“5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.   4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

 This week, you and I are blessed to feast upon the word of God, as we hold our annual gospel meeting. Our brother, Greg Dismuke, will be preaching the word, and I have every confidence that he will be prepared to do just that. Hopefully, you and I will be prepared and eager to receive the word preached, so that we might have the opportunity to grow, make corrections if necessary, and be encouraged.

 Put down the gavel! God did not intend for you to be a judge. We must discriminate between right and wrong . . . but it is not our business to sit in judgment or to presume to allocate to others their status before God. He alone can do that. Jesus forbids our assuming a role as a judge.

  In pondering the words, "gospel meeting," one can conclude this will be a meeting where the gospel is proclaimed, and that would be correct. What is meant by the term, "gospel?" The word appears 103 times in the New Testament. It is expressed as a message of good news: 

 The kingdom of heaven itself Jesus taught was like a merchantman seeking after goodly pearls, and gladly surrendering all for the “pearl of great price.” (Matthew 13:45-46). The origin of the pearl found within the shell of the pearl oyster or mollusk was, to the ancients, most mysterious.

 When Jesus walked this earth, He was a worker. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). The word "night" in this verse refers to death. So, we must follow His example and work while we have the opportunity to do so. A good summary of Jesus' work is found in Matthew 9:35: Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. His example for us in this verse is threefold: He was teaching (imparting information); He was preaching (exhorting them on how to live in light of what they were taught), and healing (showing compassion).

 With our young people starting back to school, what can be said to provide some encouragement? The apostle Paul commanded a young Timothy, saying, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). It is possible for some to look down upon others because of their youth.

For anything to be scriptural it must be sanctioned in the form of a divine command, by approved apostolic example or by necessary inference. Following these three, yet another method was introduced as that of an “expediency” to determine scriptural procedure.

As we travel the straight and narrow road toward heaven to find it strewn with stumbling blocks, and fraught with difficulty after difficulty. Jesus in his infinite wisdom knew the travel over the upward way was difficult and trying when he described the road to heaven in (Matthew 7:13-14). 

In Acts 5, we read of a man named Gamaliel, a Pharisee on the Jewish council, that stopped a near mob scene that could have resulted in the death of the apostles. The council had just been "cut to the quick" (Acts 5:33) by the apostles' inspired message and wanted to kill them on the spot. However, Gamaliel stood up at the time, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while (Acts 5:34 NKJV). What did Gamaliel say to prevent the council from acting on its rage?

In the prominent passage, 1 Samuel 16:7, we are told that the Lord “looketh.” “7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Now comes the question, On what does the Lord “looketh” – focus his attention? Or, in his eyes, what thing is of prime importance? To this question five answers are found – four in the negative, one in the positive.

Boys have always been taught that it is wrong to hit a girl. However, the Olympics have recently allowed such to take place. A man who was pretending to be a woman fought a woman in a boxing match, and unsurprisingly, won. He hit the woman in the face so hard that she could not continue the match. The lack of outrage is disturbing. If this took place in an ordinary home, the man would be thrown in jail for domestic violence. Yet our society applauds this man for doing what he believes is right. But, is it right?

How often do we stand in the presence of the symbol of the shed blood of Christ, and think of trivial things? When we speak of the money spent each year in mission work do we think at the same time of all the things the money could be spent for otherwise? When we give as the Lords prospered us on the Lord’s Day, do we, as we drop our offering into the lock boxes in our foyers, think of what we could have bought for ourselves with it? So many miss the real blessing the Lord has in store for them by not being spiritually able to discern spiritual values.

With our young people starting back to school, what can be said to provide some encouragement? The apostle Paul commanded a young Timothy, saying, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). It is possible for some to look down upon others because of their youth. King Saul was skeptical that a young David could fight the Philistine giant, telling him, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth" (1 Samuel 17:33). 

What is a motive? That which causes motion; the secret spring of action; the purpose behind the deed. It is with the motive in the heart that God is chiefly concerned. (See Matthew 5:8; 6:1.) Let us take a look at some motives which move people to follow the Christ.

Ever since the beginning of the world, the word of God has been mocked by others. The devil scoffed at God's word, saying to Eve, "You will not surely die" (Genesis 3:4b NKJV). In the New Testament, James said some were blaspheming "that noble name" by which his audience was called (James 2:7). There has always been and probably always will be others who mock God, his word, and the people who choose to obey it. These mockers will ultimately give an account to God (1 Peter 4:5). However, will we as people called by that noble name remain true to our Lord under such mockery?

This is an old statement. I have heard it all my life. It is what people say about certain people who belong to the Lord. In fact that which caused me to be thinking on it recently was a conversation I had with a friend. He told me that a certain brother, whom we both knew, was out of duty. What did he mean by that statement? He meant that the man would not attend the services of the church as he should, and that he was not otherwise living as a Christian ought to live. He was not doing his duty in serving God.

But parents also have the responsibility of disciplining their children in the Lord. This discipline is for their good and proves the parents' love for the child. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:11,12). 

Nothing escapes the attention of God. God has limitless power. That's why He is God (cf. 1 Kings 18:39). Therefore, God is omnipresent, that is, "present in all places at all times" (Merriam-Webster). An example of this occurs when Philip introduces Nathanael to Jesus. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:47-49). The Son of God could see Nathanael and know his mind even though He was not physically present with Nathanael when he was under the fig tree. Also, David asked, Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Psalm 139:7). He concluded there was not any place in the air, in the ground, in the sea, or in the darkness that God could not see him (Psalm 139:8-12).

In the first chapter of Second Peter, God expresses three desires for his people. He expresses first of all a desire that they be genuinely converted. In the second place it is his desire that they have a natural, normal, and symmetrical growth. Finally, he wants them to have victory in their hearts and success in their efforts in the kingdom. It is this last desire that we shall be concerned with these brief words..