The Spirit’s Sword, September 3, 2017

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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 19, Number 51
09/03/2017

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
Rich Brooks
Rick Holt

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Shane Bass
Mike Finn
Dan Head

In this issue:

Gospel Meeting September 08 -12, 2017
Dissatisfied with God's Word
Sermon Outlines:
- Always Pursue What is Good
- Gossip: A Prideful Sin
Noteworthy News: “Unprecedented”

Gospel Meeting September 08 - 12, 2017

The Mt. Baker
Church of Christ

1860 Mt. Baker Highway • Bellingham WA

Invites you to our
GOSPEL MEETING
With Evangelist
Steven J Wallace
(Lubbock, Texas)
September 08 - 12, 2017

Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 10^th at 9:30 and 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM

Hear these gospel lessons:

Friday:

If I Were Satan's Minister

Saturday:

Called Out of Darkness Into Light

Sunday Class:

Revealing God's Plan for Salvation

AM Sermon:

Now That I Am A Christian

PM Sermon:

Defeating Defeatism

Monday:

Black and White Discernment

Tuesday:

The King's Banquet

Bring your Bible and join us in learning God’s word and will for our lives!

(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692

Dissatisfied with God's Word
Joe R. Price

Not everyone is content to let God have the final word. Some believe God continues to reveal Himself to them through visions, dreams, feelings, experiences, voices, church councils, and the like. He does not (Heb. 1:1-2). Others claim they believe in the completeness of the word of God, but then they deny it by adding to or taking away from its teachings. Many people are dissatisfied with the complete and final word of God (Jude 3). This is apparent by observing the epidemic proportion of religious division that exists in the world.

Here are some ways people show dissatisfaction with the complete and final revelation of God’s word:

1. By generating foolish and ignorant disputes instead of being content with the truth that is revealed (2 Tim. 2:23). This person is not satisfied with Bible answers. He is convinced spirituality is defined by seeking for the unknown and the unknowable. He fails to realize this shows a lack of faith in what God has revealed in His word (Deut. 29:29). We must refuse disputes that “generate strife” instead of clarifying and advancing an understanding of the truth that has been revealed.

2. By trusting in fables (1 Tim. 1:3-4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; 2 Pet. 1:16). A fable is fiction, an invented story. How many fables have men believed in the name of religion? The New Testament exposes every spiritual invention of men for what it is; a mere story from man’s heart (Gal. 1:8-9; Jer. 14:14). We do not follow “cunningly devised fables (2 Pet. 1:16).

3. By following the commandments of men (Titus 1:4). Our authority for spiritual things must come from the word of God for it to be approved by heaven (Matt. 21:25). When men establish and impose their own religious commands, it is a clear sign they are not satisfied with God’s commands (Matt. 15:1-9).

4. By reacting to the Bible with selfishness and pride (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2). Some preach the gospel with a hidden agenda and evil motives (Phil. 1:15-17). These are not satisfied to let love for truth and love for the souls of men motivate them. Instead, the truth only satisfies this person when he can use it to gain a personal advantage over others. Beware, Diotrephes!

5. By putting a premium on spiritual immaturity (2 Pet. 3:15-18). This person becomes convinced his false doctrine is correct, in part, because he lacks adequate grounding in Bible knowledge. We must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,” or we will be unaccustomed and dissatisfied with the meat of God’s word.

6. By ignoring Satan’s deceptions (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Be assured, Satan wants you to be dissatisfied with the word God has spoken to you by His Son. God’s completed word will completely equip you to resist Satan and be victorious over sin and death in the Son (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Cor. 2:11). Do not be deceived by those who minimizes violating the Scriptures.

The faith has been once for all delivered (Jude 3). We are content that the Bible is the complete and final revelation from God to mankind. God has spoken to us by His Son. His New Testament is enough to save us, and to guide our lives. Listen to Jesus by learning the Scriptures, accepting them, and following them (Lk. 8:8).

-Revised, The Spirit’s Sword (V:46), Feb. 10, 2002

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

Always Pursue What is Good

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

1. Always pursue what is good, 1 Thess. 5:15. Phil. 3:12, 14 (Matt. 5:12; 2 Cor. 4:9).
2. Christians are to pursue:
a. Love, 1 Cor. 14:1.
b. Attributes of contentment, 1 Tim. 6:11.
c. Moral purity, 2 Tim. 2:22.
d. Peace and holiness, Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 3:11.
3. For yourselves and all others, 1 Thess. 5:15-22.

I. TO PURSUE WHAT IS GOOD IS THE OPPOSITE OF RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL, 1 Thess. 5:15.
A. The Laws of Forbearance and Love Compel Us, Matt. 5:38-44; Rom. 12:17-19.
B. Pursuing Good Things is to be Unmatched in Scope, 1 Thess. 5:15-22.

II. GOOD THINGS TO PURSUE, 1 Thess. 5:16-22.
A. Rejoice Always, 5:16; Jno. 16:22, 33.
B. Prayer (pray without ceasing), 5:17. Lk. 18:1, 8; 1 Thess. 5:25; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Eph. 6:18-19; 2 Cor. 12:7-8; Phil. 4:4-7.
C. Give Thanks in Everything, 5:18; Psa. 106:1-3; 107:8-9; Lk. 18:11-19.
D. Nothing that would Quench the Spirit, 5:19-20; cf. Titus 2:5; 1 Cor. 14:3-4.
E. Test All Things, 5:21-22.
1. Prove, examine, try, scrutinize, 1 Jno. 4:1.
2. Hold fast what is good, 5:21; Rom. 12:9.
3. Abstain from every form of evil, 5:22.
4. Test everything with the truth, 2 Cor. 13:5.

Conclusion
1. Always pursue what is good, because God is always good, Matt. 19:17.
2. Be complete in goodness, even as God is, cf. Matt. 5:48.

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

Gossip: A Prideful Sin

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 26:20-26

1. Gossip: Idle talk, spreading rumors, esp. of private, personal affairs of others. Generally, it disrespects, belittles, distorts and maligns. Chatter of scandal; it damages reputations. It certainly does not express love, Rom. 13:8.
2. People are entertained by gossip. It has many negative effects.

I. THE NATURE OF GOSSIP.
A. Gossip is a Sin, 1 Pet. 4:15 (Prov. 26:17).
1. Void of love, mercy, kindness, gentleness, etc., 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Matt. 22:39; Gal. 5:22-23.
2. Show kindness, Prov. 31:26 (Jas. 3:5).
B. Gossip is Prideful: Elevates Self by Hurting Others, cf. Phil. 2:2; Psa. 101:5.
C. Gossip is Cowardly, Prov. 25:23.
D. Gossip Divides, Isolates and Harms, Prov. 16:27-28; 17:9; Prov. 12:17-18.

II. THE PERSON WHO GOSSIPS...
A. Is a Talebearer, Prov. 17:9.
B. Is Sowing Strife, Prov. 6:16, 19.
C. Is a Busybody. Idleness invites gossiping: 2 Thess. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13.

III. WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF WE ARE A GOSSIP?
A. Remorse/Repent, 2 Cor. 7:10; 1 Jno. 1:9.
B. Repair the Damage, Matt. 5:23-24.
C. Renew Your Thinking, Rom. 12:1-2.

IV. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN SOMEONE GOSSIPS TO US? Prov. 18:6-8
A. Do not Listen, Prov. 17:4; 20:19; 26:20, 22.
B. Try to Help the Person Stop, Jas. 5:19-20; Gal. 6:1.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

“Unprecedented”
Joe R. Price

The flooding in Texas and Louisiana from hurricane Harvey has been “unprecedented,” with more than 50 inches of rain in the Houston area. Truly astonishing. Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones, and to all who continue to be impacted, as they face the hard work of rebuilding shattered houses, businesses and more.

The wise will pause to ponder the spiritual lessons of this tragic event. Hopefully these brief comments will help.

1. There are many who need our prayers and assistance. We have seen accounts of heroic rescues, of lives saved by total strangers. Christians will need our benevolent help, as in New Testament days (Acts 4:32-35; 11:27-30). Churches can help, and should. Individuals can help, too (Gal. 6:10). Hearts of compassion will reach out to relieve those in need, as able (Col. 3:12; 2 Cor. 8:12).

2. Do not blame God when trouble comes. We cannot see the end from the beginning; God does. Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10) “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (Jas. 5:11). Always trust God, especially during trials that test our faith.

3. Use moments of calamity to assess and correct your spiritual condition. Read Amos 4:6-12. Return to God, for judgment is coming. “Prepare to meet your God.”

4. Earthly possessions do not endure; heavenly ones do. Possessions can be replaced; lives cannot. More than that, your spiritual life is most important (Lk. 12:20-21). Lay up treasures in heaven – now (Matt. 6:19-21).

5. There are still good people in the world. Continual evil is not on everyone’s minds, as in Noah’s day (Gen. 6:5).

6. Always be thankful. Everything we have is from our heavenly Father (Jas. 1:17). He fills our hearts with joy and gladness, and teaches us to rely on Him (Acts 14:17).

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

zqephesianso zqephesianshxo zqephesianshxvkzo zqhebrewso zqhebrewshko zqhebrewshkvko zqhebrewshkvmo zqjudeo zqjudehpo zqmtimothyo zqmtimothyhmo zqmtimothyhmvmpo zqdeuteronomyo zqdeuteronomyhmfo zqdeuteronomyhmfvmfo zqktimothyo zqktimothyhko zqktimothyhkvpo zqktimothyhkvqo zqktimothyhqo zqktimothyhqvzo zqmtimothyhqo zqmtimothyhqvqo zqmpetero zqmpeterhko zqmpeterhkvkxo zqgalatianso zqgalatianshko zqgalatianshkvjo zqgalatianshkvfo zqjeremiaho zqjeremiahhkqo zqjeremiahhkqvkqo zqtituso zqtitushko zqtitushkvqo zqmatthewo zqmatthewhmko zqmatthewhmkvmwo zqmatthewhkwo zqmatthewhkwvko zqmatthewhkwvmo zqmatthewhkwvpo zqmatthewhkwvqo zqmatthewhkwvwo zqmatthewhkwvxo zqmatthewhkwvzo zqmatthewhkwvjo zqmatthewhkwvfo zqmcorinthianso zqmcorinthianshmo zqmcorinthianshmvkzo zqmcorinthianshqo zqmcorinthianshqvmo zqphilippianso zqphilippianshko zqphilippianshkvkwo zqphilippianshkvkxo zqphilippianshkvkzo zqmpeterhpo zqmpeterhpvkwo zqmpeterhpvkxo zqmpeterhpvkzo zqmpeterhpvkjo zqmcorinthianshkko zqmcorinthianshkkvkpo zqmcorinthianshkkvkqo zqmcorinthianshkkvkwo zqephesianshxvkbo zqephesianshxvkko zqephesianshxvkmo zqephesianshxvkpo zqephesianshxvkqo zqephesianshxvkwo zqephesianshxvkxo zqephesianshxvkjo zqmcorinthianshmvkko zqlukeo zqlukehjo zqlukehjvjo zqkthessalonianso zqkthessalonianshwo zqkthessalonianshwvkwo zqkthessalonianshwvkxo zqkthessalonianshwvkzo zqkthessalonianshwvkjo zqkthessalonianshwvkfo zqkthessalonianshwvmbo zqkthessalonianshwvmko zqkthessalonianshwvmmo zqkthessalonianshwvmpo zqkthessalonianshwvmqo zqkthessalonianshwvmwo zqkthessalonianshwvmxo zqkthessalonianshwvmzo zqkthessalonianshwvmjo zqkthessalonianshwvmfo zqkthessalonianshwvpbo zqkthessalonianshwvpko zqkthessalonianshwvpmo zqkthessalonianshwvppo zqkthessalonianshwvpqo zqkthessalonianshwvpwo zqkthessalonianshwvpxo zqkthessalonianshwvpzo zqkthessalonianshwvpjo zqkthessalonianshwvpfo zqkthessalonianshwvqbo zqkthessalonianshwvqko zqkthessalonianshwvqmo zqkthessalonianshwvqpo zqkthessalonianshwvqqo zqkthessalonianshwvqwo zqkthessalonianshwvqxo zqkthessalonianshwvqzo zqkthessalonianshwvqjo zqkthessalonianshwvqfo zqkthessalonianshwvwbo zqkthessalonianshwvwko zqkthessalonianshwvwmo zqkthessalonianshwvwpo zqkthessalonianshwvwqo zqphilippianshpo zqphilippianshpvkmo zqmatthewhwo zqmatthewhwvkmo zqmcorinthianshqvfo zqkcorinthianso zqkcorinthianshkqo zqkcorinthianshkqvko zqktimothyhxo zqktimothyhxvkko zqmtimothyhmvmmo zqhebrewshkmo zqhebrewshkmvkqo zqkpetero zqkpeterhpo zqkpeterhpvkko zqmatthewhwvpjo zqmatthewhwvpfo zqmatthewhwvqbo zqmatthewhwvqko zqmatthewhwvqmo zqmatthewhwvqpo zqmatthewhwvqqo zqromanso zqromanshkmo zqromanshkmvkzo zqromanshkmvkjo zqromanshkmvkfo zqjohno zqjohnhkxo zqjohnhkxvmmo zqlukehkjo zqlukehkjvko zqktimothyhmo zqktimothyhmvko zqktimothyhmvmo zqephesianshxvkfo zqmcorinthianshkmo zqmcorinthianshkmvzo zqmcorinthianshkmvjo zqphilippianshqo zqphilippianshqvqo zqphilippianshqvwo zqphilippianshqvxo zqphilippianshqvzo zqpsalmso zqpsalmshkbxo zqpsalmshkbxvko zqpsalmshkbxvmo zqpsalmshkbxvpo zqpsalmshkbzo zqpsalmshkbzvjo zqpsalmshkbzvfo zqlukehkjvkko zqlukehkjvkmo zqlukehkjvkpo zqlukehkjvkqo zqlukehkjvkwo zqlukehkjvkxo zqlukehkjvkzo zqlukehkjvkjo zqlukehkjvkfo zqtitushmo zqtitushmvwo zqkcorinthianshkqvpo zqkcorinthianshkqvqo zqkjohno zqkjohnhqo zqkjohnhqvko zqromanshkmvfo zqmcorinthianshkpo zqmcorinthianshkpvwo zqmatthewhkfo zqmatthewhkfvkzo zqmatthewhwvqjo zqproverbso zqproverbshmxo zqproverbshmxvmbo zqproverbshmxvmko zqproverbshmxvmmo zqproverbshmxvmpo zqproverbshmxvmqo zqproverbshmxvmwo zqproverbshmxvmxo zqromanshkpo zqromanshkpvjo zqkpeterhqo zqkpeterhqvkwo zqproverbshmxvkzo zqkcorinthianshkpo zqkcorinthianshkpvqo zqkcorinthianshkpvwo zqkcorinthianshkpvxo zqkcorinthianshkpvzo zqmatthewhmmo zqmatthewhmmvpfo zqgalatianshwo zqgalatianshwvmmo zqgalatianshwvmpo zqproverbshpko zqproverbshpkvmxo zqjameso zqjameshpo zqjameshpvwo zqphilippianshmo zqphilippianshmvmo zqpsalmshkbko zqpsalmshkbkvwo zqproverbshmwo zqproverbshmwvmpo zqproverbshkxo zqproverbshkxvmzo zqproverbshkxvmjo zqproverbshkzo zqproverbshkzvfo zqproverbshkmo zqproverbshkmvkzo zqproverbshkmvkjo zqproverbshxo zqproverbshxvkxo zqmthessalonianso zqmthessalonianshpo zqmthessalonianshpvkko zqktimothyhwo zqktimothyhwvkpo zqmcorinthianshzo zqmcorinthianshzvkbo zqkjohnhko zqkjohnhkvfo zqmatthewhwvmpo zqmatthewhwvmqo zqromanshkmvko zqromanshkmvmo zqproverbshkjo zqproverbshkjvxo zqproverbshkjvzo zqproverbshkjvjo zqproverbshkzvqo zqproverbshmbo zqproverbshmbvkfo zqjameshwo zqjameshwvkfo zqjameshwvmbo zqgalatianshxo zqgalatianshxvko zqactso zqactshqo zqactshqvpmo zqactshqvppo zqactshqvpqo zqactshqvpwo zqactshkko zqactshkkvmzo zqactshkkvmjo zqactshkkvmfo zqactshkkvpbo zqgalatianshxvkbo zqcolossianso zqcolossianshpo zqcolossianshpvkmo zqmcorinthianshjo zqmcorinthianshjvkmo zqjobo zqjobhmo zqjobhmvkbo zqjameshwvkko zqamoso zqamoshqo zqamoshqvxo zqamoshqvzo zqamoshqvjo zqamoshqvfo zqamoshqvkbo zqamoshqvkko zqamoshqvkmo zqlukehkmo zqlukehkmvmbo zqlukehkmvmko zqmatthewhxo zqmatthewhxvkfo zqmatthewhxvmbo zqmatthewhxvmko zqgenesiso zqgenesishxo zqgenesishxvwo zqjameshko zqjameshkvkzo zqactshkqo zqactshkqvkzo

From Bible Answers, https://www.bibleanswer.com/spirits-sword/2017-09-03. Permission is granted to use the Bible study and teaching material found on this website to the glory of God and the spread of His gospel. We request that proper citation and/or hyperlinks are included when republishing material from website.