Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 25 April 2023 10:11

Farewell, Dear Readers
On July 3. 2013 I began this wonderful venture of writing “Thoughts From The Bible.” My thoughts have been Bible-Centered, and so my farewell article should be the same. Bear with me first with an expression of gratitude to the owners and editors of the Clarion for allowing me the privilege to share those thoughts with the whole of Jackson County. Thank you also reader friends. I began my desire to be a Gospel preacher at a very young age of 10 years old. Following my dad’s sermons, when all the adults had left the auditorium, I remember going behind the pulpit and “preaching” to myself what little I could remember of Dad’s sermon. By age 13 he allowed me with the church’s permission to preach my first public sermon. By age 20, God blessed me with the opportunity to become the resident minister of a congregation in the suburbs of Oklahoma City. Now 54 years and 6 months later I’m retiring from full-time local ministry, and I hope to spend the rest of my life preaching around the country in revivals, interim guest preaching, or as a fill-in for some local minister during his temporary absence.

Over the past 65 years, many great men of God, who knew, loved and proclaimed the WORD of God inspired me to search the Scriptures and to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. The Apostle Paul declared in Ephesians 3:8 (KJV) 8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” What a wonderful privilege God has allowed that I could spend my life preaching the Gospel of Christ.

Those who accept the challenge to preach the Gospel must be students of God’s Word, ever searching for God’s Truths and not our opinions. Actually, that obligation is for everyone who would be a follower of Jesus. Acts 17:10-11 (KJV) 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” That, my friends, has been my sole desire in writing the hundreds of weekly articles in the Clarion. I hoped to motivate our readers to search the scriptures – to seek God’s truths, and to obey them.

Man’s acute need today is the saving Word of God. James 1:21 (NKJV) “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Furthermore, man is in need of the purifying, incorruptible seed which is the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:22-23 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

Mankind deserves to be instructed by the Word which will serve as a measuring stick for his judgment –

John 12:48 (KJV) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Thus, we see the need for sound words!! The Apostle Paul wrote the words of God’s Holy Spirit that men would “turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” if “sound doctrine” is not preached (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Furthermore, he wrote that men will give ear to fables, deceits, and false teachings (Titus 1:9-14).

He warned that grievous wolves “shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock:” (Acts 20:28-30). It’s True!! It has come to pass that there are even many preachers who, in the face of so much worldliness, will not take a strong, unyielding stand against the “works of the flesh” of Gal. 5:19-21 – nor for the fundamental truths that ALL men must accept to be saved. May God bless you, dear reader, in your search for His Truths that set us free (John 8:32).

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.

-Terry Broome