In This Issue

• THAT THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT BE FULFILLED
• WE'VE GOT THE SPIRIT
• WHAT I OWE MY HOME CONGREGATION
• CHEAP CHRISTIANITY
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

THAT THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT BE FULFILLED

As Jesus and His inner circle of disciples were leaving the garden of Gethsemane, "Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people... In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled" (Matt. 26:47, 52-56).

Jesus was (and is) Deity. But He took upon Himself human flesh in order that He might face the same temptations, trials, tribulations and troubles faced by all humanity. He subjected Himself to pain and to death, in order that He could thoroughly identify with our needs and desires, and set a perfect example of obedience to the will of God the Father. And most of all, to be the sacrifice for our sins, Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:9; 2 Cor. 5:21.

Repeatedly, Jesus, and afterward His apostles and prophets, underscored the fact that His sacrificial death had been foretold in much detail by the prophets of Old Testament times. No fewer than four times right here in Matt. 26, Jesus insists that His death had been foretold in the Old Testament. In verse 31, He even quoted from Zech. 13:7, "’Awake, O Sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,’ says the Lord of hosts. Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered...’"

Two chapters of the Old Testament are especially significant. Isaiah, chapter 53 was written about 750 years before Jesus was ever born, yet it tells in striking detail of His being rejected by those who considered themselves to be the people of God. It speaks of the sacrificial nature of His death, and even suggests His resurrection from the dead by stating that after He has been put to death, "He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days... Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong" (Isa. 53:10-12).

Also of special interest is the 22nd Psalm, written about 1,000 years before the time when Jesus came to earth. That psalm begins with the precise words Jesus would utter from the cross. It goes on to tell that He would be pierced. It even foretells that His crucifiers would gamble for His clothing, Psa. 22:18. See Matt. 27:35. The psalm goes on to suggest that He was to be saved or delivered -- resurrected from the dead, in order that the Gentiles or nations would turn to Him, and in Psa. 22:26, as a result of what was accomplished by His sacrifice, our hearts can live forever.

--CRJ

WE'VE GOT THE SPIRIT

Cheerleaders point to the opposing stands and shout, "We've got spirit, how about you?'' The opposing leaders reciprocate with an enthusiastic, positive reply. This scene continues with each side, in turn, raising the noise level by several decibels until the whole stadium reaches a deafening crescendo and interest finally turns back to the contest. "Spirit,"' as used in this context, has to do with enthusiasm which raises the emotional intensity level of the athletes.

As Americans we have been so saturated with hype and fast-moving action that we have a tendency to find things that are designed to be intellectually stimulating and thought challenging boring--we have come to prefer hoopla to meditation. This has had an effect upon not only our intellectual structure but also our spiritual thought processes. Some view worship as boring and "lacking spirit,'' because there is no up-beat, outward display of emotionalism.

The solution offered by some is an infusion of emotions through artificial stimuli--mood-setting music, hand clapping, dimming lights, holding hands, sound effects, etc. One group reportedly used the sounds of grinding bones and screams to create a hair-raising atmosphere for participation in the Lord's Supper.

However, emotionalism is not equivalent to "spiritual,'' and it is not evidence of true spirituality. We may feel many things which are not based on truth. How we feel is a natural outgrowth of what we believe and what we believe must be based on what God says (Rom. 10:17). For instance, based upon what God has revealed about our sinful condition (Rom. 3:23) and offered salvation by His grace (Eph. 2:8-9), when we meet the gospel's conditions for salvation (Mk. 16:15-16), we know that we are saved. That knowledge produces a natural flood of elation (Acts 8:39). How expressive a person is depends on his emotional structure, but one is not more spiritual than another, because he is more expressive of how he feels.

Artificially stimulated emotion is temporary. To maintain an emotionally charged atmosphere different stimuli must be sought, lest the routine lose its effectiveness and become boring. One cannot serve God without feeling, but emotions are the product of the relationship and not the evidence of it.

--Jim Everitt via Cedar Park, Texas church bulletin.

WHAT I OWE MY HOME CONGREGATION

[Ed. Note: In some cases, "I might not have said it that way," but I believe the following thoughts deserve careful consideration.]

Unto the church of my Lord in every locality, I am under solemn obligation to the extent of my ability: but unto my home congregation I am under special obligation.

1. I want my home congregation to radiate a wholesome influence in the community. Therefore I owe it the example of a good life. I must "live soberly, righteously and godly [Titus 1:12]." Matt. 5:13-16.

2. I want the strangers who enter the door of the meeting house to fell at home, to learn to love us, to return from time to time. They are our guests. I must entertain [that is, receive with hospitality, crj] them. I owe it to them, and to the church to show myself friendly. I must not stand back and wait for others to greet them. This I must do, Heb. 13:2.

3. No congregation can make progress without faithful and efficient leaders. To a certain extent, the members of the church make or break their leaders. To the end that our leaders may be stronger and more efficient, I must give them my support. I must pray for them. As long as they are true men, I must not embarrass them in their work, 1 Tim. 5:19.

4. My home congregation has financial obligations which are due at regular intervals. Whether I give or do not give, these obligations must be paid. If it is right for my congregation to pay its obligations each week, it is right for me to give each week. Though circumstances may force me to be absent at times, my contributions should find their way to the treasury of the church, 1 Cor. 16:1-2.

5. I know that the very existence of my congregation depends upon the attendance of its members. In fact, the attendance is the life of the church. For this reason, I must attend the services -- all services I can. For all that I have, I would not have it said that my congregation perished because I would not attend the meetings, Heb. 10:25.

6. I want my home congregation to grow, to multiply in members. Therefore, I must set myself to the noble work of winning souls for Christ. This I can do by preaching and persuading; this I can do by persistent effort; this I can do by bringing them to our meetings.

7. My home congregation cannot thrive in a frigid atmosphere. I must not by my carelessness allow the church to become a place where hearts are chilled. I must make it a place where hearts are warmed. Therefore, I owe it my heart, the warmth of my life. I must forgive and forget.

8. Wishing to be honest, I must meet my obligations to the best of my ability. I must with the help that God gives, play my part in the incomparable work of building up the body of Christ.

--Frank L. Cox

CHEAP CHRISTIANITY

If I were a non-Christian and dropped into the average church during a so-called revival and saw a fraction of the membership trying to get more recruits for the army of the Lord when most of the outfit had already gone AWOL I would conclude that Christianity is not what it is supposed to be or else we have been sold a cheap and easy brand -- inoculated with a mild form until we are almost immune to the real thing.

--Vance Havner

If you don't want the fruits of sin, stay out of the devil's garden.

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