And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 18, Number
04
08/02/2015
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:
Killing Babies and Selling Body Parts
Joe R. Price
The mutilation and dismemberment of unborn babies takes place in abortion. It is the deliberate taking of human life and the extraction of the dead child from its mother's body. That is the horrific truth of abortion.
Since 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion with its Roe v. Wade decision, legal protection has enabled the killing of almost 56 million babies in this country (lifenews.com). However, legality does not establish morality. Man cannot ignore God's will by taking innocent life and escape His just and righteous wrath (Amos 5:24; Rom. 1:18; 2:1-11).
Medical advances, including those in ultrasound technology, have helped identify the fetus for what it is; a new human life (a baby, the fruit of the womb, Lk. 1:41-42, 44). It cannot be scientifically, reasonably or morally denied that the fetus is in fact a child, a human life, new and distinct from its mother. By 9-10 weeks legs, toes, arms, hands, head, ears, face and other physical features are clearly discernible. By 12 weeks the eyes, nose, mouth and ribs are obvious. First trimester images, along with the beating heart of new life, leave only the most calloused to deny the obvious fact that new human life is growing inside its mother. Abortion destroys the child. That is murder, dear reader, and murder will always be sin (Gen. 4:8-10; Exo. 20:13; 1 Jno. 3:15).
Recent videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the procurement and selling of fetal body parts from abortions has produced a political firestorm and a call to stop the federal government's funding of Planned Parenthood (the most egregious oxymoronic title I have ever heard). What we are longing for is the moral outrage of a nation that has for too long turned away from the horror of abortion, deferring to "the mother’s convenience or health" to justify the slaughter of the innocent ("Abortion", uslegal.com). Will such outrage occur? Or, has America already filled its cup of iniquity (Gen. 15:16)? As this is being written a court has issued a restraining order preventing the release of more of the videos exposing the practices at Planned Parenthood (foxnews.com). The truth is terrible. Many do not want to see it.
Let us
reinvigorate our efforts to defend the sanctity of life at every stage of
existence (unborn or aged). No person, or nation, can expect God's blessing
while taking innocent life from others (Prov. 14:34).
Top
Giving Our Best To God
Some people
seem to be content to give God their leftovers. They give Him their leftover
time, their leftover money, their leftover talents. When their own wants and
wishes have been fully and completely gratified, anything left (if it is
convenient) is presented to our heavenly Father.
How would you
like it if you never had anything served on the table but leftovers? How
would you like it if your boss paid you only if he had any profits after
taking all he wanted from the company? How would you like it if your
children gave you what little affection they had leftover from their
friends, pursuits, etc.?
David refused
to offer in sacrifice to God, “that which cost me nothing,” and this
should be our attitude. We should give to God a service that is meaningful
and sacrificial. Romans 12:1 states it in clear terms: “Present your
bodies as a living sacrifice…”
In our singing,
giving, praying, study, all worship, and living, we should give to God the
best we can offer. Nothing but the best should be offered. Remember, the
nature of the gift reflects the attitude you have toward the one given the
gift. Does your service to God reflect that you love and appreciate Him?
-The Central
Voice, Sept. 2014
Leaving Our First Love
Nevertheless
I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember
therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else
I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless
you repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)
This warning to
repent of sin or lose their identity before Christ was sent to the church in
Ephesus. Imagine, God’s people were in jeopardy of losing their fellowship
with Jesus Christ! It is a serious and sobering reminder that we must
continue to live by faith and not become half-hearted and negligent in our
faith. Christ will not walk among churches whose members love other things
than him. Christians cannot live like the devil and then claim fellowship
with Christ. This is a clear statement that those who once loved Christ may
fall back into sin and forfeit Christ’s presence and blessings. Christian
friend, if that has happened in your life, “repent and do the first works”.
This warning does not accuse God’s ability to save you; it shows that sin
still separates people from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Use today to repent of sin
in your life so that fellowship with the Savior is restored and your love
for him is renewed.
-Sword Tips,
#111
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files
at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:7-11
1.
Inconceivable for a Christian to suppose he or she can live in sin and
go to heaven, Jas. 4:4; 1 Jno. 2:15-17; Rom. 6:1-2.
I. YOU WERE WASHED. A.
Cleansed by Blood of Jesus, Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:13-14, 22.
II. YOU WERE SANCTIFIED. A. Set
Apart from Sin by the Blood of Jesus, Heb. 10:29. 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; Eph.
5:25-27.
III. YOU WERE JUSTIFIED. A.
Acquitted of the Guilt of Sin by the Blood of Christ, Rom. 5:9; 4:25; 5:10,
18; 3:23-26; Jas. 2:21-24.
Conclusion 1. Acts
18:8: Hearing, believed and were baptized, 1 Cor. 6:11. 2. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God?” 1 Cor. 6:9
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files
at
BIBLE ANSWERS
"He Commanded Us To Preach"
Part 1
Scripture Reading: Acts 10:34-43
1. When we
examine the preaching of the apostles in the book of Acts we are impressed
by what they do not preach and by what they do preach.
I. THE APOSTLES' PREACHING IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. A. They
Preached the Apostles' Doctrine, Acts 2:42; 1 Thess. 1:5.
Conclusion God's purpose for preaching is our salvation, Rom. 10:13-17;
1 Cor. 1:21.
Tom Roberts
Joe R. Price
2. Yet, some in Corinth were arguing just that, 1 Cor. 6:13-15.
3. Even though they had been washed, sanctified and justified (6:11;
Acts 18:8).
B.
Through the Washing of Water by the Word, Eph. 5:25-26. Baptism, Rom. 6:3;
5:8; Acts 22:16 (18:8); Christ's blood, Heb. 10:19-22; Tit. 3:5; 1 Pet.
3:21.
B.
Things that Sanctify Sinners:
1.
Blood of Christ, Heb. 13:12.
2.
Holy Spirit (agent), 2 Ths. 2:13 (1 Pet. 1:2).
3.
Truth (means), Jno. 17:17, 19.
4.
Obedience to the gospel, Rom. 6:17-22.
5.
God’s grace and man's faith.
C. Set
Apart for Holy Living, Eph. 5:27; 1 Ths. 4:3-8.
2. Did not preach: Themselves, to please men, human wisdom or personal
opinions.
3. They preached the gospel, 1 Cor. 15:1-5; Acts 10:42; 1 Cor. 1:21; 1
Thess. 2:4; 2 Cor. 4:5, 7; Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:20; 1 Cor. 9:16.
-Lesson: When we preach apostles' doctrine we preach heaven's message. All
others are counterfeit. Gal. 1:8
B.
They Preached the Word, Acts 8:25; 13:5; 17:13 (16:6).
-Lesson: God communicates to us through His word. We must hear it and obey
it. 1 Cor. 14:37
C.
They Preached Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2; Col. 1:28), Acts 8:5, 35;
9:20; 17:18.
-Lesson: Jesus is our Master. We must honor and serve Him. Col. 3:23-24
D.
They Preached Forgiveness of Sins through Jesus, Acts 13:38 (42).
-Lesson: Preaching that does not address sin and does not explain God's
remedy for sin is not Bible preaching. 2 Tim. 4:2
E.
They Preached the Kingdom of God (cf. Acts 1:6-7), Acts 8:12; 20:25 (28);
28:31.
-Lesson: Man does not make God; He made us. Trust Him, obey Him. We are
accountable to Him. He will judge us. Acts 17:30-31
G.
They Preached Human Existence Beyond the Grave, Acts 17:18, 17:30-31; 20:21.
-Lesson: This life is not all there is to our existence. Job 14:14
H.
They Preached the Whole Counsel of God, Acts 20:27, 20.
-Lesson: Give me all of the Bible! 2 Tim. 4:2
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current
events in the light of Scripture)
Husband and Wife Outdated, Biased
Joe R. Price
California Senate Bill 1306 that replaces the words husband and wife in the California Family Code with "spouse" is now law. According to the bill's sponsor, Mark Leno (D), San Francisco, "This legislation removes outdated and biased language from state codes and recognizes all married spouses equally, regardless of their gender" ("Governor Moonbeam Makes the Words Husband and Wife Illegal in California", tpnn.com). (Leno's bias against traditional marriage is showing through.) Another CA representative, "Rep. Lois Capps, a California Democrat, has introduced new legislation with the goal of replacing "gender terms" with "gender neutral" language – suggesting that the difference between men and women is neutral and requires no distinction" (naturalnews.com). The differences between men and women are neutral and require no distinction? Yeah, right (Gen. 1:27; 2:18-25).
The renaming of marriage partners shows disregard for the roles of men and women in marriage while disrespecting God who instituted it and them. If there is no husband in a marriage, then there is no "head" who must sacrificially love his wife (oops, sorry, CA law says there is husband and wife! Eph. 5:23, 25-29). Furthermore, if there is no head in a marriage (the husband), then there is no one to whom the wife (sorry, the other spouse) must "submit" (Eph. 5:22-24). (I wonder, is the wedding officiate compelled to say, "I now pronounce you spouse and spouse. You may kiss your spouse"? How gender neutral!) God cannot be pleased.
It is not as though the state of California (or other states, for that matter) has been a defender of marriage up to this point. Divorce for every cause has long been the order of the day, sundering what God has joined together (Matt. 19:6).
Of course, the agenda for changing husband and wife to "spouse" in California law is to accommodate and legitimize same-sex marriages. Now, a heterosexual married couple cannot legally be termed "husband" and "wife". The generic "spouse" must be used in all legal documents.
Such efforts to
distort and destroy marriage do not go unnoticed by the Almighty. The
sorrowful words Isaiah once applied to Judah ring in our ears today, “Alas,
sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children
who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger
the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward” (Isa. 1:4). And,
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5:20). It is past
time to repent.
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 08/10/2015
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:
ssword@bibleanswer.com