2 The Spirit's Sword

March 2, 1997 Northside church of Christ · 5201 NW AVE · Bellingham, WA Volume 1.3

The Spirit's Sword

Your Speech Makes You Know

_Aperson’s speech is an identifying trait. Even though it has been twenty years since I lived in Texas people still identify my origin by listening to me speak. Peter was from Galilee, and his speech made him known, too (Matt. 26:73).

Our speech makes known our moral values. God’s word teaches to “let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth” (Eph. 4:29). When something is corrupt it is rotten and putrefied. Much of the language used today aptly fits that description. Remembering that our speech reflects the heart, how can expect to be “pure in heart” when our words are defiled?

Our speech makes known our spiritual values. Most people talk about what interests them. It follows that if the gospel holds a significant part of our interest we will talk about it to others (Rom. 1:15; 2 Tim. 2:2). Jeremiah could not keep himself from speaking in the name of God (Jer. 20:9). How easy (or difficult) is it for you to talk about Christ and His truth to others?

Our speech makes known our eternal values. By confessing Jesus in word and deed we proclaim our interest in things eternal (Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33). To be confessed by the Father we must confess Jesus here on earth.

Our speech makes known our value of others. Speech seasoned with grace will increase our opportunities to truly help those around us (Col. 4:6; Prov. 15:1-2). If we speak against one another we do not show brotherly love, only self-interest and contempt for our fellow-Christian (Jas. 4:11-12).

Yes, your speech makes you known! -jrp

Assignments: Sunday, March 2

Announcements: David Frahm

Opening Prayer: D. Frahm / T. Beckley

Closing Prayer: W. Golightly / G. Bass

Song Leader: T. Beckley / C. Gardner

Scripture: Jason Holt / Ed DeWispelaere

Lord’s Supper: R. McGrew/S. Bass/G. Bass

Building Cleanup (Mar. 8): R. & M. Holt

· GOSPEL MEETING ·

March 16-21 with Gary Johnsen

· Let us all be working and planning now to make this a great gospel meeting! Brother Johnsen will be well prepared to preach the gospel. We can all help by doing all we can to support it with our presence, prayers and promotion.

· Please remember Mackie DeWispelaere as she prepares for surgery.

· Out of town: Keith Alsobrook, Debbie Price, the Clemensons, Tim Beckley (Tacoma), Willie Golightly (White Rock).

· Men’s Class: 7:00 Tuesday - Loren’s.

· Women’s Class: 10:00 Friday - McGrew’s.

· “Sometimes speaking the truth requires more courage than some can muster.”

SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 PM

Are Mormons Right?

_There are many religious people and their churches who believe God continues to give them direct revelation from heaven today. One of the most vocal in their view of this is the Mormon Church. What does the New Testament say about the nature of God’s revelation to man?

The NT teaches that the period of direct revelation ended when “that which is perfect” came (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Mormons believe they regularly receive direct, personal revelation from God.

The NT teaches that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles of Christ into “all the truth” (Jn. 16:13). Mormonism teaches that God will yet reveal many things to man. In fact, it teaches that every person should expect God to reveal the truth of the Book of Mormon directly to them.

The NT teaches that the inspired scriptures complete a man unto “every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Mormonism teaches that the word of a living prophet is superior to inspired scripture.

The NT teaches the faith was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Mormonism says “not so.” They would have you believe that through Joseph Smith, Jr. God has delivered the fullness of the everlasting gospel.

The NT teaches that the gospel preached by Christ’s apostles is an incorruptible seed which abides forever (1 Pet. 1:23-25). Mormons believe God’s gospel was corrupted and needed to be restored (via Joseph Smith, Jr.).

These are the facts of the case. Mormons believe their faith agrees with the Bible, but it does not. No Mormon really believes the Bible, and no true Bible believer can be a Mormon. -jrp

"Exposing Error"

James P. Needham

There can be no doubt that exposing error is as much a part of preaching the gospel as is the presenting of the positive precepts of divine truth. This is undeniably proven by the following Scriptures: Jeremiah 1:10 - “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, to pull down and to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” In this verse, are found four terms: three negative (“root out,” “pull down,” “destroy,” “throw down”), and two positive (“build”and “plant”). Two thirds of Jeremiah’s preaching was to be negative , and one third positive. II Timothy 4:2 - “Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Three terms are used in this passage: two negative (“reprove,” “rebuke”) and one positive (“exhort”). Hence again, two thirds is to be negative.

Those non-combative soldiers of the cross who have more sympathy for the espouser of error than for its exposer had better spend more time taking inventory of their own preaching and less of it trying to determine if the combatant soldier is complying with their judgement in the battle.

If we learn anything from the above passages it is that MORE of our time should be spent in EXPOSING ERROR than in imparting the positive truths of the word. Anybody who has lived on a farm knows well the lesson. It takes more time to clear new ground of the trees and noxious weeds than it does to plant the seeds once that is done. The same is true in the spiritual realm. It is much harder to UNTEACH people than to TEACH them. It is absurd to even think of going into a new ground planting seed without first clearing it. It is worse than ridiculous to think of implanting the positive truths of God’s word in the hearts of men before they are disabused of the errors of men (Lk. 8:14).

Unfortunately, we know some who spend 2/3’s of their time in the negative alright, but not in fighting error, but those who are exposing it. They would do well to spend more time worrying about whether they are doing enough exposing error and less worrying about whether others are spending too much! If all would do their share, maybe it wouldn’t appear that some are doing too much.

All my preaching life I have had to fight error with a mass of compromising brethren about my neck. They usually say they are behind me, but when I investigate, I find they are so far behind me that nobody can tell whether they are supporting the truth or the error! They usually have a lot to say about how sound they are, but generally I have found them to be more SOUND then anything else! They think they have to tell everyone how sound they are, otherwise, they might not find out about it! One would never guess it from their actions! Lightning kills, not thunder!

It is strange how some brethren think they can convince others they are sound when they fellowship error, and fraternize those who espouse it while destructively criticizing those who expose it!