And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 15, Number
10
04/22/2012
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
Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
Dan Head
In this issue:
Gospel Meeting April 29 - May 4, 2012
Mt.
Baker church
of Christ
Gospel Meeting
Mark Mayberry
(Alvin, Texas)
April 29 – May 4, 2012
Monday-Friday at
7:00 PM
Sunday, April 29th at 9:30 and 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
Theme: Lessons in Courage
Sunday Class: A Call to Courage
Sunday AM: The Courage of Joshua
Sunday PM: The Courage of David
Monday: The Courage of Asa and Micah
Tuesday: The Courage of Haggai and Zerubabbel
Wednesday: The Courage of Ezra and the People
Thursday: The Courage of Jesus Christ
Friday: The Courage of Disciples
(From I-5 take
Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692
Encouraging One Another
Joe R. Price
Encouragement is an important part of the Christian's life. We need it. It is a call to bravery and valor to do the right thing – to say and do that which honors God and benefits man. We need the blessings encouragement gives; strength, renewal and reassurance.
God has given us the tools we need to effectively encourage each other and to "stir up love and good works" (Heb. 10:24). He has given us His word of truth that builds us up (Acts 20:32). Our primary tool to use in giving encouragement to another person must be the truth of God, “the word of His grace”. Barnabas’ work of exhortation in Antioch among the new converts (as well as the lost) was fundamentally that of teaching the gospel of Christ (Acts 11:23, 26). Therein is found encouragement for every good and honest heart which is seeking to be upright before God. We must not ignore the power of God's word in this area. Instead, we must use it as our fundamental tool to encourage godliness.
Another God-given tool to use in the work of encouragement is love. Spiritual growth can and will occur when we speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:14-16). When the truth of God is spoken out of vindictiveness, resentment or impatience it will not encourage and strengthen the hearer. They will not listen, and your opportunity is lost (Col. 4:6). When trying to encourage someone we must keep their spiritual well being as our primary focus. One does not give encouragement so he can feel good about it (although, he will). He certainly does not try to encourage someone so he can “look good” to others. The reason for giving encouragement is to "stir up...good works" (Heb. 10:24). When we forget why we are trying to “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” we have forgotten to use one of our effective tools – love (Heb. 12:12-13).
Another tool we use to encourage others is patience. The persistent, tireless, enduring effort of continual encouragement cannot be overestimated in bringing about the desired results. “Now we exhort you brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Ths. 5:14). Consequently, we see Barnabas, the son of encouragement, spending over a year in Antioch effectively encouraging the disciples (Acts 4:36; 11:22-26). There is a difference between patient, persistent encouragement and spiritual browbeating. Patiently teaching God’s word to encourage others shows love tempered with longsuffering. Browbeating the weary exalts oneself at the expense of its victim and makes encouragement even more difficult. Our goal is to encourage each other with the truth, and we will not be diverted from our task. With patience we will “speak the truth in love” to help each other grow up in Christ (Eph. 4:15-16).
We all need encouragement from time to time to help us “walk worthy of God”
and to “continue with the Lord” (1 Ths. 2:11-12; Acts 11:23). God has given
us the tools we need to encourage one another. Let us commit ourselves to
being children of encouragement. Look for your opportunities to encourage
one another and by doing so you will be helping others grow stronger. The
church will grow stronger, too (Eph. 4:15-16).
As our Gospel Meeting Approaches...
Joe R. Price
Assembling
ourselves together (Heb. 10:25)
Gathering to hear God’s word (Acts 10:33)
Opportunity to grow in Christ (1 Pet. 2:1-2)
Saving power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16)
Preaching the word (2 Tim. 4:2)
Edifying the saints with the gospel (Acts 20:32)
Looking
unto Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2)
Minding the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5)
Exposing the works of darkness (Eph. 5:11)
Enduring faith (Heb. 10:36-39)
Taking time to be holy (1 Pet. 1:13-17)
Interceding in prayer (1 Tim. 2:1)
Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)
Go and teach all nations (Matt. 28:19)
-Complete lesson online at
http://www.bibleanswer.com/gospelmeeting.htm
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Subjection: What and Who (Part 1)
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:5-8
1. God’s truth about this subject is ridiculed, misrepresented, ignored and
abused.
2. We
submit to God by being in subjection in every relation where He commands it.
I. WHAT SUBJECTION IS.
A. Subjection:
Primarily, “to place or arrange under; to subordinate” (Moulton).
B. Jesus Exemplified Subjection, Phil. 2:5-8; Jno. 6:38; 14:28; Jno.
13:3-5, 12-17.
C. Without Subjection, Chaos Results, cf. 1 Cor. 14:31-32, 34, 40.
II. GOSPEL COMMANDS SUBJECTION:
A. To God Our
Father, Jas. 4:7; Heb. 12:9.
B. To
Jesus as Our Lord, Lk. 6:46; Eph. 1: 22-23; 5:24).
C.
Wives to Husbands, Col. 3:18; Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Pet. 3:1, 5-6.
D.
Children to Parents, Col. 3:20; Lk. 2:51.
E.
Citizens to their Civil Government, Rom. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-17 (Acts 5:29).
F.
Servants to their Masters, 1 Pet. 2:18.
G.
Women in the Assembly, 1 Cor. 14:34 (1 Tim. 2:11-12).
H.
Members in Subjection to the Elders, Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 3:1; 1 Pet. 5:3.
I.
Brethren to Each Other, Eph. 5:21; Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 5:5.
J.
Christians to Gospel Teachers, 1 Cor. 16:15-16 (1 Tim. 4:11; 5:7; 6:2; Tit.
2:15).
Conclusion
1. Everyone
is under authority to someone.
2. The ability to willingly submit to authority is the difference between
contentment and resentment, peace and strife and unity and division.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Subjection: How and Why (Part 2)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:25-28
1. Review Part 1.
2.
Essential qualities of faith and character are essential in order to be in
subjection (how to be in subjection), and some of the results of proper
subjection (why we must yield in subjection).
I. HOW? WHAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO BE IN SUBJECTION.
A. Respect for
Authority (understand its value).
-To
live under authority is the essence of subjection, Jno. 13:16-17;
14:28; 8:28-29 (Acts 8:32-33); Matt. 8:9.
B.
Love for Others, Rom. 12:10; Eph. 5:21; Phil. 2:1-4, 6-8; 1 Cor. 6:7-8.
C.
Having a Servant Heart, Matt. 20:25-28; 23:11-12.
D. A
Willingness to Obey, Phil. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:4-6; Gal. 2:20; Lk. 9:23.
E. By
Choosing to be in Subjection, Matt. 11:28-30.
II. WHY? THE RESULTS WHEN WE SUBJECT OURSELVES INCLUDE:
A. United
Churches, Phil. 2:1-4; cf. 1 Cor. 8:13.
B.
Healthy, Godly Families.
1. Instead of
divorce: Leadership that serves and subjection that respectfully obeys.
2.
Instead of neglect: Surrender self-interest.
3.
Rebellious children: Avoided when subjection taught and learned.
C. The Salvation of Others, 1 Pet. 3:1-2.
D. Our
Own Salvation, Matt. 10:37-39.
Conclusion: We must subject ourselves to God in every way, Jas. 4:7-8.
Created by Chuck Sibbing. 04/23/2012
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