===================================================================== Vol. 4 Issue #10 The Edifier Online ISSN: 1521-9178 Final Issue, 2000 ===================================================================== Contents: Our Spiritual Warfare: The Call To Battle - David Roth Scrolling Message - Beth R. Staley Web sites to check out! Little Baby Girl - David J. Staley Six Views of the Church - Dick Benjamin "Special" Day Skit - David J. Staley Final Words ===================================================================== Our Spiritual Warfare: The Call To Battle by David Roth dwdjroth@erols.com http://www.faithbiblechurch.org Editor's Note: I found this excerpt from a sermon on the Internet just a week ago, and really felt a strong desire to include it in this issue of The Edifier Online. Thankfully, David Roth replied with his 'permission of use' in time for its inclusion. A direct link to this text is at: http://www.faithbiblechurch.org/transcripts/ephesians/6_10-13.htm and there are also many more very useful resources there too. Please stop by and take a look around! You will be edified and blessed! = Our Spiritual Warfare: The Call To Battle (Eph 6:10-13 KJV) "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. {11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." On October 31, 1976, I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I will celebrate my twenty-third year as a Christian at the end of this month. It was not long after my conversion that I believed the Lord put a desire within my heart to preach and teach the Word of God, and during the month of September 1977, as a sixteen year old I preached my first sermon. It has been said that a preacher never forgets his first sermon. I am almost certain that the opposite can be said for those who had to endure that first sermon. My first sermon lasted a little over an hour. I have improved a little in my time management since then! I will never forget my text for that Lord's Day, it was Ephesians chapter six and verses 10-18. The only materials that I had for my sermon preparation was my Bible and one commentary that I borrowed from my mother-in-law, entitled, "In the Heavenlies," a one volume commentary on the book of Ephesians written by the late Dr. Harry A. Ironside. I spoke on the need to "put on the whole armor of God" so that we may be able to stand against the onslaught of the Devil. If there is one thing that I have learned since that first sermon is that the battle the Christian is called upon to engage in is a hundred-fold more fierce and severe than I ever imagined as a sixteen year old preacher. But equally important, through those years I have learned that God's grace is abundantly more than enough to sustain us through whatever God's will for our life may entail. I echo the words of our Lord to the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." - II Corinthians 12:9. Perhaps in no other text of the Bible do we see the sufficiency of God's grace, as it relates to the day to day events and struggles of life, as does this passage in the book of Ephesians 6:10-18. For the next several weeks we will be studying this great passage as we consider the believer's preparation for spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul opens this great section with the words, "Finally, my brethren." What is it that the Apostle is seeking to convey to the church with this expression? Is he simply stating that he has said all that he has intended to say, so he will just wrap things up? There is an element of truth to this idea, but if we regard this passage simply as a few closing remarks we will miss what is perhaps one of the most important teachings of this book. There is a direct and vital connection between what Paul has said up to this point with what he is about to say. As we have often stated throughout our verse-by-verse exposition of this book, Paul is presenting several major themes regarding the believers "unsearchable or unfathomable riches in Christ." This book demonstrates the vast amount of spiritual wealth that belongs to every born-again child of God. In the opening verses of this epistle Paul demonstrates that before the creation of the world that God determined to have a people whom He would bless richly in Christ. (Eph 1:3-4 KJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: {4} According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" These whom God has redeemed out of the mass of fallen humanity are described has being raised from the state of spiritual death. (Eph 2:1 KJV) "And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins:" Not only are the recipients of God's grace raised to spiritual life, they also have been raised to sit in the very presence of Christ. (Eph 2:5-6 KJV) "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) {6} And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" In chapter two verses 11-22, we learned that the Christian now belongs to a new kingdom, and a new family. Whether Jew or Gentile all those who have been made the partakers of God's heavenly calling have been united into God's covenant family and have been made to share in God's covenant promises. Having been made the citizens and partakers of God's kingdom we have been provided with the grace necessary to live in obedience to God's Holy commands, as well as being made able to enjoy sweet and intimate fellowship with Him who by His blood has redeemed us unto Himself. (Eph 3:16-19 KJV) "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; {17} That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; {19} And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." According to chapter four the Christian has been made a new man in Christ and as a new man in Christ he is to give way to a new way of thinking. In chapter five the Christian is described as a child of light who is to put out of his life those things that describe those who belong to the kingdom of darkness. In verse 18 of this same chapter through 6:9, we have seen that as members of God's covenant family we are to live in submission to all the will of God for our lives as we submit to the command to "be filled with the Spirit." In light of these great and wonderful truths regarding the Christian's new found standing and position before Christ, the Apostle now exhorts these Christians to arm themselves for battle. The Apostle describes this battle by making an analogy to warfare. This analogy of warfare is not uncommon in Paul's writings. He described the Christian life in terms of warfare when he penned his second letter to his son in the faith Timothy. (2 Tim 2:3-4 KJV) "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. {4} No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." In the dawning days of his life when Paul reflected upon his life as a Christian he described it as a fight. (2 Tim 4:7-8 KJV) "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: {8} Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." The Christian life is a call to battle! It is a call to advance the kingdom of God in the world that we live. My great concern for the church at large and F.B.C. in particular is that many Christians go through life without ever taking this call to spiritual warfare seriously. Those who do often do little to prepare themselves for the upcoming battles and struggles with the forces of evil. Both of these attitudes leave the Christian defeated before the battle actually begins. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones stated that, "There is no grosser or greater misrepresentation of the Christian message than that which depicts it as offering a life of ease with no battle and struggle at all." Dr. Warren Wiersbe writes, "Sooner or later every believer discovers that the Christian life is a battleground, not a playground,..." It is my desire that through the preaching of this text in Ephesians that God will awaken the church from her spiritual slumber, so that she would fully comprehend the reality of the battle which exists. As she realizes the reality of the forces against her she would make the necessary preparations to enter into the heat of the battle and engage in spiritual warfare. This spiritual warfare is real. If you are a Christian it means that you have been chosen by God to enter into the conflict. But how one fares in the battle is dependent upon what he does with the information being taught in this passage. The text before us is a call to battle. (Eph 6:10-11 KJV) "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. {11} Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." When one studies the history of the nation of Israel as presented in the pages of the Old Testament and compares their history in light of New Testament revelation, he finds that often times the nation of Israel is a picture or object-lesson of the true Israel of God, the church. One of the prominent themes of Israel as a nation was that she was often called into the battlefield. As a nation they were to follow Jehovah God into the battle. This is illustrated by the fact that the ark of the covenant which contained God's Holy law was to precede the armies of Israel into battle. Take for instance one of the most famous battles in the history of Israel, the battle of Jericho. After the children of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness because of their murmuring and complaining against God, God now allows them to cross the Jordan river and prepares them to enter the promise land, the land of Canaan. Before they could take possession of the land they had to go through Jericho. Jericho was a large city surrounded by enormous walls. It was virtually impenetrable. On the level of earth such a conquest would have been impossible, but as we see in Joshua chapter five the children of Israel were lead by no mere earthly leader. They were lead by the Captain of the Lord of host. (Josh 5:13-15 KJV) "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? {14} And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? {15} And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so." This captain of the host of the Lord is none other than a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. (Josh 6:1-9 KJV) "Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. {2} And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. {3} And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. {4} And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. {5} And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. {6} And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant,and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD. {7} And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. {8} And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. {9} And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rearward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets." The ark of the covenant signified that it was God who was leading the battle and the trumpet of ram's horns signified God's call to battle. The children of Israel were not called to face the battle alone for the Lord went on before them. The battle is the Lord's, but what is often overlooked in this truth is that although the battle belongs to the Lord, the Christian is still responsible to participate in the battle. He is not to sit idly by and watch God do the work. There is a well-meaning group of Christians who have an unbalanced approach to the Christian life. They believe the believer's primary place of responsibility is to simply rest in the Lord. One of their favorite expressions is "let go and let God!" Just sit back and watch God do all the work. Although there is an element of truth to this practice it does not fully represent the believer's responsibility to practice the Christian life. It is certainly true that if we labor according to the flesh that our labor will be in vain. We are to labor in the Lord. We have a responsibility to practice those things that God teaches us through His Word. This human responsibility is illustrated by the fact that after God knocked down the walls of Jericho, the children of Israel were commanded to take up their weapons and enter into the city and utterly destroy the enemies stronghold. God did not swing the swords for them. He provided the things necessary for victory, but they were to take the victory. (Josh 6:20-21 KJV) "So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. {21} And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword." In this historical account we see both God's sovereignty and human responsibility. The battle is the Lord's and the victory is sure, but the believer is to participate in it. Later in the book of Joshua we see essentially the same principle. God by His Sovereign decree gives to the children of Israel all the land of Canaan as He had promised. (Josh 21:43-45 KJV) "And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. {44} And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. {45} There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass." We see the children of Israel's responsibility to hold onto all that God has given them in chapter twenty-three verse sixteen. (Josh 23:16 KJV) "When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you." The bottom line is that as believers in Jesus Christ we are responsible to actively do the works of God. (James 1:22 KJV) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." We are responsible for our actions, and this responsibility is heightened when one considers the truth that God has provided everything necessary for the believer to conform to His will. We need not strive in the energy of the flesh, for our striving is to be of the Lord and in the power of His might. (Col 1:29 KJV) "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." As we consider the believers responsibility to prepare himself for this spiritual warfare, it is important that we understand that the strength needed for such a conflict resides in the Lord. (Eph 6:10 KJV) "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." What a wonderful truth! We do not have to fight the battle in our own strength, for then surely our striving would be a losing cause. We fight yes, but not in our own impotent strength, we fight in the strength and power of the Lord. The famous Christian Reformer Martin Luther understood the reality of this truth when he penned the words of the classic hymn, "A mighty fortress is our God." Listen as I read some of the lines from this great hymn of the Christian faith. "Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing. Doest ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he. Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same, And he must win the battle." As we will see in next week's study, Satan is a formidable adversary and a merciless foe. But Satan and all the powers of hell cannot prevail against the Christian who is standing in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Rom 8:37 KJV) "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Mat 16:18 KJV) "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." According to Ephesians 6:11, the Christian stands in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might as he puts on the full and complete armor of God. In Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth he describes the overcoming power of our weaponry. (2 Cor 10:3-5 KJV) "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: {4} (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) {5} Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" We are to "put on" the whole and complete armor of God. The words "put on" in our text carries the idea of a once and for all action. The Christian's armor is not to be "put on" as a need arises bases. It is something that he is to put on and wear as a permanent garment. We are to wear this armor to work. We are to wear this armor to school. We are to wear this armor to church. We are to wear this armor to play. We are to wear this armor to bed lest the enemy sneak in unaware and gain a foothold in our life. The call to battle necessitates our always being prepared for battle. Only the full and complete armor of God will do if we are to stand against the wicked devices of the Devil. (Eph 6:13 KJV) "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." The words "to stand" when used in a military sense as they are here, implies the idea of holding onto a critical position while under severe attack. We must never relinquish the ground that has been given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. To help illustrate the nature of this spiritual warfare the Apostle employs the use of the word "wrestle." (Eph 6:12 KJV) "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The word "wrestle or struggle" was used to describe hand-to-hand combat. It is quite possible that Paul is drawing an analogy from the practice of wrestling in Rome during that day. During the Roman empire of Paul's day men would often be match with other men and place into an arena where they would battle to the death. Their only hope for survival would be to kill their opponent. It is very likely that Paul is borrowing from this practice in order to describe the intensity in which we are to approach our spiritual warfare. We are to face our call to battle with the same intensity as one who would literally be fighting for his very survival. These words are not meant to dishearten the Christian warrior. Rather they were written to give him courage and assurance to fight the good fight of faith. Because when the Christian fights the good fight of faith he stands in the victory provided by the Caption of his salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you hear the battle call? Have you put on the whole armor of God that you may wage a good warfare guaranteed of victory? Next week we will spend our time considering the great enemy of our faith Satan and his host as well as looking into his destructive nature. Until then would you prayerfully consider the things that we have been considering today. Will you submit to being a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ? ===================================================================== Scrolling Message Submitted by Beth R. 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STOP SCROLLING HERE ..... ===================================================================== _______________ /\__/\ | | / O O\_| Web Sites | / \ to | / \ \ Check Out! | / _ \ \____________| / |\____\ \ || / | | | |\____/ || / \| | | |/| || / / \ ----- |____|| / | | | __) | | | |_____) | |_|_|_| \____) /\ | / /\ | / / / | | | _/ / | | | <__/ \C_c_c_c/\C_c_c_c/ John James Audubon's - Birds of America http://employeeweb.myxa.com/rrb/Audubon/ A replica of the complete John James Audubon's "Birds of America" (1840-1844) that includes the full text, color plates, figures and even some bird call sounds. This is one awesome site! = The Left Behind Website http://www.leftbehind.com The Official site for the "Left Behind" series. If you have not read any of these books, pick one up and begin. You will find these books more than entertaining, but truly edifying too! = ================================================================ Little Baby Girl by David J. Staley djstaley@juno.com http://www.geocities.com/dragonraid Little baby girl, cradled in my arms and in the arms of her Mother, crying sweetly, needing to be fed, changed, held, loved One, Two, Three months and boy is she big my arms get tired holding her, but I will never tire of holding her She feeds when she's hungry, cries when she's sad or bored, She sucks her thumb or chews her teething ring for comfort There she is in the mirror, she looks around at the world coming into focus I see her grow before my eyes. What is next? Where is that helpless baby that we brought home? She is older and getting older She is growing and growing up Her coos are turning into laughs, and giggles, and now baahs And soon will be a word formed and spoken an arguement reasoned and given Approaching the threshhold of dependance and independance Lord, let her, let us, never loose the innocence of love I cut the cord that allowed me to hold her in my arms May I not cut the cord that will push her from my arms Lord, give us wisdom to train her in Your ways, and let us learn too. ====================================================================== Six Views of the Church by Dick Benjamin http://www.abbottloop.org/alconweb/bib_stdy/sixviews.htm 1. An army 2. A family 3. A building 4. A body 5. A flock 6. A planting 1. THE CHURCH IS AN ARMY Intro: God's army in Old Testament Israel. Exod. 12:17 and 51--The children of Israel delivered from Egypt by armies. Num. 1:3--They were numbered by families. Deut. 20:9--They had captains over them. Josh. 5:13-14--The captain of the Lord's hosts was in charge. A. In the New Testament who is the enemy? The devil himself principalities NIV authorities powers rulers of the darkness of this world spiritual wickedness in high places. NIV heavenly realms carnality and vain imaginations. B. What is his strategy, what are his devices? Deceives--accuses Lies--devours Murders--imprisons Steal--persecutes Buffets--makes sick Hinders--divides C. The individual soldier in God's army --2 Tim. 2:3-4 Endures hardness. Not entangled with the affairs of this life. D. The armour of the individual soldier in this spiritual warfare. Rom. 13:12b--Let us put on the armour of light. 2 Cor. 6:7--By the armour of righteousness. Eph. 6:14--The belt of truth Eph. 6:14--The breastplate of righteousness Eph. 6:15--Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Eph. 6:16--The shield of faith. Eph. 6:17--The helmet of salvation. E. The weaponry of the Christian soldier--2 Cor. 10:3-4 Eph. 6:17--The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 1 Tim. 1:18--That thou by them, (the prophesies) might war a good warfare. The Spirit of God--Eph. 6:18--By all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. F. His captain is Jesus--Heb. 2:10 G. His organization is his family. They could keep rank, they were not of double heart. H. His victory illustrated by the testimony of Paul--2 Tim. 4:7 I. The final battle and the final victory--Rev. 19:11-21. 2. THE CHURCH IS A FAMILY Primary Text: Eph. 3:15 Intro: God is the author of the family. Warning: Matt. 23:9--Call no man father. A. Jesus and his earthly family. 1. Matt. 13:54-57 2. Luke 2:46-52 B. The total New Testament family of God. 1. Matt. 12:46-50--Jesus introduced the subject. 2. John 1:12--How you get into the family. 3. 2 Cor. 6:17-18--Come out from among them and be separate. 4. James 2:15--If a brother or sister be naked and destitute. 5. Rom. 16:1--Phoebe, our sister. C. The local church is the local expression of the family of God. 1. 1 Cor. 4:17--Paul as a father. 2. Psalm 107:41--He maketh him families like a flock. 3. 1 Tim. 5:1-3--Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers. 4. Titus 2:1-6--Old men, old women, young men, young women. D. Strong relationships developed in the family of God. 1. Honour--Eph. 6:1-2 2. Love 3. Respect--Lev. 19:3 NIV 4. Obedience 5. Loyalty 6. Committment 7. Fellowship 8. Feeding E. Families beget families F. Protect the integrity of your family and the family of God. 3. THE CHURCH IS A BUILDING A. We comprise a Temple. Eph. 2:19-22 B. The Temple has foundations 1. 1 Kings 5:17-18--Costly, hewn stones 2. Eph. 2:20 C. The New Testament Temple has living stones. 1. 1 Chron. 22:2--To hew wrought stones. 2. 1 Peter 2:5 D. The New Testament Temple has pillars. 1. 1 Kings 7:2 2. Gal. 2:9 E. The New Testament Temple totally made of people. Phil. 1:1 F. Saints Greek ``Hagios''. Separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred. G. The Deacon 1. Greek ``Diakonos'' meaning servant. 2. 1 Tim. 3:8-13--qualified. H. The Elder or overseer 1. 1 Tim. 3:1-7--Titus 1:5-9--qualified 2. Acts 20:28 3. 1 Tim. 5:17 I. The fivefold ministries 1. Psalm 68:18 2. Eph. 4:7-12 J. The Apostle 1. Establishes churches 2. Structures churches 3. Confirms churches 4. Expressed verbal authority 5. Cared for churches 6. Fathers his converts 7. Qualified the Saints 8. Not a personal Apostle K. The Prophet 1. Fortell the future 2. Exhorted with many words 3. Confirmed the Saints 4. Qulified the Saints L. The Evangelist 1. Preached the gospel 2. Won souls 3. Qualified the Saints M. The Pastor 1. ``poimen'' relationship to the sheep 2. Qualify the Saints N. The Teacher 1. Much study, much teaching 2. Qualify the Saints Conclusions: Re: Administrators, meetings, communications Rev. 1:20--One is the head. 4. THE CHURCH IS A BODY A. Christ is the head of the body. 1. Eph. 1:15-23 2. Col. 1:17-18 B. Christ has established earthly headship. 1. Psalms 68: 18 2. Eph. 4:11 C. Each person is a member in particular--1 Cor. 12:27 1. Salvation 2. Baptism, power 3. Authority 4. Righteousness 5. Gifts 6. Fruit D. We are also members one of another. 1. Rom. 15:17--Receive one another. 2. 1 Peter 4:9--Use hospitality. 3. Rom. 15:14--Admonish one another. 4. Heb. 10:24--Provoke to good works. 5. Heb. 3:13--Exhort one another. 6. Eph. 4:2--Forbear one another. 7. Eph. 4:32--Forgive one another. 8. Eph. 4:32--Be kind one to another. 9. John 13:35--Love one another. 10. Gal. 5:13--By love serve one another. 11. 1 Cor. 12:25--Care for one another. 12. Rom. 14:19--Edify one another. 13. Eph. 5:21--Submit one to another. E. Each member effectually working to the fulness of its measurement. 1. Rom. 12:3--the measure of faith. 2. 2 Cor. 10:12-15--Not going beyond our measurements in God. 3. Eph. 4:7--according to the measure of the gift of Christ. F. The body edifies itself--Eph. 4:16 1. Persons--1 Cor. 14:4, Jude 20 2. One another--Rom. 14:19 3. Edifying gifts--1 Cor. 14:12 4. Edifying meetings--1 Cor. 14:16 5. Fivefold ministry--Eph. 4:16 G. Body ministry in the church. Body ministry outside the church building. H. The body will increase. 6. THE CHURCH IS LIKENED UNTO A PLANTING Primary Text: 1 Cor. 3:5-9 1 Cor. 3:9 Amp.--You are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation. A. Good seed must be used in God's planting. 1. Matt. 13:36-39 2. John 12:24-26 B. Men are used in the planting. 1. 1 Cor. 3:6--Paul used to plant. C. Men are used in the watering. 1. 1 Cor. 3:6--Appolos D. God is greatly interested in our producing fruit for the Kingdom of God. 1. Matt. 12:33--The tree is known by its fruit. 2. Matt. 3:10--Every non producing tree is removed. 3. Luke 13:6-9--Fertilizing is necessary. 4. Luke 13:6-9--Cultivating is necessary. 5. John 15:1-16--Pruning is necessary. Abiding is necessary. 6. 1 Cor. 3:7--God gives the increase. God is glorified. 7. Psalm 92:12--The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall b fat and flourishing. 8. Jer. 17:5-8--Thus saith the Lord; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. E. The vineyard supports the vine dressers. 1. 1 Cor. 9:7 F. Good seed should then be sent forward again. 1. Matt. 13:36-39 7. THE CHURCH DEMANDS FAITHFULNESS AND SUBMISSION Intro: What is faithfulness? What is submission? Also: Review essence of past six messages. A. The church is an army. 2 Tim. 2:3-4--Faithfulness and submission required. B. The church is a planting. 1.Psalm 1:3--Planted means committed and faithful. 2. John 15:1-2--to submit to pruning demands total submission. C. The church is a family. Eph. 5:21-33--Faithfulness and submission. Husband, wife, children. D. The church is a flock. Heb. 13:17--The most important of these two is submission. E. The church is a building. 1. 1 Peter 2:5--Commited and faithful to be a stone in the building. 2. 1 Chron. 22:2--To be hewn, to be squared demands submission. F. The church is a body. 1. 1 Peter 5:5--Subject to one another, submission. 2. Committment and faithfulness is absolutely essential to body ministry. ====================================================================== "Special" Day Skit by David J. Staley djstaley@juno.com Note: The following is a short skit that I put together for an Easter service about 6 years ago. I was asked to write a short skit that would hopefully speak to those who came to Church only on the 'special' days like Easter, Christmas, ect. Although this was put on for an Easter service, I am sure that it would do just as well on any of the 'special' days. Feel free to change the names and anything else to suite your needs. I present it to be used freely. = Setting: Family not used to getting ready for Church getting ready for Church. Cheryl (wife) is kneeling, busy dressing daughter (Lucy) in a nice dress. Cheryl is wearing a nice outfit too. Bill (Husband) enters room wearing dress shirt and pants with no tie. He is carrying his sportcoat in his hands. Bill: (looking frustrated) Cheryl! Where is my tie?! Cheryl: (stressed but continues to dress lucy) I don't know? Why are you so cranky?! Bill: (impatiently tossed sportcoat onto chair and pauses) Why do we have to go to Church today? Cheryl: (stands up) My mother asked if we would bring Lucy so she... Bill: Of course! Your mother! Just because she's "religious" doesn't mean that they have to drag our whole family to Church every Sunday! (starts looking around for tie) Cheryl: (exaspterated) It's once or twice a year Bill! What is the big deal....(pause and looks at Lucy as Bill ignores her) Lucy, go find your Easter basket. Lucy: (excited) Yes Mom! (runs off stage) Cheryl: (yells after Lucy) Don't forget to check in your closet! (collecting herself, Bill still ignoring her as she approaches him) Bill, my Mom said that when I was young we went to Church because it was the "thing to do", but Mom told me that she and Dad found out it is much more than that...I mean, they have a peace in thier house that I don't remember having when I was younger. Bill: (looks at Cheryl) Oh, what...what is that supposed to mean? I still see them argue. They are no better than we are! Cheryl: Bill, I mean they have purpose and meaning now to life. Bill: If I want purpose and meaning I don't want to ruin my sleep on Sunday to get it. Cheryl: (getting frustrated) Bill please! Perhaps if we listen this Sunday to the message...(Bill relaxes a bit and looks at her) I mean really listen to it we'll understand what my Mom and Dad have found. (she sits down sadly with her face in her hands) Bill: (uncomfortably looks away and sees tie on floor) I found my tie! (pickes it up and smiles at Cheryl as she looks up at him with a forced smile) Lucy: (runs in with her Easter basket and sits on floor in front of them going through it excitedly) I found it Mom! Cheryl: (Bill and Cheryl look at Lucy for a moment and then Cheryl looks up at Bill as he looks up and catches her gaze) I believe what Mom and Dad have is more than a commitment to a building. It's more than "religion". I...I...mean... Bill: (smiles) Cheryl, I'll really listen to the message with you this morning. God knows I'm awake now! (Bill and Cheryl chuckle as he walks over to her and puts his hand on her shoulder and they look down at Lucy contemplatively) Cheryl: Thank you. ===================================================================== Final Words Thank you for reading this issue of The Edifier Online. You may have noticed at the top that it states "Final Issue, 2000". That is because I am ending the publication of The Edifier Online with this issue. It is difficult (without being too wordy) to go into all the reasons behind ending The Edifier Online, but needless to say, I believe it is was God wants to happen. It happened before, and the Lord knows, perhaps one day I will be lead to revive it. But for now, this is the end. I would like to thank every person who has subscribed to The Edifier Online as well as everybody who submitted material to it. I still have some items that never made it into an issue, and I assure you that I will keep those items that I have. I will also continue to maintain the website for as long as I am able, so that access to the past issues can continue. Finally, I mentioned in the last issue, my wife, Beth was pregnant with our first child; a total answer to prayer. I am happy to announce that she delivered our daughter, Esther Theresia early in the morning on 12/4/99. She is a beautiful daughter and a total blessing to us! Until the Lord returns, may God bless you and keep you! In Christ, David Staley The Edifier Online: http://www.geocities.com/the_edifier Email: edifier@juno.com Also you may use the URL: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/6749 ====================================================================