A man breaks the law and is put in jail for his crime. Once inside, he plunges even deeper into trouble; he violates some stringent code of prison behavior. So how does the warden and criminal justice system handle his latest misconduct?

Often times the offender, depending upon the severity of his deed, is placed into solitary confinement. The inmate is purposely isolated and cut off from his peers; he is denied any opportunity to interact with his fellow convicts. He is unable to see or hear from another human being until and unless the administration decides he can. It’s lockdown for days, weeks, perhaps even months on end.

It occurs to me that a prison is not the only place where folks employ solitary confinement. 

A husband and wife have a spat. The disagreement reaches a heated, fever pitch and both members are left wounded and hurting. How does the couple address each other’s rude conduct? At least some married people I know force one another into isolation.

First they engage, then they withdraw. They put each other in a sort of mental cage. They stop talking (Proverbs 15:23); they withhold love, affection, and marital intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). They sequester themselves and refuse to interact until the other humbly (and perhaps even repeatedly) apologizes and repents. It’s verbal, emotional, and physical lockdown until such time one mate decides the length of detachment has been long and harsh enough (cf. Mark 9:33-34).

I’m certainly no expert on how to handle discipline issues in American jails, but as far as I can tell, solitary confinement–at least at home–is little more than a selfish form of cruel and unusual punishment. And it only serves to divide couples to an even greater extent. Words that were shared so freely are now non-existent. There is little or no attention, no tenderness, and certainly no whispers of care and mutual fondness. Even though there are two people, sharing the same last name, living in the same house, they feel lonely, removed and terribly alone.

What’s even worse, if at least one of the spouses doesn’t eventually initiate some type of contact and communication, the two will often severe the relationship entirely. As one preacher friend often reminds me, “What we will not talk about, we will divide and divorce about.”

What about you, good reader? Have you put your mate in jail? Is he or she in solitary confinement? The Bible says:

“Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands
what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you”(Ephesians 4:25-32).

Putting your spouse in solitary only means that both of you will suffer.  It’s a punitive form of torture where both the warden and inmate experience undue pain.

God says, “…It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18).  Repent, apologize and forgive, talk, and get out of jail.

–by Mike Benson

 

 This morning we want to think about a number – the number “one.” 

OUR STUDY STARTS WITH MATTHEW 17:4. 

1)      When Peter said He would build “one” structure for the Lord, He did not mean 2, 3, or four.

2)      “One” means one.  There were three people here and Peter offered to build one for each person.

3)      In the next chapter – Mt. 18 – we see the word “one” being used again.

4)      Verse 9 – READ

a)      Notice the contrast in this verse.

b)      We could enter “hell” with “two eyes.”         

c)      If we lose an eye, we are down to one eye.  One means one.

5)      Let’s move down just a few more verses but stay in this same chapter – verse 12.

6)      If the number “one” can “mean 2, 5, 10,” Jesus’ point is meaningless.

7)      “One” means one.

8)      Leaving this chapter, let’s now turn our attention to Mt. 20.

a)      This is the place where Jesus gave a story about a “householder.”

b)      Let’s start with verse 9 – READ

c)      In verse 12 we are told that those who were hired at the 11^th hour worked for one hour – READ

9)      Here is another reminder that “one” means one.

a)      Mt. 23:9 – READ

10)  Mt. 26:14, 21 tells us there was “one” traitor in the group.

11)  Jesus was finally crucified and there was “one” robber on the right and “one” on His left.

a)      What if someone told us there were two robbers on Jesus’ right hand and three on His left? 

LEAVING THE LIFE OF JESUS, LET’S LOOK MORE DEEPLY INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT; WE START WITH THE SECOND CHAPTER OF ACTS.

 a)      Acts 2:1 says people were come together in “one place.”

b)      What if we said everyone came together in “one place” in our community?

c)      Rom. 3:10, in talking about Jews and Gentiles, said “not one is righteous.”

d)     Can we say that God was exaggerating when this verse was written?

2)      The word “one” gets our attention once again in Rom. 5:17.

3)      1 Cor. 8 – the next book – says there is “one God” (1 Cor. 8:6).

4)      Speaking of “one God,” our next reference is Eph. 4:4-6.

a)      The first “one” in this list is described as ONE body.

5)      What is the “body”?  In the opening chapter of this book the body is called THE CHURCH, 1:22-23.

6)      If the BODY is the CHURCH, and there is ONE BODY, there is ONE CHURCH.

a)      Eph. 4:5 says there is just ONE faith.

b)      The different religious in the world all have different faiths.

7)      Just as there is only ONE SPIRIT, there is only one body (church) and one faith.

8)      Just as there is only ONE true HOPE so there is only one church that has God’s approval.

9)      We get into the one true church by being joined to the ONE LORD.

10)  Jesus said we cannot come to the Father unless we come by Him (Jn. 14:9).

11)  There is only one way to the Father.  Are we on this path?

Continue reading →

a)      We may think of hands as being part of our upper body, and that is true.

b)      In the Bible “hands” often refer to a person’s deeds.

c)      Ps. 7:3; 18:20, 24; 24:4.

2)      A figure of speech used in the Bible and by us on a regular basis is a “metonymy.”

3)      A metonymy is where we say one thing, but we mean something else.

a)      Prov. 6 – these hands “shed” something.  They shed blood.

b)       They shed INNOCENT blood.

4)      Homicide is a word that means the life of another human being is taken.           

5)      Sometimes the life that is taken is innocent.

a)      Cain killed Abel; why?  1 Jn. 3:12 says Abel was “righteous.”  Innocent blood was shed.

b)      When Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband was killed, innocent blood was shed.

c)      When John the Baptist died, innocent blood was shed.

d)     When Stephen was killed, innocent blood was shed.  All these deaths were homicides.

6)      In the Old Testament we read about four different types of homicide.

a)      The Old Testament recognizes what we might call “justifiable homicide.”

b)      Ex. 22.

7)      This passage talks about thieves.

a)      Ex. 22:1 says a man who stole one ox had to give back 5 oxen to the victim.

b)      If a sheep was stolen, 4 sheep were to be returned for every one sheep that was taken.

c)      Verses 2-3 of Ex. 22 – READ

8)      If a thief broken in during the night and the homeowner killed the thief, the homeowner was justified.

a)      God does not look kindly on criminal activity.

b)      We know God does not want any to perish (2 Pet. 3:9), and this includes thieves.

9)      A second type of homicide in the Bible is one that our law readily recognizes.

10)  There are “accidental deaths.”

11)  In the book of Numbers (35:22-28) we read about some deadly accidents.

12)  Verse 22 speaks of pushing someone; perhaps the idea is two people rough housing.

13)  A third category of homicide is what we might call “judicial homicide.”

14)  This means a person is guilty of murder and they need to be removed from society.

15)  A fourth and final category is premeditated murder.      

16)  Deut. 19:11-13 – READ

17)  Premeditated murder was a crime where God said mercy and pity were not deserved.

18)  When we look at the shedding of blood from the standpoint of murder, we find some key lessons.

19)  We learn that in life some actions are accidents.

20)  When we study about murder, we find that it is associated with theft.

21)  We learn from our references that were given that God expects wrongdoers to be punished.

a)      One day the Son of God will return and those who shed blood but were not forgiven will pay.

b)      They will answer for every drop of blood they shed.

c)      Others who are unforgiven will also answer.

d)     Are we ready for that day?

On June 1, 1965, Robert Manry, a 47-year-old newspaper copy editor for the Cleveland (OH) Plain Dealer and a Willowick , Ohio resident, left Falmouth , Massachusetts aboard his 13.5-foot sailboat, Tinkerbelle, to begin his solo voyage across the Atlantic Ocean . He arrived in Falmouth , England seventy-eight days later on August 17, 1965. At the time of the crossing, the Tinkerbelle was the smallest boat to have ever crossed the Atlantic .

During the 3,200-mile voyage, Manry was knocked overboard by big waves, suffered from hallucinations, repaired a broken rudder in mid-ocean, and was awakened one morning by a surfacing submarine.

Finally, after 78 days, when Manry finally approached Falmouth , England , he thought only of tying up to some dock, finding a hotel room, and getting some sleep. But an enthusiastic crowd had other ideas. A fleet of about 300 small boats came out to greet him, all blowing their horns in salute. Forty thousand well-wishers lined the docks, cheering him on. What a welcome he received!*

Manry’s precarious journey across the Atlantic provides some important lessons for US about LIFE.

Life is a journey, and it is quite difficult at times. Jesus comforted but also warned his disciples: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). There are times in life when the sailing is
smooth, but there are stormy times as well.

The GOOD NEWS is that if we will continue to hold to the course that God has provided in His Word, then we will reach a safe Harbor – Heaven, where we will receive a joyous welcome!

Jesus has made this possible for us by dying on the cross for our sins (Ephesians 1:7). The course to Heaven is by Way of God’s Son – Jesus (John 14:6), believing in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (2 Cor 7:9-10), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), and following Him faithfully (1 John 1:7).

Life, whether at sea or on land, can be difficult…. But if we remain true to the Course (God’s Savior) and weather life’s storms, God will bring us to a safe and glorious Harbor. And what a welcome we will receive!

Are YOU on the right course?

David Sargent, Minister

Almost exclusively we have come to depend on the pulpit and church buildings to do our teaching for us. We invite the public to our buildings by billboards, radio, TV, phone calls, letters, newspaper, tracts, and ads in phone books. We tell them they are welcome, the preacher is superb, the building is well heated and air conditioned, the seats are cushioned, yet, they still don’t come.

Why should they come?! They don’t share our love for the church. A preacher, a sermon and a church building are the hardest products in the world to sell a sinner. Even the few that come are often bored because they don’t understand the mystery of salvation in Christ.

We need to stop giving priority to “church building evangelism” and go out where the people are and teach them. A person may attend worship services a dozen times and never hear the one sermon that moves him. But talking with him personally, a Christian can focus on his needs in the first few minutes of discussion.

Jesus did not say, “Bring them in.” He said, “Go teach and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). For one who has been truly converted to Christ and becomes a disciple, worship is the natural out-pouring of love and gratitude. An Elder once told me to preach on the importance of people “coming to church.” I declined, saying that if we can convert them to Christ, they will be at every service.

Paul said the love of Christ “compelled” him (2Corinthians 5:14). He said that he labored more abundantly than all, yet it wasn’t him, but a realization of the grace God had toward him (1Corinthians 15:9-10).

Helping others come to this same realization is the only work you can do in this life that has eternal value.

A MAN’S SURVIVAL GUIDE – Never too old to learn.

My wife has been gone on a trip to visit family for almost 2 weeks, so I have been a temporary bachelor for awhile. During this time I have learned some things and though I’d share my new found wisdom.

1. Man cannot live on frozen pizza alone. sometime you need frozen chicken nuggets and a half gallon of ice cream.

2. When the dog throws up on the bed, you don’t have to wash the sheets immediately, (As long as it is on her side of the bed).

3. The wife is right, “Those dishes don’t wash themselves”. She will be glad to see how she proved her point when she gets back.

4. There is not need to dust all of the time, after all they keep urging us to conserve natural resources. I’ve found the coffee table is a handy place to leave paperless notes and when you are done you just wipe it off with your hand.

5. The higher the pile of dirty cloths the more the dog likes to dig around in it and make a bed. Who in their right mind wants to upset the dog?

6. When the milk goes over its expiration date you can still use it to make gravy (as long as you use lots of onions).

7. The trash cans don’t empty themselves either (she will be glad to see she is right about that too).

8. The wife doesn’t use enough fabric softener when washing the towels. It’s only been two weeks and my towel is stiff already.

9. The wash doesn’t do it ‘self either (she will be so proud).

10. The green stuff on the bread doesn’t seem to hurt anything, but it doesn’t taste very good, however lots of cinnamon and sugar helps a lot.

11. Brown meat doesn’t smell very good, but with a lot of garlic and barbeque sauce you hardly notice it.

12. You can live for a couple of weeks without eating salads and vegetables, even if we have been told “they are good for you”.

13. Last of all: It’s not much fun learning all of the things without someone to tease about not knowing them!

Hopefully you understand that these “lessons” were written as “humor,” and don’t reflect my true feelings about my personal responsibility to help out around the house. God’s word says: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22). I’ve been firmly convinced of this for many years, but it’s good to be reminded from time to time. Far too often we take our mates for granted and it shouldn’t be that way! How about taking a few minutes today and thanking the woman who blesses your life.

— Russ Lawson

List it below by using the reference or include the reference along with the actual text.

 

False witnessing – a common problem  

a)      There are many times in life when someone “bears false witness about us.”

b)      Someone may say we believe something that we do not believe.

c)      It might be said that we went somewhere that we never were.

d)     Or, someone may say we “did something” but there is no truth to the statement.

e)      People often do “bear false witness” against others. 

2)      We were asked to keep our Bibles open to Mt. 26 and we now want to look at a verse in this chapter.

3)      Our opening text is towards the end of this chapter – verse 60 – READ 

4)      Jesus knows what it is like to face false accusations as well as many false accusations.

5)      The false witnesses in Mt. 27 were not effective because they told contradictory stories.

6)      False witness is a type of lie.

7)      When we speak about things and people, we want to strive for accuracy.

8)      We do not want to pass along information that would ever make us “false witnesses.”

a)      The world is often very careless in this regard.

9)      As human beings we have three basic choices as we go through our daily lives.

10)  We can be as correct, factual and precise as possible (we speak the truth) day by day.

11)  Choice # 2 is making something things sound or seem better than it really is (we are a false witness).

12)  Choice # 3 is making something sound worse than it really is and this is also being a false witness.

13)  We must live in this way because it is characteristic of the God we serve.

a)      In Prov. 6:16-19 we find that God “hates false witness.”

b)      God’s character (nature) is such that He cannot be associated with false witnessing.

c)      Paul told Titus in Tit. 1:2 that God “cannot lie.”

14)  The Hebrew writer picks up with this same theme in Heb. 6:17-18.

15)  We have seen scores of people who have “hope” in something, but the hope was a lie.

16)  A “false witness” created a false hope.

17)  Perhaps a false witness promised a job.  Maybe it was some type of investment scheme.

18)  We live in a world of shattered dreams because of false witnesses.

19)  God says to people:  Your hopes are safe and secure with me because I will not be a false witness.

20)  Thanks be to God that we serve a deity who will never be untrue or unfaithful to people.

 WHILE GOD CANNOT BE A FALSE WITNESS, WE FIND PLENTY OF FALSE WITNESSES IN THE WORLD (IF THE EXAMPLES OF FALSE WITNESS ARE NOT DALY OR WEEKLY, THEY ARE CERTAINLY MONTHLY).

 a)      Prov. 21:28 says a “false witness will perish” and this is true.

2)      False witnesses are usually caught and sometimes punished.

3)      This is one of the reasons why Paul said in Eph. 4:25, “speak the truth to your neighbor.”

4)      Because of the way technology now is, it is very important to be careful about bearing false witness.

a)      We can say something in an electronic format and instantly ship that information around the world.

b)      We should be guarded in the communication we send.

c)      Some Christians have ruined a fellow Christian by something as simple as an e-mail.

5)      We need to realize that we can utter a lie that will literally reverberate across the world.

6)      When we choose to engage in false witness, we become a tool of the devil.

7)      We want to be people of truth.  Are we?

In Luke 17:32, Jesus made this very simple statement: “Remember Lot’s wife.” When we go back and look at the example of Lot’s wife in the divine record (Genesis 19:1-26), here is what Jesus is telling us to remember: Remember Her Privileges She was faithfully instructed She was a relative to one of God’s chosen — Abraham She was warned of danger Remember Her Fate It was merited It was sudden It was final Practical Reflections Beware of earthly entanglements Beware of questioning God’s commands Beware of disobedience May our memory of this woman’s fate, recorded for time immemorial, be an admonition to trust and obey the word of our God.

The story is told of an old country doctor who went way out to the boondocks to deliver a baby. It was so far out, there was no electricity. When the doctor arrived, no one was home except for the laboring mother and her 5-year-old child.

The doctor instructed the child to hold a lantern high so he could see, while he helped the woman deliver the baby.

The child did so, the mother pushed and after a little while, the doctor lifted the newborn baby by the feet and spanked him on the bottom to get him to take his first breath.

No sooner had he done this when another baby popped out, Then another, and yet another. At this time, the little boy blew out the lamp.

The doctor yelled, “What did you do that for?”

“The light’s attracting them,” he replied.

Spiritually speaking, there’s a great deal of truth in that last statement. We experience the “new birth” (John 3:3) only after being attracted to the “light” — the light of God’s presence, the light of God’s Word. Like moths drawn to a light bulb burning in the night, those who search with an empty and unsatisfied heart will be drawn to God’s light. And praise be to God who offers us a way to leave our world of darkness and enter his “marvelous light”:

“But you are….His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (I Peter 2:9-10).

Heavenly Father, I live in the midst of a dark world. Thank you for allowing your light to shine into my heart and into my life. Help me as I strive to live my life in such a way that I reflect your light so that others around me may see that light and be attracted to it. In the name of the one who is the “light of this world”, Amen.

Alan Smith

How Can I Teach Without Fussing?

2 Tim. 2:23-26:

Intro:

A.  One of the concerns Christians express is, “How do I teach someone without making him mad or angry?”

      1.  “How do I correct a doctrine that is wrong and not create animosity?”

      2.  This is the kind of teaching Paul has in mind at the end of 2 Timothy 2.  cf. 2 Tim. 2:23-26 

           a.  “In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they

                may know the truth.”  2 Tim. 2:25 

           b.  Correct (Strong’s: 3811), paideuo, ”to chastise or castigate with words, to correct.”

B.  Some discussions create fusses.  “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.  And a

     servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.”  2 Tim. 2:23-24

     1.  Strife (Strong’s: 3163), macesqai, “quarrel.”

           a.  The word was used of armed combatants, or those who engage in hand-to-hand struggle.

           b.  Then it was used of those who engage in a war of words—quarrel, wrangle, dispute. 

     2.  “How do I chastise a person without creating a quarrel?”

 

I.  Realize that proper correction is an act of love and kindness

 

    A.  A good friend is someone who will tell you when you food stuck in your teeth or your slip is showing.”  (A friend

          will not withhold information; an enemy will). 

 

    B.  A good surgeon is invaluable when surgery is needed.  “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.
          Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”  Prov. 27:5-6

 

II.  “How can I communicate that I care during correction?”

 

     A.  Don’t fuss.

 

           1.  Think about what you’re going to say.  “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for

                 necessary edification, that it may impart graces to the hearers.”  Eph. 4:29

           2.  Think about how you are going to communicate it. 

                 a.  “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer

                      each one.”  Col. 4:6

                 b.  “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  Prov. 15:1

 

     B.  Be gentle.

 

           1.  “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”  1 Thess. 2:7

                a.  Gentle (Strong’s: 2261), hpios,“mild.”

           2.  Ex: A good dentist will be gentle, warn when he has to hurt, and then apologize for the hurt.

                 a.  A fuss often evolves, not because we did not have the truth, but because we did not have the touch.

                 b.  We can use a reasonable amount of the pain-killer of gentleness and perform the same operation with

                       less pain.

 

     C.  Be prepared.

 

           1.  “Able to teach…”  v. 24

           2.  didaktikos, means “skillful in teaching.”  (This is the same word used of the qualifications of shepherds in

                 1 Tim. 3:2). 

                 a.  Where does skill come from?  (Skill comes from instruction and practice.  A personal who wouldn’t think of

                      driving or going hunting without practice will attempt to rearrange another person’s life and faith without

                      any teaching, practice, or supervision.

                 b.  Many times a fuss/quarrel is a cover-up for a lack of information or a lack of skill and being unwilling to

                       admit it.

 

     D.  Be patient.

 

           1.  “Patient” or “…Not resentful under injuries…” (Williams).

                 a.  I sometimes get into a fuss when I take rejection personally.

                 b.  Ex:

                       .  Israel murmured against Moses when she didn’t have food.  Ex. 16:2-3, 7

                       .  Israel wanted a king when Samuel was old and his sons were disobedient.  1 Sam. 8:7

                 c.  I have fallen into the trap of thinking, “He is rejecting me by not accepting the gospel.”  (My hurt feelings

                      can create a fuss).

           2.  Patience also mean giving folks time to work through their family and denomination past.  Ex: Pam Cornett

                 during Bible study

                 a.  A farmer doesn’t sow and reap on the same day.

                 b.  Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gives the increase.”  1 Cor. 3:6  (My job is to plant seed and

                      fertilize the soul—then wait.”

                 c.  If I try to force the harvest, the student may be baptized outwardly, but he may not be converted inwardly.

                 d.  If I force the harvest now when he’s not ready, he may not remain faithful and fall away at some point in

                       future because he wasn’t immersed for the right reason.

 

      E.  Be aware of your power.

 

            1.  This chastising with words is to be done with power.  “In humility correcting those who are in opposition…”

                  v. 25

                  a.  Humility (Strong’s: 1877), prauths, “meekness, gentle, submissiveness.”

                  b.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek…”  Mt. 5:5a  (Meekness has to do with strength under control, like a

                       horse which has been broken). 

            2.  You and I have a lot of power at our desposal.

                  a.  Information and knowledge.  Ex: One lady was unwilling and afraid to study with me, because she wasn’t a

                       student of the Scriptures and she was scared she would be embarrassed by her lack of the Word.

                  b.  Age.

                  c.  Size.

                  d.  Position.

                       .  Paul could have made demands as an apostle.  “Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from

                          others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.  But we were gentle among you, just as

                          a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”  1 Thess. 2:6-7

                       .  Paul chose not to use his power and authority.

            3.  If I am not aware of my power or I deny that I have any power, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to keep it

                  under control.

                  a.  Some people say, “Well, I just tell it like it is—I tell them how I feel, and let the chips fall where they may.”

                  b.  A lot of folks have been “run off” because a person wouldn’t admit that 1) he had power and, 2) he had a

                       hard time controlling it.  Ex:  If I find myself using my position to demand my way, it might be good to ask,

                       “Do I have my strength/power under control?”  “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them

                       back.”  Prov. 29:11

                  c.  The issue is not whether or not I have power; clearly I do, but how much of that should I use?  Ex:  There

                       are 13,800 volts of electricity flowing into some of the transmission lines that run to my house.  The line

                       actually coming into my house bring 220 volts.

                       .  We would receive more benefit from a candle and a Coleman stove than to turn 13,800 volts of

                          uncontrolled power into our houses.

                       .  The oven, cook top, and dryer need 220; the lights need 110.

                       .  The challenge of using electricity well is to use is wisely.  (Likewise, the challenge is not whether or not I

                          have power, but how do I keep it in control when I’m teaching somebody).

 

Concl:

A.  One of the most difficult things in the world to do, and to do well, is to correct false belief and false teaching.

B.  May I suggest that it needs to be done in a caring way.

C.  One author gives a good rule of thumb, “If it is very painful for you to criticize your friends, you are safe in doing it.

      But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that is the time to hold your tongue” (Alice Miller, in The Friendship Factor by

       Alan Loy McGinnis, 68).

 

–Mike Benson

                      

Ask George Dawson! This Texas grandson of a slave, born in 1898, worked from the age of twelve on a ranch and tending to livestock. He married at the age of twenty-eight, becoming a father the next year. What is so noteworthy about this man? Well, for 98 years he did not know how to read. In 1996, ten years after the death of his spouse, a young man working for an organization designed to teach adults how to read knocked Dawson’s door. He was able to achieve a fourth-grade reading level and even read the Bible aloud at church services. He summed up his remarkable story by saying, “I just figured if everybody else can learn to read, I could too” (Bingham, Reader’s Digest, June 1998, p. 156).

Ask Medzhid Agayev, who was the oldest resident in Azerbaidzhan in 1976. He decided to retire—after 120 years as a shepherd at the age of 139! The Russian press agency in Novosti said, “He is in good health. He is thin, active and has excellent eyesight.” Perhaps he quit his job to enjoy as many of his 150 children and generations of grandchildren. He was a tribute not only to longevity, but also to changing one’s life even after such a period of time as Agayev had lived. Yet, he was a baby compared to a 165-year-old man named Shirali Muslimov and a 195-year-old woman named Ashura Omarova, both reported by the Novosti press agency in 1970 as living in the Soviet Union republics of Caucasus (what today is Armenia, Azerbaidzhan, and Georgia)( The Centenarian Question: Old-Age Mortality in the Soviet Union, 1897 to 1970, Lea Keil Garson, Population Studies, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Jul., 1991), p. 265).

Many Bible characters, Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 18:11-15), Barzillai (2 Sam. 17:27ff), Jacob (Heb. 11:21), Anna (Lk. 2:36), and others teach by their lives that it is never too late to be servant of God. The foolish may set aside the counsel of the “gray heads” (cf. 1 Kgs. 12:6ff), but the Lord’s church today will carefully deliberate upon the wisdom of her senior saints! Age may bring limitations, but the aged are among the most precious resources we have for spiritual strength and progress! It is never too late for an elderly Christian to be a viable contributor to the life and work of the church. In fact, Paul puts such upon a high and responsible pedestal (Ti. 2:1-10).

In another area, it is never too late to become a Christian! This is true, whether one is eighteen, eighty, or any time before, between, or after. Almost is after (Acts 26:28), later is a lie (Acts 24:25), and waiting is a wager few win (Prov. 27:1).

In youth we anticipate the stability of adult life as the time when becoming a Christian will be easier. With adulthood comes marriage, children, and job concerns, and retirement becomes a more appealing time to obey the gospel.

Three potential tragedies await those who bank on the elusive capital of tomorrow. First, old age may find one too distracted with golden year goals to make the commitment to Christ. Second, death may stand between one and the time he or she hoped to be a baptized believer. Third, Christ may come before one submits to the Lord’s plan.

However, now—being the accepted time (2 Cor. 6:2)—is not too late! Are you still breathing in and out? Is there still within you a heart soft enough to be touched by the power of the gospel? If so, it is not too late! As long as there is time and opportunity, it is never too late to do all the will of God!

Your eyes may be cloudy, a halt may slow your gait.

But as long as your soul is within you, it is never, no never too late.

The years you may have wasted, and in shame you might hesitate,

But though it be the eleventh hour, it is never, no never too late.

— Neal Pollard

a)      Eph. 5:28 says “husbands” are to “love their wives.”

2)      A husband might love his wife for the first six months or the first five years of marriage.

3)      He might love her as long as he does not find another woman he likes better.

4)      God knew that men might try to put a limit on love so He went a little further.

a)      Eph. 5:28 says love the wife as a man loves his own body.

b)      We also have this comparison in Eph. 5:25 – READ

c)      Husbands are to love their wives “as” Christ loves the church.

d)     How much does Christ love the church?

5)      He loved it enough to give His life for it (Acts 20:28).

6)      A man takes a wife and he loves and cherishes her for a lifetime.

7)      Death or sexual sin are the two things God says that can break this bond and allow for remarriage.

8)      Gen. 2:24 says a man is to “leave father and mother” and “cleave to his wife.”

9)      Prov. 5:18 says “rejoice in the wife of your youth.”

10)  Col. 3:19 – “love your wives and be not bitter against them.”

a)      Most of us have heard that for “every action there is a reaction.”

b)      In marriage this is very true principal.

c)      For every action, there is a reaction.

d)     This true for men and women, but Eph. 5 and Col. 3 specifically mention husbands.

11)  A husband’s actions normally cause reactions in his wife.

12)  If a man begins to engage in negative activities, his wife will usually respond in a negative way.

13)  Just as good investments produce good returns, so acts of love produce good results in one’s mate.

14)  Father’s day is a time to express appreciation to the men who are fathers.

15)  It is also a day for men to remind themselves about the importance of the principal in Eph. 5.

16)  Men have a lot of control over the type of relationship they will have with their spouse.

 

WHEN A MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE IS STRONG, THAT WILL PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT TO RAISE A FAMILY.

 1)      In the Bible children are viewed as a treasure.

2)      Ps. 127:3 says “children are a heritage from the Lord.
      Eph. 6:4 – READ      

a)      Parents have many responsibilities when it comes to teaching their children.

b)      Being a good dad is a lifelong and daily task.

c)      Part of this task is balancing praise with correction.

d)     Find things that a child can be praised for and build them up.

e)      Correct them when they are wrong.

3)      Are we a father?  Are we living the type of life that will properly influence our children for God?

“Without God, our week is:  Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday, Shatterday and Sinday.  So, allow Him to be with you every day!”

It was only after the Flood that God allowed the eating of meat (Gen. 9:3). If it were the case that both man and animals were vegetarian prior to the Flood, then sharing close quarters on the ark would not have presented a problem.

The Bible does not specify that Noah had to take adult animals onboard the ark. While many would argue that dinosaurs would have been too large to fit on the ark, we must bear in mind that there are some mysteries that God’s Word does not reveal. For instance, why couldn’t Noah have taken juveniles? Consider: they take up less space, eat less food, produce less waste, and you don’t have to worry about reproductive problems? Also, not all dinosaurs were massive in size.

So could dinosaurs have been on the ark with Noah and his family? Absolutely! (Brad Harrub, Think, Aug. ’07)

“Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth” (Gen. 7:1-3).

NOAH WAS TO take two of every unclean land-dwelling creature on the ark — which would include dinosaurs…

Moses wrote: “And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the Earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive” (Gen. 6:19-20).

God brought every land-dwelling creature to Noah for safekeeping. If dinosaurs were around during this time then one can reasonably conclude that they too would have required safekeeping.

The book of Job describes the “behemoth” (40:15), a creature that fits the description of a dinosaur that was living after the Flood. (Additional scientific evidence exists that these amazing creatures lived after the Flood.) In Job 40:15 God questions Job about a creature He describes as the behemoth. While many (uninspired) footnotes describe this creature as an elephant or hippopotamus, the description better fits a dinosaur-like creature. (How many elephants or hippos have “tails like a cedar,” Job 40:17?) While most scholars consider Job to be one of the first books written, we can tell from the way Job and his three “friends” were worshipping that it fits in “post-Flood.” Also, there is extensive scientific evidence that men living after the Flood saw these amazing creatures. (Brad Harrub, Think, Aug. ’07)

“Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; he eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit” (Job 40:15-17).

a) In Ex. 31:15 God spoke about doing “any work on the Sabbath.”
b) If people worked on the Sabbath day, they were to be punished.
c) Ex. 31:15 says this punishment was death.
2) “On the Sabbath” was a very important expression for God’s people.
3) Several years later we find some information in the book of Nehemiah.
4) Neh. 10:31spoke heathen people brining grain or produce that could be bought by the Hebrews.
5) God’s people said they would not transact any business “on the Sabbath.”
6) In Jeremiah’s day the Sabbath was once again an important topic.
7) God told His people to “bear no burden” on the Sabbath (Jer. 17:21).
8) God said if His Sabbath law was obeyed, the people would greatly blessed – Jer. 17:24b-25 – READ
9) The Sabbath was also the “seventh day.”
10) There are seven days in a week, so the “seventh day” was the last day in the week.
11) This the day we now refer to as Saturday.
12) In Jesus’ day, people thought a lot about the Sabbath.
a) In Mt. 12:10 we find an example of people asking whether it was okay to “heal” on the Sabbath.
b) Jesus performed many miracles on the Sabbath and people had questions about His healing on this day.
c) In fact, Mk. 3:2 says people “watched” Jesus on the Sabbath to see if He would heal someone.
13) Jesus not only used the Sabbath day to sometimes heal, He used the 7th day to teach people (Lk. 4:16).
14) Jn. 5:16 says Jesus was “persecuted” because He did good things” on the Sabbath.
a) Instead of observing the Sabbath, Christians were using the Sabbath as Jesus had used it.
b) The 7th day of the week was a time to teach Jewish people who had assembled for worship.
c) Acts 13:14 says Christians went “into the synagogue” on the Sabbath and taught.
d) This point is made again in Acts 16:13.

IS THE SABBATH LAW STILL BINDING TODAY?

1) Is the Sabbath Day still binding today? Does God still have a special day for people?
2) The preposition “on” helps answer these questions.
3) Four times in the New Testament we find these words, “on the first day of the week.”
a) The first two verses that have these words are both found in Mk. 16.
b) Mk. 16:2 will be read first and then we will get to Mk. 16:9 – READ Mk. 16:2.
4) Let’s now look at verse 9 – READ
5) One gets the impression that with a new way to worship, God gave man a new day for worship.
6) Luke also (24:1) also indicates that Jesus was raised on the first day of the week.
7) John indicates this in Jn. 20:1.
a) Two other New Testament passages help us understand the significance of the “First day of the week.”
b) Acts 20:7 says “upon the first day of the week.”
8) Acts 20:7 also says “Paul discoursed with them.” This helps confirm that this was a time for worship.
9) A few verses later (Acts 20:11) we read again read about “breaking bread.”
10) A meal was eaten (verse 11), but the “supper” in verse 7 was the Lord’s Supper.
11) Acts 20:7 describes a worship service.
a) The Bible gives us yet more proof about Sunday from 1 Cor. 16:2.
b) This verse says, “upon the first day of the week.”
c) Why lay aside funds on Sunday instead of Monday or Saturday?
d) The answer is that Sunday is God’s designated day for worship.