And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 16, Number
02
04/07/2013
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 21-26, 2013
Mt.
Baker church
of Christ
Gospel Meeting
April 21-26, 2013
Evangelist
Dennis
Scroggins
(Lampasas, Texas)
Bible
lessons nightly, Mon-Fri at 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 21st
at
9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
"Practical Lessons for Every Christian"
Sunday Class - The Power of Peer Pressure
Sunday AM – Leavening Power of Sin
Sunday PM – Why do we need Authority Today?
Monday - New Testament Authority in the Present Age
Tuesday – Who has received a love of the truth?
Wednesday – Be Angry and Sin Not!
Thursday – Abstaining from the Appearance of Evil
Friday - Beware of Despair and Bitterness of Heart
Bring
your Bible!
Learn God's will for your life!
Bible questions welcome!
(From
I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692
Joe R. Price
Say it loud enough and long enough and someone will believe it. I learned that growing up on the farm. It’s still true. An infamous man once said much the same thing:
“The aim of propaganda is not to try to pass judgment on conflicting rights, giving each its due, but exclusively to emphasize the right which we are asserting. Propaganda must not investigate the truth objectively and, in so far as it is favourable to the other side, present it according to the theoretical rules of justice; yet it must present only that aspect of the truth which is favourable to its own side.
“The receptive powers of the masses are very restricted, and their understanding is feeble. On the other hand, they quickly forget. Such being the case, all effective propaganda must be confined to a few bare essentials and those must be expressed as far as possible in stereotyped formulas. These slogans should be persistently repeated until the very last individual has come to grasp the idea that has been put forward” (Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. I, Chap. VI, Hurst and Blackett Ltd.; http://goo.gl/2VBlv).
So it is with today’s LGBT propaganda. They have made swift progress convincing roughly half of our country to accept same-sex marriage. Far from advancing an objective investigation of truth, these social engineers are redefining marriage and re-manufacturing the home, the family and sexual orientation to suit their lustful, selfish and sinful desires (cf. Jude 7-11).
Here is an example of LGBT propaganda:
“Homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is inborn and immutable after birth. Homosexuality is not morally objectionable, and homosexual individuals have no lesser capacity for happy and worthwhile lives than heterosexual individuals have” (James Taranto, “Ontogeny Ripostes Ontology”, The Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2013, http://goo.gl/kH2ks).
It is unclear whether Taranto was expressing his own views or merely stipulated these for the sake of arguing against a philosophical weakness. Regardless, more and more accept these stipulations as true. The Bible denies them all.
“Homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is inborn and immutable after birth.” Yes, it is a choice. No, it is not inborn and immutable. This propaganda takes away free will as it attempts to convince people the LGBT person is “made that way” and therefore ought to be celebrated. Not so fast:
“Dr. Richard Pillard, a professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine who was involved in a study of twins and sexual orientation, has done research showing that sexuality is greatly influenced by environment, and that the role of genetics is, in the end, limited.” (The Fading “Gay Gene”, http://goo.gl/BTxm2)
The Bible shows homosexuality is chosen behavior, and one that can be changed: “And such were some of you...” (1 Cor. 6:9-11). The gospel converted homosexuals in Corinth and it can do the same today (Acts 18:8). It takes a decision of the will – you have a choice.
“Homosexuality is not morally objectionable.” Yes, it is. It defiles the body, the mind and the soul along with the marriage bed (read Rom. 1:24-29, Jude 7; 1 Cor. 6:15-18; 1 Ths. 4:3-8; Heb. 13:4). Although we live in an age of moral relativism, God’s word stands resolute.
“Homosexual individuals have no lesser capacity for happy and worthwhile lives than heterosexual individuals have.” Sin brings pain and sorrow, not genuine happiness (Prov. 13:15). It is pure deception to think the LGBT life brings lasting joy. That is a facade painted by Hollywood that crumbles upon scrutiny. Homosexuality does not complete the human need for companionship. Neither can it offer the “one flesh” unity that marriage gives a man and woman (Gen. 2:18-25; Rom. 1:26-27).
By saying
it loud enough and long enough, some (even many) will believe LGBT is good.
But, propaganda does not change the truth of God’s word (Matt. 24:35). We
urge every LGBT person to believe and obey the gospel of Christ.
Choose godliness, separate yourself from
sin, and God will save you (Acts 2:37-41; 2 Cor. 6:16-18).
Do not be
deceived by the propaganda of sin.
Top
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at
BIBLE ANSWERS
The Passover: Fulfilled in Christ
Scripture Reading: Luke 22:14-20
Intro.
1. Lord’s Passover in Egypt, Exo. 12:7-12.
2. Jesus kept the
Passover with apostles, Matt. 26:18-19.
3. The Passover has profound significance to those who put their faith in
Jesus.
I. THE PASSOVER EATEN BY CHRIST WITH APOSTLES, Lk. 22:14-18.
A. The Annual Passover Feast, Exo.
12:43-49, Exo. 12:13-14, 23-28, 43-49.
B. This Passover is not
Observed by Christians, Col. 2:16-17.
II. OUR PASSOVER IS CHRIST, 1 Cor. 5:7.
A. God Sees the Blood of the Lamb!
Rev. 5:8-; Jno. 1:29; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:26-28 (14); 1 Pet. 1:18-19 (2); Eph.
1:7; Rom. 3:23-26; 6:3; Acts 22:16.
B. The Passover is Fulfilled
in the Kingdom of God, Lk. 22:16 (Matt. 5:17-18); Exo. 12:46 (Num. 9:12);
Jno. 19:36 (Psa. 34:20).
-OT Passover, a memorial of
national deliverance from bondage, has been fulfilled in the blood of
Christ that delivers us from the bondage of sin.
-The result: A kingdom of
blood-bought saints who, each week, remember the “blood of the new
covenant” by which they are redeemed (Rev. 5:9-10; Matt. 26:28).
-Christians keep a daily
“feast” as we live by faith in sincerity and truth, 1 Cor. 5:8.
III. THE LORD’S SUPPER, Lk. 22:18-20.
A. Jesus Communes with His
Disciples in a New Memorial in His Father’s Kingdom – the Lord’s Supper,
Matt. 26:29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:20.
B. The Israel of God
Eats the Lord’s Supper, not the
Lord’s
Passover, Lk. 22:18; Gal. 6:16; 4:28; Rom. 9:6-8; Jno. 3:3-5; Acts 20:7.
Conclusion
1. The mighty hand of God at the
Passover.
2. The mighty hand of God is outstretched to save...When He sees the blood
of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus (Acts 22:16).
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
The Church: Strong in the Lord
(Ephesians 6:10-20)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-13
Intro.
1. Many reject Christ and Christianity due
to a false sense of security.
2. We know we have an
enemy who wants to destroy us. We must steadfastly resist him, 1 Pet. 5:8-9.
3. How? Eph. 6:10-17 teaches us how.
I. THE CHRISTIAN’S STRENGTH COMES FROM CHRIST, Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13; Rom. 8:37.
A. What do I Need Strength to
Overcome?
1. Temptations to sin, 1
Pet. 2:24; Heb. 4:14-16.
2. Trials of life, Rom.
8:35-39.
B. We Must be Humble and
Accept His Strength, 2 Cor. 12:7-10.
II. WHY WE MUST RELY ON GOD’S STRENGTH FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE, Eph. 6:11-12.
A. Because our Adversary is the
Devil, 1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 2:11.
B. Because our Battleground is
the Spiritual Realm, cf. 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Rom. 6:12-14.
III. BE STRONG IN THE LORD BY PUTTING ON WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, Eph. 6:13-17.
A. Each Christian Must Put on
God’s Armor.
B. The Whole (entire) Armor
Must Be Worn, Eph. 6:14-17.
1. The girdle of truth,
6:14.
2. The breastplate of
righteousness, 6:14.
3. Shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace, 6:15.
4. The shield of faith,
6:16.
5. The helmet of salvation,
6:17.
6. Sword of the Spirit…the
word of God, 6:17.
C. Live with a Fervent Faith,
Eph. 6:18-20.
1. Pray for each other,
6:18-19 (1 Ths. 5:17).
2. Preach the gospel,
6:19-20.
Conclusion
You will stand in the strength and power of the Lord if you put on His armor…Do it now.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
An Eye for an Eye
Joe R. Price
The law of Moses contained strict laws of punishment which served to deter crime as well as punish the guilty:
But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth. (Exo. 21:23-27)
Now, fast forward to April, 2013 and Saudi Arabia:
“The case of 24-year-old Ali al- Khawahir was brought to light by recent Saudi news reports. Khawahir, who was reportedly sentenced to qisas (retribution) in the town of Al-Ahsa, could be paralyzed from the waist down unless he pays one million Saudi riyals – US $270,000 -- in compensation to the victim.
“Khawahir has spent the last 10 years in prison. He had allegedly stabbed his friend in the back, rendering him paralyzed from the waist down in or around 2003. Khawahir was only 14 years’ old at the time.” (“Britain Urges Saudi Arabia Not To Carry Out Paralysis Sentence”, RTTNews.com)
Those who demand we apply the Law of Moses today should ponder the implications of that notion. If you demand, for example, Sabbath-keeping today, will you join Muslims in an “eye for an eye” justice? When is the last time you stoned a rebellious son (Deut. 21:18-21)? What about plucking out the eye of an offender?
Do not misunderstand. We are all for punishment that fits the crime, deterring crime and punishing the evildoer (Rom. 13:1-6). But, the penal code of the Law of Moses applied to Israel, not all nations (Deut. 5:1-3). Its religious code does not apply today, either (Col. 2:14-17).
By definition, law
does not contain mercy for violators, only punishment (Rom. 3:19; 6:23; Gal.
3:10, 22). Grace is available to sinners in Christ, not in Moses (Jno.
1:17). God’s mercy is offered to sinners the world over in the gospel of
Christ (Mk. 16:15-16; Tit. 2:11-12). Jesus saves – not Moses or Mohammed –
Hear Him! (Matt. 17:5)
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 04/08/2013
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
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