The Heaton File

Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:15-17)

Rain Filled Prayers

Paul and Barnabas had entered the city of Lystra when a cripple attracted the attention of the apostles. Paul cried out to him to be healed and he immediately leaped up and began walking. The people of the city saw what Paul had done and began worshipping the two missionaries as gods calling them Zeus and Hermes. They began making preparations to sacrifice oxen and offer garlands in response to the healing before Paul and Barnabas stopped them. The apostles declared they were only men and they should worship the true God who was alive and maker of the heaven, the earth, the sea and all things that are in them. One of the witnesses he left for men is the evidence of the cycle of earth including rain from heaven and fruitful seasons. From this men rejoice as food comes from the abundance of the green earth.

Science has brought man to a Nebuchadnezzar-like pride that diminishes dependence on God. Long ago when the king of Babylon stood on the ramparts of his mighty kingdom, he bragged about all the things he had done and how proud he was of his own might and power. The Lord God had warned the king through Daniel and brought him low when his heart lifted him up so that he could learn there was only one God who was to be worshipped. Everything is in the hand of the Lord God. The world exists because of the word of the Lord. It will remain intact until the will of God brings to a close the existence of man. With all of the technology of man creating a utopian world of dependence on himself, man is not as anxious to rely on the power of God to live. For the most part (in America) families no longer farm for food. There is a ready supply in large warehouses and stores that require cash money to buy. Gone are the days of gardens and large tracts of land needing the hard work of toiling the fertile earth. Many enjoy small gardens but the family does not rely on working the ground to survive. If the garden fails they go to the store and buy the food.

The plight of man can best be described by how often he prays for rain. There is nothing more basic to the need of man than nourishing the ground with water. We are not (for the most part) a praying people for rain. Sometimes we get frustrated because it is raining. It messes our hair up, soils our clothes, and makes travel difficult. We complain because it rains. Can you imagine how serious this can become if we had our way. We want perfect weather so that we can do what we do without trouble. It is a good thing we do not control the weather because we would all be dead in a year. Rain is a part of God’s reproductive pattern of nurturing the earth and we do not pray for it as often as we should. One reason is because we live comfortably without it. Our grass may turn brown but we still eat. If we lived as our forefathers lived – depending on rain to survive – we would be a lot more religious when it comes to prayer. We usually leave out of our prayers what we do not need.

Rain is a beautiful reminder of the love and mercy of God. Paul told the people of Lystra that God gives us rain from heaven to give us fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. We should be thankful every day it rains because without this rain there would be nothing to be glad and joyful about. Thank you God for the amazing creation of water falling from the heavens. Bless us as you see fit and bless us with a gentle reminder that you are the Creator and Sustainer of all thing. Thank you for rain.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. (Romans 16:16)

Churches Of The New Testament

The city of Jerusalem would never be the same. Events unfolding in Jerusalem two thousand years ago, would change the world. Untold numbers of Jews came to the city of David to celebrate the Day of Pentecost and this day was no different than it had been in years past. Devout Jews from all over the world gathered to celebrate a great feast to the Lord God. Centerpiece of this immense crowd of people was the Temple and worshippers flocked to celebrate one of three important pilgrimage feasts: the Passover, Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost was named from the fifty days from the first Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the end of harvest. What happened on that day would bring an end to this feast and all other celebrations contained under the Law of Moses. This Pentecost would be the beginning of the New Testament church.

Strange events took place in Jerusalem that brought the people together. Twelve men stood before them speaking in the tongues of different nations. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, began explaining the significance of the events and declared to all the Jews gathered the man called Jesus – who had been executed just fifty days prior – was the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ. In a stirring indictment of guilt, Peter unfolded the culpability of the Jews responsible for killing the Son of God. Many did not argue and realized what they had done knowing the judgment of the Lord would come upon them. Obeying the words of Peter and the apostles, three thousand souls were baptized into Christ. What happens next is the remarkable story of the Day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem. The Lord added to the church those who were being saved. The church had its beginning.

Jerusalem was the birthplace of the eternal plan of God. The church was born on the foundation Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. From this ancient city, the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world in power, glory and number. Soon devotees to the message of the Christ left the walled city of Jerusalem and spread the message of hope to Judea, Galilee and Samaria. But the church would not stop there. It began to move into areas like Antioch of Syria where disciples took the gospel to the world. Men like Paul, Barnabas and Silas began to make plans to carry the good news of Christ to places like Cyprus, Perga, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Later journeys would send them to Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Philip would change the life of an Ethiopian treasurer who would take the message of Christ to the deep recesses of Africa. Saints would be found in Lydda, Joppa, Cenchrea, Achaia, Caesarea and Antioch of Pisidia. Preserved in scripture are letters written to brethren in Galatia, Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, Thessalonica and to Crete. The church would be found in the homes of people like Priscilla and Aquila, Aristobulus and incredible as it may seem: Caesar’s household!

What is remarkable about the New Testament church is the unnamed churches of Christ spread throughout the world who followed the simple plan of salvation, worshipping as they had been instructed and saving souls. These are not inscribed upon the pages of ink and paper but their lampstands were evident to the eyes of God. Paul would tell the saints of Colosse the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven. The church of Christ began in the city of Jerusalem and today fills the earth. There is a sad part of this story. Looking at the New Testament church and the vibrancy of the gospel during the early days is found lacking today. The main story of the church in the New Testament is found in the modern nations of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Ethiopia. Churches of Christ can be found in some of these countries but very few. The church has suffered loss in many nations that have rejected God and His Son, Jesus Christ. America has been blessed with many churches but sadly, many are closing their doors for lack of faith on the part of brethren to fight the good fight. Who is to say the church cannot die in America and break out in Central and South America, China, Vietnam or even as remote a place as North Korea with a passion not seen in generations? The church in Jerusalem began in the center of Judaism against all odds but it spread to the whole earth. God’s Kingdom will never cease to exist. His power and glory is found in the germ of redemption proclaimed by the people of God who are added to the church daily by the grace of the Lord – wherever they may be.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)

Growing As A New Person

Change is what makes the Christian the unique person he or she will become. Life is described as a walk or a manner of acting. The attitude of heart will determine the way we speak, dress, react and carry ourselves in life. Everyone has a character that defines who they are and what they are. Paul describes a life that is filled with a futile approach of living regarding only the pleasures of the flesh as important. The world is filled with ungodliness as the hearts of men alienate themselves from a relationship with the Creator. Ignorance fuels their desires blinding them from the truth of righteousness. Living for the moment and lusting after the lewdness of fleshly pleasures is all the world can think about and live for. This describes the mind of the person who is not in Jesus Christ.

The Christian does not live like the world if he or she is committed to a relationship with God. Knowledge has brought the individual to see the path of righteousness as the only means of hope and happiness. Learning about Christ opens the heart to a world of forgiveness, compassion and purity. The sad reality of the world’s view is that it can only see the present. For the Christian, life is not confined to the here and now but the hope of a world that is beyond the grave. Everything in this life will grow old, corrupt and fade away. The deceitful nature of lusts is it only satisfies for a moment. Learning about Christ takes the heart of the Christian to a renewed spirit that lives for righteousness and holiness. A new man emerges from the dross of earthly despair rising to a change in character as a child of God.

Growing as a new person is a metamorphosis of the heart from darkness to light. A new man evolves from the darkened world of emptiness to an eternal hope of the presence of God. This growth is a process of daily change. It takes time in the word of God learning the wonderful blessings of His grace to bring about this change. One of the keys to a new man is to see a change take place. If a person obeys the gospel of Christ and years later is still the same person, they have not become the new man. There is a noticeable change that will take place in the life of the one who removes the cloak of worldliness and clothes themselves with the garments of truth and holiness. The former conduct is gone. The new person is created in accordance with the image of God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Change can be hard. It will take great determination to mold the character into a new man. Attitudes that were a part of life like lying, stealing, filthy language and immorality are renewed into a spirit of gentle speech, forgiveness, benevolence and kindness. Learning about Christ changes the heart to become better husbands and wives and knowing the importance of teaching children about God. The new man is a person who works more faithful in their job, presents a better character in the community and leads by example the life of a Christian. They are changed people. A new man comes from an old man. The Christian works daily removing the image of the old man that grows corrupt with the image of the new man that walks in love, in the light of Christ and walks in the wisdom of God’s word. Change. It is what makes the Christian become what he or she must be.

For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. (Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

The Law Was A Matter Of The Heart

It is easy to view the Law of Moses as solely a physical law of animal sacrifices and keeping of ordinances. There were many parts of the Law requiring precise understanding of how to make sacrifices, burn incense, length of days, clean versus unclean, penalties for disobedience, keeping of festivals and Sabbaths among a hosts of meticulous requirements imposed by God. The foundation of the covenant between God and Israel was circumcision. Without this sign there would be no salvation for the Jew. Reading the text of the Law can be overwhelming with its handwriting of requirements.

The Law of God did not begin with Israel. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, God gave them a law to live by. It was basic in its presentation as they had a choice of eating from all of the trees of the garden but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they were forbidden. They chose to disobey God and were cast out of the Garden. Man became so rebellious it required the Lord destroying all life on earth save eight souls. Abraham lived under the law of God requiring obedience. His sins were made public in the story of Genesis as he struggled with law keeping. Apart from the Law of Moses, the Gentile city of Nineveh received the grace of God to hear a prophet proclaim the joy of salvation. The whole city repented and the Lord spared them. For the last two thousand years, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been given to the world to save man. There are commands that must be kept. Without the keeping of the law of Christ there will be no salvation. What is common in all the generations who have striven to keep the Law of God? Obedience from the heart.

God’s will is not hard to understand. He has not made His will so difficult that man can complain it is too mysterious. The word of God has always been very near to man as the Lord has revealed Himself in various times and various ways. Keeping the commandments of God are rather simple in their nature: we have the choice of life and good, death and evil! It does not matter which time period we examine the law of God the choice has always remained the same. Adam and Eve had the choice of life or death and they chose the latter. Israel keeping the Law of Moses had a choice of good or evil and they chose evil. Keeping the Law (whichever law that is) is loving the Lord with all the heart, soul, mind and body. It requires walking in His ways, keeping His commandments, statutes and judgments; and having a heart of love to serve the Lord obeying His voice. The faithful who are blessed are those who cling to the Lord with all their hearts. Under the Law of Moses, the Lord gave Israel a choice to serve Him with their spirit more than their sacrifices. What good would a burnt offering have upon the Lord God if the heart were full of sin? The Law of Moses required a faithful heart.

There is a great lesson for the church today that can offer worship in a pattern of law-keeping and yet the heart can be far from serving the Lord. The Christian has a choice of serving the Lord from keeping rituals week in and week out or pleasing the Lord with a daily walk of heart felt, deep and abiding love for the God who saved them. The choice remains the same: choose life or choose death.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.’” (Leviticus 19:1-3)

Holiness, Parents And The Sabbath

The Law of Moses was very specific about keeping the Sabbath as a holy day. Moses delivered to the children of Israel the Law of God that contained the requirements and penalties of the will of the Lord. The Ten Commandments were not the whole law and reading the books of Exodus – Deuteronomy a full explanation of the law was given to the people. There is little doubt how the Lord felt about the Sabbath day. A story in Numbers 15 illustrates the severity of God when a man is found picking up sticks on the Sabbath day and stoned to death for the offense. Clearly, the Lord God demands the people obey His will. To disobey Him would bring severe punishment. Repeatedly, the Lord reminds His people that He is holy and He expects them to be consecrated to the service of His will. Separating themselves to God is the foundation of the relationship between the Jews and their Lord. Nothing is more basic than purifying the heart to serve only the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind and body.

Understanding the value of keeping the Sabbath day and being a holy people consecrated to the Lord was clearly defined by the Law. Included in this law was the respect given to parents. Sandwiched between the adherence of being holy and keeping the Sabbath was the command to respect mothers and fathers and refusing to do so brought about the same penalties. “I am the Lord Your God” is the heavenly affirmation that you must obey my word or suffer the consequences. The Law of Moses made provisions that if a child was rebellious they would be brought before the people and if found guilty, taken outside the city and stoned to death. This was God’s law. Disrespecting the father or mother was as serious a crime as being unholy and profaning the Sabbath.

The Law of Moses has been abolished but the principles of how God feels about respecting parents has not. Nothing in the New Testament suggests the Lord is pleased with children who disobey and disrespect their parents. One of the problems in every society that begins to crumble toward destruction is the breakdown of the family. Children who scream at parents, curse mothers and rebel against fathers are destroying the foundation of what God designed for the home. Parents are to be respected and the Lord God declares His will be followed. When children fail to respect the parent, they begin to destroy the fabric of society. Denigrating parents leads to disrespecting all authority and chaos ensues. God is not pleased.

Parents must instill in the heart of the child a love for God so they can learn what respect for parents is. It is imperative the family be built upon the word of God as a pattern of respect and reverence. As God is the heavenly Father, children learn to love and respect Him when they have learned to love and respect their godly parents. The word of God is sure and steadfast. It teaches the heart of the child a need to respect authority. This will serve them well in this life but most importantly will save their soul in eternity. The Lord demands respect through holiness and keeping His word. Respect for parents is evidence of a heart that loves and obeys the word of God.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king–Jesus.” (Acts 17:1-7)

Turning The World Upside Down

Preaching Jesus is a radical message. No man in history has changed the course of man than the life of the carpenter’s son from Nazareth. Paul spent three weeks reasoning in the Synagogue about the Jesus of Old Testament scripture. He used the word of God to prove Jesus was the Messiah of scripture that spoke about His suffering, His death and the power of His resurrection. The foundation of the gospel is the teaching Jesus is the Anointed of God who came from the Father and died for the sins of all men. No man could take the mantle of righteousness as Jesus bore upon Himself as the Savior of the world. The crucifixion of the man from Nazareth was not an ordinary event but world changing. His burial was carefully documented so the proof of the empty tomb would echo through the centuries as declaring the resurrection. Many followed after Paul and Silas because they believed the testimony of the risen Jesus.

Jews in Thessalonica were not happy with the teachings of Paul and Silas. They caused an uproar pressing on the house of Jason dragging them before the rulers of the city. The only charge they could establish was the companions of Jason were turning the world upside down by their teachings that Jesus was the Christ. Ironically, many of the Greeks believed while many of the Jews refused to accept the teaching of Paul. The Jews were the ones who knew the Law and the Prophets but they would not accept the teachings of Paul. The old Law proved that Jesus was the Christ and He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In a strange twist of hypocrisy, the agitated Jews appealed to the Roman rulers and allegiance to Caesar as their argument to rebuke Jason and his friends. Paul and Silas declared Jesus was king but this did not sit well with the Jews as they used the hated Roman power as their power to destroy the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is showing the testimony of scripture to the character and work of the Lord. Souls were saved in the New Testament by preaching a radical doctrine of allegiance to one King and one Lord. Without the story of the suffering servant and the power of the resurrection, salvation cannot come. Jesus is the center of teaching bringing people to the Father. The core of the message must be the story of Jesus from the Old Testament to the New Testament. It is remarkable how the early disciples used only the Old Testament to prove that Jesus was the Son of God and Savior of the world. Nothing can replace the pattern of teaching than showing the simple plan of the resurrection of Jesus.

The world cannot be turned upside down by the social, crowd pleasing, tickling ear philosophy of modern day religion. Jesus can only be King when He is declared Lord from the scriptures. The center of teaching by Paul and Silas was the word of God. They reasoned with the people from the Scriptures. Core to the teaching of Jesus is the word of God and without the teaching of the word, there can be no salvation. Churches who no longer emphasize the word of God are not turning the world upside down but inside out. They are teaching a doctrine that is not centered on the words of God. Jesus is not being exalted when we fail to teach the suffering of Christ and His resurrection.

There is great power in opening the word of God and showing from scripture the nature of Jesus Christ as Lord. The power is in the word and we should allow its power to work on the heart of man to convince, rebuke and exhort to salvation. Turning the world upside down comes from opening the word of God. Preaching and teaching that does not involve an open Bible is an open invitation to apostasy. Let the world see the power of the gospel and feel the presence of the resurrected Savior by the word of God.

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. (Acts 12:1-4; King James Version)

What God Says About Easter

Today is the day of Easter. It is unlike most holidays that are fixed on a certain date or time. Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday of November and Christmas falls on the 25^th day of December regardless what day that is. Easter is not so lucky. There is no agreement worldwide when Easter should be celebrated. What is more amazing to those who do not know is that God never mentions Easter in His word. The King James Version of Acts 12:4 is an incongruous version of scripture with no basis of a Biblical text.

Albert Barnes (1798-1870), a Presbyterian theologian and author explains: “There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this. The original is simply after the Passover. The word ‘Easter’ now denotes the festival observed by many Christian churches in honor of the resurrection of the Savior. But the original has no reference to that, nor is there the slightest evidence that any such festival was observed at the time when this book was written. The translation is not only unhappy, as it does not convey at all the meaning of the original, but because it may contribute to foster an opinion that such a festival was observed in the time of the apostles. The word ‘Easter’ is of Saxon origin, and is supposed to be derived from ‘Eostre,’ the goddess of Love, or the Venus of the North, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated by our pagan ancestors in the month of April (Webster). Since this festival coincided with the Passover of the Jews, and with the feast observed by Christians in honor of the resurrection of Christ, the name came to be used to denote the latter. In the old Anglo-Saxon service-books, the term ‘Easter’ is used frequently to translate the word ‘Passover.’ In the translation by Wycliffe, the word ‘paske,’ that is, ‘Passover,’ is used. But Tyndale and Coverdale used the word ‘Easter,’ and hence, it has very improperly crept into our King James Version.”

Thousands of people will rise in the early dawn to conduct a feast that is never mentioned in the Bible as a holiday that was never celebrated by the early church. Like Christmas, history has established a long trail of practice that has led to a commonly accepted story believed to be truth. If a falsehood is told long enough it can be believed as true. Sadly, most folk only think of worship to God in terms of Easter lilies and poinsettias because that is the only time they think of the Lord. Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus was done by the early church every first day of the week. True churches of the Lord today will follow the same pattern of authority in celebrating the victory of Christ over Satan as they assemble each first day of the week to worship and praise the Lord God for the sacrifice He made. The glory of the resurrection morning is found in the memorial feast of the bread and fruit of the vine taken by saints of God every first day of the week. It is here the Father is pleased.

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

They Were Called Christians

The early disciples enjoyed the fresh beginning of the church learning its doctrines, messages and principles that were so different from the Law of Moses. Even the Gentiles would later discover how deeply the message of Jesus Christ would give them greater hope than worthless idols. From the first gospel sermons on Pentecost to the formation of churches throughout the Roman Empire, the saints of God began developing the patterns that would come from the mind of God as His new law of grace through His Son. Removing the trappings of the Law of Moses, early disciples began forming the basis of worship in a deeply spiritual relationship. Gentiles cast off their superstitions of pagan worship to embrace the one true God. As the first disciples united as a people, a wonderful thing happened – they were called Christians. The church in Antioch was a beehive of activity for the early disciples. Paul, Silas and Barnabas used this congregation as a starting point for their work in the mission fields. Antioch was on fire to spread the gospel to the whole world. And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

It is easy to see who people are by their character, demeanor, attitudes and disposition. A devoted sports fan wears memorabilia of their favorite team, puts logos on their cars, and knows all the teams, players, stats and games. We exemplify what we are interested in by our actions. If a man loves to do woodworking, you will find it in his conversation. A woman who has an artistic nature is creative in her love of the arts. Musically inclined people love music and express it in their life. A Christian is someone who takes Christ as their teacher and lives everyday learning about who He is, what He is and what He had to say. The disciples in Antioch were first called Christians because that was the way they were living. Everything about their life was from the rule of life given by Jesus Christ. It was unmistakable the disciples in Antioch loved the Son of God.

Why were they called Christians? What brought about this label to be placed on this group of folk that met in Antioch? The world could see the disciples of Jesus Christ lived with the devotion of His character in life and this was in opposition to the pagan world around them. Rome was a powerful empire casting its influence all over the world. The central theme of Roman power was a hedonistic philosophy of the ‘me principle’ that vaunted the image of self above all other things. Pleasure was the god of the Romans and they dressed the part, spoke the language and bathed in its glory. In the midst of all of this self-indulgence were a group of people that did not look and act like the rest of the world. They were called Christians because they were not of this world of Roman pleasure.

If there is a lesson from the saints in Antioch, it is for the pleasure driven people of God to take account of where they find themselves. So often Christians today are hard to distinguish from the worldly pursuits of a pleasure driven world. History is a hard mistress that reincarnates herself every few generations as new and exciting when in reality it is the same tired harlot of Satan redressing herself in regal gowns of pleasure. The disciples of Jesus Christ dress like the world so much those who see them would not call them Christians. Immodesty is rampant among God’s people as they undress more and more and wear tighter and tighter clothing. Dresses are worn so short there is little thread left to the imagination. Shoulders, cleavage, backs and thighs are exposed with great pleasure as women of God let the world stare at their bodies. Men present themselves in the form of Atlas gods who worship the body glorifying the physique of manliness. The speech of those who would profess to be a Christian is filled with cursing, immorality, and sexual innuendo. Life is about fun, frolic, recreation, and making as much money as possible. Social drinking, pornography, pleasure and the worship of self are the old gods of a new world.

The disciples in Antioch were called Christians because that is what they were. They lived it, dressed like it, spoke like it and thought like it. We have taken the name Christian and made a label out of it instead of what it was intended to be – the spirit of a life. Vance Havner said, “God knows His own. It is well that He does, for sometimes it would be difficult for us to determine who are His! Heaven will surprise us both ways.” They were first called Christians in Antioch. We must live so that people will call us Christians. Otherwise, what are they going to call us?

Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.” (Leviticus 10:8-11)

How To Distinguish Between Holy And Unholy

As Moses writes the Law prescribing the commandments and statutes for the people, he outlines the conduct of those who would serve as priests in the ministry of serving the Lord. Aaron’s sons are consecrated as they take their place in the priestly ministry. Suddenly the text reveals the sin of Nadab and Abihu who offered profane fire before the Lord and were devoured by fire. The burnt corpse of the two sons of Aaron were carried outside the camp and God forbade Aaron from mourning his sons. The Lord speaks to Aaron commanding the priests to be subject to a strict law of abstinence from wine or intoxicating drink so they can distinguish between what is holy and unholy. It has been suggested what happened to Nadab and Abihu was they had been inebriated when presenting the offering and why God had struck them with fire.

The case of Nadab and Abihu highlights the command of the Lord for priests to refrain from any alcoholic beverage so they can distinguish between what is holy and what is not holy. Also, the Lord said the priests were to teach the children of Israel the commandments of the Lord as another reason to refrain from wine or intoxicating drink. This statute was to be enforced throughout all generations. The history of Israel shows this law was not kept as the priests became corrupt and immoral. Isaiah would later write the priest and the prophets erred through intoxicating drink and were swallowed up by wine. He said they erred in vision and stumbled in judgment with tables full of vomit and filth. Not exactly the image God had for those dedicated to Him.

God’s law for Israel has been done away with. The Law of Moses is obsolete and has no authority. However, the principles of the Law are preserved so the children of God in Christ can see the valuable lessons of yesterday. Every Christian is a spiritual priest serving the will of the Lord. If the Law of Moses prohibited the priests from wine and intoxicating drink so they may distinguish between what is holy and what is unholy, how does that change for the person who is seeking to live in close harmony with the blood of Jesus Christ today? Social drinking is as pleasing to God as social fornication. Christians who attempt to justify their use of alcohol as a social practice fly in the face of clear condemnation of the Lord in the examples of the Law of Moses. The alcoholic content of drinks today may vary from those in the days of Aaron but what part of the blood of Christ has changed wine and intoxicating drink to an acceptable ratio of alcohol?

Imagine for a moment a Christian sitting down to study the Bible with a glass of wine in their hands. How well is that going to go after a few glasses of the brew? A Bible study to teach a neighbor the gospel is arranged and as everyone sits down to examine the scriptures, cans of beer are passed around for refreshment. Children are called into the living room for a nightly Bible study and they watch mom and dad sip on their liquor while singing Jesus Loves Me. A father who says with breath reeking of beer, “Let’s say our prayers”, tucks a son into bed. A neighborhood gathering of adults is filled with wine and drink as the party goes late into the night and inhibitions are lost compromising relationships that end in heartbreak. And Christians – holy people, priest of God, consecrated souls – continue to justify social drinking. If the Lord struck down Nadab and Abihu because they had been drunk while offering sacrifices, it is a good thing the same result does not come today.

Those things that are holy belong to hearts that are holy. Consecrated souls are those who have removed themselves from the trappings of the world allowing no compromise in their spirit by spirits. Wine and intoxicating drink have no place in the service of God’s priests today as we serve the Lord of Lords in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. What is clean is made clean by those who seek the purity of God. After Nadab and Abihu were killed for their rebellion, Moses reprimanded his brother that those who come near the Lord God must be regarded as holy and before all people, the Lord God must be glorified. That has never changed and will never change.

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ “So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:1-10)

Teaching Children The Voice Of God

There is a moment in a new baby’s life that is magical for the parent. As newborns, the young child is discovering the world in many facets of expressions, experiences and reactions. They open their eyes soaking in the faces of their parents with eternal awe and wonder. What is most heart pleasing is when they hear the voice of their mother or father and they open their eyes seeking for that voice. And then they laugh or smile. The heart just about busts wide open. As the child grows, the voice is reassuring and comforting. This bonding is what secures the heart of the child to the parents and will form the basis of one of the most important relationships in life.

There is another moment in the child’s life that is more important than any and that is when the child recognizes the voice of God. This comes from the parent who instills the story of God and His Son in the heart of the child as they grow. Before a child can speak, they learn the music of the Bible as songs about the little boy David and good old Noah building an ark. Children learn that Jesus loves them because the Bible tells them so and there was a wee little man that climbed in a tree to see Jesus. The most important thing a parent can do for their children is to sit and read the Bible stories to them. Children need to learn what the voice of God sounds like so they can respond to His will.

Samuel would become one of the greatest prophets of Israel. He had been dedicated to the Lord by his parents serving with Eli the high priest. The Lord called to Samuel three times before Eli realized what was happening. During the time of Samuel’s childhood, the word of the Lord was rare and no widespread revelation was given. As he served with Eli, God called him but Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him. This sounds like many homes in the church today where the word of the Lord is rare and children do not know the Lord or the word of the Lord. Like Samuel, they are confused and restless. When the Lord calls, they do not know who He is. Finally, Eli knew it was the Lord calling Samuel and he tells the boy to say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.” The Lord did call again and Samuel responded he heard the voice of God. Parents must learn the need to teach children what the voice of God sounds like.

Children are sponges that soak in everything around them. We have filled their minds with technology where they know more how to fix a smart phone than adults. The generation of youth today is science savvy with all the modern conveniences of computers, applications, tablets and electronics. What is sadly lacking in many homes is the voice of God. This cannot come through an electronic gadget that sparkles and shines but taking time to listen and meditate on the mind of God. Parents must take the time to sit and read the word of God to their children from day one. Little babies may not respond by asking questions or look as if they are learning anything but like all the impressions we received as infants, the voice of God must become a familiar part of life. Parents mistakenly believe the Bible is only helpful when the child is able to read, communicate and drive a car; and by that time without any benefit of previous time spent with the Lord, they have little interest.

Teenagers who read the Bible learn that from the earliest of ages. Test your family traits: how often do your children read the Bible or speak about stories in the Bible? It may be as often as you do. It is important to know what reading, writing and arithmetic is but what about the stories of the Old Testament, the life of Jesus or the work of the New Testament church? A reminder that if you think your child is going to get all they need from less than two hours of church Bible class a week – you are making a serious mistake. This time is important but that leaves 166 hours where they are getting nothing. The home should be a bastion of God’s glory in the heart of the child so they will know the voice of God and say like Samuel, “Speak, for your servant hears.”