THE SPIRIT’S SWORD
"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
THE SPIRIT’S SWORD
"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
published by
Mt. Baker church of Christ
Visit our Web Sites:
Mt. Baker church of Christ:
http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
BIBLE ANSWERS: http://www.bibleanswer.com
In this issue:
BY FAITH MOSES KEPT THE PASSOVER A Series on
Hebrews 11 (Part 13)
Jeff Herrin
Prior to the final plague, God delivered a grave
warning to Moses. Like Noah, Moses learned that a terrible judgment was coming
and God offered but a single way of escape. "By faith he kept the Passover and
the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them"
(Heb. 11:28).
The peril of this destroyer was unexpected and unpredictable. The Israelites had
opportunity to prepare, but there was nothing outside of the word of God to
suggest any urgency in preparing. No remarkable storm clouds appeared to herald
the coming destruction. Today God's word warns us to prepare for the judgment.
Hearing this word can produce the faith to save our souls (Rm. 10:17), but many
people look to their homes and checkbooks to forecast their daily activities. It
took faith to get the Israelites to act and we must have the same faith to act
today.
Moses believed God's warning concerning the death of the firstborn and as a
result he instituted the Passover. A frantic effort to teach the Israelites and
prepare the required feast ensued. Many lives were spared by Moses' efforts at
this time. Surely there is a lesson here for us if we believe God's word. When
the lepers discovered the food of Syria as Samaria starved, they recognized
their responsibility saying, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good
news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will
come upon us" (II Kgs. 7:9). They had discovered a way of salvation and there
was no time to be wasted in sharing the news. Paul said, "I am a debtor both to
Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise" (Rm. 1:14). Moses owed the
Israelites the Passover, the lepers owed the Israelites the food, and we owe
people the gospel.
Finally, it took faith to implement the strange plan of the Passover. The peril
wasn't obvious and, furthermore, what could putting blood on your door posts and
eating a feast do to stop a plague anyway? It was a strange plan for salvation.
It is only with hindsight that we can see how it was symbolic of the salvation
we attain by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who is our Passover today. God's
requirements may be difficult to understand. We may think we have a better way,
but God's word kept the Israelites from being destroyed in Moses' day and it
continues to provide the only shelter from the perils of sin.
DOING THE REALLY HARD THINGS
Greg Gwin
There are some difficult things that God commands
us to do. It's hard, for example, to go to a brother or sister who has sinned,
look them in the eye, and tell them that they must repent. It would be much
easier to simply "look the other way", but God says we must go to them (Luke
17:3). It's hard to approach a weak Christian, point out their serious neglect
of duty, and urge them to turn back to God. It would be easier to just "let it
slide", but God says we must speak to them (Gal. 6:1). It's hard to finally
withdraw yourself from a disciple who has sinned and refuses to repent. It would
be easier to ignore the situation and act as though nothing had happened, but
God says such action must be taken (1 Tim. 6:3-5). To all of you who obediently
do these difficult things, we express our thanks and admiration. You are truly
"the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:13-16).
Now, may we say a word to those of you who might be on the receiving end of such
actions? We hope that you understand that your brothers and sisters take no
delight in doing such things. It gives them no perverse sense of pleasure. There
is no morbid gratification that comes from this. Surely you can see that it is
truly difficult. Your fellow Christians can think of a thousand things they
would rather be doing.
There is absolutely no enjoyment in this. But they do it anyway, because they
know two things: 1) God commands them to do so, and 2) It is in your best
interest. Please try to understand this, and if it becomes necessary for someone
to come to you - in a conscientious effort to serve God and you - please respect
them for it. Respect them, appreciate them, and love them for their deep concern
for your soul. They are doing one of the really hard things that at God calls
upon His people to do.
BRIEF EXHORTATIONS
David Riggs
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty
spirit before a fall." (Prov. 16:18)
While campaigning for the presidency in August 1928, Herbert Hoover said, "We
are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of
any land. The poorhouse is vanishing from among us. We have not yet reached the
goal, but we shall soon be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished
from this nation." Americans found Hoover's words highly gratifying, and he was
elected by a landslide. Less than a year later, however, the stock market
crashed, beginning the Great Depression.
For the complete text of the following sermon, visit
BIBLE ANSWERS at:
http://www.bibleanswer.com/judgjesu.htm
JUDGING JESUS
(Scripture Reading: John 7:24)
1. Greatest religious question every man must answer is "Who Is Jesus?"
2. Jno. 7:24 - Jesus invites righteous judgment of Himself (use His words and
works - 7:50-51).
I. HIS IDENTITY: WHO WAS HE?
A. He Claimed To Be God - Jno. 5:17-18; 8:58; 10:30-36.
B. What People Said (Say) About Him - Jno. 7:12ff (Matt. 16:13-16).
1. v. 12 - Good man (cf. Good moral teacher - Moral man doesn't lie!).
2. v. 12 - Leads astray.
3. v. 20 - Have a demon (Deluded, deranged, visions of grandeur).
4. v. 31 - Believed (Untested - Matt. 27:20-22) - "the prophet", Christ (7:40,
26-27, 41-42).
II. HOW WILL WE JUDGE WHO HE WAS (IS)? - 7:24.
A. His Teachings - Jno. 7:14-18.
-His claims: To speak from God (7:15-18), from above (Jno. 8:23-24), sinless
(Jno. 8:46), rise from dead (Matt. 16:21; Jno. 11:25), the way, truth life,
light (Jno. 14:6; 8:12), all should love/obey Him (Matt. 10:37; Lk. 6:46; Jno.
14:15).
B. His Works - Jno. 7:19-23.
1. What do His works say about Him?
-That He is the Christ, the Son of the living God! - Jno. 11:47; 10:37-38
(20:30-31).
Noteworthy News
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
UT'S $3,500 MASCOT COSTUME STOLEN
Copyright © 1999 Nando Media
Copyright © 1999 Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (October 7, 1999 9:50 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) -
Smokey, the University of Tennessee's 6 1/2-foot-tall bluetick hound mascot
costume, is missing.
Adam DeVault, who for four years has pranced, danced and flipped along the
sidelines in the $3,500 outfit, discovered the costume stolen from his apartment
just hours after the Tennessee-Auburn football game Saturday. "It's really made
me sick," said DeVault, a 23-year-old graduate student.
The costume was the only thing missing, he said. The thief apparently entered
through an unlocked balcony door sometime between midnight and 1 a.m.
Susie Gorman-Aierstok, who oversees the cheerleaders, dance team and Tennessee
Hostess program, said she didn't want to say anything about the disappearance of
the 12-year-old outfit until now.
"We were afraid that if it got out, they would just throw it away," she said.
Now she's publicly pleading for the costume's return, and promising not to bring
charges against whoever brings Smokey home.
COMMENTARY
Joe R. Price
Every football team should be so lucky as to have bluetick hound dog for a
mascot! By all means, bring Smokey home (no offense intended to University of
Tennessee students or fans)!
Could be it be that you, although a Christian, are walking through life wearing
a costume? Are you pretending to be something or somebody you are not? If so,
you need to repent of the sin of hypocrisy and live a genuine life, not a
deceptive one (1 Pet. 2:1-2; Col. 3:5-11).
It has been said that character is who we are when nobody is watching. But we
should never forget: God is always watching! (Heb. 4:13) Let us live holy lives
which are genuine, not feigned.
The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
Send all questions, comments and subscriptions to the editor at: ssword@bibleanswer.com