New Beginnings

Yep! It's here. A brand new year. Have you made any resolutions? Many people resolve to improve their lives in lots of different ways. They may resolve to read more, loose weight, stop smoking, etc. Some resolve to be a better spouse or parent.

Those are all great and wonderful, but if we would resolve to truly draw closer to God many of those other things would likely follow.

There are some fairly obvious disciplines one can adopt to help in his/her spiritual development.

1. Daily Bible reading and prayer.
2. Weekly study and meditation.
3. Regular attendance with the saints.
4. Invest time in other believers to build them and yourself.

I would like to announce a new beginning in mine and my families lives. As of three weeks ago we officially began working with the 29th & Yale Church of Christ in Tulsa, OK.

This is an exciting time for them and us as we face new opportunities and challenges. The church has recently appointed additional elders as well as added a new youth minister. We are looking forward to improved outreach to the saving of souls.

When you come to Tulsa, be sure to pay us a visit.

The Power of Words

I remember an expression that we used to hear more than we do today – “Mind your manners.” This was and still is good advice. The concern is over social conduct or deportment. There are ways of acting that are customary to the occasion. Some of these are common sense, while others must be learned. Deportment is revealed by both one’s words and deeds.

Another expression is “Watch your mouth”. Sometimes this is in response to someone who is sassy, and sometimes to someone whose words are, at best, unsavory. James tells us that the person who has his tongue tamed is a perfect man (3:2). Let us endeavor to have our “conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt...” (Colossians 4:6)

Consider the following Scripture highlights:

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. (2 Corinthians 8:21)

Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God (1 Corinthians 10:32)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3-4)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Justification By Faith Includes Baptism

"By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up" (Heb. 11:29 ASV). The Israelites crossed the Red Sea "by faith," but they were not on the other side the moment they believed. They spent a night of anxious toil and great fear before they could sing the song of deliverance on the other side. Here the phrase "by faith" spans the Red Sea, and includes every step they took in crossing.

By some it is thought that because Paul says we are "justified by faith" (Rom. 5:1) that baptism is excluded. But the phrase "by faith," instead of excluding the acts of faith, which, in reality, make faith perfect, actually includes obedience. And it can be plainly shown that "by faith" in this case includes baptism. Paul says, "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Cor. 10:1-2 ASV).

They crossed the Red Sea "by faith," and in crossing they were baptized. "By faith" includes what was done in crossing. But in crossing they were baptized. Therefore, "by faith," in this example includes baptism.

--C. R. Nichol

PRAYER DEVELOPMENT

Prayer, most simply put, is talking to God. But there are a variety of aspects to prayer.

There are prayers of thanksgiving whereby we thank our Father for our blessings both spiritual and physical.

There are prayers of confession when we need to acknowledge before God when we have sinned in order to be forgiven.

There are prayers of praise whereby we expression adoration and worship to our Heavenly Father.

There are prayers of petition where we can collectively ask God to act or move in a particular way such as providentially arranging opportunities for outreach.

There are prayers of supplication whereby we seek for God to supply all our needs.

There are prayers of intercession when we pray for others or on their behalf with regard to spiritual strength, encouragement, or because of sickness.

THINGS TO PRAY ABOUT:

1. For each of our families. Pray for the fathers to be or become the spiritual leaders in both the home and the church as God intended.
2. For the sick and shut in.
3. For the children to be protected from harm and worldly influences.
4. For our Bible class teachers, that they will be wise and loving and serious students of God's Word.
5. For our elders, that they may oversee this flock with the heart of a shepherd. For the development of men to become elders in the years to come.
6. For deacons, that we may develop more men with a heart to serve the church family.
7. For missionaries around the world, especially those in difficult places.
8. For media outreach (TV, Radio, Internet, Correspondence, etc.)
9. For the widows and orphans.
10. For evangelistic opportunities and for laborers to go into the harvest.
11. For family members yet to obey the gospel: spouses, teens, parents, siblings, etc.
12. For family members who need to be restored: spouses, teens, parents, siblings, etc.

Use this list as a tool to help with your prayers and devotion time. If you pray for each of these areas you will find your personal concerns in these to be heightened. As you pray consistently for all of these you will likely find yourself either expanding the list or the amount of time you spend on each.

As you lift these things up before the throne of God don't forget to praise Him, and to thank Him for all that He does. Clear the path for these petitions and intercessions by confession and forgiveness.

May the Lord bless you as you seek to develop this spiritual discipline.

Slain for Lying to the Holy Spirit

by: Dr. Luke

News Flash... A couple died in church today. Witnesses say that the husband came in and was questioned by church authorities concerning his most recent contribution. Apparently there is some discrepancy in the story. Once this was exposed the man fell down and died instantly. Cause of death yet to be determined.

Some suspect that the Spirit of God smote him for lying.

About 3 hours later the man's wife comes in. She too is questioned concerning the recent contribution. Apparently, not knowing what had happened to her husband, she corroborated his lie. At that point one of the church leaders, Peter, informed her of her husband's death and then she fell down dead also.

Some of the younger men in the congregation performed the funeral services.

The result of this incident has caused great fear everywhere.
_____________________________________________________
Sources: The Acts of the Apostles (Holy Bible, New Testament), chapter 5, verses 1-11.

ARE YOU OFFENDED

Romans 14:21, KJV
“It is good neither to… [do] anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

Romans 15:1, KJV
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”


The claim of being “offended” is a classic trump card for the manipulator. This is a person who would never consider himself to be the weaker brother, let alone spiritually immature.

What this person does is a cultic tactic of psychological double bind. He appeals to but misuses an accepted authority. In this case it is an abuse of Scripture to get one’s way.

This is not only a serious misuse of Scripture, but it is a form of extortion which is explicitly condemned in 1 Corinthians 6:10, “such will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus describes such a person as a ravenous wolf (Matthew 7:15-23). As a matter of fact the two terms are related in the Greek. They both come from a root that means “to seize, or to carry off by force.”

This person robs others of their freedom of opinion, etc. They seek to control others by feigning offense.

When Paul used the term “offended” in Romans 14:21 he is not talking about an individual’s personal preferences. He is not talking likes or dislikes. He is not talking mere opinions.

The Old English use of “offend” or “offense” is not the same as it is most widely used today. It is the ambiguous or equivocating use of the term that is the problem.

Today one may say that he is offended by someone’s body odor. He is merely saying that he is displeased. This has no moral or spiritual implication upon him however.

When Paul says, “offend,” he means that one has had a snare or stumbling block placed in his way. It comes from the term “skandalizo” (Eng: scandalize).

Oddly this is a textual variant not found in the oldest manuscripts. Because of this it is not found in most modern versions. Both the KJV and the NKJV have it. But none of these do: ASV, NASB, ESV, RSV, NRSV, NIV, etc.

The primary definition of offend is consistent with the biblical usage.
1. to transgress the moral or divine law; sin.

It is the secondary usage when appealed to which brings about the ambiguity.
2. to cause dislike, …; displease.

(Merriam-Webster New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd Ed.)

Personal sense of what is proper or fitting is mere opinion. One can sin by the divisive insistence of his opinion upon others. No one should be allowed veto power simply because he does not like something.

Jesus is the Head of the Church. Jesus is Lord. Only He has all authority.

SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ARISE

Ephesians 6:10-20

“Soldiers of Christ Arise” doesn't mean being dust bunny soldiers or feather duster Christians.

There are three types of people today:
1. Those who have no idea there is a battle and so ill prepared to enter it.
2. Those who have some idea of some kind of battle but not prepared for the true battle at hand.
3. Those who have a serious understanding of the true battle and are prepared as instructed by the Lord.

We have seen all three kinds of people in scripture.
1. Judas was totally oblivious to the true battle and lost out.
2. Peter in the garden was prepared with a sword but not really understanding the circumstances. Saul of Tarsus was involved in the wrong battle while persecuting the church.
3. Paul after conversion was prepared and fought the good fight of faith.

Today it is frustrating to see modern Christianity being ill prepared.
· Those who have no idea there is a battle loose out and are picked off quickly.
· Those who have a small understanding there is a battle and equipped superficially are like soldiers with feather dusters and are only prepared to face off dust bunnies! These are the religious who have a sort of a message but have no idea they are fighting the wrong battle. They get in the way and make the others look foolish in their wrong-headed ill-conceived "battles" that have no idea. They have zeal with no knowledge while setting for themselves a righteousness of their own.
· Those prepared to the hilt as standing strong in the Lord and in His mighty power understand.


We must understand the true pageant of the battle.
a. The battle is between our ears.
i. Sometimes it takes us fighting with our own thoughts, emotions, volition, actions, and reactions.
ii. We are inclined to do one thing while the Lord wants us to do the opposite [i.e. we want to save our lives while the Lord wants to loose our lives for His sake]
b. The battle is a spiritual fight.
i. The battlefront is unseen.
ii. The battle is against an invisible foe.
iii. The battle is in the realm of God and beyond human ability to fight on his own.

We must understand the true protagonist at hand.
a. The enemy is not flesh and blood--not a human battle.
i. Not a political fight.
ii. Not a fight for control in the church or elsewhere
iii. Not a fight for rights, or environmentalism.
iv. Not a fight of human purpose.
b. The enemy is spiritual using spiritual means to achieve is goals.
i. A matter of salvation vs. condemnation.
ii. A matter between Heaven and Hell.
iii. A matter between the good and evil.
iv. A matter of true vs. falsehood.

We must understand the true preparation for the fight (the whole armor of God).
a. The Belt of Truth = integrity vs. lies
b. The Breastplate of Righteousness = purity vs. temptation
c. The Shoes of Peace = Tranquility vs. chaos
d. The Shield of Faith = certainty vs. doubt
e. The Helmet of Salvation = believer's sanity vs. the craziness of the world
f. The Sword of the Spirit = the Word of God vs. human philosophy

We must understand the true posture in the battle.
a. We are to stand -- vs. 10
b. We are empowered with the Word of God
c. We have the provision of prayer -- vs. 18

Thomas L. Reed, II
Nevada, MO