Articles Archives - Flatwoods church of Christ

Responses in Acts 17

September 29, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Acts 17 provides different responses to God’s word that are common in our world today. Paul arrived in Thessalonica and reasoned from the Scriptures in the synagogue for three Sabbath days (Acts 17:2). This reasoning involved opening the Scriptures and drawing arguments from the text (Acts 17:3). Much like how Jesus Himself opened the Scriptures (Luke 24:32, 44), Paul also went to the Hebrew Bible (what we call the Old Testament) to show how it foretold that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead (Acts 17:3). Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures. How did those in Thessalonica respond? Some were persuaded and became Christians (Acts 17:4); however, others became angry and sought to get Paul into legal trouble (Acts 17:5). Anger and jealous rage are the responses many have to the Gospel today.

Paul then traveled to Berea, and opened the Scriptures in the synagogue as he had done in Thessalonica (Acts 17:10). A different response occurred among the Bereans, as Luke records: “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” (Acts 17:11). These people were well-disposed to give a fair hearing to logical arguments from the Scriptures. They did not merely accept what Paul said without critical examination. They searched the Scriptures to determine whether his teaching was sound. They accepted the truth based on intellectual conviction that Jesus was indeed the Christ who came to suffer, die, and rise again according to the prophecies of the Old Testament. The example of the Bereans is one we should follow today. How wonderful it is to come across honest souls who are open-minded and receptive to the Gospel today, who reflect the same disposition as the Bereans.

Paul also preached in Athens in Acts 17. He encountered schools of philosophy including Epicureans and Stoics (Acts 17:18). The Athenians were overloaded with ideas. They were distracted, flitting from one idea to another. Acts 17:21 says, “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” Many today likewise are so bombarded with information and obscure questions that they become too overwhelmed to benefit from the Bible. Some of the Athenians mocked Paul’s presentation of the Gospel, and others stated they would hear him again (Acts 17:32). Many are so busy and distracted with various issues in life that they have no time to really think about the most important issues that involve the salvation of their eternal souls.

How do you respond to God’s word? Do you take time to study, investigate, and meditate on what it says? Jesus pointed people to the Scriptures. Paul pointed people to Scriptures. We should point people to the Scriptures today. God’s word is able to save our souls, if we will take it into our hearts and live it out in obedience in our lives (James 1:21).

Face to Face

September 22, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Aaron and Miriam rebelled against their brother Moses; they used his choice of a wife as a smokescreen for their envy of the authority given to him by God (Num. 12:1, 2). In response, the Lord declared Moses to be faithful in His house (Num. 12:7), saying of him, “With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold” (Num. 12:8a).

Moses desired to be close to God and he was. Exodus 33:11 says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” He beseeched God, “Show me thy glory” (Ex. 33:18). The famous epithet is repeated after his death: “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,” (Deut. 34:10).

Differences certainly exist between ourselves and Moses. God has not called us to reveal the law or do the same miraculous feats he did. Yet, we should desire to be close to God as Moses was. You are as close to God as you desire to be. James 4:8 exhorts: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Moses was often seen in prayer interceding for Israel (Ex. 32:11-13; Num. 14:13-19) and petitioning God for blessings on their behalf (Num. 10:35, 36; Deut. 1:11; 33:1-29). One of the blessings of being close to God and living a righteous life is that our prayers are effective (James 5:16). God listens with favor to those who listen to Him. Those who disregard God do not have this privilege (Prov. 28:9). “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Pet. 3:12). There is a world of difference between those who seek God’s face (Psa. 24:6) and those whom the Lord’s face is against because of their evil (Psa. 34:15-17).

We are encouraged to ask, seek, and knock at the gate of our Father in heaven (Mt. 7:7-11). Some don’t pray. They don’t receive certain blessings from God because they do not ask (Jas. 4:2). If we love God, we will want to talk to Him often; our prayers will unceasingly arise to His throne (1 Thess. 5:17, 18).

Because of his closeness to God, Moses was able to be meek in his response to wrong done to him (Num. 12:3). He had confidence that the Lord would work righteousness and left the matter with Aaron and Miriam in God’s hands; Moses did not have to avenge himself, instead he prayed to God on Miriam’s behalf (Num. 12). When I am close to God, I can more easily let Him take care of attacks against me. The ultimate example of this is Jesus, who prayed for the forgiveness of those crucifying Him (Lk. 23:34).

What a blessing it is to be close to God, to be a friend of God! Tremendous power and peace are available for us to deal with the burdens of life when we are close to God. We should follow the example of Moses spending time seeking God’s face. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:5-7.)

Love Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism

September 8, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Love is more powerful than fear; mature love banishes fear (1 Jn. 4:18). Paul came to Corinth and declared the gospel of Christ; some opposed and blasphemed while others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:1-8). “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 19:9). The Lord encouraged Paul to overcome the fears of preaching there and he stayed eighteen months doing that great work (Acts 18:11). In his later correspondence with Corinth, Paul admitted he had been downhearted when he came to them, writing, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3). Yet, think of all the fearful opposition that Paul overcame to spread the gospel. What was his motivation? He later explained, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).

Love for God and the souls of men motivates Christians to spread the soul-saving message of Jesus Christ to all. Instead of deceiving men, we speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Sometimes the more we love people and try to speak to the truth to them the less they show love to us (2 Cor. 12:15). Sometimes people regard us as enemies because we tell them the truth (Gal. 4:16). Though we do all we can to make the truth as palatable to people as possible, still several will resist it. When Jesus sent His disciples on the limited commission in Matthew 10, He reminded them that people would mistreat them just as they mistreated Him their Lord (vv. 16-25); moreover, He also reminded the disciples not to fear persecution because of their value before God (vv. 28-31). Love not only from God but for God would help them overcome. As we go out on the great commission, let us also be reminded of these truths. People need the word of God to save their souls (Jas. 1:21). The seed of the kingdom must be spread everywhere (Lk. 8:11), so that it may find lodging in good and honest hearts (Lk. 8:15).

In the first few chapters of the book of Acts, the church grew exponentially despite opposition from the political powers in and around Jerusalem. The high priest and the council had commanded Peter and the other apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18; 5:28); however, the Lord’s command to preach the gospel (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15) outranked the commands of men (Acts 5:29). Thus, Acts 5:42 reports, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Let us pray that we may have this kind of boldness to spread the gospel instead of cowering before those who oppose it (Acts 4:29).

The Spiritual Battlefield

August 26, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Modern skeptics dismiss the accounts of demon possession in the Bible as ancient mistaken beliefs due to a lack of modern medical knowledge. However, the New Testament accounts make a distinction between those who were merely diseased and those who were possessed by demons (Mk. 1:32). No doubt the New Testament also describes physical and mental effects demon possession had on the possessed (Mt. 9:32; 12:22; 17:15; Mk 9:18; Lk. 8:27; 9:39; et. al), but this was more than mere sickness.

Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash

Demons recognized the identity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34). He commanded them to leave the possessed person (Mt. 8:16), keep quiet (Mk. 1:34), and flee where He allowed (Mt. 8:31-32; Mk. 5:13-14). They did this not out of loving obedience, but out of fearful, shuddering recognition of His authority (James 2:19). This showed Jesus as Lord of the spiritual realm. He could keep even the worst forms of evil in check. Jesus stated the purpose of His casting out demons thusly: “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.” (Lk. 11:20-22.)

Mark 5:2-4 presents the record of a demon-possessed man who could not be bound, not even with shackles and chains for he broke them in pieces. All human effort to restrain him proved futile, but Jesus cured him. Modern skeptics also reject the notion that there is a spiritual, evil personality called the devil. The Bible, however, clearly warns: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Modern people may devise all sorts of techniques and programs to advance human goodness, but unless the tempter who entices men to sin is acknowledged and dealt with, then all these efforts will prove as effective as the chains on the man in Mark 5 before He met Jesus.

Jesus came to earth to destroy the power of the devil (Heb. 2:14). Victory over sin and death has been accomplished by Jesus’ substitutionary death and resurrection from the grave (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 57; 1 Pet. 2:24). What Jesus provides—and what we so desperately need—is freedom from spiritual slavery to sin (Jn. 8:34-36; Rom. 6:5-14). Falling out with sin to serve the Lord Jesus is our only hope to overcome evil. Sin may be a joke to many, but the awful reality is it leads to death (Rom. 6:23; James 1:15). God does not allow the devil to override your free will nor displace your autonomy; instead, temptations are placed before you with a way to escape (1 Cor. 10:13). We must choose the way of escape rather than succumbing to the temptation.

Do not confine your line of thinking to only physical, emotional, and social considerations. Too often people dismiss the spiritual aspect of mankind and the warnings of the Bible as unworthy of consideration. Be awake spiritually and recognize that fleshly lusts war against your soul (1 Pet. 2:11).

God’s Payment Plan

August 18, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Micah was a prophet of God from 740-700 BC who had a message of destruction for both the northern and southern kingdoms of God’s people. Population centers of both kingdoms would be destroyed and become places of desolation. The capital of Israel in the north was Samaria. Micah foretold that it would become a heap of ruins in a field (Micah 1:6). In 722 BC, the city was destroyed by the Assyrians. The capital of the southern kingdom of Judah was Jerusalem. Micah 3:12 predicted that this city where the temple stood would be plowed like a field, become a heap of ruins, and look like high places of a forest. Micah 4:10 forewarned of the deportation of its inhabitants to faraway Babylon. This was an amazing projection of future events in light of the fact that Assyria was the world power when this was uttered; Babylon was still a vassal state in Micah’s day.

God had been long-suffering to His people, but justice demanded the penalty be paid for their sins. While idolatry and host of other sins drove the nation toward captivity, Micah particularly focused on injustices done to the poor. God’s message through Micah was aimed at corrupt rulers and judges who took advantage of the poor while accepting bribes from the rich (3:1-3, 9-10; 7:2-3), crooked businessmen who cheated others out of their property (2:2; 6:10-12), and religious leaders (priests and false prophets) with mercenary motives (3:5-7, 11).

Seventy years of captivity in a foreign land was the result of their stubborn refusal to repent of their sins. Nations today need to learn lessons from Micah, including our nation. When those in power get rich at the expense of people in lower economic classes, God’s justice demands punishment. Rich and powerful people may be able to evade the law of man, but not God’s law. Read James 5:1-6 and consider God’s response to the wicked rich who abuse the righteous poor.

Everything of value in Jerusalem was taken away into Babylon as a result of these sins. Yet, God gave a glimmer of hope. In Micah 4:10, He said, “Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.” God would redeem them—buy them back to be His own people again. He would rescue them from captivity and return them to their previous place.

Today, Christians have been redeemed from the bondage of sin (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7). The blood of Christ shed on the cross is the price paid for our redemption; it is far more valuable than any corruptible currency like silver or gold (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Just as Israel of old should have been grateful for God’s unfailing love that brought them back from captivity, so we also today must be ever grateful for the ultimate declaration of God’s love in Christ who paid the penalty of our sins to save us from the punishment we deserved.