____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ December 31, 1995 ____________________________________________________ Les Little by Chuck Bartlett One day I picked up an old Bible of mine that I have had for many years. I don't use it much since many of the pages are ripped and fallen out. As I glanced through it I noticed a name written on the inside cover at the top, Les Little. It finally came to me who this was. It was a man I spent three months studying with, during my first few months of full time work. Continuing to think about Les, I so hoped that the studies would have been more successful. You see, Les did not obey, even after all that time examining the scriptures. As I recall that now, I realize how successful it was in many other ways. Paul, the apostle, states, ``I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, unto all who believeth, to the Jew first, then also to the Greek'' (Rom. 1:16). Les was presented with the gospel, and I was proud to teach it. It would have been easy to back down and be ashamed of such a ``strange'' doctrine, as Les called it, yet my desire was to speak by the oracles of God (I Pet. 4:11). Over that period of time, Les and I became close friends. So, in the course of our studies it would have been tempting to compromise for the sake of our friendship. Still, the word was preached as Timothy was told, ``Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (II Tim. 4:2). I must confess, at the time, things were not going that great, as far as truth being accepted. The good thing was that my relationship with God was becoming stronger. I found myself having to study hard to answer the questions that Les would have, since he often asked me things I did not know (II Tim. 2:15). I also found myself needing to pray more. I prayed for courage, for a remembrance of that which I studied, and for Les that he might see the light (I Thes. 5:17). The brethren were enthused about the study, and I would always be asked how the study was going, and they would mention that they would pray about it. As you can see, so many good things were coming out of this class, and as a young preacher, I was growing in so many ways. Although it is truly sad that Les did not obey the gospel, it should never be considered a waste of time. If I gage the success of any study only by the response, then I will have forgotten the good that comes even if they do not accept the truth. With the seed planted, who knows, Les may one day come to Christ. May we never lose sight of the importance of spreading the good news. -- Via The Jordan Journal, December 6, 1995 (article originally written Oct. 1989). ___________________________________________ Lessons from Evander Holyfield by Richard Fleeman It might surprise some to find that a Christian enjoys the sport of boxing. I do enjoy boxing as much as any other sport, but I would not be offended if the sport was banned. First of all, many boxers injure themselves permanently with shoulder dislocations, broken hands, damaged eyes, and repeated blows to the head which sometimes result in Parkinson's disease. Secondly, it's quite obvious that boxing is not the most godly thing to do. Although the sport does involve scoring, the basic objective is to smack your opponent until he can't take anymore. However, even in the midst of all the negative things to boxing, there is something to be learned. For those of you who might not be real familiar with boxing, Evander Holyfield has two times become the heavy weight champion of the world. Some say he has ``done more with less'' than any boxer. Evander only weighs about 213 pounds and fights men ranging from about his size to 270 pounds and even more. Usually, he wins. If you've watched Evander before, you're familiar with what a punishment this man can take and still keep going. In the fight Evander had with Michael Moorer, something was wrong. The only real clue, other than his ugly performance, was in the corner about the second round. Evander complained of shoulder pain. Evander went on to lose the fight. After the fight he was diagnosed with a heart problem. Commissions forbade him to box and it looked like his career was over. Due to Evander's religious feelings, he at first decided to go ahead and retire from boxing for his own health and his family's benefit. However, as time went on, Evander decided to continue his career. Evander went to see Benny Hinn. I believe it was ESPN that showed the footage of Evander either being blown on or slapped with Benny's sports coat as he ``healed'' Evander. Evander, like all the rest of Benny's patients, fell over backward into the arms of the assistance for the whole world to see. Later, his bill of health was cleared by the Mayo Clinic. Evander went on to fight Riddick Bowe November 4, 1995 after he was ``healed''. Although some may never admit it, Evander had some problems that night. Evander acknowledged that he had trained harder and longer for this fight than any. Yet, by the second round this professional's arms were weary. George Foreman, other commentators, and the world could see Evander struggling to even get his breath by the fourth and fifth round. Due to his tremendous talent, even in this pitiful condition, he was able to knock Riddick to the canvas in the 6th round. However, by the eighth, Evander was all washed up. A right to the jaw dropped Evander to the canvas. He got up on the count of nine. The ref asked him to step forward 3 or 4 times and he did not respond. However, the ref went ahead and let the fight continue. Riddick stepped forward and hit 2 slapping shots on Evander's glove which protected his head. Even though the shots only glanced off Evander's glove, he still collapsed to the canvas for the second time. I don't even think the ref counted this time, he waved the fight off. Evander's cornermen came out and lugged the unresponsive Holyfield to his stool. Luckily, within a minute Holyfield was standing up. Evander attributes the loss to the fact that Riddick Bowe was good enough to wear him down and denies that it has anything to do with age or sickness. However, I agree with George Forman. George said, ``That's a sick man.'' The one thing that it proves to me is that Benny didn't heal Evander. How could Evander be confused and think Benny could or did heal him? It must be because Evander doesn't understand 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Let's examine this verse. First note that prophecies and tongues are going to cease. Also note that in verse 9 knowledge and prophesy are defined as ``in part''. Then in verse 10, we see that when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part (knowledge and prophesy) will be done away with. Let me say that that which is perfect is the completed word of God. Or as James calls it the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) So when the word of God comes completely, knowledge, prophesy, and tongues among other spiritual gifts will cease. How can I jump to the conclusion that that which is perfect is the word of God? Think of it this way. What were tongues, the gift of knowledge, prophecy and the other spiritual gifts used to reveal and confirm? The word of God (Mark 16:20). These things in part (the gifts), were like the pieces to a puzzle. God had kept a mystery since the world began (Rom. 16:25). These things in part revealed his mystery. When all the parts were completed, we had the completed (perfect) word of God. Let's look at Jude 3: Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude says that the faith, or the gospel, was once delivered. He doesn't say that it is being delivered or that it will be delivered. He says that it has been once delivered. Thus it is all here and we are not receiving latter day revelations as some denominations claim. Also, we know according to 1 Corinthians 13:9 that since that perfect law has been completely delivered, the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 have been done away with. If this is not true then either 1 Corinthians 13:9 is wrong or Jude 3 is wrong. Thus, let all know assuredly that anyone claiming to prophesy, heal, speak in tongues or any such thing is like Evander Holyfield. They need to explain to us how they could be miraculously healed in light of what we read in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. ___________________________________________ "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last" (Rev. 1:17). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________