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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 20, Number 41
08/05/2018

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

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Shane Bass
Mike Finn
Dan Head

In this issue:

• Created for Good Works
• When I Sin (by Kevin Maxey)
• Sermon Outlines:
  • Faith that Pleases God
  • Milk and Meat of the Word
• Noteworthy News: “Clear in this Matter”

Created for Good Works
Joe R. Price

•PATTERN of good works, Titus 2:7.
-Be an example; a form to follow; an imprint or impression (Phil. 3:17)

•ZEALOUS for good works, Titus 2:14.
-Fervent, burning desire that leads to action, Romans 12:11

•READY for good works, Titus 3:1.
-Be prepared, then use your opportunities (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 5:16)

•CAREFUL to maintain good works, Titus 3:8.
-Be thoughtful (“anxious”) to give attention to (guard) them

•LEARN to maintain good works, Titus 3:14.
-Increase your knowledge by use, by practice; be in the habit of doing what is good (Heb. 5:8)
-You are fruitful in the Lord’s service by doing so

•GOOD WORKS = Doing God’s will = Well pleasing to God, Hebrews 13:21.
-Be “complete” (perfect) in doing the good works of God
-Through Christ (by means of His gospel and under His authority), Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:18

We glorify Christ when we do the good works of God!

When I Sin
Kevin Maxey

No one on earth is immune to sin. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The only person in the world who never sinned was Jesus. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

From the Bible we know that sin is the result of going against God’s law. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Matthew 7:23 says, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” “Iniquity” is sometimes translated as “lawlessness.”

What are you going to do when you sin? Will you stay in your sin or will you find forgiveness? Here are some suggestions:

•I am not going to stay lost, I am going to obey the gospel and be baptized for the remission of my sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

•I am not going to retreat; I am going to repent (Genesis 3:8; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38).

•I am not going to give up; I am going to look up (Colossians 3:1-5).

•I am not going to hide it, I am going to confess it (Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16).

•I am not going to make an excuse; I am going to repent and make a change (Luke 14:18-24).

•I am not going to ask for a more convenient season; I am going to ask for forgiveness (Acts 24:25; 1 John 1:9; Luke 18:13).

•I am not going to leave my Lord; I am going to love my Lord and Master (John 6:66-69).

•I am not going to be weaker; I am going to stop sinning and be stronger (1 Peter 5:10).

•I am not going to live fearful; I am going to live faithful all the way until my death (Revelation 2:10).

•I am not going to allow unrighteousness to reign; I am going to allow the righteousness to reign (Romans 6:12-13).

•I am not going to be overcome by sin; I am going to overcome sin (Romans 8:37).

•I am not going to live for Satan; I am going to live for my Lord and Savior (James 4:7-10).

•I am not going continue a life that will send me to hell; I am going to live so that I will go to heaven (Revelation 20:11-15; 22:14-17).

These steps are the perfect response to sin. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). You need to stop your sin and turn back to the Lord. Numbers 32:23 says, “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Don’t let it have to be found out — stop it today!

-Adapted and printed in The Gospel Teacher, August 5, 2018

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

Faith that Pleases God

Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:39-11:2

1. Faith: Much discussed and often misunderstood.
2. Hebrews 11: Faith that pleases God…

I. …IDENTIFIES GOD AS THE DESIGNER/ CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, Heb. 11:3.

A. Faith Understands, Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20.
B. Faith Understands the World was Framed by the Word of God, 11:3; Rom. 1:20; Psa. 33:6-9; Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, et al.

II. …ACTS ON GOD’S PROMISES, Heb. 11:8-22.

A. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob Trusted God’s Promises; Gen. 12:1-3.
B. A Pleasing Faith, 11:8-9, 17, 11:10-11, 13-16.

III. …ESTEEMS CHRIST ABOVE ALL, Heb. 11:23-26.

A. Faith is not Afraid of Men, 11:23; He. 13:6; cf. Jno. 12:42-43; Acts 5:29
B. Faith is not Controlled by Earthly Advantages, Heb. 11:24-26; Acts 7:22.
C. Faith is Deliberate, 11:24-26; Matt. 10:28.

IV. …OVERCOMES TREMENDOUS ODDS, Heb. 11:29-38.

A. The Victory of Faith, 11:29-34; 1 Jno. 5:3-4 (Rev. 2:7).
B. Victory of Faith comes Enduring the Trials of Faith, 11:35-38; cf. 1 Pet. 1:3-9.
C. Their Faith Calls Us to Greater Faith, 12:1-2 (“good testimony,” 11:2); 11:40.

Conclusion

1. OT faithful sought after God and found Him, 11:6.
2. Will Son of Man find faith on earth? Lk. 18:8

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

Milk and Meat of the Word

Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:12-6:3

1. Milk and meat sustain life, Jno. 4:31-34; 6:27.
2. Milk and meat are used to describe the teachings of God’s word.
3. When used together, milk and meat strengthen and mature us.
4. Objective: Effectively feed each Christian.

I. WHAT IS THE MILK AND THE MEAT OF THE WORD? 1 Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:11-6:3; 1 Pet. 2:1-3

A. Milk is, 1 Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:12-13; 1 Pet. 2:2; Heb. 6:1-2.
B. Meat is, 1 Cor. 3:2-3 (2:15); Heb. 5:14; cf. 2 Tim. 2:15.

II. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MILK AND MEAT OF THE WORD.

A. Only Meat is Controversial, Milk is Not, cf. Heb. 6:1-2. Not so! Acts 4:1-3
B. The Mature Never Need Milk, 2 Pet. 1:12; Jude 5; Phil. 3:1; 1 Jno. 2:21; Heb. 6:1.
C. Babes in Christ Only Need Milk, 1 Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:12; 6:1, 3.
D. Milk is for the Masses, but Meat is Only for Preachers, Elders, etc., Heb. 5:12, 14 (11); Phil. 1:9-10; cf. Jude 3-4.

III. BALANCING OUR DIET. Matt. 23:23-24

A. Determining What is Milk and When it is Needed, Heb. 5:12-6:1; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:1-2
B. Determining What is Meat and When it is Needed, Heb. 5:11, 14; 6:1; Phil. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:15.

Conclusion

1. Milk and meat are needed by every Christian.
2. Milk and meat have same objective: Our growth to maturity in Christ.
3. “Let us go on to perfection.” Heb. 6:1

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

“Clear in this Matter”
Joe R. Price

The owner of El Charro Café in Tucson, Arizona got quite a shock when she received a letter with $1000 enclosed. It was from a former employee in the 1990s who apologized for not ringing up a few drinks per shift and pocketing the money. “It’s been 20 years, but I still carry that remorse.” (“Former waitress sends $1,000 and apology to boss for stealing 20 years ago,” Caitlin O’Kane, cbsnews.com). The anonymous person wrote, “I am very sorry that I stole from you. Please accept my apology and this money as a repayment + 20 years of interest. May God forever bless you and your family.” She also said she “grew up in church” and “knew better,” but did it anyway (“Remorseful Waitress Sends $1,000 and Apology for Money Stolen 20 Years Ago,” Michael Foust, christianheadlines.com).

Some lessons emerge from this happy event.

1) It is never too late to right a wrong. Time does not right a wrong. If we have wronged someone, doing nothing will not correct it. We must make it right by repenting correcting our error (Lk. 15:18-20; Acts 2:37-38; 22:16).

2) Godly sorrow still prompts repentance. Sorrow of a godly sort causes good hearts to change (2 Cor. 5:10). Being sorry to try to gain an advantage over others is not repentance at all.

3) Repentance produces fruit. Repentance is shown by doing things differently than before. That demonstrates one’s change of heart (Lk. 3:8; 2 Cor. 7:11; Lk. 15:21).

4) What you teach your children remains with them. Sometimes parents wonder if their children remember what they taught them about God and about what is right and wrong. Even when they violate those lessons, parents continue to pray, longing for the moment when the child’s memory prompts remorse and correction of sin.

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