I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;

I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings;

I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;

I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;

I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;

I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;

I would make it socially acceptable to take one's own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;

I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that life of animals are valued more than human beings;

I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit;

I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;

I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the minds of every family member for my agenda;

I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation. I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;

I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movies screens, and I would call it art;

I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;

I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agendas as politically correct;

I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, the Bible is for the naive:

I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;

I GUESS I WOULD LEAVE THINGS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THEY ARE!

 [Editor’s Note: Many of us remember the familiar voice of Paul Harvey as a regular part of our daily routine for many years. For years, I made a habit of listening in the morning and at noon for his “News and Comments” segment, broadcast each weekday. My afternoon was not complete until I heard the words “and now you know the rest of the story.” Through the years, I gained a great respect for Mr. Harvey because of his love of this country, his grasp of its history and his unflinching support for the service of our military personnel. However, my greatest appreciation came from his repeated stands for biblical morality in the face of its rapid decline in this country. It was obvious in his voice and content that Paul Harvey understood the destructive nature of the rising immorality evident in our society. The following article was written by Mr. Harvey in 1999 and published by “WorldNetDaily.” I have seen several other versions of similar content published as far back as 1979, but this one is the most recent and verifiable as to its authorship. As you read it, recognize who is behind every way of evil and determine to fight him with all of your might. Harry R. Osborne]

Reason for Hope

May 24, 2009

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1 – Be aware of his plans and strategies

Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Cor. 2:11)

2 – Put on the whole armor of God

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11)

3 – Be serious and watchful

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8)

4 – Resist him with full confidence in the truth

Resist him, steadfast in the faith… (1 Pet. 5:9a)

5 – Drive his temptations away with the word of God

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve’” (Matt. 4:10)

Reason for Hope

May 24, 2009

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Death could not prevent Christ from building His church, nor can its power prevail against its mission, Matt 16:18.
2. But, local churches can be destroyed:
  a. Fellowship with Christ can break, Rev 2:5.
  b. Unity can be disrupted, 1 Cor 11:18.
  c. Usefulness (effectiveness) in work and wor­ship can cease, Rev 3:16.

I. THINGS THAT CAN DESTROY A LOCAL CHURCH.

  A. Allowing Divisions over Men to Exist, 1 Cor 1:10-13; 3:1-3 (1 Tim 5:19, 21; 3 Jno 9); Jno 13:34-35.
  B. False Doctrines, Col 2:8; Gal 1:6-9 (2:5); 2 Cor 11:2-4 (2 Tim 2:16-18).
  C. Binding our Personal Consciences on Others, Rom 14:1-6, 10, 13-14, 19, 21-23.
  D. An Unfaithful Eldership, Acts 20:28-30; 1 Pet 5:2-3.
  E. Failure to Practice what we Preach (Hypocrisy); Rom 2:17-25; 1 Ths 1:7-10.
  F. The Infiltration of the World, 1 Cor 5:1-2, 6-8 (1 Jno 2:15-16); 2 Cor 6:16-7:1.
  G. Weariness with Whole Counsel of God, Acts 20:20, 27; 2 Tim 4:3-4.
  H. Allowing Love for Christ to become Sec­ondary, Rev 2:4-5; Matt 10:37-39; 28:18; Col 3:17.

Conclusion  For this local church to survive and be accepted by Christ we must be sound in doctrine, pure in life and diligent in service.

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Churches in NT experienced tremendous tests of faith. Some persevered when tested while oth­ers faltered (Rev 2:9-10; 3:15-17).
2. Just as each Christian must face trials of faith, churches will, too (Jas 1:2-4).

I. THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT DESTROY A LOCAL CHURCH.

  A. Persecution for the Sake of Righteousness, Acts 5:40-42; 6:1, 7; 8:1, 4; Rev 2:9-11; 1 Pet 5:10.
  B. Being in the Minority and/or Isolated from Faithful Brethren, Matt 7:14; 2 Tim 4:16-18; Rev 2:13 (Rom 8:31, 28).
  C. Sin Problems (when solved with/by the word of God), Acts 5:5, 11, 13-14; 6:1-6; 15:1-2.
  D. Being Sound in the Faith, 1 Tim 1:3; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13; Titus 1:13; Acts 5:13-14.
  E. Financial Distresses (Poverty), Rev 2:9; 2 Cor 9:6-11 (8:1-2, 5).

II. WHAT WE MUST HAVE TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS LOCAL CHURCH.

  A. Submission to Divine Authority, Col 3:17.
  B. Devotion to Christ and His Truth in our Daily Lives, Lk 9:23; Gal 2:20; Jas 1:22.
  C. Submission to One Another, Eph 5: 20-21; Phil 2:1-4.
  D. Bear Good Fruit, Rev 3:15-16; Jno 15:2; Phil 4:14-18; 2 Pet 1:5-11.

Is Drinking is a Disease?

IF IT IS…

1.  It is the only disease that is contracted by an act of the will;

2.  It is the only disease that requires a license to propagate it;

3.  It is the only disease that is bottled and sold;

4.  It is the only disease that requires a half-million outlets to spread it;

5. It is the only disease that produces a revenue for the government;

6.  It is the only disease that provokes crime;

7.  It is the only disease that is habit forming;

8.  It is the only disease that is spread by advertising;

9.  It is the only disease without a germ or virus cause, and for which there is no human corrective medicine; and

10.It is the only disease that debars the patient  from heaven.

[Taken from bulletin “Exhortations and Teachings”, published by church of Christ, Hwy. 59 North, Livingston, TX 77351, Editor, Bill Jeter, Dec. 29, 1985]

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Created by Chuck Sibbing.  08/23/2010