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

THE
 SPIRIT’S
 SWORD

Volume 23, Number 50
01/16/2022

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:

Riches from the Lord
 Joe R. Price

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22, NKJV).

Christians possess riches unknown to the world. Our heavenly treasures abound, and we praise God for the spiritual bounty He gives us in Christ (Eph. 1:3). We do not measure our wealth in dollars, land holdings, stocks, bonds, commodities, or other material possessions. All these riches are fleeting and attended by sorrow (Eccl. 5:10-17).

 

Spiritual blessings are beyond the reach of moths, rust, and thieves (Matt. 6:19-20). Here are just a few of them:

 

(1) Redemption from sin by God’s grace (Eph. 1:4-14). We are chosen, adopted, accepted, forgiven, saved, given an inheritance, and sealed.

 

(2) Full assurance of understanding in Christ (Col. 2:2-3). His disciples abide in His word, know the truth, and are freed from sin (John 8:31-32).

 

(3) Prayer (Phil. 4:6). Our Father hears the prayers of His children, so we continue earnestly in prayer (Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17; Heb. 4:14-16).

 

(4) The church (Eph. 1:22-23). We are members of Christ’s body and are, therefore, “members of one another” (Acts 2:47; Rom. 12:4-5). What a rich blessing to be brothers and sisters together in Christ (Matt. 12:46-50).

 

(5) An eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:18). Peter describes it as incorruptible, undefiled, and reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet. 1:4).

 

(6) A living hope (Eph. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:3). Our hope secures our souls because Christ arose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:19-20; Acts 24:15).

 

(7) Joy (Phil. 4:4). We rejoice in the Lord always, in good and troublesome times (James 1:2-4).

 

God does not add sorrow to those He enriches (Prov. 10:22). The world brings its troubles, but we are of good cheer because Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33).  -Sword Tips #2249

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Sacrifice - Then And Now
 Jarrod M. Jacobs

When we read through the first six chapters of Leviticus, we learn about five sacrifices. These are the burnt offering, grain (meat) offering, peace offering, the sin offering, and guilt offering. These offerings were essential to the lives of the Jews. Each one served a purpose in obtaining forgiveness for those who lived under the Mosaic law. In God’s mind, though, these things not only served an immediate purpose in the lives of the people, but also served the purpose of pointing people toward the ultimate sacrifice, the true culmination of all of God’s plans – Christ!

     We see Christ in all of those sacrifices. For example, Christ is seen in …

  • The burnt offering. Just as this offering was utterly consumed, so He gave Himself completely at the cross (Phil. 2:8; Matt. 20:28).

  • The grain offering. Just as this sacrifice required bread, so Christ is “the bread of life” (Jn. 6:35).

  • The peace offering. Just as this sacrifice symbolized the Jews’ fellowship restored, so Christ “is our peace” between us and God (Eph. 2:14; Col. 1:20).

  • The sin offering. Just as this sacrifice was burned outside the camp, Christ was also sacrificed “outside the gate” of Jerusalem (Heb. 13:11-12).

  • The guilt offering. Just as this demanded restitution of the guilty, Christ purchased us from Satan, “not with corruptible things … but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18-19).

Is it not amazing to consider the seamlessness of God’s word? The things that occurred in the Old Testament pointed to the greatest sacrifice to ever walk the earth. Jesus fills this role as a sacrifice for mankind (and many others). He offered Himself that we might be free from sin, cleansed, and allowed to start again as “babes in Christ” (I Pet. 2:2)!
 

Yet the comparison in those Old Testament sacrifices does not end here. Just as we can see a spiritual connection between Christ and those sacrifices, remember, Christians are also a “royal priesthood,” and God intends for us to offer “spiritual sacrifices” (I Pet. 2:9, 5). Let us look at those sacrifices and see where the comparisons can be made in our lives.

  • As a burnt offering, we are to offer ourselves to God completely (Gal. 2:20).

  • As a grain offering (the only sacrifice without blood), we are to be living sacrifices, not dead ones (Rom. 12:1-2; II Cor. 5:14-15).

  • As a peace offering, we enjoy fellowship with God now that we are forgiven (II Jn. 9; I Jn. 1:7; Matt. 5:9).

  • As a sin offering, we “take up (our) cross daily and follow” Him (Lk. 9:23). Since we are following Him, where did He go? We need to follow Christ and “be separate” from the world (II Cor. 6:17)!

  • As a guilt offering, we strive to make restitution for our sins. We cannot earn our salvation (Lk. 17:10), but we can repent of our sins (Acts 2:38) and be His servant so long as we live (Rom. 6:16-18)!

Christ is our sacrifice, but how have we responded to Him? The beauty and poetry of Scripture show us how the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to Christ. We now need to offer sacrifices but in a spiritual way. These also point us to Christ! Are we doing this? Do we give God all that He deserves?
 

-Caneyville church of Christ blog

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

What is Truth?
 Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading:  John 18:33-38

1. Truth: “the quality or state of being true;” “that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality” (Merriam-Webster).
2. Truth is not your truth and my truth; The voice of Jesus, Jn. 18:37; God’s word, Jn. 17:17.
3. Jesus became the enemy of many for speaking truth in love; So will we, John 8:58; 15:20 (Gal. 4:16).

I. THE SOURCE OF TRUTH IS GOD.

  A. God Revealed Truth through Jesus, Heb. 1:1-2; John 1:14 (the Word—truth); 8:26-28; 12:48-50.
  B. Jesus is Embodiment of Truth, John 14:6.

II. THE MISSION OF TRUTH.

  A. God’s Truth Saves Sinners, John 6:44-47; Mk. 16:15-16; James 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:22-23.
  B. God’s Truth Approves Us Before God, 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:12 (2 Tim. 3:16).

III. THE POWER OF TRUTH, Rom. 1:16.

  A. The Power of Truth Over Sin, Gen. 3:1-5; cf. Acts 8:26-29, 36-39.
  B. The Power of Truth Over Temptations, Eph. 6:13-17; Phil. 2:12-13; John 17:17 (1 Pet. 1:14-16).
  C. The Power of Truth Over Death, John 8:51; John 11:25-26.

Conclusion
1. God has given us the marvelous blessing of truth (hope and grace, Col. 1:5-6).
2. Will we believe and obey it?
3. God’s judgment will be according to truth, Rom. 2:2.
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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

 

What Was Wrong With the Pharisees?
 Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading:  Mathew 12:6-12

1. Jesus rebuked and exposed their sins, and warned against their teachings and influence.

2. We do not want to be like the Pharisees.

3. Matt. 16:6: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.’”

 

What Was Wrong With the Pharisees?

  • Hypocrisy, Luke 12:1; Matt. 16:1; 23:1-36.
     -Luke 12:1-3; Matt. 16:1; 23:1-36

    -We must not pretend to be righteous
     

  • Self-Righteousness, Luke 18:9-14

    -Our righteousness is of faith that conforms to divine truth, Matt. 5:19-20
     

  • Loved money, Luke 16:14
    -What are our riches? Luke 16:13
     

  • Created additions to the word of God, Matt. 15:1-9; Mark 7:5-13

    -Don’t go beyond doctrine of Christ, 2 Jn. 9
     

  • Rejected truth on divorce and remarriage, Matt. 19:3-9

    -Jewish controversy over cause of divorce

    -God’s original design of marriage

    -Hear and receive truth, Matt. 19:10-12 (6)
     

  • Would not repent before baptism, Matthew 3:7-8
    -Rejected the will of God, Luke 7:29-30

    -Repentance is essential before baptism

Conclusion
1. Christ’s warning is still relevant; The leaven of the Pharisees is still at work.
2.   Are you a Pharisee?

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
 (Current events in the light of Scripture)

Reflections on Inflation
 Joe R. Price

The U.S. inflation rate rose by 7% in December from the same month last year according to the Labor Department (The Wall Street Journal). The consumer-price index (costs of goods and services) saw its fastest increase since 1982. (Ibid). This number reflects what a visit to the grocery store, the gas station, or just about any other business has been telling consumers for some time now; things are getting more expensive. What possible spiritual lessons can we learn from this news? There are several.

    (1) The cost of sin constantly inflates. Sin will always cost you more than you intended to pay. It offers sweet fulfillment but delivers heartache, pain, and death. Just ask Samson. His recklessness with God’s blessed presence and strength that accompanied it caused him to lose much more than his strength. It cost his sight, freedom, dignity, and life (Judg. 16:17-30).

    (2) The wages of sin remain constant. From Eden to this moment, sin causes a separation between God and us, spiritual death (Gen. 2:17; Isa. 59:1-2). Left unforgiven, sin brings the eternal death of hell (Matt. 5:29-30; Rev. 21:8). Sin can be ignored, rationalized, minimized, and denied, but its wages cannot be escaped except through Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

    (3) The cost of redemption from sin is beyond any price we are able to pay. Therefore, only the death of the sinless Savior is an acceptable offering for sin (Rom. 5:6-11; Heb. 7:25-27; 9:26).

    (4) The cost of discipleship has never inflated; It continues to cost everything we have. Jesus said, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33). We will not be saved from our sins unless we deny ourselves and put Jesus first before everything and everyone (Luke 14:25-27; 9:23).

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Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  01/17/2022

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