Woodland
Hills Church of Christ
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Sunday, March 4, 2007 Volume 51, Issue 8 You Are Invited..... LADIES DAY Guest Speaker: Sheila Butt Registration begins at 8:30 am.
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS FROM GOD Christians are blessed by God with many spiritual blessings. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed is with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3) Observe from Ephesians 1:3 (1) Spiritual blessings are from God our Father, (2) The blessings are spiritual in nature, (3) The spiritual blessings are in heavenly places (the church) and, (4) The spiritual blessings are in Christ. Following are some of God's spiritual blessings: God gave us His son. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) God gave His only begotten Son for our salvation. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9) When God gave his Son He gave an unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:13) God gave us His church. The church is blood bought. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28) The church is glory bound and will be delivered to God at the end. "But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:23-26) God gave us the Bible. The Bible reveals God, Christ, eternity and salvation. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) The word of God has power to convert. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7) God gave us His promises. "By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4) Observe: (1) God's promises are great, (2) God's promises are "exceedingly" great, (3) God's promises are exceedingly great and precious, and (4) Through these promises we become partakers of the divine nature. God gave us the hope of heaven. Hope of heaven fills the hearts of Christians. "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." (Titus 1:2) God has promised eternal life for the faithful. "And this is the promise that He has promised us - eternal life." (1 John 2:35) Heaven is that wonderful place where the difficulties of this life will be left behind. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) Heaven is that unfading inheritance of the Christian. "To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:4) Spiritual blessings are found in Christ. Are you in Christ? Have you heard the gospel (Romans 10:17); believed in Christ (John 8:24); repented of sins (Acts 17:30-31); confessed your faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32-33) and been baptized into Christ for remission of sins? (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16) Are you faithful in Christ? Spiritual blessings come to those who surrender their lives to the life of Christ. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) By Charles Box
FAMILY NEWS OUR SICK/HOMEBOUND WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS THANK YOU SERVICE GROUPS Service Group #4 please turn in your assignment cards from last week. OUR RECORD NEW QUARTER CLASSES SPRING QUARTER 2007 CHILDREN’S CLASSES (Mar. 4-May 27) Wednesday Night Classes Kid’s Time (Sunday Evening) We extend our sympathy to Janice Doerflein in the death of her brother-in-law who passed away last week in Ventura, California. MEMORIALS CAN YOU HELP?
God Won’t Ask God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but He will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but He will ask how many people you welcomed into your home. God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He will ask how many others you clothed. God won’t ask about your social class, but he will ask about what kind of person you are. God won’t ask about how much money you spend on yourself, but He will ask how much you gave back to Him. God won’t ask what your job title was, but He will ask if you did your best on your job. God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but He will ask what you did to help others. God won’t ask how many friends you had, but He will ask about how many people to whom you were a friend. God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He will ask how you treated your neighbors. God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but He will ask you about the content of your character. God will ask if you loved his Son enough to do His will.
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