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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 23, Number 39
10/24/2021

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

In this issue:

• Kingdom Righteousness (6)
• Sermon Outlines:
  • Paradoxes of the Cross
  • The "Good" Satan Does
• Noteworthy News: School Threats Taken Seriously

Kingdom Righteousness (6)
Joe R. Price

Matthew 7:3-5
Jesus did not forbid seeing someone’s fault or helping to remove the problem. Mature Christians try to restore fellow Christians overtaken in sin (Gal. 6:1-2). When Christians strays from the truth, we try to turn them from their error and save them from death (James 5:19-20). In today’s text, Christ’s rebukes fixing our attention on the speck in someone’s eye (a dry stalk or twig, straw, chaff; figuratively, a small fault) while failing to perceive our plank (a beam; figuratively, a glaring error). All of us have flaws and faults we ought to perceive and address. And we should be ready to help each other overcome our failings. To do so, we must not be hypocrites who quickly see others’ deficiencies while having a distorted vision of our own. The apostle exposes the hypocrisy of such judging, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God (Rom. 2:1-3)?” We can help others remove their speck after first considering and removing our plank.

Matthew 7:6
Jesus has warned us not to judge lest our unrighteous measure of judgment condemns us (Matt. 7:1-2). Jesus forthrightly judged (condemned) hypocritically judging others while ignoring ourselves (Matt. 7:3-5). James reinforced this truth, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). Jesus went on to imply we must judge several things: (1) What is holy and what are pearls, and (2) Who are dogs and swine. Holy things are pure, blameless, and set apart to God and His service. Your pearls would be your precious things. The gospel, salvation, faith, and heavenly treasures are among the holy and valuable things we judge to be great treasures.

Dogs and swine were unclean under the Law of Moses and used by Christ as figures of impure, contemptible character and conduct (cf. Deut. 23:18; 2 Kings 8:13). But the dogs and swine in this passage have two legs, not four. So, take care to live holy and not defile yourself with evil companions (1 Cor. 15:33). Judge error from the truth and avoid the “dogs” who hold God’s truth in contempt and with their false doctrines (Phil. 3:2-3). Oh yes, we must judge what is right to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good (Luke 12:57; Rom. 12:9). God’s word of truth is holy. It identifies our pearls, and those whose sin and error identifies them as dogs and swine. Beware. They will turn on you when given a chance. Come out, be separate, and do not touch what is unclean (2 Cor. 6:17-7:1).

Matthew 7:7-8
Jesus does more than suggest we pray to the Father for His blessings. The verbs ask, seek, and knock are in the imperative mood, expressing commands. Each action increases in intensity and fervor. Lenski commented, “We ask for what we need; we seek what we earnestly desire; we knock when our desire becomes importunity” (Matthew, 292-293). Furthermore, Christ promises the Father will respond favorably to His children’s pleadings (“will be given,” “will find,” and “it will be opened to you”). Arguing from the lesser to the greater, Jesus went on to assure us that if earthly fathers provide “good gifts” to their children when asked, our heavenly Father will “gives good things” to His children when we entreat Him (Matt. 7:9-11). As children depend on their parents for life’s necessities, Christians rely on our Father in heaven to give us what we truly need. Our trust is not misplaced. Our Father hears and responds to our fervent pleadings. So ask, seek, and knock. Live by faith, and “all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:32-33).

Matthew 7:12
Kingdom citizens are the Father’s children who receive “good things” from His hand in answer to our childlike prayers (Matt. 7:7-11). Whether we are falsely judged or suffer any other ill-treatment, God’s children do not “return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing” (1 Pet. 3:9). The Law and the Prophets taught Israel to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18; Isa. 1:21-23). Solomon’s proverb reminded them (and us) not to deal with others out of vengeance or to “settle the score.” He wrote, “Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work’” (Prov. 24:29). This “Golden Rule” urges every disciple of Jesus to look inward before acting outwardly. Our words and treatment of others should reflect how we want others to treat us. For example, our judgments will be righteous, not hypocritical (Matt. 7:1-5). We will love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us for our faith (Matt. 5:43-48). We will turn the other cheek and not retaliate (Matt. 5:38-42). We will recall our Father treats us with all kindness, mercy, and love. And in turn, we will reflect the nature of our Father by giving “good things” to others (Matt. 7:11-12). The righteousness of the kingdom demands no less (Matt. 5:20).

(Continued next week)

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

Paradoxes of the Cross
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Paradoxes of the cross of Christ reveal God’s redemptive work and confirm our faith.

I. CURSE AND BLESSING, Gal. 3:10-14.

A. The Curse of Sin and Death, Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:6, 8; Heb. 9:28; 10:10.
B. The Blessing of Forgiveness and Life, Gal. 3:14 (26-29); Acts 2:38-40 (Rom. 1:16-17)

II. HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION.

A. Humiliation, Isa. 53:3-6, 10-12; Phil. 2:5-8
B. Exaltation, Isa. 53:12; Phil. 2:9-11.

III. INJUSTICE AND MERCY.

A. No Crime in Him (Acts 8:33) John 18:29-38 (19:4, 6); Luke 23:22-25.
B. Mercy of Jesus Toward His Enemies, Luke 23:43 (Rom. 5:10-12).

IV. HATE AND LOVE.

A. Hated Without a Cause, John 15:22-25.
B. Love of God, Rom. 5:6-8, 9.

V. SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

A. The Punishment of Sin (Jesus saves us from) Was Ignored, Matt. 27:24-2
B. Justification from Sins Because God did not Ignore Us, Acts 2:23; Rom. 5:9.

VI. DEATH AND LIFE.

A. Death by Crucifixion, John 19:30-35.
B. Glorious Life from Death, Rom. 6:23.

VII. DEFEAT AND VICTORY.

A. Apparent Defeat, Matt. 26:56; 27:50.
B. Victory Over Sin and Death, Heb. 2:14-15; (Acts 2:24) 1 Cor. 15:56-57 (Rom. 8:35-39).

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

The "Good" Satan Does
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:12-15

1. There is no good in Satan, John 8:44.
2. The deceiver pretends to be good, 2 Cor. 11:14-15 (2:11).
3. He disguises himself in good deeds.

I. SATAN ATTENDS EVERY WORSHIP SERVICE (Heb. 10:25; Job 1:6).

A. His Motive for Being Present is Evil; What is Our Motive? Ps. 122:1; John 4:24; Heb. 13:15
B. When Satan Attends Worship His Conduct is Disruptive, Job 1:7; Neh. 8:5-6.

II. SATAN ATTENDS EVERY MEN’S BUSINESS MEETING.

A. He Tries to Destroy Unity, Acts 6:1 (Phil. 2:14); 3 John 9-11 (1 Pet. 5:2-3); 1 Cor. 1:12-13.
B. Men’s Meetings Must Not Be the Devil’s Workshop, Col. 3:12-15; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; 5:5-6.

III. SATAN ATTENDS EVERY BIBLE CLASS.

A. He Promotes Wrong Attitudes and Uses of God’s Word, 2 Tim. 2:14-15, 23; Rom. 16:17.

IV. SATAN VISITS EVERY HOME.

A. He Sits at Every Dinner Table. Do you give thanks? 1 Tim. 4:4-5; Acts 27:33-36
B. He Offers Every Form of Evil Entertainment, Eph. 5:8-11 (1 Cor. 15:33-34).
C. He is Present During Every Disagreement, Eph. 4:25-27 (5:22, 21).

V. SATAN IS ZEALOUS AND DILIGENT IN HIS WORK, 1 Pet. 5:8.

A. He Will Use Every Situation Against You; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; James 1:2-3; Rom. 8:31, 37.

Conclusion: Watch and pray, Matt. 26:41; 6:13; Eph. 6:10-17.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

School Threats Taken Seriously
Joe R. Price

Two threatening messages have been found on a bathroom wall at Mount Baker High School, the latest on Wednesday, Oct. 20. The first, discovered Sept. 30, said “School Shooting Oct. 28.” The latest, “Oct. 28 a lot will die.” The threat is being taken “very seriously” by the school and law enforcement. The school had a lockdown drill planned for Thursday, with a plan to increase the presence of law enforcement on campus. (“Whatcom Sheriff’s Office, school district investigate second threat found on bathroom wall,” bellinghamherald.com). We pray for everyone’s safety at Mount Baker High (and every school).

Threats and preparation are among the topics addressed in the gospel. Please consider both.

Concerning threats. John told soldiers not to intimidate with threats of violence (Luke 3:14). Jesus did not threaten those who inflicted suffering upon Him (1 Pet. 2:23). Saul breathed out “threats and murder against the disciples,” but saints were encouraged not to fear the threats of the wicked (Acts 9:1; 1 Pet. 3:14).

Concerning preparation. We are urged to be wise and prepare for the Lord’s return (Matt. 25:1-13; Luke 12:40; 1 Thess. 5:1-11). To do so, we must first believe and obey Jesus to be saved (Matt. 7:21; Mark 16:15-16). Then, we must commit ourselves to spiritual growth and strengthening by walking in the light of truth instead of continuing in sin (2 Pet. 3:14-18; Rom. 6:1-2). We must get ready for Judgment Day (Acts 17:30-31).

Being prepared against violent threats is crucial. Being prepared to withstand the threats of evil people and stand victorious before the Lord on the last day is possible through Christ and His gospel (Eph. 6:10-13).

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