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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 23, Number 47
12/19/2021

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:

• Types of Suffering
• Bethlehem and Calvary
• It is Not Lawful
• Sermon Outlines:
  • Throwing the First Stone
  • Now Abide Faith, Hope, Love (Part 2)
• Noteworthy News: Touching the Sun

Types of Suffering
Joe R. Price

Pain and suffering exist in this world because of sin. They are the clearly stated consequences of sin’s presence in the world according to Genesis 3:16-19. Suffering is inevitable because sin is present in this world. We are all too familiar with the words of Job, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

The Bible reveals several types of suffering. Briefly review some of them.

PUNITIVE suffering results when one violates established law. Whether it be natural laws (like gravity), moral laws (such as do not murder), or civil laws (paying taxes), one cannot violate the laws under which he lives without suffering some degree of pain or punishment. Thus, we have sufficient incentive to obey laws to avoid punishment (Rom. 13:1-4; 1 Pet. 4:15).

DISCIPLINARY suffering occurs to warn us and to improve our lives. It is true that men often respond favorably in times of adversity to what they would reject in times of prosperity. “There are no atheists in a foxhole” speaks to this point. Suffering can be for our good if we will learn its lessons (Ps. 119:71; Heb. 12:10-11; 1 Pet. 1:6-7).

CONSEQUENTIAL suffering is the sort where innocent ones suffer due to the actions of others. The drunk driver kills an innocent victim, the unborn baby’s life is murdered by abortion. Millions suffer daily in this world through no fault of their own (Eccl. 9:11-12). But, as we have already noted, sin is the root cause of it all.

PERSECUTIONARY suffering is being troubled for what is right (Matt. 5:10-12). Those who live godly can expect this form of suffering (2 Tim. 3:12). Just as the world hated Jesus, His followers will also be hated (John 15:19; 17:14). Although this kind of suffering is unjust, Jesus teaches us not to fear man and what he may do to us. We must fear God and always serve Him (Matt. 10:28).

SACRIFICIAL suffering occurs when one willingly suffers in the place of someone else. It is the essence of love (Rom. 5:6-8). Jesus suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example to follow (1 Pet. 2:21-24). Having been the recipients of Christ’s tremendous love and sacrifice, Christians are to be ready to suffer for others, including Jesus (1 John 3:16; 1 Pet. 4:16).

-Reprint, The Spirit’s Sword, Dec. 8, 2002

Bethlehem and Calvary
Joe R. Price

15 So it was, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger (Luke 2:15-16).

One searches the Scriptures in vain to find Jesus or His apostles teaching Christians to have a religious festival called “Christmas.” What we truly need each day are trips of faith to both Bethlehem and Calvary.

Many, many people rejoice over the birth of Bethlehem’s babe. Far fewer put their faith in the death of a Savior (John 1:10-14; Rom. 5:8-10). The manger is a non-threatening witness of the birth of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Calvary’s cross challenges us to see the pain and agony our sins caused the Savior. At the birth of Jesus “a body was prepared” for him that would become an offering for the sins of the world (Heb. 10:5-10).

Yes, let us go to Bethlehem by faith and rejoice in what happened that day. But not through a religious holiday established by the authority of men (Matt. 15:7-9; 28:18; Col. 3:17).

Let us also go to Golgotha (the Place of a Skull; Jn. 19:17-18) by faith and be saved from our sins. Faith leads us to Bethlehem’s manger and Calvary’s cross.

It is Not Lawful
Joe R. Price

4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?’ 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4–6, NKJV).

Jesus gave three distinct reasons why it is not lawful “for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason” (Matt. 19:3).

(1) The Genesis of Marriage (v. 4). God created marriage, not humans. His purpose for marriage between “male and female” is the final word on the matter.

(2) The Oneness of Marriage (v. 5-6). Marriage is a “one flesh” relationship. When joined by God, the man and woman are no longer two, but “one flesh.” Divorce violates the unity God formed between the husband and wife.

(3) The Prohibition of God (v. 6). Christ declared we are not to separate (put an expanse between) what God joins together (i.e., the husband and wife). We must solidify in our hearts this unchanging edict from God: Marriage is given by God, it is between one man and one woman, and it is for life. (Jesus will give one exception to this rule in Matthew 19:9, and that is exactly what it is, an exception to the rule.) It is a transgression against God to sunder what He has joined together. -Sword Tips #995

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

Throwing the First Stone
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: John 8:2-11

1. Both righteous and unrighteous judgments in the Scriptures, John 7:18-24.
2. We are to judge what is right, Luke 12:57.
3. John 8:2-11: Pharisees mistreated this woman, misjudged Jesus and themselves.

I. MISJUDGING JESUS.

A. They Thought They Could Entrap Jesus, John 8:6; Luke 11:53-54 (Isa. 55:8-9).
B. They Did Not Expect Jesus to Confront their Sin, 8:5-9; Lev. 20:10; Deut. 19:15 (17:7).
C. They Did Not Expect Jesus to Forgive the Woman, 8:10-11; Matt. 18:34-35; Eph. 4:32-5:2 (1 Cor. 13:4-6).

II. MISJUDGING OURSELVES BY MISJUDGING OTHERS.

A. By Unrighteously Judging Others We Judge Ourselves to Be:
1. Without sin, John 8:7 (hypocritical).
2. Above God’s law, James 4:11 (John 8:4).
3. Self-righteous, Luke 18:9-12.
B. To Correct We Must Replace Conceit with Compassion, Mercy, and Humility, James 2:12-13 (1-4); Matt. 7:2; John 8:10-11.
C. Righteous Judgment is Possible and Expected.
1. Judge Jesus righteously, Luke 12:54-57.
2. Judge ourselves righteously, 1 Cor. 10:12; Gal. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 11:27-32.
3. Judge sin righteously, 1 John 3:4; James 4:17; Rom. 14:23; 6:23.
4. Judge others righteously, Matt. 7:6, 15-21; 1 John 4:1, 6; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 5:3, 12-13.

Conclusion
We will be judged by Christ, Acts 17:31. Let us submit to His judgments.

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

Now Abide Faith, Hope, Love (Part 2)
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7

1. God: Object of faith, guarantor of hope, and essence of love.
2. The threefold cord of faith, hope, and love strengthen and sustain us in Christ, Eccl. 4:12.
3. Faith, hope, and love impact and influence us and those our lives touch, 1 Cor. 12:31…13:13.

I. THE IMPACT OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE, 1 Thess. 1:2-4.

A. Faith Works in the Lives of God’s Elect, John 6:27-29; Phil. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:3; James 1:2-4; 2:14-26.
B. God’s Elect Patiently Do the Will of God in Hope, Rom. 4:17-22; Heb. 6:11-12 (13-18) 19.
C. Love is the Driving Force of Faith in God’s Elect, Gal. 5:6-7; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:3.

II. THE INFLUENCE OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE, Col. 1:3-6.

A. Faith in Christ (4): Faith’s Influence is Tangible because Faith is Seen by Its Actions, James 2:15-17.
1. Faith’s influence in the home, 1 Cor. 7:14; 1 Pet. 3:1-2; Eph. 6:3-4 (cf. Heb. 12:5-6).
2. Faith’s influence in the church, Rom. 12:3-8.
B. Love for All the Saints (4): Love is Also Seen by Our Actions, 1 Jn. 3:16-18; Gal. 6:7-10.
C. Hope Laid Up in Heaven (5-6): Hope is the Fruit of the Gospel, Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 1:3-4.

Conclusion
1. Before we can influence others we must be impacted and influenced by faith, hope, and love to patiently obey God.
2. Our faith, hope, and love impacts and influences others, 1 Thess. 1:6-10.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Touching the Sun
Joe R. Price

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has “touched” the sun by passing through the sun’s corona (“atmosphere”), about 8 million miles from the sun’s surface (space.com). By last April, the spacecraft had traveled about 90 million miles when it reached the sun’s outer atmosphere (1440 Newsletter). The data collected from the probe will be analyzed and utilized to improve satellites and predict space weather. This is quite an achievement of science, astrophysics, and technology.

It reminds us of what God said about the tower of Babel, “And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” (Gen. 11:6). Humanity has made incredible advances since the days of Babel. But, unfortunately, these advancements tempt us to become arrogant and trust in ourselves instead of God. This sinful trend continues to the present.

It is our hope that some involved in this project will pause to reflect on who made the sun. God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;…and it was so…God made…the great light to rule the day…” (Gen. 1:14-16).

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse of space shows His handiwork (Ps. 19:1). Mankind wonders at, explores, and attempts to explain God’s creation above the earth. Yet, many close their eyes to the evidence of God’s eternal power and deity (Rom. 1:20). They are without excuse, and so are we if we refuse to recognize, honor, and obey God, the Creator (Rom. 1:28).

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