A nephew came to see his kindly old uncle from the country and brought a duck. The kindly old uncle was grateful, had the bird cooked, and shared it with his nephew.
A few days later another visitor arrived.
“I am a friend,” he said, “of the man who gave you the duck.”
The kindly old uncle invited him in to some steaming hot duck soup.
Another man came the next day who was a friend of the friend of the nephew. The kind old man sat him down to a bowl of Duck Broth Soup & Rice.
One day there was a knock at the door and a stranger appeared. “I am the friend of the friend of the friend of the man who brought you the duck from the country,” he said.
“Come in,” said the kindly old uncle.
They seated themselves at the table and the kindly old uncle asked his wife to bring the soup.
When the guest tasted it, it seemed to be nothing more than warm water.
“What sort of soup is this?” he asked the Old Man.
“That,” said the kindly old uncle, “is the soup of the soup of the soup of the soup of the duck.”
This is the difference in watering the gospel and watering it down.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1Cor 3:7).
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal 1:6-10).
Living in the world without becoming part of this world is difficult. Yet, we need to live among them so we can reach them. Paul said,
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world” (1Cor 5:9-10).
He also wrote, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18).
here are 4 ways we can LIVE in the world peacefully:
LOVE Always. (Luke 6:27-36; cf; John 3:16; Rom 5:8-10)
be INDEBTED to them to love, which requires being grateful. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8)
live VIRTUOUSLY among them. “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1Tim 2:1-8; cf. 1Peter 3:1-6; 2Pet 1:5-10; Romans 12:14-21)
EXPECT less from people, Except Christ and Him crucified. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1Cor 1:2)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Spencer is an evangelist for the church of Christ in Borger Texas.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
FAILURE to Forgive will jeopardize our salvation. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt 6:14-15).
OFFENDED party is the one that OFFERS the OPPORTUNITY. Without forgiveness, the repentant party has no opportunity to be restored. “Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt” (Matt 18:27).
RELEASE is the form of forgiveness you can practice when the offending party can’t (death or absence) or won’t ask for forgiveness. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34; cf Acts 2:36-38).
GOD can forgive, will forgive, and practices forgiveness. “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:5).
IDOLATRY is a form of being unforgiving. You’re elevating self above God. “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” (Luke 15:28-30).
VENGEANCE is the Lords. We won’t forgive for the lack of justice. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom 12:19).
EXONERATION is what we need and the ultimate goal. “And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both” (Luke 7:42; cf Rom 5:8-10).
Here’s a question almost nobody asks; Is the Lord pleased with so many varied churches teaching contradicting and erroneous doctrines? The answer is self evident.
We ought to seek to RESTORE the New Testament church that Christ built in the first century.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt 16:18
How to continually RESTORE the New Testament church.
RECOGNIZE there are different ones and it is not pleasing to the Lord.
Gal 1:6-10
EXPECT that it can be done. 1Tim 3; Titus 1; Matt 16:18
SEED of the SCRIPTURE is the STANDARD by which we restore. Mark 4:13-20
TRUE JESUS vs fake Jesus. 2Cor 11:4 “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.”
ORIGINAL identifying marks of doctrine, organization, and function.
1John 1:9
RETURN, Restore, Repent. 1Cor 1-5 This was the problem with the church at Corinth. They had become divisive over several issues. “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.”
ESTABLISHED, organized, met. Acts 2:38-47
1Cor 11:17-34; 16:1-2; Acts 20:7
They worshipped (Sing Acapella, Prayer, Giving, Teaching, & observing the Lord’s death)
They worked together in local congregations (cf. Rom 16:16)
Organized with Elders, Deacons, & Saints. (Phil 1:1; 1Tim 3; Titus 1)
The work of these local congregations (congruently with all local congregations) is all about saints…
Level One is RESEARCHING the unknown. Our first time Reading to discover what’s there. Pausing to look up word definitions. Reading through the books and letters in a short amount of time, but not hurriedly, to gain familiarity with the contents. This may last through two or three readings.
Level Two is continuing to read & taking a closer EXAMINATION of what we read. Taking note of context, audience, & speaker. This begins to happen after multiple readings after the text becomes familiar.
Level Three is continuing to read and making ASSOCIATIONS between passages you’ve previously read. Looking up cross references of key verses, especially quotations of other scriptures.
Level Four reading is DIGGING DEEPER to DISCOVER buried treasure. ie. Searching Topical associations, People, Places, & Terms.
Reading is the foundation for Study. Reaching the next level only happens with continual reading. Study is just reading at higher and higher levels.
“O Timothy! keep that which is committed to thy trust,” (1Tim 6:20).
We’ve been taking a closer look at the 7 things we ought to protect.
This next one is about protecting our eyes. Jesus said,
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt 5:28). In the Old Testament, JOB said, “I made a covenant with mineeyes; why then should I think upon a maid” (Job 31:1)?
Theeyes are said to be windows to the soul. I’m not sure about that, but I do know that the things of the heart defile a person. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…” (Mark 7:21-23).
Things enter our hearts through oureyes, and ears. So, let’s guard oureyes.
The EYES have it.
Pr 3:7 Be not wise in thine own EYES: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pr 3:21My son, let not them depart from thine EYES: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Pr 4:21 Let them not depart from thine EYES; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pr 4:25 Let thine EYES look right on, and let thine EYELIDS look straight before thee.
Pr 5:21 For the ways of man are before the EYES of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Pr 6:4 Give not sleep to thine EYES, nor slumber to thine EYELIDS.
Pr 6:13 He winketh with his EYES, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
Pr 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her EYELIDS.
Pr 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine EYE.
Pr 10:10 He that winketh with the EYE causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
Pr 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the EYES, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
Pr 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own EYES: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Pr 15:3 The EYES of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Pr 15:30 he light of the EYES rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
Pr 16:2All the ways of a man are clean in his own EYES; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Pr 16:30 He shutteth his EYES to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Pr 17:8 A gift is as a precious stone in the EYES of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Pr 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the EYES of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Pr 20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his EYES.
Pr 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing EYE, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Pr 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine EYES, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Pr 21:2Every way of a man is right in his own EYES: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Pr 21:10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his EYES.
Pr 22:9 He that hath a bountiful EYE shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Pr 22:12The EYES of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Pr 23:5 Wilt thou set thine EYES upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Pr 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil EYE, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Pr 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine EYES observe my ways.
Pr 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of EYES?
Pr 25:7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine EYES have seen.
Pr 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the EYES of man are never satisfied.
Pr 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil EYE, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
Pr 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his EYES shall have many a curse.
Pr 29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their EYES.
Pr 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own EYES, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Pr 30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their EYES! and their EYElids are lifted up. Pr 30:17 The EYE that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
“O Timothy! keep that which is committed to thy trust,” (1Tim 6:20).
We’ve been taking a closer look at the 7 things we ought to protect.
This next one is about protecting our TIME. We won’t be talking about the extending of our lives, rather that we must act promptly because of the uncertainty of longevity. There’s a major reason to be concerned about TIME.
NOBODY knows how much time we have left before the Lord’s return, nor how long we will live.
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).
Due to the certainty of this fact, we shall look at Paul’s discussion of time in the letter to the Ephesians. “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16). He gives a list of 4 things the Saint does in Redeeming the TIME.
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph 5:17). The first thing Paul tells us to do in redeeming the time is to be wise, (to THINK, to Study) so we may know what God wants. This is so important because Jesus will be using His word at the judgment. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48; cf. Matt 7:21-23; Luke 6:46). Since this is true, it’s imperative that we spend some time learning of Him through His word.
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18) The next thing is a don’t which is very much related to the first. Don’t get drunk, distracted, INTOXICATED with excesses. It’s impossible to do the first if we’re interfering with our minds ability to think. Other things that do the same are the myriad of distractions that occupy our time. The opposite of this “do not” is to “be filled with the Spirit” which points back to the first point. How is one filled with the Spirit? In as much as they are filled with the word delivered through inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Note what Paul wrote earlier through inspiration of the Holy Spirit; “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:3-4; cf. John 20:30-31;).
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19); Continuing on in the discussion of redeeming the time, Paul tells the Saint to MAKE MELODY in your heart to the Lord. In the letter to the Colossians he also says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). Do you see a connection to the first part of redeeming the time? It’s about the word of Christ. In addition to knowing it ourselves, we are to teach it to other Saints. One way this is done is through song, in particular, during the time we gather together on the first day of the week. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb 10:25).
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20). At all times the Saint is to live their lives in EXPRESSING Thanks to God for EVERY THING. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thess 5:18). Joy is impossible without gratitude. It is essential for the Saints to remember; “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). This knowing that all that desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, and we’re to count it all joy when we face various temptations (cf. 2Tim 3:12; Jas 1:2-4). In the passage from James, he reconnects it to THINKING on God’s word, acquiring His wisdom. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (Jas 1:4; cf. Jas 3:17). Right back at the beginning of Redeeming the Time.
At no point have we concerned ourselves with extending our time, not that there’s anything wrong with that. The Saint is to primarily be concerned with redeeming the TIME because the days are evil. None of us wants to be caught off guard should the Lord return in our lifetime, nor be unprepared to face the Lord when our time on earth is over (cf. Luke 12:16-21).
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 