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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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That Wasn’t Right!
One
of the more interesting stories in the Old Testament is found in 1
Kings 13. We are being told of a prophet of God that was given a
dangerous mission. The Kingdom of Israel had been divided, and
Jeroboam was the king over the northern tribes, while Jeroboam,
Solomon’s son, was over the tribe of Judah.
Jeroboam,
to keep his people from going back to Jerusalem to the temple to
worship, erected two golden calves, one of which was in Bethel, not
far north of Jerusalem. He told his people they were to worship
there, and not in Jerusalem as God demanded.
As
Jeroboam was preparing a feast and sacrifice to the golden calf in
Bethel, God sent one of his prophets to “cry out against the altar”.
It was a dangerous journey for the prophet. He was tasked with going
up to king Jeroboam in his religious service and interrupting it. He
was to declare that
“This is the sign that the LORD has spoken:
‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it
shall be poured out.’” You can imagine how incensed Jeroboam had to
have been. All of the people had seen and heard this.
Then
to make matters worse for Jeroboam, he pointed at the prophet and
commanded his soldiers to take hold of him. Instead of that
happening, Jeroboam’s arm became suddenly rigid. It no longer
functioned! Then, too, the altar split apart and the ashes poured
forth on the ground. Jeroboam now realized what was happening,
and he begged the prophet to pray to God and ask God to release his
arm. God did restore his arm.
Jeroboam
was so grateful that he invited the prophet to come into his home and
be refreshed. He would, no doubt, have planned a great feast for the
prophet. But the prophet told him that God had given him specific
orders not to eat or drink anything while in this land. In fact, he
was to go home by a different route than the one he used to come to
Bethel. With that, he began his return trip home. His work was done,
and the mission accomplished.
There
was an old prophet in the land and his sons told him all that had
happened at the worship of the calf. This prophet went searching for
God’s prophet and found him resting under an oak tree. He invited the
prophet of God to come to his home and be refreshed but received the
same answer as did the king. He was going to obey what God had told
him. We then have an interesting verse in the Bible. And he
said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to
me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into
your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he
lied to him. (I Kings 13:18).
Unfortunately,
the prophet of God believed this prophet. So what was God to do now?
His prophet had faithfully carried out the mission and was ready to
return home, but then the old prophet spoke by inspiration. He
said,
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed
the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your
God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and
drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and
drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your
fathers.’” (I Kings 13:21-22). The old prophet found the body of
the prophet of God and brought it back for burial.
What
happened to the old prophet? Actually, the Bible does not tell us
that anything happened to him. I was teaching a teen class one year
and a student upon hearing this lesson said, “That isn’t right!” The
class was really upset that the prophet of God was killed and the old
prophet that lied to him was not.
What
can we learn from this event in Biblical history? First, the prophet
of God had been given the following commands: 1] Go to Bethel where
Jeroboam was sacrificing to the golden calf. 2] Cry out against the
altar. 3] Eat nothing in this country. 4] Return home by a different
road.
He
successfully completed parts one and two, but failed with the third
part. Why was that important to God? It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t
need to tell neither the prophet nor us, but to God it was important.
The prophet violated God’s message and paid the price for
disobedience.
You
might argue that the old prophet lied to him, and he thought he was
following God’s command. That’s not good enough, for God had spoken
to him. Why did he not ask God what he should do? In essence, he
obeyed man, not God.
I
believe there is a lesson for us in this. The Bible speaks to us
clearly in passages such as Acts 2:38 that baptism is for remission
of sins, yet people today believe man when he says it is not. The
Bible clearly teaches us that we are to sing (Ephesians 5:19), and
there is no authorization for instrumental music, but man says we can
add the instrument. The Bible tells us to be modest in dress and
action (1 Peter 3:3-4), but man says dress to stress sexuality. Isn’t
it interesting, we tend to obey man rather than God.
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Feature Two: an article by R. C.
Oliver
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THE LEADERS OF THIS PEOPLE
CAUSE THEM TO ERR!
God’s
people had seriously erred, and their leaders seemed happy to have it
so. Isaiah said in Isaiah 9:16, “For the leaders of this
people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are
destroyed.” God began through his prophet Isaiah in the
eighth verse of this ninth chapter to point out the imminent danger
in which the people lived, by picturing to them a series of terrible
threatenings, which are directed against them. Indeed, God warns
before he wounds! Just as he warned Israel here, and just as all his
threatenings came to pass within a few years; even so he is warning
the disobedient and rebellious today through His word and the
teachers of His word, and should the disobedient remain in their
disobedience, they too must suffer the vengeance of God! God is no
respecter of persons. Why, then, did the people disobey God back
then? They disobeyed God then much for the same reason that people
disobey God today. God said: “For the leaders of this people
cause them to err.” Religious leaders do as much, or perhaps
more to cause the masses to err as does any other one thing with
which we have to do. They either teach and do not which they teach,
or else they ignore the word of the Lord altogether, and simply teach
what the people want to hear in the first place. Neither am I simply
guessing at these things, for they have recently, and are continuing
to appear before our very eyes.
By
way of illustration I might call your attention to the message I
heard a minister deliver just two Sunday’s ago. In that message he
taught that which he has proved himself unwilling to do. That is, he
called our attention to 1 Peter 3:15 where Peter says: “But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always
to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of
the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”. Yet this same
man refused to answer either publicly or privately some three
questions that I ask him. He would have the public believe when he is
preaching about what Peter said that we ought always to give an
answer to those who enquire after us, but he himself refuses to
practice what he tells others that they must do. Indeed, when we tell
others that they should be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh thee, it seems that we ought also to be ready to give
an answer to every man that asketh us. If not, why not?
The
questions which I asked the man of whom I speak, and the questions
that he has not yet answered, though he has now had almost a year in
which to do so are as follows:
#1
Where does the Bible say we are to use mechanical instrumental music
in Christian worship? Please give book, chapter, ad verse.
#2
Where do historians say the Christians of the apostolic age used
them? Please give the name or names of the historian and the name of
his work.
#3
Where do recognized lexicogophers justify the alleged fact that the
early Christians used such music, or that the Bible justifies it?
Please give the Lexicons and the words.
I
say, as yet I have received no answer to these questions, though they
were asked about one year ago. You are perhaps wondering why the long
period of silence? This is because the man to whom they were
directed, who uses instrumental music in his worship services, knows
that he cannot answer them and continue his present practice. He
knows that there is no Biblical justification for what he is doing,
and rather than admit it, and subject himself to the disfavor of his
people who want it, he chooses to disobey what he teaches others that
they should do, and thus ignores my questions. Indeed, he has done
that the scriptures might be fulfilled the second time: “The
leaders of this people case the to err, and they that are led of them
are destroyed.”
This
is not the only examples we have of the fulfillment of this scripture
in our own day, for it was only last Sunday that I heard this same
man say, and I quote: “There must be a complete break with the past.”
In his discourse he was severe in his condemnation of others who have
borrowed from Paganism but he overlooked the fact that he himself is
guilty of violating what he was teaching as are they. He affirmed,
and again I quote: “Christ gave to the world an entirely new system
of religion.” He then said that “there must be a complete break with
the past,” and still further, and I quote: “Only those things which
Christ or his apostles have placed there are compatible with the
word.” But this same man teaches that it is perfectly all right to
have instrumental music in Christian worship, a practice which
obviously neither Christ nor his apostles have placed there, and
which therefore, according to his own teaching and logic, is not
compatible with the word of God! In principle he has affirmed that
the use of mechanical instrumental music in Christian worship is
incompatible with the word of God. How long, therefore will he try to
keep them together?
Editor’s
note: While this happened many years ago, the problem still exists
today. There is no Biblical authority to add musical instruments in
our worship to God. God did not give it. The early church never used
it, and those that espouse it today do so on the basis of culture in
our country not scripture. If one can add to God’s word, then why not
add a hamburger and coke to the Lord’s Supper? Would that not add to
the taste? Just put a little unleavened piece in the hamburger and
pour a little grape juice in the coke. Some would say that aids in
the taking of the Lord’s Supper. That is the same logic. If not, why
not? Would you accept it?
If
culture is now acceptable, why not allow women to preach and become
elders? Why not allow those that practice homosexuality to be church
leaders? That is now the culture in our country, and in much of the
religious world.
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Feature Three: Sandy's Women's Corner
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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"
CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM
Our congregation supports a congregation of the
Lord’s church in Lagos, Nigeria. In just the last four years, they
have gone through an extensive process to appoint elders and deacons.
They did not take this lightly. They studied the Scripture, chose men,
and found out from them if they were willing to serve. Three
wonderful men were chosen to serve as elders, and two great men were
chosen to serve as deacons.
These
wonderful people have a very difficult time, but they manage to
travel around preaching the gospel from the back of a truck. The
ladies meet once a month for Bible study. They have visitors, members
attending from another congregation, and some from other places.
Though
they live with little food, they manage to exist and are happy
people. Their main thoughts are for the church and being examples for
Christ in the community.
Then,
there are the children. Most, if not all, have never received a gift.
Yet they are a happy group, doing things like other children.
When
I see the precious faces of these children, I think how blessed the
children are in this country. They have plenty of food, clothing,
nice houses, safe transportation, and schools where they can learn.
Most of them received more Christmas gifts than they will ever use.
Yet, even our children complain that they don’t have what other
children have. They complain because they don’t like the meat and
vegetables we try to get them to eat. They have access to treats, the
kind of things the children of Nigeria have never seen. How much of
this wonderful food do we waste because the children “don’t like it”
or just won’t eat?
Their
preacher’s son says he wants to be a preacher like his dad. He
watches his dad preach, baptize, pass out correspondence courses, and
go into unsafe neighborhoods to share the gospel of Christ.
Jesus
once said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder
them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven”. The disciples had
rebuked the people because those listening to Jesus wanted their
children to be in His presence. Do you want your children to be in
the presence of Jesus? We say we do, but when opportunities like ball
games, come up, where are we? Sadly, many are not in the presence of
our Lord.
As
we start a new year, think about the children in Nigeria who desire
to be in the presence of the Lord. Then make your decision to do what
God commands.
Sandra
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Feature Four: Honor to Whom Honor
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Looking
back to my youth I remember two men that helped form my life and
hundreds more. These men were two spiritual giants that taught Bible
at Freed-Hardeman when I was a student there. These men are William
Woodson and Tom Holland. While both of these men have gone on to
their reward, their work continues through the many hundreds and
thousands of young lives they taught.
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Feature
Five: Bible Question
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Can one obey the gospel?
From
an article on the Internet I read: “The gospel is often
defined [by the church of Christ] in terms of
what a person must do to be saved—'obey the gospel.’
This is distinctly different from other Christian groups who
understand the gospel to be the life, death, and resurrection of
Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.” Their position is that you
cannot “obey” the gospel in that it is simply the facts of what God
did for us, and that leads them to believe that we are saved simply
by our faith alone.
That
does not consider passages such as 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter
4:17.
2
Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them
that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ:
Barnes’ Commentary reads “Who
do not embrace it, and practice its precepts in their lives….”
Clarke’s Commentary reads “On those that rebel against the light of
revelation, that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ. And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. This is the
great crime of multitudes - the gospel is revealed to them, and they
will not believe it; or, if they pretend to believe it, they will not
obey it.” For good measure let me add one other commentary to this
list. Coffman’s Commentary writes: It refers
with equal power to "unbelievers" of all races and nations,
even professing Christians, who refuse to "obey the
gospel." And what does that mean? It means those who refuse to
be baptized into Christ and to assume the duties and obligations
incumbent upon all true Christians. The most concise and the shortest
definition of the "gospel" in the New Testament is
in Mark
16:15,16, where Christ equated being
baptized with the "gospel." Notice what Jesus claims is
part of the gospel.
Mark
16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned. That
tells us something we must obey!
We see the same language in 1 Peter 4:17. There
are those that will not obey the gospel.
1
Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment
must begin at the house of God: and
if it first begin at us, what shall the
end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God?
The Bible does teach that the gospel is more than
just the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. That gives us the
justification that He has to require obedience to His will.
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(I love this because it shows the real heart of
children and lets us know why Jesus said, “…Suffer the little
children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the
kingdom of God.” [Mark 10:14].)
Dear God ... I do not think anybody could be a
better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not
just saying that because you are already God. Charles
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In Closing: Sandy
and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and we wish for you
the best possible new year. This edition marks the beginning of our
17th year of this series. It has been a joy to me to
be able to be a small part of your Bible study over this time. It has
also given me a platform to share some of the work of my father, R C
Oliver, and see a way to continue his work after his passing from
this world. As the text says, “Rev 14:13 And I heard a
voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that
they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
Basic
Bible Knowledge About the Holy
Spirit Speech & Debate
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