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October,
2016
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Volume
8
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Issue
#4
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"Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm
119:105
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Robert T. Oliver
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Are You Ready For Persecution?
For a number of generations in this country we have been lulled into
a false sense of security. To be persecuted for the cause of
Christ in this country has been unthinkable. But, is it possible that
this period of freedom for Christians is going to end? That may be
possible.
When I was in the 8th grade, my history teacher had a
chart on one of her bulletin boards and she asked each student on
Monday if we attended church services on Sunday. If we did, she put a
star on the chart by our name. It was also common to have prayers in
school, and before sporting events.
Today
those professing to follow Christ, that own businesses such as a
bakeries or florists, are being persecuted because they believe
homosexuality is wrong. The English Standard Version reads: 1
Corinthians 6:9 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the
sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice
homosexuality, (10) nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Yet,
these citizens of the United States have had their religious freedom
taken from them, for they believe it to be sinful to participate in
weddings, or other such occasions that support these sins. Some have
faced large fines, or perhaps lost their business by order of the
courts of the United States.
Our neighbor to the North, Canada, had its Supreme Court recently
declare the reading of passages such as I quoted about homosexuality
to be criminal hate speech. Notice the following: "Ottawa, Ontario - The Supreme Court of Canada
has ruled that Biblical speech opposing homosexual behavior,
including in written form, is essentially a hate crime." http://christiannews.net/2013/02/28/canadian-supreme-court-rules-biblical-speech-opposing-homosexual-behavior-is-a-hate-crime/
Other
"Western" nations have done the same.
We have many in this nation in places of power that want the same
laws enacted here, and they have had success in attacking
Christianity in the past.
Legal update:
Notes from attorney Matt Vega's
Lecture
Polishing The Pulpit lectureship
August, 2016
Obstacles:
1.
Legal - Supreme Court becoming aggressive against Christianity
All public schools directed to allow gender-confused students to use
the bathroom and locker room of their choice.
No wedding vender has defended their right as a matter of
conscious: Iowa ruled churches are not exempt from
states' sexual requirements. No unwelcoming speech allowed
against homosexuality.
2.
Financial pressure used against us. Georgia is the third
largest state in the movie industry behind California and New York.
When the legislature passed a measure that would protect us from
having to participate in homosexual weddings, etc., the movie
industry and the NFL threatened to boycott Georgia, so the Republican
governor vetoed the proposed law.
The law
and the financial pressure are working together to force us to ignore
biblical principle.
3.
The shaming by vertical media of conservative groups. When searching
the Internet you don't get the conservative searches in Google.
Supreme
Court: we are now the minority. The Supreme Court sided with
Hobby Lobby said they did not need to provide and facilitate four
potentially life-terminating drugs and devices in their health
insurance plan, against their religious convictions, or pay severe
fines. But the court is now refusing to rule that the Hobby Lobby
case is true of all religious nonprofits. They sent the other cases
back to the lower courts that will get it wrong.
Texas passed a law requiring abortion clinics to
have the same requirements as all health care facilities, i.e.
doctors needed to be able to practice in a nearby hospital so if
there was a problem that doctor could rush the patient to the
hospital and treat the patient there. Opponents claimed that this
would put an undo burden on abortion clinics, and almost half would
have to close. So the court struck down the law.
There was a case where a small family owned
grocery/pharmacy and wanted to not provide morning after pills due to
their religious beliefs. This was a common practice that a store
could choose not to offer certain services. They won their case but
lost it on appeal. The Supreme Court refused to hear it.
Justice
Selito said: "Ralph's (the store) has made a strong case that
the regulations here are improperly designed to stamp out religious
objectors." They were targeting religious objectors on the
issue of abortion specifically. He went on to say. "This is an
ominous sign. This case raised the simple issue whether people get to
live their lives and operate their business according to their faith.
It is indeed ominous."
We cannot afford to forget the extreme beliefs that are held by a
large number of the Islam faith. What I am trying to say is that throughout
history those that follow Christ have been persecuted even to death.
The Bible is clear that our Lord expects us to remain faithful to him
even to the point of death. Remember the words of the three Hebrew
children that faced a sentence of death unless they bowed down and
worshipped the image created by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king said to
them: Daniel 3:15-18 "...But if you do not
worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king,
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O
king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve
your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
If we do not remain faithful during persecution, these men and others
will rise up and condemn us.
Consider the following passages. Remember when
Jesus told the parable of the sower? This is what he said about the
seed that fell on the rocky soil:
Mark
4:16-17," And these are the ones sown on
rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately
receive it with joy. (17) And they have no root in themselves, but
endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on
account of the word, immediately they fall away."
Revelation
3:5, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be
tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto
death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Just looking at these two examples we see that
some that do not have enough faith will desert our Lord when
persecution comes. Yet in the Revelation text we note that to receive
the crown of life we must be faithful even if we are persecuted to
the point of death. Paul wrote in
Romans
8:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
danger, or sword?"
Remember, when we sing Stand Up, Stand Up for
Jesus, the song is not telling us to stand and sing that song in
the safety of our auditoriums. It is telling us to stand up for Jesus
when it is hard or difficult to do.
We need to be sure we shore up our faith and
prepare our minds ahead of time. How tragic it would be to lose our
faith and our soul in the hour of tribulation.
2 Timothy 3:12-13, "Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving an being deceived."
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Feature
Two: an article by R. C. Oliver
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R C Oliver
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The Nature, Origin, or
Relationships
of the Holy Spirit
God has revealed very little to us concerning these matters, and it
should never be our purpose to be wise above that which is written.
There are many practical questions that may be asked, the answer to
which God has given concerning the Holy Spirit. It is, therefore, to
these practical questions that we shall primarily devote our
attention.
Perhaps no Bible question has been placed in the realm of the
mysterious more than has our subject today. And in spite of what I
have already said, much of this feeling or attitude is largely due to
a failure on man's part to study what God has revealed.
We ask what or who is the Holy Spirit? Many times a thing may be best
understood by observing what it does, and I think this may be one of
those times. For instance we may not know just that a man is as we
see him walking down the street with some kind of grip or box in his
hand. However, should we follow the man and watch him as he climbs
upon a house being newly constructed, watch him as he takes from his
box a saw, a hammer, and other such articles and begin to work upon
the house, we would conclude that he is a carpenter. Even so, though
God in His divine wisdom has not made a voluminous revelation on the
nature, origin, or relations of the Holy Spirit, yet He has
sufficiently revealed His Spirit for us to have some practical
knowledge concerning Him.
First, we know by Ephesians 4:4 that there is but "one
Spirit". We understand of course that this means there is
but "one" true Holy Spirit. It is written, "Many
false prophets, that is, false spirits, have gone out into the world.
(1 John 4:1). And as it is true of God, Christ, the church and
baptism, even so, it is true of the Spirit. He is not in any sense
associated with or made up of the many false spirits in the world. He
is true, He is holy, and He is one.
The Spirit was in the beginning with God. It is written:
Genesis 1:1-2 "In the beginning God created
the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God
moved upon the face of the waters."
Job 26:13 "By his spirit he hath garnished
the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent."
But we are not through learning what the Spirit
does. That will help us to better understand who He is.
John 16:7-13 "Nevertheless I tell you the
truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away,
the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send
him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they
believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father,
and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this
world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye
cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he
will shew you things to come."
Notice the Spirit would guide the apostles into
all truth. We in turn are led into all truth by what the Spirit gave
the apostles to write for us in the Bible. This is also affirmed in 1
Peter 1:12.
"Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto
themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now
reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with
the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire
to look into."
Consider also the following two passages:
Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
1 Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the
things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
Though we could continue adding line upon line,
yet these are sufficient to help us conclude safely some things about
the Holy Spirit.
In these references we learn this about the Holy Spirit: (1) The Holy
Spirit was with God in the beginning, and helped in the creation; (2)
He comforts; (3) He hears; (4) He speaks; (5) He reproves; (6) He
preaches the gospel; (7) He bears witness; (8) He knows the things of
God; and (9) He was to guide the apostles into all truth. In view of
the fact that these things can only be said of an intelligent being
we conclude that the Holy Spirit is just that! The Holy Spirit of God
is not therefore, as some suppose, simply an influence and exerts a
power! In the sublime relation of the deity, or Godhead, the
Holy Spirit stands next to the Incarnate Word. It is one God, one
Lord, and one Spirit.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Spirit is the Spirit's
relationship to man. Let us examine the Spirit's work in the
salvation of man.
He is interested in our salvation is seen in His offering the
invitation to "come," as is revealed in Revelation 22:17.
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And
let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
His interest in our salvation is further seen in
His having revealed the plan of salvation for us. For the scriptures
have not been given to us by man's own imagination, but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21).
When speaking of the Holy Spirit's work in connection with man's
salvation Jesus said, "And when he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John
16:8). Now that He has done so, and the manner in which he does do
so, I think to be of unusual interest to both those who have been,
and those who ought to be reproved, convinced or convicted of their
sins by Him. Now consider how does the Holy Spirit operate in
convincing and convicting men?
There are two kinds of power in the world, the one we call moral
power, and the other we call physical power. Certainly the Holy
Spirit does not condescend to the use of physical power in drawing
men to God, rather, he resorts to moral power. In that the only power
one spirit can exert over another spirit is its words and arguments,
we can expect to find the Holy Spirit using some such words and
arguments in bringing the lost to Christ.
Whether He does this directly or indirectly has long since been a
controversial subject. This is not because the Bible is not a plain
book regarding this matter, but it is, as I have previously
suggested, because men will not study what the word of the Lord says
about it.
If the Holy Spirit were to make an appearance to you He would not
tell you what to do in order to be saved. This may sound a little
strange to your ears but if so it is just because you are not
accustomed to hearing Bible doctrine preached and taught. The Holy
Spirit does not operate directly upon the man who is to be saved,
rather he operates indirectly - either through the word, or human
instrumentality or some other such medium.
An excellent example of this proposition can be found in Acts chapter
8. Notice in verses 25-40, when God would have the Ethiopian saved
the Spirit did not work directly upon the heart of the Ethiopian,
rather the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip saying:
Acts 8:26 "...Arise, and go toward the south
unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is
desert..."
The scriptures say he arose and went, and in
going found a man riding along in his chariot. Then notice, the
Spirit did not say anything directly to the Ethiopian, the man to be
saved, rather He said to Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to
this chariot." (v. 29) He did, and after having preached to the
man Jesus, the Ethiopian requested to be baptized into Christ. And
that is the way the Spirit operates in convincing and converting
sinner. (1) The Bible says He testified - John 15:26, (2) He
testifies by speaking - John 16:13, and (3) He speaks through the
word, or through men presenting the word - 2 Peter 1:21.
If, therefore, you want the Spirit to lead you, let me urge that you
read and study your Bible, for when you read your Bible, you are
reading what the Spirit tells you to do. And it is in this way, and
in this way only that we can know that we are being lead by the
Spirit of God.
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Feature Three: Sandy's Women's
Corner
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Sandra Oliver
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Editor's Note: You
can read weekly articles from Sandy at the following Web site:
abiblecommentary.com "Blog for Christian Women"
THEY COME AND THEY GO
Every fall I have the privilege of getting new students in my 4th
and 5th grade Bible class. I also have the sad experience
of relinquishing about half of my class to the 6th grade
class. I am amazed at how much these sweet children change from one
year to the next.
I am blessed that most of the children, even the boys, come back for
a hug on Sundays. They have no idea how they thrill my heart with
those hugs! By the time they move on to 7th grade, most of
them just pass my class happily talking and laughing with friends.
That's the way it is suppose to be.
There is one young man now in the high school class that still comes
by and gives me a hug. He is tall and handsome, and I am so proud of
the fine young man he has become.
Two Sundays ago, a young man appeared at my door. He was accompanied
by a middle-age man, and at first I did not recognize them. The older
of the two looked familiar, and I soon discovered he was a former 5th
grade student of mine from more than 40 years ago. I had taught him
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, one of 6 extremely smart students.
I remember how difficult it was for me to teach that class. Their
parents were all high-level employees at the defense plants in Oak
Ridge. These 3 boys and 3 girls were not content to study the
"workbooks" provided by our education program. They were
bored! Thus began my introduction to writing my own material. I have
been doing it ever since.
This man who appeared at my door is now a sound, gospel preacher. The
young man with him was his handsome son. He is faithful to the
church, carrying on the legacy of his father.
I often wonder how many of my former students are ministers, elders,
deacons, Christian wives and husbands, faithful members of the body
of Christ. I wish I could have kept up with all of them, but that
would have been impossible.
There is a young man at Freed-Hardeman University this year who will
study to be a minister. He used to sit in my class. He learned every
memory verse I gave the class. He challenged me with his questions.
He amazed me with his kind heart.
If only these two devote their lives in service to Christ, every
lesson I have ever written and taught will have been worth it. Every
bulletin board I prepared, every visual I made, every scripture I
read will have been worth the time and effort.
One of the goals I set for myself this year in teaching The Divided
Kingdom is to impress on the children that God keeps His promises. I
have put the words, "GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES", across the
whiteboard in my classroom. The children can see it as they sit
together for the lesson.
Two weeks ago I was teaching a lesson on David and Bathsheba. We were
talking about the death of their child. As we talked about David's 7
days of prayer for the life of the child, one of the children asked,
"Why didn't God let the baby live?" One of the children
immediately pointed to the words above the board and said,
"Because God always keeps his promises". Yes, God had
said that the child would die; and so he did.
I am happy that, after only 3 weeks, these children have gotten a
concept that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
My point to all of this nostalgia is that it does make a difference
what we do, what we say, and what we teach. Those children are
listening! And since they are listening, we had better be sure we are
teaching what the Bible says. May God guide us as we teach through
our Bible classes, church worship, and in our homes.
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Feature Four: Our Communication
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Introducing Speakers:
If you host a
special event, you may be required to introduce speakers. Try these
quick tips for delivering thoughtful speaker introductions:
- Don't
steal the show by making the introduction too long (60 seconds
or less is sufficient), or by speaking on a topic that is in no
way related to the speaker.
- Grab
the audience's attention with a great opening. This can be an inspiring
quote, a humorous anecdote, or an impressive milestone the
speaker has achieved.
- Briefly
mention the topic the speaker is addressing, but don't reveal too
much about his or her speech.
- Establish
the speaker's authority and expertise. This information will
help solidify with the audience the speaker's credibility as a
subject matter expert. https://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Public-Speaking-Tips/Introducing-Speakers
(This
is an excellent lesson on introducing others. This is so important,
but many do not know what to do when they are asked to introduce
someone.)
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Feature Five:
Bible Question
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Does attending worship regularly
make one a faithful Christian?
While
certainly attending regularly would be a part of the faithful
Christian's life, Jesus indicated there is much more to being
"faithful" in His eyes. Consider just a few of these ideas.
John wrote in 1 John 2:15
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (ESV) If
a Christian attends regularly but puts the world first, then this
passage is a real concern. For instance, Christians that miss
services due to ball games, company at home, or perhaps missing
services in that the congregation is going to have a singing or
mission report and you don't care for them; what are you telling the
Lord? Is that how you tell the Lord that you are "seeking Him
first"? (Matthew 6:33)
What if a Christian attends
faithfully, but refuses to be involved in any "work of the
Lord"? They just attend. Does not the parable of the talents
indicate that the Lord expects us to use our abilities to further His
cause? Can one be faithful that "buries" his abilities,
whatever they may be? Also the text in Matthew 25 we see that Jesus
expected the faithful to care for the needy Christians around them.
Remember Jesus admonishment of
the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3. Jesus knew their
"works" that they were lukewarm, and that would make him
"vomit" them up.
Yes, a faithful Christian will
attend worship services unless providentially hindered as we
sometimes say, but there is much more to being faithful than just
"warming a pew".
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One Sunday morning as the preacher was preaching
a children's sermon, he reached into his bag of props and pulled out
an egg. He pointed at the egg and asked the children, "What's in
here?"
"I know, I know!" a little boy exclaimed,
"pantyhose"!
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Another year is coming to a close. This
has been a wonderful year for my wife and me. In August we celebrated
fifty years of marriage. We had a wonderful trip, and then our son
and his wife sent us on another wonderful vacation. I have been most
fortunate to have had the support of such a wonderful Christian lady
through these years, and Lord willing, perhaps a few more. May God
bless you until we meet again.
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