THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume VII, Number 09
July 27, 2003
Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Bellingham, WA
(1860 Mt. Baker HWY)
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible
Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship............10:30 & 6:00
Wednesday:
Bible
Classes...........7:00 PM
Web sites:
www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
www.bibleanswer.com
Editor................Joe R. Price
"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
- Bible Question Box (July 2003) (Matthew 21:23-27)
The Mt. Baker church of Christ
(1860 Mt. Baker Highway – Bellingham, WA)
Invites you to a
GOSPEL MEETING
With evangelist
DENNIS ROSS
(Sweet Home, OR)
August 3-8, 2003
Bible lessons presented nightly at 7:00 PM
Sunday, August 3rd: 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go east 4.2 miles)
For more information, please call (360) 752-2692
A Gospel Meeting (An acronym)
Joe R.
Price
Assembling ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25)
Gather
to hear God’s word (Acts
10:33)
Opportunity
to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter
3:18)
Saving
power of the gospel (Romans
1:16)
Preaching
the word
(2 Timothy 4:2)
Edifying
the saints through the gospel of Christ
(Acts
20:32)
Looking
unto Jesus
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
Minding
the things of the Spirit
(Romans 8:5)
Exposing
the works of darkness
(Ephesians
5:11)
Endurance
unto eternal salvation (Hebrews
10:36-39)
Take
time to be holy
(1 Peter
1:13-17)
Interceding
in prayer
(1 Timothy 2:1)
Now
is the day of salvation (2
Corinthians 6:2)
Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations
(Matthew 28:19)
Are Gospel Meetings
Scriptural?
Larry Ray Hafley
(The following appeared on the Bible Matters Bible study list about a month ago. The question of whether gospel meetings are even scriptural today was raised to a brother, who sought input from list members on the topic. Brother Larry Ray Hafley submitted the answer which follows. In like of our upcoming gospel meeting, I thought this material might be of interest and help. – Joe)
Message text written by “Special Ed”
>Greetings brethren:
Recently I have been bombarded with a series of questions in reference to the scriptural ness of gospel meetings. These are the questions/accusations that I have been receiving:
1. Where do we get authority (bcv) to have gospel meetings?
2. Preachers that accept an invitation to preach the gospel in a gospel meeting violates the church’s autonomy (even if he is invited).
3. The local church is charged with doing her own evangelism, therefore someone from outside the local membership is not permitted to help.
4. When Paul commanded Titus and Timothy to set in order the things that were lacking they were acting in a special circumstance that does not apply to us today. This is because the Holy Spirit had to direct the Christians.
But now that we have the N.T. we need not nor or we authorized to send preachers anywhere. <
Ed,
First, if such rules are true, those who make them are violating our autonomy when they seek to bind them upon us. By what authority do they seek to teach other congregations that they cannot have meetings or send out men to preach? If those making the argument are not part of the church I attend, they, being “outside the local membership,” have no right to instruct the church I attend as to what we may or may not do. According to them, when they so teach, they violate our autonomy, even if they are invited.
Second, the local church is charged with “doing her own benevolence,” too, but it may utilize others in accomplishing the work (Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-3 “whomsoever”). See Acts 11:22; 13:2, 4. As the churches sent out men to do work assigned by the Spirit, so may we do today, whether in evangelism, edification, or benevolence.
Third, the Holy Spirit made men elders then, too (Acts 20:28). Does that mean that we cannot appoint such men today? Using their rule, we must do away with the appointment of elders. (Yes, elders are still being made such by the Spirit today--See H.E. Philip’s work on the eldership.)
Fourth, shall we take their rules and prohibit other churches from supporting a preacher in another place (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:15-17)? Were those “special” circumstances involving an apostle and hence not a pattern for us today? I believe I could make that prohibition stick, using their rules.
Fifth, we may follow the approved example of N.T. churches as they acted according the will of God (2 Cor. 9:2; 1 Thess. 2:14).
Sixth, we must also follow Paul and the other apostles as they followed Christ (Lk. 10:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 14:37; Phil. 4:9). When we do so, we will preach the gospel, which means we may decide to conduct what is called a “gospel meeting” and ask others to participate in doing the work God has assigned to be done.
There is more, but I hope this helps some. Take care. Larry
You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS
Bible Question Box (July 2003)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:23-27
#1: Can a church support preaching trips to other places?
1. Yes it may.
2. NT pattern for churches supporting preachers:
a. Support a preacher locally – 1 Cor. 9:14-15.
b. Send support to preachers in other places – Phil. 4: 10, 14-18; 2 Cor.
11:8.
c. Send preachers or support preaching trips to other places – Acts
11:19-23; 13:1-3; 15:22-27.
#2: In John 21:20, who was the disciple that Jesus loved?
1. John the apostle, the
brother of James.
2. Common description – Jno. 13:23-25; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20.
a. Yes, Jesus loved all apostles – Jno. 13:1.
b. John was in a position of intimacy & honor here – Jno. 13:23.
c. Description suggests closeness in their relationship (cf. Jno.
11:35-36).
2. We know it was John – Jno. 21:20-24; 19:26, 35.
a. Author of the book of John – Jno. 2:20-24.
b. Witness to & recorder of the death of Jesus – Jno. 19:35 (26).
#3: What does the Bible say about organ donation?
1. Nothing directly
stated in Bible, Rom. 14:1-5, 23.
2. Body returns to dust, Gen. 3:19; Jas. 2:26.
a. Identity remains with the spirit – Lk. 16:22.
b. Bodily resurrection is not dependent upon burying an intact body – 1
Cor. 15:42.
3. Do good to others – Gal. 6:10; Matt. 7:12; 22:39.
#4: It was told to me that Abraham once worshiped the “MOON GOD” prior to worship of The Living God. Do you find this to be true?
No Biblical basis for the conclusion concerning Abraham – Josh. 24:2, 14; Acts 7:2-3 (Heb. 11:8).
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current
events in the light of Scripture)
There is no "Safe" Cigarette
Philip Morris USA, a leading producer of tobacco products, recently posted the following information on their website:
· Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer, than non-smokers. There is no “safe” cigarette.
· We agree with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking is addictive.
· To reduce the health effects of smoking, the best thing to do is to quit…
· Smokers should not assume that lower-yielding brands are "safe" or "safer" than full-flavor brands. There is no "safe" cigarette. (http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/health_issues/default.asp)
The body of the Christian is to be an instrument of righteousness in the service of God (Rom. 6:13). Therefore, one is to not allow sin to “reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Rom. 6:12). “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20). Cigarette smoking harms the body and hastens death. And, the addictive nature of cigarette smoking tries and overcomes the self-control of millions. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control, not the lustful addiction to a product that causes lung disease, heart disease and cancer.
A proverb showing the folly of adultery might similarly show the folly of cigarette smoking: “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” (Prov. 6:27)
Remember, there is no safe cigarette. Even those who make them say so.
Created by Chuck Sibbing. 07/28/2003
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