And take…the sword of the Spirit, which  is the word of God.   Ephesians 6:17

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 14, Number 06
03/13/2011

Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ

Location:
  
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:

       P.O. Box 30821
 
Bellingham, WA 98228
       (360) 752-2692

Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM

Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
All sing last Wednesday

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers

Editor......Joe R. Price


Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt
Joe Price

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
John Hague
Dan Head



 

In this issue:


As Death Nears
Joe R. Price

     Hospice care is designed and offered by health care professionals and volunteers to ease the physical pain and suffering that leads finally to death. It is a helpful service that offers dignity, pain management and comfort to the person approaching death as well as to their family.

     Many people will not even talk about death; their own or that of a loved one. Yet, that does not retard death’s approach or prevent its arrival. Perhaps they convince themselves that by not talking about death (much less thinking about it) they can avoid its encroachment into their lives. Or, perhaps the topic is too unpleasant and painful for them. Nevertheless, death is common to us all.

     The wise man Solomon teaches us the wise of going to the house of mourning because “that is the end of all men” and, “the living will lay it to heart” (Eccl 7:2). Visit the house of mourning with me for a moment by asking yourself these questions:

     1. Am I ready to die? This is not a question about whether we want to die right now; but whether we are ready to die should it happen now. We do not know when we will die. This is the very reason we must be watchful and ready; only a breath separates life and death. Paul could say, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). Paul was ready to die because he was already living for Christ. That is how to get ready to die as death nears (Jas 4:13-15).

     2. Am I right with God? Your answer to the first question largely depends on how you answer this one. Being right with God does not mean I “think” I am right (remember the people of Matthew 7:21-23). Paul was ready to die because he had fought the good fight, finished the course and kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7). The man with great wealth was not right with God when his soul was required of him, and is a tragic illustration of treasuring up riches but failing to be “rich toward God” (Lk 12:15-21). Get right with God now by obeying the gospel of Christ and living by faith in Him; then you will be right with God as death nears (Mk 16:16; Acts 2:36-41; Gal 2:20).

     3. What spiritual legacy will I leave? It will not be how large a financial estate we leave behind that finally matters. But, each of us will leave a spiritual legacy to the next generation. Will our lives speak beyond the grave of faith, of love for God and of service to others (cf. Heb. 11:4)? Will the next generation know God because of the teaching we gave and life we lived (Psa 71:18)? What spiritual legacy are you preparing to leave as death nears?

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The Christian and Mardi Gras
Jerry Fite

The Mardi Gras season is underway in Galveston. For twelve days celebrations will draw crowds to the Island. There is no doubt that the culture has connected Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” to the Catholic Church’s religious season because the time of celebration moves in accordance to the days leading up to the celebration of Easter. In New Orleans, the streets are immediately cleared at midnight to usher in the Catholic’s observance of Lent.  You have had your “last hurrah” in satisfying your fleshly desires on “Fat Tuesday,” and now you give them up as “Lent” begins. 

The Catholic Church appears to have embraced Mardi Gras, because their web sites sell “Mardi Gras Greeting Cards”. Religious words such as justice (purple), faith (green) and power (gold) are connected with Mardi Gras’ official colors. Connecting Mardi Gras with cultural traditions, religion or even “family fun” cannot masquerade its true character.

Drinking alcohol which lessens inhibitions and self-control takes place on the celebration of Fat Tuesday, or the French, “mardi gras”.  Connect drink with the lively music, boisterous merry making and suggestive bodily movements and you have the ingredients for “reveling”. 

Those walking in the light of the Gospel do not practice “reveling and drunkenness” (Romans 13:13). Giving way to lasciviousness and fleshly lusts; drinking alcoholic beverages while parading through the streets with loud merrymaking; and becoming drunk was a practice of idolatrous people condemned by the apostle Peter (I Peter 4:3-4). The Christian is not to be lured into such lascivious merrymaking for it characterizes those who fulfill “the lusts of men” instead of following “the will of God” (I Peter 4:2). 

On the surface the colorful costumes and floats seem harmless, and even something you would like to enjoy with your children and loved ones. Is throwing beads a sin?

It is the atmosphere characterizing the celebrations that should cause the Christian to pause, think and act in godly wisdom. Alcohol flows freely as the revelers pass through the streets. Inhibitions fade. Fights break out, and girls on a dare flash their breasts for the prize of beads. Parents, do you want your children to see someone extemporaneously parade their body in some sexually suggestive way along the parade route?

Dear Christian, the Catholic Church may not speak out in condemnation of Mardi Gras, for at least the masses will have some sins of the flesh to confess on “Shrove Tuesday”, and lusts to give up on “Ash Wednesday”, but this is not Christianity. 

Pillow your head with good thoughts (Phil. 4:8), instead of holding your head in shame over some toilet. “Live up” to the standards of God’s word, instead of having to “live down” the embarrassing moments of reveling.

-Glad Tidings, XXI:9; February 27, 2011

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

Seek and You Will Find

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 7:7-12

1. What are you looking for in your life?
2. Jesus assures us that we will find if we properly seek, Matt 7:7-8.
3. We will not “find” if we seek selfishly or with double mind (Jas 4:1-4; 1:6-8).
  a. Requires a decision: Josh 24:15.
  b. Requires committed effort: Lk 9:62.
  c. Requires a goal: Col 3:1.

I. SEEK GOD, Acts 17:27; Rom 1:20; Psa 19:1-6

  A. God has made Himself Accessible to You; Isa 55:6-7.
  B. Even after Your Heart has been Far from Him, Lk 15:17-24; cf. Deut 4:23-29.
  C. Must Seek Him with your Whole Heart, Jer 29:10-14 (Matt 22:37).

II. SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM, Matt 6:33.

  A. Willing Submission to God’s Rule in Your Life, Psa 110:1-3; Mk 12:32-34.
  B. Enter the Kingdom through Obedient Faith, cf. Col 1:13-14; Phil 3:20; Heb 12:22-23.

III. SEEK GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, Matt 6:33

  A. Salvation by Faith, Rom 1:17; 3:19-25; 5:1.
  B. Surrender Every False Attempt to be Righteous, Rom 4:1-6; Jas 2:24; Gal 5:4.
  C. The New Man of Righteousness and Holiness, Eph 4:23-24 (Psa 19:14).

IV. SEEK…

  A. Wisdom, Prov 8:17 (4:4-5); 2:1-8; Jas 1:5-8.
  B. Humility, Zeph 2:1-3; Acts 17:30-31.
  C. Peace, 1 Pet 3:11; Jug 6:23-24; Ep 2:14, 17.

Conclusion  We must be active in receiving God’s blessings in our lives. It is time to seek the Lord, Hosea 10:12; Acts 2:38-40.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

Jeremiah: The Man and His Message

Scripture Reading:  Jeremiah 26:1-8

1. Jeremiah was a great prophet to Israel. Name means Jehovah is High/Exalted of God; Jer 1:1, 4-5
2. Worked during a treacherous time in the history of Judah; God sent Jeremiah to announce His judgments against His people, Jer 1:16.
3. Jeremiah teaches us tremendous lessons in the face of trials, Jas 1:2-4.

I. JEREMIAH THE MAN.

  A. Jeremiah was a Man of Faith, Jer 16:1-9 (32:6-7, 9, 14-15; 31:23-28; 31:31-34 (Heb 8:8-13). 2 Cor 1:24; 1 Cor 16:13 (Rom 8:31)
  B. Jeremiah was a Gentle Man, cf. Jer 11:19; 8:18; 23:9 (4:19; 8:21-22; 13:15-17). Matt 5:5, 7; Gal 6:1; 2 Tim 2:24
  C. Jeremiah was a Courageous Man, Jer 1:18-19 (15:20-21); 18:18-20 (26:8-9; 38:2-6; 37:13-15; 29:24-29; 11:19-23). 1 Cor 16:13; Eph 6:10; Heb 13:5-6

II. JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, Jer 1:4-9.

  A. His Message, Jer 1:10.
    1. Denounced sin 1:16; 16:10-13.
    2. Future restoration (mercy), 46:27-28; 29:10
    3. Principle is true today. 2 Tim 4:2-3; Rom 2:1-4; 11:22
  B. His Manner, Jer 1:17-19.
    1. Urgent, 20:9 (2 Tim 4:2).
    2. Decisive, 37:16-17 (Acts 24:25).
    3. Consistent, 1 Tim 4:16 (2 Tim 2:24-26; 3:16-17).

III. JEREMIAH AND JESUS.

-There are a number of ways in which Jeremiah foreshadows the Christ.

Conclusion   Jeremiah is surely among those “of whom the world was not worthy!” Heb 11:38

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Tsunami
Joe R. Price

“…the waters of the flood were on the earth…on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened… Now the flood was on the earth forty days... And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth…” (Gen 7:10-21)

Power. Raw, sheer, unyielding power. Videos of the Japanese tsunami show the utter force of the waves stirred by a massive earthquake under the ocean floor. The flood waters wrecked havoc as it flowed inland. Now, image the forces at work when Noah and his family were safely inside the ark. The fountains of the sea were broken up, ushering up waves of destruction which, in combination with rain, covered the whole earth. The powerful destruction was complete.

Sudden. The 8.9 earthquake hit without warning, unleashing its terrible effects on land and sea. Although Noah’s work and words predicted a coming flood, daily life continued normally until suddenly all were swept away (Lk 17:26-27).

Death. Hundreds of bodies have already been found in Japan; a number that is sure to rise. In the days of Noah only eight souls survived the worldwide flood.

A final judgment of fire is prepared for ungodly men when Jesus returns (2 Pet 3:5-7). The power, suddenness and death of the Japanese tsunami should warn all of us to get ready (2 Pet 3:10-14). The power of God’s judgment will consume the wicked. Are you ready for the judgment day?

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Created by Chuck Sibbing.  03/14/2011

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