Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Mount
Baker
Beacon Volume 03, Number 04
01/28/2024 Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692 Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web site: Mt. Baker church
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Editor......John Bass
| In this issue:
"WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?"
Richie Thetford Some might ask “Why should I pray?” A Christian knows that talking to God is important in drawing them closer to God. God listens to the saints (His children), and when we understand that, then it gives us a closeness to our Father. We need God and we need to ask God to intervene on our behalf. When we pray, we recognize that God is in charge and we need His help to direct our steps in life (Jer 10:23).
A Fundamental Point
In James 1:5-7 it says: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” We need to understand that when we are lacking in something, in this case wisdom, then we should pray to God and ask for it. But when we ask, make sure that we are asking in faith, fully expecting God to make the change in our life. A prayer without faith is a prayer offered in vain. A Christian that prays constantly to God is a Christian devoted on serving God. Are you praying to God in faith, fully expecting Him to change your life? Many times our lives are made miserable because we do not take the time to pray to God and allow Him to intervene and help us. How frustrating it must be to God to know that we need His help, but simply refuse to ask!
Consistency is the Key
Please take a moment and read the following scriptures in your Bible: Matthew 15:21-28; Luke 18:1-8; 11:5-8. What do you see in these verses? In each case, what is the one clear message that we can learn about persistency in praying? We must pray to God knowing that He WILL provide for us IF we ask in faith, and if we ask in a persistent manner, expecting Him to deliver. That is what Jesus was trying to teach concerning an individual’s prayer life. When our children want something, don’t they usually ask us for it? And if they REALLY want don’t they ask over and over -- even to the point of “wearing us out?” We need faith, a faith that knows God is listening and He will provide for our needs, we’ve just got to ask Him and be consistent about it. Sometimes we just need to stop and look around at life itself. Life is teaching us something whether we recognize it or not. Life says, I need help. God says, “ask and it shall be given unto you” (Matt 7:7).
Learning From The Old
The context of James 5:13-16 is prayer. Then in verses 17-18 it says: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” Here we have a message about Elijah. Sometimes the praying of Old Testament characters are put in front of us in the New Testament to teach us lessons concerning our prayer life. What lesson do you understand James to be teaching here about prayer? First of all we should pray at all times, whether sick or glad. An effective prayer life can heal wounds, forgive others, and gladden our hearts beyond comprehension! We can also learn that God will listen to the prayers of the righteous and answer them. All we need to do is ask God to help us and He will. Elijah was a man of faith and the example before us is that he was sincere and “prayed earnestly”. Again, we are sometimes our own worst enemy because we don’t take the time to pray to God and allow Him to direct our steps. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing”. Why? Because when we have an active prayer life, communicating with God, then our lives will be enriched with all the spiritual blessings. Are you happy? Pray. Are you sad? Pray. Are you thankful? Pray. Pray all the time! Top
BE RESOLVED
Brad Phillips With a new year being just around the corner, many are beginning to make their New Year resolutions (i.e. they are resolving to do something). Now, it's important to note that the phrase "to be resolved" means, "to be firmly determined to do something." So, with that thought in mind, I encourage us all to be resolved spiritually in the upcoming New Year.
Be Resolved To Always Put God First.
My friend, we must put God first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). So, if you have been neglecting to put God first in your life, you are encouraged to be resolved to put God first in your life this New Year. For Jesus informed, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). Therefore, hold on to those words of Jesus, love the Lord thy God, and be resolved to always put Him first in your life.
Be Resolved To Attend Every Service.
In Psalm 122:1, David declared, "I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." Brethren, may we all possess the same attitude as David, and may we all be excited about, and look forward to every opportunity that we have to come together to serve the Lord this New Year. So, be resolved to be one who attends every service, and resolve to serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2) in the upcoming New Year.
Be Resolved To Be An Encouragement To Others.
Friend, whether we realize it or not, we all need encouragement. You see, it is very important that we all diligently strive to encourage one another, lest we become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13). Therefore, let's be resolved to be an encouragement to others this New Year, and let's always pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another (Romans 14:19) in the upcoming New Year.
Be Resolved To Search The Scriptures Daily.
The apostle Paul informed, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). You see, the Bible is God's all inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16), and as Paul said, God's word is the source of faith. Therefore, be resolved to imitate the noble Bereans of old, and search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11) this upcoming New Year.
Be Resolved To Pray Daily.
Prayer, is the avenue we take to communicate with God, and my beloved brethren, we always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). So knowing that, let's all be resolved to pray daily this New Year, or as Paul put it, "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and "continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).
Be A Soul-Winner For Jesus.
In Matthew 9:37, Jesus said, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few." You see, the world is full of sin-sick souls that are in need of the gospel of Christ. So, let's all be resolved to share the precious gospel of Christ with others this New Year, remembering that it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16). Therefore, be a soul-winner for Jesus this New Year, and never forget, "...he who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).
Be Resolved To Go To Heaven. Contrary to the belief of some, heaven is for real, and in Matthew 25:34, Jesus revealed that heaven was prepared from the foundation of the world. However, we must all understand that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Therefore, may we all this New Year be resolved to do the will of our Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21). Be resolved to always press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). For by doing so, someday your citizenship will forever be in heaven (Philippians 3:20).
My friend, these are just a few things that I encourage us all to be firmly determined to do, not only in the upcoming New Year, but also for the rest of our lives. So, once more, I encourage you to be resolved. Top
Created by John Bass, last updated. 01/30/2024 The Mount Baker Beacon is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA.
Send all questions, comments to the editor, John Bass at (360) 325-5149 or johnbass2468@gmail.com |
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