The Elon Challenger
ELON CHURCH OF CHRIST
New Hope, Alabama
Seeking to challenge your interest in things
spiritual & eternal (Eph. 6:10-18).
Volume 14 Number 4
December, 2016
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Table of Contents
Acceptance by Our Rock & Redeemer (Ps. 19:14)———— Mike Johnson
Your Worst Enemy———————————————————-Unknown
Amen———————————————————————-David J. Riggs
The Backslider’s Hit Parade———————————————–Unknown
Actions Generate Reactions——————————————–Glen Young
How Men React When They Repent———————————–Steve Klein
Evil Suspicions————————————————————Joe R. Price
Escape the Wrath of God——————————————-Richie Thetford
The Farmer———————————————————————-Unknown
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Acceptance by Our Rock and Redeemer
(Psalm 19:14)
Mike Johnson
Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
This verse is found at the end of a very beautiful Psalm. In verses 1-6, the writer spoke about the heavens declaring the glory of God and the firmament showing His handy work. Through natural revelation, one can realize there is a God. In verses 7-11, he spoke about special revelation. This pertains to God’s written message which tells us about the God. Then in verses 12-14, in response to the first two concepts, he looked inwardly, turning to God in prayer and asking for forgiveness.
From verse 14, we learn it is important to be “acceptable” to God. Further, we learn that one way we make ourselves acceptable is by using our tongue in such a way as to be pleasing to Him. We can commit sins with our tongue by lying, using profanity, engaging in gossip, etc. James 3:5 reveals, “… the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” Proverbs 21:23 warns, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” Paul admonished in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Further, our thoughts, (meditations) must also be acceptable. In verse 14, words and thoughts are spoken of but not deeds. Why is this? It could be said deeds have already been dealt with earlier. However, verse 14 stands independent in this respect. Our thoughts (“meditation of my heart”) are inclusive of deeds. It is important to realize the thoughts of the heart are the source from which actions spring. In Mark 7:20-23, Jesus said, “…What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Note also Phil. 4:8.) If a person keeps his heart pure, he will not have so many problems with his deeds. It has been said, “We are not always what we think we are, but we are always what we think.”
In the last part of verse 14, the writer referred to God as his strength. The Hebrew word used here can be defined by Vine as, “rock; rocky wall; cliff; rocky hill; mountain; rocky surface; boulder” (Vine’s Expos. Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.) Many translations render the word simply as “rock.” Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Commenting on this passage Barnes points out the following.
The idea in this expression, and in the subsequent parts of the description, is that he owed his safety entirely to God. He had been unto him as a rock, a tower, a buckler, etc. – that is, he had derived from God the protection which a rock, a tower, a citadel, a buckler furnished to those who depended on them, or which they were designed to secure. The word “rock” here has reference to the fact that in times of danger a lofty rock would be sought as a place of safety, or that men would fly to it to escape from their enemies. Such rocks abound in Palestine; and by the fact that they are elevated and difficult of access, or by the fact that those who fled to them could find shelter behind their projecting crags, or by the fact that they could find security in their deep and dark caverns, they became places of refuge in times of danger; and protection was often found there when it could not be found in the plains below.(Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.)
Sometimes one person may refer to another as his/her rock. On a higher plain, God is our rock: He is our source of strength and our refuge.
David also referred to God as his redeemer. In the Old Testament, God is often referred to in this way. The word redeemer simply means “buy back.” God redeemed his people from sin, death, and danger. David probably recalled many occasions where God had delivered him, but he may not have understood the details regarding the true price of redemption. The cost would be Jesus, having been sent by God, dying for the sins of mankind on the cross. Ephesians 1:7 points out, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
It is important to be acceptable to God. We must make sure our words, thoughts, and deeds are in keeping with the Will of our Creator who is our strength and our redeemer.
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Your Worst Enemy
Who is your greatest enemy? It is said that Alcibiades, the gifted but unscrupulous Greek, was noted as an unhappy man. Someone asked Socrates why it was that Alcibiades, who had traveled so much and had seen so much of the world, was still an unhappy man. The sage answered, “Because wherever he goes, he always takes himself with him.”
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Amen
David J. Riggs
It appears to me that we are living in an age where preachers are trying to be sensational instead of spiritual, shocking instead of scriptural, cute rather than correct, clever instead of clear, different rather than doctrinal, and unusual in the place of unerring. What we need today is more fearless teachers who will speak only as the oracles of God and practice what they preach.
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The Backslider’s Hit Parade
“Tell Me the Old, Old Story,” if it doesn’t last too long.
“Take My Life and Let It Be,” yes, please let it be, dear Lord.
“Sweet Hour of Prayer” is indeed wonderful, but I’m too busy for prayer today.
“Have thine Own Way Lord, with Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Gray.
“I Love to tell the Story, but only in church on Sunday.
“Lead Me to Some Soul Today,” but wait until a convenient time.
“All I Have Is Thine Own” but I hope you don’t mind if I use it all now for something I want.
“If Jesus Goes With Me,” it may be embarrassing for both of us.
Author Unknown
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Actions Generate Reactions
Glen Young
I heard a story recently about a student named Donald Macdonald from the Isle of Skye (in Scotland). He was admitted into the prestigious Oxford University and given living accommodations in the hall of residence for his first year. His clan was very excited that one of their own had made it into the upper class of education. They were, however, concerned as to how he would do in “that strange land.” When the first month had past, his mother went for a visit.
“And how do you find the English students, Donald?” she asked.
“Mother,” he replied in his thick brogue. “They’re such terrible, noisy people. The one on that side bangs his head against the wall and won’t stop. The one on the other side screams and screams and screams, till all hours into the night.”
“Oh Donald! How do you manage to put up with these awful, noisy English neighbors?”
“Mother dear, I do nothing. I just sit here and ignore them while I quietly play my bagpipes.”
In High School science class, we were taught that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A lesson we found easily learned because we see it demonstrated every day. Did you know that the Bible teaches the same regarding our spiritual lives? It is called “reaping what you sow!” (Galatians 6:7-8)
Jesus spoke to certain ones by saying, “And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.” John 5:38. They did not believe the one whom the Father had sent. This is the action. The reaction is stated thusly, “and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.” John 5:40. Their failure to believe resulted in their rejection of Jesus as the Christ. Today, the refusal to believe the teachings of Christ and His holy prophets of the first century results in a life of ungodliness and sin.
Long ago, the writer of Proverbs said, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV). The principle holds true throughout the generations. Those who act in a friendly manner will receive, in like manner, the reaction of friendship. It is when a person acts in an unfriendly way that their life is lonely and without friends.
I have given two illustrations that relate directly to our relationship with Christ and our relationship with one another. These are important because the influence of our society has created a backwash of immature people who persist in blaming others for their problems in life. Saddest of all is that many of these people are within fellowships of local churches of Christ.
The next time you are depressed feeling friendless and alone, ask yourself if you have shown friendship to others. Be honest with yourself and put the blame where it belongs.
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How Men React When They Repent
Steve Klein
In Matthew 12:41, Jesus said, “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” According to Jesus, the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.
You remember the story, don’t you? God had commanded Jonah, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). Now Nineveh was not only a city filled with wickedness, it was also the capital of the Assyrians, hated enemies of the Israelites. Jonah didn’t want to go. He fled from God’s presence. However, after being given some quality time in the belly of a fish to reflect and pray, Jonah decided to obey God. Jonah walked through the city proclaiming the judgment of the Lord upon these pagan people: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4).
The people of Nineveh repented. They “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5). When word came to the king of Nineveh, “he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.” He decreed that “neither man nor beast, herd nor flock” were to eat or drink and that “everyone” was to “turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hand” (Jonah 3:7-8).
The text says that, “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them” (Jonah 3:10). God can read men’s hearts. He knows more about what is going on in our heads than we do ourselves. But He did not need to read the minds of the Ninevites to know that they had repented. He “saw their works, that they turned away from evil”. When the men of Nineveh repented, nobody was left to wonder whether or not their repentance was genuine. Nobody was left guessing about their intention to stop committing evil. Nobody would have doubted they had actually repented of their sins.
We really need to learn this lesson from the men of Nineveh. We need to learn how to act when we repent. Repentance isn’t just saying “excuse me,” “my bad,” or “forgive me,” and then going on with our lives as if nothing happened. Repentance should produce real change in our actions. We are to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). I am afraid that too many of us think that our repentance should go unnoticed. We are incognito repenters! And while God hardly asks us to don sackcloth and ashes today, He does ask us to “do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20).
Let’s resolve to turn away from sin in our lives, and make sure that we behave in such a way that folks can tell that’s what we’ve done!
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Evil Suspicions
Joe R. Price
Since love “thinks no evil” (keeps no accounts of evil, NKJV footnote), “rejoices in the truth” and “believes all things”, we rightly conclude the converse is true of hatred (1 Corinthians 13:5-7). Hate thinks evil of others (keeping an account of wrongs suffered), rejoices in the error of others and refuses to believe good things about others. It is no wonder that “he who does not love his brother abides in death” and, “whoever hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:14-15). Love refuses to hold and express evil suspicions toward others.
Evil suspicions (evil surmisings, KJV) are counted among the sins of the proud, possessed by those obsessed with disputes and arguments (1 Timothy 6:3-4). It is thinking the worst of others (often, deflecting attention away from one’s own sins). God will not tolerate such arrogant treatment of others, and neither should we. Therefore, the Holy Spirit instructs Christians to “withdraw yourself” from such people (1 Timothy 6:5).
We can get caught up in speculating about others. This typically leads to gossip and a variety of additional sins. Such speculation and ruinous reasoning is forbidden by the word of God. Let us carefully and correctly identify, put away and avoid the sin of evil suspicion.
1) Evil suspicions draw conclusions on the basis of conjecture and speculation. Whereas love rejoices in the truth and thinks the best of others, the sin of evil suspicions relies on assumptions and the reckless handling of facts. Because it relies on supposition and imagination to draw its conclusions, evil suspicion produces distrust and disputes. Once a person whose heart is full of evil surmising has made up his mind, it becomes very hard for him to reform and renounce his deeply held suspicion. Why? The reason is because pride (a companion of evil surmising) will not allow it (Proverbs 16:18). What a dreadfully ugly sin!
2) Evil suspicions spread contention and division where unity and peace should prevail. Christians are to “seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:11). The gospel teaches us to “pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another”, a principle that is not being practiced by one given to evil suspicions (Romans 14:19). Having and acting upon an evil suspicion toward a fellow Christian spreads an atmosphere of mistrust, doubt and reservation, obscuring the unity we share in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-3).3) Evil suspicions stifle encouragement. Christians should “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works”, but evil suspicion prevents this work of encouragement (Hebrews 10:24). It prevents productive communication instead of enhancing it. Barnabas showed himself to be the son of encouragement by not being suspicious toward Saul and his genuine conversion. He stepped forward and stood with his faithful brother in the Lord (Acts 4:36; 9:26-27). His example is one we all should follow.
4) Evil suspicions wound and ruin rather than soothe and heal. The person consumed with evil suspicions against another is not a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9). Strife and turmoil is the fruit he bears.
5) Put away evil suspicions. Cultivate love by always acting in the best interests of others – regardless of their words and deeds. (This is the true meaning and expression of love, Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10-11.) Judge righteously, not by appearance (John 7:24). Finally, reject baseless suspicions and charges against brethren (cf. 1 Timothy 5:19-20).
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Escape the Wrath of God
Richie Thetford
The apostle Paul writes that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). We know from this passage of scripture that God’s wrath will be manifested because it is revealed from heaven. It is not manifested now because He has appointed a day in which this will happen. God is waiting for all men to repent and turn to Him. “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:4-5). God’s wrath will be manifested in the judgment.
The Recipients of God’s Wrath
Individuals who do not believe in Jesus Christ will certainly suffer the wrath of God. In John 3:36 we find these words, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” In the opening text of scripture, we learn that the unrighteous, ungodly and those who hinder the truth will suffer God’s wrath. Ephesians 5:5-6 tells us that the unclean, fornicators, and the covetous will suffer the wrath of God. In addition to these things, we also know that those who have evil desires will experience the wrath of God (Colossians 3:5-6).
How Can We Escape God’s Wrath?
We know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we will be able to escape the terrible wrath of God. It says in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” We have to be justified before God in able to stand before Him (Romans 5:9; Revelation 6:17). When we believe in Christ, repent of our sins, confess Him as being the Son of God, and are baptized into Christ then we can begin our walk in His righteousness. We must then dedicate ourselves to His service, being faithful to Him every day that we live, making sure that we flee from the wrath to come (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 3:7).
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The Farmer
A minister once visited a farmer to talk with him about Christ and invite him to Church. “Why, I would not come to church up there,” the farmer said, “I know old (bland) and (blank) and they don’t live any better than me. I’m as good as they are.” Everywhere the farmer went he told about the hypocrites in the church.
The months passed and the minister went to see the farmer again. “Let me buy a hog,” the preacher said. The farmer showed him all his best hogs. Then they came to a runt. “That’s the one I want,” the preacher said. “But you don’t want that runt, do you?” asked the farmer “Yes, I sure do,” was the preacher’s reply. They loaded the runt in the truck and as the preacher left he said, “Now I’m going all over the country, and I will tell folks that this is the kind of hogs you raise.” “That isn’t fair,” the farmer said, “I have some nice hogs and you want to show people the runt.”
“If it’s fair for the church, it’s fair for the hogs,” answered the preacher.
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The Elon Challenger is published monthly by the church of Christ meeting at 4021 Hobbs Island Road in Owens Cross Roads. The mailing address is PO Box 149, New Hope, AL, 35760 where any comments, questions, or requests for further information can be sent. The Challenger is also distributed monthly to the Elon congregation as an eight page, paper publication. The editor is Mike Johnson.
The website address is www.elonchurchofchrist.com.
Evangelist & Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org