And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume X, Number 10 December 17, 2006
Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Bellingham, WA
(1860 Mt. Baker HWY)
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers
Editor......Joe R. Price
Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt
Joe Price
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
John Hague
Dan Head
In this issue:
- Loving the Weak (Galatians 6:1-5)
- Miracles in the New Testament (Acts 2:14-21)
A Contrite Heart
Joe R. Price
The Bible teaches that sinners must repent or perish (Lk. 13:1-5). Since “all have sinned,” every accountable person is commanded to repent to be saved (Rom. 3:23; Acts 17:30). If we truly intend to repent of our sins we must understand and comply with what God says produces “repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).
Repentance is the change of heart toward sin that brings about a change of life (Acts 26:20). A heart of “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10). Sorry that is not “godly” (that does not come from reverence for God and a willingness to obey God instead of sin) does not produce genuine repentance, and cannot please God. God will not accept the sinner who says “I repent” but whose heart is not broken in sorrow over sin.
When King David was confronted with his sins of adultery, murder and deception, he confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:13). A study of David’s psalms reveals the kind of heart that led to his admission of sin and most importantly, to God’s forgiveness his sins (Psa. 6, 32, 38, 51).
Key to David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness was “a broken and a contrite heart” (Psa. 51:17). David could have offered thousands of burnt sacrifices to Almighty God, yet they would not have pleased Him: “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering” (Psa. 51:16). Approaching God with offerings is futile if we do not first approach Him with a humble heart that is crushed over our sin (that is, “godly sorrow”). Then, God will receive our obedient service. “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psa. 34:18). God grants mercy to and dwells in heavenly places with the person “who has a contrite and humble spirit” (Isa. 57:15; cf. Eph. 2:4-6).
The Lord will also “revive the spirit of the humble, and…of the contrite ones” (Isa. 57:15). Thus, David sought a “clean heart” and “steadfast spirit,” renewed and purged of sin; “restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psa. 51:10-12).
Repentance begins with godly sorrow; a crushed and broken spirit. Jesus blesses those who mourn over sin with comfort (Matt. 5:4; Jas. 4:7-10). What a merciful God we have, who forgives the humble in heart who obey Him and put away sin!
You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:1-5
1. “Without
strength, feeble, frail, hesitating.”
2. Three areas of “weakness” to understand so we can practice love toward
the weak.
I. WEAK IN
CONSCIENCE, 1 Cor. 8:7-12; 9:22.
A. This Person is Without
Full Assurance toward a Matter that is Morally Indifferent before God,
Rom. 14:1-2, 5, 14, 20, 23.
B. Practicing Love toward
the Weak in Conscience, Rom. 15:1; 1 Cor. 8:13; 10:23, 27-29; Rom. 14:1,
19, 7-9.
II. SPIRITUALLY WEAK,
1 Cor. 11:30; 1 Ths. 5:14.
A. These have Fallen into
Sin due to their Weakness, Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20 (4:17).
B. Practicing Love toward
Spiritually Weak: Strengthen & Restore, Gal. 6:1-2; Heb. 12:12-13; Jude
22-23.
III. THE SPIRITUALLY
IMMATURE.
A. Described as Babies Who
Need to Grow Up, Heb. 5:12-6:3 (1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:1-3).
B. Practicing Love: Help
Such Grow to Maturity, Eph. 4:15-16.
IV. GUIDELINES ON
PRACTICING LOVE TOWARD THE WEAK.
A. Examine Your Heart
toward the Weak:
1. Humility, 1 Cor. 8:1-3.
2. Love, 1 Cor. 8:1.
3. Gentleness w/
self-examination, Gal. 6:1.
B. Assess the Present &
Long Term Need, Acts 20:20 (Rom. 14:1, 13; Rom. 15:1-2).
C. Support the Weak, 1
Ths. 5:14 (2 Tim. 2:24-26; 1 Cor. 4:21)
Conclusion
1. Goal is to strengthen & save the weak.
2. The church will be stronger & souls will be more secure in the love of
God by practicing love toward the weak.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:14-21
1. A miracle
is the supernatural intervention of God’s power into the natural world (Jno.
6:19; 11:39, 43-44); through the agency of men.
2. God rules the nations & answers prayer, but these are not “miracles”
(Dan. 4:35; Matt. 7:11).
I. WHAT? SIGNS,
WONDERS & POWERS (Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:4).
A. SIGNS: Their design was
to reveal the presence of God, Jno. 3:1-2; 9:32-33.
B. WONDERS: They attracted
the attention of men, caused astonishment, Acts 3:9-11.
C. POWERS: Confirmed their
origin was God, Acts 10:38; 3:12, 16.
1. Agency of men, Jno. 3:2;
Acts 5:12.
2. Not the means of
salvation, 1 Cor. 9:27; Acts 10:44 (47-48); 15:7-9.
II. WHY WERE MIRACLES
PERFORMED?
A. Produce Belief in
Jesus, Jno. 20:30-31; 5:36; 10:25, 38; 11:42; Matt. 11:2-6.
B. Reveal Gospel to
Apostles & Prophets, Jno. 16:13; Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:3-5.
C. Confirm Validity of
Gospel, Mk. 16:20.
D. Inspire Proclamation of
Gospel, 1 Co.2:13
III. WHO PERFORMED
MIRACLES?
A. Jesus, Mk. 2:9-12; Acts
2:22; 10:38.
B. Twelve & Seventy, Lk.
10:1, 9, 17.
C. Apostles of Christ,
Acts 2:43; 2 Cor. 12:12 (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4).
D. Christians on whom
Apostles Laid Hands to Impart Miraculous Gifts, Acts 2:16-18; 8:14-18; 19:6;
Rom. 1:11 (1 Cor. 12:7-11).
IV. HOW LONG DID
MIRACLES LAST?
A. Until Purpose was
Fulfilled, 1 Cor. 13:8-13.
B. Until the Death of
those who had the Power to Work Them.
Concl: Miracles through served their purpose and came to an end with completion of God’s revelation, the NT (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
The Choices We Make
Joe R. Price
It has been a dream of Rebecca Tate’s (32 years old) to join the Navy. The Granite Falls, WA single mother of a 13-year-old daughter recently chose to join the Navy. Her choice meant she had to give up custody of her daughter, since single parents cannot enlist in the Navy. Rebecca’s mother now has custody of her child. Rebecca believes she made the right choice:
“It’s a little strange, it’s pretty sad – it’s tough, but it’s something that I have to do,” Tate said. But, she went on to say, “one of the biggest reasons is: How can I teach my child to live up to her dreams if I don’t?” (“Mother faced with difficult choice: The Navy, or her daughter,” komotv.com/news/local/4876786.htm)
There are important lessons to learn from this:
1. Living up to one’s responsibility is more important than fulfilling one’s dream. The issue is not whether it is honorable to protect and serve our nation in the armed forces. The issue is whether a mother’s “dream” of being in the Navy is more valuable than her responsibility to her child. The Bible answer is a resounding, “no!” What about a parent’s duty to love her child? (Titus 2:4)
2. The choices we make have consequences. Ms. Tate chose to have a child 13 years ago. That choice brought with it a set of duties and consequences. She chose to join the Navy. No, it was not something she had to do; it was something she wanted to do. (Do you see how she convinced herself that something she wanted to do was something she “had” to do? Oh, the subtlety self-deception!) She chose her personal dream over fulfilling her duty to her daughter. Selfishly pursuing a “dream” at the expense of fulfilling your duty to God and others is not the “right thing to do” (cf. Psa. 15:4; Eccl. 5:4-5).
3. God’s will comes first, not our dreams. I’m afraid we know very little about true sacrifice today. Yes, this woman is sacrificing, but the wrong thing. Instead of sacrificing herself for her daughter, she is sacrificing her daughter for the sake of her own dream. Listen well: when our personal dream conflicts with our personal responsibility to do God’s will, choose God!
Created by Chuck Sibbing. 12/18/2006
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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