Hebrews 12:25-27
25-27 do not REFUSE Him who speaks.
Click here for the Outline of Hebrews.
We study the bible weekly at the Franklin & Juniper st. church of Christ in Borger texas.
spencer
Another outline to preach 1Peter.
you’re going to Endure You Gotta have Grit.
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11)
Endurance is a highly favored quality of mankind. It is most often associated with success despite difficulty or pain. We praise endurance because of the win that usually follows.
Endurance is necessary to our survival, and essential for our salvation. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt 10:22).
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev 3:10; cf Jas 1:12).
GRIT is another description of endurance. It is having a firmness of character; an unconquerable spirit. We gotta have GRIT, but how do we get us some?
The Hebrew writer in chapter 12, a chapter about endurance, gives us 4 keys on how to get GRIT.
[12] Therefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees,
[13] and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,
[15] looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Key #1 is GET UP AND GO.
“Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb 12:12). This is a command for us to get busy working on strength building.
When Elijah was facing persecution, God told him to GO. “And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1Kings 19:9). “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria” (19:15).
Key #1 is GET UP AND GO.
Key #2 is to READ the Bible with a focus on the New Testament.
“…and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed” (Heb 12:13). The straight path for our feet is found through the illumination of the word of God, consider Psalm 119:105… “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Key #2 is READ the Bible with a focus on the New Testament.
Key #3 is to be INTERESTED in and pursue peace with people.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,” (Heb 12:14). We can endure longer when we stop making enemies.
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18). “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, [2] for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1Tim 2:1-2).
Key #3 is to be INTERESTED in and pursue peace with people.
Key #4 is to look and TEST everything people are teaching.
“…looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb 12:15). Looking diligently is about searching out the truth, proving it, and applying it to our lives.
Paul wrote; “Test all things; hold fast to that which is good” (1Thess 5:21). We must be on guard against error and false teachers. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you…” (2Pet 2:1a). We’ll gain more endurance as we clear away errors and false teachers.
Key #4 is to look and TEST everything people are teaching.
Summary:
Key #1 is GET UP AND GO. Strengthen the hanging hands.
Key #2 is to READ the Bible to shine a light on your path.
Key #3 is to be INTERESTED in and pursue peace with people.
Key #4 is to look diligently and TEST everything people are teaching.
Agape,
Spencer
“And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.” (Mark 7:6-7)
The Old Testament has many lessons for us today. In Judges 17, we see five mistakes of the man MICAH. Last week we looked at 3 of them that are repeated by many today.
I encourage you to review the previous article.
Today’s article will look at the last two mistakes of MICAH.
The 5 mistakes of MICAH (Judges 17)repeated today. Pt2
The fourth mistake of Micah was that he ASSIGNED to himself a priest from the Levites to be his personal priest.
“And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. [11] And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. [12] And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. [13] Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest” (Judges 17:10-13.
Today people will talk about their favorite preacher, pastor, televangelist, author and so on. Paul dealt with this issue with the church at Corinth. “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul” (1Cor 1:11-13)?
How do we correct this mistake? When we establish dividing lines based on popular preachers, or public figures we are carnal. That’s what Paul called it. “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men” (1Cor 3:3)?
What can we do? Follow Jesus. Read about Him. Study Him. Walk like He walked. People living godly lives can serve as examples for us, but only as far as they imitate Christ (1Cor 11:1). We are not to elevate them above others and especially not to cause division. “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (1Cor 4:6; cf 2Cor 12:6).
The last mistake we’ll consider is that Micah had a HOUSE of gods.
“And the man Micah had a HOUSE of gods, and made an ephod and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest” (Judges 17:5).
Besides the idolatry, this mistake is saying that all religions and denominations are equal. Paul saw this error in Athens. “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23).
We see this same mistake being made today. Religious people have become ECUMENICAL (aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organizations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern). In other words, religious folks are focusing on unity (Jews, Muslims, & Christians) despite clear scriptural and doctrinal differences. They see all religions as different ships going to the same destination. This sounds good on the surface, but misses the biblical definition of unity.
How do we correct this mistake? Paul warned; “For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER Jesus whom we have not preached, or if ye receive ANOTHER spirit which ye have not received, or ANOTHER gospel which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2Corinthians 11:4; cf. Gal 1:6-9). We are warned repeatedly to beware of false teachers. They are described as wolves in sheep’s clothing, deceivers, dogs, and “hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved forever” (Jude 1:12-13).
The main takeaway is that it’s possible for people to be following a different Jesus and not the Jesus of scripture (cf Phil 3:19). While many claim to follow Jesus, they may not be following the Jesus of the New Testament.
What can we do? Check out what your pastor teaches, what your church practices, & what sins they accept through the lens of the word of God. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with al lreadiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). The folks in Berea were called more noble as they were checking out the teaching of the Apostle Paul!!
Be careful how you hear, and what you hear. There is only one truth and only one way to have unity and fellowship with God. “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
Spencer is the evangelist for the church of Christ in Borger on Franklin & Juniper.
Read part one, “the 5 mistakes of MICAH” here.
I: the EMERGENCY. [1-4]
(1-2) DESIGNATION of author & Readers.
(3-4) DANGER of apostates.
II: the EXAMPLES. [5-16]
(5-7) DESTINY of apostates.
(8-16) DESCRIPTION of apostates.
III: the EXHORTATION. [17-25]
(17-23) DUTY of believers.
(24-25) DOXOLOGY.
the Franklin & Juniper st church of Christ in Borger provides multiple bible study opportunities weekly.
Sunday morning at 9:30 followed by congregational worship at 10:30.
Wednesday night at 6:30.
We also provide individual private bible studies locally upon request.
Let us know how we can help you to know Christ through knowing His word.
Hebrews 12:12-15 provides a great formula for developing Endurance (GRIT).
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;
Get Busy Working. cf. Eph 4:28
13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
Read, Apply Psalm 119:105; Prov 6:23
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
Increase in Love. 1Thess 3:1-12; 1Tim 2:1-8
15 looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
Test all things. 1Thess 5:21
Along with it the writer provides a warner for lacking endurance.
LEST…
Turned away,
Healed,
No man will see the Lord,
falleth short,
bitterness to trouble you,
Defiled.
for an overview of the book of Hebrews.
There’s nothing new under the sun. Mankind has been fooling around with God’s commands since the beginning. The story of Micah, not to be confused with the prophet Micah by the same name, is no different. (Judges 17 & 18).
From chapter 17 of Judges, we can glean 5 mistakes that MICAH makes in his religion that modern folks continue to make today.
Some may ask, why so negative? Couldn’t you present a more positive lesson? My reply is sure, but that’s not what God reveals to us. I guess you could say that if we do the opposite of the mistakes we will be pleasing to God.
The 5 mistakes of MICAH (Judges 17)repeated today.
The first mistake is that he Shared in his MOTHER’S error.
“And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to MAKE A GRAVEN IMAGE AND A MOLTEN IMAGE: now therefore I will restore it unto thee” (Judge 17:3).
Many today follow the religion of their parents without ever checking to know if it is right on the eyes of the Lord. “That’s where my parents and grandparents always went to church.” Your parents likely worshipped in all sincerity, but that is not how we determine what God wants. Consider Jesus, He said, “For I am come to set a man at variance against his FATHER, and the daughter against her MOTHER, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. [37] He that loveth FATHER OR MOTHER more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:35-37).
We are to worship God according to his word, not according to the traditions of our Fathers & Mothers.
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7,9).
How do we correct this mistake? Ask for biblical evidence for everything said and done in your religion. Search the scriptures to find if what is being taught, & practiced is according to the word of God. (Act 17:11)
The second mistake is that Micah had made IDOLS.
“Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah” (Jud 17:4).
We have idols today. Many have GRAVEN images and idols of Jesus on the cross, (we don’t know what Jesus looked like) that folks kneel down before to pray. Some even erect little shrines in their homes to pray over.
Most of us practice a different kind of IDOLATRY called COVETING.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and COVETOUSNESS, which is IDOLATRY:” (Col 3:5)
How do we correct this mistake? We can examine ourselves and our practices through the New Testament doctrine of Christ. It also says in Colossians… “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col 3:17).
The third mistake of Micah is that he CHANGED the law to suit himself.
“And the man Micah … consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest”
(Jud 17:5b).
Priests were from the tribe of Levi and had some very specific criteria. Micah didn’t follow that, because he and his sons were not from the tribe of Levi, they were from Ephraim (cf. Leviticus 9; Heb 7:14). Therefore, they were disqualified from being priests under the Law of Moses.
How do we correct this mistake? We can examine all of our practices in religion (& other areas) in light of the scriptures.
When we find a practice that is different from, or not found in scripture, we are to conform to the word of God. When we see alterations to the Eldership, to teachers, or adding offices that are foreign to scripture, we need to stop.
Here’s a short list of places to start:
How are we saved? (Matt 7:24; John 8:32; Luke 13:3; Matt 10:32; Mark 16:16; Rev 2:10)
How do we worship? (John 4:24; Col 3:16; Act 2:42)
Next week we’ll examine the last 2 mistakes and the ways to correct them.
The church that assembles here at Franklin & Juniper don’t claim to be perfect people, but we do strive to learn, know the truth, and practice the truth.
Agape, Spencer
in Matt 22:15-46 The Pharisees, Sadducees, and lawyers tried to Test & Trap Jesus with some difficult questions, but instead they became MAD.
They MARVELLED. Matt 22:15-22
Mt 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
22 When they had heard these words, they MARVELLED, and left him, and went their way.
They were ASTONISHED. 33
Mt 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27 And last of all the woman died also.
28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33 And when the multitude heard this, they were ASTONISHED at his doctrine.
They DARED not ask any more questions. 46
Mt 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither DARED any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
What Think Ye of Christ?
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Col 2:17)
Jesus the Christ, is the main point of the bible which was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1Pet 1:20).
This means that the things written before in the Old Testament point to the things in the New Testament. This concept gives us better understanding of what Paul wrote in Rom 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
While we cannot use the commands of the OT for doctrine today, we can look into the OT for the message of Christ. These messages are contained in Types and Shadows. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Heb 10:1).
Types and shadows are Old Testament people, events, or ceremony the foreshadow the coming Messiah and His church. We often use the terms “Type” and “Antitype. For some this can be confusing. The “TYPE” is the shadow of the real thing. The “ANTITYPE” is the real thing.
There are three kinds of SHADOWS.
Another way to describe these 3 types is as Historical, Legal, and Prophetic types.
The purpose of the SHADOWS.
The first purpose of the SHADOWS was to give a picture and outline representing something in the future. Especially the Scheme of Redemption. Such were the point of the SACRIFICES from patriarchal to Jewish age. (Heb 9, 10:18)
Another purpose of the type or shadow was as proof and as a demonstration of the Divine origin of the antitype. “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb 3:5-6).
Here’s what is of powerful interest to us. The TYPES & SHADOWS must have originated by ONE who perfectly understood the antitype toward which the type or shadow pointed. God alone understood them from before, and could author them perfectly.
The Patriarchs and the Jews engaging in the events, setting up and writing on the types, could not understand them. Hence, they are not the originators of them. The Bible is all of God!!! This is another evidence for the validity of the Bible as being the Inspired Word of God.
The System of Sacrifices serve as a Shadow for the sacrifice of Christ.
“Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:9-14)
If you find reading the Old Testament boring, or you are unable to see its relevance, looking for the Types & Shadows may help you develop an excitement to read those things written before. The Old Testament is about Jesus. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
spencer
“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.” (Acts 13:26)
We don’t talk enough about the Fear of the Lord. Even when we do talk about it, some will complain that we say too much.
We do need to talk about it, and we need to talk about it with understanding. Once you see the phrase in your regular reading, you’ll begin to see it everywhere. One of my favorite Psalms includes a discussion on Fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34)
There are 2 main categories of Fear.
The Fear of the Lord that motivates is the right kind of fear. Fear that causes us to turn away from God and away from action is the wrong kind of fear.
To help us define the Fear of the Lord, let’s look at its appearing in Proverbs.
The FEAR of the LORD. (From Proverbs)
Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pr 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pr 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Pr 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Pr 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Pr 14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
Pr 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Pr 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Pr 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Pr 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Pr 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Pr 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Pr 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Pr 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Pr 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Pr 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Pr 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
As you can see from this reading that the Fear of the Lord is much deeper than being afraid of Him, or afraid of His punishment. There’s a comfort found in the Fear of the Lord. There is a motivation into godly action.
The good FEAR is the fear which an obedient child has for a loving father; the attitude of respect or reverence. It prompts godly action that is pleasing to God. It brings assurance, comfort, confidence, and joy. It produces peace in our minds.
The wrong kind of FEAR is: The painful emotion marked by alarm, dread, or disquiet. It is anxious concern, fright, terror, timidity, and apprehension. It prompts cowardly actions. It produces confused and frantic minds. It results in sleepless, restless nights. It expresses itself in selfishness, thoughtlessness, and greed. It destroys inner unity and peace.
Jesus describes the two types of fear this way: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). In this context, there is a fear that is wrong; the fear of man. The fear of man prevents us from godly action.
God is able to destroy, but He is also able to save. He saved Noah because of his godly fear. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb 11:7; Ge 6:13,22).
spencer
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 