3 The Spirit's Sword

May 25, 1997 Northside church of Christ · 5201 NW RD · Bellingham, WA Volume 1.15

The Spirit's Sword

The Sin of Murmuring

_Murmuring is a blight upon the people of God. It muffles the sound of God’s word with its incessant clamor for something “better” or “different.” The murmurer is dissatisfied with the things of God and mistakenly thinks he will be satisfied by fulfilling his selfish desires (cf. Num. 11:1-6).

The murmurer does not see the grace of God in his life. When he considers the “new life in Christ” he only sees “what I cannot do” instead of God’s merciful forgiveness of his past sins. Like Israel who was not content with God’s blessing of manna, the murmurer in the church today is not pleased with God’s provisions and ways. He does not trust in God, he trusts in himself (cf. Num. 16:3, 41).

Murmuring destroys unity among Christians (Phil. 2:1-4). It elevates self over others instead of humbly serving others (cf. Eph. 5:21). The murmurer is a complainer, not a problem-solver (Phil. 2:14-15). Murmuring is a first cousin to bitterness and factiousness (Jas. 3:9-14). Feelings get hurt, bitterness sets in, and before we know it, we are murmuring against each other instead of speaking with each other to resolve every dispute, whether real or imagined (carefully read Eph. 4:29-32).

The result of murmuring is our spiritual destruction (1 Cor. 10:10). It is no accident that within the context of us warning against murmuring we are also warned not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (1 Cor. 10:10-12). Murmuring displays self-importance and self-righteousness.

The remedy for murmuring is to humble oneself before God and before each other. Murmuring is overcome as we act in love and kindness toward each other (1 Pet. 4:8-9). As we are content to trust in God and submit ourselves to His will, murmuring will be put to death among us. -Joe Price

Assignments: Sunday, May 25

Announcements: Dan Torres

Opening Prayer: TBA / Rick Holt

Closing Prayer: L. Parker / T. Haith

Song Leader: Rick Holt / Gary Bass

Scripture: T. Haith / Jason Holt

Lord’s Supper: C. Fair / J. Bass / D. Frahm

Building Cleanup (May 31): Haith

News and Notes

· MONTHLY MEN’S BUSINESS MEETING is this afternoon at 5:00.

· Men’s Class - Tues. 7:00 - Gary Bass ·

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

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Gospel Preaching..............

In the Judgment that is coming, where a mighty host will stand,

we will hear their cries for mercy as they plead their human plan:

“By Thy Name, we did appeal to the feelings of the man!”

Jesus in His glory, will reply to their dismay,

“you trusted in the words of man and did not teach My way,

and now you must depart from Me with those you led astray.”

{Matthew 7:13-27; 2 Timothy 4:1-8}

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

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

Wednesday: 7:00 PM

Gospel Preaching:

“In Season, Out of Season”

or by Human Reason?

by: Dennis L. Scroggins

Many are the preachers that do not take a stand,

for the people asked for “reason” Not for God, Nor for His Plan,

and we wonder why the people cannot see the Lord’s command.

From the halls of education came a message for the land,

its text gave human answers, and its words appealed to man.

Christians did not see it as a lie from Satan’s hand.

The preacher and the people searched for yet a better plan,

“that Old Jerusalem Gospel it’s too narrow in it’s stand”,

the people worshipped reason, they forgot the common man.

“Highly Recommended”, with degrees and titles grand,

those preachers no one questioned, though they built upon the sand,

no one saw the Heart of it - they looked upon the man.

We wonder why the people in their haste from day to day,

can not grasp the total meaning of the price that Jesus paid,

but its hard to know the reason when your trust is in the clay.

Do we sin to make inquiry of the preachers of our day,

“Why do you preach man’s wisdom as if living for the pay?

Are you truly ‘above question’ for all you have to say?”

(continued in column 2)

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST

(Philippians 3:17-19)

Are there still enemies of the cross of Christ among us, or did that danger end with the completion of the New Testament? How will we be able to identify and avoid them? Should we even try to make such identifications? Or should we leave everyone to do “that which (is) right in his own eyes” (Jgs. 21:25)?

The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul instructed the saints at Philippi to imitate those who live according to the pattern of truth (Phil. 3:15-17; 4:9). He also warned the brethren “often” of the enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18). Paul’s often discussion of these men protected the brethren against them and their errors (cf. 2 Cor. 11:13-15). The apostles of Christ told the brethren often of those who would lead souls away from Christ into the pit of destruction (Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 15:12; 2 Cor. 10-13; Gal. 2:4-5; 5:1-12; 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 3 Jn. 9-10). The apostles not only exposed the error of false doctrine, they also identified those who did the teaching. We cannot afford to do less today.

Paul took no pleasure in identifying the enemies of the cross. With tears of concern for all involved in this situation, he described these enemies. There was no impulse of vengefulness, no delight over the expose of evil, no joy in another man’s sin (Rom. 12:18-21; 2 Cor. 2:4; 1 Cor. 13:6). When we identify and expose enemies of the cross of Christ we must share Paul’s earnest concern for these deluded souls. The Lord’s servant must not wrangle, but he must try to snatch the lost out of the fire of destruction (2 Tim. 2:24-26; Jude 22-23). Some will charge any attempt to identify and warn against these enemies of the cross as self-righteous, creedalistic and self-promoting. After all, “we are not Christ and we cannot judge others.” More and more are accepting the rationalization of these men which, by design, shields them against exposure (Jn. 7:24; Lk. 12:54-57; Jn. 3:19-21; Eph. 5:13)! Have we not forgotten the deceived when we arrogantly defend the deceiver by preaching a doctrine of tolerance (compromise)? Of course we have.

Describing the Enemies of the Cross

The characteristics of enemies of the cross of Christ are identified by the apostle in Philippians 3:18-19. These defining marks continue to describe those who abandon the narrow path of righteousness (Matt. 7:13-23). Briefly consider:

1) Their god is their belly. That is, they are driven by selfishness and self-satisfaction. Self has become that which they worship and serve. While claiming to preach the cross, they crucify Christ for the sake of their own desires (Gal. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). Idolatry is alive and well among Christians today. “My little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 Jn. 5:21).

2) They glory in their shame. They hold as virtuous the very things which are abominable in God’s sight (Eph. 5:3-14; Isa. 5:20). Those who teach shameful doctrines which promote immorality are held in high esteem (for example, marriage, divorce and remarriage), while those who with bold honesty forewarn of destructive heresies are dismissed as fanatics. The watchman is held in contempt by these enemies of the cross (Jer. 6:17). They convince brethren to believe the watchman of God is really a self-seeking alarmist filled with his own self worth. Such peer pressure tends to silence godly watchmen and opens the door for tolerance shameful things (Jude 3-4).

3) They mind earthly things. Although proposing to walk by God’s rule of conduct, they attend to earthly things (Phil. 3:16-17; 1:15-17). In their way of thinking, spiritual things are a way to gain an advantage (1 Tim. 6:3-5). Like Jannes and Jambres, they “withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Tim. 3:8).

4) Their end is perdition. Enemies of Christ and His cross face certain ruin and eternal destruction (2 Ths. 1:7-9). One day they too shall bow their knees to the Lord of all (Phil. 2:9-11).

Identifying the Enemies of the Cross

Who are enemies of the cross today? Here are a few examples:

1) Preachers who will not preach the whole counsel of God. Preaching the gospel has become a “career” to some. Every move is calculated in terms of how it will enhance one’s “professional life” and standing in the brotherhood. Consequently, confronting sin in private or from the pulpit is not done unless it promotes oneself. Envy and strife motivate these preachers, not the goodwill of fellow-workers in the Lord’s vineyard (Phil. 1:15-17; 1 Cor. 3:6-9). My preaching brethren, let us always preach the whole counsel of God, “in season, out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2). Preaching the gospel is a God-given work that calls for diligence without seeking glory from men (1 Cor. 9:16). Necessity is laid upon us to proclaim God’s message of truth and we will answer to Him for our conduct as stewards of His word (cf. 1 Cor. 4:1-5; Jas. 3:1).

2) Elders who feed themselves but do not feed the sheep. Ezekiel prophesied against the shepherds of Israel who fattened themselves while God’s sheep (Israel) fell prey to spiritual disease and danger (read Ezek. 34:1-24). God was against these shepherds and brought His judgment upon them (Ezek. 34:10). While there are fine elders today, there are also those who rule over their flock with “force and rigor” rather than searching for and saving the lost sheep (Ezek. 34:4; 1 Pet. 5:3). Elders should protect the sheep, not invite the enemy into the flock for a meal! Yet that is what happens more than we care to admit. When elders refuse to stop the mouths of the unruly, the deceivers and the false teachers they are not loving nor leading the people of God (Tit. 1:9-11). Elders are a church’s first line of defense against Satan and his servants. Elders who are more concerned with church politics than with saving the lost and protecting the saved are truly enemies of the cross of Christ (1 Tim. 5:19-20).

3) Christians who love and choose the world rather than Jesus. A favorite song of many is “O, How I Love Jesus.” Are we so deceived as to think that we really love Jesus when we choose and approve of the dress, language, entertainment and values of the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17)? We cannot sow to the flesh and reap eternal life (Gal. 6:7-8). We do not honor Christ and His death on the cross by clinging to the very things which crucified our Lord! We must have “no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). We must come out and be separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:14-18). If we will not do so we are not the people of the cross, we are the enemies of the cross. Let us “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” lest our salt lose its savor and our light goes out (2 Cor. 7:1; Matt. 5:13-16).

The apostle Paul often spoke of the enemies of the cross of Christ because he truly cared for the souls of the saints. He wanted them to walk in the right path and follow the right examples. Paul was not being paranoid when he talked about these adversaries of Christ. The enemies of the cross are real. They are still actively deceiving the hearts of the innocent and their treachery must be withstood (Rom. 16:17-18; Tit. 1:10-11). Will you hold up their hands or rebuke their destructive doctrines and practices? (Please read Phil. 3:1-2) -Joe Price