The Heaton File

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off. Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; and I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. Thus I am like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no response. For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.” For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; and those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. Those also who render evil for good, they are my adversaries, because I follow what is good. Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! (Psalm 38) A Psalm of David. To Bring to Remembrance.

Hope In Difficult Times

The psalms are refreshing to read because they describe so many things in our lives. There are psalms of praise in the wonderful blessings of life and creation. Often the psalmists declare the grandeur of the Lord and how remarkable the grace of God is given to man. There are a few psalms that are a little difficult to read because they share a message of justice. One of the things about the book of Psalms is how it relates to everyday living. In our study for today it seems David is experiencing some very difficult challenges in life regarding his health. We may not realize how often in the Bible the Lord understands our suffering on a personal level and how He tells us to keep the faith in the midst of this kind of toil.

Temptation comes in many forms. Illness and disease is just a potent form of temptation as any other challenge to our faith. The book of Job is a test of faith for a man who lost so much struggling to keep his head above water. David faces a great challenge to his faith but with a sincere hope that God will not fail him. Read the text again and see how vivid David describes his suffering. Then he writes, “Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You.” Remarkable. He does not look at disease as a malady of the flesh without knowing that God loves him and cares for him. The Lord has not left him alone. The ravage of his illness does not diminish his trust in His Creator.

Hope is lost sometimes in the face of disease. One of the cruelest side effects of what the body can do is to destroy faith in God. David understood that life was fleeting and the body flesh. He was not enjoying what was happening to him but he understood that it would all go away one day. It was clear that his faith remained true to the Lord because that was the only hope there was. There were times when his foot slipped and his sorrow got the best of him. The Lord understands that we are flesh. David implores the Lord to stay close to him and help him.

I know that in writing these words there is a disconnect to the real feeling of suffering in the flesh. It is easy to speak of being strong under the weight of a diseased body while not suffering the same. There is a humble spirit of thanksgiving offered to those who endure daily challenges. I pray that when I face the same I will have the faith of David. There are many I know personally that I admire for their courage to face illness with a view of faith that I am not sure I could have. Thank you David for your example and thank those of you who stand for the Lord in bodies wracked with pain and suffering. The day is coming when our God will wipe away all of our tears. Live for that day.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (The apostle Paul)

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:1-4)

Spreading The Word

One of the key ingredients to successful evangelism is the united efforts of every Christian to sow the seed. When Saul began persecuting the church it tells us “they” were scattered and “they” were teaching the word to lost souls. The church of the New Testament did not grow because of the efforts of a few but the work of the many. They understood through the efforts of everyone doing their part the church would turn the world upside down.

In Paris a bridge is nearly collapsing because of over 700,000 padlocks are attached to its railings. The weight of the locks is not because of the first couple that placed the padlock on the bridge. It was the efforts of all those that followed that combined in their passion for romance that now endangers the bridge. One of the metal grilles has already fallen into the Seine River. There is a lesson in what can be done when there is unity of purpose. Imagine how much the local congregation would grow if one person brought one person to Christ this year. Just one. Not many, not a few, not the whole world – just one. Got that number. Now take 25 people in the local congregation who decide to bring one person to Christ this year – only one. Did you go get your calculator? You will need it in a minute.

Write down the number of folk in the local congregation you are a part of. Divide it by three. No. Divine it by four. The hope is that 25% of a congregation will be serious about saving souls. Now do the math. If one person brought one person per year to Christ where would you be in one / five / ten / 20 years? Are you sitting down now? You might need a drink of water.

I know that math is not the formula for saving lost souls. Numbers do mean something or the Lord would not have told us how many people obeyed the gospel in the book of Acts. What this means is the power to convince people what should be done in the local work of God. We have gone too long complacent with the status quo of how things are without any serious desire to grow the church through evangelism. Just think what ONE can do when ALL are doing the work like the ONE!!!

We are not trying to take down a bridge in Paris. We are trying to take down the world! It is possible to do so much more than we are doing. Time is running out. Let’s be busy about the ONE this year and give God the glory for the harvest of souls.

The world will not be Christianized but should be evangelized. (Vance Havner)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. (Psalm 111)

Praise In Four Part Harmony

Today is a day of worship. As people of God we gather on this day to celebrate and commemorate the wonderful grace of God. When we sing our hymns today in four-part harmony, let us remember why we have assembled.

• The SOPRANO part of our praise is simply that – Praise the LORD! Today is a day we give our whole heart to praise Him with all the saints who gather to worship. There is joy in being part of the congregation of the holy elect. Beloved. Praise the Lord.

• The ALTO part of our praise exalts the works of the Lord. We stand in wonder at His majesty declared by His works. There is beauty with design when we see God’s hand in this word. Opening the word of God we find righteousness filling the pages of His grace. His compassion flows as a gentle stream throughout the message of redemption. Praise the Lord.

• The TENOR part of our praise is thankful for His kind provisions. How can we ever repay the Lord for His providential care of us? He remembers the covenants He has made with His people and how He will never leave them. We see His power. We witness His presence in our lives. Praise the Lord.

• The BASS part of our praise deepens to the knowledge of who He is – Holy and Awesome. Through the tones of majesty the Lord shines forth as the eternal wisdom revealed to man. Honor and praise fill our hearts in honor of our God. Praise the Lord.

Let today be a day of preparation. Set your mind and hearts on what today means. Enjoy the fellowship of saints lifting their voices to Him who loved us and gave us His Son. Reflect on the sacrifice of His Son who died for us. Anxiously long for His return to take us home to be with Him. Then we can PRAISE the Lord throughout eternity. Praise the Lord. Lord come quickly.

We preach not one advent only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the former. For the former gave to view His patience but the latter brings with it the Crown of the divine kingdom. (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 350)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:5-12)

You Don’t Mess With Paul

The age of miracles must have been one of the most amazing times to be a part of. Witnessing all manner of sickness being healed, lame given the blessing of walking, blind are made to see and then there is the whole raising people from the dead thing. Wow. What a rush to see the power of God working among the people. But then you realize this is not so much about the miracle you witness but the words you hear.

Some men come into town and preach a strange message of a crucified savior and you are not sure what to make of the whole thing. Growing up as an idol worshipper it just seems like another weird group of folk trying to get people to follow them. As you listen the inflammation you suffer from begins to flare up and you wince in pain. The man from out of town comes up, puts his hand on your shoulder and the pain disappears. Okay this is just amazing. It is then you understand the meaning of the words about Jesus of Nazareth and you are a believer.

There is another story that does not turn out so good for one man. You have made a lot of money fooling the proconsul of the area with your magic and conjuring. A bunch of men come to town and your boss likes to hear what they have to say. He is an intelligent man and you know your job is on the line. Having called for these men you know you have to do a lot of things quick to keep your job. Time and time again you tell your boss what worthless men these are and he should not believe them. You insist these men are charlatans (ironic) and he should dismiss them immediately. In fact you have done a good job of fouling up what these two men have tried to say. And then it happens. Yep – you cannot believe what happens.

As you argue and try your hardest to keep your job all of sudden one of those men stand up with eyes blazing calls you a ‘son of the devil’ and immediately you can’t see. Blackness falls on you. What just happened? Ouch. You run into the wall. People scatter to get out of your way. You grope and try to find your way but you can’t see anything but darkness. Words fail you. You cry out. No one comes to your rescue. Your boss does not throw the foreigners out but rather ask them what to do to be saved. Your world has just been turned upside down in blackness.

I find it interesting Luke calls Sergius Paulus an “intelligent man.” But the real worth of Sergius’ wisdom comes because he sees the power of the gospel manifested in the power of the miracle he witnessed. The word of salvation must be true if men have that kind of power. He becomes a believer. I have to wonder what became of Elymas? What did he think when he got his sight back? Did he also become a believer? It is just as possible he did not because miracles did not convince everyone there was one true God. This is one great story. You do not mess with the apostle Paul because he could call you a son of the devil and then ….

It is not really a question of what a man is made to believe but of what he must believe; what he cannot help believing. (G. K. Chesterton, The Catholic Church and Conversion, 1926)

The Demise Of Sunday Night

It is with great trepidation that I step into the spiritual coliseum of tradition and practice but a mist rolls over the hills of today that threaten the roots of the Lord’s church in America. We have long held traditions that were created to facilitate a need in allowing folk to worship as a body on numerous occasions during the week. My generation is familiar with the three sessions on Sunday of Bible class, worship followed by an evening worship. A mid-week Bible study usually was engaged on Wednesday night. The practices were edifying for the local church and seemed a good fit for the day. This was not based on a particular pattern of the New Testament church as no indication is given to the form of first day activities in the First Century. Luke alludes to the church in Jerusalem continuing “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Whether they did that all day long, three sessions or more or less on the first day is not known.

Forward to modern day America. We live in a prosperous nation that has more comforts and ease than most civilizations could imagine since time began. There are more opportunities in America with ease of transportation, comfort of environment, tools to help the declaration of God’s word and a host of conveniences afforded in every church building. In the face of all these grandiose achievements a wind blows quietly through the ranks of the Army of God to do less. Sunday evening services are being cancelled, gospel meetings are getting shorter and interest in extra studies are dwindling.

Let me be quite clear and understood with great clarity. Nothing in scripture demands we meet for Bible class on Sunday morning, have a morning worship followed by an evening worship. This is as much an American invention as anything and it has served a good purpose. The ‘Demise of Sunday Night’ is not a critical article of churches that have dismissed the Sunday night service for a more favorable work on the first day of the week.  A number of places are finding growth and a spiritual awakening in the efforts they are putting forth for Sunday night. But it should also be clear that great effort is being extended to facilitate the work of the church in these places because of leadership and willingness by brethren to make it work. God be thanked for these efforts.

However, there is a trend among congregations that are following the novel idea of having one service on Sunday for the simple reason of enjoying having one service on Sunday. It is not based on evangelism but for personal reasons. There seems to be a mixed-up cry of wanting to be like the New Testament church when in fact the New Testament church would love to be able to have the opportunities we have today. The motto is based upon doing less instead of more.

There are two issues I believe must be recognized at the heart of this new trend. First, we no longer live in a nuclear society where everyone knows everyone. With modern transportation we drive further to worship and often the only time we see our brethren is when we assemble for worship or Bible study. A friend said the one thing she missed about the church she attended dismissing Sunday night services was fellowship with her brethren. The writer of Hebrews wanted to encourage the brethren when he wrote, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). When we decide to cancel Sunday night services how are we supposed to stir one another up and exhort one another? It is noted that some congregations are doing something to impact this need. But many churches are doing less. It would seem the idea is that we are to grow by seeing one another less. The litmus test should be whether meeting less helps the congregation grow.

The second issue with cancelling Sunday night services is the question of the building. Hundreds of thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent in building fine places to meet but now we want to meet in them less? If we are to be proper stewards of the Lord’s money, why do we build these buildings that stand idle most of the week? Would it not be best to sell the building and rent a store front so the money wasted in building an edifice and paying for its upkeep two hours or less a week could be spent for a more profitable use for the Lord? Darkened windows tell the community a message. In reality the building should be used more instead of less! Most places are very comfortable and readily available for more activities of the church to be engaged in evangelism and fellowship. But then that brings up a deeper issue that is often at the heart of the demise of services for worship and Bible study. Life is busy and I don’t have more time to invest with my brethren.

Brethren (men) in Nicaragua will gather on a second story walk-way under a single bulb to hear the gospel preached and have no chairs to sit in. The women got to go into the room with chairs. In South Africa brethren conduct lengthy services under trees, tin shacks, rambling buildings with no running water or bathrooms; and no air conditioning. And we complain about what? And we want to do less? Is it time for God to take the gospel away from us and give it back to a people who truly have found the pearl of great price? The psalmist declared, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day … Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness. The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalms 119:97, 159-160).

We have the greatest opportunities to do more with the gospel than any disciple in two thousand years. And yet we find ourselves on the brink of changing gears to take away more time with one another, less time devoted to singing together as a body of people, praying together as an army of God’s Kingdom, engaging in devoted study of the word of God; “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ–from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:14-16).

I will affirm again that having a Sunday night service is not based upon a scriptural pattern of authority as necessary. In reality the issue is not about the demise of Sunday night. It may very well be the demise of the spiritual life that seems to pervade the spirit of the church of Christ in the United States of America. We are soft. Vance Havner said, “The early church did something because it believed something. We are trying to do what they did without believing what they believed.” The early disciples gathered “daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42). When persecuted they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). When Paul was in Troas “on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7). And we call ourselves the New Testament church?

God be thanked for shepherds of local congregations who are seeking to lead their flock into deeper spiritual pastures. Men who understand the needs of the flock of God and feeding them the manna from above endeavoring to build up the church in the most holy faith. How blessed to have hearts of brethren who love to study together, sing together, pray together and bring lost souls to Christ. We need to fall in love with Jesus Christ all over again and not be as the church at Ephesus that lost its first love (Revelation 2:4). A revival of spiritual awakening must rise up in our midst to fulfill the mission of what Jesus died for. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

(Published in Biblical Insights, May 2015)

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11).

Rubbish For Reward

To say that Paul was an amazing person is an understatement. He gave up so much to be a disciple of Christ and he had a good attitude about what he had lost compared to what he had gained. He was among the elite of his day: powerful, influential, wealthy, bright and a future all Jewish boys dream of (Philippians 3:5-6). But it was all rubbish (refuse, dung, “what is thrown to the dogs”) to him now. He traded it all for the “excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”

THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST – Paul had gained everything in life but now it was garbage to him compared to what he wanted to gain in Christ. He knew the things found in Christ were of far greater value than anything this world had to offer. Are we seeking to gain Christ in our lives or do we continue to seek after the accolades of this world and the buying of worldly stuff that fill our lives with worthless pursuits? His only gain in life was to possess Jesus Christ in every way.

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM – Paul wanted to know everything about Jesus Christ that was within the power of man to know. Who was this man from Nazareth, why did He live like He did, what did He teach, how could He die for man? How much do we really know about Jesus? Do we understand His life in context of what He did for us? We can know a lot about our favorite sports team, culinary arts, woodworking, political ideals, and a host of knowledge that is helpful for a little but how much more to know about the life of Jesus, the message of His resurrection and “the fellowship of his sufferings.”

I MAY ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD – Paul lived his life daily to gain Christ and to know all he could about the Son of God so that he could die in the promise of the resurrection. Salvation was not a chance with the apostle – it was a reality (2 Timothy 4:6-8). The trappings of this world meant nothing to Paul because he lived to see Jesus face to face. Live today to gain Christ.

He [Christ] bent over the corpse of the dead world, and whispered a word of faith … uttered words then unknown, – love sacrifice, a heavenly origin. And the dead arose. A new life circulated through the clay, which philosophy had tried in vain to reanimate. (Joseph Mazzini, Essays, 1887)

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. (Psalm 9:17-20)

The Nation That Forgets God

Daniel Webster wrote, “I sought for the greatness of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers and it was not there. In her fertile fields and boundless prairies and it was not there. In her rich mines and her vast world commerce and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and her power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good – America will cease to be great. [Reagan, Ronald (2011-05-10). The Notes: Ronald Reagan’s Private Collection of Stories and Wisdom (pp. 78-79). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.]

The wise man explains in Proverbs 14:34 the only way a nation will be exalted is by righteousness. Turning away from the one true God is the sure destruction for any nation. There was a time in our country when the idea of trusting in God was more than just a monogram on a seal or logo on our money. It was an ideal that fueled our leadership, our communities and our homes. Religion was a valued asset of making these United States a commonwealth of morality rooted in the Bible. Those days are gone. It is more frequent to hear ridicule for the Bible than respect. Righteousness is almost against the law.

History is a foretelling of the future. What man has never learned is that if he wants to know what tomorrow will bring – he has but to view the pages of yesterday. The insipid wisdom of man will not learn from nations who have tried to live by their own moral code. Every (emphasis here) nation that turns away from God will fall because every nation that turned away from God does not exist today. And we think we are so special. We are not. When it is all said and done and the glorious American way has gone to depths of depravity it will fulfill the promise of the Lord that we are but men. God reigns; man dies.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. (Jeremiah 18:1-10)

Because we [Americans] are out of the will of God we have lost the will to do right. (Billy Graham, Sermon, New York, May, 1957)

Test Everything

The separating and purifying of precious metals from other metals is called refining. Smelting is the separation of precious metal from non-metallic impurities. For centuries man has known how to use fire to test and refine metals to become as strong as possible. In this context Paul urges the people of God to prove all things making certain what is being taught is the true word of God. “Test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

One of the greatest tools in the pursuit of knowledge is asking questions. Inquiring minds thirst for more understanding of the why to a thing. Great discoveries are fueled by challenging what is being said and this is no less important to the word of God. Man has always needed to examine the word of God in light of his own life as testing metal by fire. Proving everything is measured by the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). As with some metals impurities can be present and must be removed. Only by careful testing can we know the word spoken or taught is from the true word of God.

Would you feel safe flying in an airplane with untested metals? The automobile would be a very dangerous machine if the parts were untested. Houses would be death traps if the structure was untested. There can be no less concern for the word spoken to be tested by the word of God. The Bereans had a greater sense of this idea than the people of Thessalonica because they examined the words of the apostles daily to find out if what they were teaching was true (Acts 17:11).

Testing or proving everything helps us grow in the knowledge of truth ourselves. If you wanted to know how a computer works you could disassemble each part examining how it fits in the schematic of the machine. The more we examine the scriptures the more we begin to see the diagram of truth embedded throughout the Bible. A theme beings take shape and we have a clearer view of what the word teaches.

A growing concern in the church of the Lord today is how often people are unable to find things in scripture. Growing up in Bible class knowing the books of the Bible was imperative. As adults we should never have a problem finding the book of Micah or Habakkuk or the easy ones like Genesis or Matthew. Testing everything cannot be done if we do not know how to perform the test. Having a familiarity of the Bible is necessary to perform the test.

The reason that apostasy creeps in to the church is because of the lack of testing the truth. This comes about by those who are unable to find the scriptures that establish authority. Why is instrumental music becoming more common in the churches of Christ today? Lack of testers! Inability of those who are told by the leadership it would be a “good” thing  to prove it wrong; although no scripture in the last two thousand years has ever authorized it. Testing everything keeps the church pure.

Here is a test: can you find every book of the Bible with tabs or electronic assistance? Are you able to show someone what to do to be saved by a few simple passages? Have we come to the point in the history of the church that we believe the Bible has become so scholarly we are unable to discern its truths? The Ephesians were no more smarter than you and I yet Paul writes to them, “How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4). Testing requires time and effort. The more time you spend and the more effort you put forth the easier it will be to test everything.

Here is a real test: how often during a sermon do you have your Bible open to read passages being taught? What truth can you find in passages like Hezekiah 4:3-6 that will help you in your life as a person of God? The more you test yourselves with the word of God the stronger you will be in every part of life. The sermons will mean more, your prayers will gain a deeper appreciation in your life and your hope will be brighter because you understand the will of God.

Test everything. Don’t let anything go by without a test. Strength comes from the testing by fire. Knowledge is power. It will change your life in so many ways. Fill your heart with the word of God and He will guide you in every way. Finally, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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” (Colossians 3:16-17).

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? (Luke 9:25)

The Doctrine Of Lost

Vance Havner commented, “I remember when the Titanic sank in 1912, it was the ship that was supposed to be unsinkable. The only thing it ever did was sink. When it took off from England, all kinds of passengers were aboard – millionaires, celebrities, people of moderate means, and poor folks down in the steerage. But a few hours later when they put the list in the Cunard office in New York, it carried only two categories – lost and saved. Grim tragedy had leveled all distinctions.”

Lost. You don’t hear that word much anymore. Jesus told His followers in the sermon on the mountain the majority of people will be lost but it seems the world believes that almost everyone will be saved. It doesn’t matter what you believe, how you live, what you do or not do or anything; everyone goes to Heaven (even dogs as some believe). I guess it is hard to accept anyone could be …. that word …. lost. Is it possible God will really not let everyone in?

One of the most famous passages in the Bible is John 3:16. Jesus said that God’s love was so great that He sent His only Son and those who believed in Him would not …. that word again (different form) …. perish. People who perish are lost. They will not receive everlasting life. No. Not going to Heaven. As a matter of fact the Lord described this LOST thing as everlasting fire or punishment. Lost. Not saved!

There are six billion people on this planet and among these six billion mortals are two kinds of folk: lost and saved. Lots of languages, nations, cultures, histories, etc. but only lost and saved people. Which are you? Don’t answer that question unless you can prove it from the word of God. Lost? Saved?

“The reason you don’t like the Bible, you old sinner, is because it knows all about you.”

(Billy Sunday)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30)

Oh You Of Little Faith

Four times in the gospel of Matthew Jesus says, “Oh you of little faith.” The occasions of these four times teach valuable lessons of trust, power, faith and spiritual understanding.

One: Matthew 6:30. In the sermon on the mount Jesus outlines the preamble to being a disciple of Christ. He exhorts His followers to know that God will take care of them. “Take no thought for your life” is the theme of His message in Matthew 6:25-34 that as God takes care of the fowls of the air or the lilies of the field, so He will take care of us. If God will take such good care of fowls and flowers, will He not take better care of us? Do not allow the worries of this life to overwhelm you. Trust in God that He will provide.

Two: The disciples are with Jesus in a boat when a great storm arose on the sea. The twelve thought they were going to die and pleaded with Jesus to save them. Seeing the power of Jesus in miracles, why would these men fear the perils of nature when the Son of God is with them? “But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26). There are storms that come in our lives that cause us to fear. If Jesus Christ is our Savior why should we fear? Through the power of His Father and the Holy Spirit we can overcome all storms. God will take care of us.

Three: After feeding the 5,000 the disciples again enter a ship to cross over to the other side. Jesus comes walking to them on the water and Peter implores the Lord to let him walk to Him on the water. Simon shows great courage to step out of the boat but when he sees the waves and winds he becomes afraid. Beginning to sink he cries out to the Lord to save him. “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:31). Peter began with great courage but lacked the faith to keep his eyes on Jesus. We have great faith but sometimes the trials of life take our eyes off of Jesus and we begin to sink. Turn your eyes of faith back to Jesus and trust that with His help you can walk on water.

Four: Matthew 15:32-39 records the feeding of the 4,000 and Jesus coming to the coast of Magdala. His disciples follow but forget to bring bread. Jesus warns his disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (who had previously tempted Jesus to show them a sign) and the disciples thought He was mad at them for not bringing any bread. “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?’” (Matthew 16:8). He wanted the disciples to beware of the “doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12). Sometimes we do not see passages clearly because we are thinking of carnal things instead of spiritual lessons. Pray to the Father to grant spiritual understanding to desire the true manna and see the deeper meaning of scripture.

Faith is a process that should grow every day. May we pray, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

Faith means being grasped by a power that is greater than we are, a power that shakes us and turns us, and transforms and heals us. Surrender to this power is faith. (Paul Tillich, The New Being, 1955)