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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume XI, Number 06 January 06, 2008

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

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:

• In His Time

  The Importance of Love in Marriage (Keith Greer)

  Sermon Outlines:

  • What Kind of Faith? (John 12:37-43)
  • Relation of the Covenants (Hebrews 8:7-13)

  A View from a Pew: A Dirty Dime (Rick Holt)

In His Time
Joe R. Price

“In His Time” is a marvelous hymn that reminds us that all things work together for good according to the eternal plans and purposes of the Almighty. God’s purposes for our redemption and our lives are accomplished in his time. God always does what he says – in his time.

God is not bound by time; he is eternal (Psa. 90:1-2). To God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day (2 Pet. 3:8). So, God speaks of time as it relates to his creation; people and the world on which we live.

Although God is not constrained by time, we are: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die” (Eccl. 3:1-2). Our time on earth is limited and its length unknown. These realities of time must affect the decisions we make about God.

To those who are lost in their sins, God says now is the time to:

1. Repent: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

2. Be saved: “For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

To Christians, God says to redeem our time: ”See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).

The devil says we have plenty of time – more than enough time to do what we know we should do. So, he tempts us to put off doing the will of God. Felix looked for a more convenient time to obey the gospel (Acts 24:25). It never came. Would-be disciples told Jesus they would follow him, but first there were other things they had to do. Jesus was not pleased (Lk. 9:59-62).

Use your time now to obey God. He will eternally bless you in his time. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6).

The Importance of Love in Marriage
Keith Greer

In Las Vegas, February 14 is a very busy day. Why? Not just because it is Valentine’s Day but also because it is the busiest marriage day of the year. Over 300 couples come to Las Vegas to be married on Valentine’s Day. Sadly, Las Vegas is also a very popular place for divorces. LOVE is one of the main characteristics needed to have a long and happy relationship. Allow me to share some reasons why love is so vitally important in marriage.

Love can grow. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...” {1 Corinthians 13:4-8} People are in love when they get married, but in time their love takes on a whole new meaning. Love causes us to more deeply appreciate our mates and the happiness they can bring to the closest and most satisfying relationship on earth.

Love can be shared. “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” {Ephesians 5:29,30} When we’re married, many things are better because we have someone with whom to share them. Adversity and difficulties are easier to bear because two people share the burdens. Joys are higher and more fulfilling because we share them with one who knows us better than any other. Marriage means not having to face life alone but having a mate who shares all of life’s cares, pleasures, and difficulties.

Love is shown. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” {1 John 3:18} We can tell our spouses we love them every day, but nothing makes those words more meaningful that the things we do to express that love. We say kind and thoughtful words of thanks and offer appreciation for the little things our mates do and for the happiness they bring to our lives because they are part of them. Love not put into practice is of little value. Husbands and wives need to constantly be doing things to express their love for one another and keep the fire burning.

Love lasts beyond death. “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.” {Romans 7:2} Death severs the marriage bond, but it cannot sever the love that exists between a husband and wife. We’ve all witnessed the emptiness felt by a surviving mate after his or her spouse dies. Memories of days spent together never die they just grow more precious. If you and your mate don’t share this type of love, work on your marriage. You’re missing one of God’s great blessings.

Knollwood Messenger, Feb. 2007

You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

What Kind of Faith?

Scripture Reading: John 12:37-43

1. We are saved by faith, Eph. 2:8; Rom. 5:1.
2. Yet, not every kind of faith will save. In fact, most kinds of faith will cause one to be lost.

I. DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAITH.

A. No Faith, Jno. 12:37-40 (Ro 1:20-22, 28)
B. Little Faith, Matt. 6:30.
1. Doubts God, Matt. 14:31.
2. Expressed by fear, Matt. 8:26.
3. Lack of spiritual depth & understanding, Matt. 16:5-12.
C. Weak Faith, 1 Ths. 5:14.
D. Hidden Faith, Jno. 12:42-43.
1. Will not confess Christ (Matt. 10:32)
2. Wrong values & priorities.
3. Will not hear and obey, Jno. 12:46-48.
E. Only Faith (without works, obedience to God), Jas. 2:17-26.
1. No profit, 2:14-16.
2. Dead, 2:17, 20, 26.
3. Unseen, 2:18.
4. Like the demons, 2:19.
5. Barren, 2:20.
6. Does not (cannot) justify, 2:21-24.
F. Great Faith, Matt. 8:8-13 (Lk. 7:9).

II. WHICH KIND OF FAITH SAVES?

A. Not: Little, Weak, Hidden, Solitary or Non-existent Faith, Heb. 11:6.
B. Faith that Obeys God, Jno. 3:14-17 (cf. Num. 21:4-9); Jas. 2:24.

Conclusion

1. Questions we must ask ourselves include:
a. What kind of faith do I have?
b. What kind of faith will I have from this day forward? Matt. 7:21; Lk. 6:46
2. “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:8)

You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Relation of the Covenants

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 8:7-13

1. Covenant: Agreement; Concerning God & man, a solemn obligation bound by the superior upon the inferior.
2. The relationship of the OT & NT must not be ignored. 2 Cor. 3:12-15 (2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 28:18f)
3. Our hope of salvation is based upon the superiority of the covenant of Christ.

I. GOD ANNOUNCED HE WOULD MAKE A NEW COVENANT, Jer. 31:31-34.

A. New Covenant would be Distinct from the Old Covenant (Heb. 8:6-9).
B. Christ’s Death Dedicated the New Covenant, Heb. 9:15-17.
1. He fulfilled the law (Matt. 5:17).
2. He took away the first (Col. 2:14-15).
3. He established the second (Heb. 10:9).

II. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE COVENANTS.

A. Old and New, Heb. 8:13 (Jer. 31:31).
B. Moses and Jesus Christ, Jno. 1:17 (Gal. 3:19; Heb. 9:15); Matt. 17:3-5; Acts 3:22-23.
C. Written on Stone and Written on Hearts, 2 Cor. 3:3; Heb. 8:10-11, 9; Zech. 7:12.
D. Temporary and Permanent (remains), 2 Cor. 3:7-11 (13-14).
E. The High Priests, Heb. 7:23-28 (5:1).
F. The Sacrifices of the Covenants, Heb. 9:25-10:18 (8:7-8); cf. Gal. 3:21-22.
G. Shadow and Substance, Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 10:1.

Conclusion

1. Both covenants are from God (2 Tim. 3:15-16); old covenant has been done away.
2. Our salvation is through the new covenant of Christ; our authority is the new covenant; our hope is based on the new covenant.

A View from a Pew: A Dirty Dime
Rick Holt

Teddy Warren related to me one of those “golden moments” between himself and his youngest son, Dawson, this Sunday morning. As the story starts Teddy had given a dime to Dawson to place in the collection plate as it was passed after Lord’s Supper. The dime had some dirt on it and Dawson quickly exclaimed to his father, “Dad, this dime is dirty…I can’t give a dirty dime to God!” So Dawson hurriedly began to wipe and polish the dime so it would be clean and shiny when time to give it to God. Though he was very innocent, how profound for this young one to have such an attitude. This is such a lesson for all of us.

First of all, I commend Teddy for setting the right example by being present at services with his children and teaching them to give on the first day of the week. This teaching and example will form a foundation of acceptable worship into his children as they grow older (Eph 6:4).

Secondly, I commend Dawson for wanting to give God something that is clean, pure and acceptable. He will learn as he matures that even though the dime was dirty, God accepts the offering of faith. The cleaning of the dime manifested a pure attitude on Dawson’s part. He was a cheerful giver of his money (2 Cor. 9:7).

Thirdly, may all of us have the heart of this young one in giving of our means! In the Old Testament, the Israelites tithed of their grain, new wine, oil, the first-born of their herd or flock, and of their votive offerings which they vowed, and their freewill offerings, and the contribution of their hand (Deut. 12:17). We give as we have been prospered…this was no doubt a bountiful amount for Dawson (2 Cor. 9:6).

Yes, it was a golden moment treasured by Teddy; but it was an acceptable offering to the Father of all…out of the mouths of babes! Oh, by the way, this was one of the dimes in the collection plate that Sunday morning!

The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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