And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 17, Number
40
04/12/2015
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 26 - May 1, 2015
The Mt.
Baker
Church of Christ
1860
Mt. Baker Highway • Bellingham WA
Invites you to our
GOSPEL MEETING
With Evangelist
Jesse Flowers
(Baytown,
Texas)
April 26 - May 1, 2015
Monday-Friday at
7:00 PM
Sunday,
April 26th at 9:30 and 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
Hear these gospel lessons:
Sunday Class: How to Find Contacts and Initiate Studies
Sunday AM: Are You Dull of Hearing?
Sunday PM: A Message to Young People
Monday: Your
Funeral Service
Tuesday: The Effects of
Entertainment
Wednesday: The Perfect Church
Thursday: Does This Offend
You?
Friday:
The Race Set Before Us
Bring your Bible and join us in learning God’s word and will for our lives!
(From
I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692
"It's a Miracle!"
Joe R. Price
The English language does not always lend itself to precision. For example, we "love" ice cream (Blue Bell, of course!), we "love" our spouse and we "love" God. One word (love) is used for three types of love. Sometimes we exaggerate for effect, and sometimes we just do not understand the proper definition of the words we choose.
Take the word "miracle", for example. Many are inclined to describe anything they cannot otherwise explain as a "miracle". The event may indeed be exceptional, extraordinary and even inexplicable from our perspective. But, we wish to use the word "miracle" as the Bible uses it ("speak as the oracles of God", 1 Pet. 4:11). To do so we need to learn what a miracle is and how the word is used in the Scriptures. Then we can determine whether miracles occur today.
Miracles are defined as "works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means…” (Vine). Thus, the natural birth of a child, while wondrous indeed, is not a miracle. [An important point must be made here. We affirm God answers prayer, but He does so by His overriding providence in the natural world. God uses natural "agents and means", not supernatural intervention, to answer our prayers (Jas. 5:16-18; Matt. 7:11; Rom. 8:28). To refuse present-day miracles is not a denial that God answers prayer.]
A triplet of words are used in Acts 2:22 and Hebrews 2:4 to describe these supernatural works. First, the word "miracles" means "power, ability, might", indicating their origin is God (Acts 10:38; 3:12). Second, "wonders" describes the effect miracles had on those who saw them. They caused astonishment and attracted attention (Acts 3:9-11). Third, these wondrous powers were "signs" of God's presence and evidence of divine approval (Jno. 3:2; 9:32-33).
The miracles of which we speak were worked through the agency of human beings. God granted miraculous powers to men and women - apostles and those on whom they laid their hands to impart miraculous spiritual gifts (Acts 2:17, 4; 8:14-17; 19:6). These are the only people in the New Testament who had miraculous powers. When the apostles died and those who received miraculous powers from them died, the power to work miracles passed from the earth. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13 explains their purposes were accomplished, therefore, they ended.)
There were three God-given purposes for the apostolic age miracles. First, revelation of the gospel. The Holy Spirit miraculously guided the apostles into "all truth" (Jno. 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 3:3-5). Second, the inspiration to faithfully speak and write God's word (Matt. 10:19-20; 1 Cor. 2:13). And third, to give confirmation that the gospel being preached was from heaven and not men (Mk. 16:20). Because the New Testament is complete ("all truth") there is no new revelation today. No miracles are needed to reveal it, inspire it and confirm it. Those who claim to work miracles are offering deceptive signs and lying wonders as did Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:6-13; cf. 2 Thess. 2:9).
Yes, God works
in this world, providing for all humanity while answering the prayers of His
people (Matt. 5:45; 7:7-11; Acts 14:17; Heb. 4:16). But, the age of miracles
being worked through the agency of humans has ended. If not, then what new
revelation must now be inspired and confirmed so it can be added to the
Bible? There is none. Let us be careful to use the word "miracle"
scripturally.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:1-5
1. The
church of Jesus Christ is a body in which all members are to have the
same care for each other, 1 Cor. 12:25.
2. We must know how to behave in the house of God when a brother or
sister sins, 1 Tim. 3:15; Gal. 6:1-5.
I. IF A PERSON IS OVERTAKEN IN ANY TRESPASS.
A. It is Plain
that Sin has Occurred, 6:1 (Jas. 5:19); Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15.
B. You
Who are Spiritual have Work to do, 6:1; Gal. 5:16-18, 24-26; 2 Cor. 2:14-15;
Rom. 8:5-8; Jas. 5:19; Heb. 4:12; Psa. 119:105; 1 Thess. 5:14 (cf. CPR).
C.
Restore the Sinner, 6:1; Jas. 5:20.
D. In
a Spirit of Gentleness (meek consideration), 6:1, 3-4; Gal. 5:23.
1.
Considering yourself (gentleness contains consideration), 1 Cor. 10:12
2.
Considering the fallen one, Jas. 5:19-20 (Lk. 18:11-12; Matt. 5:7; Jno.
8:4-8, 11).
II. BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS, Gal. 6:2-4.
A. Burdens: The
Problems that Attend Sin, 6:2; 2 Cor. 2:4-5, 6-8.
B. To
Fulfill the Law of Christ, 2 Cor. 2:9; Jno. 13:34-35.
C.
Additional Purposes, 6:3-4.
III. BEAR YOUR OWN BURDEN, Gal. 6:5.
A. Responsibility to try to Save Lost Christian, Heb. 3:7-8, 12-13.
Conclusion
The snare of sin can be broken by helping to restore those entangled in
sin.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
Scripture Reading: Romans 13:8-10
1. A lot of
talk about how Jesus would love others today (specifically, toward
LGBT).
2. What are Christians supposed to do to love our neighbors? Matt. 22:39
I. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF MEANS HAVING THEIR BEST INTEREST IN WHATEVER WE DO TOWARD THEM, Matt. 5:43-48.
A. Even
When They Do Not Love Us, 5:44, 10-12; 1 Pet. 3:8-9, 13, 17.
B. Do
Not Retaliate with Evil, Matt. 5:38-42.
II. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF MEANS USING YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH THEM THE TRUTH.
A. Loving
Neighbors does not Mean Isolating Ourselves from Society, 1 Cor. 5:9-10;
Eph. 5:8-11.
B.
Loving Neighbors does not Mean being a Moral Chameleon, 1 Cor. 9:22;
15:33-34; 1 Pet. 4:3-4.
C.
When Jesus Interacted with Sinners He Taught them the Truth and Called them
to Repentance, Mk. 2:13-17; Matt. 9:11-13.
D.
Jesus did not Conduct Himself in Any Way that Caused Sinners to Think He was
OK with their Sin; Lk. 15:1-2, 7; Jno. 8:11.
E.
"Have I Become Your Enemy Because I Tell You the Truth?" Gal. 4:16
F.
Tolerating Sin is not Loving Neighbor, 2 Jno. 10-11. Prov. 27:5-6; Matt.
5:13.
III. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF MEANS CONTINUING TO LOVE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE REJECTED BY UNBELIEVERS, Heb. 12:3. (1 Cor. 13:8)
Conclusion
Keep
loving when hated, Jno. 15:18-20.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
Numbers
Joe R. Price
One research firm projects that at current rates, by the year 2050 there will be nearly as many Muslims in the world as reported Christians. Islam is already the fastest growing religion in the world (Report: Islam is World's Fastest Growing Religion, Amanda Casanova, April 7, 2015, christianheadlines.com).
Disciples of Jesus refuse to get caught up in trusting large numbers or in becoming fearful when numbers are few. Two occasions from the Old Testament impress this truth upon hearts of faith.
First, Gideon defeated the Midianite army with just 300 men. "And the Lord said to Gideon, The people are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me saying, 'My own hand has saved me'" (Judg. 7:2). Beginning with 32,300 Israelites, God reduced their number to 300 and then defeated an army of about 135,000 (Judg. 7:7, 12, 22; 8:10). Though the faithful in the Lord are few, in Christ they are mighty and victory in assured (2 Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-13; Rev.2:10; 3:4-5). Do not lose heart even when few remain true to the Lord; our hope is in Almighty God whose purposes always prevail.
Second, David took a census of Israel that "displeased" the Lord and He "struck Israel" (1 Chron. 21:7; 24:27). Although David repented of his foolish and faithless act, 70,000 died by God's three-day plague (1 Chron. 21:14; 2 Sam. 24:10-15). David had 1.3 million fighting men at his disposal, yet they were no match for the one true God (2 Sam. 24:9). Christians and churches who trust they are sound and safe in the Lord due to their size have a misplaced confidence which fails to secure them in the Lord.
Refusing to
base our faith in numbers is not a reason to become complacent or careless.
We must remain aggressive in our devotion to the Lord. God saves us, not
numbers. Jonathan, the son of king Saul, reminds us why we put our trust in
the Lord and not in numbers: "For nothing restrains the Lord from saving
by many or by few" (1 Sam. 14:6).
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 04/13/2015
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:
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