A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 5 NO. 3                                           March 16, 2008

We Ask---He Hears!

By Steve Niemeier

John stated in I John 5:14, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”  John is basically stating that we do the asking and Jesus does the hearing!  Now we knew that didn’t we?  We have been taught that from our youth haven’t we?  Why would anyone spend time writing an article about us doing the asking and Him doing the hearing?

Well, this article is about the forgotten phrase in I John 5:14.  The phrase that states “according to His will” is the part that many fail to think of when asking Him.  You see sometimes we ask for things that are not according to His will.  We might get confused by all the teaching going on about how God wants us to be happy and rich and carefree and healthy, etc.  I am not saying that God has said He didn’t want us to be those things but I am saying that is not on His priority list even though it might be on ours.

God through His Son and the inspired writers of His Holy Word have used many scriptures to warn us of the dangers of seeking all these things in this life.  Matthew 6:33, The whole Book of Ecclesiastes, Matthew 16:24-27, I John 2:15-17, II Timothy 4:10 and on and on we could go.  These warnings and descriptions of what happens if we put things of this life over what God’s will is teaches us that “according to His will” is very important in our asking.

Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Of course we all can rationalize in our own minds that he was referring to life back then right?  If that is the case then just a bit later in verse 16 and 17 we would have to include that the Scriptures were only profitable back then also, and that a man of God today would not be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It seems that we (at least those in the USA) do not suffer very much as one who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus.  Why is that?  Could it be a change in society maybe?  Certainly that is what we would like to think but is it really that?

All of us that profess to be one who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus would not stand still for an answer such as we are not as “active” in teaching and preaching today as they were back in Timothy’s day would we?  We are not going to admit that we have rationalized that our service to Him does not require the sacrifice of Barnabas in Acts 4:37 are we?  No way that we will agree to the statement that Paul was braver than we are when it comes to facing adversity (Acts 14:19-20) will we?

Yet, in these examples and others where those that were asking were being heard we see that they evidently were asking according to His will.  Not saying that we must go through all that they went through but it seems that we must endure some persecution doesn’t it?  Is it possible that we might try to avoid any persecution or even conflict doing His work?  You know, not speaking up for Him when we should or not being active in our schools, local governments or even national governments to fight for His cause.

We want that blessing of Him hearing us and heeding to our petitions.  We all want that and we all need that.  Are we willing to do it “according to His will”?  If there is any doubt that “according to His will” is very important please check out I John 3:21-24.

Principles That Made America Great

By Roger Banks

The following are reasons why America was great, in years past:

1. The dignity of human life.
2. The traditional monogamous family.
3. Common decency.
4. The work ethic.
5. God centered education.
6. Biblical morality.
7. Freedom of religion

If we are going to fight for the liberty to worship, we ought to make use of that liberty.

The Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”

An Interesting Quote

By Howard L. Dayton, Jr. (Bible, Materialism)

“Jesus talked much about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing one out of every ten verses deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 verses on money and possessions.”

Satan now is wiser than of yore, and tempts by making rich, not by making poor.
Alexander Pope (Materialism, Wealth)