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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 17, Number 03
06/15/2014

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
All sing last Wednesday

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers

Editor......Joe R. Price

Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
Dan Head

In this issue:

• Death is Defeated!

  Nothing but Shame

  Sermon Outlines:

  • The Call to Fathers
  • Grace: Past, Present and Future

  Noteworthy News: Gender Reassignment

Death is Defeated!
Joe R. Price

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Continually be thankful to God! The greatest blessing of all is the victory we have over sin and death through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sin has been utterly defeated by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Therefore:

1) Be thankful today for God’s grace, by which Jesus died for everyone and brought salvation to all who will believe in Him and obey Him (Heb. 2:9; Tit. 2:11).

2) Be thankful today that you have received God’s gift of salvation by your obedient faith to Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 5:8-9; Rom. 6:17-18).

Death has been utterly defeated by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The empty tomb is a constant memorial to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and that he has complete power over death (Rom. 1:4; Rev. 1:18). Therefore:

1) Be thankful today that death is no longer fearful – Jesus replaced the fear of death with confident hope (Heb. 2:14-15).

2) Be thankful today that death will be your doorway into eternal joy, peace and eternal life (Phil. 1:21).

God gives you no greater blessing than victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ. Praise be to God!

-Sword Tips, #12

Nothing but Shame
Joe R. Price

As Judah approached the tipping point due to her sins against the Lord God, the prophet Jeremiah summed up her arrogance and God's judgment:

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; In the time of their punishment They shall be cast down," says the LORD" (Jer. 8:12).

Oblivious to shame and justifying her sin, Jerusalem plunged toward divine punishment.

June is officially regarded as Pride Month in America, led by a president who continues to mainstream the homosexual agenda. For instance, this country has witnessed a dramatic reversal in the approval of same-sex marriage over the past 10 years. If you doubt this march over the cliff of immorality, consider this part of the "Presidential Proclamation of LGBT Pride Month, 2014":

"As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect -- our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, we celebrate victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness, and we recommit ourselves to completing the work that remains." (Barack Obama, The White House Office of the Press Secretary)

And again:

"My Administration proudly stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights... NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2014 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people." (Ibid)

One research firm (nerdwallet.com) recently ranked Seattle WA the Most LGBT-Friendly City in America.

America has a justice system that is supposed to be blind (that is, fair and just treatment to every citizen under the law). But, that never meant there are no moral laws that must be recognized and honored for our society to flourish. It is not prejudice to forthrightly affirm Bible principles of truth and moral purity and to call sinners of every kind (including homosexuals) to repentance (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 17:30-31).

The Bible is clear: Homosexuality is sin against God and nature (Rom. 1:24-27). It is sin against one's body (Rom. 1:27; 1 Cor. 6:12-20). It is sin against one's neighbor (1 Ths. 4:3-7). It is sin against the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11). It brings the divine punishment of eternal fire upon every soul who practices it (Jude 7).

Pride Month? Shall we take pride in sin? No. June 2014 is "Shame Month" in America; That is what LGBT truly proclaims.

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Call to Fathers

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:1-6

1. The need for godly fathers has always been great. Lk. 2:52; Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3). Eph. 6:4
2. The Bible call to fathers is God’s call to be faithful fathers.

I. A CALL TO TEACH, Deut. 4:9-10; 6:4-9; 11:18-21.

A. Teach Your Children about God and Faith, Psa. 44:1; 78:1-4.
B. Teach Your Children by Example, Psa. 101:2 (Phil. 3:17); Matt. 5:13-16.
C. Some Lessons to Teach (and children to learn), Prov. 3:1-12; Exo. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3; Prov. 23:22; 3:1-2; 6:20-23.

II. A CALL TO DISCIPLINE (CORRECT), Eph. 6:4.

A. This too is Love in Action, Heb. 12:5-7 (Prov. 3:11-12); 13:24.
B. Helps Prepare Your Children for Life Choices, Prov. 22:6; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; Heb. 12:11; Prov. 23:13-14.
C. A Fool Refuses Correction (parental and divine), Prov. 13:18; 15:5; Jer. 7:23-27; Prov. 10:1; Heb. 12:9.

III. A CALL TO PROVIDE (BLESS), Luke 11:11-13 (1 Tim. 5:8).

A. A Father Must Determine and Supply what the Child Needs – Not Always What is Wanted, Matt. 6:8, 32-33.
B. Fathers Must Lead their Families in Faith, Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15; 1 Sam. 2:12-17, 22, 29; 3:13.

Conclusion
Fathers must turn their hearts to their children and away from themselves, Eph. 6:4.

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

Grace: Past, Present and Future

Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-15

1. We are saved by grace that is accessed by faith, Eph. 2:8; Rom. 5:1-2.
2. False doctrines about grace give false hope.
3. God’s grace is magnified and explained in the past, the present and the future, Titus 2:11-15.

I. PAST: THE GRACE OF GOD HAS APPEARED, Titus 2:11 (14).

A. Fullness of Grace Arrived when Jesus Appeared, Jno. 1:14-17; Gen. 6:8; Deut. 7:7-11; Gen. 12:3; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:1-10.
B. The Gospel brought Grace to Sinners, Col. 1:5-6; Mk. 16:15; Acts 20:24.
C. Sinners are Saved by Grace when they Obey the Gospel through Faith, Eph. 2:8; Rom. 1:5; 16:25-26.

II. PRESENT: THE GRACE OF GOD IS TEACHING US, Titus 2:12.

A. God’s Grace Teaches what Pleases God, Rom. 5:20-6:2, 12-15.
B. The Word of His Grace (Gospel) Builds Us Up, Acts 20:32; Titus 2:12.

Rom. 3:18 (Psa. 36:1).

III. FUTURE: LOOKING FOR OUR BLESSED HOPE OF CHRIST’S GLORIOUS APPEARING, Titus 2:13.

A. Why We Live by the Word of His Grace: Jesus is Coming Back, 2 Pet. 3:12-14; Rom. 5:2; Col. 3:4; 1:27.
B. The Full Authority of Christ Supports this Message of Grace as well as how We must Live in Grace, Titus 2:15.

Conclusion
God's grace has appeared; it is teaching us, and it will reward the faithful.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Gender Reassignment
Joe R. Price

Transgender people are being promoted by and gaining wider acceptance in popular culture. Earlier this month a transgendered actress appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine. This past week the Southern Baptist Church at its annual meeting passed a resolution affirming the creation of "two distinct and complementary sexes". Opposition was swift and predictable ("Southern Baptists Oppose Gender Reassignment", Adelle M. Banks, RNS).

Moral equivalency ("a term used in political debate, usually to criticize any denial that a moral hierarchy can be assessed of two sides in a conflict", Wikipedia) is applied to social issues to reject definition standards of right and wrong (sin and righteousness), leaving people unwilling and ill-equipped to "judge righteous judgment" on the moral issues of the day (the progress of same-sex marriage illustrates the point).

Parents are being advised to consider gender identity issues when three-year-old boys want to play dress up with mommy’s clothes and little girls prefer to be tomboys. "Self-perception" is being discussed with kindergarteners, raising questions in their developing minds about whether they really are a boy or a girl. (This agenda of doubt and confusion is deplorable! See "Kids challenge gender identity earlier - and get support".) Gender reassignment surgeries are now covered by most insurance companies. Medicare recently announced gender assignment surgeries are no longer automatically denied.

God created male and female, and we all are made in His image (Gen. 1:26-28). God's word defines the person you are and ought to be, whether you are male or female (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Eph. 4:17-24). Gender identity is a God-given trait, not a "civil right". (For more, see What about being Transgender?)

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