!

This year May 8th, is designated as “MOTHER’S DAY.” This indicates that society, also, recognizes that mothers contribute to the stability and ongoing well being of the social groups, as well as to the individuals in our communities. At least people of the past though this and thus designated it as such.

We would emphasize the need for each individual to see the contribution that his/her mother has made to their well being. We recognize that mothers are human beings, and thus make mistakes at times, but they are usually doing what they are doing for the “good” of the child, as they perceive it to be. Although the results may be far from what is actually good for the child, because mothers are usually more lenient than any one else in the child’s life, they work to that end. Yet, the mother who really loves the child and understands the development of character, will discipline the child for his/her good, knowing that each child needs discipline. Yet, the discipline may indeed be painful for the parent, too.

The child that does not receive the proper kind and amount of discipline early in his/her life is really getting cheated, because there is no child but that needs discipline. There are different kinds of discipline to be sure; however, each child needs to be restrained at time from doing what he/she wants to do. Also, each child needs to be made to do some things that he or she would not do otherwise.

The child that does not learn to appreciate and show respect for his/her mother is in for a life of misery, shame, and heartache for self and bring a lot of hurt to others, also. One who does not learn to respect mother will NOT respect any one else, either. That kind of person is destined to suffer pain in life. Let each of us look back and see how our mothers directed us, and conditioned us to survive in the present world. Aren’t we glad they were there for us!

Each person needs to acknowledge early in life, that he/she cannot always have his/her own way. Other people’s concerns are to be reckoned with. That means we cannot always do what we want to do; nor can we always keep from doing things that we rather not have to do!

The child that does not learn early in life to respect his/her mother shall have trouble in this life and also shall miss heaven, that eternal bliss that is available to the soul.

Mothers should recognize the need and make the effort to contribute to the faith of their child. That is, point to the evidences of God, show the scrip‑ tures which affirm the nature of Christ and proclaim the teachings that have been brought about by the grace of God; Point to the productive lives of godly people. They need to learn early in life what God would have them do. Among the things that God would have us know is that respect for parents is basic in developing character! Hear Paul: Show them your daily Bible reading habit, help them to develop the desire to read, perhaps memorize passages.

Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Immediately after instructing the children, he points to the responsibility of parents: Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! What a privilege, responsibility–William C. “Bill” Sexton


Scriptural meanings of “Law” and “works”

–Some misunderstandings of such!


I’ve heard a lot of people in times past try to argue that law is NOT a principle that one has to obey in this gospel age. Neither is Works involved in salvation. To many, Grace and Faith nullifies any (all kinds of) law keeping. Now lately I read of a number of brethren having trouble with these two concepts. Beloved this is a serious issue, and we need to know what the New Testament teaches on this. We need,to believe and accept it,! And we need to act according to the New Testament teachings in this regard, as well as in ALL matters.

Let us recognize there are different references (meanings) of Law: There is the Law of Moses, which was to last till the gospel age came (Gal. 3:18-25), when one would be under the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2). Likewise, there are different types of works: works devised by men, works that are aimed at meriting salvation,. There are works of obedience required by those who obey the gospel to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (Jn.6:29 ). So let us look at these categories one at a time.

1. There is the law of Christ so clearly stated in two New Testament passages: “21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.” (1 Cor. 9:21) “2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

2. One has to lay aside that which hinders one receiving the word of truth which is able to save one’s soul (Jas. 1:210) However, one must be careful NOT to be just a hearer, but one who putsto practice in his/her life, making application of it to his/her everyday life. The point is made that there is a danger of being deceived in that regard, and going away without making the application. The point is made empathically as to who will be blessed: The one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues therein, doing the work that is required!

However, if one has his/her mind made up that there is only one use of the word “law” in the New Testament, and sees that one is not saved by that law (Gal. 2:16), then when he/she comes to such passages, they skim right on by! Let us see that often the Law of Moses is intended, and it has passed to history now, not effective in our salvation. To try to be saved by it is to fall from grace, we are told (Gal.5:4). Any law that man will devise to be governed by is to be rejected, of course (Matt. 15:8-9; Col. 2:21-23).

2. Works are also of different kinds. Many fail to see that there truly are works involved in each person’s salvation. He/she has to follow the directions given by the inspired writers of the New Testament scriptures in order to be saved by God’s grace, for the blood of Christ to be effective in taking away those sins. These are acts of obedience on (1 Pet. 2), man’s part in his own salvation which has been provided by God the Father’s foreknowledge, the Holy Spirit reveling to words, and Christ performing the sacrifice to pay for the sins. Unless man is active in the process he’ll remain outside Christ where salvation is located (2 Tim. 2:10).

The process that man MUST follow is simple enough, if man will not be blinded by the devil and his workers (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Remember Jesus told Saul (who later became the apostle Paul) to go into the city and it would be told him what he “must do.” (Acts 9:6). Remember what he was told when Ananias came and tells him what he must do: “arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”(Acts 22:16). Is there anything about that which it too difficult to understand, if one doesn’t have a prejudiced mind.

That is the one passage I never could get around when I was taught that I was saved at the point of faith, and could not be lost. When convinced that I’d been taught wrong, then I accepted the truth and obeyed. Granted I worked hard to find an honest way around that, but there is no way IF one is truly honest with him/herself and the Lord. Please be honest with yourself. Your soul is at stake. –William C.”Bill” Sexton


Book Of Colossians –An Introduction


Introduction: This is another of the “Prison Epistles,” the third in line, with Ephesians, Philippians, and the fourth is Philemon.The theme of this book we’ll call the Preeminence of Christ. The main point in this book seems to be CHRIST–as the head of the church.

Paul is the author, and his companion is Timothy, and it is written to the saints at Colosse. This was a city, I’m told: “of Phrygia on the Lycus river, one of the headstreams of the Maeander. It stood at the head of the gorge where two streams unite, and on the great highway traversing the county from Ephesus to the Euphrates Valley, twelve miles from Hierapolis and ten miles from Laodocea.” (A Commentary on the New Testament Epistlers, By J. W. Shepheard, page 244).

Paul a prisoner, was not complaining about his state, rather he was telling them how glad he was to hear of their faith in Christ Jesus. He tells them that his prayers have been going up for them He is pleased to hear of their love for all the saints. He wants them to grow and be faithful and secure in Christ, appreciative of the privilege they have of redemption in Christ. The letter was sent by Tychicus, a “faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord.”

1. Chapter one basically deals with amplifying the greatness of Christ, in the material Creation as well as the spiritual.

2. Chapter two is a chapter telling that they are complete in Christ, and thus beware of false teachers and doctrines that can and will lead to destruction if they will yield. Thus awareness of such can enable them to be safe IN CHRIST!

3. Chapter three emphasizes the need to seek the things that are above, now that they have been raised with Christ. He tells them to be sure that all that they do in word or deed does have Christ’s stamp of approval on it. Like in the book of Ephesians, he points to the responsibility in the family relationship of mate’s parents and children.

4. Chapter four has Paul telling them to continue in prayer, watching and giving thanks, remembering him as they speak with the Creator. He wanted them to mention that doors be opened to him to retell the mystery of Christ, even though he was in bonds. He urged them to be careful that their “speech be always seasoned with salt,” that they may know how they ought to answer every man.

Paul instructs them to walk in wisdom toward them that are with out, redeeming the time. Each of us need to be wise relative to the time and resources we have, how we use them.

Lastly, in this chapter he identified several people he has been personally associated with, even while he is in prison.

1, Tychicus, who would relate to them Paul’s concern for them, being a servant of God, as evidently he had related their condition to Paul

2. Onesimus, who had been converted and sent back to his master, as we’ll learn in the book of Philemon, is mentioned favorably.

3. Aristarchus, a fellow prisoner, Marcus, nephew of Barnabas, Justus –all Paul’s fellow workers in the kingdom of God

4. Epaphra, one of them is mentioned as saluting them. Paul wanted them to know that Epaphras had been laboring fervently for them in prayer, that they would stand perfect and complete in the will of God

5. He mentioned the church at Laodicea and them at Hierapolis.

6. Demas is mentioned along with Luke the physician. You’ll remember that Demas later departed, loving the world (2 Tim. 4:10) a lesson one can and some do FALL.

7.Archippus is mentioned, too. We’ll meet him again in the book of Philemon. Closings, Paul ask them to remember his “bonds.”

__________________________________________Waveland Church of Christ

Corner of Highways 309 and 10

Waveland< AR 72842