____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ May 19, 2002 ____________________________________________________ How to Slay a Giant by Mike Wilson The battle of David and Goliath is one of the best-known stories in the entire Bible. A champion, Goliath, came out of the Philistine camp every day for 40 days, defying the Israelite army to send him a worthy opponent. This Philistine giant was about 9 feet 9 inches tall and wore at least 150 pounds of armor. Confident in the superiority of his equipment and his extraordinary natural strength, he proposes a winner-take-all contest. There were no takers! Young David was sent by his father to deliver some roasted grain, loaves of bread and cheese to his brothers and their commander on the battle front. It was on this battlefield that David's life took a very different turn, and it would never be the same. The ultimate outcome, however, did not occur by accident. David did four things that are timelessly instructive to the young and the young at heart. 1. He took advantage of his opportunity. We know David as a shepherd, a musician, a psalmist, a warrior and a king. But the doorway to a successful career as a man of God opened up to him in the valley of Elah. Observing firsthand Goliath's psychological warfare and intimidation, David asked, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (I Sam. 17:26). No one ever accomplishes anything of note if he doesn't take advantage of his opportunities. The cowardice of the Israelite armed forces, including King Saul, was an open door for David. The same shepherd boy who had slain a lion and a bear would say to the king, "This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them" (17:32). 2. He did not allow his youth to deter him. David's older brother, Eliab, spoke with disdain: "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle" (17:28). Other detractors might have said, "Oh, he's young and inexperienced. This is just youthful exuberance." Even today, young people in the church will naturally defer to older people who are in positions of influence, but that doesn't mean they don't have anything to offer. A young godly person can make a huge difference! 3. He saw the victory before the battle was fought. One can detect no trace of fear in David's voice throughout this episode. On the contrary, his courage is infectious. He informed the king, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine" (17:32). When the battle finally ensued, Goliath gave him a verbal barrage: "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" (14:43). Just as trash talking is an ugly part of modern sports, it was part of ancient battle etiquette. One gets the impression, nevertheless, that Goliath was genuinely offended by the handsome, unintimidating youth who stood before him. Is this the best the Israelites have to offer? On the contrary, David stood his ground and engaged the giant verbally, but he did not boast in the deadly marksmanship of his slingshot. "You have come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands" (17:45,47). 4. He was moved by a greater purpose. David tells his opponent that the immanent victory had a higher aim: "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (17:46). Young David was moved by the vindication of God's name to an ignorant world. Does it pain you to think of how many of your friends and neighbors do not know God? If so, then what will you do about it? David wasn't going to sit on the sidelines while an uncircumcised Philistine defied the armies of the living God! When the truth of God moves a person to righteous indignation and absolute trust, as well as concern for the lost souls of other people, he will no longer be able to tremble in silence. Instead, he will rise up and act! Like Isaiah, he will say, "Here am I, send me." How does the story end? "Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him" (17:50). The rest, as they say, is history. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, March 10, 2002 ___________________________________________ Just Prove What is Right; Don't Prove What is Wrong by Dudley Ross Spears It is said that God does not obligate us to prove what is wrong; he only obligates us to prove what is right. "I do not look for prohibition; I look for permission," say some. I believe the Bible requires us not only to prove what is right -- but to reprove what is wrong and sinful. Sin is a transgression of law (1 John 3:4). Vine says transgression means, "to go aside" or to "go beyond." All who go beyond the doctrine of Christ, for religious teaching and practice, are guilty of transgression -- sin (2 John 9). Since transgression of the law of God is sinful and since going beyond the doctrine of Christ is transgression, religious teachings and practices not found in the doctrine of Christ are sinful. We are to prove they are sinful, and this is how we do it. The doctrine of Christ cannot be limited only to the teaching about Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest, clearly understood the teaching of Christ when he asked Jesus "of his disciples, and of his teaching" (John 18:19). He understood it to be what Jesus taught. The teaching of Christ was his personal teaching, just as the disciples were his personal followers. To act without authority from Christ's teaching is sinful because John said it is transgression, which he defined as sin; and Paul said we must prove it is sinful. The teaching of Christ prohibits sinful transgression. Jesus is our example. When he accused the Pharisees of "transgressing the commandment of God" (Matt. 15:3) he was not proving what was right; he was reproving what was sinful and wrong. He proved it was wrong to make hand washing (and a lot of other pharisaical practices) a ritual of religion. We'd be well served to follow his example. The faithful Christian is to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). The prohibited fellowship is with sinful doctrines and practices. To *reprove* unfruitful works of darkness is *proving* what is sinful and wrong. We are required by the Lord to do that. Elders are shepherds of the flock over which the Holy Spirit made them overseers (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2-3). A novice cannot be a qualified shepherd (1 Tim. 3:6). A shepherd must be mature and able to prove what is right as well as to prove what is wrong and sinful. To qualify as a functioning elder a man must hold "to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9). In short, he must reprove what is sinful and wrong by his knowledge and application of the doctrine of Christ. There is an old maxim: "The specification of one action is the exclusion of another." The New Testament specifies singing as the kind of music offered in worship to God. There are other kinds of music but they are not mentioned in the New Testament in connection with worship. Is another kind of music in worship included in the teaching of Christ, or does one go beyond the teaching to find it? Going beyond the teaching of Christ is transgression of Christ's law and John said that is sin. Dear friend if another kind of music than singing in worship is not included, by the very nature of language, it is excluded. Based on these thoughts, I confess that I look for permission and prohibition. I intend to try always to prove all things and hold fast to what is good as well as abstaining from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:21-22). ___________________________________________ Girding the Towel by Al Diestelkamp Whenever the story of Jesus girding Himself with a towel and washing the feet of His disciples (Jn. 13) is discussed, the inevitable question is whether or not Jesus was requiring foot-washing as an act of obedience to Him. It is usually noted (I believe correctly) that Jesus was teaching the principle that we need to be humble enough to serve, even to the point of doing what is expected of a slave. His point was that if He, as Lord, was willing to perform a menial service to benefit those who are clearly subservient to Him, that we ought to be willing to do the same for one another. Therefore, if we find one who needs his feet washed, we should not be too proud to do so. The traveling conditions and dress of our time has lessened the need for frequent foot-washing. Therefore, we look for other ways to fulfill the mandate of Jesus to "do as I have done" (Jn. 13:15). As a child I relied on my father to do many things for me, but as I got older-and especially as he became aged--the less I expected him to serve my needs; and the more I looked for ways to help him. However, I'm reminded of a time when my father demonstrated to me--in a vivid way--his grasp of Jesus' teaching on the subject of serving others. I was on my way to preach in a series of gospel meetings when I stopped at my father's home for a visit. In the course of the visit I mentioned that I had neglected to polish my dress shoes before leaving home. Suddenly Dad got up from his chair, disappeared into another room, only to return carrying a shoe shine kit. He laid some newspaper under my feet and started to shine my shoes. "I'll do that," I protested. "No you won't! I want to do it," he insisted. And so I sat and watched as my aged father knelt before me to perform an act of humble service to me. -- Via Think on These Things, October-November- December 2000 ___________________________________________ Be Prepared by Steve Klein There is an ancient proverb (or maybe it's just an old saying) that goes something like this: It is best to dig the well before you need the water. There is a Biblical Proverb which gives similar instruction: "Go to the ant...Consider her ways and be wise; which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest" (Proverbs 6:6-8). Ants and well diggers both have sense enough to prepare ahead of time to meet future needs. There will be many times in the life of a Christian when he will have the opportunity to give a wise answer to a spiritual question, or perform some act of kindness, or help someone who is in need. The Christian who has failed to prepare himself will not be equipped to fulfill these responsibilities. It may be a cliche, but failing to prepare is preparing to fail. There is no excuse for the Bible believer to be unprepared to answer basic spiritual questions, or to do a good work or to give to the needy. The Scriptures not only instruct us to do these things, they also instruct us to PREPARE to do these things. Read the following verses carefully and pay special attention to the word ready -- it means to be willing AND prepared. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" -- 1 Peter 3:15. "...be ready for every good work" -- Titus 3:1. "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" -- 1 Timothy 6:18. Here are some practical suggestions for those who want to prepare themselves in these areas: 1. To prepare to answer: Study your Bible regularly. Attend and participate in Bible classes. Read religious material, especially things written by faithful brethren. These are great ways to prepare to give a defense when friends and neighbors ask you a reason for the hope that is in you. 2. To prepare to do good works: Obviously, the person who wants to be prepared to do good works must cease to be involved in works that are not good and must limit participation in other non-essential activities, which (though neither good nor bad in themselves) rob him of time. 3. To prepare to give to the needy: The person who wishes to be prepared to give to the needy must not indulge himself in spending all of his spare cash on every techno-luxury our society has to offer. It might help to set aside a little spare cash occasionally to have to help others as needs arise. Preparation is a key to success in almost any endeavor. Every Boy Scout knows to Be Prepared; that's the Scout's motto! As people dedicated to the service of Christ, it wouldn't be a bad motto for you and me either. Let us be "prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, May 5, 2002 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Chris Shewen (Joe Manganello's 24-year old nephew) has a serious problem with his neck that is causing spasms in his shoulder and arm -- which could be fatal if it reaches the heart. Let us definitely be praying for him. Farewell May 30 is fast approaching. For those of you who wanted to help out with my upcoming move: I'll be picking up the U-Haul truck this Tuesday (May 28) and will be loading it that day and also Wednesday (if need be). Then on May 30 (Thursday), I'll be moving down to Denham Springs, Louisiana, to work with a congregation there. For the most part, I've enjoyed being in this area and will miss the many new friends I have made; but let us remember that mutual feelings of friendship cannot be diminished by mileage; for the space between is irrelevant to true caring. Maybe that's why God didn't put some type of odometer on our hearts: for one can be "near" in heart from any distance. I pray that God will always meet your every need -- and do so abundantly! My new address will be as follows: 29603 West Karen Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 ________________________________________ evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________