By
Shelby G. Floyd
Both the Old and New Testament warn against pride. Someone has said that,
“Pride may be considered as the parent of discontent, ingratitude, covetousness, poverty, presumption, passion, extravagance, bigotry, war and persecution. In fact, there is hardly an evil perpetrated but pride is connected with it in a proximate or remote sense.”
The wise man Solomon pointed out long ago that pride leads the way to destruction:
Tag: pride
TEST THE SPIRITS
By
Shelby G. Floyd
The author of the letter to the church at Ephesus is Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1-3). This letter is a part of the Revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ gave to an Angel, and the Angel signified it to John, John wrote it down in a book and sent it to the churches (Revelation 1:1-2). A great blessing is pronounced upon those who read (aloud), hear and keep those things which are written in the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:3). John received this wonderful disclosure while he was on the Isle of Patmos. He heard a great voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet, loud, distinct and clear. When he turned to see who was speaking, he saw seven Golden candlesticks; and in the midst of those Golden candlesticks he saw the glorified Christ, like unto the Son of Man, and he had in his right hand seven stars (Revelation 1:9-19). Continue reading “TEST THE SPIRITS”
PETER ORDERED BAPTISM
By
Shelby G. Floyd
In the book of Acts we have the record of Peter’s sermon which he spoke to the household of Cornelius. Cornelius was a Gentile and had invited his family and close friends to be present on this occasion.
PETER SPEAKS TO THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS
It is very interesting to read about what Peter said to Cornelius and his friends. First, Peter admitted that God had convinced him that he is no respecter of people, but will accept people from all nations who fear him and do what is right. “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right’” (Acts 10:34-35).
PETER’S SERMON WAS INTERRUPTED
Next he pointed out that Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good until the Jews killed him by hanging him on a tree. Near the conclusion Peter’s sermon was interrupted by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles. We notice that the last thing he said before the interruption began was that everyone who believed on Christ would receive forgiveness of sins:
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:42-43).
FAITH PLUS BAPTISM EQUALS FORGIVENESS OF SIN
After the interruption was over, the first thing that he said to them was,
“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:47-48).
Obviously, if Peter’s speech had not been interrupted, the connection between believing on Jesus and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins would also have been plain to all who love the truth of God.
THE APOSTLES OBEYED THE GREAT COMMISION
This simply is carrying out the Great Commission—the last words of Jesus before he went back to heaven: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Have you been baptized for the forgiveness of sins?
Copyright © 2016 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142
BOAST IN THE LORD
By
Shelby G. Floyd
It is the nature of some people to boast—about their education, their possessions, their status in life, ad nauseam: “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:2). This is a good way for others to turn the other way when they see such a one coming toward them. Continue reading “BOAST IN THE LORD”
MEMORIAL DAY
By
Shelby G. Floyd
“Hilltops of Glory” is a beautiful song that we have just sung in a great way. We are truly blessed with good song leaders and singing because everybody joins in and sings out with some volume. That is not the case in some places today.
DECORATION DAY – MEMORIAL DAY
I was trying to think of what would be a good topic to preach on during the Memorial Day holiday. And so after some reflection I thought to myself, why not just preach on “Memorial Day.” It is wonderful to hear all of the patriotic music the past few days? It is great to see the marching bands and the marching soldiers with all of their patriotic flags. That is refreshing because it demonstrates a lot of our citizens still love our country and everything that it has stood for down through these centuries. We all appreciate the sacrifices that have been made that we might be free. Therefore we are able to enjoy all the blessings that God has showered down upon us for over 200 years.
And sometimes people do not really think about the meaning of Memorial Day. Sometimes we get so involved in family outings, going to the race and other events, and we don’t think much about the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf. But those things are also good. It is wonderful that we can combine love of family and love of country and be together and enjoy each other’s company. Continue reading “MEMORIAL DAY”
THE SCHOOL OF LIFE
By
Shelby G. Floyd
This is the time of the year when young people begin to think about going back to school. Let us capitalize on this thought and apply it to the Christian life.
From the beginning to the end the Christian life is like a school. In the great commission Jesus commanded his people to go out and “make disciples” of all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). “Make disciples” is from (matheteuo-μαθητευω) and means “to make a disciple; to teach, instruct” (J. H. Thayer, p.386). Therefore, we are to be teachers and pupils under the master-teacher Jesus Christ.
The secret of learning in this school as in all schools is to teach much, ask much, remember much and do much!
The School of Life perhaps is best summarized by the statement of David,
Psalms 143:10
Teach me to do Your will,
For you are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness
NKJV
SOWING AND REAPING
By
Shelby G. Floyd
We have all heard it said that you will reap what you sow—the proverb is a true axiom in the physical, moral and spiritual realms of life. It is the law of cause and effect.
ADONI-BEZEK REAPED WHAT HE SOWED
In the history of God’s dealing with his people Israel we have many examples that bear this out. For example, after the death of Joshua, there was still land to be taken and enemies to be subdued. God promised Judah that he had given the land of the Canaanites into their hand. Judah invited the Simeonites to join them in the battle and together they defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites:
Judges 1:4-7
Then Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek. And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him; and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
NIV
THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
By
Shelby G. Floyd
The above title is a specific and accurate description of how God brought Christ into the world to be our Savior. Jesus Christ is both divine and human, “regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4).
Jesus Christ Was Human and Divine
From the divine standpoint, he has always existed and always will. Late in the first century, the apostle John spoke of the preexistence of Christ in these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). Then, later in the chapter, John described the human nature of Christ when he said, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1: 14). This is definitely a reference to the virgin birth of Christ. Continue reading “THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST”
COME CLOSE TO GOD
By
Shelby G. Floyd
Our God is great, but he wants a close relationship with all of his people. Sadly, many Christian people never realize the nearness of God in their daily walk with God. Many of God’s children feel that God is far away and not interested in their joys and sadness. However, this is not the case. God has demonstrated over and over again, that if we will seek him out he will be found to be close at hand.
Near the end of the New Testament revelation, the apostle James exhorted the Christians of the dispersion to, “Come close to God and He will come close to you” (James 4:8). Man left God, but God did not leave sinful man. Because of the great love, mercy and grace of God, he made the first and last move to reconcile man back to himself. This he did by sending his beloved Son from heaven to earth to redeem us from eternal separation. Now it is up to each one of us to make our move back to God and enjoy the close fellowship that was enjoyed in the Eden Paradise. Continue reading “COME CLOSE TO GOD”
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
By
Shelby G. Floyd
The apostle Paul exhorted the Christians at Thessalonica to increase their brotherly love more and more: “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9; Matthew 22:39).
Then he points out some practical ways brotherly love can be accomplished: “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). Continue reading “MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS”