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| NOVEMBER 22, 2020 WESTFIELD CHURCH OF CHRIST 1610 WESTFIELD LOOP, HOUSTON, TX 77073 ELDERS: James Fillyaw: 713-560-5104; Hubert Crowson: 281-732-9606; Jerry Loyd: 713-775-5377; Church Office: 281-821-8531 CHURCH SERVICES Sunday worship services only at 10:00 a.m., until further notice. Amen “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR NOVEMBER 2nd Eathel Jean Higgins; 3rd Sandra Drake; 6th Roy Higgins; 13th Jessica Anthony; 28th James Fillyaw; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR NOVEMBER 21st Roy & Suzie Higgins; 24th James & Karen Fillyaw; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: HEBREWS Chapter 6:1-20: The Peril of Falling Away: Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. Better Things For You: But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Blessed Are They Who Die In The Lord: Part One Huntington (Texas) Church of Christ Bulletin The book of Revelation heralds the ruthless persecution of the church of Christ at the hands of imperial Rome. If written around 95-96 AD, as is usually (and I believe correctly) surmised, it falls in the second period of intense Roman suppression of the Christians, and thus in the reign of the cruel Domitian. Many Christians lost their lives at the hands of this vicious tyrant, but the Revelation impresses us with the notion that dying is not the worst thing that can happen to us: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth:”’ “Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them” (Rev. 14:13). Like so many other areas of life, even death takes on a different aspect, when viewed from the Christian perspective: 1.Blessed are the dead - This is not a statement which may be viewed as universally true. All the dead are not blessed. Neither is death a blessing to all. In fact, if we know anything at all of what the Scriptures teach, in general, about the death of the wicked, it is that their death seals an eternal doom, from which there is no release: “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment” (Heb. 9:27); “. . . the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment . .” (Luke 16:22-23); And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brim-stone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night forever and ever . . And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10, 14-15). On the other hand, the Bible loudly declares how precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints (Ps. 116:15). Some of the dead blessed! 2.Who die in the Lord – The voice from heaven qualifies the proposition under scrutiny here with the certification that those who die “in the Lord” are the dead who are blessed. The New Testament provides to the sons of men a hope which transcends even death itself. Think of how exceedingly precious this promise is: everything which one enjoys in this world is transient, the experience of its pleasure, as well as the thing itself. Take for example some article of clothing. It is worn and enjoyed for a time, then worn out and discarded. A tasty dish of food may be succulent for the moment, but eaten and shortly forgotten. Yet here is something which is enjoyed now, but only most fully realized and known, after we have departed this earthly sphere. This is the promise of God. And it is extended only to those who are “in the Lord” at the time of their departure! As Paul elsewhere said: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Surely there can be no misunderstanding this passage! It grants no promise of hope to those outside of Christ, nor does it hold out any glimmer of a guarantee to those who may have forsaken their first love (Rev. 2:4). All spiritual blessings are in Christ, says the apostle, but surely there is no greater blessing than the promise of life eternal to those who die faithful “in the Lord.” 3.Yea, saith the Spirit - On this important subject of life beyond death we are not left with the speculations or opinions of mere men to guide us. Rather, upon this matter God has spoken. This safely removes it from the arena of human logic or reasoning. Upon every subject God has not revealed information, there are some secret things (Deut. 29:29). In other areas God has spoken “expressly,” that is, “in specific terms” (1st Tim. 4:1). This is one of those things about which God has seen fit to provide plenty of information: “But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep . . .” (1st Thess. 4:13). Part Two Next Week ATTENTION: Let’s not forget to restock the pantry. As a reminder, the pantry is ‘always’ open. If you know of any that have a need that can be supplied by the pantry items, you can get access to the pantry at any time with a phone call. May God bless the volunteers in their effort to help others in need. Amen. NOTICE: The program, ‘In Search of the Lord’s Way’, airs on Sunday mornings. Check your network provider for time and channel. ATTENTION: The worship service at Village on the Park, on Sundays, has been put on hold for an unspecified time. It shall return soon. TEST YOUR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE! ‘Bible Riddles’ You Should Know (Easy From the N.T.): 1.”Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Pilate placed this sign on the cross; What three languages were used? 2.Paul left me in Crete, to set things in order; To appoint elders throughout the young church’s border. 3.I was in charge of the soldiers, to Christ’s death I gave the nod; Scene at the cross convinced me, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. Philippi (Acts 16:16-25); 2. Death (Heb. 9:27); 3. Vengeance (Heb. 10:30). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for November comes from the New Testament book of John. Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over. You can do it. “Jesus said to him (Thomas), ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.’” (John 20:29). REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN After a big dinner at our church, our eight-year-old commented to an elder: “I have a compliment for the cooks. Why so much rice?” “Because rice is good for you, but what’s the compliment?” “Oh, my fault. I always get compliment mixed up with complaint.” Don’t we all? REMEMBER IN PRAYERS…. Norma Hicks; Sharon (Norma’s dtg.in-law); Violet Kendrick & family; Jean Williams; Kenneth Bone; ‘Ro’ Higgins (Roy Higgins son); Selena Baker; Louise Drake; Ramona Jackson; Ed Walker; Ken, Beverly, Kamryn Fillyaw; Ronnie Weaver; Suzie Stephens; ‘Cotton’ Weaver; Evalette Dunbar; Jim & Sande Endy; Amelia Williamson; Rebecca Stone; Faye Stephens; Billie Nelson; Henderson family; Ethel & Hubert Crowson; Don Blackwell; Maya Briggs; J. O’Brien; Donne, Ina & Henry family; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Burns’ dtg. Xavier, to have tests for frequent shortness of breath. Remember her & family in prayers. Sis. Ethel Crowson is at the home nursing facility, 830 Hodgkins, Hou., TX, 77032. Still having medical problems. Remember her & family in prayers. Donnie & Ina Henry doing well. Remember the family in your prayers. Jim & Sande Endy doing well. Remember the family in prayers. Sis. Evalette Dunbar having some tests. Remember her in your prayers. Baby Maya Briggs doing better. Remember her and family in your prayers. Sis. Rebecca (Becky) Stone needs our prayers. Remember Ken, Beverly, and Kamryn Fillyaw in your prayers. Remember Bro. Cotton Weaver in your prayers. Bro. Kenneth Bone doing well and still needs our prayers. Ronnie Weaver still needs our prayers. Ed Walker still needs our prayers. you. Bro. Shawn Henderson & family needs our prayers as they deal with illnesses. “. . . The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE WISDOM OF CHILDREN: Those who know children realize that they have wisdom to impart to adults. They put their own spin on everyday occurrences and give adults new ways of looking at life. For example: “Five-year-old Justus, is very much into words. As he bit into his Burger King hamburger, he said, ‘Isn’t the texture of this dinner just wonderful?’” |