And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 21, Number
04
11/18/2018
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
Rich Brooks
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Shane Bass
Mike Finn
Dan Head
In this issue:
When Was Cornelius Saved?
Kyle Campbell
There is so much confusion regarding the Holy Spirit among religious people. The best approach anyone can take is to go back to the Bible and see what it says. Cornelius will help us to better understand the work of the Holy Spirit.
Several important details are given about the Samaritans in Acts 8:12-17. Notice that they were baptized, but did not receive gifts of the Spirit immediately. Even though Philip, who had the gifts of the Spirit (cp. Acts 6:3-5), was present, these people had to wait until apostles came from Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit only came by their hands (Acts 8:18).
For Cornelius, the Spirit came directly by an act of God. In Acts 10:44, Luke records, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Peter said in Acts 11:15, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” Therefore, we must conclude that receiving the gifts of the Spirit by the hands of the apostles was not baptism in the Spirit. Otherwise, Peter would have been reminded of more recent baptisms in the Spirit, instead of referring back to Acts 2. Furthermore, since baptism in water came before receiving the Spirit in Acts 8, and it came after receiving the Spirit in Acts 10, we must conclude that the two have separate, unrelated purposes. Water baptism saves us (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21) while Holy Spirit baptism confirmed the word of God (Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:4).
If the Holy Spirit is guiding and teaching all of us, He would not contradict today what He taught back then. If there is a difference, then the conclusion must be that it is not the Holy Spirit. If you believe in Holy Spirit baptism and the subsequent miraculous gifts that accompany it (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), what evidence is given to you by God to support your claim? Cornelius began speaking in other known, verifiable languages as evidence that he received the Spirit (Acts 10:46; cp. 2:5-11, “his own language” and “our tongues”). Can you do that?
So is there any way in which we have the Spirit now? Paul commanded us to be “be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). I am “filled with the Spirit” when I take the words the Spirit revealed (John 16:7-13) and use them to change my behavior and therefore “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). I show the “fruit of the Spirit” in all its beautiful glory: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (5:22-23). We could all use more filling of the Spirit, for this would chase away the devil and allow us to fill our hearts with the command of Paul in Philippians 4:8
(The Gospel Teacher, November 18, 2018)
In Everything Give Thanks
Joe R. Price
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Although Thanksgiving Day is but a man’s holiday, it reminds us not to forget to be thankful to God. It is His will that we have grateful hearts for what we receive, and generous hearts so that we may also give to those in need (Acts 20:35). Here are just a few things for which every Christian can be thankful.
●
Christ’s victory over sin and death: “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57)●
The revelation of truth: “At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.’” (Matt. 11:25)●
Our food: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;” (1 Tim. 4:4).●
Our brethren: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” (Phil. 1:3).●
Creation and life: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:20–21)●
All things: “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:20)●
God’s grace: “and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:14-15)●
The call of salvation: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Col. 3:15)●
Christ’s authority: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17)We can add to this list
our homes and families, our jobs, our health, our neighbors, our country,
the promises of God, ad infinitum. We are truly a blessed people! How tragic
it is when we forget to be thankful (2 Tim. 3:2).
-The Spirit’s Sword, I:41, edited
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving
Scripture Reading: Psalm 100
1. God’s people always give Him
thanks (1 Chron. 16:7-8; Psa. 100:4; 107:1-3; 136:1-3).
2. The Lord’s comfort of Zion, Isa. 51:3.
3. Thanksgiving is an immediate reaction of Christians, Eph. 5:20.
I. WHAT IS THANKSGIVING? Eph. 5:20
A. The Grateful Acknowledgement of
Benefits Received.
B. Giving Thanks Presupposes…,
1 Tim. 1:12-13; Phil. 1:3; Jas. 1:17 v. Dan. 4:30-33.
II. WHEN MUST WE GIVE THANKS?
A. Before the Blessing Comes, 2
Chron. 20:20-21 (Heb. 13:5-6).
B. During the Blessing, Acts
28:15 (cf. Jno. 11:41-42).
C. After the Blessing has been
Received, Exo. 15:1; Dan. 2:23; Lk. 17:11-19.
III. FOR WHAT MUST WE GIVE THANKS?
A. Things Physical and Spiritual; Things “Ordinary” and Extraordinary; Things Received and Withheld, 1 Thess. 5:18.
IV. TO WHOM MUST IT BE OFFERED?
A. Father Giver of all Good Gifts, Jas. 1:17; Rom. 1:20-21 (Acts 17:25)
V. HOW MUST WE GIVE OUR THANKS TO GOD?
A. Christ Jesus is the Means of
all the Blessings we Receive, Eph. 1:3; Col. 3:17.
B. We Give Thanksgiving with
our Whole Being. (hearts/hands), Heb. 13:15.
Conclusion 2 Tim. 3:1-4; Psa. 140:13
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS Joe R. Price
Scripture Reading: James 5:7-11
1.
Example: “a thing shown, a specimen...make a show of, expose” (Vine). Jude
7; 1 Pet. 2:21
2. A model, pattern for imitation, Heb. 8:5; Jno. 13:15; Heb. 4:11.
3. Our examples have influence on others; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:7; Jas.
5:10.
I. EXAMPLE OF CONTENTMENT THROUGH HUMBLE SERVICE, Jno. 13:12-17.
A. Christ’s Example Taught His
Disciples the Value of Humble Serve, 13:16; Lk. 22:24-27.
B. Result of Humble Service is
Blessedness, Jno. 13:17; Lk. 22:28-30; 1 Pet. 5:5-6.
II. EXAMPLE OF HOW YOUNG CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO LIVE, 1 Tim. 4:12 (Phil.
2:19-22).
A. Many Young People Struggle with
Identity and Opposition, Titus 2:6-8.
B. Young People Bear Moral
Responsibilities.
III. EXAMPLE OF GOD’S CHILDREN FALLING THROUGH UNBELIEF, Heb. 3:17-19; 4:11.
A. Unbelief Can Enter Our Hearts.
B. We Must Increase Our Faith,
Heb. 4:2; Eph. 6:16; Heb. 6:4-6.
IV. EXAMPLE OF STEADFAST PATIENCE, Jas. 5:10-11.
A. Suffering Demands Endurance
Whatever Form It Takes, 2 Chron. 36:15-16 (Jer. 38:2-6); Matt. 5:11-12; Job
42:10; 1 Pet. 2:18-23.
B. Establish Your Heart, Jas.
5:7-8 (to turn resolutely in a certain direction” (Strong’s I:67);
Steadfastly set, strengthen, Isa. 40:27-31 (faith).
Conclusion Trace out our lives using Jesus as our model, 1 Pet. 2:21.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
"She Deserves to be a Choice"
Joe R. Price
The Agenda Project, a progressive political action group, has published a video in support of Planned Parenthood entitled, “The Chosen.” Its tag line is, “Women deserve a choice. Babies deserve to be chosen.” The video shows a beautiful baby girl cooing and smiling for the closeup camera as the following captions appear: “She deserves to be loved. She deserves to be wanted. She deserves to be a choice. #StandWithPP” (“The Chosen,” AP Action Fund, TheAgendaProject, youtube.com).
Every child should be a choice made before conception. But, that is not how pro-abortionists frame their choice to kill the unborn baby. They use doublespeak about “choice” as they promote contraception (aka, sexual immorality) on the one hand, and then the “choice” to end the child’s life after conception on the other. They support a woman having the sexual freedom to choose conduct that conceives children. Then, when it happens they claim a woman’s “reproductive right” to kill the child she conceived via that choice. This is outrageous selfishness (2 Tim. 3:2)! What about the child’s right to live? What choice do you think the unborn child would make if given a choice?
I have no doubt abortion produces much guilt and regret. There should certainly be the guilt of the sin of murder (Rom. 13:9). Accountability is not removed by convincing women they “deserve a choice,” or that a baby deserves to be loved, wanted and chosen. The child can be loved and wanted through adoption by those who choose to have a family. The unwanted child deserves to live and bring joy into the lives of those who want her. Yes, she deserves to be chosen, not killed.
And, we must note that
the woman (and man) did have a choice. She and the man chose to make a baby.
If you don’t want a baby, don’t do what produces them. Period. That’s the
moment of choice. Babies deserve the choice of life after men and women
choose to make them. Planned Parenthood helps woman choose themselves at the
expense of the life of their child.
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 11/19/2018
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
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