STINGS LIKE AN ADDER

Transcription

1 STINGS LIKE AN ADDER We began a study Sunday morning of the current Spiritual Sword. The first lesson has to do with Strong Drink: Stings Like an Adder. The primary verses used are found in Proverbs 23: I thought I would list them from several translations and then comment briefly. The holiday season is a time that people certainly need to know what the Bible says about strong drink. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. (KJV). The New American Standard Version has, Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink. The promoters of alcohol would like you to think that it brings only joy and happiness and good times. Solomon tells us it bring troubles and sorrow and conflict into your life. It brings about problems physically and mentally. Alcohol is a drug that impairs the abilities to reason and judge properly. It causes problems with even your basic motor skills. Solomon states that we should not even look at it. Stay away from it. See it as a poisonous snake ready to bite you. GOD WILL BRING YOU THROUGH THE FIRE There will be times in our lives when we experience great trials and difficulties. Our feet are held to the fire, whether it be financial distress, family problems, spiritual weakness, etc. Some come through these fiery trials with their faith strengthened and their hope renewed, while others are consumed by these same fires. Thankfully, we have a God who will bring us through the fires of life. We remember well how Jehovah brought the three Hebrew youths through a literal fire. Those words are recorded for our benefit, to give us the assurance that God will see us through trials of faith if we will stand firm in our convictions. I often wonder what lessons those three young men learned on the occasion of being cast into, and delivered from, that burning fiery furnace. Perhaps they realized that God will never forsake the righteous. Perhaps they learned that it pays to stand up for what is right. Perhaps they learned that their faith in God was stronger than they ever realized. Trials and difficulties will come. These struggles often contain hidden blessings that we frequently overlook. Scripture teaches us that trials bring about patience, and patience makes our hope grow fonder (Rom.5:1-5). Trials help to lessen our longing for this world, and increase our longing for a place where we don t have to experience

2 pain, heartache, grief and sorrow (Rev.21:4). Trials help us to appreciate the good times in life. What can we learn from Daniel and his three Hebrew friends that will help bring us through the trials of life? We must PURPOSE to do right. Trials will inevitably come to those who are trying to live as God has called us to live (2 Tim.3:12). We should not think it a strange thing when these trials do come upon us, but look at them as an opportunity to show God in our lives (1 Pet.4:12). James tells us that we should rejoice when we fall into various trials, not if we find ourselves in them (James 1:2). Knowing they will come, we should prepare ourselves to deal with them. When Daniel was brought into Babylonian captivity, he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (Dan.1:8). He was determined to do right no matter what. Let us purpose in our hearts that, no matter the situation, we will do what is right. Do right even if you think no one is watching. Do right even if others expect you to do wrong. Do right even if everyone else around you is unwilling to do so. This is the first step in navigating through the fires of life. We must withstand the PRESSURE to do wrong. Satan will see to it that the heat is turned up when we are facing fiery trials. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were tested, the fire (literally and figuratively) was cranked up. But you know the story. They wouldn t bow. They wouldn t bend. They wouldn t burn. They had already purposed to do what was right. When the pressure was turned up, they dug in and refused to give in. Many times we purpose to do right, but when the heat is on, we cave in. We must withstand the pressure! Part of the battle is resolving to do what is right, and part of the battle is hanging in! In your patience, possess your souls (Luke 21:19). Don t give in to the pressure! Finally, in order to come through the fires of life, we must remain committed to PRAYER. Prayer is a vital lifeline to the source of our strength. When we are faced with fiery trials, we should pray, pray, pray! Daniel would not allow them to take away this precious privilege. He knew in order to make it through that he needed to pray. And so, even with a decree in place, and knowing the penalty for violating the decree, Daniel prayed anyway (Dan.6:10)! Someone once said that if we hem our lives in with prayer then they won t unravel. Pray without ceasing (1 Thess.5:17). Lay your cares at his feet (Phil.4:6). Prayer is vital to bringing us through the trials of life. --Patrick Morrison, Glad Tidings. 12/15/13 CHILDREN Maybe you ve heard the story about the school teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put on his snow boots. Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots just didn't want to go on. Finally, after much struggling, she got both boots on only to hear the little boy say, "They're on the wrong feet." She looked, and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on but she managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots on the right feet. He then announced, "These aren't my boots." She bit her tongue rather than scream, "Why didn't you say so?" Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots

3 off his little feet. No sooner had they gotten the boots off when he said, "They're my brother's boots. My Mom made me wear 'em." Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up what grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet again. Helping him into his coat, she asked, "Now, where are your mittens?" He said, "I stuffed 'em in the toes of my boots." - (Biblical Parenting) (Psalm 127:3,5) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them By Steve Higginbotham, BulletinGold 12/13 MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Dec 29, 2013 THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00 AM Co-Coordinator Billy Halliburton Announcements Steve Anderson Scripture Reading.. Eccle. 12:13,14... Song Leader Jacky Carver, Jr. Opening Prayer Brian Smith Lord s Supper-Preside: Jacky Carver Sr. Serve: George Clay, Harold Smith, Justin Draper Closing Prayer... Mitchell Brooks Greeter Harold & Patty Smith Greeter George & Teresa Clay Count Offering Jacky Carver, Sr Kaleb Bush AM Sermon Hear the Conclusion (Eccle. 12:13) PM Sermon Kaleb Bush speaking WORSHIP---SUNDAY---6:00 PM Announcements Steve Anderson Song Leader Glen Reece Scripture Reading..2 Tim. 2: Craig Anderson Opening Prayer Jacky Carver Sr. SERMON: Kaleb Bush. Lord s Supper Justin Draper Addison Halliburton Closing Prayer George Clay

4 BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM Announcement Larry Cole Song Leader Jimmy Smith First Prayer Harold Smith Opening Prayer Glen Reece Closing Prayer Roger Draper Prepare Communion for Jan. Karen Halliburton Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement. MONTROSE BULLETIN BOARD NURSING HOME: Hoss West, Larry Kemp, Richard & Kathy Hommrich--Tim s parents Those on the sick list: Wayne P. Lankford improving Bob Dillehay, Kasel Dillehay Gladys Bowling Dennis Hackett knee surgery. Billy Thompson Stacey Browning friend of Steve Anderson OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 12/22/13 Wednesday Worship Sunday AM Bible Study Sunday AM Daily Bible Readers Worship Sunday PM Offering $2, This Sunday is a 5 th. Sunday, thus the men will conduct services Sunday evening. 5 th. Sunday contributions go to capital improvements Dec. 29 th. Soup and fingerfoods after services tonight. Dec. 31 st. Get together at the Barn Jan. 5 th. Ben and Tim Smith speaking. PANTRY ITEM: We are asking each family to bring items for the pantry to be used for needs in the community as they arise: Item for week: Peanut Butter BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR JAN 01 Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen

5 07 Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen Gen Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Exod Lev Lev Lev Lev. 9-11