Communication

The key to a strong marriage is communication.  However, communication is not just necessary  within the marriage relationship, but it is  necessary in any relationship, especially our spiritual  relationship with God. We may communicate in our  spiritual relationship in two ways: prayer and study.

We need to be a people of prayer. The Bible  is resplendent with the command of communication  through prayer. Paul tells us in First Thessalonians 5:17,  “ Pray without ceasing .” James wrote, “ Confess your  faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye  may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous  man availeth much ” (James 5:16). Daniel knew that  prayer was important. He “ went into his house; and his  windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem,  he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed,  and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime ”  (Dan. 6:10). Jesus must have thought that communication  with our Father was important enough not only to teach  it to His disciples (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4), but to  practice it Himself (Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42; 6:12). If Jesus  needed to pray, then how much more do we need to pray?  Prayer is the prelude to peace, the prologue to power,  the preface to purpose and the pathway to perfection.

Since communication is a two-fold process, we  should not only communicate to Jehovah through our  prayers, but also allow Him to communicate to us  through His written word. God not only wants His word  read (1 Thess. 5:27), He wants it to be understood as well  (2 Tim. 2:15). Moses gathered the entire nation of Israel  and conveyed the importance of communication from  God (Deut. 5:22, 27). We need to have the conviction  of Josiah towards the word of God:

And the king went up into the house of the  Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the  inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and  the priests, and the prophets, and all the  people, both small and great: and he read  in their ears all the words of the book of  the covenant which was found in the house  of the Lord . [2 Kings 23:2]

Jesus said in John 6:45, “ It is written in the prophets,  ‘ And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore  that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh  unto me .’” The only way we can learn of God and His  will for us is a daily study of the Bible. This is the only  way we can allow God to communicate to us His desires,  commands and promises for us.

Communication is not sufficient alone, but action  must correspond with the communication. Without such,  communication is vain, and the situation places a severe  strain on the relationship with problems to follow. May  we always communicate with God through daily prayer  and Bible study, and follow our communication with  faith and obedience to the will of God. “ But to do good  and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices  God is well pleased ” (Heb. 13:16).

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Saved? How?

When those extremely religious but entirely misled religious people who had had the Lord crucified were brought face to face with their sins as Peter preached the first recorded post-resurrection gospel sermon,

“…they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized… And the Lord added to the church daily, those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:37, 38, 40, 41, 47).

Please note:

-Their ‘belief’ (even going so far as their being ‘cut to the heart’ by his message about Jesus) alone, WASN’T enough to save them…

-There was absolutely no prayer of faith for salvation even hinted at here…

-Baptism was FOR the forgiveness of sins; not something to do AFTER their sins were forgiven/they received salvation…

-They were NOT saved UNTIL they received his word and were then, by faith, baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27), and THEN AND ONLY THEN did God add them to HIS church…

Jesus Christ, who has “all authority in heaven and on earth,” commanded that baptism would be an absolutely essential element in the making of His disciples (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16). Subsequently, Saul of Tarsus was commanded to “Arise and be baptized, and wash away [his] sins” (Acts 22:16). The apostle Peter would also write by direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Ptr. 1:20-21) “baptism doth now save you” (I Ptr. 3:21).

But, what about so many seemingly otherwise well-grounded and well-intentioned religious people who teach that we are saved by faith only, not works, and that baptism is neither necessary or essential to salvation? How do we reach them with the gospel truth?

  1. Well, we might begin by pointing out that there’s only one place in the entire New Testament wherein the phrase “faith only” occurs. It is James 2:24; and it unequivocally and unashamedly proclaims for all time the following “firmly forever fixed in heaven” (See Ps. 119:89; ESV) truth: “You see that a man is justified by works and NOT BY FAITH ALONE” (James 2:24; NKJV; EMPH mine; DED).
  2. We might additionally point out, that biblically speaking, according to Jesus, belief (i.e., faith) itself is a work (See Jn. 6:29).
  3. We could also correctly inform them that there are several different kinds of works seen in the scriptures, none of which can we afford to mix up when talking about that which is either condemned or commended by God. For instance, there are:
  • Works of the law, through the keeping of which no one will be justified (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:10-11).
  • Works of the flesh, through which the conduction of such shall cause many to be condemned (Gal. 5:19-22).
  • Works of merit by which some will seek in vain to enter heaven (Eph. 2:8-9).
  • And Works which God demands we must do both in order to be saved, and which were the reason we were saved to perform to begin with (Jn. 14:15; Lk. 6:46-49; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:11-14)!
  1. We would also point out that baptism is the “by faith” response to the gospel (Gal. 3:26-27), because it is an act of faith – never seen in Scripture labeled as a work, by the way – in the working of God Who raised Jesus from the dead (Col. 2:12).

However, just as the centerpiece of some “martial arts” training often includes and involves allowing the opponent to strike first, and then seizing the opportunity to use their momentum against them, so too can we operate in this spiritual battle we oft-times are forced into having to wage. When all else fails, let us try the following…

Tell them that if they can point you to just one person saved in the Bible by saying this “prayer of faith” under the New Covenant (i.e. converted to Christ), you will throw out EVERYTHING you’ve ever said regarding baptism. (This of course does not and cannot include the thief on the cross who lived and died under the old covenant – Hebrews 9:15-17 – some 50 days before Christ’s church was ever established in Acts 2). However, if they can’t show you even one Biblical example of such – and they can’t because it is never found in Scripture – then what makes them believe that they were saved by such a non-Biblical process? ‘Especially in light of the literal thousands of conversions we do see therein, without even a hint of such a prayer being preached or taught for salvation’s sake?

And then, after they’ve exhausted all efforts to find even one person in the New Testament after Christ’s church was established and the New Covenant put in place by His blood (Luke 22:14-20; Acts 20:28) who was saved by the prayer process they believe they were, ask them what they would think, if you could show them not one, not two, but three separate and distinct Biblical examples, of those who had believed, and called Christ “Lord,” and all three of which, absolutely were not saved by simply so doing what they believe to be the two essentially exclusive salvation elements from Romans 10:9 – 10; the very two things that they base their whole salvation on, according to their understanding to this point. Then show them the following examples, followed up with the following questions:

A). James 2:19 with Mark 5:1-12: Did they believe? Yes! Did they call Him Lord? Yes! Were they saved? No!

B). Matthew 7:21-23: Did they believe? Yes! Did they call Him Lord? Yes! Were they saved? No!

C). Acts 9:1-8 and 22:6-11; at the conclusion of these verses, as Paul headed into Damascus, having called Jesus “Lord,” and obviously having believed (enough to be evidenced by his obedience in response), then by their reasoning of thinking that that is all that was required to obtain forgiveness and be saved, then he certainly should have been already saved at the point where he entered Damascus, should he not? Then why is it that THREE DAYS THEREAFTER then, that his sins remained unforgiven, and he had to “Arise and be baptized TO WASH AWAY HIS SINS, calling on the Name of the Lord (Acts 22:16)? The answer is simple. Because belief and confession alone are not enough according to the Scriptures – three times over.

Certainly any serious seeker of God can surely see, after studying this, what they, like the jailer and the thousands of other serious seekers of God we see getting saved as outlined therein, must certainly do to surely be saved. And we must let them know that if we can be of any further assistance whatsoever, or answer any questions, it would be our delight to do so, straight from the Word of God.

So then, who do you believe; man, or God? What exactly do you trust your eternal soul to (Jn. 12:48)? Does your preacher preach a different gospel than seen above (See: Gal. 1:6-10), which includes baptism both for and before salvation (Acts 2:37-47)? If your soul is worth to you, “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” come study with a local congregation of the churches of Christ… “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (See John 8:31-32). Or, having seen the truth, “And now, why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His Name” (Acts 22:16; ESV), just as those in Acts 2:37-47 did and were added to the Lord’s church; to Christ’s one, New Testament – body, bride, church, kingdom, saved and forgiven people.

 

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Beat the Heat?

Summer is upon us. From this point on, until some time in October it is going to be HOT! Though I agree with the sentiment expressed by the world that we need to “ beat the heat, ” I do not agree with the ways of beating the heat that many in the world use. I am talking mainly about the immodesty of dress that comes about when many try to “ beat the heat. ” For some reason, if it is hot outside many people think that heat excuses them from dressing appropriately. Many people believe that they will be cooler and more comfortable outside if they wear less clothing. The more skin they expose the more they think they are beating the heat.

From a practical standpoint, this is simply not the case. In fact the more skin you expose to the sun the greater your chance of skin cancer and sunburn. A little common sense and my own experience, leads me to believe loose fitting, full-length, cotton clothing is the best for outdoor wear in hot weather. First, it protects your skin from sun exposure and second it absorbs your body’s moisture and this moisture helps keep your body cooler. When your skin is exposed and you sweat, that moisture is more readily evaporated into the air than it would if your clothing absorbed it. For safety sake, you will be much healthier and less likely to have skin cancer if you cover up, rather than expose your flesh to the environment for the whole world to see. In my opinion this practical approach to staying cooler outdoors puts to rest the excuse of “bearing it all” in order to stay cool. It just simply is not practical.

So why, then, do people dress so immodestly in the heat, if it doesn’t really keep them cool? One answer is that they think it would be more comfortable. Another answer is that they let fashion dictate how they dress, rather than the Word of God. The Bible is to be our guide for living. The Bible has much to say about the issue of modesty. We are called as Christians to “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed…” (Rom. 12:2). We are not to conform our selves to the world’s standard of modesty and conduct, but transform ourselves into the image of Christ.

The world’s standard of dress and conduct goes far beyond what is acceptable according to God’s standard of dress and conduct.  The world says it is okay for men to go shirtless and to wear very short athletic shorts in public. The world says its okay for women to wear bikinis, bear their midriff’s, wear short-shorts that leave little to the imagination or mini-skirts that bear enough thigh to make a 1940’s pin-up girl blush. The world says that this way of dressing to entice is perfectly acceptable and little girls are encouraged to begin dressing in this way at a very young age. Have you been to the mall and seen the clothing for young girls? Bikini’s, halter-tops and short-shorts for five year olds! The world also says it is okay for men and women, boys and girls (not close family members) to swim or hangout at the pool or beach together. It is there, at the pool or beach that even the world’s already lax modesty is allowed to become even more lax. It is only there that dental floss is considered an acceptable garment! Moreover, there is great pressure, especially on teen-age girls, to conform to this worldly standard of dress.

Brethren we need to avoid situations like this. Even if we ourselves do not dress in a way that is immodest, is it acceptable for us to be around those who are dressed immodestly? Jesus said, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart…” (Mat. 5:29). Do we really want to put our teenage (or younger) boys and girls in a situation where they might be tempted to look at others, or to be looked at by others in this manner? Christians are to “Abstain from all appearance of evil,” (1Thes. 5:22); “Flee also youthful lusts,” (2Tim. 2:22); and to “Flee fornication,” (1Cor. 6:18). How? Don’t dress like the world. Don’t go places where you know that others will be dressed immodestly. Do not conform yourself to the world’s dress code, but instead dress as befitting a true child of God.

The Bible gives us a standard of modesty. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (1Tim. 2:9-10). This passage specifically speaks to the Christian woman, but the application addresses both men and women, girls and boys. Christians are to be adorned in modesty, not in the latest fashion beach apparel. The word “adorned” means, “to be put in proper order; to decorate”. Adorned with “shamefacedness” means literally to have the eyes downcast. By implication to be bashful, modest, or filled with awe (reverent). Men and women, boys and girls are to dress in such a way that professes godliness and good works, not worldliness and irreverence!

What, specifically, is that biblical standard? First we need to note that God’s standard of dress is a part of His moral law that has existed without change throughout each dispensation. Things such as adultery, murder, theft and the eating or drinking of blood have been condemned under God’s moral law from the beginning and until this day. When it comes to this moral law, modesty included, what was applicable in the Old Testament is applicable in the New.

Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and man became aware of sin, public nakedness has been forbidden. Adam and Eve, when they were alone in the garden as man and wife, were naked without shame. They had no reason for shame until they sinned against God. Their nakedness then became a reproach to them and they felt a need to cover it. So, they made for themselves “aprons” from fig leaves (Gen. 3:7). The word “apron” roughly translates to loincloth. This covered mainly the front and back of the lower body and left the legs bare (much like the modern “Speedo” or bikini bottom). Even after they were “covered” in this manner, God still considered them naked. He later made for them proper clothing to wear so that they would not still be naked. In verse 21, God made “coats of skins, and clothed them.” The word “coat” here is translated from the Hebrew word “kethoneth.” It was a long, shirt-like garment, generally with sleeves, that covered Adam and Eve from their shoulders to their knees (Wilson’s OT Word Studies).

“God clothed the first man and woman in modest clothing at a time when there was no one to look at them. Why? Does God do things without reason? Is it possible God was establishing a standard for all mankind? Honest reflection demands an affirmative answer. Remember, God’s moral laws do not change.” (Tim Kidwell, Buda, Texas)

The conclusion we can draw from this is that God only considered them modestly dressed when they were covered from the shoulders to the knees. If you show any more skin than the head and neck, arms, or lower legs, then by God’s standard of modesty you are naked! If you dress in this way, exposing your thighs, or your belly or part of your chest for all the world to see, then you are violating God’s moral law in immodesty. If you are trying to “ beat the heat ” by going about naked in public you will wind up some place where you would wish you could “ beat the heat ” for eternity!

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Elementary Facts Concerning Marriage

When considering the Word of God, I presume that we all understand that marriage is between a man and a woman (Genesis. 2:24). Divorce is prevalent in our society today because it seems more attention is given to a wedding ceremony than training young people for the marriage relationship. Therefore, the following guidelines I pray will be helpful for those contemplating marriage. They comprise a mixture of divine truth and sound advice.

First, marriage is for the mature. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” Gen. 2:24). Many young people, especially teens, who talk about getting married are not mature enough to do so. Therefore the responsibilities that go along with marriage are often overwhelming. Thus, one should ask, “Am I emotionally ready to get married?” When a young lady says, “If it does not work out, I can go home to Momma,” she is not ready to enter this relationship. If a young man gets upset because his fiancé desires to spend time with him, which time takes him away from his “buddies”, he is not ready. Or, if both are too controlling of the other, they are not ready to be married.

Another question to ask, “Are we ready financially to get married?” The idea that a couple can get by on love alone is a myth. Now, it is true that agape love for each other is essential for marriage to last. However, love does not pay the bills. The boy who quits school so he can get married because he has a job making $200 a week, is likely going to be making the same amount 10 years from now.

Yet, the most important question to ask, “Are we ready spiritually to get married?” If a young man cannot get up and get himself ready for worship, he will not be able to prepare his family. A young lady who marries a non–‐Christian must be prepared to remain strong despite the discouragement that will come from her mate. Someone says, “But Grandma got married when she was fifteen.” But Grandma lived in a different world. Grandma probably had already helped raise 6 or 7 siblings. She was not spoiled rotten like many today. She understood what commitment means. In addition, Grandpa was probably significantly older and was already working and prepared to care for a family.

Second, romance attraction does not guarantee happiness. When a teen boy is drawn or attracted to a teen girl that is a healthy, natural desire. Parents Who love their children must, with the Bible and common sense, guide their children to making not only responsible decisions, but also right decisions. While physical intimacy is wonderful, these feelings and desires can only be fully expressed in the beauty of sacred marriage (Heb. 13:4). Thus, marriage is likewise for the mature. Those who engage in sexual relations outside of holy matrimony are selfishly fulfilling the lust of the flesh and taking advantage of the other. In so doing, those who engage in such cannot fully appreciate the beauty of married love, for in marriage, joy comes more from the giving of one’s self to another. Paul wrote: “Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife” (1 Cor. 7:3-4).

Teenagers in the church should understand that the Lord, Paul, the preacher, and godly parents are not trying to keep physical intimacy away from them, but rather are trying to bring it to them in all of its beauty and sacredness in marriage. Only then can such really be enjoyed. While romance is essential to a great marriage, romance essentially is about feelings, and you cannot build a strong marriage on feelings alone.

Third, marriage is for life. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). This word “cleave” carries the idea of bonding together like glue. This means that marriage does not come with a 90 – day option, but is for life. Jesus said, “ . . . What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6). The vows a couple makes to each other may be similar to the following:

I take you to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better —‐ for worse, for richer – for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do part.

These vows are not only made to each other, but usually before witnesses, and for sure before God. Therefore, it is absolutely essential we honor the vows we make before Him (Eccl. 5:4).

Fourth, marriage requires work. One man said, “Marriage is like twirling a baton, turning handsprings, or eating with chopsticks. It looks easy until you try it.” The idea that a couple lives happily ever after, without working to make their marriage great, is a myth. Great marriages do not happen automatically or accidentally, couples work to make it so. This requires selflessness on the part of the husband and wife. And, selflessness requires agape love as described by Paul in First Corinthians 13.

Several years ago, a Christian couple won the Happy Marriage contest and was published in the June 1996 Good Housekeeping Magazine. The secret to the success of their marriage, according to this couple, is:

“We gave…when we WANTED to receive. We served…when we WANTED to feast. We shared…when we WANTED to keep. We listened…when we WANTED to talk. We submitted…when we WANTED to reign. We forgave…when we WANTED to remember. We stayed…when we WANTED to leave Not only is marriage going to take a lot of work, it is worth all of a couple’s efforts”

Fifth, make sure Christ is invited to your wedding and into your home. According to John 2, Jesus attended a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. It Was here that he performed his first recorded miracle (v.11). Evidently, the Lord was invited to this special occasion. By His presence He sanctioned what was taking place. Oftentimes, Jesus found himself in the homes of others. So, have you made Him a permanent guest in your home? If He is first and your wife is second, she will be so happy! If He is first and your husband is second, he will be so happy! Notice these words:

“Marriage takes three to be complete; It’s not enough for two to meet. They must be united in love by love’s Creator, God above. A marriage that follows God’s plan Takes more than a woman and man. It needs a oneness that can be Only from Christ —‐ Marriage takes three.” (Beth Stuckwisch)

Christ is the great home builder (Psa. 127:1). Let us invite Him into our homes and build upon His solid and sure principles, which make our marriages great!

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Prayer: When God Says No

The practice of prayer is so fundamental to the overall spiritual health of the Christian that Paul wrote by inspiration, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). To Timothy Paul wrote, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;” (1 Timothy 2:8). But as fundamental as prayer is there are a lot of misconceptions about how prayer works.

Prayer is the medium through which we communicate our thanks, requests, and cares to God. God communicates to use through his Word and His providence. A big misconception is that God answers prayers in the affirmative or not at all. Often when we get what we want we respond thankfully by saying that God has answered our prayers. But the truth is that God answers every prayer. Sometimes God says, “Yes,” and sometimes He responds, “Not right now.” And there are also times when God says, “No.”

God Told David, “No.” After the birth of David’s son, which had been conceived in sin with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan told the king that because of his sin the child would die. David responded by pleading with God for the child’s life. He “fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground” (2 Samuel 12:16). But God said, “No.”

God Told Paul, “No.” The great evangelist, missionary, and apostle was afflicted with “a thorn in the flesh…a messenger of Satan to buffet” him, that he may not “be exalted above measure.” Paul said, “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” But God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul reacted by saying, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). God said, “No.”

God Told Jesus, “No.” In the Garden of Gethsemane as the Lord prepared for the cross that lay before Him Jesus pleaded, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me…” (Matthew 26:39). The text tells us that three times he prayed this same prayer, but each time he concluded, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” And God said, “No.”

God says no to us when we consider sin over righteousness. God says no to us when our wish is not in accordance to his will. God says no to us when what we want is not in our best interest. The most tragic response will be when God says no to those who desire to enter his eternal home after death that have not been obedient and faithful.

The thing is; we often times think that we know what is best for us, but in reality we are not that smart. Isaiah prophesied the words of God saying, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). And Jeremiah is recorded as saying, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Many years ago during a particular low point in my life I was feeling lost, discouraged and hopeless. My life was misdirected and in a state of turmoil. I recall one particular evening begging God to give me some very clear and specific blessings; my hearts desires that I knew would bring me peace and good fortune. Today I am blessed beyond measure even though I did not get even one thing I asked for that dark, bleak night so long ago. All because God said, “No.”

Place your trust and faith in God. Do His will and let Him guide your life with His Word. Leave your cares and desires with Him. Be obedient; be faithful!

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