This article discusses having full assurance in spiritual matters, particularly in one's origin, God, and salvation. It argues that while people can be confident in worldly things, ultimate assurance comes from knowing one's origin is from God as the Creator, having faith in God who cannot lie, and trusting in God as the eternal judge. The article encourages taking inventory of what one has full assurance in today, suggesting it should be in God above all else.

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Hugh Vol. 44 January 22, 2019 Number 3
FULL ASSURANCE
By Barry Kennedy
Have you ever had full assurance in something? The word assurance, as
defined in Webster’s II Dictionary Office Edition, means “1. a statement intended
to inspire confidence: guarantee. 2a. Certainty. b. Self-confidence. 3. Audacity:
boldness.” No doubt, we all have experienced full assurance in some area of our
lives. It could be (should be) the case that we have full assurance in our marriage
relationships (Genesis 2:24, 25; Matthew 19:6). Maybe we have full assurance in
our carriers? No matter how much confidence we may have in this world, there is a
possibility that we can be wrong. Solomon put it this way, “There is a way that
seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs
16:25). What really matters is whether or not we have full assurance in our spiritual
lives. This in turn will help to sure up the other aspects of life (i.e. marriage, carrier,
etc.).
Do we have full assurance in our origin? Where did we originate? Many
“great minds” have sought an answer to this question. Some have become so
intelligent that they cannot accept the truth that God is the source of all life. “In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The problem many
have, realize it or not, is man does not like to be held accountable. Wayne Jackson,
Kyle Butt, and Eric Lyons have written the book “Surveying the Evidence” which
deals with the evidences of creation and God’s existence. In this book on page 27
they state:
Let us thus sum up like this: (1) Life was either spontaneously
generated by accident from inorganic substances, or it was created
purposely by an eternal force. . . (2) But all evidence indicates it does not,
and could not, start spontaneously by chance. (3) The evidence forces one
to believe that life originally was created by an Eternal Life Force!
Please notice that in Genesis 1:1 there is no attempt made to try and
establish the existence of God. Moses set forth to proclaim that the origin of this
earth, the cosmos, and all things in them are from God. This is important because of
the destination we all face. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Do we have full
assurance in this truth?
Do we have full assurance in our God? Many people profess a faith in the
God of Heaven and earth. The problem is that far too often this “faith” is not one of
full assurance. Think about how close the apostles were to Jesus, yet they still
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ELDERS
Mike Childers..............397-6453
Dennis Hallmark .........255-5557
Mark Hitt.....................322-0917
Bobby Lindley.............260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan.................419-5552
William Harris.............416-8149
Ricky Lindsey .............255-8136
Jeff Mansel..................871-0357
Jimmy Spearman.........840-8957
Michael Wilson ...........891-0891
PREACHER
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office...........................842-6116
Fax...............................842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship....................... 9:00 a.m.
Bible Classes............. 10:15 a.m.
Worship..................... 11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes .....7:00 p.m.
EAST MAIN CHURCH OF CHRIST
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

2. --article continued from page 1--
found themselves lacking in faith (full assurance)
from time to time. Peter walked on the water until
he lost his assurance (Matthew 14:25-31). Jesus
accused Peter of having “little faith” because he
doubted. Thomas is another example of one needing
full assurance (John 20:24-29). When Jesus was real
to him, he had the assurance enough to say, “My
Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Is God real to us?
Is He in fact our Lord and our God?
Why should we have full assurance in
God? This is a good question and one that should
be answered. There are many reasons as to why we
should trust in God. First, because God cannot lie
(Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). Second, because of who
God is, Creator and Sustainer of life. Design re-
quires a designer, effect must have a cause, and
nothing only produces nothing. “For in six days the
Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in
them is. . .” (Exodus 20:11). God is also the
sustainer of life according to Hebrews 1:3, and
Colossians 1:17. Third, because God will be our
judge in the last day. “For therefore we both labor
and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living
God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of
those that believe” (1Timothy 4:10).
We are given such wonderful blessings in
this life (John 10:10). However, those blessing of an
abundant life are nonexistent to the soul that lacks
full assurance. Would Jesus say to us today,
“Wherefore didst thou doubt” (Matthew 14:31)?
Fear is a dreaded enemy to the Christian life. “For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2
Timothy 1:7). “Sound mind” can be looked at as
being synonymous with full assurance. Take
inventory of your own life and ask the question, “In
what do I have full assurance today?” Make sure it
is in God.
Sr. Bible Bowl
The Senior Bible Bowl will be
held this Sunday, Jan. 27 at the
Antioch congregation in Blue
Springs beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Please see Mark Hitt if you need
material. The bus will leave the building at 1:15.
Visitation Team #4
Visitation team #4, Mike Ratliff’s team, will meet
this Sunday, Jan. 27 after worship services at noon in
the multipurpose room. See Hilda for what to bring.
Thank You Notes
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We cannot express our gratitude to each of you for
the many prayers, letters, cards, calls, food, and the
many acts of kindness so many of you have sent our
way during the previous months on our behalf. Only
as we age and need the support of our dear family in
Christ do we realize how very special each member is
to us. There have been so many of you who have
come to our aid recently. You never know when a
brother or sister will say or do just the right thing to
lift one when they are down. You are all so very
special. Don’t forget, especially as we get older, we
may need the help of a younger hand. We have always
known East Main has been a congregation to help
when any has been in need. Thank you to each for all
your care. Our love and appreciation to each of you,
Marlon & Gail Geno
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks first to God for taking care of us in a great
time of need and to the elders of this congregation for
carrying out His will in providing for us a home and
many other things. We thank every person who helped
out in any way to try to get us back on our feet. We
never once felt really without much, even though we
pretty much had lost everything. We are so proud to
be members of the East Main Church of Christ where
(we know) that whatever lies ahead you are always
going to be here for us. Again, thank you and
continually pray for us, as we pray for you.
In Christian love,
Greg & Tammy Hughes
Community Outreach Item:
Lotion
John Duke is stationed in Long Beach, MS.
Caleb Williams is stationed in Norway.
Dylan Kelly, Steve Kelly’s grandson, is in Kuwait.
Ty Nichols, Patsy Nichols’ grandson, is in Oklahoma

3. Daily Bible Reading
January 23............................................... Exodus 16-18
January 24............................................... Exodus 19-21
January 25............................................... Exodus 22-24
January 26............................................... Exodus 25-27
January 27............................................... Exodus 28-29
January 28............................................... Exodus 30-31
January 29............................................... Exodus 32-24
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Bethany Bryan (Jan. 23), Jordan
Laney (Jan. 24), Ava Bates (Jan. 26), Bettye
Davis (Jan. 26), Melea Mansel (Jan. 26),
Hunter Underwood (Jan. 26), Stephanie
Baldwyn (Jan. 28). Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
Jean Mounce was discharged from UAB on
Monday. Lauren Lindley continues her outpatient
therapy. Eddie Simmons, Casey Gullett and Remi
Kate Kingsley are home sick. Jill Rice, Debbie Vines’
mother, continues at the Sanctuary Hospice House.
Christina Lindley’s uncle, Lee Graham, continues in
the hospital in Dallas, TX, following a stroke. Holly
Hallmark’s father, Gary Wilson, underwent heart
surgery Sunday. Brodey Houpt, Kim Johnson’s
grandson, has an appointment Tuesday at St. Jude for
a checkup.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney, Adam
McCurley, Linda McCurley, Mary Jordan, Bretta
Robinson, James Goddard, Ray Scribner, Bill Goff,
Tommy Goff, Linda Bryan, Mitch Maclean, James
Nichols, Sheba Tuggers, Sherry Gregory, Shirley
Owens, Mickey Bailey, Sammy Carson, Nathan Hale,
Leroy Brown, Mike Stroup, Jadon Parish, Mary Ann
Wallace, Carol Nichols, Laura Jenkins, Mike Scott
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Shirley
McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Creation......................................................Genesis 1
The first sin ................................................Genesis 3
Cain, Abel, and Seth ..................................Genesis 4
Sodom and Gomorrah..............................Genesis 19
Joseph sold by his brothers ......................Genesis 37
List the 12 Apostles:
❖ Peter
❖ Andrew
❖ James
❖ John
❖ Philip
❖ Thomas
❖ Matthew
❖ Bartholomew
❖ James (the son of Alpheus)
❖ Simon
❖ Thaddeus
❖ Judas
PLUS:
❖ Matthias (took Judas’ place)
MEMORY VERSE:
❖ Why do I need Jesus?
❖ Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God.”
❖ Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and
your sins have hid His face from you, that
He will not hear.”
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?

4. Pictures for New Directory
If you have NOT had your picture made for the new
directory we are making ourselves, PLEASE,
PLEASE, do so. Contact Renee Childers.
We are asking EVERYONE to please have their
picture made so that everyone will know who you are.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation!
Men to Serve Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 a.m.
Announcements.......................................Jeff Mansel
Bible Reading.............................................Ian Willis
Opening Prayer ...................................Josh Kennedy
Lord’s Supper
Mike Childers & Larry Presley
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Larry Bates, Dale Dulaney, Terry Kingsley
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Mark Gilliland, Chad Willis, Ricky Lindsey
Lead Singing....................................James Simmons
Closing Prayer..................................Andrew Wynne
Ushers ........................Joe Minor & Jason Dickinson
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ..........................................Joe Smith
Closing Prayer...................................Shawn Mounce
Lead Singing......................................... Wade Bryan
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Prayer .....................................................Mike Ratliff
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Contact Jeff Mansel (871-0357) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ........................ Dennis & Debbie Hallmark
.....................................Mike & Hilda Ratliff
Prepare Lord’s Supper—January......................Terry
& Sherry Kingsley
Nursery....................................Marla & Jenna Harris
Pantry........................................................ Dry beans
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 1-16-19..............................................172
Sunday 1st
Worship, 1-20-19 ...............................188
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................185
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................180
Contribution (budget $7,900)............................7,665