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"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe
Price |
"...let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head |
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
Sure Signs of
Backsliding (Author Unknown)
The Fruit of the
Spirit: Longsuffering (#5)
Noteworthy News:
Smuggler Sentenced
Sure Signs of Backsliding
Author Unknown
1. When the way
to the meeting house seems too far.
2. When the
sermon seems too long.
3. When the
singing comes hard and seems dreary.
4. When you see
so much to dislike in your brethren.
5. When the
preacher makes you mad.
6. When the
members frequently say things that offend you.
7. When your
reading of the Bible is dull and puts you to sleep.
8. When it frets
you to be called on to give.
9. When you feel
that there is no use of working with the sinners around you.
10. When you are
impatient with the shortcomings of your brethren and feel you have few or
none of your own.
11. When you make
excuses for your sins and try to persuade yourself that God will not punish
or judge.
THEN YOU ARE NOT
RIGHT WITH GOD. YOU ARE DRIFTING, BACKSLIDING, SINNING.
(From: The Old
Paths, Owensboro, KY, 1/16/05)
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The Fruit of the Spirit: Longsuffering (#5)
Joe R. Price
The person with a “short
fuse” is short-tempered and easily provoked to anger. Longsuffering is the
opposite quality. The word “longsuffering” in Galatians 5:22 is translated
from the compound Greek word makrothumia (makros, long, and
thumos, temper). Longsuffering is literally to have a “long temper.”
Vine expands on this by adding that “longsuffering is that quality of
self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate
nor promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger and is associated with
mercy” (Vine). It is, as Barclay observes, “the power to see things
through.”
God has been longsuffering
to man. He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in
lovingkindness and truth” (Exo. 34:6). Were it not for God’s longsuffering
we would no doubt be instantly consumed by the just wrath of God against our
sinful acts of provocation. God’s longsuffering gives sinners the
opportunity to repent (Rom. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). God’s longsuffering is
manifested every time He forgives a sinner (1Ti. 1:15-16).
Longsuffering is a feature
of patience, mercy and compassion. As Barclay rightly notes, “the patience
of God waits when the impatience of man would long since have acted in
destructive anger.” Think of God’s readiness to forgive the murderers of
His Son (Lk. 23:34; Acts 2:37-41). Would we wait patiently and show mercy
toward one who had murdered our loved one? If not, then please meditate on
God’s readiness to forgive sinners like you and me. Was it not God’s
longsuffering toward you that led you to repentance? Shall we not give to
others as we have received from the merciful hand of God? The one who walks
in the Spirit does.
Here is the defining quality
of longsuffering that distinguishes it as a part of the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal. 5:22). Longsuffering is part of God’s nature. When we walk in the
Spirit we partake of the divine nature by practicing longsuffering toward
others as God does toward us (2 Pet. 1:4). Longsuffering is one of the
defining traits of the heart put on by the Christian puts off the old man of
sin (Col. 3:12). It helps us be patient toward others, forbearing and
forgiving them when they sin against us – just as Christ has mercifully
forgiven us (Col. 3:13).
We are commanded to be
longsuffering toward all (1 Thess. 5:14). Longsuffering is useful and
needed in every area of life: It keeps us from rendering evil for evil (1
Thess. 5:15); when we are sinned against, it helps us forgive (Lk.
17:3-4); it sustains us as we preach the gospel (2 Tim. 4:2; 2:24-26); its
presence in the home helps secure peace and harmony (Col. 3:19, 21); when
applied at work it helps one deal with mistreatment (1 Pet. 2:18-19); and in
times of trial it helps sustain the faithful (Rom. 12:12).
There is wisdom and power in
longsuffering (Prov. 14:29; 16:32). It prevails over hostilities. Its
endurance vindicates truth and justice. The long-sufferer is a peacemaker
(Prov. 15:18; Matt. 5:9). Longsuffering promotes humility and keeps us from
being a fool (Eccl. 7:8-9). So, be wise. Be longsuffering toward others.
Remember, God is being longsuffering toward you.
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Smuggler
Sentenced
Joe R. Price
The Associated Press
reported January 20, 2005 that 28-year-old Lakhvir Singh Lally of British
Columbia was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for importing nearly
50 pounds of the illegal drug Ecstasy into the US. Lally tried to smuggle
the drugs across the Blaine, WA border crossing in the engine compartment of
a commercial tractor-trailer rig. The 100,000 pills had a street value of
about $2 million (The Bellingham Herald).
The Bible warns of smugglers
who try to slip their corrupt ways into the church and destroy souls. We
must be warned and armed against purveyors of evil.
1. Some smuggle false
doctrine (Matt. 7:15-20; Jude 4). Appearing as gentle sheep (not unlike
a commercial truck at the Canadian border), false teachers are wolves who
smuggle rotten teaching under the guise of legitimacy. The fruit of error
devours souls. We must carefully test what we are taught against the
apostolic word of truth and then honestly contend for the faith (1 Jn. 4:1,
6; Jude 3).
2. Some smuggle Satanic
deceptions (2 Cor. 11:13-15). These profess that they know God but they
offer and promote “another Jesus,” a “different spirit” and a “different
gospel” than what is proclaimed in “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2
Cor. 11:3-4). These spread doubt about the faithful (cf. 2 Cor. 10-13). We
are thankful the customs agents looked under the hood because it helped
saves lives. We ought to be thankful when the mask of deception is pulled
back and evil is exposed, because it saves souls.
3. Some smuggle false
accusations (3 Jn. 9-10). Diotrephes is among this number; slipping in
their malicious innuendos against faithful brethren without proof. With
great swelling words they bind and loose according to the dictates of
prideful preeminence.
These
smugglers will be sentenced to eternal death.
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