Rising Up Early

And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear (Jer.25:4).

The Hebrew word for prophet is nabi. The Greek word for prophet is prophetes. Both words are used to refer not only to those who predict the future, but who speak to contemporary issues. The denotation does not necessarily imply (in and of itself) that one so denominated is a speaker of truth. Moses sets forth conditions in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 for discerning a true prophet from a false prophet. The prophet who speaks truth, and whose prophecies come to pass, is proven to be the true prophet.

Neither does a prophet necessarily need to be a man. Miriam and Deborah were a prophetesses (Ex. 15:20; Judg. 4:4) as was Huldah (2 Kgs. 22:14). Isaiah had a wife who was a prophetess as well (Isa. 8:3). In the New Testament are Anna (Luke 2:36) and Philip’s seven daughters (Acts 21:9). We do not see their work as prominently as the men, but they were there and they prophesied in their respective roles.

A prophet was also one who spoke on behalf of another. Of course, false prophets speak on behalf of their false gods, or allegedly on behalf of God, but lie in making such a claim (1 Kgs. 13:18; Jer. 5:31, 29:9). In the sense of speaking on behalf of another, Aaron was once called the prophet of Moses by God (Ex. 7:1). In this sense of the word, a prophet is one who speaks for another.

The story of the prophets in the Old Testament makes up the bulk of the prophets of the Lord in the Bible. They are hard working men; God, through Jeremiah, calls them His servants (Jer. 25:4). More often than not, God sent them to a people who did not want to hear their message: “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord” (Isa. 30:9). It was difficult to be a prophet under such conditions, but they were told to prophesy regardless. Isaiah once asked how long he was to speak and God answered, “Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land” (Isa.6:11-12).

The sending of the prophets to God’s people is God’s way of removing excuses. Because the prophets were to prophesy until there were no more people to hear, not a single person could claim ignorance of God’s message. God’s prophets were ubiquitous in the Old Testament. They got around to preaching and teaching everywhere in ancient Israel. As Paul would say about the Gentiles in Romans 1:20, Israel was, because of the prophets, “without excuse.”

The story of the Old Testament prophets in many ways is the same story that preachers and teachers of the gospel live today. The New Testament sets forth many of them as heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. We have much to learn from their lives and messages. Of course, Paul tells us, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom.15:4).

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But Why Do You Call Me “Lord, Lord”

But Why Do You Call Me “Lord, Lord” and Do Not the Things that I Say?

According to researchers about 33% of the world’s population claims to be Christian. That number is declining, as is the number of individuals who claim no religious affiliation whatsoever. All the while Islam is growing and the number of Hindus and Buddhists are remaining constant. However, in the United States, according to a 2009 study by the American Religious Identification Survey, “Seventy-five percent of Americans call themselves Christian.” Yet they go on to note that in 1990 that figure was 86 percent. (http://articles.cnn.com/2009-03-09/living/us.religion.less.christian_1_american-religious-identification-survey-christian-nationevangelical?_s=PM:LIVING). More than a 10% fall off in the past 20 years.

Now obviously this number includes the hundreds of fractured denominational groups currently littering our religious landscape. And the Lord’s church makes up only about 1% of the overall population of the “Christian” community. When you whittle that number down to those who are really faithful the numbers are staggering, depressing and certainly cause for alarm.

Now this will certainly come as no surprise to those who are faithful to Christ and His church. We remember that the Lord said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). My purpose here is not to focus on the hypocritical masses, but to draw attention to what may be our hypocritical selves.

We are often so preoccupied and critical of those worldly masses that don’t care enough to come together with the church and worship God that we forget to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). I have said on numerous occasions (and I am sure I am not the first to do so) that, “if the Lord returns on Sunday morning there will be a lot of folks left sitting in their pews.” (Add to that number and the heathen, many preachers in pulpits, Christians at home in bed, at a ball game, the lake or on the golf course). In the Judgment scene of Matthew 25 many of the religious are left wondering why they have been commanded to depart into everlasting fire (v. 41). The Lord tells them it was simply because they hadn’t done
what he had told them to do (v. 45).

Jesus said the wise man hear his words and does what He says (Matthew 7:24). James writes, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:23-25).

Now I don’t want anyone to think that I am saying we should be unconcerned about the lost and only about ourselves. But if our hearts aren’t right with God then WE are lost and won’t be able to help anyone else go to heaven with us. Christ teaching of the “speck” and the “plank” (Matthew 7:3-5) is certainly applicable here. As is His instruction to let our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16). Remember the first and great commandment, “love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). And, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Be faithful!

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Can You Call Someone a Fool?

In Matthew 5:22, we find Jesus calling one a fool.  Well, from this text we see that Jesus had touched on the seriousness of wrongful attitudes and deeds that are commonly mixed into them.  It should be noted here that while sin has stages, God notices the very first seed in the heart, long before it ever becomes feelings of violence and anger.  Thus, failure to control oneself makes one subject to a greater punishment (James 1:13-15).  Therefore, this verse is not about calling someone a fool as it is about learning to control one’s unrighteous anger.

Now, on the other side, in Matthew 23:17, we learn that Jesus said that they were “fools and blind men.”  Now, Jesus earlier had called these same people hypocrites and blind guides.  So, he was clearly identifying those whom he spoke against.  But, when we go deeper into calling one a fool, we find Solomon stating that an atheist is called a fool (Psalm 14:1), the slanderer is said to be a fool (Proverbs 10:18), those who despise instruction are fools (Proverbs 15:5), a contentious person is a fool (Proverbs 18:6), the one who lives for pleasure is a fool (Luke 12:13-20), and the one who trusts in his won heart is a fool (Proverbs 28:26).  All of these individuals are called fools by God.  But, does this mean that we can call people fools?

Well, I want to point a couple of things out here.  First, this word for fool in the New Testament is where we get the word for moron in the English language and that is how that word came to be.  Second, this word fool simply means foolish or stupid as we find in Matthew 7:26-27 with the wise man and foolish man.  So basically, those who are not built upon the rock of Christ’s teachings, are foolish.

Now, in the Old Testament, the word for fool means unbeliever, insolent in religion, stupid in practical things, foolish and idiot.  These individuals are those who attack someone’s reputation, who hates instructions, who loves to disagree with others, causing controversy, who lives for their desires and lives by their own heart.  So basically again, those who are not built upon God, who seek their own ways, are foolish.

Now, me personally, I would not call someone a fool because it is often a word that shuts more doors that they open.  However, I have called people foolish before and would do so again should it be biblical to call them such.  But sadly, there are some pretty crude people out there in the world who will call one a fool or a moron without even realizing what they are saying.  I guess my point is, if they do not have a Christ like spirit in the way they present things, how would it bring glory to Christ (Colossians 3:17)?

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What is Personal Work?

Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.” (ASV)

James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, (and) to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (ASV)

There are many people in the church today who do not know what personal work is. Many times Christians would do personal work if they understood what to do. In this article we want to list some of the things that personal work includes;

PERSONAL WORK INCLUDES – (but is not limited to the following):

1.  It is giving someone you know a gospel tract on some subject that they may be interested in.

2.  It is discussing the Bible truth with a friend, neighbor, or relative either at you home or their home.

3.  It is telling or showing your neighbor, friend, or relative the happiness and joy that you have found in your relationship to God.

4.  It is inviting interested person to join with you in a study of God’s Word.

5.  It is picking up the telephone and calling an absent church member to find out if they are sick, or if you can assist them in some way.

6.  It is setting up a Bible study to be conducted on a regular basis in you home or somewhere else.

7.  It is going from house to house distributing literature about the church of Christ.

8.  It is gathering your children together on a regular scheduled day and time to study THE Bible – also invite the other children that your children play with.

9.  It is working for the GOSPEL MEETINGS as they come about each year.

10.  It is using your own car to bring someone to church service.

Indeed, personal work is many things, but to sum it up, it is concern for the lost and glorifying Christ.

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Confronting God Face to Face

Americans do not like confrontations and will do all they can to avoid them. We have a spirit of compromise and seek to find common ground by using “politically” correct speech in dealing with matters. This is so different from the way God deals with us.

Our God is a confrontational God. In the very beginning, He confronted those in error. His questions, “Who told you that you were naked” and “Have you eaten of the tree,” forced Adam and Eve to face Him (Gen. 3:11). Later, when Moses descended from Mt. Sinai, our Creator forced another decision. Moses said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me” (Ex. 32:26)! God’s confrontation does not allow for one to “straddle the road” and not make a decision.

This Divine nature was manifested again when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. The prophet assembled Israel and said to them, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21,ESV). Even though the people refused to answer, this confrontation provided the answer. Their silence showed where they actually were.

When Immanuel was born in Bethlehem, His teaching was confrontational. His question to the Jewish leaders forced them to make a decision when He asked about the baptism of John—“From where did it come? From heaven or from man” (Matt. 21:25)? Confrontation of this type leaves no room for a middle ground.

What about you? Has your study of the Bible caused you to come “face to face” with God where He forces you to make a decision? You may not have seen it this way, but His revealed words demand that you make a decision. You sit in a Bible class or listen to a sermon where you hear something that is different from what you believe. How do you respond? What is being taught may be wrong, but it cannot be wrong if this is what His word teaches. When your belief about a matter is opposite from what He teaches, it is not enough to say, “I just don’t believe that.” God has confronted you, and you have made a decision to reject Him, even though you may not realize it. When you refuse to make a decision, you still have made a choice, even though you may not see it that way.

The seriousness of this matter is shown when we realize that in such dilemmas both positions cannot be right. There is no option. One belief is from God, the other is simply a lie. So when God confronts you, take it seriously. Your eternal destiny is being decided by the choice you make!

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