There are a number of things to learn spiritually speaking about a simple postage stamp. Well, if you will, let’s mail in this study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay tuned.
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For almost 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
Well, greetings, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for our broadcast from International Gospel Hour. Wherever you may be listening to our broadcast, we are thankful that you’ve chosen to spend time with us today. We appreciate our Jay Webb and his announcements, his introductions, and all.
You’ll hear from him throughout our broadcast, as we will have some free material that you can use in your study of the Word of God. We come to you from the West Fayetteville, Tennessee, Church of Christ in Fayetteville, Tennessee. That’s PO.
Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. We appreciate the oversight of the elders that oversee our work, if you will, at International Gospel Hour. And we are very blessed to have you, our listeners, who desire to pursue truth, and to know said truth, as noted from John 8, 31 through 32, the truth that will make one free.
May we pursue God through our study today, and to know truth, that is, from His Word, which is truth, John 17, 17. You know, friends, while email and texting have become a way of life with communication, there is still one thing for certain. If you mail something through the postal service, you will still need a postage stamp in the upper right hand corner.
Did not Jesus use simple things to teach a multitude of lessons? He took a coin or a child in its midst. Well, today we are going to take something as simple as a postage stamp and bring forth some spiritual lessons.
This is an old lesson from days gone by, and I will give you more information later how you can have that lesson in a very unique way. But first, let me pause for our J-Web, as he has some information about the app for your smartphone or your Android.
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And now, friends, lessons from a postage stamp. First, a postage stamp will work in any position. Now, granted, it goes in the upper right-hand corner on the envelope, but, you know, sometimes accidentally, we put it sideways or upside down, but, you know, it still works.
Great lesson here is, regardless of our position in life, the Lord can still use you, and He can use me. In Isaiah 6 and verse 8, also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I, send me.
Well, friends, just to begin, do you need to begin a walk as a Christian? Now here is Isaiah, the prophet of God, saying, Here I am, send me. But are you ready to be sent?
Have you moved on your faith, repenting of your sins, confessing Jesus as the Son of God, been buried with Him in baptism and added to His church? Dear friends, we can help you toward that end. Because you see, regardless of our position in life, the Lord can still use you, and He can still use me.
In Romans 12.3, Paul says, For I say, through the grace given to me, that every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. So we need to use the ability that God has given us. Regardless of one’s position, one can still be effective and get the job done.
Here’s a second lesson from a postage stamp. It doesn’t make any noise. You know, that is a great lesson concerning humility.
In 1 Peter 5, 5 and 6, likewise you younger people submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. And when in the days of Moses, in Exodus 15, 24, and Exodus 16, in verse 2, when the people complained against Moses, and they complained against Moses and Aaron, well complaining was not doing any good.
The Lord still answered to them. But you know, friends, what if there was more humbling before the Lord than hassling before the Lord? What if there was more commendation and praise to the Lord, rather than complaint to the Lord and others?
You see, a simple little postage stamp continues to do its job. No noise and no complaint. God desires the same from us, does He not?
How about this? A postage stamp, the ragged edge on a postage stamp, doesn’t prevent service. Now, today, stamps are removed much easier from the page when you buy it.
It’s just stuck on it and you peel it off. But some stamps still have a ragged edge. But, you know, either way, it doesn’t matter.
You know, what did Paul state about others that had said about him in 2 Corinthians 10 and verse 10, that his letters were weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and speech-contemptible? Well, friends, it mattered not how Paul looked or his style of speaking, but his words were the words of the Lord. Yes, indeed, they were.
1 Corinthians 14, 37. So one might be considered ragged in looks, but what matters is what comes forth in goodness and truth. Have I got your interest about a postage stamp?
Isn’t this a neat study? You know, another point, a postage stamp may take multiple stamps, but it will equal one price. There are times when one uses a number of stamps to cover the cost of what is mailed.
And there are times where there may be a number of folks to cover a certain job or responsibility. And what a great, inspired illustration from 2 Corinthians 8, 13 and 14, when Paul said, For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but by an equality that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack, that there may be equality. In other words, we may need to come together to help one another.
We may have a positive impact that others may not, that we can help them, and in turn, they can help us. You know, a postage stamp’s usefulness does not depend on the size. I’m going to back up to 2 Corinthians 8 again in verse 12, for if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
Doesn’t depend on the size. That stamp can still be used. It doesn’t depend on your size.
You know, a postage stamp doesn’t ask any questions when placed in service. Hebrews 5.9 reminds us that Jesus, having been perfected, became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Jesus did the will of the Father when he came to this earth, the eternal purpose of God only in Christ, Ephesians 3, 9-12.
Now I like this next one. A postage stamp works well, well, when it’s licked. Now, of course, today, our stamps peel and stick, but many of us may recall licking a stamp in order for the stamp to attach to the envelope.
Now, whether sticking or licking, the stamp will stay put, and friend, when one is obedient unto God, one must stay put regardless. In 1 Corinthians 15, 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. And friends, speaking of sticking, a postage stamp sticks to one thing until it’s finished.
In 1 Corinthians 7, verse 37, to stand steadfast in his heart, while referring to marriage, would also apply to marriage to the Christ. That’s Ephesians 5, 22 through 33. Hebrews 3, and verse 14 says, For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
Well, a great example from a postage stamp, it sticks to one thing until it’s true, until it’s delivered, then it’s done its job. We need to stick steadfastly, or stay steadfast, remain steadfast, and stick to the dedication that we are to have for God. Now friends, this is a simple little lesson using an illustration of a postage stamp.
But have we mentioned some things along the way to get you to thinking that, you know, I can do better, and I can do better placed in service, I can do better, and it doesn’t matter what size I am or what I’m doing, but I do need to begin with making sure that my life is what it should be. Our friends at the World Bible School have a great online Bible study, and I will also share with you they have a good by mail Bible study. You can work online, or you can also receive it by mail.
To receive it by mail, if you want to contact us at 855-444-6988, and simply say World Bible School, and leave us your name and address, we will mail it to you. But if you would prefer to take the study online, here is our J-Web with those details.
Our friends at World Bible School have a wonderful online Bible study available, and it is free. That’s right, it’s free. Please visit worldbibleschool.org and register.
You will be provided a study helper who can answer questions and provide feedback for your lessons. Please sign up today. That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org.
Well dear friends, we hope that you’ve enjoyed our study today on lessons from a postage stamp. Of course, it will work in any position. It makes no noise.
It’s a very humbling, serving little tool. Doesn’t prevent service, and there are a number of things that our lessons today reminded us with a simple postage stamp. Now, if you would love to see this lesson, it is an old chart lesson, or a lesson created on a sheet.
That’s right. And you can see that at our social media page on Facebook, International Gospel Hour. If you go there, you’ll be able to see that.
You can also follow us on social media at Instagram, that’s International Gospel Hour, and even at Twitter, or now X, at OurHOUR underscore Gospel. And then you can see today’s lesson in sheet form, and you can download it and keep it for yourself. We hope that you’ll do that, and we hope you’ll join us.
I’ll get it right again next time. Thanks for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today. To God goes all the glory. And we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way.
To listen to it again, or other broadcasts, please visit our website at www.internationallgospelhour.com.
