Older People

“THE BIBLE TEACHES RESPECT FOR OLDER PEOPLE”

How do you look upon older people? What do you think about getting older? How has your concept of age been affected by our society?

OUR SOCIETY GLORIFIES YOUTH AND DESPISES AGE

  • This is seen in tremendous efforts to look young and act young.
  • Older people are often depicted as out of touch or incompetent.
  • Impatience with older people is often expressed.
  • Many times older people are mistreated.
  • Many times older people are forced to retire to soon.

THE BIBLE TEACHES REPSECT FOR AGE AND EXPERIENCE

God spoke through fathers — Hebrews 1:2, “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,” (ASV)

God selected the elders of Israel as leaders and examples — Exodus 3:16, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and (seen) that which is done to you in Egypt:

Mosaic age demanded respect for age — Leviticus 19:32, “Thou shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and thou shall fear thy God: I am Jehovah.” (ASV)

Gray hair is an honor if found in righteousness — Proverbs 16:31, “The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.” (ASV)

Jesus condemned those who refused to care for their parents — Mark 7:9-13, > (9) “And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition. > (10) For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death: > (11) but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given (to God); > (12) ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother; > (13) making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.

THE NEW TESTAMENT DEMANDS RESPECT FOR AGE:

Older men and women are to be treated with respect — 1 Timothy 5:1-2,  “(1) Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: “(2) the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.” ASV

Children are to obey and honor their parents = Ephesians 6:1-2, “(1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (2) Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), ASV

Godly widows are to be honored and supported if needed — 1 Timothy 5:8-16, “(8) But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. (9) Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, (having been) the wife of one man, (10) well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints’ feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. (11) But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; (12) having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. (13) And withal they learn also (to be) idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. (14) I desire therefore that the younger (widows) marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling: (15) for already some are turned aside after Satan. (16) If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.” ASV

Those leading the people of God as elders are to have age and experience — 1 Timothy 3:4-7,  “(4) one that ruleth well his own house, having (his) children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (6) not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7) Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

WHAT CAN OLDER PEOPLE DO TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM?

  • Be examples of faith and love for God.
  • Be spiritually minded.
  • Keep a good attitude and a sense of humor.
  • Work to communicate with younger people. Both older and younger people can learn from each other.
  • The strong uphold the weak, the young uphold the old.

CONCLUSION: Respect for age and experience is vital to a proper relationship with God. It is one of the great foundation principles of life on this earth. It is hard to respect our Father in Heaven, when we do not respect our parents on earth.

 

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Stir My Spirit

Waiting for the Lord to Stir Your Spirit

How exciting it must have been for Paul, Silas and Timothy when in a vision Paul heard the Macedonians say, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). They immediately left Troas and landed in Europe and began their work. The reception was not what most would have expected for there was great opposition in all the cities of Macedonia where they preached.

Leaving Silas and Timothy in Macedonia, Paul traveled to Achaia, the region just south of Macedonia, and arrived in Athens. Luke described what happened in these words, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:16-17).  He saw the idolatry and was moved to react against it.

Some have misunderstood the meaning of the phrase, “His spirit was provoked within him.”  Perhaps the King James translation that “his spirit was stirred in him” may have contributed to this. Their view is that the Holy Spirit of God stirred Paul’s own spirit and this is what caused the reaction. Look carefully at the text. Neither God nor His Holy Spirit are mentioned in this passage. That which stirred Paul’s spirit was that he saw the sin in that land. The godly heart of the great apostle reacted to the ungodliness in Athens.

There is a spirit of complacency in America which is detrimental to our spirit being provoked like Paul’s. Instead of confrontation many seek compromise. We think that we must avoid conflict at all cost. It is manifested in so many ways.

This attitude keeps parents from molding the lives of children. When they are small we try to “bribe” them or “distract” them instead of dealing with them. As children get older, parents choose to overlook sinful attitudes and actions rather than confronting them.

Across our land, pulpits are silent about the very issues confronting the church. Elders choose to ignore problems and the unique nature of the church is lost. This is so drastically different from what we read of Paul.

What about you? Do not sit and wait, thinking that somehow the Holy Spirit will speak to your spirit, and then you will deal with ungodliness. The very sight of ungodliness in Athens stirred Paul’s spirit. That same sight of ungodliness stirred God (think of Noah’s world and Sodom), and we can see the doom of America on the horizon. The sight of ungodliness must stir the spirit of every Christian. It is the only hope any have for the future!

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Born of Faith

We know from Hebrews 11:6, that “…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We also know where this faith that we must have in order to please God must ultimately come from: “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Ro. 10:17). The meaning of this text is quite clear to all. It simply shows that our faith is born, bred, and brought to maturity as we explore, experience, and are exposed to God’s word. It is the seed bed from which our faith is born, or, where our faith comes from.

Consequently, it is also true therefore, that because our God-pleasing faith comes from hearing and doing what we discover within the word of God, that anything that is NOT found within the word of God, CANNOT be said to be done as a part of true, God-pleasing faith. In fact, the bible clearly confirms this timeless and God-taught truth as well in Romans 14:23, wherein it states that, “whatever is not from faith is sin.”

To state it simply then: Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Whatever is not of faith, is sin.  Therefore, whatever is not found within the word of God, can never be said to have been done by faith (at least not faith in God), but is actually sin, according to God!

Why is it so eternally and critically important that we point this out to people? Simple. God stated very clearly and concisely, in 8 N. T. passages, exactly the type of music He wanted His N. T. church to offer up to Him in praise and worship. In every single case, it is simply and exclusively singing: vocal, non-instrumental, acappella music (Matt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26; Acts 16:25; Ro. 15:9; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Hebs. 2:12; Jms. 5:13). This is what we find in the word of God. Therefore, this can be done by faith. Instrumental music in the N.T. church however, cannot be found anywhere in the bible, not once, ever. The best and brightest proponents of instrumental worship music have sought to find such a verse in the N. T. for hundreds of years… and have all been utterly and abjectly unsuccessful. Therefore, instrumental worship music cannot ever be performed by faith in what God said, simply because God never once said we should use it in the N. T. church! It is therefore instead, nothing more than a vain and useless, man-made tradition (Mk. 7:1-13).

Tragically, the same can be said when it comes to the “Greatest Hoax in the History of Religious Doctrine” as well. Sadly, many millions of good, but biblically uninformed and therefore misled religious people today, wholeheartedly believe and claim to have been saved when they “put their faith in Jesus” and said the so-called “Sinner’s Prayer of Faith.” There’s only one problem with that. One monstrous, heinous and monumental, soul-searing and eternally-damnation-causing problem with that… In all of the thousands of conversions to Christ that we see recorded in the New Testament, that so-called “Sinner’s Prayer of Faith” is never, not once, not ever, seen; it’s never taught, preached, or practiced as even a peripheral element in any New Testament conversion account – ever. It is not in the bible. If it is, then please correct me. Please produce it. Please proudly and promptly supply the lost world with a “book, chapter, and verse” reference in God’s word as to where it’s located so all can see it. Please ask your denominational friends and neighbors to start having it referenced on the back of their denominational salvation tracts for a change – something we’ve never seen.

But they won’t, will they? They can’t can they? And we know why, don’t we? It’s not in there is it? It’s never found anywhere in any conversion account in the word of God. And we therefore know what that means, don’t we? If faith comes by hearing the word of God – and it does; and whatever is not of faith is sin – and it is, which means that whatever is not found in the word cannot be done by faith – which is therefore true… then that means that the so-called “Sinner’s Prayer of Faith,” is far more of the first part of that phrase than the latter; that is to say, that it is far more of a “Sin,” than anything done by “Faith!”

Don’t get me wrong, it may be done by “faith” alright, but it’s faith in the person who told you to say it, and not soul-saving, God-pleasing faith in the Lord Jesus – because He never did. I know. I once did the same. I once said the prayer. And I believed at that point I was “good to go” with God. But then someone loved me enough to show me the truth of God’s word on how to truly be saved “by faith.” How much do you love those you claim to? If you truly love them, then you must tell them.

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No Law Against Fruit of the Spirit

“The Fruit of the Spirit… Against Such There Is No Law”

By way of introduction to this subject, please consider the following points.

First, study the qualities of “the fruit of the Spirit” as that which is the exact opposite of a life filled with “the works of the flesh.” One list is revoltingly awful; one list is beautifully appealing. The “works of the flesh” show the outward products of a worldly life; the “fruit of the Spirit” shows the inner attitudes of a spiritual life. Satan uses the lusts and the things of this world to appeal to our fleshly appetite (cf. Gal. 5:16-18), but God uses spiritual qualities that are directly tied to His nature to inspire us to attain these godly qualities.

Second, please note carefully that Paul describes these qualities with a singular term—“the fruit of the Spirit.” He does not refer to them as “fruits,” but he rather addresses them as “fruit.” Contrast this with “works,” and we see many demonstrations of a worldly life, but only one singular description (cf. Matt. 6:22) of a spiritual life—a life that works to instill all of these qualities from one divine source. I realize that some may think that I am overstretching this, but I think not—the apostle Paul made a valid argument over the distinction between singular and plural tenses (cf. Gal. 3:16). Thus, while many may try to portray vividly these godly qualities as a cornucopia of different types of fruit, I believe Paul is rather describing sections of a singular fruit. Better yet, consider the next point to glean an even better illustration.

Third, just as many of the “works of the flesh” could be tied or connected together, we ought to see these qualities comprising “the fruit of the Spirit” as being joined together in a cluster. They relate to one another; they dovetail into each other. Each one thereafter promotes and encourages the next. In other words, there is a connection between them as we move from love to temperance. Thus, from the importance of the first attribute listed (“love”), we ought to visualize these as layers within a fruit, with love being at the core, and all of the rest of them emanating out from the center.

Fourth, if we are going to attain “the fruit of the Spirit” in our lives, it will not come automatically. With diligence, we are going to have to work on it (cf. 2 Pet. 1:5-8). We must allow the gospel to have its proper effect in our hearts and minds by promoting our thinking into the thinking of Jesus Christ (cf. Gal. 5:13-16, 25-26; Phil. 2:5-8). When we do so, we will have these qualities demonstrated in our lives!

Fifth, after listing these qualities, Paul concludes: “against such there is no law.” These characteristics and attributes of life are opened to us to develop and grow as long as we live. The field is wide open. We will never obtain the fullest degree of the things that Paul mentions here, which is one reason that he said, “…against such there is no law.” There is a continual opportunity for us to increase in these. If we lived to be as old as Methuselah, there would still be room for the development and growth of these principles in our lives. We never will overdo love; we never will overdo joy as described in the Bible, and such like. This is what keeps Christianity fresh—the possibility of growth. In other words, “the fruit of the Spirit” meets all the demands of the law of Christ. There are no laws that work against these qualities and virtues. There is a continual opportunity for us to increase in these.

In conclusion, the heart of religion lies in our understanding of “the fruit of the Spirit.” This is religion in practice! This is the effect of the gospel in our lives! We must avoid the fleshly life with all of its manifestations and seek to develop in our hearts and minds “the fruit of the Spirit.” Here is the very practical side of Christianity. This is what the grace of God is intended to produce. Can we see these in our lives?

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Scandal

If you follow sports at all, you’ve probably read stories involving the word ” scandal ” more times than you can count in the last few weeks. Among other scandals, Major League Baseball’s latest performance enhancing drug scandal has a number of players marked for long-term suspensions (pending appeals). Men who once adamantly denied any wrongdoing and consistently claimed their own innocence have now seen evidence compiled against them that strongly suggests that they’re guilty. A problem that was once considered to be a thing of the past has resurfaced with a vengeance. Sound familiar?
We in the church have our own ” scandals ” of sorts. Consider the widespread destruction of pornography among men (and women, in rapidly increasing numbers). Consider pregnancies out of wedlock. Consider those who struggle with homosexual thoughts or desires. There are a number of sins that we seem to have (in some unspoken way) classified as ” scandals ” that will not be discussed. However, if we don’t discuss those sins, how will we ever help people overcome them?
Two of the major keys in the baseball PED scandal help us to gain a better understanding of how we can handle these undiscussed sins. First, some of the players claimed their own innocence and spoke harshly to any who accused them of doing anything that was against the rules. Because of their attempts at secrecy they got themselves into even more trouble and had more pride to swallow when the evidence came to everyone’s attention. Second, because the league is trying to sell a product, they have swept as many issues under the rug as possible and have tried to maintain a clean image in order to keep fans, no matter how false that image may be.
In the church, we have to have open lines of communication so those who struggle with sins and want to overcome them can know that they have brothers and sisters standing behind them, willing to help them overcome sin rather than scandalize them for struggling. Confession and accountability are biblical ideas that prevent us from being prideful in ourselves and the self-images we build up to be seen before men. Rather than compounding the sin by hiding it and being dishonest inwardly and with others about the severity of a sin problem that goes unchallenged, help must be sought and offered by those who can do something. Additionally, the church can’t look at the new temptations and challenges people are facing today and pretend that nothing is wrong. Are we a little unsure about how to approach some of these issues? Probably, because they differ greatly from some of the issues we’ve had to handle in years gone by. However, sin is still sin and the Bible is still sufficient to provide the answers men and women need to eliminate the sins that plague their lives. Let us not bury our heads in the sand but go boldly into a dark and sinful world with the truth, and let’s be sure to pick up those who fall along the way and look for help when we need it.
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