Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Since the time man was created God has cared about marriage and the home. In Genesis 2:18 the Bible tells us when God looked at His creation he saw that it was not good for man to be alone and he created a “help meet” for him, the woman. Just a few verses later in the narrative God gives the first command on marriage that we have used as our text.

I think this story in the account of creation answers our question immediately.  Once God had created man and woman, Adam and Eve, he then brought them together and as Jesus stated in Matthew 19:4-5, And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Certainly God has shown from the beginning his concern for marriage and the home. Seeing that is the case, we will turn our attention today to Does God STILL Care Who We Marry?  To try to answer this question I want to look at what the Bible says about marriage in each dispensation of time, and then make some quick applications to us today. I would also direct you to Randy Cantrell’s article “Picking A Spouse” for more practical applications for the Christian.

Marriage in the Patriarchal Age

We have already noted Gods plan for marriage that first given in the Garden of Eden, and it doesn’t take long for us to read of another reference to marriage. In the 6^th chapter of Genesis the Bible tells us that the sons of God took wives of all which they chose (verse 2), and the result was, “that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (verse 5). This wickedness grieved God at his heart, and he repented of even creating man (verse 6), all because man had decided to go out and marry whom he would.  The response to this wickedness was the Genesis flood in which all of mankind except 8 souls (Noah and his family) was destroyed. Note in verse 9 of Genesis 6 that God says of Noah that he was, “perfect in his generations.” Albert Barnes says Noah was, “…distinguished from his contemporaries who were the offspring of promiscuous intermarriage between the godly and the ungodly.” God was certainly concerned about who His people married in the Patriarchal Age.

We continue to see this principle in Genesis 24:1-8 where Abraham made his servant swear to go to his own country to choose a wife for Isaac. We see it again in Genesis 28 when Isaac sent Jacob to his own people to find a wife.  The principle of God’s people marrying only God’s people, and to keep themselves pure from the rest of the world is evident in the Patriarchal Age.

Marriage in the Mosaic Dispensation

God’s command to His people under the Law of Moses about marriage is pretty plain.

Deuteronomy 7:3-6, Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (KJV)

God’s people were not to intermarry with the nations around them. The reason for this was two-fold. First, the children of Israel would be turned away from serving God. Second, and maybe more importantly, a pure bloodline had to be kept for the Messiah to come through.  According to Deuteronomy 18:18 the Messiah was to come through the children of Israel and so they had to remain a distinct or separate people.

Just a couple of other places where the teaching of the Mosaic Law on marriage can be found are Exodus 34:12-16, Joshua 23:11-13, Nehemiah 13:23-27, and Ezra Chapters 9 and 10.  Also for your reference we find specific teachings for priests and marriage in Leviticus 21:14 and Ezekiel 44:22.

Marriage in the New Testament Dispensation

I want to begin this section with a quick observation that was made by Wayne McKamie in a study on Modest Apparel several years ago.  Brother McKamie said, “I realize that what I quoted to you in Deuteronomy 22 —  that’s the Old Testament. But, I just want to raise this one question, as long as I can remember, we talk about the Patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the Christian age. Has God ever lowered a standard?  People, he has raised a lot of them!  But, has He ever decided that something that was an absolute disgust, highly detestable, then there would come an age in which that thing doesn’t make any difference to Him…  that it’s all right now?”  And that begins to answer our question today.  God has legislated who His people are to marry in the Patriarchal Age, and in the Mosaic Age, has he now lowered the standard to where it doesn’t make any difference in the Christian Age?

In 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 we find this, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.(KJV)

R.C.H. Lenski says in his commentary on 2 Corinthians that this idea of being unequally yoked, “is conative in this connection: do not try, do not ever incline or begin to be so yoked up.” I think that it is plain that God does not want His children to even BEGIN this type of relationship. I think young people must carefully weigh this when they are considering their dating habits as well.  Do not even begin to be yoked in this way.

I want to touch on a couple of more passages very quickly. In 1 Corinthian 9:5 Paul writes, “Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”  In this passage Paul certainly limits himself to having a wife that is a believer.

In 1 Corinthians  7:39 Paul writes again, The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.(KJV)  The widow here was bound to be married only to a believer.

Conclusion

The matter seems plain to me. God has always cared who his people marry. So, from our study, who are God’s people to marry? In the Genesis 2 record we find that a man is to marry a woman. That would seem to be self evident, but in the time we live in today with Gay Marriage becoming more prevalent it must be discussed. In the record of Genesis 6, Deuteronomy 7 and 2 Corinthians 6 we find that God’s people are to marry God’s people.  The basis for this is twofold. First, so we will not be drawn away from God.  Second, so we will remain a separate and distinct people.

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:(KJV)

We are a holy nation and a peculiar or “set apart” people today just as they were in old times.  I believe it is just as important for us to remain pure from the world as it was for the people of old, and we can more easily do so by following God’s plan for marriage and marry only in the Lord.

Yes, God cares very much who we fellowship. We are given very specific commandments and instructions regarding who we are not to have fellowship with. But the actions we are to take are passive. That is, we simply cease to have any relationship with Christians whom the Bible tells us we cannot fellowship. The Bible makes use of specific language to describe not having fellowship such as “mark” and “avoid”, “not keep company with”, “from such turn away”, “reject”, and “receive him not neither bid him God speed”. However, we are not to withdraw fellowship from a Christian for every sin. The situations and conditions for withdrawing fellowship are limited and specific.

Romans 16:17 states: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them.” Clearly, we are to have no fellowship with those Christians who choose to teach and practice those things which are not found in the Bible or that are in direct conflict with the commandments and examples found in the Bible. We see this so clearly in regard to religious organizations that we consider being far off the mark. They may not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They may worship on a day other than the Lord’s Day. Or, they may have a hierarchy of leadership which cannot be found in the Bible. Of course we would have no fellowship with such individuals.

But what about members of the Lord’s Church who may have one cup with the fruit of the vine and one loaf of unleavened bread in communion and they have no Sunday School and no instrumental music? They may have these things but they have chosen to add things which the Bible does not authorize or they have changed things so that they are not teaching or following the commandments and examples as given in the Bible. Indeed, there are some members of the Lord’s Church who no longer even believe that the Bible is a pattern for living and worship. The answer is clear regarding doctrinal error. They are teaching and practicing things that are contrary to the doctrine and we are to mark and avoid them. In plain terms, we are to have no fellowship with them.

I Corinthians 5:9-13 lists a number of specific sins which, if a Christian commits and does not repent, confess and ask God’s forgiveness, we are not to have fellowship with them. Specifically, Paul lists the sins of fornication, idolatry, being a railer, being a drunkard, or being an extortioner. Paul commands us not to keep company with them and goes further to make it crystal clear that this even and especially includes not eating with them. What is the point here? It is simply to convey to that Christian that they are in error and sin and that we will have no relationship with them as long as they continue to practice such sin. Why is this so important? It is because this will hopefully lead the person to turn from that sin. It was effective with the man in I Corinthians 5 who had his father’s wife and he was restored to being a faithful Christian after he repented and abandoned this sin.

In I Timothy 6:3-5, Paul writes: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” Here, again, is a clear commandment to withdraw or have no fellowship with anyone who teaches something other than what we find in the Bible and who will not comply with the doctrine that we do find in God’s Word. Paul lists all kinds of problems and trouble that comes from tolerating such false teaching. We must prevent this from happening. And the Bible way for preventing this is to have no fellowship and no relationship whatsoever with this erring Christian.

II Timothy 3:1-5 tells us: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Here a very long list of behaviors is provided regarding Christians who are no longer faithful. We are to turn away from these erring Christians. Again, we are to have no fellowship or relationship with them. They may appear to be religious, but they have ceased to obey God and keep His commandments.

Titus 3:10-11 tells us: “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” The first question to answer is “what is a heretick?” That person is simply one who does not conform to the doctrine of Christ and does not submit to the truth. We are certainly to try to reason with them. But there is a limit to this. Paul requires us to admonish them twice. After that, we are to have no fellowship with this heretick.

Finally, in II John 10, the Bible states: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” First of all, what does it mean to bid someone God speed? It is simply wishing them good luck and success in whatever they do. Thus, if someone is teaching something that is contrary to the doctrine found in the Bible, we are not to invite them into our homes and we are not to wish them well. If we do, we are no better than they are. In fact, we would be partakers in the very sins that they are committing. The result is that we would be just as guilty as they are.

There is a clear pattern here in the things that require a Christian to withdraw fellowship from an erring Christian. First and foremost, those who practice or teach doctrinal error requires us to withdraw fellowship. Secondly, those who continue in the practice of certain sins require us to withdraw fellowship. Finally, those who cause divisions and strife in the Lord’s Church require us to withdraw fellowship.

The natural question is at what level is fellowship withdrawn? Clearly, fellowship is withdrawn at the individual level. That is, an individual faithful Christian withdraws fellowship from every individual Christian who is guilty of one or more of the specific sins listed which requires it.

The next question that many ask is about withdrawing fellowship from an entire congregation that is guilty of one or more sins listed in the scriptures above. That is, can one congregation withdraw fellowship from another congregation? First of all, no congregation has any authority over any other congregation. That is, we recognize the autonomy of each and every individual congregation. As such, the Bible is silent about one congregation withdrawing from another and thus no Bible pattern is provided. The result is that a faithful congregation does not withdraw from another congregation that is in doctrinal error.

But the question is really a moot point. The fact is, if every faithful Christian withdraws from every erring Christian who commits one or more of the sins that requires withdrawal of fellowship, then there is no need for any other action. God’s will has been accomplished. The fact that faithful Christians are all members of one particular congregation and the erring Christians are all members of another particular congregation is of minor consequence regarding withdrawing fellowship.

Further, if a member of an erring congregation left that congregation and repented, confessed their sin and asked God’s forgiveness and then joined themselves with a faithful congregation, no further action would be required for that Christian.

Conversely, if a faithful Christian decided to join themselves with a congregation of erring Christians and began to tolerate, teach and practice doctrinal error, then faithful Christians would, from that time forward, withdraw fellowship from that Christian who is now in error.

This Biblical approach and response to such sin and error would address the additional problem of erring Christians who go “church hopping” in hopes of finding another congregation that either does not know about their sin or is simply willing to tolerate such sin. If faithful individual Christians would consistently withdraw fellowship from such erring Christians throughout the brotherhood, then Biblical discipline would be appropriately and correctly meted out. Then, our desire and prayer would be for each erring Christian to see their sin and other faithful Christians’ response to that sin in the withdrawal of fellowship. Then they will realize that what they are doing is not acceptable and that the Lord’s Church will not condone nor tolerate their sin. Thus, by their rejection by faithful Christians, the erring Christian can reflect upon their sin and, hopefully, repent, confess and ask God’s forgiveness and then be restored. This is God’s pattern for withdrawing fellowship.

John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

A parent in New York whose child is missing in the Haiti disaster said this on the Today Show Monday morning, “We need people to get there and we need them to get there fast. Time is working against us,” Crispinelli said. “We’re U.S. citizens. We achieve miracles. We need a miracle now and we need it today.”

One Chinese news publication wrote this, “Though five days have passed since the massive earthquake in Haiti, it seems miracles do happen as international rescue teams continue to pull people alive from the rubble.”

A European news agency wrote this short story…

Thank you Jesus, thank you, is a prayer of thanks and hope uttered from a woman rescued from the rubble in Haiti.

It is a prayer of thanks, a sign of hope. So too was the rescue of a nine year old, Olon Remi from the ruins of her home.

From the remains of a luxury hotel in Haiti’s capital rescue workers toiled in hope. From the wreckage they pulled the co-owner out alive, she had spent more than a hundred hours buried under the wreckage. The relief, the thanks from those watching was spontaneous as clapping burst out.

From under a collapsed university building a 29-year-old woman who had survived since the quake struck was saved. It took 30 hours to rescue her.

Survivors gathered in small groups across the capital on Sunday to pray and give thanks. Their churches have been destroyed but not their faith.

The congregations were scattered, gathering where they could, many of them homeless. As they worshipped in their own way the rescue mission continues. 43 international teams have so far pulled 70 people alive from the rubble. Everyone is united in hope that the miraculous stories will continue and the number saved will rise.

It doesn’t matter if a person is religious or not – lots of folks are looking for miracles.

From Joel Osteen to the late Oral Roberts, countless denominational preachers have urged their audiences to “Expect a miracle today.”

Men entertain a number of different ideas about how God works today.

Some people believe in God in the sense that they think there is a god or some higher power responsible for creation in some way. But, they don’t believe in a higher power when it comes to authority in their lives. Nor do they think this higher power intervenes in any way in the affairs of this world. For instance, these people don’t believe in the Bible view of creation, but they may believe that a higher power used evolution to create the world. The notion of atonement, or even the need for it, isn’t something they believe or profess.

This belief is wrong on many fronts, but basically it’s false because it contradicts the Word of God. Of course, it makes no sense on quite a few other issues. For example, why would God create the world, and then be “hands off” on all the affairs of this world? This belief also denies the love and care of God toward mankind.

From that viewpoint we go to another one that is almost extreme in the opposite direction – namely, the belief that almost everything is a miracle from God. Pentecostalism and other false doctrines that are akin to it take the position that every favorable result is a miracle. If somebody recovers from an illness, it’s a miracle. If somebody finds a good job, it’s a miracle. If the bills can somehow be paid this month, it’s a miracle.

More and more this is the prevailing view among religious people who profess Christianity. But these people completely overlook the facts of why God used miracles in the past. They fail to recognize the purpose of miracles in Old Testament or first century apostolic times.

In the Genesis record we see the miracle of creation. From that moment forward miracles were part of the revelation of God. God made his redemptive plans known by way of miracles. Since God’s Word is now revealed in its completeness, the need for miracles has ended. When you examine God’s miracles recorded in the scripture you clearly see they were intended to produce faith. But here’s what God’s Word says is true today.

John 20:30, 31 “Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.”

Rom. 10:17 “So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

Today, the scriptures produce faith. These people openly deny God’s Word by their false belief that miracles happen today. In fact, many people claim their faith because of the miracles they claim that have happened in their life. That’s not the only thing they deny though. They also deny the very methods of miracles in the past. Without an apostle laying hands on you, bestowing the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, you couldn’t perform miracles.

According to Acts 8 that’s exactly what Simon the magician knew and understood. That’s why he offered the apostles money. He wanted that power.

Some of the people of the charismatic movement may acknowledge that men can’t perform miracles, but they cling to the belief that God performs miracles today. But, again, they deny the scriptures.

1Cor. 13:8-13 “Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

Eph. 4:8-16 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.”

The Biblical perspective of how God works in the world today is to recognize that He operates providentially through natural laws. God brings about spiritual results through His spiritual laws revealed in His Word. He uses natural laws to accomplish his will in this world.

Our world is preserved because God put into motion the natural laws that govern earth. God designed our world. He created the natural order of how things work. That’s certainly not in keeping with those who declare that God has no part in what happens in this life. And it contrasts those who claim that everything is a miracle from God.

Now the question that most often comes up is this, “Then does God hear prayer – and answer prayer?” We’ll let the Bible speak.

John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

James 5:16 “Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.”

1Pet. 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.”

1John 5:14, 15 “And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.”

Now, before folks can go off on a half-baked idea that whatever we pray for will be given to us by God it’s important to point out just two proofs that this isn’t the meaning.

One, Paul prayed that his thorn in the flesh would be taken away. Three times he prayed, each time praying that God’s Will be done. God did NOT give Paul what he wanted and Paul readily accepted.

Two, Christ prayed in the Garden that the cup might pass from Him. The cup He referred to was that He would have to be separated from God for the first and only time. Never before had Christ experienced separation from God, but for 3 hours the earth was dark as God turned His back on His Only Son. It was the bitterest cup of all. THAT was the cup Christ wanted removed. And as worthy as that prayer was, Christ prayed that God’s Will be done, not His own! There was no way for mankind to be redeemed except for Christ bearing the sins of mankind. By doing that, it was necessary that God look away!

Our prayers are answered today providentially. God hears us. He answers us. But in all prayers, God’s Will trumps our own. James instructs us how we ought to pray.

James 4:13-15 “Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.”

There are some important factors that we need to realize when it comes to God’s providence.

We need to always remember that God doesn’t providentially behave in any way that contradicts His natural law or His revealed Will in the scriptures. He’s holy and righteous so all of His actions are consistent that His character. One illustration of this is the fact that God doesn’t tempt man.

James 1:13, 14 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”

Based on this passage we can’t conclude that God ever causes men to do something sinful. Now consider this verse…

Rom. 9:17 “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.”

God “raised up Pharaoh” has to mean that God didn’t raise him up so he could sin. God raised him up for the exact reasons stated – so God’s power could be demonstrated and so God’s name might be broadcast through all the earth. Pharaoh was his own man. God simply used Pharaoh’s character and behavior to serve His divine purposes.

The providential working of God is always in cooperation with what God’s Word reveals. Perhaps the most important example of this is how the scriptures instruct men to be saved. That means God doesn’t providentially provide men some other method where they can be saved. There’s only one way to be saved and that’s how God has shown us in His Word. God won’t override what He has revealed.

Another important fact about providence is that God’s providence never overrides the free will of men. In spite of what Calvin believed and taught, God gives men the power of choice. We’re not so depraved that God has taken that from us.

Matt. 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

John 5:39, 40 “Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.”

Rev. 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.”

God doesn’t coerce men to do anything, but He can and does use people to accomplish His Will. You see it throughout scripture. For instance, the Chaldeans were a violent people. They were nasty and mean, intent on conquering people and places that didn’t belong to them. God used them to punish His own people. God didn’t make the Chaldeans nasty, but He did allow their nastiness to serve His purposes.

Pharaoh was another example. The Bible tells us that Pharaoh hardened his heart. God didn’t harden it. Pharaoh did that to himself. God used Pharaoh’s rebellious and hard heart to display His power and blessings for the Hebrews.

We can’t get caught up in the notion that God directs men outside of their own free will. He does not. He does use men for His divine purposes. He’ll use evil men or good men. Men decide their character and behavior. God providentially uses men as it suits His divine Will.

There is a distinction between providential and miraculous. A miracle is where God works on a level that is above natural law. Providence is when God uses natural law for His purposes. In a miracle, the Lord works directly. In providence, God works indirectly.

Mary conceived a child having never experienced sex. According to the scriptures she was a virgin. This was a fulfillment of prophecy. It was a miracle. It was supernatural. It was a direct operation of God in her life. Contrast that with the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter 1. She was barren, but she prayed to the Lord that she might have a son. She promised to give him to God, if God would allow her to conceive. According to the scriptures, she and her husband were intimate – the Old Testament terminology says her husband “knew her” – and she became pregnant. A son was born, but it was not a miracle. It was providence though because God used the natural laws of human reproduction to answer her prayer, and Samuel was born.

Another example contrasting miraculous with providential is found in the story of Hezekiah in Isaiah chapter 36. The king of Assyria came against all the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them. Hezekiah was imprisoned and sought God for deliverance. Through the prophet Isaiah God promised to deal with the situation. Here’s what happened…

In a single night, the messenger of Jehovah went out and killed a hundred and fourscore and five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the men arose early in the morning they saw all the dead bodies – so says Isaiah 37:36. It was miraculous.

Sennacherib, the pagan king who had overthrown the cities of Judah, went back home. God made a proclamation that this king would go home and “I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” And so it happened. The king went home and while he was worshipping his false god, his sons killed him with a sword. That was providence.

Over in Matthew chapter 8 we see Christ and His disciples caught in a bad storm on the Sea of Galilee. Scripture says the Lord “rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Christ controlled the weather miraculously.

Centuries earlier Israel suffered a drought for three and a half years. God caused that drought. Elijah prayed for rain and God sent rain. How? First, a small cloud appeared over the Mediterranean Sea. It was off in the distance and appeared to be the size of a man’s hand. The skies grew darker and darker. The winds kicked up and before long there was a great rain. Guess what? That’s how rain always came to the land of Palestine. God was providentially directing the rain. That rain occurred through natural laws brought about by God’s Will, and the result of Elijah’s prayer.

Remember, in providence God works indirectly – behind the scenes. Here’s an interesting truth about providence. We know God works by providence, as we’ve proven with just a few Bible illustrations. But, when it comes to providence we’re not able to point to some specific event or circumstance and confidently affirm that it’s God’s work. The fact is there’s no way to know. People have subjective feelings about it, but we can’t base things on how we feel about something. That’s never been an acceptable standard, or an authority for our lives.

In other words, people might say, “I know this is God’s providence.” But there’s absolutely no possible to know. It may be God’s providence at work. It may not be. It’s like prayer. We’re confident that God hears our prayers and that He’ll answer our prayers. The scriptures tell us so. But subjective declarations that specific events or circumstances are the result of prayer don’t prove anything.

Yes, God works in the lives of people, sometimes even when we’re unaware of it. According to 2 Cor 5:7 we walk by faith, not by sight. We can’t prove any of these things because providence is God working indirectly, behind the scenes. God’s providence works in cooperation with the natural laws that God Himself established. In spite of 2 Cor. 5:7 it’s interesting how many religious people want to walk based on something they can see, or feel.

There are quite a few incredible stories where we see God’s providence  – and we’re able to see them because the scriptures reveal them. For instance, consider the story of Joseph and his brothers. God used Joseph to preserve the Hebrews. Were any of these people aware of what God was doing through providence? It wouldn’t seem so. Joseph certainly knew nothing of it when he was younger and being mistreated by his brothers. We can look back and see it though.

Perhaps the most famous story of providence is the story of Esther. That famous verse in Esther 4:14 is well-known by most Christians, “who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Mordecai asked that question of Esther.

In Philemon, a book we’re fixing to study in our chapter studies, Onesimus was a runaway slave. He had made his way to Rome when he came in contact with the apostle Paul who converted him to the Truth. At some point, Paul sends him home and urges Philemon, his master, to receive him as a brother. Paul makes a statement in verse 15, “For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him forever…”

Paul saw the possibility that God’s providence may have been at work in the life of Onesmimus. He ran away an unbeliever. He returned as a Christian brother.

The Bible reveals some facts about the scope of God’s providence. The Hebrew writer declares that the Savior is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb 1:3). That simply means God is operating the entire universe under the direction of the natural laws that He established.

God controls all the forces of nature in exactly the same way. According to the Genesis record God maintains the seasons. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth and makes grass grow on the mountains. None of that is miraculous, but it’s all based on God’s natural laws. In the same way He controls the stars and planets. Weather and all the other forces of nature are not miraculous, but providential.

God influences the animal kingdom in the same manner. According to Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, God cares for the animals that don’t sow or reap or gather into barns. We see God using providence when Abraham was offering Isaac. You remember that ram caught in the thicket? Nothing miraculous about that, but God provided that ram through providence.

According to scripture God sets up rulers and takes them down – again, all done providentially by God. It’s just one reason why Christians should not vote. We’ve no way to know what God’s plan might be to work providentially in this world. Additionally, Christians aren’t to be encumbered with worries of the affairs of this world, but providence is chief among the reasons why Christians are not involved in the political affairs of this world – no matter where we live, or what government rules over us.

Do Christians have some special provision provided by God’s providence? I believe the scriptures prove we do. According to Matthew 5:45 God sends rain on the just and unjust. The book of Job proves that material gain isn’t an accurate measurement of our fidelity to God. But the gospel does give us proof that God cares for His children providentially.

We can’t read the story of the early disciples without seeing God’s hand at work providentially. It was true with the great apostle Paul. Over in Acts 20 Paul was on his 3^rd missionary journey. In Romans he mentioned that continually he made requests of God that he might be blessed to visit the brethren at Rome. Near the end of the letter he urges the brethren to join together with him in that prayer. We find Paul returning to Jerusalem where he’s arrested in Acts 21. In the night God tells him that he must bear witness in Rome. God’s visit was miraculous, but Paul going to Rome wasn’t. It was providential.

To save him from the Jewish mob, the Roman leaders took Paul to Caesarea by night and he’s put into prison for 2 years. Finally, Paul exercises his Roman citizenship and appeals to Caesar. It’s now early autumn in the year 60. He’s put on a ship to Rome. Enroute he’s shipwrecked and everybody is fearful that they’ll die. In the night an angel appears to Paul and makes this promise, “thou must stand before Caesar.” The following spring Paul and his company arrive in Rome – prayers from earlier years finally answered.

To me one of the most powerful illustrations of God’s providence is found at the cross. Christ prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Christ wasn’t praying for miraculous forgiveness. There was no miraculous forgiveness. But at Pentecost these people Christ prayed for were indeed given the opportunity for redemption and forgiveness. Peter preached the Gospel story and thousands obeyed. It was God’s providential answer to the prayer of His Son – many who stood at the foot of the cross were indeed forgiven!

1Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.”

Such passages encourage us, but we need to understand that nothing miraculous is at work here. There is simply no way to fully know or understand all the ways that God’s providence helps us.

Just this week I’ve heard one businessperson declare how God had laid something on his heart. Another person seeking a job declared how God had “told” her a specific direction to take. And of course, whenever disasters like the earthquake in Haiti happen, we hear story after story of what men call “miracles.” I also heard one man who declares to be a Christian question why God allowed this earthquake to happen. Such declarations prove that most people have no concept of how God works in the world today.

It’s urgent that every Christian properly understands that God does not work using miracles today. It’s not that He can’t. It’s that He won’t. There is no need. The Word is fully revealed, so the purpose of miracles is now no longer needed. God won’t employ them again.

But when God built the world He incorporated natural laws. He now does His work by means of these natural laws. When it comes to mankind, God doesn’t compel or coerce men to behave in certain ways. He will use the behaviors of men – the behaviors they choose for themselves – to help fulfill His own purposes.

Pray to God always. When we’re fearful for our health, we pray. Pray before the doctor renders a diagnosis. We never know what providential work might be the answer to the prayers of the faithful.

When we’re sorrowful because we’ve lost somebody we love, pray for comfort. How are Christians comforted? Men often pray that God will comfort those who sorrow “as only You can.” How does that happen? By God’s Word. By God’s promise of a life after this one. And we pray that God’s providence might work to help us through our sorrows and problems. There’s no miraculous comforting happening.

I’ll leave you with two things about God’s providence.

- It should compel us to pray more.
- It should also compel us to thank God more.

This article was adapted from a sermon delivered at Fossil Creek on Wednesday night, January 20, 2010.

Recent conversations with people about dating and the prospects of marriage have made me give greater thought to the challenge facing God’s young people. Some members of the Lord’s Church in another state recently talked about their worries that so many young people in the Church seem to be dating non-Christians. A young man admitted his difficulties in finding a girl who shares his convictions based on the Gospel. A young woman talked of her desires to find a young man desirous of being a strong Christian.

Our future as God’s people hinges on the ability of one generation to pass along to the younger generation the wisdom necessary to make one of life’s most important decisions – the decision of who we will marry. Brother Gay wrote a wonderful series of articles back in the 1940′s. We still refer young people to his words almost half a century later. Click here to read his articles on building a Christian home.

Young people may confuse the interest of older folks with interference. Often the conversation between older Christians turns toward a concern for the younger Christians. That’s only appropriate given the responsibility of the older to pass along the heritage of godly service.

Few conversations stir more concern among older saints. Frustration is easy when talking to a young person about their choice of boyfriend or girlfriend, especially when the selection has been made for all the wrong reasons. Chemistry and good feeling too often overcome good sense and scriptural-based judgment. Although talking to kids about who they date and who they’ll end up marrying may be like talking to a wall, parents and older Christians can’t hesitate to issue a few warnings about what is really required to create a Bible-based family life.

Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.”

All happily married Christian couples can attest to the change and growth necessary to build a strong Christian home. They can also verify the need to make the selection of a spouse carefully and prayerfully.

We urge young people to come up for air, free yourselves from one another’s embrace and look beyond the physical attraction so you can more carefully examine your future.

First, pick a spouse who respects God’s Word.

Even babes in Christ understand that God’s ways and the ways of the world are always in conflict. God insists that we live by His principles of righteousness. Scriptures show us that the world lives by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We’re to avoid those things and shun them.

1 John 2:15, 16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

People who aren’t devoted to God freely devote themselves to the pleasures of the world. God’s people have a different devotion.

Many heartaches are caused when a Christian marries an unbeliever. Without a unified purpose for building a home and marriage, chaos often erupts. Moral issues arise because the unbeliever isn’t bridled by the Word of God. But it goes deeper. The coupling of a Christian to an unbeliever disrupts God given roles in the home. The duties of each member of a home, if not sanctioned by God, often become unclear and worldly. For instance, what godly woman seeking to be the keeper at home God wants could make a happy home with an ungodly man who pressures her to leave the home and earn money?

Sadly, this problem isn’t limited to unbelievers. Young people must be mindful that some of God’s people lack the proper respect for God’s Word. Dating another Christian isn’t the only requirement for seeking a fitting spouse. Find a boy or girl who demonstrates the proper respect for God’s Word by obeying it – not arguing against it.

Two, select a spouse who has spiritual values and goals.

You must first have spiritual values and goals. If your life lacks the spiritual focus it must have, first take care of yourself. You can hardly recognize what you need in a spouse if you are not what you should be. Are your goals focused on entertainment, fun and pleasure? Then fix your own life by getting focused on those things that are eternal.

Sadly, I see too many young people in the Church who are interested in nothing other than a good time. As they grow older they sometimes lament how difficult it is to find somebody to date who is spiritually compatible. Well, they’ve not put themselves in a position to attract the right boy or girl. They’ve been acting as though Church and serving God were less important than being popular, having fun and enjoying entertainment. You reap what you sow. Take care of business in your own life, then you may find it easier to seek out the person who will serve as a faithful spouse capable of helping you reach heaven.

Values must be directed by God. The goal must be heaven. If the person you date has different values and different goals – STOP! Don’t continue to put yourself at risk.

You must not con yourself into thinking that good qualities will suffice. Righteous living is not merely being good morally. There are many good people who are not Christians. Date people who are devoted to the Lord and the Church. Being a good person isn’t the same as being a righteous person.

Ask yourself, “Am I made a better Christian by this person? Will this person help me live closer to the Lord and the Church?”

Three, find someone willing to make corrections.

Nobody is perfect. We’re all a work in progress. However, some problems are larger than others. It’s foolish to think that after marriage problems will be fixed, if they’re not fixed before marriage. Too often we’ve seen somebody, usually an unbelieving boy, attend church services faithfully while dating a Christian girl. After marriage, his attendance stops. Don’t bank on changes happening after marriage. If his attendance was merely a front so you’d date him, then you should realize that your relationship is equally shallow.

Drinking, gambling, hanging out at all hours and countless other poor behaviors won’t be fixed by marriage. Neither will hot tempers, unkindness, being argumentative, lying and other traits.

Search for a person of Christian character willing to fix those things that are wrong in their life. If they’re unwilling to listen to God’s Word (disrespect the Word of God) and put their life in compliance with what God wants – STOP!

Four, pick a spouse who is mature.

Marriage isn’t for kids. That’s one reason why more than half of all teenage marriages end in divorce. Maturity is a requirement for the establishment of a Christian home.

Age won’t guarantee maturity. Maturity is something you can gain by working at it. Behave with maturity and you may become mature. Put away childish behaviors. Grow up. Don’t just grow older. Be sober (that means, be serious).

Be mature yourself. Being irresponsible and selfish are not qualities fit for marriage. If you are self-centered and immature, then you’ve got some work to do in your own life. It’s likely that your behavior fosters dating people who share your immaturity and self-centeredness. You have little hope of building a relationship that will lead to the establishment of a Christian home.

There is no single secret to having a successful marriage, but one indispensable ingredient is unselfishness. Behave selfishly during dating and you’re not likely to behave any differently after marriage. Don’t fool yourself thinking the selfish person you date will stop being selfish when you marry.

Again, look in the mirror. What are your displays of maturity? You can hardly expect to attract a mature person if you’re not mature yourself.

Some signs that you’re immature:

- You think mainly of what you want. You are self-centered.
- You have little awareness of how you affect others.
Sometimes you just don’t care.
- Your life centers around having fun and being entertained.*
- You’re not terribly comfortable being by yourself.
Partying and hanging with others consumes most of your time.
- You stay up late as often as possible.
- You sleep late as often as possible.
- You have little structure and discipline in your life.
And you really don’t want any.
- Your life has little direction and little purpose.
- You don’t regularly read or study the Bible.
- You don’t regularly pray.
- You don’t regularly consider spiritual things.
- You don’t seek the wisdom of others.
It’s easier to just follow your own desires.

*Just snoop around at the blogs of many young people in the Church and perhaps like me, you’ll be surprised at how going to the movies is widespread among a generation that has never heard how the “old-timers” were warned of them based on the Gospel’s demand for purity in our lives. It’s difficult enough to guard your heart in today’s world without purposefully subjecting yourself to temptations. And don’t argue that you only go to PG or PG13 movies. I know better because I’ve read blog after blog of young people who regularly attend R rated movies. Besides, since when do God’s people go by the standards of a Hollywood movie group who establish those ratings? Spiritual maturity has little chance with behavior that feeds on the world.

By the way, watching filth on your own TV at home (via DVD’s) is no better. Both are sinful. Neither demonstrate a devotion to guarding your heart! Brethren, somewhere along the way we did a horrible disservice to our kids by failing to show them how important and powerful it is to guard the heart! We stopped preaching it. We stopped warning people. As a result, too many Christians have joined the world in thinking it’s foolish to guard your heart.

“It doesn’t affect me,” they often say. That amounts to calling God a liar. Please consider that the next time you watch some profane filled thing or listen to some profanity laced song. By subjecting your heart to that type of entertainment you display disregard for God’s Word. You show your spiritual immaturity – the belief that it will not harm you. Immature people can be fearless to the point of neglecting their own safety. It’s true physically. It’s equally true spiritually.

Attractive, isn’t it? No, of course not. It’s quite pathetic, but unfortunately it is the picture of so many lives. Young and old alike are plagued too often by self-centered behaviors that are anything, but mature. We see it at work, at school and at church.

Immaturity is rampant even though the Gospel demands that we live sober lives. Remember, it’s a command – not a suggestion. As people grow up, they must become mature. That requires mature behavior. It’s a choice. It requires young people begin to behave like adults. It requires responsible conduct. Consider some important verses found in Titus.

Titus 2:1-15 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

Be mature. Be sober. Look for a mate who is, too. Physically, emotionally and most of all spiritually.

Five, pick a spouse who can communicate.

Relationships are impossible where there is poor, little or no communication. Problems go unsolved if a couple cannot clearly communicate with one another. Thoughtful dialogue can help build a relationship. Monologues aren’t profitable.

If you find yourself dating somebody who is unable to express themselves to you, STOP! You’ll never build the relationship necessary to establish a Christian home. If you find yourself dating somebody with whom you’re unable or unwilling to have serious dialogue, STOP!

Talking and listening are both necessary qualities for making a relationship grow. By the way, yelling and arguing are not quality forms of communication. If your communication consists of lots of arguing, STOP! Find somebody else to date.

Six, look beyond physical attraction or physical qualities.

People date specific people for lots of reasons – most of them physical. And I mean more than beauty or good looks. Personality, being fun, being popular and scores of other attributes are part of physical attraction. These are the most shallow attractions.

I’ve known young men who dated girls because they knew lots of other young men were attracted to them. After all, it’s quite satisfying to be dating the girl who is the envy of all the other guys. Ridiculous? Sure, but it happens.

I’ve known young men who lamented at the dimwittedness of a good-looking girl they dated, but they wouldn’t stop dating her because she was so attractive. I’ve known young men who dated a girl because she was always so much fun. Or because she enjoyed the same entertainment, the same music and so on. None of these things are sufficient foundations for a Christian marriage. In fact, they’re not even suitable foundations for dating!

The object of dating is to build a mature relationship. While there is no denying that couples need to find one another attractive, it is hardly the stuff of which strong Christians home are built.

Proverbs 31:30 “Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.”

Seven, pick a spouse who will be a good friend, your best friend.

A man’s best friend should be his wife. A wife’s best friend should be her husband.

Too many young people are involved in relationships where they argue, fuss and fight. They’re foolish enough to think the relationship might have a future. Well, they’re right, but the future is going to be the ruination of them both if they don’t stop and move on.

It’s one thing to enjoy somebody’s company. It’s another to find them a person with whom you can share your innermost thoughts and cares.

It’s one thing to find somebody attractive – even kissable. It’s another to find them a person with whom you can improve your Christian life.

Life is routine. Do you find this person your best friend during the most routine times of your life? Make certain that the boy or girl you date are friends, good friends.

Friends help us become better. They benefit us and we benefit them. They seek our welfare in the Church. We seek their spiritual welfare, too. Friends work to strengthen one another.

Does that describe the relationship you are in? If not, it’s time to move on.

Lastly, pick a spouse who believes marriage is for life.

What God joins together can’t be put asunder by man. “Til death do us part,” is not just a phrase uttered by couples madly in love. Those are vows made before God, ordained by His Will.

Problems will arise. You can’t just walk away. That’s what dating is for. That’s why the advice to STOP is given to dating couples who find themselves battling issues that are harmful for them both. Once you are married, there is no stopping. You are in it for life.

The walking away needs to happen while you are dating. It’s not an option in marriage.

Permit a brief comment about intimacy. STOP. Fornication is a sin. Intimacy outside of the marriage union is forbidden by God.

1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”

Know the difference between sex and love. Society bombards all of us with images of sex. While intimacy can be an expression of love, it is restricted between a husband and his wife. TV and the media do us all a disservice by putting sex in front of us. You must take pride in your virtue. You must behave while you date.

Love is mandatory in marriage. Intimacy is not the only expression of love in marriage. Young people must guard their hearts by restricting their passions.

Ephesians 5:25-33 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; because we are members of his body. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.”

As a dating person, behave yourself with all the godly qualities befitting a potentially good spouse. Make sure you possess these positive qualities first. It will make attracting the right prospective spouse that much easier.

Devote yourself to:

- respecting God’s Word
- having spiritual values and goals
- having a willingness to correct the poor behavior in your own life
- maturity and sober thinking in the Lord
- being a good listener and good communicator
- offering more than physical attraction to others
- being a good friend
- the firm conviction that marriage is one man with one woman for life

Doing that will provide you with a superior opportunity of attracting the right Christian person to become your mate.

Pray for wisdom. Pray for strength to overcome the temptations that come with being young. Read and study your Bible. Talk with your Christian parents about your problems and concerns. Lean on others in the Church. Guard your heart by protecting yourself from watching things, hearing things and experiencing things that would harm your soul.

Date only in the Lord. And when it comes to choosing a spouse, be picky – even in the Lord. Select a person who can and will help you reach heaven. Your entire future depends on the choice you will make!

Matthew 10:8 reads “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” This verse has nothing to do with giving money to anybody. The teaching here is simply that the Apostles should pass on the benefits of the power they had received from Jesus to others. The power to perform miracles had come from the Lord. They were not to charge, in any way, for what they did. As H. Leo Boles remarks, “They had freely received and they were to give freely; they were to sell no miracles, not to sell the gospel; no bribe could be taken for healing any one.” This verse in no way teaches that the church today can take funds out of its treasury to help non-Christians. To so teach, is to misapply it. But, are there other passages that teach we can use the money in the church treasury to help people who are not members of the church? If there are, this writer is unaware of them. In fact everything that is said on the subject in the Bible is directly opposed to such an idea. The Scriptures teach that the church is to provide for its own, the needy saints (Acts 2:44,45; 4:32; 6:1-3; 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-26; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2Cor.8:8; 2Cor. 9:1,12,13). We find an example of this practice in Jerusalem, where none of the saints lacked (Acts 2:44 and 4:32). However, in Acts 3, the beggar at the gate beautiful, asked alms of Peter and John. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none…” The church had funds, but Peter did not refer him to the church. Peter did not say, “Let me talk to the brethren about this matter. Ill see if I can get you some help.” Nor did he say, “This is a good opportunity for the church to make a name for itself in the community.” Wonder why? Because the church had no responsibility in the matter. The obligation of the church is to save the world through the preaching of the gospel, not by contributing to their financial needs. Notice the following scriptures that prove this point:

Romans 15: 25-31 “But now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints. For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem. Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister unto them in carnal things… Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judaea, and that my ministration which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” Please note the following points in these verses: the church relieved saints– “ministering to the saints,” “contribution for the poor among the saints,” “my ministration which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” Saints are specified. No mention is made of non-Christians being the responsibility of the church. Why? Obviously the task would be impossible. The governments of the world cannot even feed all the hungry people in the world. How on earth do you think the church could undertake such a task? How would we pick and choose among the needy of our communities and decide which ones to help and which ones not to help? Our obligation is limited to the those in the church who are in need. What happens when a church has more needy saints than it can relieve? In the verse mentioned above other congregations sent funds to the Jerusalem church to enable it to relieve its own destitute saints. Such is a pattern for us today. If a congregation has more needy saints than it can care for, then other churches may send to that church to assist them in caring for those in need. Another important point that we need to consider in the above verses is that benevolence is the fruit of Christianity, it is not for the purpose of producing it. Because the Gentiles had been partakers of the Jews spiritual things, they should minister to the Jews in carnal things, (i.e. they should help them in their need). The Gentile churches did not do benevolence to make Christians. The benevolence was extended to those who were Christians. The gospel, not benevolent work, is Gods power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). The argument that the church will look good in the community, if it helps someone in need, places the emphasis where the Bible does not place it. We are not trying to convert people by helping them out of the church treasury. We are trying to convert them by preaching the gospel to them. Look carefully at I Corinthians 16:1-2 “Now concerning the collection for the saints The collection was for the saints. This verse should settle the issue once and for all. The Bible specifies for “whom” the collection would be used. “The saints.” Specific authority excludes. There are no non-believers in I Cor. 16:1-4. Note also that the same order had been given to other churches “I gave order to the churches of Galatia. .” The benevolent funds of the church are to be raised by the saints contributing into a collective treasury on the first day of the week. To collect the money on a Tuesday night gathering of the church would be in violation of the command. The money was to be used for the “saints.” To use it for non-saints is to violate the pattern. Question: If we may use church funds to help non-saints, may we also gather those funds every night during a gospel meeting? If not, why not? One other thought needs to be added. As individual Christians, we may, and should help those in need about us. Such benevolence is and always has been characteristic of God’s people. However, to teach that the church may or should relieve the needy of the world is without scriptural foundation.

Published in the OPA September 1, 1998

It is of the utmost importance to establish a foundation and basis from which to know the will of God.  If we can first establish that the Bible, and only the Bible, is the Word of God, AND that we are bound to obey and keep it, then we can study it and obey it and know that we are righteous in God’s eyes.
The Bible is the very basis of Christianity.  Without it, we would have no knowledge of God or His will for us to obey. Romans 10:17 states: “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  We know that the Bible is the Word of God. We know that it is infallible.  We know that it is complete and without error.  Most of all, we know that God expects us to follow Him and obey His complete will by keeping ALL of His commandments.

The Bible Must Be The Only Standard

To illustrate the critical nature of establishing this first, a simple example is offered.  And that example has to do with the fundamental rules of successful negotiation.  Often, in negotiations, there is no basis from which to move forward and gain common ground.  One of the most fundamental rules and tools in negotiating is to work to identify and establish what is called a “third party standard”, one to which both parties can agree to abide by.  This is critical when there is a disagreement or simply a basic distrust of what we, or anyone else, are being told.  It also removes the emotions and feelings that often attach themselves to what someone believes and, perhaps has believed for a long time.
The easiest and simplest example that can be given of using a third party standard in negotiating is when someone is buying a used car.  A prospective buyer finds a car advertised in the paper and they go and look at it and drive it.  It’s exactly what they’re looking for and they want to buy that car.  But the owner is asking $5,000 for it.  The prospective buyer, on the other hand, thinks it’s only worth $4,000.  What do they do?  Well, we all know that there are so called “blue books” of used car values.  If both parties agree to abide by this standard, it is easy to set a fair price accordingly.  They look up the make, the year, the model, the optional equipment, and so on, and it establishes a fair price.   There is no controversy because both agreed to abide by a true and reliable standard.  It doesn’t matter what someone might want the car to be worth.  The standard has settled the issue.  And one can’t say to the other, “Well, the car is blue and that makes the car worth more.”  No, the standard said nothing about a specific color being worth more or less.  So, the standard must be followed exactly.
This is exactly what we must do with the Bible.  It is critical to establish the Bible as the only standard.  And it is critical when we study the Bible ourselves or with others.  We must establish the authority of the scriptures in our own hearts and minds and spirits.  We must establish the exclusiveness of the scriptures.  And we must establish how to read and interpret the scriptures.  All of this must be accomplished by the Bible and the Bible alone.  Thus we can establish the authority of the Scriptures.  W.E. Vine describes authority in this way: “The power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others.”  And that authority is God’s, and God’s alone.

All Scriptures Were Given By The Inspiration Of God

II Timothy 3:14-17 says:
“But continue thou in the things which thou has learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Hebrews 1:1-2 states:
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”

Ephesians 3:1-5:
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit.”

It is critical to establish that the Bible is the Word of God.  Further, it must be established that the Bible was penned by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and not something they wrote on their own.  The fact that the scriptures are inspired by God is confirmed in II Timothy 3:16:

“All scripture is given by the inspiration of God.”

The second part, that scripture is not from men, is confirmed in I Corinthians 2:12-13:

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

II Peter 1:20-21 reiterates this point:

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation [that is, it is not by a man’s own interpretation]  For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

How does this inspiration occur?  By what process is the will of God revealed to men for them to write it down?  Revelation 14:13 makes this very clear:

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours: and their words do follow them.”

Paul also writes in Ephesians 3:1-4:

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

By these scriptures we can know that the Bible came directly from God as He spoke to men through the Holy Spirit.  We can rest assured that these are not the writings of men.  And we can be confident that the inspiration came only to apostles and prophets.  And that is the way men must receive it, just as Paul writes in I Thessalonians 2:13:

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

The Bible Is Complete

Once we have established that the Bible is truly from God and not men, there are those that might ask, “How do we know if we have the complete Bible?”  I Corinthians 13:8-10 says:

”Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether here be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”  What is Paul talking about when he refers to “that which is perfect”?

The most frequent answer that comes from the religious denominations is that it refers to Jesus and they believe that tongues and prophecies and spiritually imparted knowledge will cease when Jesus comes again.  And by this, they can support their position of modern day revelation.  But Jesus is not a “that which”.  Jesus is a “He who”. If this passage referred to Jesus, it would say miracles would cease when He who is perfect is come.  So this passage refers to a thing and not a person.  And that thing, which is perfect and complete, is the perfect and complete revelation of the New Testament.  We know that miracles have ceased.  Tongues, or speaking in an unknown foreign language have ceased.  That is, no one is able to speak in another language that they have not studied and worked hard to master. God is no longer imparting prophecy or spiritually imparted knowledge unto men.  Though the religious world claims this happens frequently and to many of their members, there is no evidence to support it.  Divine revelation accompanies miracles and miracles accompany divine revelation.  When one exists, the other is present.  When one ceases, the other ceases as well.

But most important, the revelation that religious people claim they receive is always contrary to the Bible; else they would have no need for modern day revelation.  Thus, they are proven to be false prophets.
In Acts 5:34-39, even the Jews recognized how to tell if something was from God:

“Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.  For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.  After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished: and all, even as many as obeyed him were dispersed.  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel of this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Now these scriptures are a defense against those who would try to convince us that they are a modern day prophet.  And basically, it says, “prove it!”  Of course, our main scripture is that concerning the Bereans in Acts 17:11:

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

To anyone who would present a belief or take a stand on any issue, we must be like the Bereans and say: “prove it”.  Not with hypothetical questions which cannot be answered.  Not with think so’s.  It must be proven by the scriptures.

How Do We Know That There Has Not Been Inspired Scriptures Besides The Old and New Testaments?

There are those of a particular religious denomination that contend that there is another testament of Jesus Christ, in addition to the New Testament that we know.  To that we respond with scripture.  And that must always be our response – with scripture!  Jude 3 says:

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

If it was once delivered, then how could it be delivered again 1800 years later?  The answer is, it can’t.  Jeremiah 31:31 says:

“Behold the says come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.”

The Old Testament points to the New Testament.  And, consequently, the New Testament points back to the Old Testament.  Paul writes in Romans 1:1-2:

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures).”

When God spoke, He only spoke of a new covenant – in the singular.  That is, only one new covenant, not two.  Galatians 4:22-24 says,

“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants.”

There are only two covenants – the old and the new – not three.  These same people will contend that much of the Bible was lost or purposely altered soon after the apostles died.  To that we must say, “prove it!”  If the Bible was altered, then why didn’t God restore it to completion and correctness in its original form of the Old and New Testaments instead of writing another testament (which, incidentally, conflicts with the other two)?  There can be no answer for that when the scriptures make no mention of such.
The Bible itself testifies of its completeness elsewhere.  John 16:13 says:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”

Which Covenant Or Testament Are We Under?

Having confirmed that there are only two covenants, how do we determine, by the scriptures, whether we are under one covenant or the other – or under both covenants?  The book of Hebrews elaborately discusses this very point at length.  It makes clear that the Old Covenant has been done away with.  That is, we are only to keep the New Testament.  Hebrews 10:9 states:

“Then said He, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.  He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.”

In verse 16 it says:
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”

Earlier in the seventh chapter of Hebrews, the writer makes it clear that there has been a change in both the law and the priesthood.  Hebrews 7:12-14 says:

“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.  For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”
And if there was any doubt about the Old Covenant being done away with and Christians no longer being under obligation to keep it, we would offer Colossians 2:13-14:

“and you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances [the Old Testament] that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

Must We Follow All of the New Testament?

You’d think that would be enough on the subject.  However, among the so called “No Exception” brethren, is a belief that nothing in the Gospels is binding. They teach that only those scriptures written after the Church was established on the Day of Pentecost are binding.  The result is that everything in the four gospels is regarded as being under the old law and not required for Christians to follow.  This results in a position that divorce and remarriage is not allowed for any exception as Jesus taught in Matthew 19:9 because, obviously, Jesus said this before the establishment of the church.  But the key to this misunderstanding is a disregard for Luke 16:16 which clearly says:

“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

How much clearer can it be?  John the Baptist and Jesus preached that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.  The preaching and teaching was to prepare for that day when the kingdom would be established.  Thus, their teaching is binding.  When laws are made in this country, they are written, voted on and passed long before they become effective.  Well, how could we know what we needed to obey if we knew nothing about it until it was law?  We’d probably be in violation from the first day.  No, we learn about laws well before they become binding.  The New Testament, specifically as it regards the gospels, was no different.

The Bible Alone – No More, No Less

Once we establish that the Bible is complete and we are only under the New Covenant, there remains but one task to accomplish.  But it is a formidable task.  We must establish how to read and interpret the scriptures.  Of all the things that must be established regarding the Authority of the Scriptures, this is the area of greatest contention.

First and foremost, we must show, by the Bible, that we must not add to nor take from what we find in God’s word.  The Bible is clear in many passages about this very point.

Number 22:13 says:
“I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 says:
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”

This makes it clear that we can’t add to or take away from the Bible.  Otherwise, we aren’t keeping the commandments of God!  Proverbs 30:6 condemns anyone who would add to God’s word:

”Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

That’s a pretty strong condemnation for anyone who would add their own “think so’s” or anything else to the Word of God.  It might sound plausible and reasonable, but if we can’t find a “thus saith the Lord” we’d better leave it alone.  I Corinthians 4:6 says:

“…that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.”

Another translation says: “Do not go beyond what is written.”

Paul’s purpose in commanding this was clear.  There were false teachers at Corinth who had caused terrible divisions because they were filled with self-pride – and this because of the attention they received from others.  Many Corinthians looked to these men for guidance and followed them, though they often taught false doctrines.  Not only did they follow their favorite teacher, but they went as far as developing hatred toward the other teachers.  Such actions caused the teachers to be “puffed up” one against.

Galatians 1:8-9 says:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which he have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that he have received, let him be accursed.”

The apostles preached it and these brethren received it.  Don’t mess with it!!  And that denominational cult I’ve been talking about believes that an angel delivered  “another new testament”.  This scripture directly refutes that, and they have no response when this is revealed to them.

II Corinthians 11:4 says:
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

Paul is chastising the Corinthian brethren here.  He is afraid that they might “bear with” or allow or permit another gospel.  He is telling them of his fear that they will fail to rebuke someone who has brought a false doctrine. He warns them not to let this happen.

Galatians 3:15 says:
“Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.”

Another translation puts it this way:
“Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life.  Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.”

Finally, in the closing verses of the whole Bible, we find these words in Revelation 22:18-19:
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

The Silence Of The Scriptures

With such clear commandments and instructions, it is clear that we must follow God’s word and only God’s word.  We need commandments and examples for everything we do.  But this is not the way most of the religious world believes.  And there is a battle raging regarding the silence of the scriptures.  And this battle rages not only between the Lord’s Church and the apostate church and the denominations, but it has found it’s footing even among some of our own brethren.

We often cite the explicitness of God’s instructions when He told Noah to build the ark of gopher wood.  By requiring gopher wood, it excluded every other kind of wood.

If God had to put in the Bible every thing He did not want, the world could not contain all of the books required to document these.

Genesis 6:22 says:
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”

Another translation says:
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”

From this we are certain that Noah did no more and he did no less.

There are many familiar examples in the Bible, which clearly show the results when men do something that God did not command.  We are all familiar with Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire. Leviticus 10:1 says that they offered ‘that which He commanded them not.”

We know about Saul saving the best of the flocks for sacrifice when God told him to utterly destroy everything.  He destroyed most of them, but he decided on his own to keep the best.  It seemed like a good idea.  What could be wrong with that?  But Samuel makes it clear in I Samuel 15:22-23 what God expects:

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

If Saul had just followed what God told him to do and nothing else, he would have been pleasing to God.  It’s as simple as that.

Another example we are familiar with is when Uzzah stayed the ark with his hand when the oxen shook it and God struck him dead (II Samuel 6:6-7).  David finally figures out what went wrong in I Chronicles 15:13:

“For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.”

Another translation puts it this way:
“We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”

But the clearest teaching on the silence of the scriptures is when God himself declares what His commandments mean and how it excludes all else.  In the book of Jeremiah, God’s prophet was instructed to stand in the gate of the temple compound and urge the nation to “amend your ways” (Jeremiah 7:3).  What had they done?  What was their transgression?  Jeremiah 7:31 says:

“and they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.”

How much clearer does it have to be?  God didn’t tell them to do it.  He didn’t want them to do it.  In fact, He didn’t even think about what they did before they did it.  It’s as if God said: “I didn’t tell you to do that!  Why did you do it?”

In Hebrews 7:14 mentioned earlier, the writer is speaking about the change in priesthood and makes it clear “which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”  Moses said nothing about Judah and the priesthood, so, under the old covenant, they had no authority to change the priesthood.  Only by the authority of God, under the New Covenant, did this change to Jesus Christ.  Paul reasons regarding circumcision in Acts 15:24 when he says:

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment.”

There is one more passage that really makes it clear how God feels about not doing things exactly the way He commanded, neither adding to nor taking away.  In II Chronicles 30, there were those who had not cleansed themselves in order to be sanctified unto the Lord for Passover.  Some might look at this situation and say, “Well, surely that didn’t matter here.  After all, the important thing was the Passover.  Surely God won’t care about something as insignificant as ceremonial cleansing.”  But the Bible makes it clear that it DID matter:

II Chronicles 30:18 says:

“for a multitude of the people, even Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written.”

Well, they knew what they were supposed to do, but they didn’t do it.  They thought it didn’t matter.  They thought it would be overlooked.  Surely just being at the Passover was the only thing that mattered.  No, it was all important.  And they are condemned because they did it “otherwise than it was written.”  Another translation says that they did it “contrary to what was written.”  And, lest there be any doubt about their sin regarding being cleansed, listen to the next part of the verse:

“But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, the Lord God pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”

If they had done no wrong, if it wasn’t important, if just being there for the Passover was all that mattered, then why did Hezekiah ask God to pardon or forgive them because they were not cleansed?  And why, in
verse 20 does it say:

“And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.”

They did wrong – they sinned.  They didn’t keep all of the commandments of God.

In Paul’s letter to the Church at Colossae, he condemned the practice of “will worship” which is after the precepts and doctrines of men (Col 2:22-23).  Vine defines “will worship” as “voluntarily adopted worship, whether unbidden or forbidden.”

The silence of the scriptures amounts to no authority to do what is not prescribed and is thus prohibitive.  Could this be any clearer?

II John 9 says:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”

If we did not abide by this clear Bible definition regarding the silence of the scriptures, then we would  permit individual cups and loaves, instrumental music, Sunday school and church camps.  We would also permit missionary societies, church supported orphanages, colleges, and hospitals.  We would allow cake sales and car washes to raise money for the spreading of the gospel and the care of needy saints.  There’s just no end to it.

We must hold the silence of the scriptures in equal reverence with the scriptures themselves!

We are bound to do no more and no less than the scriptures require by command and example.  Indeed, we must, as men of old have said, speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.

Are Some Scriptures More Important Than Others?

There is one other danger that is lurking in the denominational world.  And that is the elevation of specific scriptures to a superior position.  And the thought process is that these key scriptures are above all others.  If other scriptures are violated, there’s not a problem if these superior scriptures are maintained.  Wasn’t this the problem in Romans 2:21-25:

“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?  Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?  Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.”

What is Paul saying here?  Well, it was simply that the Jews placed a lot of stock in the physical act of circumcision.  They thought that if they kept that, the failure to keep the other commandments of God would be overlooked.  They placed so much weight on circumcision that they even tried to get it brought forward into the New Testament and make it binding on Christians.  But that is set straight in Acts 15:24 regarding the silence of the scriptures.

“For as much as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment.”

Various denominations want to elevate scriptures such as John 3:16 which, when taken alone, they say that only faith is necessary.  And they cite Ephesians 2:8 when they say that they are saved by grace through faith alone.  But these scriptures, among others that are placed in a superior position, along with their false interpretation, must force those of this false doctrine to ignore many other scriptures.  We often cite the explicitness of God’s instructions when He told Noah to build the ark of gopher wood.  But if he hadn’t used pitch to seal it, it would have sunk.  No scripture is superior to another such that it permits the violation of any commandment.  No scripture is in conflict with another such that we would have to choose to obey one over another.  God would not put us in such a position.  We have the two greatest commandments found in Matthew 22: 36-40, (1) “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”  (2) “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  But all other commandments fit in with these two and support these and there is no conflict.  All can be kept and all must be kept at the same time.

We must always abide by a “thus saith the Lord”.  And that is what the Bible says: “Thus saith the Lord”, “and the Lord said”, “the Lord spake”, and “thus saith Jehovah”.  Together, these phrases are used a total of 3,808 times in the Old Testament.  In the New Testament, we find the phrase “speak as the oracles of God” in I Peter 4:11.  The Bible is the Word of God and inspired.  It is complete.  We need nothing else.

We Can Understand And Obey God’s Word

And the reality is that the Bible can be read and understood according to Ephesians 3:4.  And if it can be understood, it can be obeyed.  Like the servant who spoke to Naaman when he was enraged about dipping in the river Jordan.  In I Kings 5:13:

“And his servant came near, and spake unto him, and said, My Father, if the prophet had bid thee do something great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?  How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?”

As is so often the case, what God asks isn’t difficult.  Instead, like Naaman, it is a matter of the stubbornness of man.  What God wants is not what men think ought to be.  Isaiah 55:8-9 says:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Conclusion

The Bible and the Bible alone, is the word of God.  We cannot add to or take away from it.  We must keep all its commandments.  The second part of the great commission, which is often over-looked, says “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”  If the New Testament commands it, we must keep it – ALL of it.  I Corinthians 2:9 says:

“for to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.”

Finally, we must respect the silence of the scriptures and not go beyond what is written.  We cannot do more or less.

Earlier, we referred to the example of buying a used car and agreeing to a third party standard to establish truth.  We have shown how the Bible is that authority in spiritual matters.

But there are two other things that can happen, even when that standard is established beyond a shadow of a doubt.  First, someone can see the truth and say, “I see what it says and I still don’t agree.  I know it says my car is worth $4,000, but I still want $5,000.  I think I’m right and it’s wrong.”  That will be true with the Bible.  Many will see the truth and still choose to believe something else.

The other thing that can happen is that truth is established but someone, knowing what the price is, and being able to pay the price, will walk away and refuse to pay that price.  Many people will see what the Bible says.  They will understand what it requires.  They will agree that the Bible tells us the life that must be lived in order to inherit eternal life.  And they will say that the price is too high or they will say it isn’t worth it.  And, they will walk away and refuse to pay that price.  And, sadly, they will walk away, perhaps never to consider the gospel again on this side of eternity.  As it is written in Deuteronomy 15:5, God will bless us only if we fully obey Him and are careful to follow ALL of His commandments.

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

Most people agree that nausea is among the worst feelings in the world. It’s one thing to be nauseated because we’ve got a bug of some sort, but it’s quite another to be nauseated because a person has been partying and getting drunk. Listen to Dr. Luke.

Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

Surfeiting is a word describing the nausea felt after drinking alcohol. This is the only place in the New Testament where we find this word. We’re warned to be careful so we don’t allow our hearts to be overcharged with this behavior.

Some translations use the word “dissipation.” That means intemperance, or indulging in sensual behavior, or wasteful consumption.

Have you ever seen video of fraternity initiations where new pledges are encouraged to consume enormous amounts of alcohol? In spite of vomiting, some of these kids die of alcohol poisoning. They’ve given into the sins of the flesh. Their sin has a high price.

We’re warned to not allow our hearts to be overtaken, but we’re equally warned by the term “overcharged” to not allow ourselves to let our hearts be deceived. Like the young fraternity pledge who thinks his self-indulgence will not kill him, we’re all able to think the affects of the world will not kill our spiritual service to God. It’s a horrible miscalculation when God’s people fool themselves with worldliness.

We can choke to death. And that’s the warning Jesus gives when he talks of the seed of the gospel falling among thorns and being choked by the world.

Even worst than nausea is the inability to catch your breath, choking!

Literal choking can happen in one of two ways: internal or external.

That is, we can ingest something that prevents us from being able to breath. Maybe we take in so much of something that we’re unable to breath. Or maybe something “goes down the wrong way” as we say and we start choking.

Or, we can be crushed by something around our throat or our chest so that we’re prevented from breathing. We’re strangled or crushed by something that prohibits us from breathing properly.

In the parable Jesus refers to external choking because He’s talking about how a seed will sprout, but the thorns will literally choke the seedling and prevent its growth. External choking.

But in Luke 21:34 the choking can be internal, too. And after all, choking is choking. If it’s not remedied, it results in death; spiritual death, in the case of these verses.

At first glance, we might conclude that when Jesus talks about that which fell among thorns we’re to believe that these external circumstances – the thorns – are beyond a person’s control. Jesus tells us that the soil is the heart of a man. Men can control their heart, their soil.

Luke 8:11-15 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

So are we to believe that we have no control over our own heart?

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 12:35 “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

Those who crucified Christ had the ability to change their heart. Earlier they cried for His blood. Now they’re crying out to discover what they must do to be saved.

Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

We have the ability to control our heart. That means we can control our desires, passions and priorities. We control the choices we make.

While circumstances affect all of us, our response to those circumstances is completely up to us. Consider Job’s reaction to his challenges. Consider Abraham’s obedience to God’s demand that he give up his only son. Consider Christ’s response to God’s desire that He sacrifice Himself. In every case, choices were made. In every case, desires were determined by the heart. Every man controls his own choices.

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Galatians 6:5 “For every man shall bear his own burden.”

James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Accountability equals being answerable. It means being responsible to someone, or being responsible for doing something. Spiritually, it means answering to God for our behavior toward Him.

The first part of Romans 10:10 declares, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”

Romans 14:12 “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

We can’t blame anybody else or anything else for our refusal to obey the gospel or our inability to bear fruit for the Lord. We can’t hide behind our circumstances or others when it comes to our Christian duty. We have to behave like God’s people or suffer the consequences.

There are countless obstacles, but I’d like to focus on the thorns of worldliness because they may present one of the greatest enemies to Christians.

When we think of worldliness we might think of drinking, being immoral and partying. We might think of gambling, dancing and all kinds of things, but God’s Word has a different definition.

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

The world here isn’t God’s creation. Nor is it the world that God so loved that He sent Jesus as a sacrifice. “World” here are the thorns of the world – the lusts, passions and activities of people who want to do what they want to do. There’s no sacrifice happening here. There is only indulgence. There is no discipline, only a child-like quest to satisfy our own desires. There’s little long-term consideration, but mainly there is the quest to fulfill desires right now.

We’re told of the three sins that exist:
1. lust of the flesh or sensuality
2. lust of the eyes or materialism and
3. pride of life or pomposity (showing off, if you will).

All sins fit into one or more of these categories. These represent the thorns of worldliness capable of choking the Word and making us unfruitful.

The lust of the flesh involves a fleshly way of thinking and acting. “Flesh” involves more than the elements that make up the human body. It is a way of thinking and living that is contrary to the way of God. It is contrasted with spiritual living in Romans 8 and Galatians 5. These chapters suggest that the word “flesh” includes the mind of the person and his reasoning abilities.

The word “lust” (desire) can be for things good or bad. God has given to man certain desires and these are all good within themselves. We have the desire for food, for drink, for sleep, for sex. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these desires. But they can be directed in the wrong channels and become sinful. While the desire for food is natural and good, gluttony is sinful. While the desire to quench thirst is proper, drunkenness is a sin. Sleep is a normal need, but “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -and your poverty will come in like a vagabond” (Prov. 6:10-11). Laziness is a sin. The fulfillment of sexual desires within marriage is of God and is, therefore, holy. But sex taken outside the bounds of a husband and wife is fornication and is sinful. When we have desires for what is forbidden, we are headed toward “love of the world.”

The lust of the eyes has to do with pleasures that gratify the sight and the mind in such a way to lead one away from God. It’s found in people who want everything they see. It is the attitude that believes that happiness can be found in things which money can buy, of what the life can experience and what the eye can see. We must remember that the things which are seen are temporal (2 Cor. 4:18). This is what worldliness is: emphasis on that which is temporal.

The boastful pride of life is the spirit that attempts to show people how important we are. This is why we buy houses, cars, clothing, appliances, and other luxuries which we cannot afford. We want to impress people. We want to boast about our own greatness. The “buy now, pay later” advertising gets millions of people to buy things beyond their means. Why? To impress people with our material possessions. That is worldliness.

We’re capable of choking on the very thing we feed on. That’s a problem in the lives of too many Christians. They feed on the pleasures of the world and ultimately, they choke on them.

We’re capable of allowing things to crush out the Word and strangle us. We wrap ourselves too tightly with things that distract us from the Christian walk. They sometimes choke us.

Some people busy themselves with entertainment, pleasure, fun and excitement. They commit treason against their own heart. That is, they betray their heart’s allegiance to God by devoting too much of themselves to things that are worldly. Brethren, worldliness doesn’t have to be immoral. Acts of worldliness might be things innocent enough if kept in balance – if put in proper perspective with service to God.

Luke’s account gives us 3 things that make up this worldliness: cares, riches and pleasures.

The cares or worries of this life deal with our anxieties over material things such as our food, clothing, or shelter. They can also deal with our cares about life’s experiences – what fun are we going to have, what entertaining things are we going to do? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus, with His masterful word pictures, teaches us not to worry about our physical life.

Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Anxiety about these physical needs or desires are indicative of little faith according to Matthew 6:30 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

Instead of worry, our lives must be characterized by prayer (Phil. 4:6) and action (Matt. 6:33 – “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”). Anxiety about these things can choke out the word and that is worldliness.

The riches of this life are another source of worldliness.

1 Timothy 6:9-12 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Two metaphors are used by Paul. One of a trapped animal unable to free himself and one of a drowning swimmer. That’s how the quest for riches affect us. The condemnation isn’t for unlawful gain – the condemnation is the desire to be rich in what this world has to offer. It’s a foregone conclusion that gaining wealth dishonestly is sinful. We can desire wealth through completely honest means and still be worldly because we’re permitted that desire to overwhelm our commitment to the Lord through the Church.

At the conclusion of the story of the rich man who decided he needed bigger barns for all his worldly goods, Christ pointed out that his soul would be required of him. “Then whose shall these thing fall to,” was the question Christ asked. Who will get it when you die? Then He concludes in Luke 12:21 “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

The pleasures of this life also constitute worldliness. These would be any pleasures that would draw us away from the godly life dictated by the Word.

Worldliness falls into 2 categories. There are things that are wrong within themselves because God has declared them to be wrong. Anything that falls within the description of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 is sinful because God declares that it is. This includes sexual sins, sins of the disposition, sins of action. Peter speaks of this kind of worldliness when he talks about “a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (1 Pet. 4:3). Paul is emphatic in ordering us to “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18). Anything that falls into this category is sinful – it is of this world.

Many movies are sinful because of these passages. Parents, do you exercise control over what your children see? We’ve got too many kids in the Lord’s Church going to movies and feeding themselves on the filth of the world. The Internet and television are too often unchecked in the homes of God’s people. These worldly temptations aren’t conducive to a godly, spiritual life. They constitute worldliness and they’ll choke the Word. Parents, I encourage you to get the televisions and computers out of your kid’s rooms. Become educated on what your kids are watching and what they’re doing. Don’t be naive. Don’t let worldliness grab your children. Be the example before them that you ought to be. Live what you preach. Be responsible for the soil of your children’s hearts. Guard their hearts, as you must guard your own. Teach them to guard their own hearts.

There is a worldliness that is very destructive to Christians. It has to do with things that are not wrong within themselves, but constitute worldliness by their use. Paul said that Demas loved this present world. I rather doubt that Demas got involved in immorality or drunkenness. My guess is that Demas was probably afraid that he would die if he stayed with Paul in Rome. He loved this present world and was not ready to leave it. We all have to be very careful so we don’t become worldly in this way – where we love this life more than serving God.

These are the people who have so many interests in life that the things of God are choked out. People become too busy to pray, too busy to study, too busy to visit the sick, too busy to be involved in responsibilities at home and too busy to come to all the services. That’s worldliness!

Some people charge God with not giving them enough time to do His Will. “I don’t have enough time” is something we hear quite often. God gives us all the same number of hours in a day. He gives us time to do everything to please Him. It’s amazing that people still have time for sports, for TV, for entertainment, for higher education or for anything else they want to do. The truth is that we find time to do what we want to do.

When we get so involved in the desire to make money that we have no time for Jesus, that’s worldliness! When we’re so involved in entertaining ourselves that we neglect our Christian obligations, that’s worldliness! When we’re busy jumping from one exciting thing to another while the Church takes a back seat, that’s worldliness! These are childish behaviors. These are behaviors that lack the discipline necessary to live successfully for God.

Moral worldliness. That’s what happens when we allow other things – things not sinful within themselves – to choke out our spiritual life. These things become the most important things in our life. Here’s the truth of the matter. You can get by without sports, entertainment, movies, and a host of other things that consume people. You can’t get by without the Lord and the Church that He died for.

Colossians 3:1, 2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Jesus tells us that worldliness will “weight us down” and “choke” us. These processes seldom take place immediately. Usually they gradually and slowly grow in our lives. Thorns begin to grow as the seed grows. The thorns grow a little each day.

Worldliness creeps up on us, ultimately choking us.

The Christian gradually accepts and then adopts the ways of the world. Matthew 24:38, 39 “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

The people of Noah’s day were going on with their regular lives totally oblivious to the fact that the flood was coming. People come to feel comfortable in their worldly way of life. They come to look upon even sinful activities as being the normal way of life. We accept our “respectable worldliness” as the way that most decent people live. We fail to see the choking effect of this kind of worldliness. Worldliness is deceptive.

It’s important that we understand worldliness will destroy us! Choking will kill us.
James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

The Lord is emphatic. Worldliness places us in hostility to God. It is destructive. We have already seen John’s statement that “if any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Our love of the world will result in our being destroyed along with the world.

Paul shows that those who are guilty of the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Philippians 3:18, 19 “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”

These are worldly people because they set their minds on earthly things. Their end is definite: it is destruction! Worldliness will lead a person to Hell. People who are traveling the pathway of worldliness are traveling toward eternal destruction.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

God’s people have no business making alliances with non-Christians. That would include marriage to a non-Christian, but Christians should take care so as not to marry a nominal Christian who might lead them toward worldliness. Our closest friends can’t be those of the world. Our closest friends ought to be God’s people – people who have heaven as their goal.

Our dreams and behaviors ought to be so distinctly different from the world that we find ourselves not having enough in common with them to run closely with them. As temples of God we have nothing in common with pagans. At least we shouldn’t unless we’ve become so worldly that we find ourselves having more in common with unbelievers than believers. And that’s a terrible place for a Christian.

Christians need an uneasiness in being around people of the world. We should be uncomfortable with their behavior, their language, their aspirations, their desires and their lifestyle. Unfortunately, it’s not always so. We see Christians who are sometimes MORE comfortable around unbelievers. That tells us they’re worldly and attracted to the world more than they’re attracted to God. They’re not guarding their hearts. Rather, they’re allowing their hearts to envy the lifestyle of the world – of sinners. Their secret (and sometimes not so secret) desire is to be like the world.

Proverbs 23:17 “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”

The Gospel is the seed. It’s the same for all people. Our heart is the soil. Its condition is dependent on how well we’ve prepared it, how well we tend to it, and how well we protect it.

If you were going to plant seed of any type, you’d first prepare the soil. Imagine tossing seed in the middle of a briar patch full of thorns and weeds. What hope would we give it? How senseless would that be? We often do that with our own soul. We take God’s Word and attempt to mix it in with all the stuff of this world that we so dearly love. We want our life to center around pleasure, fun, entertainment and getting ahead – but we want to kinda, sorta live the Christian life, too. We want our worldliness and we want our Christianity, too. IMPOSSIBLE. We can’t expect that to succeed any more than we can expect seedlings in a literal garden to flourish with weeds and thorns that would choke it.

There are 2 contrasting ideas or questions:
a) What will the world do to the Word?
b) What will the Word do to your cares of the world?

In caring for the soil of our heart we have to deal with both questions. We must decide.

We know the answer to the first question is found in the theme of our lesson – the world will CHOKE the Word. It will cause the Word to be unfruitful. It will cause the Word to die in our heart where we serve it no more.

What will the Word do to our cares of the world? The Word will cause us to put the world in a position of lesser importance. It will cause us to see the world as temporary. It will prevent us from serving the world and our own desires. It will inspire us to seek heaven and God’s Will. Knowledge of the gospel coupled with a commitment to live by it is crucial.

What are you sacrificing for heaven? What worldly pursuits, though moral or decent, are you giving up so you can be a stronger Christian? What is the priority of your life?

Those temporal things that consume you represent the thorns in your life. In a literal garden we pull up the thorns and weeds that might choke the seed we’ve planted because we know those things have NO VALUE. The seed we’ve planted is far more valuable than the briars that try to grow up around it. So, rightfully (and wisely) we get rid of the things that have no value. Spiritually, it’s no different.

It’s interesting that the valuable seed requires diligence. That’s why our Christian walk is described as work. Paul talked to the Thessalonians about their work of faith. It is a work to maintain faithfulness to the gospel. Thorns require no work. They just grow.

Peter tells us 1 Peter chapter 1 to give diligence to make our calling and election sure by adding things to our life. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity are the things we all have to work to add into our lives. These are opposite of indulgence and doing what we want. Why do some Christians fall? Because they refuse the admonition of 1 Peter 1:5-11. It’s not surprising because Peter warns us that those who don’t add these things are blind, can’t see long-term and have forgotten they were purged from their sins.

Crave a clear, clean spot where the seed can flourish. Work to prepare the soil of your heart. How much more attractive and sensible is it to have an area where we’ve turned over the soil, pulled out all the weeds and briars, and prepared the soil as best we can? Think of your life in the same way. Clear away the things that get in your way of improved spiritual service.

Brethren, we see worldliness creep into our lives whenever we devote ourselves MORE to the pursuits of our own desires than we do to serving the Lord. Sometimes we’re fostering things of NO VALUE instead of fostering the seed of the Gospel.

Today, if pleasure, entertainment, money, houses, cars, toys or other pursuits dominate your thoughts, time and energy then you’re deceived by the cares, pleasures and riches of the world. They’re choking the Word in your life. You’re serving things of no value and giving up your soul in the process.

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

If we refuse to make time to clear away the clutter in our spiritual life then we’ll never be the person God wants us to be. The constant going back and forth in service to self, then to God will not result in a fruitful life. We’ll be giving up our soul in exchange for something far less valuable.

For some, it’s the need to grow up and become more mature in Christ, in their faith. It’s time to become more sober minded in walking with Christ. Some don’t take their Christian life seriously enough.

Ephesians 4:14-16 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Paul points out two kinds of people who behave as children. There are those who are taken with whatever is right before their eyes, the most recent novelty. Take any small child through the toy aisle of Wal-Mart and you’ll soon find out they want every toy they see. Some Christians behave the same way. They follow whatever is right in front of their eyes. Long-term is never a consideration. Right now is all they know. They’re like children who can’t behave seriously.

The other category of childish people is those who are deceived. They allow other people to influence them away from the Truth. They’re not dedicated enough to the Truth to withstand the deception of others. Predators of children know exactly how to entice kids. They deceive them with all sorts of tricks. Kids often are unaware of the real dangers. Spiritually, we have to be mature enough to avoid deceptions that would cause us to abandon the Faith.

Our growth hinges on our stedfastness to the Truth of the Gospel. It hinges on our willingness to clear out those things that would get in our way. It hinges on putting first things first. It hinges on our willingness to sacrifice things in this life so we can have heaven someday.

Choke or grow. The seed of the gospel will do one of these two things in our life. Don’t work at being a Christian and choke. Or work at being a Christian and grow.

Tend the garden of your heart. Be careful what you permit to enter your life. Be careful of the things that might overtake your spiritual life. Don’t allow thorns to ruin your hope of heaven.

Titus 2:1-6 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.”

Recently, I found myself in a conversation about “young peoples’ meeting.” The observation was made that these are a rather recent phenomenon having begun in earnest within the last 25 years or so. For those of us past the age of 40 we recall young speakers being given the night of New Year’s Eve at the annual Oklahoma New Year’s Meeting – a tradition Lynwood relished for years, one he knew firsthand from his days as a young aspiring preacher. Otherwise, young people and old alike frequented what we merely referred to as “gospel meetings.” Young men were often called on to lead songs, but the young people were never put in positions of leadership. Congregations rarely placed the burden of leadership or authority on the shoulders of young people.

We have unwittingly placed a danger upon our young people – the danger of being in authority. We’ve sometimes put them in positions for which they’re ill equipped. This certainly isn’t a condemnation of so-called “young speakers’ meetings” or “young peoples’ meetings.” It is, however, an expression of concern for putting young people in positions of leadership for which they aren’t ready.

I applaud the older, wiser heads who protected us when my generation was growing up. They knew we were not mature enough, or knowledgeable enough to take on the mantle of leadership. Somewhere along the way, the older folks sat back and decided it was time to put that mantle on a generation lacking experience, wisdom and knowledge. It was unwise of the older generation to do that. It hasn’t served to help the novices (which all of us were at one time) develop into mature Christians. Rather, it has served to harm their spiritual development and oftentimes, resulted in a rebellion against the standards of God’s Word.

How do we help young people, or any novice in the faith, grow to maturity? Biblical principles show us the way.

Older people are given the responsibility to teach the younger. There are 2 obligations given: 1) to the older to teach and 2) to the younger to learn. If the older refuse to teach properly, then we can hardly place blame on the younger for failing to learn. It’s time for the older folks to look in the mirror. Too often the older retire from leading, teaching and bearing the responsibility of helping the novices mature.

While it is entirely possible for an older person to hold on to the past and refuse to pass on the mantle (for whatever reason), it’s necessary that the younger generation be taught responsible service to the Lord in the local congregation. Age catches up to all of us, if we live long enough. Our memory, our abilities and our physical strength sometimes hinder us from serving as we once did. That should help spur all of us to teach and mentor the young while we’re able – and so they’ll be prepared for service when our abilities wind down.

Young people need instruction. Older women are obligated by the scriptures to teach the younger women. Older men are obligated to instruct the younger men. Passing on the Truth of the Gospel to younger generations is the duty of every responsible adult Christian.

So, what can we do to improve?

One, the older generation has to be grounded in the Gospel. If we’re not devoted to the Gospel, then we can hardly be successful at teaching our young people. If we’re not living for the Lord in the way befitting age and wisdom, then we’re unable to have the positive influence demanded of us.

Two, the older generation can seize every opportunity to help the younger people – in every way. Preparation for godly service is needed. We need to teach our young people how to study the Bible. We need to teach our young people what God demands of them. We need to ground our young people in the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. We need to instruct our young people in Christian behavior. We need to pray for our young people. We need to lead them by example.

Three, we need to give our young people opportunities to serve. Young women need to learn how to cook and take food to those in need in our congregations. They need to learn how to visit the sick with their mothers, grandmothers or older women of the congregation. They need to learn their role in their own future Christian home. They need to learn that their role in the Church is vital to the strength of the congregation.

Young men need to learn public service, if they’ve got that ability. If not, they need to learn what they can do. Church buildings need to be cleaned, lawns need to be mowed, sick need to be visited, those less fortunate need to be cared for, songs need to be led, sermons prepared and delivered…on and on it goes.

In both cases, young women or men need to be involved, but not relied upon for leadership. It’s a mistake for a young person to be thrust into a position prematurely. I have seen too many young people overtaken with arrogance and conceit because a congregation thought too highly of them and their ability. While our brotherhood has many talented young people, we must avoid placing the mantle of leadership on them too soon. Maturity and sober-mindedness are required before a person can responsibly accept leadership.

It does take time. There is no substitute for the passage of time, but the mere passage of time doesn’t necessarily result in maturity or sobriety. We have to make wise use of that time to teach our young people what it means to serve God responsibly. We have to make wise use of that time to show them the things others showed us. Yes, we ought to remind them that we were once young, and inexperienced, and uninformed. Somebody taught us and now we want to teach them.

Accountability is central to responsible growth. If we neglect to hold our young people accountable to us (as parents) and to God, then we will fail them completely. We should expect hard work and good effort from our young people. We should expect them to behave as Christians, no matter the situation or circumstance. We should correct them when they need it. We should encourage them to serve loyally in the local congregation. We need to teach them the importance of their own Christian influence. And brethren, we should watch for their souls by guarding them from poor associations, both in and out of the Church.

Young people are subject to pressures and temptations somewhat unique to youth. We need to be mindful of this and help them through the difficult years of growing up. Subjects like dating only in the Church, how to behave on dates, how to behave in the public worship, how to answer those who will criticize their dress, how to talk to their friends about the gospel and a host of other subjects should be easily discussed with young people. No, every older person won’t be able to successfully affect every young person – but every young person needs one or more older persons who can and will openly discuss things that will help them grow in faithfulness to God.

We owe it to our children to save them. We’ll never save them unless we instill the gospel into their hearts. They must establish their own faith based on the Word of God.

Deut. 6:7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Their time for leadership will come soon enough. Without the proper preparation our congregations and brotherhood will suffer. Without sufficient preparation they will not be rooted and grounded in the Truth. We owe them better preparation so their spiritual future can be bright for the Lord.

As they prove themselves responsible in small things we’re able to pass on to them larger things. Step by step we help them reach their full potential and spiritual maturity. We guide them and work hard for their success – because their success becomes our success. They become objects of our pride, rightfully so.

May the Lord bless our young people with wisdom to always live for Him. May He bless the older people with the wisdom to teach the younger the ways of the Lord. And may God bless all of us to live until the very end of our lives in faithful service.

Resolved. The verb form means to reach a decision or make a determination. The noun form means firmness of purpose or a determination or decision; a fixed purpose. Some people are resolved to do certain things, or to avoid doing things. That is, they’ve made up their minds about some things.

The Bible contains many stories of resolve and determination. Moses, under God’s orders, negotiated with Pharaoh to let God’s people leave Egypt. He was resolved that God’s conditions of walking away would be met. Pharaoh made it hard, but Moses pressed on. God helped things along by bringing plagues on Egypt, but without the resolve of Moses to stand toe-to-toe with Pharaoh God’s people would have remained enslaved.

Abraham resolved to obey God even though he didn’t always know how God would see him through. He left home and family because God said, “Go.” Throughout his life he followed God’s commandments because he had his mind made up that serving God was the priority of his life. He trusted God.

David resolved to fight for God when he slew Goliath. Years later, as King, he sinned, but when confronted with what he had done – he resolved to repent. He couldn’t avoid the consequences of his sin, but he made up his mind that serving God mattered most.

Peter apparently resolved that if all other disciples forsook the Lord, it would never happen to him. He was wrong. That’s why we see him weeping after realizing that he had denied Christ three times. He resolved he’d live more carefully and more diligently from that moment forward.

Paul was resolved to punish Christians. He considered them a threat to his Jewish heritage and the Old Law. Blinded while enroute to Damascus he was forced by God to think about his behavior and his faith. When a man preached the gospel of Christ to him, he resolved to obey it. After his baptism he resolved to work as tirelessly for Christ as he ever had in working against Christ ignorantly.

Felix resolved to ignore the gospel message searching for a more convenient time to obey.

Agrippa resolved to almost consider what Paul preached.

The rich young ruler resolved to mourn because Christ commanded him to sell what he had and give to the poor, then follow Him. The Bible says, “He went away sorrowful, for he had many riches.”

So many stories of resolve. Some good. Some bad. Some happy. Some sad.

Resolve speaks to God’s own resolve that men make up their own minds. When God created us he gave us the ability to decide for ourselves. The entire gospel message is a message that appeals to the sensibilities of mankind. It’s rational. It makes sense to obey it. God wants us to want to serve Him because we’ve made up our own minds to do so. He won’t force anything on us.

Too frequently perhaps we’re like the squirrel. Resolved only for one moment in time, but searching for our next leap. We jump from one thing to another, never fully decided about where we ought to perch in life. As a result we fail to grow.

Growth is impossible when you’re not planted. Do a search on your Bible software for the words “grow” or “rooted.” The Lord expects His people to be resolved to obey Him no matter what. He insists we be rooted and grounded in the Truth so we can grow, bear fruit and reach Heaven.

In 1896 James H. Fillmore, Sr. wrote the hymn “I Am Resolved.”

I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heavenly way.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

To what are you resolved?

Yes, we can absolutely know the Truth. The Bible tells us so.

The often cited verse is John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Clear enough. Time and again Christ talked of telling the truth. He spoke about the way of God being truth.

Truth can be defined as that which is in accordance with fact or reality. Truth opposes myth or fiction or imaginations.

2Tim. 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society or historical context and are not absolute. For example, some argue that the teaching of 1st Corinthians 11 on headship are not binding today because they are relative. The culture of that day must be considered to put that teaching into historical perspective, they claim.

It’s easy to see the draw of such a doctrine. We can easily explain away any doctrine or command that puts restrictions on us. Such a doctrine has become the spiritual equivalent of diplomatic immunity. God’s Law doesn’t apply, or it really doesn’t mean what it says.

Others embrace portions of relativism, but won’t go so far as to declare there is no truth. For them, it’s more comfortable to acknowledge some truth while rejecting other truth. It’s the best of both worlds. It makes no more sense than relativism. In fact it’s far less consistent than relativism, but equally destructive to God’s commands.

Something may be truth for you, but not for me. And sometimes one thing is true, while at other times it’s not. It certainly leads to contentions and needful debate. Yet, we read in 1 Cor. 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

Now how is that possible? If there is relative truth then there must necessarily be debate and contentions. People must discuss and argue about what is true and what isn’t. And the object of that debate isn’t what God has to say about it, but rather what men have to say about it. Times change. Cultures change. So the debate must be continual if we’re to determine truth for us at any specific moment in time. Even then, it’s not for sure because we can never really know what is true. This describes a high risk proposition – not what God has architected to save us!

And history can’t really help because if we buy into this false doctrine – what was true yesterday may not be true for us today. Truth is ever changing as it’s influenced by both mankind and time.

Nevermind that the Hebrew writer was inspired to write in Heb. 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” That’s either true or false. If it’s true then God’s message given through Christ and inspiration of the Holy Spirit is still true – just as it’s always been true. Or it’s never been true and it never will be true. And if the later is so, then God is a liar.

Rom. 3:3, 4 “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

God gave us Truth when He sent His Son to earth to be the sacrifice necessary so mankind could be saved. He gave us Truth when Christ preached what God gave Him. He gave us Truth when He sent the Holy Spirit to give His words to the men who wrote the Scriptures. God breathed it. And God did not breathe lies. He breathed Truth.

It can be known because the Scriptures teach edification, understanding and discernment. What God gave can be preached, understood and obeyed. That means the Truth can and must be known.

1Cor. 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

1Cor. 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

If the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe, then it is logical that men are able to understand that preaching.

2Tim. 4:17 “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

The Gentiles were able to know the Truth by Paul’s preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, we can all know the Truth by the same preaching of the Gospel. We obey it by first knowing it or understanding it.

Consider the preaching at Pentecost. Peter preached the Gospel to the people who crucified the Lord. They understood what he preached. Many of them obeyed it and became disciples, Christians. From then to now – and until the end of time – that is how Christians are made. They’re made by understanding and obeying the Gospel of Christ.

Rom. 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith isn’t possible without the Word of God. We hear the Word of God when we listen to it preached or when we read it. We learn or know Truth when we hear the Gospel. That establishes our faith.

Faith isn’t blind. Faith is reasonable, logical and makes complete sense once a person knows God’s Word. God’s Truth is His Word.

Rev. 20:12, 13 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”

Judged by our works means what? Who’s going to determine if our works are worthy of eternal damnation or eternal bliss? By what standard is our behavior going to be judged?

Am I going to stand in judgment condemned for something that in my culture, society and time was wrong, but somebody else is justified because it was true (or righteous) in their culture, society and time? If so, God is a respector of persons.

Acts 10:34 “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” Of a truth, Peter? God isn’t a respecter of persons? You mean God will judge us all by the same standard? That’s exactly what the Scriptures teach.

To know God is to obey Him. To obey Him is to follow His Word. To obey Him is to love Him.

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Knowing the Truth frees us from sin and the threat of the second death – a devil’s hell.

Not only can we know the Truth – we must! Our souls depend on it. Our eternal destiny will be determined by our knowledge and obedience to the Truth.