Posted by David on June 20, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Paul approached his death. Some Christians deserted him (1:15). Timothy, his “son in the faith,” would face hardships (2:3). He was concerned about Christians who reduced faithfulness to quarrelsome arguments about words (2:14). Such arguments ruined the listeners. He was concerned about Christians who were consumed by unspiritual, empty chatter (2:16). This kind of talk spread like gangrene. He was concerned about Christians who declared that the resurrection had come and gone (2:18). They were distressing the faith of some. He was concerned about Timothy (2:22,23). He wanted him to avoid ignorant speculations that generated quarrels.
It would seem that a concerned man facing death would sound the alarm. It would seem that he would urge “the faithful” to attack and destroy “the unfaithful.” “Evil days are upon us! Attack those who produce the threats and cause our anxiety!”
But Paul did not issue a call to destroy. Paul urged Timothy to cooperate with God’s rescue mission. How? As the Lord’s slave, he refused to quarrel. Instead, he was to be kind (not irate) and teach (not “lay the law down”). Be patient even when he was wronged! He would gently correct those in opposition.
The next insight is powerful! God is in charge of leading people to repentance. We do not possess the power to cause people to repent! The power of repentance is not found in our arguments, our logic, our “convincing” reasoning, or our powerful stands. God grants repentance by leading a person to a knowledge of the truth. We inform people, but God is in charge when the heart meets the truth.
When we are wrong–no matter who we are–we need to come to our senses (like the prodigal son did!). We need to escape the devil’s trap. Someone else cannot do that for us. We must understand the truth of our situation, come to our senses, and desire escape. We must realize that we are doing Satan’s will, not God’s will.
Jesus proved that God conquers through love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and teaching. Satan had Jesus killed, but Jesus conquered.
Posted by David on June 13, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
In early 1998, thirteen Christians were arrested, tried, and imprisoned in Laos for participating in a home Bible study. Monday, 1 year and 129 days later, the eight men who remained in prison were freed.
Have you read 1 Peter 4:14-16 recently? They were not murderers, thieves, evildoers, or troublesome meddlers. They dared be Christians in an unchristian society and nation. They were not ashamed to suffer for their faith in Christ.
Their faith and suffering glorified God–not just in their nation–but all over the world. We cannot estimate how many people worldwide heard of their faith in Christ. It would be impossible to estimate how many Christians were challenged by the faith demonstrated in their suffering.
Their arrest for meeting in a home to study scripture shocked us. Their imprisonment for engaging in activities declared to threaten their nation and society astounded us. Their example accomplished things that preaching and teaching cannot achieve.
We responded with deep concern, which was appropriate. Appeals to government officials were made, diplomatic pressure was applied, and petitions from worldwide sources respectfully requested their release. All of that was appropriate. Yet, we likely will never know the impact or effectiveness of these efforts. They certainly did not produced the prompt results we wanted.
If my understanding is correct, the most powerful influence at work was the men’s faith. Again, if my understanding is correct, the final initiative came from those in charge of the prison. They petitioned the government on behalf of the men.
While in prison, the men gained respect and trust. They were entrusted with services and given opportunities. They were allowed to care for tasks outside the prison. They recently even were permitted to enjoy a time of celebration with their families. And all this occurred in their country’s most notorious prison. Because of our efforts? No. Because of their faith. Does this remind you of Joseph?
As we earnestly prayed for their release (which we should have done!), God used their imprisonment to make a “faith statement” about Christ. I wonder if, as we prayed, God responded by saying, “I know what I am doing; I am at work.”
Read 1 Peter 3:13-18.
Posted by David on June 6, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
Identifying “the faithful” is a spiritually dangerous undertaking. Few spiritual objectives create such ideal circumstances for leading us into self-deception. It is easily transformed into the process of “including” and “excluding.” Always “I” am included.
“Identifying the faithful” was a dangerous undertaking in early Christianity. Acts 15 records an early Christian struggle to establish “the criteria” for determining “the faithful.” Some said “the faithful” submitted to Judaism’s circumcision ordinance and observed the law of Moses (verse 5). Others said God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to people who were not Jews disproved that circumcision and the law of Moses were marks of faithfulness (verses 7-11). The decision: recommend “the faithful” not eat food sacrificed to idols, or strangled animals (caught in a snare), or blood, and not to commit fornication (verses 19-21). Interestingly, Paul emphasized only one of those to Christians who were not Jews: do not commit fornication. His reasoning was not based on the Jerusalem decision (1 Corinthians 6:15-20).
Eating or refusing to eat food sacrificed to an idol was a frequently endorsed standard of “faithfulness.” It was an emotional issue. It was a complex issue. Converted, conservative Jews declared “the faithful” did not eat animals sacrificed to an idol (Acts 15:5). This violated the Jewish dietary code (Leviticus 7:22-27;11) and the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before [besides] me” (Exodus 20:3).
Former idol worshippers also declared Christians did not eat animals offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:7). To them, idols represented existing gods who opposed Christ. Christ represented the supreme God. The gods were worshipped by eating a sacrifice offered to them. Their conviction: eating such food denied Christ by honoring another god.
Knowledgeable converts correctly understood that food from any source had no spiritual meaning or significance (1 Timothy 4:1-5).
So, in this crucial matter, who were “the faithful”? Every Christian who honored his/her conscience, who refused to judge another Christian’s conscience, who understood that each Christian was the Lord’s servant [and that the Lord was able to make each stand], and who pursued peace (Romans 14) were “the faithful.” “The faithful” did not destroy another Christian’s faith or sin against weak Christians (I Corinthians 8).
The Master determines “the faithful.” He measures hearts. Servants cannot measure servants because they cannot measure hearts.
Posted by David on May 23, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
“Hear what coming?” “Summer! It is so close that you can hear it! Graduations! Lawn mowers! Weed eaters! Birds singing! Thunderstorms! Mosquitoes buzzing! Fore!”
Isn’t it amazing?! Only one collective sigh of rejoicing is greater than the sigh heard when summer arrives and school is out. It is the collective sigh of rejoicing when summer is over and school begins.
January’s resolutions are history. February’s good intentions are mere memories. March’s planning fell apart. April’s dreams are fuzzy. May’s ambitions are fading. Summer is here! And that means? Anything a person wants it to mean!
Have you noticed how easily mild June’s adventuresome ideas become hot August’s grueling slavery? “David, don’t distract us! Summer is coming! Time for recreation and ‘relaxed’ schedules!” And by August we all desperately search for relief from all “the fun we are having.” Oh, the agony of having to choose between rest and fun!
Which is the healthy philosophy? Philosophy one: “Nothing should interfere with our pursuit of fun!” Philosophy two: “Nothing should interfere with our relationship with God!” Which philosophy lives in your heart and mind? your family’s?
Healthy family fun times wonderfully bless family relationships (in any season). The togetherness benefits are real and important. While those benefits are genuine, they also are short term. Nurturing a living relationship with God also produces real, important blessings. These genuine benefits are eternal.
Summer creates some marvelous opportunities for spiritual family growth and for personal spiritual development. It also creates countless seasonal opportunities to assault and damage us spiritually. In all your summer activities, travels, and involvement, keep this simple objective: “When summer ends, my family and I will be spiritually stronger and more mature than when summer began.”
Many of our college aged adults will return home for the summer. We invite them to be a part of our young adult classes. They will “fit in” these groups well. On Sunday mornings I will teach “Building a Healthy Faith.” On Wednesday evening Buster Herren will direct a discussion based on “That the World May Know.”
Above all else, make this summer a time that brings you closer to God and Christ. Make Bible classes a family affair! Make Bible study and prayer a family affair!
Posted by David on May 16, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
Those devoted to God find joy in sharing insights. In conversation, Charles Wilson shared an insight that blessed me. May it also bless you.
Students of the Bible are familiar with the “two kingdom” concept. In our world the powerful forces of God and Satan are in conflict. God has His kingdom, and Satan has his. Each person’s life advances the purposes of God or the purposes of Satan.
The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan are not merely in conflict. The purposes of God and the purposes of Satan are in total conflict. The Bible always contrasts God and Satan’s purposes. It is the conflict between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death, or that which is eternal and that which decays.
Within us, this conflict is not resolved by affirming “whose side you are on.” At its heart, the conflict concerns purpose. Purpose is the central issue of life. What is the purpose of my life? my actions? my motives? my objectives? my goals? Do my purposes yield to God’s purposes or to Satan’s purposes? Does God or Satan define and determine my purposes?
Charles Wilson’s insight: the Bible speaks of two kingdoms, not three. There is not God’s kingdom, Satan’s kingdom, and a neutral kingdom. Committing to a third kingdom is not an option. It is impossible for “my” life to benefit neither God’s kingdom nor Satan’s kingdom.
Charles did not apply this insight to others. He said each Christian needs to apply it to self. Everything that occurs in my life benefits either the purposes of God or the purposes of Satan. Nothing that occurs in my life benefits neither God nor Satan.
As important as actions and deeds are, they are surface considerations. Spiritual maturity examines in depth my motives, intents, thoughts, desires, and emotions.
God and Satan are at war over spiritual purposes. Everything that occurs in my mind, my heart, and my deeds endorses the purposes of one or the other. Growing to godly maturity is more than labeling actions as good and evil and culling them accordingly.
Spiritual maturity is based on a mind that belongs to Christ and a heart that belongs to God. That mind and heart are devoted to God’s purposes–always. The real question always is, “Who benefits, God or Satan?”
Posted by David on May 9, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
When individuals are insignificant, slavery thrives. “What is good for people?” is rarely the determining issue. “Who has the power?” is the determining issue.
When the individual is supreme, anarchy thrives. “What is collectively good for all?” is rarely the determining issue. “What pleases me?” is the determining issue.
Both extremes share many things in common. Each declares to people, “You exist for my good.” Commonly, the first makes that statement to the individual. The person’s justification for existence is to “serve the controlling power.” Commonly, the second makes that statement to the controlling power. The controlling power’s justification for existence is to “serve the individual.” The fundamental difference is who serves whom.
Both extremes focus on desires and rights. The first focuses on the desires and rights of those who are the power. The second focuses on the desires of the individual.
Both are extremely selfish and self-centered. In its selfishness, the controlling power is basically concerned with sustaining and advancing itself. In his or her selfishness, the individual is basically concerned with protecting and advancing “my rights.”
An irresponsible, self-centered controlling power is capable of abusing individuals in unthinkable ways. An irresponsible, self-centered individual is capable of abusing society and others in unthinkable ways.
When a controlling power believes that nothing is more important than itself, its natural tendency is to be arrogant, unconcerned about people, exploiting, and abusive. When the individual believes that nothing is more important than “I am,” his or her natural tendency is to be arrogant, unconcerned about people, exploiting, and abusive.
In either case, people suffer. In either case, society suffers. In either case, hearts grow cold and hard, as minds grow arrogant and defiant.
Many values are found through accepting the living God’s existence, placing faith in God, and sustaining relationship with God. Just one is a blessing defying description when controlling human powers and individuals realize, “Something IS bigger than me.” The more we accept accountability and responsibility, the more people are blessed.
Posted by David on May 2, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
“Oh, that we could return to the times when things were simple!” When were those times? In the days of the “great war” which was fought to permanently end the possibility of war? Or the second world war fought after the war to end all wars? Was it the decade when our troops returned home to an economy that could not absorb so much manpower? Was this time during those days when a war time economy struggled to return to peace time enterprises? Were those the times of the “Korean Police Action” or the “Vietnam Conflict”?
Were those the times of the “speak easy” era? prohibition? the escapades of people like Al Capone or Bonnie and Clyde? The times of the “great dust bowl”? The times prior to Social Security or Medicare? Maybe the times when “the smoke-filled room” controlled political parties and elections? Maybe the social upheavals of the 60’s?
The “times when things were simple” exist only in “selective memory.” They are illusions that appear in the rear view mirrors of the “complicated now.” As each generation ages, it looks back to “a simpler time” when things were not so complex and life was not so demanding. However, our backward glances suffer from a perpetual illness. Backward glances “see” from the pleasant light of “glowing memories.” Those memories commonly focus on the “good experiences” (often exaggerated) as the person refuses to recall “bad” realities.
As history marches on, as civilization expands, as one age fades and another emerges, human existence becomes increasingly complex. As peoples become nations and nations become a global community, human existence becomes increasingly complex. As societies develop and fragment, human existence becomes increasingly complex.
Most Americans have only a small taste of how radical “progressive changes” can be. In the early 1970s I talked to an elderly African man who had met the first “white man” to set foot in his region. He was also fully aware of the first man to set foot on the moon. Can you imagine a person being exposed to that much transition in his life span?
Only one eternal constant exists in our complex world: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yes and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The ages will never be too complex for Jesus to rescue and sustain. Understanding Jesus will enable any generation to cope with and survive its age.
Posted by David on April 25, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
I pray about numerous things regularly. One prayer focuses on my teaching and preaching. It is simple. “God, direct my growth in understanding Your purposes. Guide me as I seek to address the needs of Your people effectively.”
As years of teaching pass, my awe of God, the Christ, and the Spirit mushrooms. The effect of years of studying and teaching touches my heart and mind in countless ways. The more I learn, the more I see my ignorance. The more I understand, the more I know that the eternal God exceeds human comprehension. The deeper my insights grow, the more I realize how shallow they are.
Each time that I am privileged to teach or share a sermon, some realizations flood my heart and mind. The objective is not to bring people “to my level of knowledge” (whatever that means). That objective is unworthy of the eternal purposes of God. The objective is not to get people to agree with me. That objective is blind to the war between God and Satan. The objective is not to impress people. That deceitful objective embraces the evil of Matthew 6:1. The objective is not personal gratification and fulfillment. That objective accomplishes Satan’s purposes, not God’s.
I prayerfully remind myself that my objective is to bring people closer to God by better understanding Jesus Christ.
What do I see from the pulpit? I see: levels of knowledge that run from outright ignorance to well informed; an indescribable mixture of opinions and conclusions; a huge variety of spiritual (and not so spiritual) concepts; contradictory value systems with little in common; insights as different as night and day; and maturity levels that run from helpless infants to those who are wise in their understanding of God.
How can I begin to address the spiritual needs produced by these realities in a single lesson of 30 minutes? I cannot — not in a month, a year, or a decade of sermons.
In the near future we will use differing formats of worship and study on Sunday evenings. The objective will be to address many different spiritual needs in a variety of formats.
Hopefully, this week we can begin projecting the praise songs in the Sunday morning assembly. The numbers will be projected so that you may use the book or the screen.
Posted by David on April 18, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
Arrogant, pride-filled, nearsighted humanity has a problem with “needing God.” True enough, humanity always has had “gods” in abundance. We have gods we feared; gods who served us; gods who were angry with us; gods who punished us; gods who used us for their own amusement. Paul once observed that the Greeks erected an altar to the “unknown god” in their fear of overlooking a god (Acts 17:23). Some suggest that gods are a human creation to fulfill a human need. That suggestion may reflect a degree of truth. Often gods were (are) created to explain the unknown.
Virtually all peoples worship and reverence something. (Rare exceptions exist.) While the god worshipped varies, at least one discernible thread is woven through the fabric of most concepts of deity. Humanity says that it fears, is dependent on, and can be punished by the gods. That is not the thread.
This is the discernible thread. In the final analysis, the gods owe their existence and survival to humanity. The gods exist only when humanity remembers them and chooses to serve them.
Repeatedly, Old Testament writings contrasted the living, creator God who chose Israel with gods worshipped by other peoples (and too often by Israel!). One contrast was fundamental. The living, creator God did not depend on humanity for existence. Israel did not feed Him, preserve Him, protect Him, or give Him life. When they forgot Him, He lived and acted. When they deserted Him, He lived and acted. When the temple was left to ruin, He lived and acted. And His actions proved that He was alive!
This living, creator God sent us Jesus. He saves us. Though humanity does its worst, our worst cannot destroy His love, exceed His mercy, “out need” His grace, or generate wickedness that is beyond His forgiveness. No matter what we do, He lives and acts.
We are powerless to destroy Him. He was before we were. He will be after we are not. Yet, we can do something horrible to the living, creator God. In our minds and hearts we can remake Him. We can make “a god” out of “The God.” Each time our concepts make God depend on us instead of our depending on God, we are guilty. That is when we made “a god” out of “The God.”
Too much of “our religion” exists to defend a god that we made. Too little of our Christianity surrenders to the living, creator God to allow Him to remake us.
Posted by David on April 11, 1999 under Bulletin Articles
In recent months sad events and sad news have bombarded us. So many critical illnesses! So many deaths in families! So many deaths of members! So many were in intensive care that it seemed we could rent our own wing.
Last week the bombardment intensified. Wednesday Mary Burkett drove to Searcy for a doctor’s appointment to determine the source of headaches. Immediately there was emergency surgery for an aneurysm. Thursday night Brad Pistole suffered a seizure. Tests revealed a sizable brain tumor located behind his eye. Tuesday morning, Bill Flippo had a CAT scan which revealed three brain tumors.
We are in shock, but we also rejoice. John Fowler worshipped with us Sunday. His recovery from an extremely serious heart attack is progressing well. Stan Spainhour is able to worship with us again. His battle with a brain tumor is an inspiration. Mary Burkett returned home Monday. In over 95% of occurrences, the type of tumor Brad Pistole has is benign.
We tend to think of God’s purposes in terms of physical life. We tend to believe that physical needs are our most important needs. We tend to regard Christianity to be an “insurance policy” to protect us from the physically undesirable. We tend to think that God’s priority for us personally is centered in physical well being.
God and Satan are locked in a “war of no surrender.” When Jesus died, God defeated Satan. Though defeated, Satan is not yet imprisoned. He is enraged! He hates God! He hates those who belong to God! Satan is determined to cause God pain in the only way he can–by causing people pain and distress.
God uses the physical distress of His people to achieve His eternal purposes. God’s promises to us and plans for us far exceed physical well-being. It is incredible that GOD would call us His children! We cannot see what He plans for us (1 John 3:1, 2).
Our real struggle is not against the physical. It is against powers, the world forces of this darkness, and the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
Satan can hurt us physically, but he cannot destroy us spiritually. That is not within his power. As we grieve and suffer, never forget that physical sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the eternal glory God has for us (Romans 8:18).
