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An Ambassador in Bonds

January 29, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

In the book of Acts, we read of Paul’s missionary journeys. It is fascinating to learn of the spread of the Gospel through the evangelistic efforts of this great apostle. Distinct features of the Roman Empire in the first century made these travels possible which, in turn, helped spread the borders of Christ’s kingdom.

With this great growth and expansion, it seems puzzling at first why God would want to curtail Paul’s traveling and allow him to be imprisoned at Rome. During Paul’s travels it was his intention to visit Rome to preach the Gospel to them (Acts 19:21; Romans 1:10-15). It certainly was God’s plan for Paul to go to Rome (Acts 23:11), but he arrives there as a prisoner bound in chains (Acts 28:16). God had sent his angel to break Peter out of prison before (Acts 5:12-19). Why not do this with Paul? What good was it to have him at Rome if he is imprisoned?

The answer lies in God’s wisdom of knowing what influence Paul would have at Rome by means of his incarceration. Paul was allowed to teach in his own hired house for two years (Acts 28:30-31). This was how Onesimus heard the Gospel and obeyed (Philemon 10). This oral teaching was not all Paul did; he also wrote letters to congregations and individuals during his incarceration. We have four of these preserved for us in the New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. In each of these epistles Paul mentions his bonds. Paul asked the brethren at Ephesus to pray for him that he would be bold in his proclamation of the Gospel while he was in bonds (Ephesians 6:19-20). Philippians seems to be the latest of the prison epistles Paul wrote. By the time the words of this letter were penned, Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel had penetrated the palace of Caesar and his household. Notice Philippians 1:12-13, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.” The salutation of Philippians 4:22 gives weight to this fact as well, “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.” God had evidently opened a door of opportunity in the city that ruled the world. Paul was placed there for a reason: to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel of Christ to the influential personages at Rome.

We may wonder why God has allowed certain things to happen to us. A situation which looks dark to us may hold an opportunity that we never imagined. Often what occurs in our lives is far different from what we have envisioned. One thing that we can count on is God’s providential care of us to use us in ways we never imagined and see us through to the very end.

-Mark Day

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

The Bittersweet Book

January 22, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, “I devoured that book,” or someone illustrate the process of assimilating the contents of a book through reflection as “digesting.” Two men in the Bible were told in visions to eat a book, though their historical situations differed.

Ezekiel was commissioned, “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe” (2:8-10). When Ezekiel ate the scroll, he said, “it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness” (3:3). Ezekiel was to tell the house of Israel God’s message of impending doom if they did not repent. The lamentations, mourning, and woe he had to deliver to this rebellious house so that they would “know that a prophet has been among them” (2:5; cf. 33:33). Ezekiel took on the task and made God’s message part of him because he wanted to do God’s will, but he was also in bitterness of spirit (3:14).

In Revelation 10:9-11, John wrote, “So I went to the angel and said to him, ‘Give me the little book.’ And he said to me, ‘Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’ Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’” John delighted in God avenging His people (Rev. 6:10; 18:20), but he would have to relate this message of doom that was soon to come on those who persecuted God’s people. This would bring about persecution, as John was already experiencing for the word of God; he was exiled to Patmos and was a brother in tribulation to the seven churches of Asia to whom he wrote (1:9).

The Bible is a delight to those who want to draw closer to God; it is “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). We can join in with the psalmist and say to God, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psa. 119:103). Yet there are tough words in the Bible that often elicit a bitter response. Whether it is the prophet Ezekiel speaking to unfaithful Israel of old, John giving warning and hope to first-century churches, or the faithful Christian who stands with the Bible today, bitterness is part of proclaiming God’s judgments to a rebellious world.

Though we do not receive inspired visions as Ezekiel and John did—since the Bible is complete (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Eph. 4:7-13; Heb. 2:3-4)—we must still in a sense ingest God’s word. In resisting the devil’s temptation, the Lord Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 and said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). If we are to grow as Christians, we must desire the pure milk of the word of God (1 Pet. 2:2). Then we should grow to full age so that we can handle the meat of God’s word (Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Cor. 3:1-2). Consume God’s word. Absorb it. Make it a part of your being, so that you are thoroughly prepared to teach it to others.

-Mark Day

The Dangers of Looking Back

January 15, 2021 by admin 3 Comments

Physically looking backwards may result in a stumble or fall but looking back spiritually can be life-threatening. One who spiritually looks backwards, resorts back to their sinful past (Heb. 10:35-39). Once we obey the Gospel of Christ, we are a new creature, forsaking the old man of sin (Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 3:9-10). Before one is baptized into Christ, they ought to consider that they must stop living in sin. No one is perfect and we all sin (Rom. 3:23), but a “Christian” continuing to sin is not faithful (1 Jn. 1:5-2:2; 3:4-9). When a Christian looks back, they long for the fleeting pleasures of sin they gave up when they first came to Christ (Heb. 11:23-27). As Jesus stated, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:62). Let us examine the dangers of looking back instead of forward to Christ.

Lot’s wife is a great example of someone looking backwards spiritually. While escaping the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the angels instructed Lot and his family not to look back on the city (Gen. 19:12-25). What we must understand is that Lot’s wife looking back was because she did not want to let go of her physical possessions. What mattered more to her, the home and possessions she left in Sodom or following the commands of God? Notice, when commanded by the angels to flee, Lot and his family lingered. They lingered to the point that the angels had to physically grab their hands and lead them out of the city (Gen 19:14-16). Why would they desire to remain in such a sinful city (Gen. 19:1-7)? It is a sad reality that most people will endure rampant sin all around them because of the riches a location like that offers (Gen. 13:10-11). Lot’s wife was not looking back out of curiosity to view the destruction, but she looked backwards because of what she left behind (Lk. 17:28-33)! Her home, possessions, and riches were destroyed and these things mattered most to her. Do riches and possessions cause you to look back instead of focusing forward? Lot’s wife laid up riches on earth, where are yours (Matt. 6:19-21)?

The Israelites in the wilderness were rarely looking forward, focusing on God as they should have. Instead, they looked backwards at their former lives in Egypt and wished they were still there (Ex. 16:3). Did you catch that? The Israelites, who were mistreated slaves back in Egypt (Ex. 1:9-16; 3:7-9), wanted to return back to servitude. They looked back at Egypt several times while wandering in the wilderness. In their minds, slavery with a full belly trumped being free and trusting in the Lord who delivered them (Ex. 17:1-3; Num. 14:1-4; 20:2-5). Though their physical bodies left Egypt, spiritually they remained behind. Their desire to return back to Egypt was such an issue, God had to command when a king of Israel arose, he was not allowed to send the people back to Egypt to obtain more horses (Deut. 17:14-16). God even issued a warning to Israel that if they did not obey His law, He would send them back to Egypt as slaves (Deut. 28:58-68). It is clear from the Old Testament that Israel did not keep the commandments of God and the Lord sent them into slavery to the Assyrians (Hosea 11:5). The real reason Israel desired to return to Egypt was because they feared the unknown and did not fully trust in God to provide for them. Even after Israel conquered Canaan and a few centuries passed by, the children of Israel still trusted in Egypt’s might more than they did God’s (Is. 31:1-3). Does God have your complete trust, or do you look back and place your trust in the things of this world (Col. 3:1-7)?

-Brandon Foresha

Separating the Righteous from the Wicked

January 10, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Jesus spoke several parables to illustrate the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 13). Many of these highlight the separation of the righteous from the wicked at the end of the world when the Lord returns—the wheat from the tares (Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43), the good from the bad fish (13:47-50), the wise from the foolish virgins (25:1-13), and the sheep from the goats (25:31-46), just to name a few. The Christian age, (often called the “last days” in the Bible), is the period of time from Christ’s establishment of His kingdom in the first century (Mk. 9:1; Rev. 1:9) to the end of the world, when He brings those in His kingdom home to heaven (Mt. 13:39-40, 49; 28:20). We presently are in this last period of time, but so were those on Pentecost day following Christ’s resurrection, according to Acts 2:16-17. The Lord has been longsuffering for 2,000 years, allowing individuals time to repent (2 Pet. 3:8-9). He provides the opportunity to be part of His kingdom by being baptized/born again into His kingdom, the church (Mt. 16:18-19; Jn. 3:3-5; Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Col. 1:13). He may return today or a thousand years from now; however, no one knows the time of His coming, so we must be watchful (Mt. 24:36-51). His coming will be unexpected (Mt. 24:44; 25:13; 1 Thess. 5:1-3; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash

In these last days, Christians must remain faithful in a world filled with people who are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:2-5). Yes, some will act like they are righteous people, but in reality, they guide others away from God. Sadly, “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). However, our lives and teachings must be according to God’s word, if we will be saved and save others (1 Tim. 4:16). We must continue to preach God’s word (2 Tim. 4:2), even when others depart from the faith in this last age (1 Tim. 4:1). We must be watchful in all things and endure afflictions (2 Tim. 4:5), even when others heap to themselves false teachers that deceive them and make them feel good in their sins (2 Tim. 4:3-4; Rom. 16:17-18; Jude 4). First-century Christians had to patiently endure tribulations, such as Jerusalem’s destruction, and so must we today, possessing our souls by patience (Lk. 21:19; Acts 14:22).

When the Lord returns, it will all be worth it (2 Cor. 4:17). If we are faithful to the Lord Jesus, we will receive a crown of righteousness in the last day (2 Tim. 4:7-8). The wicked will finally be dealt with once and for all, and the righteous will be saved from sin’s ruinous influence. The wicked will be weeping and gnashing their teeth (Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Lk. 13:28), but the righteous will have all tears wiped from their eyes, for they will no longer experience death, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4). Instead, they will have healing, living among the tree of life, basking in the light of God, and serving Him forever (Rev. 22:1-5). Be sure you remain faithful and watchful, so that you are separated on the right side when the Lord returns.

-Mark Day

Why I Am A Member of The Church of Christ

December 31, 2020 by admin 1 Comment

What follows also answers the question “Why am I a member of the church of Christ?” and in doing so answer the question “Why should you be a member of the church of Christ?” The fact that a religious body exists is proof that it was founded by someone. Did you know here are at least 3,000 different religious groups in the world today. Since there are so many religious groups in existence, does it matter which one I should be a member of, or should one just “join the church of your choice”? Friends, I am a member of the church of Christ because…

The New Testament church was founded by the right person, at the right time and at the right place. The New Testament teaches the One who built the New Testament church, and when, and where. The church was built by Jesus Christ, Matthew 16:18-19, in the 1^st century on the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection, Acts chapter 2. Christian denominations were built by the wrong person (man), at the wrong time, and the wrong place, centuries after Jesus built His church.

Jesus built only one church. Did Jesus build one church, many churches, or all churches? Scripture teaches that Jesus built only one church. The Bible teaches there is one body. See Ephesians 4:4. The Bible teaches that the body is the church. Colossians 1:18 says, “And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church”. Since the body and the church are the same and since there is only one body the unavoidable conclusion is there is only one church. Also, the church is described as the bride of Christ. See 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7, 22:17; Ephesians 22-23. How many brides does Christ have? Is He guilty of polygamy? No friends. Christ has one bride and that is the church of Christ.

The church Jesus built is undenominational. To say we are undenominational we do not mean all-denominational (non-denominational) that is, looking with favor upon all denominations. The church of Christ is undenominational in that it is not a denomination and that it stands opposed to denominationalism. Denominationalism is completely foreign to the Bible teaching of the oneness of the body of Christ. The very fact that Christ’s church is designated a “body” rule out the idea of division which is the mark of denominationalism. Consider just a few reasons the church of Christ is not a denomination: 1) Denominationalism is contrary to the Lord’s prayer for unity – John 17:20-21; 2) Denominationalism is opposed to Paul’s plea for unity – 1 Corinthians 1:10; 3) Denominationalism is contrary to Christ because Christ is not divided – 1 Corinthians 1:11-13. There is not a single denomination on earth that was built by Jesus Christ. Denominationalism is a counterfeit of the one true church.

The church Jesus built gives a scriptural answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved?” The Lord’s church preaches the one true Gospel of salvation provided by God’s grace and tells people plainly and clearly what the scriptures require for one to be saved. There is but one true Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9) and it is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16). The denominations preach “saved by grace alone through faith alone”. Time after time one will hear a denominational preacher tell people to “accept Christ as their personal savior” by just “saying the sinner’s prayer” or even the vague urging to “receive Christ into their hearts as Savior”. Such teachings are not part of the Gospel. One Must Hear The Gospel: Romans 10:17; Acts 16:14 John 6:44-45; Believe The Gospel: Hebrews 5:8; John 8:21, 24; Repent of Sin: Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38, 17:30-31; Confess The Deity Of Christ: Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10; Be Baptized (Immersed) For The Forgiveness of Sin: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21.

The Lord only built one church. If the church of which I am a member, when held to the Light of God’s Word: was founded by the right person, at the right time and at the right place, is undenominational, and gives the scriptural plan of salvation, it must be the right church, the church of (belonging to) Christ. As we begin the new year, won’t you seek the one true church?

-Jerry D. Sturgill