tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65443579857323666082024-03-13T15:55:01.070-05:00Hear God Speak-Bible CommentaryVerse by verse study of God's Word, the Holy Bible.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.comBlogger645125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-3892131041011006042013-08-23T17:57:00.000-05:002013-08-23T17:57:00.044-05:00Colossians-Standing against False Teachers part 3Here is <a href="http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/ofxf1wgocq/ss_col_15.mp3" target="_blank">Part 3</a> of our study of chapter two in Colossians. This particular topic took up three class meetings. Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-35615022973364132582013-08-19T06:59:00.000-05:002013-08-19T06:59:00.755-05:00Colossians-Standing against False Teachers part 2Here is the audio for <a href="http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/ho3w30rxxp/ss_col_14.mp3" target="_blank">Part 2</a> of our study of chapter two in Colossians. This particular topic took up three class meetings. Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-76052378788586758162013-08-12T08:42:00.000-05:002013-08-12T08:42:00.661-05:00Colossians-Standing against False Teachers Part 1Here is the audio for <a href="http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/dm5c44490y/ss_col_13.mp3" target="_blank">Part 1</a> of our study of chapter two in Colossians. This particular topic took up three class meetings. I pray you are encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-15620624716880466692013-08-09T13:10:00.000-05:002013-08-09T13:10:00.361-05:00Habakkuk 2:19-20 The Foolishness of Idolatry Part IIISome time back, in a town we lived in, one of the churches had a new contemporary worship service they titles "Networking with Christ". I still giggle about that. I can just see some of the people going into the worship center "Oh, yeah, I'm here to see if Christ has some good stock tips. Maybe he knows of a good opening at a bigger company He might could give me the inside track on. And, of course, if I've got any good tips for Him, well, I'll share those too."<br />
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(snicker)<br />
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The fact is, that if we really had the kind of view of God that, say, Job had, we would live, act, and talk much differently than we do today. If we truly understood Him to be all-knowing, all-loving, holy, sovereign, and powerful, you know, like He is, we would live our lives in awe and worship. We don't obey like we should and love Him like we should because, I submit to you, we don't see Him as being Who He is--the Lord God Almighty.<br />
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The Babylonians had much the same problem. They worshipped idols, As we noticed in Habakkuk 2:18, it is foolishness for anyone to worship something they carved, gilded, and set on an altar. In verse 19, God continues to point out how silly idol worship is. First of all, notice, it's foolish to talk to something that "has no breath in it" and call for it to act as though it were alive. It can't teach. For that matter, it can't do anything at all.<br />
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Not only is it not alive, but this dead, inanimate object, is "overlaid with gold and silver". Sure, it's shiny and looks pretty on a coffee table, but if it was a living being, it would smother. So, since this thing, that they created by the way, is not only dead but doubly dead what kind of kook would you have to be to turn to it for answers? It just doesn't make any sense.<br />
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Of course, we do the same thing. Don't shake your head judgmentally at these godless Babylonians because when you love your recreation and your job or your family more than you do God and the ministry He's called you to, you can dress it up as pretty as you please, but you, my friend, are committing idolatry.<br />
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However, we read our antidote to all this godlessness that God has pronounced woes over beginning in verse 4 of this chapter. What we need is to recalibrate our perspective by maintaining a clear view of God and His glory. We remember that "the Lord in His holy temple" is high, exalted, and unimaginably holy. When we contemplate the glory of God and His many attributes, we, like Job, find ourselves with our hands over our mouths, "silent" in awe of Who He is, where He is and what He's done.<br />
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Praise God for revealing this truth to us through His word.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-9786050517588038552013-08-06T08:34:00.000-05:002013-08-06T08:34:00.903-05:00Colossians-Paul's Purpose in MinistryHere is the <a href="http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/kf30g2lqv0/ss_col_12.mp3" target="_blank">audio</a> for one of our Sunday School class meetings as we're studying through Colossians. I pray that you are encouraged and blessed by the discussion.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-10575334620306674632013-07-14T21:30:00.000-05:002013-08-01T20:35:16.769-05:00Matthew 9:35-36 Jesus and ministry--our perfect example part 1When I was a manager for a pizza place, I would occassionally train employees how to make pizzas or specifically how to get the pizza dough ready to make a pizza. I had a specific process I would go through. I would show them the process from beginning to end pretty quickly. I then would go slowly, step by step, so they could see exactly what I was explaining. Finally I would let them do it with my supervision. Most of the time, the results were awful. I was also evil back then and I would make them eat what they made.<br />
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My point, however, is that I showed they how to do something before I set them to do it themselves. As we close out of the narrative portion of Matthew chapter 9, we prepare to move into Matthew 10 where Jesus sends out His 12 apostles to preach. Obviously, the men He called as His apostles were not professional clergy. Levi (Matthew) was a tax collector, Simon the zelot was probably like a solider or mercenary, James and his brother were fishermen. These guys had never been missionaries and I think that's a good thing to remember as we read these two verses. What Jesus did is what He was going to call them to do. Therefore, it seems reasonable that He would demonstrate what He was going to call them to do. What a privilege they had, to see God in human flesh minister and preach the gospel.<br />
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First of all, notice in verse 35 that Jesus went where the people were. In churches, we're often encouraged to invite people to come to worship services with us. Rightly so, I might add, because if you're in a good church no matter what is being preached the gospel is going to be proclaimed. However, bringing people in so someone else can share the gospel is not what we're called to do. We're called to go out and take the gospel to the people. Jesus did just that. He took the gospel to the cities with lots of people and to the vilages with smaller populations. And being that if you got somewhere in that day, you walked, he must have done a ton of walking. He didn't stay in some ivory tower posting thoughts on social media like a blog (ouch!), but rather He went out of His way to proclaim the life changing truth of the gospel.<br />
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Notice, what He did when He went from place to place. As we continue to read verse 35, we see He taught in their synagouges. Man, what I wouldn't give to have been a fly on that wall. Can you imagine what a privilage that was--to hear the very God of the universe teaching. And what grreat compassion it shows. Jesus, being God in human flesh, could have commanded, or even demanded, obedience and then punished immediately anyone who wouldn't submit. Instead, He came, took His time, and taught them. What a kind, gracious, loving act for the Savior of the world to do. And notice, He went to the synagouges--their houses of worship. He went to the people who thought they were reglious, or wanted to know about God, and graciously gave them precious instruction in righteousness.<br />
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Notice, He also went around proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. Now, we don't have recorded in this text verbatium what He said, but there is only one gospel.(Galatians 1:6-8) despite what some people like Brian McLauren and Rob Bell would have you believe. There is no question that the gospel Jesus preached is the gospel that Paul preached and the gospel that John Wesley preached and the gospel that John Calvin preached. God is holy and man is sinful. Because of our sin, we deserve punishment, but for those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Chirst (or in the case of the people Jesus preached to, faith in what God had promised) God has promised to save them. When we read in scripture the exhortations to go and proclaim the truth that Jesus saves, we can know that Jesus isn't asking us to do anything that He Himself didn't do first.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-3651881486509793192013-04-19T07:00:00.000-05:002013-04-19T07:00:14.751-05:00Colossians-The Gospel's Scope and PurposeHere are the links for the audio and notes from our most recent Sunday School class where we are studying Colossians. I pray you are blessed and encouraged by our discussion.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_11.mp3" target="_blank">Audio</a> <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_11.pdf" target="_blank">Notes</a>Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-58827598662726551152013-04-15T22:19:00.000-05:002013-04-15T22:19:29.224-05:00Colossians-The Cross, Christian Ministry, and SufferingHere is the audio (in two parts due to a technical snafu on my part) from our Sunday School class a few weeks ago where we are studying Colossians. I pray you are encouraged.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_10_a.mp3" target="_blank">Audio</a> (part a) <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_10_b.mp3" target="_blank">Audio</a> (part b) <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_10.pdf" target="_blank">Notes</a>Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-78773676191638911862013-04-03T11:46:00.000-05:002013-04-03T11:47:08.799-05:00Colossians-The Reconciliation of the CrossHere is the audio from our last class meeting where we are studying the book of Colossians. You can click here for the <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_9.pdf" target="_blank">notes</a> and <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_9.mp3" target="_blank">here</a> for the audio. I pray you are encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-75869620283531649492013-04-03T11:40:00.003-05:002013-04-03T11:40:52.061-05:00Colossians-The Supremacy of Christ part 2Here is the audio for the next lesson from our Sunday School class as we go through the book of Colossians (click <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_8.mp3" target="_blank">here</a>). I didn't get the notes saved for the class but we did get a recording of the lesson. I pray you are encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-23234535049614600762013-03-23T19:59:00.000-05:002013-03-23T19:59:17.142-05:00Sharing Your Faith pt 3Here is the link for the audio from our lats Sunday School class. My friend, Tim, continued the discussion about sharing our faith and used the apostle Paul as an example. For the audio click <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Sharing_your_faith_pt3.mp3" target="_blank">here</a>. (Right click to download the file).Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-7780995640593186732013-03-10T17:00:00.000-05:002013-03-10T17:00:01.308-05:00Sharing Your Faith pt 2Here is the link for the audio from part two of our Sunday School class lesson about sharing your faith (click <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Sharing_your_faith_pt2.mp3%22%3ESS_Sharing_your_faith_pt2.mp3%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">here</a>) led by my friend Tim. If you haven't listend to any of the other lessons, I really, really commend this one to you. Tim shares his testimony and I know you will be greatly convicted and encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-3988575638269966922013-03-09T17:35:00.000-06:002013-03-09T17:35:32.786-06:00Tips for Sharing Your Faith Pt 1Hello. Here is the audio from our Sunday School class last Sunday. Tim, the other gentleman that teaches the class, shared some great tips on sharing your faith. Click <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Sharing_your_faith_pt%201.mp3" target="_blank">here</a> for the audio.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-1131533951283441162013-02-25T18:00:00.000-06:002013-03-23T14:50:11.623-05:00Colossians-The Supremacy of Christ part 1Here is the audio and notes from our Sunday School class study of Colossians 1:15-16<br />
Click the links below.<br />
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Colossians-The Supremacy of Christ<br />
<a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_7.mp3" target="_blank">Audio</a> <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_7.pdf" target="_blank">Notes</a>Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-69252589264814953832013-01-21T15:36:00.002-06:002013-01-21T15:36:32.538-06:00Colossians-Products of the Gospel in the Believer's LifeHere is the <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_3.mp3" target="_blank">link</a> for the audio from the 3rd session of the Sunday School class at church where we are studying Colossians. The notes can be found <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_3.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-46376808803225780462013-01-14T07:00:00.000-06:002013-01-14T07:00:05.628-06:00Colossians--The Transforming Power of the Gospel part 2Here is the <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_2.mp3" target="_blank">link</a> to the audio from the second class in our study of Colossians. You can click to listen or right click and download to your computer. This is the new Sunday School class at church that a friend of mine and I are teaching. The notes can be found <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_2.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. I pray that you are encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-48618366221201311602013-01-10T07:00:00.000-06:002013-01-10T07:00:13.339-06:00Habakkuk 2:18-20 The Foolishness of Idolatry Part II
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was studying music in college, there were a couple of
freshmen that came in my junior year who acted like they looked up to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made idol conversation and they would ask
me questions about various things in the music department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, for recital class, I was playing a
transcription of a Bach violin partita.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was the first time they heard me play alone and they realized I
wasn’t very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I was
alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could probably have walked into
any 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> grade band room and made first chair, or at least had a lock
on 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all
seriousness, they realized that I wasn’t as good as they’d made me out to be
and it was foolish to look up to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
a similar manner, God, through the prophet Habakkuk, shows the foolishness of
idolatry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, of course, this portion of scripture is part of a song
with 6 woes pronounced against the Babylonian empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Babylonians like all ancient nations and
most people today, did not worship the God Who created the universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They engaged in the worship of idols.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, just like Mike and Matt in my story
above, in order to worship an idol, you have to engage in a bit of self-delusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every idol, be it a gold statue, a job, a
person, or anything else, is created by a human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is it created by a human, but you
know, or you can know, who it is that created it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times in scripture, the people saw the
idol being made (Aaron and the golden calf, Jeroboam’s idol in I Kings 12)
right before their eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, as
God observes in Habakkuk 2:18, what sense does it make for someone to trust
something they created, especially an inanimate object made of cold, unfeeling,
unliving metal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though this
creation is a “teacher of lies”, its creator trusts in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It stands to reason if you create something, you are greater
than what you created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, this
object of gold, stone, or wood that the Babylonians created owed its existence
to them. So, its shape, height, weight, and any other attributes it has exist
because of the will of the person that carved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the lie that it teaches is that “You can
be in control” or “You can depend on me”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, it’s easy for you and I to sit here in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century
and shake our head at these foolish people who “say to a wooden thing, Arise,
to a silent stone, Awake” as if we’re better than they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Habakkuk 2:19 says, “there is no breath in
it” (i.e. it isn’t alive).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can comfort
ourselves as if we’re superior because we don’t bow down and worship wood or
gold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But are we really that much better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you place something as a higher priority
than God, then we can call it whatever we want to, but that, my friends, is
worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That job that you put more time
and energy into than you do into sharing the gospel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re worshipping that job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your leisure time that you don’t want to
sacrifice to go on a mission trip?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s an idol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These things have
no more breath or life in them than any stone statue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I are just as foolish to chase after
those idols as the Babylonians and other ancient nations were to worship
statues instead of turning to worship the true, living, loving God who created
the heavens and the earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fact, we know that God will one day triumph over evil and
all those who hate Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will put<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an end to sin and punish unrepentant sinners
forever in hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that God is so
holy and righteous should fill us with awe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not saying we should fear God as if we’re in danger, but we should
fear God in the sense that we should respect Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last verse of this passage sums this up
as well as any other scripture I can think of—But the Lord is in his holy
temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.</span></div>
Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-35291394359635120132013-01-08T16:32:00.000-06:002013-01-08T16:34:10.658-06:00Book Review: The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’re like me, you struggle with sin daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know that you’re supposed to grow in
Christlikeness, but somehow in the back of your mind you really don’t believe
it’s possible to really be holy and you expect to rarely have anything other
than intermittent victories over sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, you plod along, putting on something of a spiritual mask around
people hoping they can’t see that you really don’t make the kind of progress as
a Christian that you think you’re supposed to even though you suspect they’re
in the exact same boat as you are. Friend, if that’s you, and I know it’s me,
then you need to get this book by Kevin DeYoung, <a href="http://www.crossway.org/books/the-hole-in-our-holiness-case/" target="_blank">The Hole in Our Holiness</a>.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The book isn’t very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You could probably finish the book in less than a week without really
breaking a sweat but the ideas DeYoung raises in the book with cause you to
reexamine your faith and passion for the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, not only does DeYoung show from
scripture that holiness is possible for the Christian, but that it should be
the norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reasons according to
DeYoung that many of us don’t make much progress in our sanctification are that
we either try to do it in our own power (legalism) or we’ve resigned ourselves
to the fact that we’re doing as good as we can and so we have to settle for
what little progress we’ve made rather than actually making holiness something that we pursue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">DeYoung makes the case that we don’t have to settle and that
not only is practical holiness possible, but he gives sound, real life advice
on how we can and should grow in holiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For my part, the most eye opening concept in this book was that striving
for holiness is so much more than a legalistic “To-Do” checklist (“Don’t smoke,
don’t chew, don’t go with the girls who do.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another concept that the author pointed out that was quite revolutionary
for me was that although our obedience will never be perfect that doesn’t mean
that our imperfect obedience isn’t pleasing to God and doesn’t bring Him
glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, quite the opposite is
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God delights in our obedience even
if it isn’t perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I commend this title
to anyone regardless of their level of spiritual maturity because I believe you
will be encouraged to be a more committed, gospel loving, disciple of Jesus
Christ as a result of the truths Kevin DeYoung discusses in this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-31047273716078302542013-01-06T16:21:00.000-06:002013-01-06T19:24:26.475-06:00Colossians--The Transforming Power of the Gospel part 1Here is the <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_1.mp3" target="_blank">link</a> for the audio from my new Sunday School class. We are studying the book of Colossians. You can get the study notes for the class <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/SS_Col_1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-36925883072937273282013-01-02T11:00:00.000-06:002013-01-02T11:00:07.370-06:00Acts 17:16-34 The Gospel In A Society Full of IdolatryHere is the <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/Acts_17_16-34.mp3" target="_blank">link</a> for the audio of a Sunday School class I taught a few weeks ago in my church. I was asked to be the substitute which was a real honor since I have so much respect for my teacher. I'm so humbled that after teaching this class I was recommended to help start a new Sunday School class with a good friend. Praise God for opportunities to serve!!! I pray that you are encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-42061711867089961962012-12-31T11:00:00.000-06:002012-12-31T11:00:01.412-06:00Matthew 1:18-35 Joseph, An Example of GodlinessHere is the <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/4/25/3296946/Matthew%201_18-35.mp3" target="_blank">link</a> for the audio of a sermon I preached at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church earlier in 2012. I pray that you are encouraged.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-58673295410714692012-09-24T13:00:00.000-05:002012-09-24T13:00:03.098-05:00Philippians 3:1-2 The Security of Sound Doctrine Part III
<br />
<strong>Paul’s Caution</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Paul, when writing to these believers, gives them a word of caution in verse
2. Even with the safety provided by his God inspired epistle, Paul instructs
the believers to “Beware” three times. As Christians, we should beware of false
doctrine. It promotes disunity, causes confusion, and undermines evangelism.
Quite frankly, it is a spiritual poison and must be avoided along with anyone
who teaches it. The Greek word Paul uses which is translated here as “Beware”
is <em>blepo</em> (991), which is translated elsewhere as take heed (Mark 4:24,
Luke 21:8). In Greek, the sense of the verb is that the believers should keep
being aware. They should be vigilant and always on guard. There is no room for
middle ground. False doctrine cannot be tolerated or permitted in the church.
Compromise is not an option.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
In identifying those who would corrupt the church and lead people astray
with false doctrine, Paul uses three different terms. First of all, Paul calls
these people “Dogs” which is kind of funny because Jews used this term for
Gentiles. Here, Paul takes their own slur and turns it around on them to
describe their character. We must remember that these are not cute little furry
pets that sleep at your feet at night and play fetch with you when you’re
playing in the front yard. These are snarling, vicious, carnivorous, disease
ridden, filthy, nasty, mean creatures. They were quite dangerous. In Vincent’s
Word Studies, the author writes about these animals that “[t]hey lie about the
streets in such numbers as to render it difficult and often dangerous to pick
one's way over and amongst them - a lean, hungry, and sinister brood. They have
no owners, but upon some principle known only to themselves, they combine into
gangs, each of which assumes jurisdiction over a particular street; and they attack
with the utmost ferocity all canine intruders into their territory. In those
contests, and especially during the night, they keep up an incessant barking
and howling, such as is rarely heard in any European city.” They roamed in
packs and were guided by their own hungers. In much the same way, a false
teacher is more dangerous than any foamy mouthed dog. The false teaching they
spread is worse than any disease spread by these mangy mutts, and they also
follow their own lusts. As Peter notes in 2 Peter 2:12, these false teachers
are “like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of
things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own
corruption.” These people lead others astray for their own selfish gain. They
truly are vicious “dogs”.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Paul also tells these believers to “beware of evil workers”. If you were to
look at the website for the National Council of Churches, you would find that
they have lots of activities going on. They work to feed starving children.
They work to bring disaster relief to storm damaged areas. These are worthwhile
activities. Certainly meeting people physical needs is one way to minister to
them. I would have to imagine if you asked most of the people involved in these
activities why they were doing them, their answer would be something like “For
Jesus, of course.” However, the NCC represents churches that deny the virgin
birth of our Lord, the inspiration of the Word of God, and they allow
homosexuals and women to serve in pastoral roles. These people are doing things
that they call ministry. They are quite active and work hard at what they do.
However, since their heart is not right with God, they are not good workers but
“evil workers”. The word “evil” translates the Greek word <em>kakos</em> (2556)
which can mean worthless, injurious, or evil. The Greek word <em>ergates</em>
is translated “workers” and literally means a toiler. When Jesus Himself spoke
of these people in Matthew 7:22 that “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and
done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, “I never knew
you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” In much the same manner,
Paul reminds the Philippian church that these people, because of the wrong
condition of their heart, are not actually performing good works but evil
works. We must remember, as Paul here warns these Christians, that activity is
never a substitute for a relationship.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Finally, Paul tells the Philippians to “beware the mutilation”. Jewish
people placed great spiritual significance on circumcision. They are even
called the Circumcision by Paul in Ephesians 2:11. According to rabbinical
tradition, for a Jew to go to hell, his circumcision would have to be undone as
John MacArthur notes in his commentary on the book of Romans. Some false
teachers taught that a Christian had to convert to Judaism before they could
become a Christian. Therefore, these Jewish legalizers taught that Christians
had to agree to become circumcised. However, they failed to see that the
circumcision that God would perform would be a circumcision of the heart (Deu
30:6). Paul uses a Greek term here <em>katatome</em> (2699) that is translated
as mutilation. The same word is used in the Septuagint in Leviticus 21:5 when
the nation of Israel is forbidden to make any cuttings in their flesh. Paul was
probably using a play on words here by calling them the mutilation (katatome)
and in the next verse referring to those who are truly saved as <em>peritome</em>
(the circumcision). Paul realized by attempting to require these believers to
be circumcised, the false teachers were actually trying to force them to submit
to their legalistic observance of Mosaic code and their tradition rather then
relying on faith in Jesus Christ to save them and transform them. In Galatians
4:10, Paul writes that those Christians were attempting to follow Jewish law in
regards to feasts. Paul admonishes them that they were leaving their faith in
Christ to turn to “weak and beggarly elements” in order to be saved (Galatians
4:9). Paul says they should not do this. In fact, in the book of Galatians,
Paul goes further and says he wishes that those false teachers who troubled
those believers with their insistence on ritual circumcision for salvation
would simply go ahead and cut themselves off (Galatians 5:12). These false
teachers had completely misrepresented the truth of salvation and were
attempting to compel others to follow their legalistic standard of
righteousness.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Even as they did in Paul’s day, we still encounter false teaching today. The
only sure defense that we have against false teaching and false teachers is the
truth. The only source we have for divine truth is the Word of God. Let us
faithfully and boldly proclaim God’s powerful truth in this dark, perverse
world.<o:p></o:p><br />
Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-15003571066359670042012-09-20T11:00:00.000-05:002012-09-20T11:00:01.244-05:00Philippians 3:1-2 The Security of Sound Doctrine Part II
<br />
<strong>Paul’s Concern</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
As Paul writes asking these believers to join with him in rejoicing, he also
writes to reaffirm doctrine he has taught them before. With the heart of a true
pastor, he writes these believers in verse 1 that “For me to write the same
things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” Paul, in all his
epistles, wrote a consistent doctrine as revealed by God through the Holy
Spirit. While it is not clear if Paul is referring to another letter he may
have written the Philippian church (not a lost book of the Bible, just possibly
another letter he wrote) or simply other epistles that he had written that they
had obtained copies of, Paul includes doctrine in this epistle that is found in
other of his epistles. However, at no time does he feel like “Here we go again.
I thought I had already taught you this. Haven’t you already learned your
lesson by now?” Paul tells them that writing them about doctrines he has
already written about is not “tedious” or tiresome. The word that is translated
“tedious” is the Greek word <em>okneros</em> (3636). According to Vincent’s
Word Studies, this word reflects “the vexation arising from weary waiting”.
When I read that, I got the picture in my head of a person waiting for another
person to get ready to go somewhere. Because he loves these people and wants to
help them grow and mature in Christ, Paul brings the Word of God to the people
of God. To do so is not a source of frustration to him nor is it the feeling of
having to wait on somebody to finally catch up.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
He brings God’s Word to God’s people because, as a shepherd, he is
responsible for the safety of sheep. The surest protection for the flock of God
from the deadly poison of false doctrine is to teach God revealed truth. Paul
says to the believers in Phillipi that “for you it is safe” when he talks about
writing the “same things”. The word translated “safe” is the Greek word <em>asphales
</em>(804). This word is translated certain in the book of Acts (21:34, 22:30,
and 26:26) and as sure in Hebrews 6:19. Therefore, the idea that Paul is trying
to convey seems to be that he writes these same things to provide them security
through a solid foundation of doctrine that they can be certain of. The
churches Paul wrote to did not have a New Testament, commentaries, or seminary
trained pastors. They didn’t the luxury of studying the work of great preachers
and teachers of God’s Word throughout the centuries who have taught the true
doctrines of our faith. They had the apostles and prophets who had been given
to them and God’s Word as revealed in the Old Testament. However, as Paul and
others brought new revelation that would become the New Testament that shed
light on the Old Testament, believers were learning things about God and
salvation that had never been revealed before. Under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, Paul continually and consistently taught these doctrines in his
writings. He didn’t view it as laborious or tedious because of his love for his
fellow Christians.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-88108019461948431422012-09-18T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-18T16:00:01.242-05:00Phillipians 3:1-2 The Security of Sound Doctrine Part I
<br />
Roach poison is made of over 98 % dog food. Less than 2% of the substance
used is poison. When I found that out, I was quite surprised. A little bit, so
the saying goes, certainly goes a long way. In much the same way, false
doctrine, if tolerated in the church, doesn’t have to rise to the level of
outright heresy to be deadly. People can mix in a little pop psychology,
secular business models, or culturally relevant ideas and create confusion
among Christians. In the world today, it is paramount that the Bible be taught
as meaning what it means and saying what it says. To fail to do so leaves
people vulnerable to the trappings of false teachers who have as their goal to
lead people away from the truth to destruction.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>Paul’s Celebration</strong><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
In verse one of chapter 3, we find Paul concluding a thought that he had
begun in chapter 2 verse 18. In verse 17, Paul asks the Philippians that even
if he was “poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your
faith” to “be glad and rejoice” (v.18) with him. Paul called for the believers
to model Christ’s humility in serving (2:5) just as he (2:17) and his
companions (2:22, 30) also serve sacrificially. Because of these examples, Paul
calls them to “rejoice” with him in verse 18 and again in verse one of chapter
3.<o:p></o:p><br />
Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544357985732366608.post-22459771980238900512012-09-13T11:30:00.000-05:002012-09-13T11:30:03.736-05:00Be Encouraged!!Living as a child of God has never been an easy thing to do in this world. However, it seems now it is more difficult than ever before. As a Christian, it is easy to feel discouraged and want to give up contending for the faith (Jude 1:3). However, you and I can find encouragement in the word of God to stand strong as we strive to live as salt and light in this sin filled world.<br />
<br />
Writing to churches that were under persecution, John the apostle penned the book of Revelation. To encourage these believers, he writes that this letter was not only from him but also from Christ. In chapter 1 verse 5 of this book, John writes that the letter is from “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (NASB). John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to describe Christ with these titles because he was writing to men and women who were facing government sponsored persecution. Reminding them of who Christ was and what He faced on this earth was a way for John to encourage these believers.<br />
<br />
First of all, notice that he calls Christ “the faithful witness”. The Lord came and declared boldly the message of God everywhere He went and proclaimed the good news of the Gospel. He never backed down from the task in spite of being threatened, rejected, and ignored. He did exactly what God the Father sent Him to do and did it exactly the way God directed Him to do it. He was our example by being completely faithful (Hebrews 3:2). When we face persecutions and difficulties in this world, we can encourage ourselves and one another by remembering that our Lord completed His mission. Because He was a faithful witness, we should seek to follow His example.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, we see the extent to which He was faithful. Not only was He a faithful witness but he was also “the firstborn of the dead”. Now, in some parts of the world being a witness for our Lord may be a matter of life or death. There are brothers and sisters in other countries who have died and will die proclaiming the good news of Christ and living out their faith. The situation in the day that John lived was very similar. People were killed for professing faith in Jesus. That is not the case in this country today. However, people might choose to not associate with us at school or work. If we take a bold stand for Jesus, family or friends might very well shun us or label us “Bible thumpers”. However, we know that just as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, we also will live forever in heaven. His resurrection from the dead proves that God is also going to resurrect us (Romans 8:11). Therefore, whatever happens to us in this world, we can be encouraged that we have a home waiting for us in heaven.<br />
<br />
Lastly, John reminded these believers that governments of this earth do not have the final say. These believers were suffering from officially sanctioned, legal government persecution. John reminds them, then, that the king does not have the final say but in fact Jesus Himself is “the ruler of the kings of the earth”. They may have power and authority over us for a time, but in the end they, like everyone else, will answer to our Lord. We may see people in authority on this earth make decisions that are sinful according to the word of God but we can be encouraged that God is ultimately in control of them. He does not cause anyone to sin but, in some mysterious way, He is able to use sinful men and women to accomplish His purposes in spite of their rebellion. As we see laws made and policies enacted that we know are wrong, let us remember that God is still the Lord over the entire universe.<br />
<br />
We face a time in our nation that is similar in many ways to the situations that the early Christians faced. We can be encouraged by these words just as those early Christians were.Joe Blackmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05609279285784683781noreply@blogger.com0