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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume XI, Number 41 September 07, 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:

• Gospel Meeting Mt. Baker church of Christ, October 5-10, 2008

  A Sign of the Times

  Sermon Outlines:

  • Our Conflict with the World (James 4:1-5)
  • John: The Messiah's Messengers (Matt. 11:1-19) (Matthew 11:1-6)

  Noteworthy News: Give me back my leg!

Gospel Meeting

Mt. Baker church of Christ
Gospel Meeting

October 5-10, 2008

Evangelist
Micky Galloway
(Lancaster, California)

Bible lessons nightly, Mon-Fri at 7:00 PM
Sunday, Oct. 5th at 9:30 and 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 Sign of the Times
Joe R. Price

(This article first ran in The Spirit’s Sword on June 10, 2001. The moral decline around us continues unabated. What is particularly distressing is Christians who participate with the world in its sins. Dancing is only one example; add social drinking, immodesty, vulgar speech and more to the list. Christians should be repulsed by, not attracted to, such things, Eph. 5:8-14; 1 Cor. 15:33-34. Joe )

"They sow the wind; And reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7)

Like ancient Israel, modern America is now reaping what it has sown. Witness this article from USA Today:

“At clubs such as Bar Code, teens bump and grind in bliss, without attracting as much as a curious glance from bored bouncers. But the blur of bodies and limbs, called freak dancing, also is gyrating across high school and middle school dance floors throughout the USA.

“The difference is that at schools, it's being met with shocked stares - and strong repercussions:

-Upper Darby High in suburban Philadelphia instituted a policy prohibiting, among other things, crotch-to-crotch moves and prone positions. Also barred are freak-friendly tracks such as the Thong Song and Back That Thang Up.

-At Gabriel Richard High in Riverview, Mich., students who want to attend a dance must pass a quiz on acceptable dance-floor behavior.

-In Washington, D.C., more than 40 private school administrators gathered to consider techniques for stopping freak dancing.

-In Milwaukee, Divine Savior Holy Angels High posted dance rules at the door, and walkie-talkie-toting chaperones prowled the floor for offenders.

“Dozens of schools across the country opted to cancel spring dances outright – everything but prom, where floor-length gowns and high heels precluded the most suggestive moves – and are now grappling with how to handle the phenomenon this fall.” (USA TODAY, Nation, 06/01/2001)

We have opposed modern dancing because of its lewd and lascivious nature (Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 1 Pet. 4:3). We were right to do so. The worldliness and lust associated with dancing is disgusting and repulses minds that are set on things above (Eph. 5:3, 11-12; Col. 3:2). Those who practice such things will not inherit heaven (Gal. 5:21).

But please notice that the world itself is now trying to “pull in the reins” on some forms of dancing. They will not succeed. Their opposition is hollow. Their objection is futile. Why forbid one form of lasciviousness while allowing another? Banning one form of sin while endorsing another is hypocrisy. [Seven years have past since this USA Today report. The passing of time has shown the continued progress of sin. Now, in some places high school proms are banning some students from attending due to the almost total nudity their (lack of) attire reveals!]

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Gal. 5:7)

We must continue to oppose lasciviousness in all of its forms, including the modern dance. The gospel calls upon us to repudiate sin of every kind (1 Thess. 5:21-22). We must set an example of holiness for our children and for society – we are the light of the world and salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14). We must say “no” to sin and “yes” to holiness. Otherwise, unprepared for judgment, we will surely fall into the hands of the living God – a truly fearful thing (Heb. 10:26-31).

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

Our Conflict with the World

Scripture Reading: James 4:1-5

1. Jas. 4:4: For the faithful Christian, conflict with the world ("system of evil in opposition to God") is inevita­ble (1 Jno. 2:15-17).
2. We must be equipped to face this conflict with faith (1 Jno. 5:4).

I. HISTORY OF GOD'S PEOPLE SHOULD PREPARE US FOR CONFLICT AGAINST OUR ENEMIES.

A. Israel against the Nations, Exo. 23:31-33; Deut. 7:1-2, 16; Psa. 106:34-39.
1. Jesus against Satan, Matt. 10:34.
2. The apostles, 2 Cor. 4:7-15.
3. Christians, Matt. 10:34-39; 1 Tim. 6:12.

II. THE NATURE OF OUR CONFLICT WITH THE WORLD.

A. Necessary, though Painful and Constant, Heb. 11:32-38; Matt. 5:11-12.
B. Conflict with World Comes in the Form of:
1. Personal temptations, Jas. 4:2-3.
2. Doctrinal errors, Jude 3-4 (Col. 2:20-23).
3. Moral compromises, 1 Pet. 4:1-5.

III. WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE, 2 Cor. 10:3-5; 2 Tim. 4:7-8 (Fought – Finished – Kept).

A. Diligence: Watchful for the Enemy; Matt. 26:41; 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 5:15-21.
B. Courage: The Will to Survive; 1 Cor. 16:13; Phil. 1:27-28; Heb. 13:5-6.
C. Perseverance: Endure no Matter what, Matt. 24:9-13; 2 Ths. 1:4; Gal. 6:9.

Conclusion

1. Conflict with world is inevitable; else, we are enemies of God (Jas. 4:4) Jno. 15:18-19.
2. Like David, who selected 5 smooth stones and in faith fought and defeated the enemy, we must use the “stones” of diligence, courage and per­severance in our conflict against world.
3. Victory is assured, 1 Co. 15:57; 1 Jno. 5:4.

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

John: The Messiah's Messengers (Matt. 11:1-19)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:1-6

1. Matt. 3:1-6: John and his work anticipated the coming kingdom of the Messiah, fulfilling OT predictions of approaching king (Isa. 40:3).
2. Messiah’s coming brought salvation and signified an impending judgment against sin, Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6; a time of decision.
3. Matt. 11:1-19: John, who had announced Jesus to Israel, was now in prison. Would the kingdom come as predicted? What kind of Messiah should they look for?
4. John’s life and how people reacted to him reveal their acceptance or rejection of the Messiah (Lk. 7:28-30).

I. JOHN: THE MESSIAH’S MESSENGER.

A. A Man of Faith, Matt. 11:2-6.
1. Men of faith face trials and tests of their faith (Matt. 11:2; 4:12).
2. Looked for reassurance about the nature of the Messiah and His kingdom (to avoid doubt and despair).
3. Answer: Necessary inference must be drawn to conclude Jesus is Messiah, Lk. 7:20-23; Isa. 29:18-19; 35:5-6 (Jno. 5:36).
B. A Man of Conviction, 11:7; 3:7-8; 11:2 (14:3-4); Phil. 1:27-28; 2 Tim. 1:7.
C. A Man of Sacrifice, 11:8 (3:4); 10:37-39; Lk. 9:23; 14:33; Rom. 12:1-2; cf. Phil. 3:8.
D. A Man of Truth, 11:9; Lk. 3:2-3.
E. John Taught People to Press into the King­dom, 11:11-15; Lk. 13:24; 16:16.

II. THE MESSIAH DESCRIBES JOHN, 11:7-11.

A. John was not a Vacillating Man, 11:7-8.
B. John was a Prophet and More: Messiah’s Messenger, 11:9-10 Elijah, 11:14; Mal. 4:5-6
C. John was Preparing People for Messiah’s Kingdom, 11:11-13.

Conclusion Wisdom is justified by her children (11:16-19); Lk. 7:29-35.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Give me back my leg!
Joe R. Price

This just in from FOXNEWS.com:
Man Sues to Get Leg Back

After being shot five times, a western Nebraska man had to go to court to get his prosthetic leg back from prosecutors.

The Box Butte County Attorney’s office gave Val McCabe’s leg back Wednesday after a judge ordered it returned.
McCabe’s prosthetic left leg had been held since Friday's shooting because prosecutors wanted to run tests on it and a bullet lodged inside.
The 58-year-old McCabe, who lost his leg below the knee in a railroad accident roughly 30 years ago, filed his lawsuit Tuesday.
McCabe lawyer argued it wasn’t practical for him to replace the specially built, $28,000 prosthesis. (AP)

Returning a vitally important possession to its owner is not new to American justice. Nor is America alone in such laws. The Law of Moses contained this statute:

“If you ever take your neighbor's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.” (Exo. 22:26-27)

Just as it was argued, “Mr. McCabe cannot afford another leg”, God told Israel not to keep a man’s garment as a pledge over night lest the man have nothing to cover him as he sleeps.

Behind both the Law of Moses and the judge’s ruling on Mr. McCabe’s leg is the matter of mercy. God’s law was based on His gracious mercy toward the less fortunate. God expected Israel to show mercy to a neighbor.

It is easy to forget to be merciful. Mr. McCabe had a right to demand his leg back. Justice should define our treatment of others, as should mercy. Remembering God’ mercy; let us be merciful toward others (Matt. 5:7).

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