Prolong Your Days

In the final words of Moses, we find the challenge to the Israelites to remain faithful. These words should be a challenge to all who fear God and want to go to heaven:

“Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe — all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess” (Deuteronomy 32:45-47).

From this great passage we learn several key elements in faithful living toward God:

First, we must set our hearts on following God. Just as Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10), the Christian must be preparing his heart to learn the will of God so that he can keep God’s commandments and teach God’s will to the lost. Rather than being obsessed with things of this world, we must “set our mind on things above, not on things of the earth” (Colossians 3:2). Let us make the decision to follow God’s will in all things.

Second, we must set our hearts on the word of God. Oh the beauty of the 119th Psalm: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (v.11); “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (v.97); “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v.105). Peter rightly declared, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Our hearts are to turn to God and His word for guidance in daily life for it is profitable and complete (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:3; Jude 3).

Third, we must set our hearts on teaching God’s word to our children. There is a great privilege in having children. Children are a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3-5). With that blessing comes responsibility. The Christian must teach his children the ways of God, nurturing and admonishing them in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-4). Teaching is not a once in a while activity, nor is it something to be left to a Bible class teacher on Sunday morning. Teaching our children and grandchildren must be done daily, looking for opportunities in all that we do (Deuteronomy 6:4ff).

Fourth, we (including our children) must be careful to observe all of the words of the law. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience is essential in gaining salvation. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to everyone who obeys Him (Hebrews 5:9). In order to obey, we must first gain understanding. We must study the Bible so that we can know the truth (John 8:31,32; 2 Timothy 2:15). In order to observe the Scriptures, we must open our Bibles and look deeply into the text for instruction and in order to grasp the ways of God. Remember, faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).

Fifth, setting our hearts on God and His word is not a futile thing. To be futile is to be worthless, useless, or have no purpose. The study and knowledge of God’s word is not a vain thing. The famous words of Hosea 4:6 declare that the children of God were being destroyed for a lack of knowledge. The Proverbs are written so that we would understand the importance of Godly wisdom. Brethren, it is very important that we study the word and follow God’s ways. The purpose of study is that it brings us closer to God and with proper application it will help us to gain life everlasting.

Sixth, setting our hearts on God and His word will bring us life. The wonderful words of life we sing about and that Peter spoke about are the words of God. There are many books produced each year for the purpose of helping the reader to be better in life. These self-help books are on everything from physical health to financial health and even some claiming to give the reader spiritual health. But there is only on Book that will ever point us to life and that is the Bible. Many of us are busy trying to be better parents, employees, or be better prepared for retirement. In and of themselves, these are good goals. But the greatest goal and the most often neglected goal by many, is the opportunity to gain eternal life. We must make Bible study a priority in our lives so that we may know the truth and be saved.

Seventh, setting our hearts on God and His word will prolong our days. While no one person is guaranteed long life in this world, the principles of God promote physical and financial health. Christians with hearts set on doing the will of God will not be brought down by drugs and alcohol that kill so many people in this world. Christians determined to follow Christ will not be involved in gambling and riotous living. Christians who love their fellow man will not take their lives or harm them in any way. Christian living is wholesome living and lends itself toward happiness and long life. Then as faithful children of God, we can reach out to the lost with the Gospel and edify the saved throughout our lives, serving God while we live so that we can rejoice forever in the next life.

The words of Moses to Joshua and the children of Israel are highly motivational for the child of God today. Let us strive to set our hearts on God and doing His will so that we can gain eternal life.

God's Justice (Psalm 9)

We should praise God for his justice knowing that His judgments will be right (v.4). God will one day judge the world with righteous judgment and will administer justice (v.7,8). There are two options for the judgment that we will receive. Either we will receive the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:29). Friends and neighbors please let the gravity of the judgment of God sink in. We must live in accordance with God’s will to obtain life everlasting.

The good news is that the Lord is a refuge for those who are oppressed and for those in times of trouble (v.9). If we know God and put our trust in Him we have confidence that He will not forsake us (v.10; Hebrews 13:5). We must turn to God for salvation. Many seek their own paths but learn too late that only God can direct our steps (Jeremiah 10:23). Even when the way of God is made clear, there are those who will not follow God’s path but will instead say, “we will not walk in them” (Jeremiah 6:16).

The bad news is that the Lord will execute harsh judgment on the wicked (v.16,17). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Unless that sin is repented of the result will be that the soul will perish (Luke 13:3). If you are living in sin, turn to God. He loves you and does not want you to perish (2 Peter 3:9). God’s righteous judgment is coming. Are you ready?

Dedication to Bible Study and Prayer

In an article written by J.D. Tant, in the Firm Foundation, on March 23, 1909, a complement was paid to Carroll Kendrick, a fellow Texas gospel preacher. Brother Tant wrote, “Kendrick was the most incessant worker and most thorough Bible teacher I ever worked with. Seven hours a day was his limit to work in a protracted meeting, and no day fell below that.” Can you imagine seven hours a day of Bible study for many days or ever weeks? The further explanation of the meeting was listed as one hour of Bible reading followed by one hour of preaching explaining the passage, twice a day, then thirty minutes in song, thirty minutes of reading and prayer, and one hour of preaching explaining the reading. Brother Tant then went on to explain how people of that day had started to reject what had once been the norm. He wrote, “But brethren have grown so busy of late years, and have so much to care about that none have time to camp at a meeting, and at few places do they have time to have a service in the day time. So the preacher, instead of getting in seven hours a day in his meeting, is compelled to waste his time and put only thirty minutes each night, as few can stand to hear a preacher longer than that.”

Brother Tant, and preachers of that day, would weep over the condition of the gospel meeting and worship services in our day. Today we have cars to carry us quickly from work or home to a meeting location. We sit in air conditioned buildings on cushioned pews while in that day they might walk, ride in a buckboard, or ride a horse 20 miles or more to hear the preaching of the gospel and to stand up during the time, or sit on hard pews if they were lucky. There were no cold water fountains or indoor plumbed bathrooms. It was not a comfortable environment but they came not because they “had to” or because they felt an obligation. They came because they wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ and His church. 

What is our attitude about gospel meetings, worship services, Bible classes, and other opportunities for study? Do we make every effort to attend and participate in the studies? Will we drive to far away places to hear the gospel being preached? Or have we become so much like the world and denominational patterns that we expect to come and be entertained with words of human wisdom, pep rally type atmosphere, and programs such as drama, singing groups, dance, etc.? Have our jobs, our activities, our possessions and our hobbies become our “gods”? I am mindful of the words of 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Our love for the world is standing in the way of spiritual growth.

What about our home study and prayer? Do you make it a point each day to study from your Bible? Do you read each day? Do you pray each day? Do you sing songs of praise each day? Do you honestly seek to be closer to God each and every day of your life?

In all honesty, how do you use our time? If you wrote down how much time you spent on the internet, watching TV, exchanging email, texting, talking on the phone, visiting at the coffee shop, watching sporting events, going out to eat, reading books, magazines or newspapers, listening to music, or just visiting with friends and family, how much time would you have spent on these items in a weeks time. Now if we wrote down the time we spent in Bible reading, study, prayer and singing (excluding time at the church building), how would they compare? My guess is most of us would be embarrassed to show our  results publicly. Change that today: get back to the Bible!

The Excellent Name of God (Psalm 8)

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth (v.1). God created the heavens and the earth: the sun, moon and stars (v.3,4; Genesis 1). He created man, breathing into him the breath of life (v.5,6; Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25,28). He created the animals, birds and fish (v.7,8). How excellent is the name of God!

An interesting note to this Psalm is found in verse 8. “And the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the sea.” It wasn’t until about the mid 1800’s that man recognized there were “paths of the sea,” that is streams or currents within the oceans and seas. A man who is famous for mapping the currents of the sea Matthew Fontaine Muary, joined the Navy when 19 years old. In 1842, he became the Superintendent of the Depot of Charts and Instruments. He wrote a book in 1855 entitled The Physical Geography of the Sea. In his study, he found and charted the paths of the sea. It is said his basis for his research was this very verse, Psalm 8:8.

The Navy scientists found the paths of the sea and have been able to learn much about the ocean and ocean life as a result of this great find. We have the technology and equipment necessary to make these discoveries. Yet, the Psalmist was able to know these things about 3,000 years earlier. How? How did he know these truths? He knew because God directed him in what he wrote in the pages of the Bible through inspiration.

God created the world and everything in it. Within His word, we find everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). His word makes us mature and thoroughly furnished unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17). His word is able to save our souls (James 1:21). How magnificent is the word of God! How magnificent is the name of God!

By What Authority? part 4

In our continuing review of an article found in the Abilene Reporter News entitled Instrumental Music Coming to Highland Church of Christ, we will consider the arguments made for the use of instrument as recorded by the author, Loretta Fulton.

“Historically, the ban on instrumental music in Churches of Christ was based on the Bible, specifically what’s not in the Bible. In an effort to restore the church to its earliest days, an emphasis was placed on being “biblically correct” by not adding anything to a worship service not mentioned in Scripture.”

“But that’s no longer the case among most Highland members, said David Green, chairman of the elders or main leadership team of the church (there is no authority for a head elder and its obvious the author doesn’t understand the eldership—DW). Just because instrumental music isn’t mentioned doesn’t mean it’s not allowed.”

“‘No one in the eldership believes it is scripturally prohibited,’ Green said.”

It is amazing to me that the author points out the obvious and yet many of our brethren do not see it. She states that the church once went to the Bible for its authority in worship and practice but now it does not seek biblical authority and as was pointed out in past articles, points to people, preachers, other congregations, colleges and the world for what it will do in practice and worship. What makes us think as people that we know more than God? What makes us think that we can do what we want when we want and that somehow, God will not only accept it, but love it and reward us accordingly? The fact is we must worship in spirit and in truth to be pleasing to God (John 4:24). We must have our heart in the worship and we must worship according to the truth of God’s word (John 17:17). Who are we to add anything to that worship or take anything away from that worship (Deuteronomy 4:2)?

As God’s people, we must have the authority of Christ in all that we do (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:18). Silence in the Scripture does not allow us to choose any method or any style of worship or behavior that we desire. Noah was told what type of wood to use in building the ark. To do otherwise would have been disastrous. Nadab and Abihu were told what type of fire to use in worship but chose profane fire and were killed. The Levites were told to carry the Ark of the Covenant and yet when placed on a cart and touched by Uzzah, it brought death. Silence does not mean we can do what we want. If the doctor gives me a prescription, do you think the pharmacy will allow me to take any drug from their shelves? Of course not! And the argument, well the doctor didn’t say I couldn’t get other drugs is not going to hold water. The pharmacists knows what the doctor authorized by the script. Likewise, we know what God authorized by His Scripture.

In worship, we are commanded to sing. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody I your heart to the Lord.” Notice that we are to sing (not hum, not play an instrument, not make instrument sounds). We sing with words that teach and admonish one another, meaning we all sing to one another with words that encourage and motivate while praising God. We sing with words and hearts of thanksgiving. We sing with songs of a spiritual nature, not worldly nature. We sing to praise God.

These verses are not silent about music in worship. They teach us to sing congregationally. We must not add instruments of music to that worship or we are in sin. I pray for repentance!

God is My Defense (Psalm 7)

David began this psalm showing his faith and trust in God for deliverance. With boldness, David asked for God to examine his works. If David was in the wrong, he asked for God’s punishment and to be repaid for his evil (v.3-5). The confidence in David is because he knew that he had lived righteously, that is, he lived according to God’s commands. Can we with such courage ask for God to examine our hearts and actions?

David’s boldness is seen in his desire for God’s punishment on the unjust (v.9-16). That judgment would include destruction because of iniquities (sin, unrighteousness). The justice of God demands punishment for the evil doer. Are we living in such a way that God is pleased with our actions or will we receive His punishment?

David’s boldness is seen in his declaration that his defense is in God who saves the upright in heart (v.10). David had a heart that was seeking to do the Lord’s will. He knew that when he put his trust in God, the Lord would take care of him.

There is a day coming when we will all be judged. Are you ready for the judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10)? Can you with boldness declare your confidence that God will defend you, that when examined, God will reward you and not punish you? I beg you to consider where you will spend eternity. Let us know if we can help you.

By What Authority part 3

The Bible is not silent regarding the importance of worship. Jesus said that those who worship must do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We must have all of our hearts involved in worship to God and we must worship according to the biblical pattern of truth. The worship must include three key elements: (1) Worship must be directed to God. Worship is not about what I want or feel but about what God wants. Worship is not entertainment to reach the people in attendance but is a kiss directed toward God. (2) Worship must be done in sincerity. Our hearts are involved. We must put our hearts and mind and energy into our prayer, singing, giving, study and the Lord’s Supper. (3) Worship must be done according to Scripture which is truth (John 17:17). We must worship according to the New Testament direction given from God to man through His word. It is important to worship God as He demands of His people.

In the article in the Abilene Reporter News, Instrumental Music Coming to Highland Church of Christ, Loretta Fulton said, “The decision to add instrumental music to the Sunday morning worship came after a long discussion and eight weeks of gathering feedback from church members.” (Let me remind you that instrumental music is not new to Highland as they have been using it in classrooms and other areas throughout their building for over 10 years. What they are doing now is making it a part of their worship services in their auditorium.) Brethren, the authority to how a Christian and how a congregation worships God is not in a group, committee, polling the audience (which they did), an eldership, or in the opinions of men. The authority for how we worship in song belongs to God. He has recorded for us His desire in the pages of the New Testament. The truth of God’s word records for us that God wants us to sing from the heart, with gratitude, with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, to one another, teaching and admonishing one another, with words and with our voices (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). It doesn’t matter what the general consensus is...it matters what God said.

Additionally, an eldership is not to govern by finding out what the people think, what other congregations are doing, what a college or university is doing or what is popular in the world. He is given his marching orders from the New Testament. He must fulfill his role as an elder in pointing people to the word of God and show them God’s plan for worship and for life. But sadly, the eldership at Highland didn’t seek biblical authority as the source of its decision. Instead, they wanted to appeal to the people, even seeking their input and opinions of men claiming they haven’t had a single negative comment about the change to the worship (that is telling of the spiritual condition of the congregation...where are the brethren with character to stand up against the error being put forth by the eldership). Our worship is not a matter of opinion but of authority of the Scriptures.

David Green, who is called “the chairman of the elders” (I don’t know where that is found in Scripture either but apparently Bible authority isn’t necessary for worship and practice at Highland), said, “No one in the eldership believes it is scripturally prohibited.” Brethren, that is when a congregation must demand of these men repentance and/or removal from the eldership. 1 Timothy 5:19,20 says, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” It is time for brethren to get out of their comfortable pews and stand up for something. It is time for those who love the Lord and who love the truth to go to the eldership and show them the error of instrumental music. It is time for these men to see the Scripture as the authority and repent of their sinful behavior and erroneous leadership. Then they can restore proper New Testament worship, leading the people to worship in a way that is pleasing in the sight of God. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, feels or wants. What matters is what God wants! Let us strive first of all to worship as He desires (John 4:24).

Steadfast Love (Psalm 6)

David prayed, “Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love” (v.4 – ESV). The NKJV says, “Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!”

David was under duress. He asked for mercy rather than the anger and the chastening of God (v.1,2). He was tired and frustrated with the attacks of other against him. Notice how much anguish he was in: “I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies” (v.6,7).

Have you ever had one of those nights? You know the kind of night where you just can’t sleep and your mind is racing. You struggle to keep your thoughts under control. Your eyes constantly water as you toss and turn in deep thought. That was the kind of tearful night facing David as he poured out his anguish to God (v.8-11).

Often we tell everyone else but the One who can actually do something about it: God. God loves us and wants to give us His mercy and kindness. God is love (1 John 4:7,8). His love made possible salvation for those who believe (John 3:16). Like David, we are not worthy of God’s gift because we have sinned (Romans 3:10,23). Yet, because of God’s mercy and steadfast love, we have hope of salvation.

Have you considered the steadfast love of God? He can be trusted! He will always be there for you. God loves you and wants you to repent and to be saved (Acts 17:30; 1 Timothy 2:4). Will you turn to God?