Let’s Simply Get Along: Righteousness Beyond Disagreement

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The psalmist said, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity. Let’s allow God’s people from God’s Word to help us all simply get along. That’s today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.

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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.

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Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.

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Well, thank you always to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. It’s so good to have you. Join us each and every opportunity here for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. You know, in Hebrews 11 and verse 6, the Bible says, “…but without faith it is impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” So we must seek God, come to God, His will and His way. So may we seek God through our study today, that we may find and understand the One in whom we believe. Now today, friends, this is from our series, A Sermon I Heard. And these are sermons that I hear in my travels with International Gospel Hour. I hear these from other good brothers in Christ, and today… Originally, the lesson is titled, God’s People Know How to Get Along. So let us consider our reading from Romans 12, or rather Romans 14, beginning with verse 12 through verse 19. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another any more, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Friends, what a wonderful text. And today, let us all pursue the pattern of simply getting along. And you know, that begins with every one of us. You know, let me pause here. Maybe the following free online study will be of help to you, dear friend. This is one of our many offers we share from International Gospel Hour. And here is our J-Web with those details.

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Where did we come from? Looking for a purpose in life? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Our friend and evangelist Rob Whitaker conducts a great study called Believe the Bible. Please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.

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Friends, first of all, let us simply get along by watching our tongues. Oh, is this not a challenge for every one of us? If we could just reach for those words before they make it to someone’s ears, when they come out of our mouths and the regret we have, if we could just reach for them before they make it to someone’s ears. But it doesn’t work that way, does it? That’s where we need to work on ourselves and watch ourselves. Ephesians 4.29 says, Let no unwholesomeness word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Let us grow in knowing when to put an arm around someone or say what needs to be saying at the right time to avoid gossip and slander and those unwholesome words that simply will not do any good. Paul once again said in Colossians 4, 6, Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. And James 1.26, if anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. You know, building upon these scriptures, friends, let’s think about what we have heard before. And such as, let our words pass through the following three gates. Is it true? Is it kind? And is it necessary? And to simply get along, it must begin with our effort first. So, first and foremost, great lesson from the Scripture, let’s watch our tongues. Number two, let us simply get along by watching our tempers. James 1, verses 19 and 20, This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Now, often I have commented on this, that we have two ears and one mouth. Let’s use accordingly. The book of Proverbs has some inspired thoughts on anger. Now, for our time consideration, I’ll only share a couple. But there are a couple of my favorites. Proverbs 14, 29. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. Understanding helps us to understand and to grow in that which also slows our anger. How about Proverbs 19, 11? A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger. In other words, a good definition of this verse is, some things are just simply not worth fooling with. Some things should just simply be, or allow them to be let go and go onward. You know, friends, there is more regret over losing one’s temper than not. And a great understanding of God’s commands allows us to grow in our discretion and direction. So let’s watch and work on those tempers, friends. And I want to tell you, that begins with yours truly. Because through the years, I’ve had to work on mine. Not quite where I want to be, but I’m thankful I’m not where I once was. Here’s a third one. Let us simply get along by watching our hearts. Proverbs 4.23 says, Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. And when I look at Jeremiah the prophet, and the Lord through Jeremiah said, The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. You know, God knows what is in our hearts, friends. And when he’s writing here to Jerusalem who has left him, indeed they had hearts that were desperately sick, that deceived them to follow after the world and the things therein and to move them from God. You know, I recall a time, matter of fact, in Acts chapter 2 and verse 37, after they had heard the preaching of the gospel of Christ, they were pricked in their hearts. And it caused them to make a change. They even asked, men and brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Friends, what a beautiful thought. Let me ask you a question. Would it help us to get along with others if our hearts were in the right place? Indeed, they were. Indeed, they will, rather. So what we’d like to do is, I want to pause here. We’ve got an awesome Bible study that we think will be of help to you. Maybe this study will help you work on those things and to get your life where it needs to be. Here is our J-Web concerning our Bible study, God and Man.

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An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. another Bible study that is free from IGH, and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.

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Friends, we hope this study today of simply getting along has been of help to you. It’s grateful we can look at the scriptures and see its guidance, but also know that if we are obedient to the gospel of Christ, if we’re saved from sin through our faith in God, our repentance, our confession of faith and baptism into Christ, and to be added to the church, of our Lord Jesus Christ, that that allows us to be separate from the world, and then we are able to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3 and verse 18. We’re able to leave the things of the world and follow after the things that be of God, to seek the things which are above, Colossians 3 and verse 1. You know, I am grateful for my brother and friend, actually we like to call him our preacher, Lee Cox of the Union Grove Church of Christ in Cleveland, Tennessee, for the lesson today, or simply a sermon I heard, and how grateful I am for Lee’s good work. and thankful for His blessing upon me in my life. Friends, may we help you find a Church of Christ in your area. We’d love for you to meet those wonderful people. We’ll gladly contact them for you. However, we’d like to speak to you first. So if you’re interested, call us 855-444-6988 and just simply say, I’d like to find a Church of Christ, and we’ll get back with you. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. That’s the International Gospel Hour. And we’ll continue our studies together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on our broadcast of the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie and friends, keep listening.

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God be with you till we meet again Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again