And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 17, Number
41
04/19/2015
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
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
Dan Head
In this issue:
Gospel Meeting April 26 - May 1, 2015
The Mt.
Baker
Church of Christ
1860
Mt. Baker Highway • Bellingham WA
Invites you to our
GOSPEL MEETING
With Evangelist
Jesse Flowers
(Baytown,
Texas)
April 26 - May 1, 2015
Monday-Friday at
7:00 PM
Sunday,
April 26th at 9:30 and 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
Hear these gospel lessons:
Sunday Class: How to Find Contacts and Initiate Studies
Sunday AM: Are You Dull of Hearing?
Sunday PM: A Message to Young People
Monday: Your
Funeral Service
Tuesday: The Effects of
Entertainment
Wednesday: The Perfect Church
Thursday: Does This Offend
You?
Friday:
The Race Set Before Us
Bring your Bible and join us in learning God’s word and will for our lives!
(From
I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692
Learning Hope from the Past
Joe R. Price
Hope energizes us to endure the trials and troubles of life. Why does the farmer plow his fields from sunrise to sundown during the blistering heat of summer? Because he hopes in the harvest (1 Cor. 9:10).
Hope combines one’s desire and expectation, thereby producing a powerful force that influences faith and righteous living. Unfortunately, hope can be misplaced. Many folks put their hope in the wrong things. They hope in money, as if it will solve their problems; it will not (Eccl. 2:8, 10-11; Matt. 6:19-21, 24; 1 Tim. 6:6-10). Others hope in their wisdom or power (1 Cor. 1:18-25). Others hope in their fame. Some put their hope in their own strength, or in the strength of others (Jer. 17:5). None of these give true hope; only the expression of desires that ultimately fail. The Bible teaches none of these are able to give the fulfilling hope of eternal life for which the soul yearns.
Christians rejoice in the hope of eternal life we have in Christ (Rom. 5:2; 12:12; Col. 1:27). We were “saved in hope” (Rom. 8:24). Moreover, the gospel called us to a living hope of eternal life (Eph. 4:4; Tit. 1:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:3). Christ is our “hope of glory”, the source and the culmination of our hope to share in the future glory of heaven (Col. 3:4; Heb. 6:19-20).
It often helps to look to the past to strengthen our hope of the future. Romans 15:4 says this is exactly why we have the Old Testament Scriptures. By showing us the blessings of a persevering faith, the Old Testament comforts and assures our hope. Here are just a few of its Scriptures that teach patience and comfort from which we gain hope as we live by faith.
1) Genesis 3:15: The prediction of victory over Satan and sin gives hope to mankind.
2) Judges 7: Hope in God is strengthened as we read of Gideon and his 300 men defeating the massive Midianite army. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 Jno. 5:4). Such faith assured our hope to this day (Heb. 11:1).
3) 1 Samuel 17: David’s faith in God as he faced and defeated Goliath comforts us in hope as we face the giant opponents to truth and godliness of our day.
4) Psalms 16:8-11: We are comforted to know that David’s hope in the future was not in vain. God fulfilled His promises to David through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:25-32, 34-36).
5) 1 Kings 18:20-40: The dramatic display of God’s presence and power at Mt. Carmel confirms that our hope in the living God is properly placed. He alone is God, and the faithful put their hope in Him.
6) Ezekiel 37:1-14: The valley of dry bones returning to life in Ezekiel’s vision gave Israelites hope to endure the Babylonian exile. God turns death into life; what a joyous hope we have in Him.
Hebrews 11 gives many more Old Testament people whose exemplary faith teaches us to persevere in hope of the promises of God, who cannot lie (Heb. 6:13-18).
The Christian’s
hope is sure and steadfast, an anchor securing us in life’s storms, safely
mooring us to God’s grace through faith (Heb. 6:19-20; Rom. 5:1-2). Truly, “we
rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2).
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12
1. Must
guard against compartmentalized discipleship. Gal. 2:20
2. We do not live to ourselves, Rom. 14:7.
3. 1 Peter 2:11-12: Framework for Christ living in us as we live before
the world.
I. OUR CONTEXT IN THE WORLD, 2:11.
A.
Sojourners and Pilgrims. Exo. 12:40; Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:9; Gal. 6:16; Rom.
9:6; Eph. 2:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:17; Jer. 35:1-10 (16).
B.
Losing our Distinctiveness, 2 Cor. 11:3; Ezek. 22:26; 44:23 (42:20); 1 Pet.
2:9.
II. OUR CONFLICT WITH THE WORLD, 2:11.
A. Abstain
from Fleshly Lusts, 1 Jno. 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 1:15; 2:9.
B.
Worldly Lusts War against the Soul, 2:11; Gal. 5:16-17; Eccl. 12:13.
III. OUR CONDUCT REFLECTS A DIFFERENT CHARACTER FROM THE WORLD.
A. Honorable Conduct, 2:12; Phil. 2:15. Col. 3:9-10.
IV. OUR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION.
A. Your
Good will be Evil Spoken of, 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:13-17.
B.
Courage of Faith must be Unwavering to Influence the Lost, 1 Cor. 16:13-14;
2 Tim. 1:7-8; Phil. 1:27-29.
V. THE CONVERSION OF THE LOST.
A. You Get
their Attention by Your Life, 2:12; Phil. 4:10-13.
B. God
Gets their Soul with the Gospel, 2:12; Rom. 1:16 (10:13-15).
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 7:6-12
1. In a
secular society, sin is reduced, minimized and rationalized out of
existence.
a.
Does not change the true nature of sin, Rom. 3:23; 6:23.
b.
Sin is against God (Psa. 51:4), others (Gen. 4:9) and oneself (Eccl.
12:13).
2. Sin must be addressed and overcome through repentance, Acts 17:30; 2
Pet. 3:9.
I. CHANGING HOW WE LOOK AT SIN.
A. First,
We Must Know what Sin Is, 1 Jno. 3:4; 5:17; Jas. 4:17; Matt. 7:23; Acts
2:36-37.
B.
Then, We Must Know What Sin Does.
1.
Alienates us from God, Col. 1:21.
2.
Defiles our heart and life, 2 Cor. 7:1.
3.
Puts us under God's wrath, Rom. 1:18.
C.
Some Specific Changes We Must Make in How We Look at Sin.
1.
Big-Little sin distinctions, Lk. 13:1-5.
2.
"Nobody's hurt...It's nobody's business." 1 Pet. 4:8
3.
Ceasing sin = Repentance. Rev. 9:20-21
4.
Need for godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7:10.
II. SORROWFUL RESPONSES TO SIN, 2 Cor. 7:10. ("Mental suffering, pain, anguish")
A. The
Sorrow of the World, Matt. 27:3-5.
B.
Conversely, Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance unto Salvation;
1.
Anguish for the sin itself, Psa. 38:18; Lk. 19:8; 22:62, 32; 1 Tim. 1:12-15.
2.
The fruits of godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7:11.
III. ONLY GODLY SORROW PRODUCES GENUINE REPENTANCE THAT RECEIVES FORGIVENESS, Ac 3:19; 8:22-24; Jas. 4:8-10.
Conclusion
1. How we look at sin influences how we chose to deal with our sin.
2. We must have godly sorrow for our sin.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
Church of Christ Headlines
Joe R. Price
The following headlines and stories tell of unscriptural works being done in the name of Christ (Col. 3:17). They show apostasy still happens and warn us to be ever-vigilant lest we fall (2 Pet. 3:17).
1) "Local Church of Christ adds instruments to worship". "On Palm Sunday, Stones River Church of Christ (Murfreesboro, TN) made a radical move — at least by denominational standards — to allow instrumental worship to take place on Sunday morning. There’s an a cappella worship and an instrumental worship time,” said minister Tony Woodall. "We honor our (denomination’s) heritage and still have a cappella worship at Stones River, but we want to honor equally worshiping with instruments.” (dnj.com)
Comment: The beat goes on, as churches that wear the name of Christ deny the power of the gospel by imitating denominations. Adding the instrument to worship is will-worship from men, not God (Col. 2:20-23; 3:16).
2) "East Chestnut Church of Christ to host Senior Fashion Extravaganza". "Seniors from the congregation will be modeling a variety of fashions during an entertainment filled program attire compliments of Pappas Furs, Maurice’s and Dress Barn. Proceeds from the event will go to the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau and East Chestnut Church of Christ Senior Ministry." (frostillustrated.com)
Comment: The Bible speaks of "the ministry of the word", the "work of ministry" and the "ministry of the saints", but no "Senior Ministry" is found there (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
3) "Gospel Meeting at Durham Church of Christ". Nothing sounds out of the order here, right? But read on: "Featured speaker, John W. Smith will speak on “Conflict in Decision Making”. John Smith is widely known as a thought-provoking speaker with the ability to provoke both laughter and tears. He has received many honors and accolades in the field of intercollegiate debate, original oratory, poetry reading and speaking." (cheyennestar.org)
Comment:
Too many promote evangelism with the power of personality instead of the
power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 2:1-5). How do you announce your
meeting preacher? As a PhD, a dynamic, eloquent speaker, or as a gospel
preacher? Focus on the message, not the messenger (2 Tim. 4:2).
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 04/20/2015
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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