Cornerstone

Think Big – My God is Big. Why should I think small?

Look Far – My God doesn’t react to circumstances. He is into planning eternities.

Expect Much – My God likes to give largely to His people.

Average is Unacceptable – My example is God. When He does something it is always good.

Status Quo is Bad – My God is a God who Acts. He is never idle.

Provision often indicates Divine purpose – When God provides He has a purpose. My God takes care of His work. Normally He takes care of His work by using His people to gain glory for Himself.

By Dr. Gayle Woods

Rom 6:1-4 (4)

All Christians have their baptismal stories. Let me tell you mine. I had been saved for some time and was endeavoring to live for the Lord. I wished, however, to give a symbolic public testimony to the fact that I had made a commitment to follow Jesus all of my life. Therefore, when pastor Robert Thompson, Sr. of the Mt. Zion Church of God (Holiness) congregation announced a baptismal service I asked to be a candidate.

We had no baptismal tank and so we did it the old fashioned way. In mid-November the congregation boarded the school’s bus and headed toward a beautiful creek in the Ozarks south of Mt. Zion Bible School. It was a cold and windy day. When it came my turn I waded out into the water where Bro. Thompson affirmed my testimony of the saving grace of Jesus and then plunged me neath the freezing flood! The cold water shocked my sensibilities. For a symbolic moment I crossed the line into another world. Then I was raised quickly and triumphantly to the symbolic challenges of the Christ-like life. Shivering but warm in my soul I made my way out of the water of testimony into an unfriendly world to stand for my Lord.

It was through this experience that I came to realize that in Romans 6 Paul was trying to equate burial with our separation from a sinful life. In addition, Paul was trying to equate resurrection with the consistent holy life of the Christian.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Job 1:20-22; 2:1-10

In these verses the writer informs us that Job was a model man of God. God boasted of him to Satan saying that “there is none like him in the earth.” What were his distinctives? What set him apart? Four things are mentioned. A look at the Hebrew words might help us in knowing better what kind of behavior and demeanor impress God.

Job was a perfect man – The root of the Hebrew word Tam means to be complete. In many instances it speaks of that which is ethically sound. For example the Psalmist says that we are to be “wholly” Gods (Psa 101). David said, “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Psa 101:2 Tam means to be undefiled or upright and nine of the thirteen times that the word is used speak of Job. “Some of these utterances are no more than asseverations that the speaker is innocent of particular crimes laid to his charge; others are general professions of purity of purpose….Those who make them do not profess to be absolutely sinless, but they do disclaim all fellowship with the wicked, from whom they expect to be distinguished in the course of Providence” (A. F. Kirkpatrick, Cambridge Bible, Psalms, I, p. 87).

Job was an upright man – yashar – to be level, straight, upright, just, lawful. One of the characteristics of the blameless is that they live upright lives. Being upright suggests that the life is not bent toward sinning but rather toward pleasing God completely. Uprightness is a word that characterizes God and the people who emulate Him. It is a quality of heart and mind which causes a person to remain steadfast in his determination to do Gods will even when others cringe and cower under the pressure of differing opinion.

Job feareth God – yare – fearing, afraid – (see last lesson)

Job escheweth evil – sur means to turn aside, depart – Sur is used both in a negative and in a positive sense. It often speaks of the apostasy of Israel. It means to make a distinctive and definite act of removing yourself from where you were before.

To sum up these observations we would have to say that Job was a holy man . . . a model of the holiness lifestyle.

(Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament)

Dr. Gayle Woods

2 Tim 2:20-26 (24)

Dr. C. E. Cowen was a big man. Not only was he of large frame physically but he was also large in spiritual and intellectual impact. He was an influential man and moved freely among the holiness peoples of different movements. He was respected and loved. Something that should not be overlooked, however, is that he was faithful in service. After pastoring for a time Dr. Cowen became the president of Kansas City College and Bible School where he served effectively for 25 years. His life had a powerful impact upon many ministerial students who went out to influence their world. Even after Dr. Cowen left Kansas City College and Bible School he did not pause in service. He started another school while pastoring and continued to be used of God until the Lord called him home. Faithful in service. Who invented the notion that people called of God ever retire except for health or extenuating circumstances. Dr. Cowen understood what Paul meant when he said, “I press toward the mark. . . ” (Ph 3:14) He did not stop until he could say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Ti 4:7) The work is great and it is incomplete. Today we need more pace setters like Dr. Cowen who will remind us that we are saved to serve not to sit.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Ex 2:1-10: (5b,6)

The Doctor had amazing news for our family. “Our X-Rays of Gayle’s spine indicate that he had TB when he was a baby. “For some reason he was cured.”

One weekend I was returning to Mt. Zion Bible School after a visit to my parents. As I topped a hill on the gravel road it took a sudden turn to the right. The car went into a skid. Coming to the edge of the ditch the car began to roll over. The door on the driver’s side flew open and I was thrown out. I lay on my back beside the car. I watched the car teetering on the edge of the ditch. Would it roll over on to me?

A third incident occurred in my Senior year of High School. The boys took a trip to a nearby rock quarry to go swimming. In an attempt to swim across the quarry with my friend, I ran out of steam and began to go under.

A fourth thing happened that year. God showed me that He had preserved my life for a purpose. He wanted me to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God preserved Moses’ life for a purpose. He continues to preserve the lives those who He wishes to use in ministry. Has He guarded your life for a reason?

Dr. Gayle Woods