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SEEKING THINGS ABOVE
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. “(Col. 3:1)
Volume II Number 8
November 2021
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Priorities
Mike Johnson
“We need to put first things first.” “You need to get your priorities straightened out.” These are common expressions in our society. We should keep priorities in mind as some matters are more important than others.
The Bible has a lot to say concerning priorities. God does expect people to put “first things first.” Therefore, we must realize what is truly important. Matthew 6:33 says that we are to seek first the kingdom of God. Also, Paul admonished us to “approve things that are excellent” (Phil. 1:10). Consider some areas in which people have confused priorities.
Outward Appearance
The Bible speaks of certain ones who were “fair” or “beautiful.” For example, the “daughters of men” (Gen. 6:1-2), Sarah (Gen. 12:11), Rebekah (Gen. 24:16), and Vashti (Esth. 1:11-12) were all described as “fair.” Likewise, as we further learn in the Old Testament, Esther was “fair and beautiful” (2:7).
Society places much emphasis on physical beauty. Think of all the products and services advertised, which are supposed to make people more attractive. Of course, we should be concerned about our bodies and our appearance. However, we must understand that attaining physical beauty is not our primary goal.
The main point of emphasis with the Christian should be the inner person, as Peter points out in I Peter 3:3-4. Here, as Peter addresses wives, he says their adorning should be “. . . the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” Physical beauty quickly fades; character, i.e., inner beauty, can last a lifetime. There is nothing wrong with physical beauty, but it should not be the primary goal. Instead, inner beauty (character and spiritual strength) is where our priorities should always be.
Health
We read of people in the Bible who had physical ailments. Job would be an example from the Old Testament of a person who suffered a great deal, at least for a while. II Kings 20 tells us that King Hezekiah was sick unto death. In the New Testament, Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” (II Cor. 12:7), and Timothy apparently had stomach problems (I Tim. 5:23). Paul spoke of Epaphroditus as having been sick “almost unto death” (Phil. 2:27). We also read of various diseases and physical problems of people who Christ healed.
Physical health is significant to people. An often-repeated statement is, “if you have your health, you have everything.” Much emphasis is on health today. Health food stores, vitamins, exercise equipment, and exercise shows are still popular. Most everyone wants to be physically healthy. However, physical health should not be a person’s primary goal.
The main emphasis with people should be spiritual health. We read of certain ones in the Bible who had spiritual ailments. The church at Laodicea thought they were in good spiritual health, but they were not, and Jesus told them they were spiritually blind (Rev. 3:17-18). Simon may have had good physical health, but Peter told him in Acts 8:21, “. . . for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” He was a man with spiritual heart trouble.
There is nothing wrong with trying to maintain or acquire good physical health. However, it is essential to understand that the main point of emphasis should be our spiritual health. A person may have good physical and spiritual health. However, if a person loses his physical health and continues to maintain his spiritual health, he is healthy in the most important way.
Wealth
We read of quite a few wealthy people in the Word of God. We learn that people such as Abraham, Job, and Joseph of Arimathea were rich. There is nothing wrong with money itself; we need a certain amount to function in our society. However, Paul charges the rich in I Timothy 6 to not be high-minded or trust in uncertain riches and use their wealth to accomplish good (vs. 17,18). There may be some advantages to material wealth, but obtaining it is not the primary purpose in the life of a Christian.
The primary kind of wealth for us should be spiritual wealth. Jesus said to the church at Smyrna, in Revelation 2:9, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich). . .” Smyrna, known as the suffering church, may have been materially poor, but they were spiritually rich. On the other hand, Laodicea, which was physically wealthy, was described as spiritually “wretched,” “miserable,” “poor,” and “naked” (Rev. 3:17). Smyrna had the most crucial wealth of all— spiritual wealth, and their wealth was enduring (note Mt. 6:19-21). Smyrna is sometimes called the “poor-rich church,” while Laodicea is referred to as the “rich-poor church.”
Preaching
There are many polished, educated, and eloquent orators of God’s Word today, which was also the case in Bible times. Apollos, in the New Testament, fits into the category of an eloquent orator. He is described in Acts 18:24 as “eloquent and mighty in the scriptures.” He was from Alexandria, which was a center of Hebrew learning. He was a very effective teacher and is cited for the work he did at Corinth.
Preachers do need to present their material clearly. They need to try and improve their grammar, pronunciation, and general presentation. Eloquence is essential, but it should not be a preacher’s primary objective. Instead, the main criterion for a preacher is to be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:17). He must have conviction and always be willing to stand for the truth. Eloquence means nothing without a desire to stand for God’s Word.
Paul said in I Corinthians 2:1 that he came not to the Corinthians with “excellency of speech” or “wisdom.” He said, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified” (v. 2). Paul was not against the excellency of speech or human wisdom. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of God’s message.
It is helpful for a preacher to have a good education and be a strong, polished, and eloquent speaker. However, that is not the primary goal. The main goal is to preach the truth and be willing to stand for it. What is your attitude toward preaching? Do you place “polish” over substance? We need to make sure we have our priorities straight regarding preaching.
Conclusion
It is essential to put first things first. We need to keep our priorities in order. Therefore, it is vital to understand what are the crucial goals in life.
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The “Believe as You Please” Method
of Church Growth
Mike Johnson
Most congregations want to grow, but churches today often use methods to do so, contrary to Biblical principles. One approach is the “Believe as You Please Method.”
This method of growth does not require any conviction on doctrinal matters. As long as a person believes in Jesus (or perhaps even some supreme being), everything is OK. The philosophy is that “it is not necessary for us to all believe the same thing or press for the purity of doctrine.”
Consider the teaching of II John 9-11, which says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” Do these verses sound as if false doctrine is acceptable and those who believe, practice, and teach it ought to be fellowshipped? Does it appear as if people can believe anything they want to and be acceptable to God? Clearly, they cannot.
It is interesting to note how often Paul emphasized the importance of “doctrine” or “sound doctrine” in his letters to Timothy and Titus. For example, Paul told Titus to “. . . Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1). Likewise, he said to Timothy (I Tim. 4:13), “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (Also note I Tim. 1:10, 4:16, 6:3; II Tim. 4:13; Tit. 1:9, 2:1.)
The “Believe as You Please” method may produce a lot of growth in a congregation, but this does not change the fact that this method is unscriptural and is not pleasing to God
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The Possibility of Apostasy (1)
Introduction
Mike Johnson
Consider this question. Can one who has been born again, i.e., one who has entered into a proper relationship with God, conduct himself in such a way to be eternally lost? Many say one cannot. They hold a doctrine known by such names as “Once Saved, Always Saved,” “The Impossibility of Apostasy,” or the “Perseverance of the Saints.”
This doctrine is stated clearly in a book by H.A. Ironside, called The Eternal Security of the Believer.
When we speak of the eternal security of the believer, what do we mean? We mean that once a poor sinner has been regenerated by the Word and the Spirit of God, once he has received a new life and a new nature, has been made partaker of the divine nature, once he has been justified from every charge before the throne of God, it is absolutely impossible that the man should ever again be a lost soul.
Many of the creed books and the teachings of countless people promote this view. Although popular, this doctrine is not in the Word of God!
Various passages clearly show that a child of God can fall from grace, and we will examine several of them during the coming months. However, before we do, I would like to explain two approaches often used by the typical “once saved, always saved” advocate. First, with some passages, the proponent of this doctrine will respond by saying that the verses are not speaking of people who are actually Christians but only of those who profess to be Christians. (With this approach, they are admitting that the verses are talking about a lost person.) Alternatively, they may say that other passages speak about a Christian, but the verses do not say the one under consideration is actually lost. The person, they might say, has only missed the joy of his salvation! Thus, it is necessary with any passage presented to show that a Christian is under consideration and that this Christian is lost. In the articles which follow, we will examine passages that show that a child of God can fall from grace. Also, looked at will be arguments made by the proponents of this doctrine.
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Don’t Play With Sin
(Unknown)
Sin is nothing to play with. It has the strength to defeat you if you get too close to it with excessive confidence in your own strength. A well-to-do man advertised for a chauffeur. Three applicants came. His first question was, “How close to the edge of a cliff can you drive without going over?” One man said, “A yard.” Another said, “A foot.” The third said, “I always try to keep as far away as possible.” The third man got the job.
Many people try and get as close to sin as they can without actually engaging in it. This is very dangerous. We should try and stay as far away as possible from sin.
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The Anvil
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
When looking in, I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers worn with beating years of time.
“How many anvils have you had,” said I,
“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”
“Just one,” said he; then said with twinkling eye,
“The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”
And so, I thought, the anvil of God’s word
For ages skeptics’ blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed—the hammers gone!
Author Unknown
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Short Audio Messages
Mike Johnson
Sermon
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