And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 24, Number
19
06/26/2022
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
In this issue:
Dennis Abernathy
We live in a day where people want everything to be relative i. e. a thing is right and wrong if the individual thinks it is right or wrong. Consequently, many challenge the thought that there is a fixed standard of right and wrong. They accept no standards, no principles, no right or wrong, no nothing! Such thinking is becoming rampant in religion. People are taught they have a right to believe whatever they want to believe. This mindset is not new. In Judges 21:25 we read: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” That equals multiple standards.
Granted, as creatures of choice, we can believe what we want to, even if what we believe is wrong. For example, if one wants to believe there is 10 inches in a foot, he can do so, but he will be wrong every time. Just so, in religion there is such a thing as being religiously wrong, which presupposes a fixed standard, and assures that doing “what is right in our own eyes” is not permissible. In Deut. 12:1 we read: “These are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe.” Verse 8 says: You shall not at all do as we are doing here today-every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes.” Isaiah said the people “called evil good and good evil” and put no distinction between “darkness and light” because they were “wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight” (Isa. 5:20-21). Such convoluted thinking is gaining ground in society today. Reaction to sin and false doctrine is being so toned down that there is no distinction between good and evil in the average mind. Those who are wise in their own eyes seek to explain God’s Word away to a culture that has little knowledge of God and His Word. These do not retain God in their knowledge, but consider themselves to be wise, when in actuality they are fools (Rom. 1:22, 28).
No matter what one may think about it, 10 inches is not a foot. No matter how hard one may try to make wrong right, or immorality moral, or false teaching true, it is still wrong, immoral, and false. “It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). God’s standard is the “good and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). Thus, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). Think on these things.
Joe R. Price
16 A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous (Psalm 37:16–17).
The Scriptures teach the Lord does not measure wealth in dollars and cents. (The poor widow’s two small coins were more than the rich gave, Mark 12:41-44.) People of the world measure riches by the volume of their material possessions. But these are temporal and do not satisfy the soul (Matt. 6:19; Eccl. 5:10-15). Therefore, Christians learn to “be content with such things as you have” because the Lord said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). The Lord’s abiding assurance of His presence and provisions to sustain life secure our trust while teaching us to value the true riches of Today’s text gives additional insight into learning contentment (Phil. 4:11-12). Spiritual riches are received and assured by God to those who practice righteousness (v. 16; Acts 10:34-35; 1 John 2:29-3:3, 7). God upholds the righteous, but He will break the strength of the wicked (v. 17).
Here are ways to learn contentment with what we have: (1) Trust and use God’s value system of righteousness over earthly riches. Live by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7). (2) Trust God’s power to sustain the righteous and defeat evil (Matt. 6:33-34). Live for things above, not the things on the earth (Col. 3:1-3). (3) Trust God’s power to know and provide for our needs (Matt. 6:31-32). He is always with the righteous (Heb. 13:5-6; Matt. 7:7-11). -Sword Tips #2453
Joe R. Price
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away (Luke 21:33).
The certainty of Christ’s words comforts Christians. His explanations are sure, and His promises are steadfast. His truth abides. In this context, Jesus answered questions from His disciples about the destruction of the Jerusalem temple by telling them to watch for signs to come (Luke 21:5-7). He warned them not to be deceived by false teachers and fake news “in His name” (Luke 21:8). Jesus told them not to be frightened when they heard of wars, national upheavals, and natural calamities (Luke 21:9-11). He warned them of persecution, betrayal, and hatred from their enemies, but also of the inspiration He would give them and deliverance they would receive through their patient endurance (Luke 21:12-19). Armies would surround Jerusalem – a clear sign for believers to “flee to the mountains” to escape the divine vengeance that would befall Jerusalem (Luke 21:20-24). The sacking of Jerusalem by the Gentiles would be ample evidence that the Son of Man is ruling in heaven and executing judgment against faithless Jerusalem (Luke 21:25-31; Matt. 23:37-39; 24:29-31). Jesus boldly affirmed all these things would occur before that generation died (Luke 21:32). And so they did. The Roman armies led by Titus attacked Jerusalem in A.D. 70, destroying the temple and enslaving tens of thousands. When Jesus speaks, His word comes to pass. Like those disciples, let us be patient and possess our souls (Luke 21:19). Redemption is near (Luke 21:28; James 5:7-11). -Sword Tips #2003
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Where Will You Find Jesus?
Joe R. Price
Scripture Reading: John 7:10-18
1.
People look for Jesus in the wrong places.
2. Why should you look for Jesus? Can you find Him? Luke 19:10; Matt.
11:28-30.
I. WHERE YOU WILL NOT FIND JESUS TODAY.
A. In
Jewish Temple Keeping Law of Moses, Luke 2:42; Matt. 26:18; Matt. 5:17; Col. 2:13-17.
B. In
Men’s Religious Traditions, Luke 2:46-47; John 4:24; Matt. 15:7-9.
C.
Among Relatives and Friends, Luke 2:44; Matt. 10:34-37); Luke 5:8-11;
14:25-26, 33.
D. On a
Throne in Jerusalem, Luke 2:45; Zech. 6:12-13; Heb. 8:4; John 18:36-37.
E. With
Worldly Wisdom, Luke 2:40, 46-47, 52; 11:31; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Col. 2:8.
II. WHERE YOU WILL FIND JESUS.
A. You
Will Find Jesus in His Temple, the Church (Luke 2:46), Matt. 16:18; Eph.
2:19-22; Acts 2:33; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23.
B. You
Will Find Jesus in the Scriptures, Luke 2:46-47; John 5:39-40 (7:16-17);
20:30-31; Acts 17:11-12.
C. You
Will Find Jesus Doing His Father’s Business, Luke 2:49; Matt. 7:21-23.
D. You
Will Find Jesus When You Humbly, Sincerely and Earnestly Look for Him, Luke
2:48; John 6:25-27.
Conclusion
Look for Jesus where He will be found: In His word, in His church, and doing
the Father’s will.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
What is the Bible?
Joe R. Price
Scripture Reading: John 10:30-39
1. The
Bible has been praised and despised, ridiculed and exalted, honored and
deplored.
2. What is the Bible? What does it claim to be? What respect should it
receive?
I. THE BIBLE: A COLLECTION OF BOOKS.
A. The
Name.
B.
Overview of the Bible.
C. Its
Survival is Remarkable.
II. THE BIBLE’S CLAIMS ABOUT ITSELF.
A. It
Claims to Have Originated With God, 2 Tim. 3:16.
1. OT,
2 Tim. 3:15; Rom. 15:4 (3:2); Acts 7:38.
2. NT,
1 Tim. 5:18 (Luke 10:7; Matt. 10:10); 2 Pet. 3:15-16; 1 Cor. 14:37.
3.
Given by inspiration of God, 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.
B. It
Claims to be the Verbally Inspired Word of God, 1 Thess. 2:13; Matt. 22:43;
2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-2; Zech. 7:12; 1 Cor. 2:10-13.
C. It
Claims to Meet Our Needs, 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
D. It
Claims to be Relevant and Powerful to Change Lives, Heb. 4:12 (Rom.
1:16-17).
III. OUR RESPECT FOR THE SCRIPTURES.
A. We
Must Respect the Authority of the Scriptures, John 10:30-38; Matt. 5:17-18.
B. We
Can Have Confidence in the Accuracy of the Scriptures, Luke 24:25, 27, 44;
Matt. 22:31-32; Luke 10:25-26.
Conclusion
1. The Bible is much more than the words of men; it is the inspired word of
God, 2 Tim. 3:16.
2. How you use it directly affects your soul, 2 Pet. 3:16-18.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
Was Jesus Silent about Homosexuality?
Joe R. Price
Earlier this month on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) gave a one-minute speech criticizing bills described as targeting LGBTQ people. After introducing his topic, Lieu said he would recite what Jesus said about homosexuality, then stood silently for twenty seconds (Video of Ted Lieu Reciting What Jesus 'Said About Homosexuality' Goes Viral, Ewan Palmer, msn.com).
Jesus was not silent on homosexuality. He cited “fornications” (porneia) as sin, an inclusive word for all sexual sins, including homosexuality.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23).
Jesus authorized His apostles and prophets to speak His commands (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 14:37). They condemned homosexuality as a sexual sin:
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Rom. 1:26-27; also see 1 Cor. 6:9-10).
“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality (ekporneuo, JRP) and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
Rep. Lieu could have read more than twenty seconds worthy of Christ’s condemnation of this sin. He also could have read of Jesus saving homosexuals from this sin (1 Cor. 6:9-11). But instead, he chose to misrepresent Jesus.
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 06/27/2022
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
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