THE SPIRIT’S SWORD
"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)

                        published by

Mt. Baker church of Christ
                  Bellingham, WA
Volume III, Number 01 · February 21, 1999
Editor..................Joe R. Price

Mt. Baker church of Christ: http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
BIBLE ANSWERS: http://www.bibleanswer.com

 In this issue:
-- I Just Know in My Heart  ( Justin Monts)
-- The Poem
--Sermons:
----They Had Been With Jesus  (Acts 4:5-14)
----Jesus of Nazareth: His Death (Part 14)  (Isaiah 53:1-6)
--Noteworthy News:  Rules Sweep Baker’s Slopes

I Just Know in My Heart
by: Justin Monts

     Though one at first glance might expect this to be an article better suited for last week’s Valentine’s Day, it actually isn’t even close.  Here I plan to take up a statement used time and again in our religious world.  That statement is simply: “I just know in my heart.”

     Many well meaning and sincere people decide to “trust in their heart” with regard to spiritual things and believe that by this they can’t go wrong.  To point out from the Bible wherein they err is fruitless because they “know in their heart” they are saved.  To press them for authority on infant baptism, praying to Mary, or speaking in tongues is useless because they “know in their heart” these are approved.

     Yet contrary to being a reliable source, the Bible reveals “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17:9).  Ultimately, it alone can't be trusted.  Elsewhere it is stated, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12).  And again we are told, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5).  Notice we are not to trust in the heart, but rather we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart.  Without question, there is a world of difference.

     The only way we can really “know in our heart” about our condition is if we abide in the word of truth. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by  the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And  you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’” (Jn. 8:31-32).  By abiding in the word of God we can know we are acceptable to Him.  However, if we rely on emotions and feelings alone we'll inevitably be led astray.

     Since this is the case, what will you do?  Will you lay aside divine writ and go with your heart?  Or will you take up the Bible and place your heart in it?  This is a very important question seeing the word of truth will judge in the last day (Jn. 12:48).

The Poem

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried  prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
 

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No  time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
 

I  went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time.”

Please take time to read:  Ephesians 5:14-17; James 4:13-17 and Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-8.
Then, use your time to live for God!

They Had Been With Jesus
(Scripture Reading: Acts 4:5-14)

1.    Fellowship w/ Christ:  Matt. 12:30; Matt. 28:20; 1 Jno. 1:1-4.
2.    Can people know by our words & works that we are with Jesus?
-When we are “with” Jesus:

I.  IT WILL BE NOTICED BY OTHERS.

  -1 Peter 4:1-4; Eph. 5:8-17; Matt. 5:10-16; 1 Cor. 15:33-34.

II. OUR CONFIDENCE WILL BE PLACED IN CHRIST, NOT IN EARTHLY CREDENTIALS (“uneducated & untrained men”).
  -Matt. 10:16-20; Jno. 16:12-15; Acts 17:17-18; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; 1:18-21;  Psa. 119:97-100; 2 Pet. 3:18.

III. WE WILL HAVE BOLDNESS IN CHRIST - Acts 4:13.

  -(BOLDNESS:  “freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech; openly, frankly, i.e. without concealment, without ambiguity...free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance the deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity.” - Thayer, ONLINE BIBLE)
   -Acts 3:16 - Through faith (Eph. 3:12-13; 1 Jno. 5:4-5 - Overcomes world!)
   -Acts 4:23-30 (29) - Through prayer (Heb. 4:16 - The power of heaven is ours!).
   -Acts 4:31, 33 - Through obedience (4:18-20).
    -(Heb. 10:35-36 - Great reward.)

Jesus of Nazareth: His Death (Part 14)
(Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:1-6)

1.  1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 5:6-11:  Jesus died for weak, ungodly sinners...Isa. 53:4-6 - Us!
2.  We need greater understanding of His death, greater appreciation for God’s love and greater obedience to Him.

I.  THE HUMILIATION OF JESUS - Isa. 53:3 (Psa. 69:20, 9).

  A.  He Was Hated Without A Cause - Jno. 15:22-25 (Psa. 69:4; 35:19).
  B.  He Endured Violent Injustice--Isa. 53:7-8 (Acts 8:32-33; Mk. 10:32-34)

II.  HIS PHYSICAL TORTURE - Isa. 53:4-6 (52:14).

  A.  His Torture & Death Were Vicarious - Matt. 20:28 (Rom. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24).
    1.  Scourging, shameful mockery, crucifixion - Matt. 27:26-31.
    2.  “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,” (Mayo Clinic, Journal of the AMA).
    3.  Jno. 15:13; Eph. 3:14-19; Rom. 5:8; Phil. 2:8.

III.  HIS ISOLATION FROM THE FATHER - Isa. 53:5-6; Psa. 22:1; Matt. 27:46.

  A.  He Bore Our Sins: He Experienced The Punishment Of Our Sins - Rom. 6:23;  Jno. 16:32 [Bore sins of world, Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 2:24; “Made (to be) sin” - Guilt & penalty of sin, 2 Cor. 5:21; Became a curse for us, Gal. 3:13. - Psa. 22:2-4, 22-24; Acts 2:27-28.

Conclusion: Isa. 53:10-11 - God’s plan that Jesus die (He delighted in the Savior’s achievement).

Noteworthy News
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Rules Sweep Baker’s Slopes
BY JOHN HARRIS  (The Bellingham Herald)

      MOUNT BAKER SKI AREA - Brandon Weathermon stood at the bottom of Rumble Gully Friday afternoon, enforcing the ski area’s new backcountry policy.

      A snowboarder barreled toward him and Weathermon shouted for him to stop.  The ‘boarder halted in a spray of snow.

      Weathermon asked if he knew about Mount Baker’s new policy, begun Friday.  Violators face the possibility of losing their lift privileges for the day or longer.

      The ski area pulled the passes of 10 people who ventured out of bounds Friday and stopped another 50 or more from heading into the wilderness, said Duncan Howat, Mount Baker’s general manager.

      The policy requires:

         · Snowboarders and skiers to carry a transceiver - an electronic device that emits a beep - and a shovel.                                                         · A partner.

          · Knowledge of terrain and route. 
          · General avalanche knowledge.

          · Knowledge of local avalanche conditions.

      The snowboarder told Weathermon he “sort of” knew about the policy.

      “...asked if he realized he was out-of-bounds - in a gully in which one man died Sunday and two others are missing, victims of separate avalanches.  “I basically use my board and stay out of avalanches,” the ‘boarder said.  (THE BELLINGHAM HERALD, A1, 2/20/99, Edited for length)

COMMENTARY
by:  Joe R. Price

    You know, sin is like that, too.  God has given us some very clear warnings and guidelines to help us not be buried by the weight of sin.  Much worse than an avalanche, sin can overrun us and, will it reaches us, it suffocates us - choking off our spiritual life.  Buried in the grip of sin, only Christ and His gospel can rescue us from its ferocious weight and destruction.  (Matt. 11:28-30; 1 Cor. 10:12-13; 15:1-3).

    Don’t be like those who lost their skiing privileges because they refused to follow ski area policy.  Christ’s “policy” to avoid the death of sin is to obey His gospel and live “soberly, righteously and godly” (Titus 2:11-12; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 5:8-9; Matt. 7:21-23).