WITNESS ~ INSTRUCT ~ NURTURE / Volume 1 Issue 14
May 25, 2005
Hi !
In this issue, you'll read:
THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS - PART FOUR
THE JOSHUA COMMITMENT
ANGER
WORD FROM THE EDITOR - WEEK FOURTEEN "There is anger which is not sinful; for anger is fouled in God himself, in Jesus Christ, in the holy angels, and in God's people; and a man may be said to be angry and not sin, when his anger arises from a true zeal for God and religion; when it is kindled not against persons, but sins; when a man is displeased with his own sins, and with the sins of others: with vice and immorality of every kind; with idolatry and idolatrous worship, and with all false doctrine; and also when it is carried on to answer good ends, as the good of those with whom we are angry, the glory of God, and the promoting of the interest of Christ: and there is an anger which is sinful; as when it is without a cause; when it exceeds due bounds; when it is not directed to a good end; when it is productive of bad effects, either in words or actions; and when it is soon raised, or long continues:" I encourage each one of you to take some time and carefully read this poem [which is clearly speaking of the anger that is sinful] and pray, asking God to reveal to you any areas of your life where this may apply. The purpose of course is to recognize, repent and be delivered from this life stealing, joy robbing enemy of God's people. Blessings to all, All editions of The W.I.N. E-Mail Newsletter are available on the Internet. To find them, navigate to www.fcgm.org and click on the "Newsletter" link. Feel free to copy as many as you want and pass them out to family and friends. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, send an e-mail containing your name and e-mail address to II. Bible Study As a background to this week's study, first read the following "Insight into Circumcision." Paul's use of the word "circumcision" refers both to a ceremonial act and to a false doctrine which was spreading its influence within the Church. The ceremonial act of circumcision involves the cutting off of the foreskin of the male organ but that rite of circumcision had far-reaching covenantal implications. In Genesis 17:9-14, God instituted the covenant of circumcision with Abraham (see also Acts 7:8). From that point on, circumcision was the "sign of the covenant" between Israel and God. Yet even under the Old Covenant, circumcision was seen as an outward symbol of an inner reality (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6). Read Romans 4:9-12 Paul explains patiently to the Roman Christians that circumcision was "a seal of the righteousness that [Abraham] had by faith while he was still uncircumcised." It is faith that counts toward righteousness, not circumcision. As Paul points out, the Old Testament does not say that Abraham was circumcised and therefore was counted as righteous. The Old Testament says that Abraham believed God and God "credited [that faith] to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Read Romans 2:28-29 This is the issue at stake: outward ceremony or inward reality. But it was also more than that. Paul faced a constant problem. Everywhere he went, Paul preached the Gospel and established churches. But hot on his heels came a sect of Jewish Christians called the Judaizers (see Titus 1:10-16; Galatians 2:1-5). These people preached circumcision as the sign of faith in Christ. Paul declared total war on their doctrine. The whole book of Galatians was written to refute their teaching and to rebuke the Galatians for "turning to a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6-9). Paul was not against circumcision itself (see Romans 3:1-2; 1 Corinthians 7:18-19). As a Jew, he himself had been circumcised, and he later circumcises Timothy, who was a half-Jew (Acts 16:1-3). But he vehemently protested that circumcision be preached as a requirement for becoming a Christian. Read Galatians 5:1-6; 6:12-16 If you are a Gentile, the issue of circumcision is moot, thanks to Paul. The rite of circumcision represents the entire Law of Moses and the significant point of separation between Jew and Gentile (see Ephesians 2:11-19). What was at stake for Paul was not simply circumcision as a rite, but the question of whether Gentile believers are required to keep the whole Law of Moses (see Galatians 2:11-16). Read Colossians 2:11-14 Now back to our study. This week we are looking at the third section of Philippians - Chapter 3 (but also including 4:1). This section divides again into three subsections. Read each subsection separately, answering for yourself the questions associated with them. Type out your answers or jot them down on a piece of paper and place in your Bible for further study. Read Philippians 3:1-6 1. This subsection could be headed "Warning!" (3:2). Why does Paul write so strongly to warn them against those advocating circumcision? Read Philippians 3:7-16 1. Why does Paul now count what he had once gloried in as "rubbish"? (3:7-9). Read Philippians 3:17-4:1 1. In 3:19, how does Paul sum up what it means to live "as enemies of the cross"? III. Memory Verse Here are a few suggestions that may help you to memorize your memory verses: 1. Ask the Lord to help you remember his Word (see John 14:26). 2. Use the version of the Bible you are most familiar with. What you normally read in your Bible is what you need to be memorizing. 3. Don't just memorize the contents of the verse; memorize its "address" (the verse reference) as well. You can do this by following this pattern: Step 1: reference; Step 2: verse content; Step 3: reference. Then repeat steps 1-3. Note that you are quoting the reference twice as many times as you quote the actual verse content. This gives the verse a clear "reference tag." 4. After you have read your memory verse out aloud several times, try going through your memory verse without reading your computer screen. 5. Look up your memory verse in your Bible. Look at its immediate context and read the verses that come before and after your memory verse. 6. Print out your memory verse or jot it down on a piece of paper. Take this paper with you when you go to work or do other daily activities. Meditate on the meaning of the verse throughout the day. 7. During your noon appointment with the Lord, take out your memory verse and go over it again. Talk to the Lord about what this verse means to you personally. 8. In the evening (at either your evening study or your evening devotions), see if you can quote your memory verse from memory. Then, without looking at the memory verse itself, see if you can find it in your Bible. 9. The next day, before you begin committing a new verse to memory, rehearse your previous day's memory verse and see if you can remember it (without cheating!). 10. Finally, at the end of the week (possibly on Sunday), collect all your week's memory verses, rehearse them and see if you can recall them without reading them. Spend a little extra time on any verses you have difficulty recalling. 11. Remember: Don't just memorize a verse. Put it into practice (James 1:22). It is not being able to quote a verse from memory that counts. It is His Word abiding in your heart that counts (John 15:7). When you actually apply a verse consistently to your daily life; that is when you truly know that verse! This article is Copyright © 1999, The Online Bible College. It is used by permission and formatted for presentation in this newsletter You might be thinking, "This is a nice Scripture, but what does it have to do with me? I don't see how anything Joshua said applies to my life here in the 21st century. I was never in Egypt! My fathers never served the gods of the Amorites! Why do you want to bother me with this Old Testament stuff? It doesn't apply to us anymore, right?" WRONG!!! While these are all valid questions and observations, they only apply in the natural sense. But we are dealing with the spiritual issues of life in this article. And quite truthfully, the spiritual is the life! The natural is the outgrowth of the spiritual much like a headache is the symptom of something else. What we do or say by way of the natural man is the result of the condition of our spiritual man. This Scripture paints a very vivid picture of many Christians' walk with the Lord today. The "other side of the river," and "Egypt," are both representative of the old life before finding salvation through Jesus Christ. The "gods which your fathers [as well as you and I] served" on the "other side of the river," and in "Egypt," are representative of the "things of this world" which dominated our lives, and in which we found our being and our pleasure before finding Christ. For some, it may have been one or more of the most obvious [and most preached about] "gods," such as drugs, alcohol, or illicit sex. For others, it may have been any number of other not so easily recognizable behaviors. "But wait," you say! "I never worshipped any of these things as my god!" Perhaps not consciously! But what about after accepting Jesus as Savior? How does Jesus feel about whom we serve? Well, in John 12:25-26, He said the following: Paul tells us in Romans 6:12-22; " "But I don't do [or never did] drugs anymore," you say! "I don't drink and cheat on my wife [or never did] anymore!" Well, what about your tongue? Do you ever gossip? Do you hear about someone's misfortune and tell it to others, or do you take it to prayer? What about your anger? How do you handle it when someone does you wrong? Do you pray for them and ask God to help you forgive their action, or do you lash out in either word or deed? How do you stand up to peer pressure? When someone from the "old gang" comes around, are you the same as before, or do they see a changed life? Do they mock your "religion," or is the change in you so real that they want to know about this Jesus? Basically, what Joshua is telling the children of Israel is that they have been delivered from bondage and now they have a decision to make. Since they are no longer slaves to Egypt, they should therefore determine to walk in their newly found freedom. But their eyes were still turned toward the things they had lost, as seen in Numbers 11:5-6; 5"We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6"but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!'' What they failed to remember was the never ending work, the beatings and other abuse, both verbal and physical, which was heaped upon them daily. And what they failed to remember was that this was the transition from the old to the new. God had brought them out of bondage to give them the Promised Land "overflowing with milk and honey!" But to reach the ultimate reward, there is a transition period and a path that must be walked. The same holds true today. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, all pain does not cease! All harvests for past seed planting is not wiped out. Believing and receiving is not the end, but the beginning of our walk toward eternal life. As Jesus said in John 12:26; "...If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." To serve Jesus requires making a commitment to stand strong for Him through the bad times as well as the good. To stand strong requires effort and action on our part. God never promised to take away all obstacles, but He did say in Hebrews 13:5; "...I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua said it best: "Serve the Lord! 15"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'' Have you made the Joshua commitment today? If not, will you pray with me right now? Dear Lord, I ask that your Holy Spirit would speak to our hearts and that each one of us would pause and examine our life to see if we are truly serving Jesus or just giving lip service to our Christianity. If that examination reveals a focus on any part of the previous life or the things of the world [or circumstances of life] and not on the King and His Kingdom, please help us to openly and honestly bring it before your throne and ask for forgiveness and Grace to turn from it and make the same commitment that Joshua made so long ago. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!'' In Jesus Name...AMEN! Bishop Sam T. Leigh Anger hates to be alone, and does what ever needed to gain an ally. Anger doesn't care what it must do to live, or who it must hurt to grow. Anger will destroy anything to gain strength. Anger’s enemy is Peace; Love its hated rival that must be killed at all cost. Anger’s weapon is Hate, that’s used like the sword of a master swordsman. Anger's sword, nicks and pricks, never making the fatal thrust, never taking the final cut, ending its dance of death. Anger's victims try fighting only become to weak from loss of life’s blood. Anger smiles as they weaken, painfully dropping their guard, unable to move, or to reach in with their own attack. Anger laughs as its victim falters, staggers, barely able to remain upright. Anger's lust for power grows with each passing minute, as the day slips into night’s darkness. Anger seeks to poison everything it touches; it doesn't see anything good or pure. Anger feels losing to be a disgrace, and claims to believe death before dishonor. Anger acts like it honors Bashido, the way of the sword, but truly is a coward. Anger would rather die then be forced to admit being wrong. Written and submitted by: Unless otherwise noted: All Scripture is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Greetings to you all and welcome to this week's edition of the W.I.N. E-Mail Newsletter. We have a very special poem written by our own Pastor Phillip E. Hildreth entitled "Anger" printed in this article. Ephesians 4:26-27; 26"Be angry, and do not sin'': "do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place to the devil. "To help us understand a little more the meaning behind this verse, let's take a look at what John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, Dr. John Gill (1690-1771) has to say on the subject.
Rev. Sam T. Leigh
Presiding Bishop
Freedom Covenant Global Ministries
E-mail:
Website: www.fcgm.org
Bishop's eCorner: www.fcgm.org/ecorner/
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THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS - PART FOUR
I. Devotional Reading
In your devotions this week, read Psalm 53. As you read the psalm, talk to the Lord about it's content. What does this psalm reveal of the psalmist's heart? What does this psalm reveal of the Lord's heart? Then read Psalm 14 and note the similarities and differences between them. When you have finished both psalms, meditate prayerfully on them.
2. In 3:3, what does Paul declare are the 3 qualifications of true "circumcision"?
3. List the 7 qualifications of the "flesh" that Paul had once gloried in (3:4-6).
2. In 3:10-11 Paul expresses what 3 things to be his great desire on earth?
3. In 3:12-16 Paul reveals the depth of his heart. Note the clue he gives that makes it possible to "win the prize" - to reach the ultimate of what God has called us to in Christ (note 3:12).
2. In your personal evaluation, what do you think your mind is set on?
Philippians 3:13-14; "
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THE JOSHUA COMMITMENT
Joshua 24:14-15; 14"Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.''
Freedom Covenant Global Ministries
Colville WA 99114
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ANGER
Anger is a thief which steals all that’s good and peaceful.
Pastor Phillip E. Hildreth
Freedom Covenant Church Northwest
Kettle Falls WA 99141
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This newsletter Copyright © 2005 Freedom Covenant Global Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Individual articles displaying copyrights from other ministries are used by permission, have been formatted for use in this publication, and remain the property of respective ministry. Permission is granted to copy, print, and distribute this newsletter for ministry purposes, whether whole or in part, so long as ALL copyrights remain in place and no copies are printed or distributed for sale or commercial purposes.
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