THE SPIRIT'S SWORD
Published by
Mt. Baker church of Christ
Bellingham, WA (1860 Mt. Baker HWY)
(360) 752-2692

Editor/Evangelist  Joe R. Price
Volume IX,  Number 26
  March 12, 2006
"All material is written by Joe R. Price, unless otherwise noted."
 


Times of services:

Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship......10:30 & 6:00 PM

Wednesday:
Bible Classes..........7:00 PM

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church of Christ 
 Bible Answers

"...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:


Gospel Meeting March 26-31, 2006

THE MT. BAKER
CHURCH OF CHRIST

(1860 Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA)

Invites you to our

GOSPEL MEETING

with Evangelist

Steven j. wallace

(Sunnyside & Yakima, WA)

March 26–31, 2006

Monday-Friday:  7:00 PM
(Sunday:  9:30 & 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM)

                                                                   Sunday:

                                                                        9:30 AM:      2 Timothy 2:15
                                                                     10:30 AM:      Some Things We Cannot Escape
                                                                        6:00 PM:      
Some Things We Can Escape

                                                                   Monday:           Commitment
                                                                   Tuesday:          Satan
                                                                   Wednesday:   Depression
                                                                   Thursday:        Gossipers
                                                                   Friday:              
God's Plan for Saving Man

(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
more information:  please call (360) 752-2692

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Godly Edification
Joe R. Price

The church of Christ is a divine edifice.  It was built by Jesus upon the secure foundation that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16-18).  There is no other foundation; all others are shifting sand (1 Co. 3:11). 

     The Lord adds every saved person to His church (Acts 2:47). As living stones, Christians “are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). 

     Just as we want every brick (stone) in our house to be strong and solid, the Lord wants every Christian to be strong and solid in their personal faith.  The spiritual construction of your life began when you became a Christian. 

     The ongoing spiritual growth and strengthening of disciples is essential to the strength of God’s holy temple, His church:  “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22).

     Edification is the building up of believers.  We are exhorted, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6-7). 
     To be “built up in Him and established in the faith” is the objective of “godly edification which is in faith” (1 Tim. 1:4).  Edification that does not come from “the faith” cannot be “in faith” and thus is not “godly edification.”  Allow me to illustrate.

     Many believe good feelings are the same as godly edification.  They are not.  One can feel “on top of the world” and be lost:  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12; cf. Acts 23:1; 26:9). 

     Many believe camaraderie or a general air of togetherness is the same as godly edification.  It is not.  Even criminal gangs can have unity within it, but they are still violators of civil law and God’s will:  “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil” (Exo. 23:2).

     Many believe eating common meals together and other types of social gathering is a form of godly edification.   It is not.  The food that gives “godly edification” is the food that “endures to everlasting life,” not the food that momentarily fills the stomach (Jno. 6:27). 

     To obtain godly edification we must feed upon Jesus, the bread of life (Jno. 3:35, 48, 51-58).  His words give us eternal life (Jno. 6:3, 68).  Spiritual growth comes from the nourishment contained in the word of God (1 Pet. 2:2).  A meal may give an opportunity to be built up in the faith (via exhortation or Bible study), but the meal is not the edification. God’s word accomplishes any growth that occurs by our observance of it; “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). 

     Godly edification depends on us growing in the word of God and living what we learn.  Christ has given us exactly what we need for our spiritual growth or edification – His word (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:2).  When we grow in our personal faith and service, the whole body of Christ grows stronger (Eph. 4:16). 

     Meeting the goal of godly edification requires that we spend time with God’s word (Acts 14:22; 1 Cor. 14:3-5; 1 Ths. 4:18; 5:11; 1 Pet. 2:2), spend time in prayer and praise (1 Cor. 14:15-17, 26), speak encouraging words (Eph. 4:29), obey apostolic authority (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10) and do all things in love (1 Cor. 8:1; 10:23).  By “speaking the truth in love” we “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ” (Eph. 4:15).

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Bible Question Box (March 2006)
 Mary Magdalene and Jude 9

Scripture Reading:  Mark 16:1-9

#1: Mark 16:9 speaks of “Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.” Is there anything else mentioned about her being possessed?  (Yes, Luke 8:1-3)

1. Mary is introduced by Luke in Luke 8:1-3.

  a. “Mary called Magdalene” (from Magdala, town on western shore of Sea of Galilee, Matt. 15:39).
  b. Healed by Jesus of “evil spirits” (Lk. 8:2).
  c. The affliction of demon possession was never spoken of as a reproach (a sinful thing), but only as a misfortune.

2. Summary of Mary’s life:

  a. Recipient of great salvation, Lk. 8:2.
  b. Mary showed her gratitude by ministering to Jesus, Lk. 8:2-3; Mk. 15:40-41 (Matt. 27:55-56).
  c. Evidently a woman of some means, as she helped provide for Jesus & the twelve, Lk. 8:2-3.
  d. Devoted, faithful & humble follower of Jesus.
  e. At crucifixion, Jno. 19:25; burial, Mk. 15:47; Mk. 16:1; among the first at tomb, Mk. 16:2-8.
  f. First person to whom Christ appeared after His resurrection, Mk. 16:9.
  g. Given wonderful revelation by Jesus, Jno. 20:11-18 (Mk. 16:10-11; Acts 1:14-15).

3. False assumptions & allegations:

  a. She was formerly a prostitute (Lk. 7:37; 8:1-2).
  b. She married Jesus & bore a son (The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown)

#2: What does it mean in Jude 9, when it says Satan argued with Michael over the body of Moses?

1. Jude warns against false teachers (“dreamers”) who defile the flesh (2 Pet. 2:10), reject authority (Prov. 16:18) & speak evil of dignitaries (v. 9-10).
2. They are not like Michael, who did not bring reviling accusations against the devil, but gave place to the Lord’s rebuke (v. 9. 2 Pet. 2:11).
3. We are not told the nature of this dispute, Deut. 34:6.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

A Study of Bible Authority (#10):
 Individual Action and Local Church Pt. 2

Scripture Reading:  Acts 11:19-26

1. There is a clear distinction in NT between congregational action & individual action (1 Tim. 5:16; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 4:35-5:4). 
2. In zeal to protect this NT distinction between individual & local church action, some brethren have taking positions that (in effect) suggest that “whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not do (together).”

I.  SOME DUTIES ARE CONCURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL & THE L.C. 

  A.  The Discharge of Individual Duty does not Conflict with Collective Duties.
  B.  Teaching Gospel: Both Individual & Collective Duty, Acts 8:4; 11:19-23.
  C.  Benevolence: Both Individual & Collective Duty to Help Needy Saints, Gal. 6:10; Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:1-7, 11-12 (1 Cor. 16:1-3).
  D.  Worship: Both Individual & Collective Duty, 1 Cor. 11:18-31; Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:26; 16:2; 14:16-17, 23.
  E.  Discipline of Disorderly: Both Individual & Collective Duty, 1 Cor. 5:4, 9-13 (2 Ths. 3:6, 14-15)

II. EACH CHRISTIAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING HIS PART OF WHATEVER DUTY GOD HAS GIVEN THE LOCAL CHURCH.

  A.  The Local Church is built up by what each Member Supplies, Eph. 4:16; 1 Cor. 12:26-27 (2 Cor. 8:10-11; 9:7; 1 Cor.16:1-3); Eph. 4:1-3

III. INDIVIDUALS CAN WORK TOGETHER & NOT BE IN CONFLICT WITH WORK GIVEN L.C.

  A.  Examples of Individuals Working Together without being in Conflict with Local Church Action; Matt. 18:16, 17; Acts 12:12, 5; 14:27.

   Conclusion - Eph. 4:15-16

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

The World's Richest People
Joe R. Price

     Forbes Magazine announced its annual list of the world’s wealthiest people Thursday.  Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, heads the list with an estimated wealth of $50 billion.  Paul Allen, another Washington state resident, came in at number six with a paltry $22 billion.  (“Gates Still World's Richest Person,” Gregg Keizer, InformationWeek.com)

     Human beings are immortal (Gen. 1:27; 2:7).  It is precisely because “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out,” that we must measure wealth in ways that transcend the material if we are to get an accurate picture of one’s prosperity (1 Tim. 6:7).  Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15). Money is not the real measure of lasting wealth. 

     Who is the world’s richest person?  God says it is...

     1. The person who is rich toward God.  “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.  (Lk. 12:19-21)

     2. The person who is saved from his sin.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  (Matt. 16:26)

     3. The person who lives by faith and loves God.  Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  (Jas. 2:5)

     4. The person who is content.  …I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...Indeed I have all and abound.  I am full.... (Phil. 4:11, 8)  And having food and cloth, with these we shall be content (1 Tim. 6:8).

     Are you on God’s list of the world’s richest people?

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Created by Chuck Sibbing - 03/15/2006

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