The Thief on the Cross

by Larry Rouse
www.cvillechurch.com


What kind of power does it take to change a man’s heart? Our society may pass all the hate laws they wish, and seek out political and university leaders who claim they can change men, but in the end it is the power of God that must be used to achieve this daunting task.
One of the greatest examples of change in the Bible, the apostle Paul, started a trip from Jerusalem to Damascus with a heart that was “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). By the time he returned to Jerusalem he was now a Christian, motivated by the grace of God (1 Tim 1:12-14).

A great example of such a change in the ministry of Christ came during the final hour of Jesus’ life. Jesus was placed upon a Roman cross to suffer a shameful and torturous death in an execution that was reserved for only the vilest of criminals. Two other men were executed along with Jesus. They were described as “criminals” and “robbers” (Luke 23:22; Matthew 27:38).

In the beginning of these executions both thieves heard the Jewish leaders taunting Jesus and they too “reviled Him with the same thing” (Matthew 27:44). No doubt these men had hardened hearts, having come from a background where they would rob and harm others without a second thought. They were likely being executed that day because their presence on either side of Jesus would give an appearance of guilt to our Lord. These thieves were filled with anger, bitterness and cursing. The hearts of these men did not seem to be a place where change would come.

Examples are often more powerful than words, especially when you can be certain of the example. The news of the rushed, unlawful trials of Jesus was widely known. The mob that heard the innocent verdict of Pilate and then by their tongues successfully intimidated him into executing Jesus would have talked freely. How could an innocent man be executed? All it took was a washing of the hands for Pilate. These thieves would see Jesus’ reaction to these injustices.

The friends of Jesus could be seen and heard as He was being led to His execution. “And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him" (Luke 23:27). It is doubtful these thieves had anyone to accompany them. When Jesus spoke to His friends, He was only thinking about them and their welfare. He warned them about the coming doom upon the city and told them how to prepare (Luke 23:28-30; Matthew 24:1-35).

These thieves could see and hear the taunts and hatred of the Jewish leaders. The nation, whose constitution was the Old Testament, whose leaders had the responsibility of judging righteously, now displayed for all the very content of their hearts. Anyone that day who had come upon this scene and observed these judges “wagging their heads,” “sneering,” and otherwise enjoying a close-up view of the suffering and death of another, would have known that an innocent man was being murdered (Matt 27:39-40; Lk 23:35).

Consider the taunts offered by these hateful men: “He saved others,” and “He trusted in God” (Matthew 27:42-43). While the leaders disputed that these things were true, it ought to have opened eyes of those who were not filled with such bitterness. One writer described these as “taunts that offer a tribute.” Any man should be honored to have their enemies find that these be the only “weaknesses” to use against you!

The most powerful examples of all were the words and demeanor of Christ on the cross. His first words were “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:34)” As the insults mounted and the suffering became greater, Jesus remained the same. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)

It is in suffering that you display your real heart. The love of God, as seen in the example of Jesus on the cross, opened the heart of one of these thieves. “Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

How do you know when real change towards God has occurred in your heart?

1. You will openly confess your sin and make no excuses. (Luke 23:41)

2. You take a stand for Jesus. You will no longer stand by and do nothing when evil is expressed (Lk 23:39-40).

3. You will simply desire the presence of the Lord over any earthly advantages. (Luke 23:42)

The difference between real change and the self-serving pretense of some can be seen in the request made of Jesus by these two thieves. One said: “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us” (Luke 23:39), while the other simply asked to be with Jesus. One man was “hedging his bets” with a “just in case” request so that maybe he could escape the cross, while the other was ready to follow the Lord wherever He went.

Where is your heart? Sadly, many make the example of the thief on the cross something that is was never meant to be, as an excuse to disobey God. One preacher titled his lesson “The Most Popular Thief in Town” to describe these attitudes.

Some want to trust in “death-bed regret” because of this example. When the gospel is rejected over time, the heart becomes hardened (1 Tim 4:2). God knows real change from that which is pretense (Prov 1:24-30).

There are others who conclude that their salvation must exclude baptism because of the thief. Remember that while Jesus was on earth he had “power on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10) After His resurrection Jesus expected all of His followers to believe in his death, burial and resurrection and because of that belief be baptized in water, which is described as being into the death of Christ (Romans 10:9-10, Romans 6:3-5). How could the thief believe in Jesus’ resurrection and be baptized into His death before Jesus had even died?

What example will you follow at the cross? One who yielded to whatever our Lord wished, or of those who were bound by religious traditions that rebelled against our Lord?

“And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” (Luke 7:29-30)

Dial-A-Bible-Study (Recorded Messages)
(434) 975-7373
Free Bible Study Materials
Call Anytime!
www.cvillechurch.com
E-Mail: larryrouse@cvillechurch.com

The Disappearing Man

by Larry Rouse
www.cvillechurch.com

You can see the signs all around you, from the fatherless families to the ridicule of “patriarchal” homes (those who have the husband as the head), the God-given roles of men and women are under attack. Our society loves to pit various “interest groups” against each other so that they can battle for the perceived political and cultural “rewards”. What results from this “enlightenment” are poisoned relationships, broken homes and numerous evils that greatly add to the misery of all. The Apostle Paul described the rise of the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism, to the breakdown of the home and the general hatefulness in all human relationships that follows a rejection of God (Rom 1:26-32).

The Current Culture

I can understand how a woman that was not a Christian would question why God would place man as the head of the home (1 Cor 11:3) as she may have experienced a self-centered husband that treated her like an inferior slave. Most people make judgments about their lives from their own experience and, as a result, often cannot conceive of the marriage relationship as God designed it. Jesus displayed what it really means to be a head when He gave His life for the church. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-27).

God’s design for man, when implemented, will bring happiness and fulfillment. Under the rule of our Lord Jesus Christ men and women are on the same team. They have God-given roles of being subject to others in many relationships, but before God they are equals. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:27-28). From the role of Government, to business, to the local church, God has given an order, namely, that we all must be subject to rulers, bosses and a local eldership among the other relationships we may sustain (Rom 13:1-4, Col 3:22; Heb 13:17).

Sadly, in the culture wars there are hurtful, mindless philosophies taught in the public schools that are being used as weapons to pit men against women. In a Waco, Texas newspaper it was reported that last November the parents of a 4 year old boy received a letter stating that their child was involved in "inappropriate physical behavior interpreted as sexual contact and/or sexual harassment" after the boy hugged a teacher's aide. This child was suspended and a letter placed in his record! I wish that this kind of insanity was an isolated instance, but more and more in this country we are seeing purely gender-based stereotyping and attacks based on indoctrination rather than on a real understanding of men and women.

How the Church is Being Affected

I believe the hostility of our culture towards authority in general and towards the role of man in particular has greatly affected Christians today. From the break-up of homes, to the bombardment of propaganda through television and movies, examples of real men, those who love God and selflessly serve their families as loving heads, are rarely seen. Brethren, we must give renewed emphasis on the role of men or future generations will be lost.

What Does it Mean to be a Man?

When we are determined to allow God’s word to mold our lives then we will diligently seek God’s path for men. Consider this short list with the corresponding scriptures.

1. A man is to be subject to God (1 Cor 11:3). Respect for authority, brought about by knowing the love and grace of God, is the foundation that every man must stand upon.

2. A man must be trained to be a spiritual leader. God has by design placed men in leadership roles in both Old and New Testaments (1 Sam 4:3; 1 Tim 3:2). Leadership must be taught by word and also seen by example (1 Cor 11:1; 2 Tim 2:2).

3. A man must develop maturity and courage to stand and face the hard issues of life. It is my prayer that each of you had the example of such a father in the home in which you were raised. Real men serve and suffer while the cowardly pleasure-seekers of today abandon their responsibility and their homes. “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things” (1 Cor 13:11). “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Cor 16:13).

We Need More Men in Local Churches

There is a great dearth of leadership in many of the churches that I have been acquainted with. It is very rare to see qualified men serve as elders in local congregations. Without qualified men to serve as elders, churches have correctly turned to a meeting of the men as a place to make final decisions. Unfortunately, the men’s business meeting is also a place where the lack of real men is painfully seen.

How does the local church where you attend deal with problems? When a real problem is faced by a local church then real men will stand up while cowardly ones will disappear. A common, but sad experience, is for a faithful man to stand up and confront a well recognized problem only to find that he is standing alone. I have likened it to being in a “gunfight at the OK corral” with the wind blowing though your hair facing some fierce opponents while there are many “men” who are spectators content with doing little more than sitting on their hands and watching the conflict. In some cases the man who takes a stand is crushed and the status-quo of doing nothing is maintained. But something else also happens in this event. Future potential leaders are either taught what it is to be a man, or taught that it is better to be a coward. Is it any wonder why some older churches have never had elders?

How Can We Help to Raise Up More Men?

Godly men can teach their sons by both word and deed how to be men (Eph 6:4).

Godly wives can have a great influence when they show respect towards their husbands. This will bring out the best in them. “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Eph 5:33).

Christians must insist that local churches face and solve the spiritual problems that will come over time. It is in this process that a church can maintain its work of building men up. When a local church delays or ignores problems then it will guarantee not only future strife, but also teach a cowardly approach to all problems (Heb 13:15).

May we have more examples of faith and courage as Paul described in his letter to the Thessalonians. “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thess 1:5-8).

Dial-A-Bible-Study (Recorded Messages)

(434) 975-7373

Free Bible Study Materials

Call Anytime!

www.cvillechurch.com

E-Mail: larryrouse@cvillechurch.com

A Response to Our Daily Progress Ad

Response to Local Newspaper Ad "A World Without Jesus"

Sir,
Do you really believe that those who do not believe in Jesus have no morals? Do you think all the Jews, Moslems, and Hindus of the world have no morals If you think those who do not accept Jesus live with no meaning to life then you are truly part of the American Taliban. This kind of intolerance for others is why our brave children are fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Shame on you for disrespecting the very values of religious tolerance that were sacred to our founding fathers including a fellow Virginian, Thomas Jefferson. If you were really true to the teachings of Jesus you would not encourage such blatant intolerance on the part of your followers. People who follow such ignorant teachings are the same kind of people who fly planes into buildings to kill "non-believers" . Shame on you - you do not represent the America that I believe in - Christian or otherwise. It's unfortunate that you give those of us who believe in freedom another reason to be ashamed of those who claim to speak for us in Virginia - much like the shameful, un-American statements of Virgil Goode. Maybe we should take your beliefs one step further and have all non-believers rounded up and put into camps.

What do you think ?

Mike & Toby Charlottesville, VA

My Response

Dear Mike,

I want to thank you for taking time to respond to our short newspaper ad “A World Without Jesus” that ran in the Daily Progress. I never intended to suggest in the article that “those who do not believe in Jesus have no morals.” I would join with you in opposing that view! Let me explain what I was attempting to communicate in the ad.

As a Christian, I believe that the historical Jesus was God “in the flesh” (Jn 1:1-3, 14). Hence, if there was no Jesus, then there would be no God. I wanted then to examine a world where there was no God, no Bible (or any other revelation of His will) and thus no moral restraint given from God. In this very hypothetical premise, I then explained the consequences.

Most world religions would accept the conclusions that I made, i.e. that if there was no God then the world would descend into chaos and immorality. In the Bible there is a description of the loss of morality when men turn from God (Rom 1:17-32).

I am trying to point others to examine the evidence for the existence of God and then to encourage them to find His word. I believe there is a desire in every man to know our creator. I do, however, acknowledge that men have perverted that innate desire of man to seek God into a source of much evil. When we have the Taliban, suicide bombers, and mind-controlling cults, then we can see how any religion can be perverted. Some of our church members previously lived in Saudi Arabia and experienced this mindless use of religion to enslave men and promote a political structure. I would also join with you in opposing such.

As a Christian I do not believe my efforts are best spent in the pursuit of politics and specific political candidates. I will pray for whoever enters into public office (1 Pt 2:13-17).

I am a relative newcomer to this area. From my observations many here take their politics more seriously than religion. In Alabama, the state where I moved from, many take college football more seriously than religion! It is my goal to leave those things for others to dispute.

If you wanted to reread the ad it is posted on my blog here:
http://larryrouse.blogspot.com/2006/10/world-without-jesus.html

Also, if you wish to examine what we teach then we have a website with all of our sermons and classes posted here:
www.cvillechurch.com

I again thank you for your response, and hope that you will have a different perspective concerning what I was trying to communicate. These short ads are a real challenge to clearly communicate a message.

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

In Christian Love,
Larry Rouse

Dial-A-Bible-Study (Recorded Messages)
(434) 975-7373
Free Bible Study Materials
Call Anytime!
www.cvillechurch.com
E-Mail: larryrouse@cvillechurch.com

The Power of a Relationship

by Larry Rouse
www.cvillechurch.com


God created man to be a social creature. Because of this everyone has a God-given need to form relationships with others. “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him" (Gen 2:18). God let Adam first see his need for companionship and then responded by creating Eve (Gen 2:19-23). Today there are many, because of their immaturity or because of their past hurts, that have tried to deny this need and live apart from others. All who take this path will live a lonely and painful life.

Our need for a relationship is also central in God’s drawing us to Him. God’s care, His understanding, His wanting to listen and communicate with us and His willingness to know and meet our real needs are revealed in the scriptures. “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psa 36:7).

The real focus of our faith is found in coming to “know God.” ”And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17:3). When we do this, we will slowly be changed to be like Him. Those who “walk with God” will find their lives transformed and filled.

Our adversary, Satan, will not sit idlely by without trying to destroy this relationship by offering substitutes. I believe this is Satan’s most powerful weapon. As Christians, we need to look carefully at which relationship is the most important to us, that of God or that of other men. From doctrinal issues, to the use of our time and our lives, our priorities in relationships will be seen. May we always stand with Paul as he wrote: “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Gal 1:10).

The Example of Korah

Over the years I have seen men do things that made no sense whatsoever, until I examined their relationships. One of the more stunning examples in the Bible of how a relationship could influence others is found in the rebellion of Korah. Korah led a very “effective” rebellion against Moses. He used his relationship with “men of renown” to sway a majority of people to claim Moses and Aaron had cheated them by binding upon them their “traditional” view of the unique work of the priesthood. “They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (Num 16:3).

Once the discussion turned from the revealed will of God to man’s sense of “fairness” then Satan was able to use all of the tools in his arsenal. No doubt that these leaders of the various families had time to spread their anger in private meetings about the “legalism” of Moses and Aaron in their insistence that only priests could be used in the offering of incense in worship to God. Anger is an effective tool in shutting down the mind and inciting men to “mob action.” “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Prov 18:19).

Most of those in the wilderness did not know God, and, as a result, they failed to reasonably look to see how God had displayed His authority so that they could clearly know His will. From the signs given to Pharaoh in the freeing of the people, to the parting of the Red Sea and ultimately in the delivering of the 10 commandments, God had shown to Israel over and over again that Moses was His spokesman. Many of the people, however, because of their relationships, were not going to accept this truth.

The Destruction of Korah and his Associates

The end of Korah and his fellow troublemakers was predicable. After several appeals to reason, God made a powerful display of His wrath upon Korah’s new approach to worship. Imagine watching this scene as “the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly” (Num 16:31-33).

The Stunning Response of the People

After seeing this incredible display of the direct wrath of God, any rational man would assume that the people would now understand God’s way and the role that Moses played as God’s servant. Here is where we see the diabolical power of relationships in the hands of Satan. The poison had already been effectively delivered by Korah in destroying the respect the people should have had for Moses. Because these falsehoods had been delivered by ungodly men that the people had come to trust and love but were now dead, these people are now ready to fight Moses, God and anything else that got in their way of their anger. “On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord” (Num 16:41). Did Moses open up the earth and cause these men to be swallowed up? No, but these people clearly wanted the relationship with these ungodly men over a relationship with God. All of these men died in the wilderness and never entered the Promised Land.

The Battle Before Us Today

I have seen the rebellion of Korah replayed many times in my life. As churches are swept away by apostasy, most “arguments” consist of social pressure and ridicule rather than an open study before the God that we should fully trust. Great preachers, influential men and past “great” relationships are held before us as “proof” that we are “traditionalists” or “legalists” and therefore should line up with the majority. Others will follow their children in rebellion by “restudying” the subject of divorce and remarriage after their offspring needed to justify a new marriage that was contrary to God’s teachings. Others will blindly follow editors of gospel papers, or elders of local churches out of a loyalty to a relationship and in opposition to the plain teachings of God’s word.

The Path Less Traveled

Build your faith upon God. Come to know His will and turn away from those who would use social pressure to bring you into bondage to men. While you may lose relationships, you will never be alone. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me” (Jn 16:1-3) Later in the same chapter Jesus pointed to His future example: “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:32-33).

Let us draw near to our God that will never leave us alone!

ADDITIONAL FILES
Sermon Outline
Audio
Power Point

Dial-A-Bible-Study (Recorded Messages)
(434) 975-7373
Free Bible Study Materials
Call Anytime!
www.cvillechurch.com
E-Mail: larryrouse@cvillechurch.com

Humble Enough to be Thankful

by Larry Rouse
www.cvillechurch.com


The key to finding an abundant and meaningful life is in the grasp of every man. Jesus plainly promised, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The first step in finding that kind of life is to recognize God and be thankful.

The Gentile world rejected the simplicity and power of God’s plan for one that required a greater “knowledge,” and a greater effort, only to find that it resulted in terrible pain and anguish. They looked at the obvious evidence for the existence of God and chose not to “glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.” Their new “world view” caused them to become “futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom 1:20-21). Later, in their modern “guilt-free” lifestyle, they found their lives descending into misery as they “received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion” (Rom 1:27 NIV).

The Gentile world was not alone in such a path. The Jews, even though they outwardly acknowledged God and even mouthed words of thankfulness, had failed to truly be thankful in their hearts. What was the result? ”Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom 2:4-5).

Why is Thankfulness Difficult?

In order to be thankful you must first get “out of yourself” and recognize the unseen God. Many angrily refuse to do that. Why? Because they rightly know that acknowledging God also means acknowledging His moral standard, and they simply refuse to do that. ”And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (Jn 3:19-21).

For the same reason it is difficult for the “religious” man as well. Hypocrisy results when one refuses God’s moral standard while, at the same time, seeks a religious reputation so he can have the praise of men. This unthankful man must live in a world where he hides from his sin but pretends to be happy. In every case of dishonesty, both with the religious man and with the worldly man, the end result is a darkened and hardened heart. There is no joy in this kind of life.

Consider the Powerful Blessings Thankfulness Unlocks

There is a great comfort and joy in acknowledging God’s unmerited and personal gifts in each of our lives. Every man can come to see the God who gives to all men and wishes to be known by His giving. When one yields his life to God in thanksgiving, he will have an abundance that can never be taken away. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Lk 12:32-34).

When we are thankful we become aware of the presence of God. We can look back and see how He has worked in our lives. We can look up and know His daily care for us and we can be confident that He sees and knows every event in our lives (Mt 6:25-26).

Rest assured that this is not a mindless thankfulness based upon pretence and wishful thinking, but it is firmly based upon the God revealed through His written word. We can do as Jesus did when hung upon the cross and look back with assurance knowing that our God is “Enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Ps 22:3). Throughout history and throughout the Bible, we know that our God always answered prayers and provided for His people. Therefore I know that He never will forsake us! This thankfulness will turn into a strong confidence that the Bible calls hope. The Hebrew writer proclaims “...it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast..” (Heb 6:18-19).

Thankfulness in Suffering

Often through suffering we find the greatest blessing of thankfulness. In weakness and pain it is easy to see ourselves as we truly are, helpless creatures completely dependent upon God. We would do well to have this kind of humility in the midst of our abundance, but it is extraordinarily hard to do so. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was given as a gift of God lest he be “exalted above measure”. Paul went on to explain “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:8-10).

Helen Keller, a woman born blind and deaf in a time where little hope was given to such a person, could look back on her life and acknowledge God. She said: “I thank God for my handicaps; for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.” Also she proclaimed: “For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that he has vouchsafed me knowledge of his works; deep thanks that he has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to-a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song."

In Order to go Forward, We Must Look Back

As you take time to make plans in your life, be sure to first look back and acknowledge God’s work in your life. From your New Years resolutions to your ordinary daily plans, acknowledge God. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever” (Psa 145:17-21).

What has the God of heaven done for you? Give thanksgiving to Him!

Dial-A-Bible-Study (Recorded Messages)

(434) 975-7373

Free Bible Study Materials

Call Anytime!

www.cvillechurch.com

E-Mail: larryrouse@cvillechurch.com