Faith and Commitment

Faith and Commitment 

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled (1 Samuel 17:45). 

1 Samuel 17:17-51, That which began as a simple visit to his brothers with no indications of any difficulties or troubles suddenly turned into one of the greatest challenges of his young life. We are not challenged to fight a human giant as was David but every day we live, we are challenged in many ways physically and spiritually. As challenging as physical things may sometimes be, it is the spiritual challenges that are the ones that carry the most weight. If we prevail over them, the physical challenges may be difficult but they will never deter us as we press on toward our eternal destiny. 

 Carefully study the entire 12^th chapter of Romans, drink in the words of Ephesians 4:17-32, feed on the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:4-24, think about passages like Matt. 6:33, Matt. 6:19-21, Mark 12:29-31, Col. 3:1-3, 1 Tim. 4:12, 1 John 2:15-17  and you will get a picture of the enormity of the spiritual challenges we will face as we strive to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12) 

Read carefully 1 Samuel 17:45-47 and take note of David's trust and commitment to God. We can draw at least two great lessons from David as he meets this great challenge head on. First, have an unfailing faith in God, trust him at all times (Psalm 62:8, Prov. 3:5-7, Rom. 1:16-17, 1 Thess. 5:8-10, Psalm 31:23-24). Our faith and trust in God will be the support that will enable us to prevail against the spiritual challenges we face. Remember this, if we are successful in prevailing in spiritual challenges, the ones of a physical nature will not deter us from pressing on to our eternal dwelling (2 Corinthians 5:1, Philippians 1:21, Philippians 3:13-15). 

Secondly, we must have a rock-solid attitude of commitment to our God. This commitment cannot be a half-hearted one—remember Lot's wife (Luke 17:32, Gen. 19). It cannot be just verbal (James 2:14-20, 1 Cor. 15:57, Matt. 5:16). When I think about a rock-solid commitment to God, my thoughts turn to Job who says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him" (Job 13:13-15). This is a commitment that says, come what may, good or bad, I will not lose my confidence in God, I will maintain my trust in him! This is the attitude of commitment sorely needed by all of us. 

Charles Hicks

 

 

Such As I Have

Such As I Have

 

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk—Acts 3:6 

As Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer they encountered a forty year old man who had been lame from birth begging for alms from those entering the temple. Peter fixed his gaze on the man and said, I don't have any silver or gold but I will give you what I do have and what he gave that man was far greater than any monetary gift could or would have been. That man never expected to be more than a poor beggar but Peter gave him a healthy body, the ability to live a normal life and do meaningful work for a living. Peter gave that man hope but greatest of all he gave him Christ enabling the man to praise God (Acts 3:1-8). Perhaps greatest of all Peter gave all the people seeing this man walking and praising God a tremendous example of the power of God and set the stage for his second sermon (Acts 3:9-26).

 Peter did not just look at the man, then turn to John and say, "I feel so sorry for that man, sure wish we could help him". He didn't look at John and say, "Let's go find a charitable organization, tell them about this man and maybe they can help him." He didn't say to John, "Let's go back to the other disciples and form a committee to help this man". He just told the man, "Look on us" (verse 4) and then said, "Such as I have give I to you". Peter simply used what he held in his hand to bring glory and honor to the Lord and to give that man one of the greatest blessings he would ever receive.

 I know that we cannot perform miracles but I am convinced in my heart that God expects no less of us than he did of Peter, namely use what we hold in our hands to glorify and honor him while at the same time being a blessing to others physically and or spiritually. I fear that too often in an attempt to not become too involved, we try to convince ourselves that we are so little and insignificant and there just isn't anything we can do. You see, if we are not very careful, we will tend to look at the leanness of the purse rather than the riches of God. It is far better not to ask ourself what we can do but what can God do through us. I think about the occasion in Matthew 14:13-21 when the disciples of Jesus held in their hands only 5 loaves and 2 fish. A meager amount of food but when placed into the Lord's hand it fed 5000 men besides women and children and twelve baskets full were left over."

 I really like the story told in Mark 14:3-9 about the woman who poured a very costly ointment on Jesus. Seeing this, some of those present were indignant, saying that the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus responded by telling them to leave her alone, she has done what she could. I wonder, have I, have you, have we done, are we doing what we can? Such as I have, give I to you—that's what God wants from all of us not only to him but to each other as well as our fellow man (Mark 12:29-31; 1 Peter 4:8-10; Gal. 6:10; James 2:14-18; Mt. 5:14-16).    

 Charles Hicks 

 

No Tears

No Tears In Heaven 

And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."—Revelation 21:4-5

 Today we live in a world where often tears will flow unbidden from our eyes. Tears of sorrow, sympathy and sacrifice; tears shed over losses, disappointments and failures in life; tears flow because of the pain and an anguish resulting from illnesses and diseases that strike our human frame or that of one we love; tears sometimes stream from our eyes when a loved sheds these earthly bonds. Tears, tears, tears.

 What individual has not shed tears on this journey of life? But let's pause for a moment, close our eyes and listen. Can you not hear it? I do. I hear John as he proclaims loudly and clearly that one day all those things that are a source of our tears will be no more (Rev. 7:16-17; Rev. 21:4). I hear him as he tells us that "he who sits on the throne will make all things new" (Rev. 21:5). On that day there will be deliverance from the trials and tribulations of this world and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes!

  Robert S. Arnold wrote the song, No Tears In Heaven, and the third verse of that song tugs at my heart mightily, "Some morning yon-der, we'll cease to ponder O'er things this life has brought to view; All will be made clear-er, saved ones be dear-er, In heav'n where all will be made new….No tears, no tears, no tears up there, Sorrow and pain will all have flown…No tears, no tears up there, No tears in heav-en will be known." What joyous anticipation is ours today!

 I don't know about you, but even with all the troubles, strife; trials and burdens of this life that cause tears to flow from our eyes, I still want to live for as long as possible. At the same time, I am so thankful that the magnificent grace and love of God makes it possible for everlasting peace and happiness to one day replace those tears (John 3:16; Col. 1:14-16; Titus 2:11; Heb. 2:9, 5:8-9).

 If we live our life today in a way that we can with the greatest of confidence say as Paul does in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me", then all the tears we shed on our journey through this life will not deter us from one day living in the land where we'll never grow old and tears will be no more.

 To God be the glory!

 Charles Hicks

 

 

 

An Enduring Faith

 

 An Enduring Faith

 

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord—Job 1:20-21 

Satan was given permission to use his powers to induce Job to curse God. His efforts to do so brought financial ruin to Job. That effort inflicted upon Job some of the deepest, most agonizing pain and grief of heart known to man, the death of his sons and daughters. Yet even in the darkest hour of his life, Job held firm to his faith in God. Satan's efforts to induce Job to curse God only led him to bless the name of the Lord.  He is a great example of a man with an enduring faith and in this he becomes a great example for you and I.

 We often live for months, even years, in which we experience nothing but good things. O, to be sure there are always those momentary aches, pains and burdens of life but nothing devastating. Then one day it happens, some horrific event comes crashing into our life. What will we do? How will we respond?  It now becomes a question of how deeply we have been willing to submit ourselves to God's will (Rom. 8:28, 31, 35-39, Psalms 23, James 4:6-10).

 When tragic events strike our human frame, they bring grief and pain and cause us to hurt. But for one who has submitted totally to God's will it will not be a question of why did this happen. There are so many things that happen in this life that I do not understand why they happen but one thing I do know, so long as I love and serve God with all my being, he will take care of me and he will do the same for you (Psalms 34:17-19, 1 Pet. 5:6-7). The words of Isaiah 40:31 have come to mean a lot to me: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint".  It is not the tragic events of life that cause us to falter, it is how we handle those events that determines whether we fail or rise to greater heights of faith. The storms of life will not overcome us if we allow the power of God to lift us above them.

 I am human, I am flawed, I am fragile—so are you. When everything seems to be chaos, when our hearts are pained so deeply it seems as if all is lost, I pray ours will be a sustaining faith just like Job of old.  Don't panic, pray (1 Thess. 5:17, Phil. 4:6-7, Heb. 4:16). Recognizing how great our God is will impart to us the strength and courage needed to sustain us all the way every day.

 "Oh for a faith that will not shrink though pressed on by every foe, that will not tremble on the brink of any earthly woe" (William H. Bathurst) 

Charles Hicks

 

WHY DO WE SPEAK AS WE DO?

 

Preface to this article: Our "News & Views" two weeks ago was titled "Why Do We Talk As We Do?" This edition of "News & Views" is a sequel to that article and addresses another way in which we are guilty of the wrong kind of speech. I have changed one word in the title of this article from the previous article – the word "Talk" to the word "Speak." In accordance with I Peter 4:11, "speak" sharpens the focus this article intends to bring. I am aware that some of my readers will think that what I say in this article is much ado about nothing. Too, I acknowledge that this will be considered a hard hitting article by some of my readers. I am reminded, however, of the farmer who was breaking his mule and began by taking a 2 x 4 and hitting the mule squarely across the head, staggering the animal. A neighbor who observed the action asked the farmer why he had hit the mule in such a brutal fashion, to which the farmer replied, "Well, before you can break a mule, you have to first get its attention." I hope to get my readers' attention with this article and cause them to reflect on how so many think, speak, and write about the church in a denominational way. Until we have a clear, biblical, undenominational, non-sectarian view of the church we will never grow "with a growth which is from God" (Colossians 2:19, NASB). Instead, we will continue to think and speak of the church as a denomination, and untaught members will shuffle from one religious group to another, thinking there are no significant differences between them, and therefore no significant consequences to be suffered. I urge you to give the following article a careful, thoughtful reading.

 

I continue to be dismayed by the denominational terminology that I increasingly hear and read so many of my brethren using, including elders, preachers, Bible professors, and others who should know better. For example, not long ago I read where a preacher (who is also a Bible professor) posted on a website and spoke of "CofC churches." He was alerting churches of Christ to how long it might take them to find a preacher if they should be in need of one. He was underscoring the shortage of gospel preachers, or, as per his thinking, "Church of Christ" preachers. His terminology, however, was sectarian and denominational to the core! Some of my progressive brothers now speak unabashedly of "Church of Christ churches." How redundant can one be, to say nothing of being utterly unbiblical!

 

On another website I read where one who claims to be learned among us referred to "the Stone-Campbell tradition of churches." In this, he was including the churches of Christ, but he was speaking of them as though they were but one of many religious traditions in the broader "Christian community of believers," i.e., his view that the church is just another denomination among many other denominations. I hear and read of brethren who refer to the church as "our tradition, our tribe, our tributary, our little corner of the kingdom," etc. In God's matchless plan for Christianity He made no allowance for various traditions, tribes, tributaries, and corners in His kingdom! In fact, His word forbids and severely condemns such. (See John 17:20-21; Romans 16:17; I Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6).

 

A columnist for what purports to be the brotherhood newspaper spoke of her "Church of Christ" friends, lumping them in with her Baptist and Methodist friends. As per her thinking, all three groups fall into the same category. But are they all in the same category? Is the body (church) of Christ just another denomination originating with men such as the Baptists and Methodists? How far some have come from thinking, speaking, and writing simply about "churches of Christ" or "churches of God" (Romans 16:16; II Thessalonians 1:4; et. al.)! Is it not enough to speak of individual members of the body of Christ simply as "Christians"? (Acts 11:26). Why do so many today resort to expressing themselves in ways which the New Testament writers never thought of, spoke of, or wrote of?  "CofC churches" indeed! "Church of Christ" friends! What an embarrassing shame such speakers and writers should feel for their denominational view of the Lord's church!

 

When I read such statements, I ask myself, "What have these guys been reading? Where do they come up with such terminology?" Unfortunately, I know the answer to my questions. These men (and women) have lost all sight (if indeed they ever had such) of the restoration principle and the restoration plea and the great work of going back to the New Testament alone to determine how to become and be God's people in the 21st century. They have totally lost the import of Peter's words, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11a). Their notion seems to be, "If anyone speaks let him speak as the religious (denominational) world around us speaks." After all, we do not want to sound exclusive or be offensive!

 

Was the church of which we read in the New Testament a denomination? Can we be today what it was then? Why then this lumping of God's church with the denominations that men have founded? Why speak "the language of Ashdod" (Nehemiah 13:23-24), the language of sectarians and denominationalists, when we can and should speak as the oracles of God? Of course, before we can speak as the oracles of God, we must first be informed in the oracles of God.

 

Yes, I know that over the years I have written much along the lines above, but I have no intention of letting up in my efforts to set before my readers the beautiful bride of Christ, the church of my Lord in all its radiant splendor as depicted on the pages of the New Testament.

 

As I close this essay, I want to acknowledge that many members (hopefully, most) do not view the church as a denomination and do not wish to intentionally portray it as such. But they find themselves living in a denominational world and have thoughtlessly and unknowingly adopted denominational language. After all, so goes the thinking, if I have friends and family members who are Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Nazarenes, etc., then I must be Church of Christ! They have not learned how not to think and speak in denominational terms about the undenominational church of the New Testament. A sweet lady who resides in the Senior Living Community where I now live and a member of the body of Christ since her youth, recently stopped by my dinner table, leaned over and whispered to me, "We have a new resident and she's 'Church of Christ.' " She meant no harm and just sincerely wanted me to know that another sister in Christ was now a part of our community, but she had never been taught nor had she learned how to speak biblically of one who is just a Christian without any denominational affiliation, a person who is only a member of the spiritual body of Christ, the church. To all such, I urge thoughtful and careful reflection on what I have written above.

 

Hugh Fulford

Count Your Blessings

 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward--Romans 8:18

 

Notwithstanding the fact that as children of God we are the recipients of so many wondrous blessings and exceedingly precious promises (2 Peter 1:4) there will fall upon us those times of sorrow and suffering that are common to all mankind. At this moment there are so many thoughts echoing through my mind. Sometimes it seems as if the sufferings of this life are so overwhelming. There are the times when we try and try to say and do that which is right only to become disappointed. Sometimes the burdens weigh so heavy on us making our pilgrimage on earth one in which the days do indeed become weary and the nights become dreary. Stop and listen to the words of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal".

 

Find a song book and turn to the song "When Upon Life's Billows". Look diligently at the sentiments of each verse and then heed the words of the chorus  "Count Your Many Blessings, See What God Hath Done". To be sure, the path we walk often becomes difficult but the blessings of God on our lives far out weigh the hardships. I am convinced that when we  reflect on our lives, we will find that God has been so good to us and in fact has "blessed us with wealth untold". The greatest blessing for all of us is found in the honor of being  called the sons of God (1 John 3:1-3). For us to have this honor our Lord had to endure some tremendous trials while on this earth. He suffered ridicule and shameful treatment at the hands of his accusers. He had to walk that lonely road to Calvary and have nails driven into his flesh and then be hung on a cross to die. He gave his life, shed his precious blood to make it possible for us to be called the sons of God (Colossians 1:12-14). Whatever besets us on this journey will not deter us as we press onward toward that prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14) so long as we lean on the mighty arm of Jesus and stand firm on the Rock of Ages (Psalms 18:2; Isaiah 26:4).

 

Charles Hicks

 

THE CONVERSION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR

THE CONVERSION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR

 

Nebuchadnezzar was a ruler of the Babylonian Empire for some forty years (from near the close of the 7th century B.C. to 562 B.C.). His conversion and why he needed to be converted is detailed Daniel 4. Before looking at his conversion, we need a bit of historical background concerning the connection of the Babylonian Empire with the people of God, the Kingdom of Judah.

 

Following the death of Solomon in c. 933 B.C., the one united Kingdom of Israel, composed of the twelve tribes, divided into two separate kingdoms. The tragic story of the division and why it occurred is recorded in I Kings 12 and II Chronicles 10. Ten of the twelve tribes revolted against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and the rightful heir to the throne, and formed a separate kingdom under Jeroboam. These ten tribes retained the name of Israel and were known as the Northern Kingdom. This ten tribe kingdom did not have a single good king during the entirety of its existence! In 721 B.C. this kingdom was attacked by the Assyrians and taken into captivity, never to return as a distinct kingdom of its own.

 

The other two tribes—Judah and Benjamin—remained loyal to Rehoboam, and because Judah was the larger of the two they became known as the Kingdom of Judah or the Southern Kingdom. This kingdom fluctuated between good and bad kings. After the captivity of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians the Southern Kingdom continued for another 100 plus years before being attacked by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar and taken into Babylonian captivity. Among the first to be deported from Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were given Babylonian names, but Daniel continued to be known as Daniel rather than by his Babylonian name of Beltezhazzar while the other three became (and remained) famously known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. In Babylon, these men were given positions of authority (see Daniel 1).

 

Nebuchadnezzar had a series of dreams that Daniel was able by the Spirit of God to interpret. Daniel 2 records an exceptionally important dream that foretold the setting up of God's eternal kingdom, the church (V. 44). In Daniel 4 we read of a dream by Nebuchadnezzar in which he saw an exceedingly high tree whose height reached to heaven. It was so large that it could be seen to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were lovely and its fruit was in such abundance as to provide food for all. In the dream a holy one came down from heaven and ordered the tree to be cut down, its leaves stripped, and its fruit scattered. The beasts of the field were to flee from its shade and the birds were to fly from its branches. However, the stump of the tree was to remain with its roots in the earth and a bronze band around it. The stump was to be watered by the dew of heaven.

 

Daniel was called in to explain the dream to Nebuchadnezzar. The tree and stump symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom which had grown strong and powerful. But Nebuchadnezzar had also become haughty and arrogant. (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had been thrown into the fiery furnace for failure to worship Nebuchadnezzar as God). Daniel informed Nebuchadnezzar that he would be driven from his kingdom until "seven times" (years) had passed. During these "seven times" he would dwell with the beasts of the field, eat grass like oxen, and be wet by the dew of heaven until he had come to know "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:19-25). The stump of the tree was left to assure Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be returned to him after he had come "to know that Heaven (God) rules" (Daniel 4:26).  In the meantime, Nebuchadnezzar was instructed by Daniel to "break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." He was told, "Perhaps there may be a lengthening (prolonging) of your prosperity" (Daniel 4:27).

 

Exactly one year later, Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace. He said (perhaps musing to himself), "Is this not great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:28-30). While his words were still in his mouth, a voice from heaven said, "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it has been spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:31-32). "That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like bird claws" (Daniel 4:33).

 

Nebuchadnezzar spent seven years as a mad man and as a beast of the field, experiencing all that Daniel had said would happen to him. "And at the end of the time" he said, "And I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?' At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down" (Daniel 4:34-37).

 

Thus we have the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar. He learned his lesson. How many today need to undergo a similar conversion from arrogance and pride to humility and a recognition of the omnipotence of God? Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).

 

Hugh Fulford