Russell's Reasoning's — West Douglas Church Of Christ

Today’s article is number 365 since I started doing these. That is a full year of Sunday bulletins. I must give GOD all the glory for this ministry. The HOLY SPIRIT has touched my mind and has given me the words which I, in turn, share with you. There has been NO NEW TRUTH revealed to me the way some people have claimed over the years. Only the TRUTH that has already been proclaimed in the Bible, GOD’S Holy WORD. I do not think it is a coincidence that today’s topic of exhortation happens to fall at this moment. Exhortation is what these articles have been all about, from the beginning. I have deliberately avoided topics that are heavily laden with controversies. I have also avoided, with a passion, any political discussions, major medical advice, human psychological efforts, or anything else that might be construed as non-Biblical human ideologies or man-made wisdom. The Biblical word EXHORT, comes from two ancient Greek words put together to form a single concept. The prefix is a preposition meaning ‘near’, beside’, by’, ‘among’, as well as other usages. It is the word ‘PARA’. My wife Sandra was a Para for the public school system for many years. She worked beside the teacher, among the children, providing assistance. One example of the word ‘PARA’ in the Bible would be when JESUS walked BY the sea. The other word in Greek is the verb, To Call. When put together you get the verb parakaleó or the noun paraklétos. Paraklétos is the term JESUS used to describe the HOLY SPIRIT in John 14. HE is a HELPER or an ADVOCATE. The term is also used to describe one who comes along side of another to give support, comfort, and encouragement. Yes, there are those who are truly gifted exhorters but exhorting one another is also a command which means it must be learned and practiced. (See 1Thessolonians 5:11) It is my prayer that these short messages each week have proven to be an encouragement to you, an exhortation in Scripture. I also pray that I might be able to continue. May GOD be Praised.

Russell Ashby