Tag: God

THE FLOOD OF DISSIPATION

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Shelby G. Floyd

Living Gods Will

Shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the apostle Peter wrote two letters to the Christians who were scattered abroad—the [diaspora] or dispersion. These people of God were being persecuted by the Roman government and by the ungodly Jews and Gentiles. The Christian people who were converted to Christ from among both the Jews and Gentiles had drastically changed their lifestyle. They no longer lived the life of a libertine. Those who were unconverted were astonished or shocked that they refused to live like they once had done. Peter reminded his readers that the worldly minded could not understand why Christian people now lived such a self-controlled life free from the profligate excesses that once characterized them:

1 Peter 4:4-5
In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
NKJV

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THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

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Chief Cornerstone

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Shelby G. Floyd

CHRIST IS A LIVING STONE

The apostle Peter graphically describes the great spiritual house that God is building (1 Peter 2:4-8). Christ is pictured as a Living Stone in God’s spiritual building: “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious…Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:4, 6).

THE CHURCH IS THE SPIRITUAL BUILDING

The church of Christ is that spiritual building or house Jesus promised to build about 32 A D. (Mark 9:1; I Timothy 3:15). Reference to the scripture that Peter quotes is found in Isaiah 28:16, “…Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily” (NKJV). But according to Isaiah both houses of Israel stumbled because of unbelief and rejected the rock of offence who was their spiritual sanctuary (Isaiah 8:14). The church Jesus built on his deity (Matthew 16:13-19) is now God’s temple in which his people worship (I Corinthians 3:16-17). Continue reading “THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE” →

YOU ARE THE LIGHT

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Shelby G. Floyd

Light

Light and darkness are antipodal. We live in a physical world of darkness and light. Modern technology enables us with better light to see and penetrate the darkness. Also in the spiritual realm Christ enables us to let our light shine in the world:

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
NIV

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SEEK GOD OVER GOLD

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Shelby G. Floyd

God over Gold

Our Pilgrim ancestors came to the shores of America in search of freedom to seek and serve God according to their conscience. Others came seeking gold and material wealth. While God has given us all good things to richly enjoy, he wants us to put the spiritual above the material world.

About one hundred sixty-seven years ago when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California, it caused the stampede of the Gold Rush. Many found fortunes and spent it all in worldly pursuit. The same thing happened on the Klondike at Dawson City, Canada and on the golden shores Nome, Alaska in 1898-1900. Today the worship of wealth is called American Greed. Many who have trusted in their gold have been wiped out by the present economic crisis. If one does not have God in his life what is left but despair and death? Continue reading “SEEK GOD OVER GOLD” →

MAD, SAD OR GLAD!

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Shelby G. Floyd

100_1259

David, the second king of Israel wrote most of the Psalms. These Psalms indicate that David was a very spiritually minded man of God. For example he wrote:

Psalms 122: 1
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
NKJV

David was glad when someone said, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Some today may be sad or even mad, instead of glad, when it is time to go into the house of the Lord. Continue reading “MAD, SAD OR GLAD!” →

LIVE WITHOUT REGRET

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Shelby G. Floyd

Drifting-Away

All of God’s people should live our life in such a way, that when we come to the end, we can look back without regret. This means that we must dedicated to the Lord, study his word and rely upon divine wisdom to make the right choices. Life goes by fast and how many times do we hear someone say, “If I had my life to live over again I would have done such and such.” John Greenleaf Whittier wrote,

For all sad words of tongue and pen,
The saddest are these,
‘It might have been’.

“It might have been” represents those who have neglected the great salvation offered by Christ.

In the book of Hebrews the people are warned not to neglect what is important:

Hebrews 2:1-3
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.
NKJV

If we will heed what is said and not neglect our duty, then we can look back without regret and not think about what “might have been.”

No doubt Esau was filled with remorse and regret after he realized he sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. Esau was a profane person and was filled with regret, “For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he carefully sought it with tears” (Hebrews 12:17). No doubt he looked back and wondered again and again, “what might have been.”

Every one of us has a sphere of influence for Christ and the church. We have opportunities to do good for those out of Christ and for those especially who are in the household of God (Galatians 6:10). Let each one of us zealously work to bring our friends and acquaintances into Christ.

Copyright © 2015 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142

BETRAYAL

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Shelby G. Floyd

Arnold

When one surveys history some notorious traitors come to mind, such as Benedict Arnold, Aaron Burr, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. But the name that most Christians remember is Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ: “Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him’” (Matthew 26:48). Normally, a kiss is a sign of love, loyalty and friendship. But is the case of Judas it has become a symbol of sin, shame and betrayal. Continue reading “BETRAYAL” →

BAPTISM NOW SAVES US

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Shelby G. Floyd

baptism-Jan-2011Credit: Google Images

“Faith only” advocates will explain away every scripture that mentions that baptism is requisite for salvation from sin. And our present scripture is so explicit that “baptism now saves us,” that no one in his right mind can misunderstand it: Continue reading “BAPTISM NOW SAVES US” →

SATAN’S MONOLOGUE

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roaring-lion
Credit: Google Images

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Shelby G. Floyd

Our arch-enemy Satan has been cast out of heaven down to the earth. “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Revelation 12:9). In the book of Job, Satan answered the Lord about his whereabouts, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” (Job 1:7). He is still doing that and we must be on our guard.

Satan’s Soliloquy

My mom told about a man down in Kentucky where she grew up who was always talking to himself. When he was questioned about it his answer was: “I like to talk to a smart man and I like to hear a smart man talk!” Continue reading “SATAN’S MONOLOGUE” →

CONFESS OR DENY CHRIST

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Confess ChristCredit: Google Images

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Shelby G. Floyd

Jesus taught that if we confess him before men he will confess us before the Father. He also said that if we deny him before men he will deny us before the Father:

Matthew 10:32-33
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
KJV

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