The Truth in Print Vol. 28 Issue 10, Nov 2022
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
THINGS SEEN IN SILENCE
SILENCE
IS SEEN WHEN SOME ARE FALTERING BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS
ELIJAH ASKED ALL THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THE LORD
AT MOUNT CARMEL
1Ki 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people,
and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow
him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Elijah is
Highly Outnumbered
Elijah is
highly outnumbered, although only the Baal prophets show – Jezebel appears more
cunning than Ahab.
Read the
account in I Kings 18 and you will see God’s people, the Jews under the Old
Covenant, not ready to commit to God (I Ki 18:21). One man is willing to speak,
Elijah. Ahab the king has called him a troublemaker – there is a severe drought
in Israel (I Ki 18:17). He follows the Baals, hates the one speaking the truth
to Israel, and is a part of Israel who needed to hear the truth. Elijah rightly
calls him the troubler of Israel because he has forsaken God’s commands and
follows the Baals. Likewise, Ahab’s wife Jezebel has 400 prophets of Asherah
she supports.
Ahab brings
his prophets, 450 prophets of Baal, to meet with Elijah at Carmel.
The People
think Elijah’s Proposal is a Good Idea
1Ki 18:22
Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD;
but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
1Ki 18:23
Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for
themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it;
and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire
under it.
1Ki 18:24
Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the
LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people
answered and said, "It is well spoken."
Elijah Mocked
Them and Their False god
He let the
Baal prophets go first, and they called on Baal, “O Baal, answer us” – leaped
about their altar, but there was no voice nor answer.
1Ki 18:27 And
so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he
is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or
perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened."
1Ki 18:28 So
they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and
lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
1Ki 18:29 And
when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the
evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid
attention. --- “no” means Nothing!
What should
be done with lying false prophets today? Well, you can mock them!
There is no
gift of prophecy today as given in the first century through the laying on of
the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:18; I Cor 13:18). The revealed written New Testament
is God’s Word left for the salvation of all until Christ comes (2 Tim 3:16-17,
4:1-4, Jude 3).
Elijah offers His Sacrifice and Calls Upon God
1Ki 18:36 And it came to pass, at the time of
the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and
said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day
that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all
these things at Your word.
1Ki 18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this
people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their
hearts back to You again."
1Ki 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and
consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it
licked up the water that was in the trench.
Now
the Majority are Ready to Commit to God – This is Not a Numbers Game Because only “One” is Said to be a
Troublemaker!
1Ki 18:39 Now when all the people saw it, they
fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is
God!"
1Ki 18:40 And Elijah said to them, "Seize
the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them;
and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.
SILENCE
OFTEN DISPLAYS A LACK OF CONSISTENCY
The Scribes and Pharisees, and the Woman Taken
in Adultery
Joh 8:3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought
to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the
midst,
Joh 8:4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this
woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
They Claim
God’s Law; They Failed in God’s Word
Joh 8:5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us
that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"
Joh 8:6 This they said, testing Him, that they
might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote
on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
The scribes
should have known God’s Law – in Lev 20:10 both the man and the woman should be
put to death – where is the man?
Their Trap
Caught Them
Hypocrites
shamed publicly by the one they set their trap for become quiet and leave.
Jesus continues teaching.
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking Him, He
raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let
him throw a stone at her first."
Joh 8:8 And again He stooped down and wrote on
the ground.
Joh 8:9 Then those who heard it, being
convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest
even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the
midst.
SILENCE IS SEEN WHEN ONLY “SOME” OR “PARTS” OF
GOD’S WORD ARE ACCEPTED AND PRESENTED, WITH NO ACCEPTANCE OF THE “WHOLE” NOR
PRESENTATION OF THE “WHOLE” OF HIS COMMANDS.
“Righteousness
is the sum total of God’s requirements” (W.E. Vine)
•
We see the “sum
total of God’s requirements” in Paul’s statement to the Ephesian elders (Acts
20:17-27)
Act 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day
that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare to
you the whole counsel of God.
•
Again, in his
warning (Acts 20:28-32).
Act 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves
and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my
departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also from among yourselves men will
rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after
themselves.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember that
for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with
tears.
Act 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to
God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
SOME CLAIM TO BE SERVING GOD WHILE ACCEPTING
ONLY THE “PARTS” OF HIS WORD THAT PLEASES THEM, WHILE DISREGARDING THE “PARTS”
THAT RESTRICT AND WILL CONDEMN THEM:
•
1Th 5:19 Do not quench
the Spirit. > “quench” [G4570 sbennumi] Thayer Definition:
1b) metaphorically to quench, to suppress,
stifle --- SOME WANT TO RIDE ROUGH-SHOD OVER PREACHING AND CONTROL WHAT IS
TAUGHT.
•
1Th 5:20 Do not
despise prophecies. > “despise” [G1848 exoutheneō] Thayer
Definition: 1) to make of no account, despise utterly.
•
1Th 5:21 Test all
things; hold fast what is good. --- SOME WANT “PEACE” REGARDLESS OF SOUND
DOCTRINE.
•
1Th 5:22 Abstain
from every form of evil. -- SOME CLAIM IMMORALITY IS “OPINION” AND MINE
IS AS GOOD AS YOURS.
NO SILENCE HERE
2Ti 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing
and His kingdom:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season
and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they
have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
2Ti 4:4 and they will turn their ears away
from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2Ti 4:5 But you be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
NEITHER YOU NOR THE WORD MUST BE SILENCED BY:
ü YOU KNOW THERE IS ERROR IN EVERY CHURCH.
When hearing
that from brethren don’t ever let it pass. Just reply if there is error then
what are we going to do about it scripturally? Sadly, the way some think is
it’s here and if it is not too bad, and doesn’t cause too much trouble, let’s
not talk about it and let it ride. No! The right reply is error is what scriptures
show it to be, and what do the scriptures say we do next.
I was asked
one time by a member a church of Christ if I thought his church was liberal. I
told him yes. He denied it was, and then stated that they did have a few who
were but then that’s true of every church. Actually, his whole church was
liberal but notice his thinking.
No Silence Here:
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
•
Corrections are
necessary to maintain fellowship with one another (I Jo 1:6-7).
How Many of the 7 Churches of Asia heard
“Repent” from the Lord’s Letters?
·
To Ephesus:
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you,
that you have left your first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have
fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and
remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
· To Smyrna there was no mention of error, but a
warning to be strong when tested by Satan (Rev. 2:8-11). All need to hear about Smyrna.
· To Pergamos:
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against you,
because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak
to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Rev 2:15 Thus you also have those who hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev 2:16 Repent, or else I will come to you
quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
· To Thyatira who tolerated Jezebel as a false
prophetess:
Rev 2:20 Nevertheless I have a few things
against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat
things sacrificed to idols.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her time to repent of her
sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
Rev 2:22 Indeed I will cast her into a
sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they
repent of their deeds.
Rev 2:23 I will kill her children with death,
and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Rev 2:24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in
Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths
of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
·
To Sardis the
church that had a reputation but was dead:
Rev 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in
Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the
seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive,
but you are dead.
Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect
before God.
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how you have
received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I
will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon
you.
Rev 3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis
who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for
they are worthy.
Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in
white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I
will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Rev 3:6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches." '
· To Philadelphia there is no mention of error,
and He does promise special protection that God can give as a reward (Rev.
3:10). All need to hear about Philadelphia.
· To Laodicea He is ready to vomit them out of
His mouth:
Rev 3:15 “I know your works, that you
are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because you say, 'I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are
wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me
gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you
may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and
anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke
and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
·
Jesus
repeated: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches” – you must hear all that was said to all the churches. Some use these
churches as an excuse to stay in a church where false doctrine and immoralities
are not dealt with.
ü THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE CAN PREACH WITH THAT
KIND OF CONVICTION.
This is kind of complaint you get when a
church has some bouncing back and forth to Liberal churches, because they are
mad at the preacher; when kids are skipping class and parents aren’t doing
anything, nor the elders; when there is adultery and immoralities being
tolerated; when human societies built by brethren are being promoted among
members – any time you have the promotion of F.C. or F.C. Camp, or other Camps
that are organizations that intrude into the works Christ gave the churches
you’re going to have trouble.
ü YOU ARE TOO HARD WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE
ISSUES.
ü WE DON’T ALLOW ANY DENOMINATIONAL NAMES TO BE
MENTIONED IN A SERMON – THAT’S OFFENSIVE.
ü YOU’VE GOT HALF OF THIS CHURCH UPSET.
You get silence when you reply, “Then give me
their names! I need to talk to them about what truths offended them.”
ü YOU’VE GOT YOUR INTERPRETATION AND I’VE GOT
MINE. YOU’VE GOT YOUR OPINION AND I’VE GOT MINE.
The Revealed Inspired Word is Not of Any
“Private Interpretation.”
2Pe 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation.
2Pe 1:21
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit.
·
“private” means “pertaining to self” i.e., from oneself
– own heart, or even imagination.
·
“Interpretation” just means “explanation” -- that’s the
definition of our word “interpret” (Amer.Herit.Dict.) “interpret”: 1. To
explain the meaning.
·
“Opinion” (Amer.Herit.Dict.) “opinion”: 1. A belief or
conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or
proof.
Compare These Two Usages of “Opinion” in the
Scriptures
·
Rom 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you
should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own
opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of
the Gentiles has come in.
Here “opinion” (NKJV) is translated “conceits”
i.e., “lest you should be wise in your own conceits” (KJV) – if you are so wise
then it is within yourselves and in ignorance of the Word revealed.
·
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do
not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be
wise in your own opinion.
Again “opinion” (NKJV) is conceits, i.e., own
conceits.
All you have to say is if you give me the
right explanation of the scriptures I should accept it. If your explanation is
wrong then where do we go from there scripturally?
Dipsy-doodlers in the church who do not want
sound doctrine will cheat you! (Col 2:6-10; Gal 5:9). Paul told Titus, “But as
for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Tit 1:2). He
told the Thessalonians: 1Th 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good” ---
some want “peace” regardless of sound doctrine.
Rightly Dividing the Word of God
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.
·
“rightly
dividing” G3718 Thayer: “to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and
correctly.”
This isn’t a merry-go-round that just keeps on
turning – a perpetual jousting of opinions is not what “sound doctrine” is
about (2 Tim 4:3). Things aren’t good when some claim to be serving God while
accepting only the “parts” of His word that pleases them, while disregarding
the “parts” that restrict and will condemn because of sin.
Some brethren sound like the world: “My
opinion is as good as yours!” The words of those who have fallen away from the
faith are, “You have your values and I have my own!” Cowards don’t want to face
specific truths. Growth in knowledge of the revealed Word is not your own
opinion or interpretation (2 Pet 3:18).
Where is the Love of Sound Doctrine Seen?
It is certainly not found in “everyone’s own
explanations” --- some being wrong and some right!
Rom 3:4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:
"THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND MAY OVERCOME WHEN YOU ARE
JUDGED."
Pro 15:23
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how
good it is!
Pro 27:9
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man's friend
gives delight by hearty counsel.
THERE IS SUCH AN ARROGANCE THAT THINKS WHEN IN
THE WRONG:
ü “I DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER. AND I’M NOT GOING TO
ANSWER!”
Ø THE ADAGE: SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES!
•
When this one
doesn’t reply that makes the situation very clear without the use of words.
Valley
Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th
Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928)
782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday
Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday
evening – 7:00 pm
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