And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 15, Number
17
06/17/2012
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:
Have You Not Read?
Joe R. Price
In this tech-savvy world of laptops, iPads, Kindles and smartphones, reading a book (you know, that thing with a cover and actual pages that turn by hand) seems rather passé. We have nothing against new technology (the printed page was a marked advancement over hand-written scrolls!). These tools of our age are being used for both good and bad purposes, just like the printed page before them.
The written word is a vital tool of communication. But written words are meaningless without the ability and the willingness to read them. Fortunately, most all of us can read. The question is whether or not we are willing to read. Will we spend the time and put out the effort required to read effectively? Many don’t want to spend their time and energy reading a book (they’d rather “watch the movie”!).
Jesus often challenged his audience by asking them, “have you not (never) read?”, and then proceeded to make his point from the Scriptures (cf. Matt. 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31; Mk. 12:26). This simple question teaches us important lessons about reading the word of God.
1) God has given us His word to read. God communicates to us through the written word; not through dreams, visions or experiences (Heb. 1:1-2; Jno. 13:20; 1 Cor. 14:37). Jesus said, “have you not read what was spoken to you by God...?” (Matt. 22:31). When we refuse to read the Bible we are refusing to listen to God.
2) God expects us to read His word. This is necessarily inferred from Christ’s question, “have you not read?” Timothy was instructed to “give heed to reading” (both public and private). By reading the word of God we hear the exhortations of sound doctrine (1 Tim. 4:13).
3) God expects us to understand what we read. He rebuked the Sadducees for their error because they did not discern the meaning of the Scriptures. “You are mistaken (“ye do err”, KJV; “to go astray, be deceived”), not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). God’s written word can and must be read with understanding (Eph. 3:3-4; Acts 8:30-35).
4) God expects us to obey what we read. The Pharisees had no doubt read Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, but their question to Jesus about the cause for putting away one’s wife showed they did not have a heart of faith to obey God’s will (Matt. 19:3-6). Therefore, they argued with Jesus in an attempt to justify themselves (Matt. 19:7-9). We must read God’s word in order to trust and obey.
And so, Christ
asks us, “Have you not read what was spoken to you by God?” (Matt. 22:31)
"Stuyvesant HS students hold 'Slutty Wednesday' to
protest school's strict dress code policy"
Let it be known right away that the heading on this article is not this writer’s idea. It appeared as the title of a story on the web site of The New York Post. Here are its first two paragraphs.
Nearly 100 smarties at the city’s top-performing high school bared their bodies in “risque” outfits yesterday to denounce their school’s conservative dress code — which bans the exposure of shoulders, midriffs, lower backs, bras and undies.
Stuyvesant HS students held the so-called “Slutty Wednesday” protest after girls got fed up with being told throughout the year that their short skirts and sleeveless tops made them more fit for a club dance floor than for a seat at the best public school in town. (By Georgett Roberts and Yoav Gonen, 6/7/12, http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/stuyvesant_high_school_students_r1z4BGQTtYtvAtnLOZdFrL)
We mourn for the brazenness of these young people and their bad example. Thankfully, the article also contained some good news. Some girls refused to go along with this sinful display.
As much as we regret the words and conduct of these young women, the above excerpt speaks for itself. What can we learn from it?
1. These young, gifted women have no problem dressing in a manner which they themselves describe as “slutty.” Slut is defined, “a promiscuous woman; especially: prostitute” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slut). (Proverbs 7:10 speaks of a woman with “the attire of a harlot,” so we see that the Bible speaks of such clothing.) Slut was a word that, understandably, always carried a bad connotation. With the exception of the most wretched, women did not want to be called or even thought of as being slutty. The Bible is replete with bad examples from which God’s people are to learn (Lk. 17:32; Acts 7:51; 1 Cor. 10:1-12; 2 Pet. 2:4-9). We can also learn from the bad example of these young women. They are examples of those “whose glory is in their shame” (Phil. 3:19). The prophet Jeremiah wrote of the problem of such shamelessness in the long ago,
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah (6:15).
2. There is word for such shamelessness in the Bible. Galatians 5:19-21 contains a list of sins which, unless one repents of them, will keep a person from going to heaven. Among them is the word lasciviousness. It is defined,
“Unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence...wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc...” (Thayer).
In as much as the English word “lasciviousness” appears in our definition we note its definition here: “1. Wantonness; lustfulness; 2. Tending to excite lust” (Webster, p. 1023). Please note that the web link following the above quote includes the words, “tramping out.” This would seem to add the word “tramp” to “slutty,” which is an appropriate association. Further, the girls’ outfits are said to have been “risqué.” It is defined, “verging on impropriety or indecency” (Merriam-Webster). Slutty clothing, shamelessness, exciting lust, and verging on indecency – these things walk together brethren! Of what kind of clothing do we speak?
3. The article’s description of “slutty” clothing. We need only copy the words from this article to understand the kind of clothing Christians should not wear. It exposes the “shoulders, midriffs, lower backs, bras and undies.” It also puts “short skirts” into this category. Later in the article it mentioned “too much cleavage” and “skirts which are very tight.” Let us not think that much of the summer clothing common in our society or any common swimming suits are acceptable attire for God’s people.
Conclusion
The lesson we learn from the bad example of these young women is simple. It is slutty for one to dress in such a way as to show off one’s body. Such is lascivious conduct and will cause one to be lost! The description of lascivious clothing is as clear as is the description of those who wear it. Don’t dress like a slut! Don’t “tramp out!”
-The Way of Life and Truth (III:24), June 10, 2012
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
The Father Factor
Scripture Reading: Psalm 128
1. The world
needs genuine fathers: Fathers who love God and His word; fathers of faith,
fathers with character and courage to meet the challenges of fatherhood,
Eph. 6:4.
2. Fathers should be respected and loved by his children – and worthy of
their respect and love, Eph. 6:1-3 (Prov. 19:26; 30:17).
3. God is our supreme example of fatherhood, 2 Cor. 6:17-18.
I. FATHERS ARE PROGENITORS.
A. Fathers
Give Life to their Children, Gen. 5:3.
B.
Children will be Similar to their Fathers, Gen. 5:3. (generally true) Jno.
8:39, 44; Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6.
II. FATHERS ARE PROVIDERS, 2 Cor. 12:14.
A. Fathers Provide Many Things for their Families, 1 Tim. 5:8; Matt. 6:25-33; Eph. 6:4; Isa. 38:19; Prov. 4; Psa. 78:5-8; 3:11-12 (Heb. 12:5-6); Col. 3:21; Matt. 5:16.
III. FATHERS ARE PROTECTORS, Gen. 45:7-8 (Job 29:16).
A. From
Physical Harm, Matt. 7:9-10.
B.
From Spiritual Danger, 1 Ths. 2:11-12.
IV. A CONTRAST OF TWO FATHERS.
A.
Abraham: A Father on Whom God Could Trust, Gen. 18:19.
B.
Eli: A Father Who Preferred His Sons over God, 1 Sam. 2:22-25, 27-29 (3:13).
Conclusion
1. A
father’s joy and reward, 3 Jno. 4; Prov. 23:15-16.
2. A father’s responsibility, Eph. 6:4.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
How to Establish Bible Authority Bible Authority (5)
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
1. “God’s ways,
revealed in God’s word, are sufficient to accomplish God’s purposes.” 2 Tim.
3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3
2. How do we know what is authorized and what is not? (Col. 3:17) Heb. 8:5;
1 Cor. 4:17
3. Unless we know how to establish and apply Bible authority we will not be
able to “hold fast the pattern of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13).
I. HOW TO ESTABLISH NEW TESTAMENT (GOD’S) AUTHORITY.
A. Command
or Direct Statement in NT (Christ or inspired teacher), Mk. 16:15-16.
-Illustrated: 1 Cor. 11:24-25
B.
Apostolic Approved Example from the NT, 1 Cor. 4:16-17; 11:1; Phil. 3:17;
4:9.
-Illustrated: When to eat Lord’s Supper, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, 33
C.
Necessary Inference from NT (conclusion necessarily implied), Matt. 3:16.
1.
Illustrated: How often to eat the Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:20, 33; Acts 20:7
(Exo. 20:8).
2.
What a necessary inference is not, Jno. 21:21-23; Matt. 12:24 (14); Jno.
7:24.
3.
Used by Jesus (Matt. 22:31-32, by inspired writers (Heb. 7:12); expected
(Lk. 12:54-59).
II. MAN-MADE RULES OR DIVINELY APPROVED PATTERN FOR HOW TO ESTABLISH AUTHORITY? Acts 15:6-21
A.
Authority in Question: Must Gentiles be Circumcised and Keep the LOM to be
Saved?
1.
Apostolic example, Acts 15:7-11 (14:3).
2.
Necessary inference, 15:12.
3.
Direct statement of Scripture, 15:13-19.
B. Any
One of these Ways to Establish NT Authority is Sufficient to Prove God’s
Binding Authority.
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 06/18/2012
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
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