“Avoid the Path of the Wicked”
Keith Greer

The word “warn” means “to give notice beforehand of danger or evil, or to call to one’s attention.” God, in His infinite wisdom, gave man many warnings in this life. Why has God given us this particular warning in Proverbs?

Since we are living in the world, we are going to come into contact with a variety of people everyday. Often the lives of our neighbors, friends, and sometimes even our loved ones will not direct or encourage us to walk “the straight and narrow.” We see the evil choices that are made by many, but do we have to follow them down the same path? The apostle Paul told the Romans to “...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

During the many years that I have been a child of God, it has amazed me to watch the influence that the world has upon many of my brethren. Why is it not the other way around? Jesus told us to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Why do we not have the effect on them that they have on us?

The answer, I believe, is quite simple. Too often, we are walking down the same paths that those in the world are travelling. In order to set the proper example as a Christian, and have an influence for good, we must “avoid the path of the wicked.” We have to live in the world, but we must not live of the world (1 Cor. 15:33; Rom. 12:10; Titus 2:11-12).

Often, brethren stumble and are overtaken in sin because they “set themselves up.” We need to be careful about finding ourselves in “situations” where the “atmosphere” is geared toward the wicked. It is much easier to “yield not to temptation” when we do not put ourselves in difficult situations.   -The Vegas Drive Messenger

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“The Rain Descended, the Floods Came”
Joe R. Price

The power of water is often taken for granted. Water gives life to every creature on this planet. (Even our bodies are composed mostly of water.) When harnessed, the power of water generates electricity, brings life to arid soil and serves the human good in countless ways. We would die without water.

Yet, the power of water can be devastating as witnessed by the flooding this week here in Whatcom County and across the state of Washington. Tens of thousands of Washington residents were forced to evacuate their homes. Lives were disrupted and homes were destroyed. Travel and commerce was shutdown in parts of the state because of the floods.

God used water long ago to execute His judgment against sinful man. The flood in the days of Noah both saved and destroyed. Eight souls were “saved through water” while “the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water” (1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 3:6). Behold the goodness and the severity of God!

God was gracious to Noah because Noah “walked with God” (Gen. 6:8-9). By faith Noah obeyed God and built the ark according to the commandment of God (Gen. 6:14, 22; Heb. 11:7). Noah heard the word of God and obeyed Him, thus becoming an “heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7).

In order to be saved by grace through faith, every sinner today must hear the words of Christ and obey them. Jesus said: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:24-25). The rains and flood of sin will not overwhelm the person who hears and obeys Jesus; He saves “all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9).

But, to resist and refuse to obey the words of Christ will bring the destruction of sin into one’s life. And like a mighty flood, the power of sin will destroy the soul: “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matt. 7:26-27).

The water of baptism will save you from your past sins through the death and resurrection of Christ just as water saved Noah when he obeyed God by building the ark (1 Pet. 3:21; Rom. 6:3-4). Be protected from the devastation of sin by the power of Christ and His gospel. Hear and obey Jesus now by believing in Christ and confessing your faith, repenting of your sins and being baptized into Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 17:30; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). Hear and do the words of Jesus to be eternally saved.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Let No One Deceive You

1. We can all be deceived (Prov. 14:12).
2. In fact, we were all deceived at one time! (Titus 3:3)
3. God’s word helps us identify this possibility and its source, and offers us protection so that we will not be deceived and cheated out of our heavenly reward.

I. YOU CAN BE DECEIVED!  2 Cor. 11:3

II. THINGS WHICH CAN DECEIVE YOU.

  A. The Power and Influence of Sin, Rom. 7:11; 2 Pet 2:19; 1 Jno. 2:16; Jas. 1:14-15; 1 Cor. 5:6; 15:33; Col. 3:5-9, 12-13; 1 Jno. 2:15.
  B. Yourself (self-deception), 1 Cor. 3:18; cf. Deut. 11:16; Lk. 18:9-12; Prov. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:18; Lk. 18:14; Rom. 12:3; 1 Jno. 1:8.
  C. Evil People Who Cause Division, Rom. 16:17-18; Col. 2:4; 2 Pet. 2:3; Tit. 3:10-11.
  D. Deceitful Teachers, 2 Ths. 2:3; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 Cor. 14:37; Eph. 5:6; 2 Ths. 2:15 (1 Ths. 2:13).

IV. “CULT” IS A PREJUDICIAL LABEL, Phil. 3:17-19; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16.

V. THE BIBLE ESTABLISHES DOCTRINE.

  A. Understandable, Eph. 3:3-5; 5:17.
  B. It Applies to All Men, Matt. 28:18-19.
  C. It Is From God, Not Man, Gal. 1:11-12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
  D. What the Gospel Produces, Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 11:26; 2:41-42, 47; Eph. 4:4; Jno. 4:23-24; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Jno. 9; Matt. 28:20; 2 Cor. 5:7.