____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ April 28, 1996 ____________________________________________________ The Armor of God by Chuck Bartlett ``Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand'' (Eph. 6:13). Our Father has not left us defenseless when it comes to our battles ``against the wiles of the devil'' (vr. 11). Earlier, Paul mentioned that the brethren should be ``strong in the Lord and in the power of His great might'' (vr. 10). Let's take note of our armor that God has given us through Christ. 1. Having girded your waist with truth (vr. 14). It is truth that can set us free (Jn. 8:32). This gives us power over the enemy of lies, and the devil is that father of such (Jn. 8:44). Without truth we have no defense against anything that is false. Truth is what is required for a soldier of Christ to be victorious. 2. Having put on the breastplate of righteousness (vr. 14). It is this quality that the enemy abhors. Righteous actions (word or deed) causes those in opposition to be tormented further (Rom. 12:20). Saints will be tempted to engage in carnal warfare (II Cor. 10:4), which would mean to take off our breastplate. Make sure it stays on and resist the devil and he will flee (Jas. 4:7). 3. Having feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (vr. 15). Any spiritual conflict would bring certain defeat without having a firm stand. Christians have the peace, which brings assurance, through the gospel (Phil. 4:7). Having doubts is to give a foothold to the enemy. Satan's earliest tool used to hurt man was by casting doubt: ``You shall not surely die'' (Gen. 3:3). The gospel of peace will cast out uncertainty (II Tim. 1:12). 4. Taking the shield of faith (vr. 16). The whole purpose of being a good soldier is to please our God, and without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6). The edge that children of God have is their ability to walk by faith and not by sight (II Cor. 5:7). This enables them to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16). 5. Take the helmet of salvation (vr. 17). What greater comfort is there than knowing you shall be saved? What soldier would fear a battle when he is assured victory? The salvation of the Lord is there for those who will wear it. This is trusting in God who can deliver us (Matt. 6:13, II Pet. 2:9). It is useless to fight without seeing the salvation of the Lord. 6. Take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (vr. 17). Knowing that the only thing we are up against is everything that is not God's word, it is only fitting that the use of God's word would be our needed weapon. Too many soldiers are trying to defend truth without God's word. We must use the word for it has the power (Rom. 1:16). As is often pointed out, notice that the armor does not prepare one who turns his back to the enemy--he would be unprotected. This is why throughout the scriptures we are told to press straight ahead (Phil. 3:14). The narrow road doesn't have room to turn back for a rest. If you do that you are not on the road. Finally, our text in Ephesians 6, mentions, ``praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints'' (vr. 18). Are you wearing the whole armor of God? -- Via The Jordan Journal, March 27, 1996 ___________________________________________ "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36). ___________________________________________ Grasshopper Complex by Glen Owens What would you think about yourself if someone were to tell you that you have a grasshopper complex? The first thought you might have is that they think you hop around from one thing to another and don't stay in one place very long. Beyond that first thought, it might be difficult to think of any other aspect of the grasshopper that you are like. Consider this: ``And there we saw giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight'' (Numbers 13:13). Ten of the twelve spies had a grasshopper complex. Note that they said ``we were in our own sight.'' It might have been easy to feel small if we had been there, but Joshua and Caleb thought otherwise. The ten spies brought an evil report of the land due to their lack of faith and sense of self worth. They felt small and insignificant compared to the giants of the land, thus they had a grass hopper complex. Joshua and Caleb did not debate the fact that there were giants in the land, but they said, ``If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us'' (Numbers 14:8). The ten spies did not consider the role of God in the taking of the land whereas Joshua and Caleb used their faith in the Lord as the reason they could take the land. Each of us face similar situations in life. We have giants confronting us and it is really easy to say ``I can't.'' That may very well be the truth. You can't do it alone, you need help. The grasshopper complex is present in the person who has an inferiority complex. They take the warning against the ``BIG I--little you'' to an extreme. It becomes so much of a thing in their life that they continue to belittle themselves in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Humility is often confused with this problem. It is easy for us to want to be humble and in trying to accomplish humility we become helpless. God did not intend for humility to take this turn in our life. Paul was humble but still was able to say, ``I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'' (Phil. 4:13). A grasshopper complex requires no effort. All we need to do is sit down and say ``I can't'' regardless of what is asked of us. Fear of failure may have been the first reason for this attitude, but after a while it becomes comfortable to not be asked to do anything. After all, everyone knows what the answer will be if they ask us to do something. At this point, laziness becomes the reason for not doing something. The next time you get down on yourself and think you are not worth very much, think about the fact that God made you as a human being in His image and not as a lowly grasshopper. You are valuable (and capable) in His eyes. -- Via The Exhorter, April 21, 1996 ___________________________________________ Things That Really Matter by Irvin Himmel Many of us get worked up in our daily lives over things that are relatively inconsequential. If one is given to anxiety, the chances are that he worries over a lot of such things. To some, social events are highly important. Others are much involved in sporting events. There are people who spend many years earning academic degrees. A business executive may set his goal on reaching the top rung of the corporate ladder. Others consume long hours and large sums of money on entertainment. Some are very fashion- conscious. They like to keep up with the latest styles and newest customs. Some relish extensive travel. Then there are people who buy all the new electronic gadgets they can afford, and perhaps some which they really cannot afford. When we stand before the Lord in judgment, as all of us will, the things that loom before us now as having such absorbing interest will not matter at all. In that day it will not matter how many degrees a person has, nor what kind of house he lived in, nor whether he wore plain clothes or the latest fashions, whether he drove an old clunker or a shiny new auto, and whether he was underpaid or earned top salary. And the team that he rooted for will have no more fascination. The things that will really matter then are the things that ought to matter now. Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Cheerful obedience. Righteous living. Submission to divine authority. Love. Loyalty in worship and service to God. Eternal hope based on the grace of God. -- via Guardian of Truth (Volume XXXIX, Number 24, Page 13) ___________________________________________ Write, Call, or E-Mail To.... * Receive a FREE Bible Course * Find out about Bible film slides * Set up a personal Home-study * Ask a Bible question * Find out more about the church * Ask for a ride to church, which will be freely provided by one of the members ___________________________________________ MINI-SERMONS Live and let live is never as good as live and help live. "Second wind" is what some preachers get when they say, "Now in conclusion." Credit cards--Due unto others. Sharp words make wounds that surgeons can't heal. One day fortune actually knocked on a fellow's door; but the fellow didn't hear it. You see, he was over at his neighbor's house-telling a hard-luck story. You cannot judge an auto by the sound of its horn. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, 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@wwd.net ________________________________________