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Articles

Give Attendance to Reading

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The aged apostle Paul penned these words to the young evangelist Timothy: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).

In 1966, Words of Truth ran an article by Grady Latham in which he reported the time it takes for an average person to read each book of the New Testament, as appears below.

    Matthew 1:43
    Mark :45
    Luke 1:25
    John 1:00
    Acts 1:20
    Romans :35
    1 Corinthians :28
    2 Corinthians :23
    Galatians :13
    Ephesians :13
    Philippians :08
    Colossians :08
    1 Thessalonians :07
    2 Thessalonians :04
    1 Timothy :10
    2 Timothy :07
    Titus :03
    Philemon :01
    Hebrews :26
    James :10
    1 Peter :10
    2 Peter :07
    1 John :08
    2 John :01
    3 John :01
    Jude :02
    Revelation :41

If brother Latham’s information is accurate, then the average reader could complete the entire New Testament in 10 hours and 39 minutes. Willard Collins reported in the Gospel Advocate in 1967 that a public reading was accomplished in 15 hours and 25 minutes.

Granted, one may not be able to mediate on the passages while reading if they are to be completed in this amount of time. One can, however, use a pencil to place a small checkmark in the margin next to a verse he wants to study more deeply later, or keep a small notebook handy to jot down a reference for future study.

Spend some time with God’s Word, and “give attendance to reading.”

Articles

Truth vs. “e-Error”

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When used appropriately, the Internet can be a wonderful tool for Bible study and research. You can study from a variety of translations simultaneously on your computer screen or smartphone, read lesson outlines and articles about Biblical topics, even listen to gospel sermons on a weekly basis.

The World Wide Web has made the spread of the truth much easier. Unfortunately, however, the Internet has also made the spread of error much easier. We must use caution when reading the writings of men, comparing their words to God’s Word, and rejecting those things which are contrary to the truth revealed through the pages of inspiration.

I have seen error taught through e-mail and blog postings on the subjects of marriage/divorce/remarriage, polygamy, fornication, and instrumental music, among other things. A man in Texas teaches that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (before the cross) do not belong in the New Testament. This doctrine is sometimes referred to as “MMLJBC.” In a seven-month period, I received at least 30 e-mails promoting this false doctrine which is sadly influencing some in the Lord’s church.

There are others who teach that we should practice full fellowship with false denominational groups, or that the Holy Spirit operates directly on the heart of the saint without the medium of the Word, or that Christians are not under law of any kind. Such teachings may be branded as “hobbies” by some, but that is really putting it too lightly. They are not “hobbies”—they are false doctrines, and they must be rejected since they are not taught in God’s Word.

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7). May we be noble as the Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Articles

Using the Word to Overcome Temptation

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The Psalmist wrote, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” A good friend and brother posted a saying on Facebook: “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” We must know what is in God’s Word to do His will, but it also protects us from violating His will.

If we can identify those things that tempt us most, we can better prepare ourselves to deal with situations as they arise. Consider the following temptations, and a few passages that might help Christians remain pure. Memorize the Scriptures that will help you fight temptations you face, or if you struggle with memorization, write them down on an index card and keep them in your purse or wallet.

Pornography: Psalm 101:3, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.”

Foul language/dirty jokes: Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Laziness: Proverbs 13:4, “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”

Greed/materialism: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Pride/selfishness: Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

Worldliness/idolatry: Colossians 3:1-2, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Bad attitude at work: Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Racism/sexism: Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Disobeying God: John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Disobeying parents: Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Disobeying the elders: Hebrews 13:17, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Envy: Proverbs 23:17, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day.”

Apathy: 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

You may not struggle with any of these temptations, but there is something that keeps gnawing at you, trying to pull you away from God. Be honest with yourself, know yourself, and identify that temptation. Then discover how God has equipped you to deal with it through His Word.

Articles

“Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say”

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An American website recently reported that the media in the United Kingdom was shocked by singer Adele’s obscene language during her Glastonbury concert. According to the article, the singer of the popular song “Hello” cursed more than thirty times. It was further reported that “the average adult curses once every eight seconds.”

Brothers and sisters, this is one area in which we must strive to be well below average! Is the average adult so poorly educated that he can find no better way to express himself? I am not suggesting that controlling one’s tongue is a simple task; James makes that clear in his epistle. However, he writes, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10).

Paul says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Obviously, this refers to more than just obscene language. This can include gossiping and lying, sinful uses of the tongue that have destroyed many relationships—both in and out of the church—throughout history.

Paul expands on this in Colossians 3:8-10, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”

I will never cease to be amazed at the things I hear and read coming from self-proclaimed religious people. Claiming to be Christians, they will commit the very sin that James condemns in James 3:10! As the salt of the earth and the light of the world, we must be setting a better example for those around us.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

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Be Strong and of Good Courage

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As Moses neared the end of his life, he told the children of Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, because God is with you.” Then he said the same thing to Joshua, who would be his successor as the leader of God’s people. “Be strong and of good courage, because God is with you.”

When God spoke to Joshua after Moses’ death, the Almighty repeated the same thought three times to his new mouthpiece: “Be strong and of good courage.” God made a promise to Joshua and to the children of Israel, that if they were strong and courageous, He would take care of them and they would prosper.

Certainly, it took a great deal of strength and courage to accomplish what the Lord commanded, but knowing that God was on their side, Israel took possession of the land that was promised to them. At the end of his life, Joshua again encouraged the people to continue with these attitudes of strength and courage in the Lord.

Sadly, Israel turned from God several times. Throughout the book of Judges we read of several occasions that the people disobeyed God and needed to be restored. God would raise up a leader to bring them back, and they would be faithful for a while before failing away again. The cycle repeats over and over, not only in the book of Judges, but throughout the Old Testament.

This still happens today in the church. There are some people that will disappear for weeks or months, then will come back for a little while, then leave again. What can we do when we notice this happening? Have you called your missing brethren to encourage them to return? Have you asked what you can do to help them? Sometimes, showing that you are concerned is encouragement in itself.

We must develop strength and courage in order to lead others to Christ, and to bring others back to God. The words that were spoken to Joshua still apply to us today: “Be strong and of good courage.”

As Christians, where do we find our strength? The apostle Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Peter writes, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Our strength comes not from ourselves, but from God the Father and Christ Jesus.

And what of the courage? It is in Christ that “we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:12). Just as He promised to be with the children of Israel in their battles against the nations around them, He will be with us as well. That knowledge should motivate us not only be courageous, but content with our portion in life as well. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Are you strong and of good courage?

Articles

Just Because We Don’t Know…

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Brother Wayne Jackson once wrote an article in which he stated, “As far as I am able to determine, medical science has yet to find out any purpose for the appendix.” Since that article was written, some evidence has come to light showing that the appendix plays a role in the function of the human immune system.

So what? Just because we don’t (or didn’t) know the exact reason for the appendix, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t doing some work for us. Likewise, in the body of Christ, the fruits of one’s labors may not be evident to us, but that doesn’t mean they are not laboring.

There are many who do their work in the kingdom behind the scenes, privately encouraging those who need encouragement through cards, calls, and visits. It would be foolish to suggest that such things are not needed, or that those who perform such tasks are not important in the kingdom of Christ.

Just as the different members of our physical bodies have different functions, so the different members of the spiritual body of Christ have different functions. Not everyone serves in a public way as an elder, or a deacon, or a Bible class teacher—but everyone must function in some way! Consider carefully Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:21-22, and respect and support your fellow workers in their tasks.

Always keep in mind that what you do, even if it is not seen by men, is seen by God. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). For this reason, we should be diligent in our service for the Lord. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Whether you are a hand, a foot, an eye, an ear, or even an appendix, you do have an important function in the body of Christ. Be sure you are fulfilling your duty.

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Guard Against Apostasy

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It has been said that, at any given time, the church is only one generation away from apostasy. We see it happen time and time again in the Bible, and in congregations around us. Others have suggested that because of Biblical ignorance, some Christians are only one sermon away from apostasy. The apostle Paul warned, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

God reveals several things that can lead to apostasy, including materialism (Deuteronomy 6:10-12), boredom (Deut. 6:13-15), disobedience (Deut. 6:16-19), and the assumption that faith and values are being passed on (Deut. 6:20-25). The responsibility rests with each one of us to make sure we are not being led away, and to encourage those around us to continue in the old paths.

To prevent apostasy, we must stand fast in teaching the Word of God. True, Biblical faith is only produced by the Word—nothing more, nothing less (Romans 10:17). It is in the gospel that God’s power to save resides (Romans 1:16). When we depart from the truth, we put ourselves and those around us in eternal danger (Galatians 1:6-9).

Take a moment to recognize and be grateful for the blessings that we receive from God, especially for our deliverance from sin. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

We need to realize how dangerous Satan really is. Yes, he “walks about like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), and we know how dangerous a beast like that can be. But the Scriptures also tell us that he “transforms himself into an angel of light,” and “his minsters also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). We must be grounded in the truth to protect ourselves from seemingly innocuous attacks from the father of lies.

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Love One Another

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We are commanded several times in the New Testament to “love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 4:8 etc.). The Lord says our love for each other is an identifying mark of our discipleship. As we are given all things that pertain to life and godliness, God provides several examples of how to love each other.

Toward the elders, we should show obeisance. Paul tells us to remember them, to follow them, to obey them, and to be submissive. We are to do all of these things as they “watch out for your souls,” and we should strive to make their service as elders joyful (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

Toward the deacons, we should support them. If our ultimate goal is to get to heaven, and our secondary goal is to take others with us, should we not also be striving to help each other every step along the way? Paul says that “those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:13). Let us do whatever we can to assist our deacons in their various tasks in the church.

Toward the preachers, we must recognize the sacrifices they make in their lives. It is true that many preachers feel a need to proclaim the truth that they cannot quite explain, but that does not mean they have not made sacrifices to fulfill that desire. Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). If God inspired one of His prophets to call a man’s feet beautiful, should we not support that man in his work?

Paul tells the young preacher how to treat others in the congregation, and his words should ring true for all: “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger as sisters, with all purity” (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

Remember, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).

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The Responsibility of the Hearer

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The listener has a great responsibility in preaching. Observe the attitude and action of the Bereans in Acts 17:10-11: “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

We are to consider how our lives compare to the Word, not resisting the preaching by making excuses or rationalizing sinful behavior. We must prepare our minds and hearts for the lesson, ready to apply it so that we can serve God more faithfully. It is not enough to just sit quietly and listen to the sermon; we must act accordingly based on what we learn. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).

We also have a responsibility to make sure the preacher is staying on track, that he is not preaching doctrine that contradicts the revealed Word. We should study along with the lesson, not just accepting what the preacher says, but verifying that his message is in agreement with God’s inspired Word.

Men who commit their lives to gospel preaching take on an important work; we should be as supportive of them as we possibly can. As long as they preach the truth we should encourage them at every opportunity. Show them that we are listening by turning to the Scriptures during the sermon, by taking notes, by putting their words into action in our everyday lives. Tell them how much we appreciate the sacrifice they have made to serve God.

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The Value of the Old Testament

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We recognize that we are no longer under the Law of Moses today. We do not keep the Sabbath or offer animal sacrifices; rather, we do the things we do because we were commanded by Jesus and the inspired writers of the New Testament, which supplants the requirements of the Old Law.

Have you ever stopped to consider, “What makes the Old Testament old?” The answer is quite plain and simple: “God did!” The Scriptures verify this. In Hebrews 8:13, Paul writes, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” No longer are we subject to “the handwriting of requirements that was against us” (Colossians 2:14).

Although we no longer obey the ordinances of the Old Law, there is great value found in the pages that precede the New Testament of Christ. The examples recorded from us allow us to learn from the mistakes of others, so that we don’t have to suffer the consequences and pain of disobedience (if we are wise). Paul says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

The old adage is true: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” A casual glance at the rise and fall of nations throughout secular history offers proof of this statement, but a study of the Old Testament shows it even more clearly. So don’t stop listening when the preacher starts to quote from the books of the Kings and Chronicles, or references the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, or Jonah. We can and we must learn from the inspired Scriptures that have been providentially preserved for us!