Approximately 1120 B.C., the older men of Israel pleaded with Samuel to appoint for them a king. Samuel prayed to Jehovah. Jehovah instructed Samuel to listen to the people''s request, but he was to counsel them as to what they could expect in rejecting Jehovah as king. (See 1 Samuel 8.)
Israel''s first king was Saul. Many people shouted, "Long live the king!" Some rebels said, "How can this fellow save us?" (1 Samuel 10:24-27.)
Criticism comes to anyone who is doing anything. You cannot avoid it. The question is how are we to respond. In this lesson we''ll discuss how NOT to respond to criticism.
I. When facing criticism, don''t retaliate.
A. Saul "kept silent" (1 Samuel 10:27).
1. The New American Standard and the American Standard translations describe these rebels or troublemakers as worthless. Saul was hearing criticism from people who were without use or worth.
2. How might we react to criticism knowing it comes from someone who''s worthless?
B. Like Saul, when criticism arises we must overcome the temptation to retaliate or strike back.
1. Criticizing the critic may be momentarily satisfying, but we''ll probably regret it later.
2. We need to be as Jesus. He was silent in the face of insults (1 Peter 2:11-12, 21-23).
C. We know Saul held his peace, but what else?
II. When facing criticism, don''t refrain from doing the Lord''s will.
A. It''s possible Saul could find himself facing more criticism. He didn''t shrink back from his responsibility of being a leader out of fear of further criticism.
1. Ammonites threatened the people of Jabesh Gilead. The men of Jabesh wanted to make a covenant or reach an agreement with the Ammoniate king Nahash. Nahash gave one condition: he would make a covenant if he could pluck out their right eyes and in so doing bring disgrace on Israel. The older men of Jabesh asked that Nahash wait seven days to see if their brethren would save them. (See 1 Samuel 11:1-2.)
2. Saul immediately raised an army and freed Jabesh Giliead. He ignored the critics and acted decisively in rescuing his brethren. (I Samuel 11:6-8.)
B. Like Saul, when criticism arises we must overcome the temptation to resist doing the Lord''s will.
1. It''s easy for us to reason within ourselves that if we only stop or step back, we won''t be the target of another person''s critical comments.
2. Consider this: if every believer was to stop doing things that honor God because of criticism then what thoughts would the world have of our Lord and of his people, the church? (Cf. Romans 2:24.)
3. Sometimes the criticism we hear is in an area of judgment. It may not be a matter of right or wrong with regard to God''s revealed will. If that is true then the criticism is certainly imperfect.
C. We know Saul kept silent and accepted God''s will, but what else?
III. When facing criticism, don''t gloat when the critics have been silenced.
A. Saul didn''t brag or flaunt his success in defeating the Ammonites.
1. Saul divided his army into three companies. From morning until midday his army attacked the Ammonites. The account says those who survived dispersed so that no two of them were left together.
2. After defeating the Ammonites, some of Saul''s companions wanted to kill the worthless rebels who criticized Saul''s ability to lead the people but Saul wouldn''t allow it. (See 1 Samuel 11:12-13.)
B. Like Saul, we must resist the temptation to gloat when we prove our critics wrong.
1. We owe kindness and forgiveness to all people, even those who find faults with what we do. (Ephesians 3:32.)
2. Jesus said whoever humbles himself as a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Are you serving Jesus as Lord and Savior in spite of criticism? Sometimes it's easier said than done but if it isn''t being done, our number will diminish and it''ll bring disgrace to the Lord.
Rick Amick
MYSTERY ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD
A BIBLICAL MYSTERY
here is the case of the mystery on the Damascus Road first the facts as written in the holy Scriptures in Acts 22 and in acts 9
1 "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, `Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' 8 "`Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "`I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10 "`What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "`Get up,' the Lord said, `and go into Damascus. There you will be told all
that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
I am inserting acts 9 here to fill in the narative
Acts 9:For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
back to chap. 22
12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews
living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, `Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 "Then he said: `The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
what happened on the road. 1 he heard and saw Jesus 2 how did he react? He asked who are you Lord. Even before knowing whom it was, he was aware of the heavenly authority of the presence. 3 How did he react to the answer I am Jesus who you are persecuting(my paraphrase)? He then said what shall I do Lord He accepted the fact that Jesus was the Lord and accepted his authority over him Let us ,see what these actions mean. Did he believe in Jesus? Absolutely his belief or faith was stronger than I can imagine because he had seen the Lord as Lord. He was definitely confessing Jesus as Lord . And he was showing true repentance by asking what the Lord wanted him to do. I sincerely doubt any of us will ever believe , repent or Confess with the fervor that this apostle of faith. Most of the World has the apostle saved here on the Road but what do the facts, the scriptures say. He was fasting and praying(acts 9:9-11) if he was saved on the road and spent the next three days fasting and praying why did Ananias tell him to wash his sins away. If his salvation was complete on the road and he was praying would not his sin''s have been forgiven, gone, nonexistent? His sin''s were still on his soul. Ananias told him "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." The Apostle of faith did not have his sins removed until he called on the name of Jesus by being baptized to have his sins washed away.
Compare these verses , Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Galatians 3:26 -27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
As you can see there is truly no mystery on the Damascus road God is clear the mystery is why do people continue to believe that Paul''s and their salvation occurs with belief only.
Have you been saved just like the Apostle Paul. Have your sin''s been washed away in baptism because you believe confess his name and repent of your wasted life.
If you haven''t then the words of Ananias are for You "16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.
les Henson
Do you know where you're heading?
Someone once told me that during a great depression, the Irish government provided work for unemployed peasants by having them build roads. The idea of working delighted the peasants. They were energetic. People would often hear them singing as they worked. Then their outlook began to change. The peasants became apathetic. Before long they were showing little or no concern for their work. What happened is that they discovered the roads they were building went nowhere. Upon hearing of this event someone observed: "The roads to nowhere are difficult to make. For a man to work and sing, there must be an end in view." Do we have an end in view?
To have an end in view, we need to define where we want to be. What is it that we want to accomplish? We should be specific and avoid an aimless approach to life. Those who aim at nothing usually hit what they''re aiming at . . . nothing. Jesus said we''re to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Our desire is to allow God complete control or dominion over our hearts. Others will see the evidence of heaven''s rule in our behavior. (Matthew 5-6.)
Not only do we need to define where we want to be but to have an end in view we need to determine what we need to accomplish that end. What is it that we need to accomplish our goal? As for seeking the kingdom of God, we must stop serving self first and God second or not at all (Matthew 6:24, Luke 14:26). We also need to have a healthy regard for the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9). We cannot be of a spiritual kingdom if we allow our fleshly or soulish appetites to control our thoughts and actions (Colossians 3:1-17, Ephesians 5:1-21, et al.).
Not only do we need to determine what we need to reach the end we have in mind, we also should visualize being where we want to be or doing what it is we want to accomplish. The greatest goal for God''s people is entering into the eternal rest. Our receiving the promised rest requires that the Lord''s find us faithful (Hebrews 3:18-4:13, Revelation 2:10). Until then we need to have an attitude that is similar to what Paul expressed in Philippians 3:12-14. We should be reminding ourselves and telling others that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
Productive people know where they''re going, how they''ll arrive, and they envision themselves as achieving their goal. Once they discovered the roads they were building went nowhere the people of Ireland lost their enthusiasm. Do you know where you''re heading? God''s people should be the most productive of any people. We know this life is short. We also know what the Lord''s requires for us to receive the life that is eternal. What are you doing so that you might receive the promised rest?
Rick Amick
The Works of Faith (an outline by Rick Amick)
In Genesis 15:6 we learn that Abraham "believed in the Lord, and he reckoned it for him as righteousness." The basic idea of the Hebrew word for "reckoned" is the employment of the mind in thinking activity. It means to impute or to make a judgment. Abraham believed God and God reckoned Abraham''s belief as righteousness. Later Jesus would tell certain Jews who believed in him, "If you are Abraham''s children, do the deeds of Abraham" (John 8:39). The term "deed" is another word for work or activity. Jesus didn''t have in mind activities outlined within the Mosaic code because the law came 430 years after Abraham. The activities that Jesus had in mind are deeds that a person''s faith compels him to do. If Abraham entertained the idea that his deeds earned God''s blessings then God would not have counted Abraham as righteous. This is where the deeds of Abraham were different from the deeds of the Jews. The Jews knew something of God''s grace, but they erroneously saw the performance of law as the way of meriting God''s favor (Romans 4:1-3).
The intent of this lesson is to understand faith and works, i.e., the quality of faith that leads us to work endlessly on behalf of that faith.
I. WHAT DO SCRIPTURES TEACH US OF FAITH?
A. Scripture teaches us the essence of true religious faith is confidence and conviction -- which are conditions of the mind (Hebrews 11:1).
1. Many people consider Hebrews 11:1 as the defining passage for faith. The verse states the nature of all true faith and it is the only scripture that attempts to define faith. There are also some people whose view is that rather than define faith the Hebrew author is describing the relation of faith to the human soul. The verse answers the question of where the strength of faith lies.
2. Biblical faith contains such power of truth to the believer that the word of the Lord is equal to substance (physical matter) or sensory perception. Sensory evidence is the foundation for belief that comes from that which pertains to any of the faculties, i.e., sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch. Faith is belief or perception without sensory evidence to support the belief (Cf. John 20:24-29).
3. Faith stands in the place of substance or sensory evidence.
B. Scripture teaches us that without faith, it is impossible for any person to be well-pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6).
1. There are two things we must accept without sensory perception; God exists and God freely pays those who seek him.
2. We must accept a belief in the nature of God, and seek fellowship or communion with his divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4ff).
C. Scripture teaches us the gospel is the only source of faith, the faith without which it is impossible to please God (Romans 1:16).
1. The gospel is God''s power unto salvation.
2. Anyone with a trusting heart needs only to hear the gospel or good news regarding the Messiah for him to believe (Romans 10:17).
II. WHAT DO SCRIPTURES TEACH US OF WORKS?
A. Scriptures teach us that by works no person can have a right relationship with God.
1. No amount of past flawless obedience can make up for any present transgression, nor can any amount of future obedience make up for any past transgressions (Galatians 3:10-11).
a. A law of works can regulate life, but it cannot make alive one who is spiritually dead (Romans 7:12).
b. Law is like a mirror that can show us our appearance, but it can do nothing to correct any irregularities.
2. God does not justify anyone by the deeds of law, whether that person is a believer or not (Romans 3:20). [In the Greek of Romans 3:20 there is not a definite article before the word law, which would suggest that Paul has in mind more than the Mosaic code.]
B. Scriptures teach there are works that God expects of his people.
1. One reason God providently preserves Scripture is to provide that which is necessary to equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. The reason Jesus gave himself was that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself people zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14, cf. Ephesians 2:10).
3. God justifies us by works, and not by faith alone (James 2:24).
4. Some see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).
5. Jesus warned saints at Thyatira that he would give to each of them according to their works, which would suggest works can be good or bad (Revelation 2:23).
6. Several passages speak of works or deeds in a favorable manner (Romans 2:10, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Philippians 2:12, Colossians 1:10, 2 Timothy 2:21, Hebrews 10:24, Hebrews 13:21, James 1:25).
III. WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE OF THE RELATION BETWEEN FAITH AND WORKS?
A. Many people who accept Jesus as Lord and Christ have difficulty correlating grace, faith and works.
B. Scriptures teach that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law of works by placing us under the law of faith (Galatians 3:10, 13).
1. Unlike works, faith does not demand flawless conduct. Because faith does not demand flawless conduct, we''re not under condemnation (Romans 6:14).
2. Christ bought us the right to be right with God despite our sins. [Romans 4:8 explicitly state that the Lord does not take into account the sins of those who live by faith.]
C. Scriptures tell us the one who lives by faith rejects his own ability and appeals to Christ for salvation.
1. The only way anyone enjoys peace with God is through Jesus (Romans 5:1).
2. God reconciles us to him through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
3. If you are one who now stands right with God, then it is because God declared you righteous on the ground of Jesus'' perfect and complete work.
D. Scriptures teach us the aim of law is to regulate lives to honor God, not justify man (Romans 3:21).
1. Our objective is to mold or shape our lives in the direction of fulfilling the thing for which law existed, the giving of honor to God (1 Peter 4:11).
2. The believer says to God regarding law, "I am sorry, the best I can offer of myself is not nearly enough to satisfy your righteous and holy demands. Therefore, I trust myself unto the obedience and righteousness of the Christ who died for me." (Luke 17:10.)
3. Only a "legalist" would claim to satisfy God''s demands of holiness by his own holiness. Even the staunchest of legalists can offer less than what law demands [flawless obedience].
E. Scriptures teach us that the quality of saving faith is that which leads us to activity on behalf of that faith (Romans 1:16-17).
1. The gospel message reveals a righteousness or right-standing with God that springs out of a basis of faith in what Christ did for us. The basis of our right relationship whit God is the finished work of Christ, his flawless obedience and sacrificial death for us.
2. The aim of what the gospel reveals is to produce faith within the hearer so that the hearer may walk with God. Through the preaching of the gospel god reveal a righteousness that is from faith to faith. That is, our faith in the finished work of God producing the faith by which we live.
3. One who lives by faith regulates life by his knowledge of God''s will (Colossians 1:10).
We should refuse the concept of judging each other apart from Jesus Christ. The basis of our acceptance before God is the perfect, flawless obedience and sacrificial death of Jesus. We should avoid using ourselves as the standard by which to judge others. We cannot offer God the flawless conduct that law requires. The summoned-of-God needs to be careful not to judge each other''s faith by measuring their behavior against things not explicitly read within God''s word
Calling on the name of the Lord
Acts 2:16- 21 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 "`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This verse very plainly teaches that every person who calls on the Lord''s name will be saved but what does this mean. How does one call on the Lords name? Some would say by using the voice to confess him and to accept his salvation. Let us examine another passage to shed light on this verse
Matthew 7:21
21 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
This verse shows very clearly from our Lord''s own mouth that accepting Jesus and physically calling on his name will not save. These people even did miracles and drove out demons or at least believed they did. And yet were not saved this verse should cause all who proclaim themselves to be Christians to ask am I a Christian will I be saved. If these could be deceived could I be deceived also? Let us examine what was wrong with these people. The first thing is they did not do the will of the father matt.7:21 The context is one of doing good. It reminds me of the verse in James 1:26&27 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Doing good is the first priority in being truly religious then keeping oneself from sin. Nowhere is mentioned doing great things for the Lord or the other ways we judge ourselves. What obeying the father is specifically mentioned here. The verse says "I never knew you this tells us that the obeying the will of the father that Jesus has in mind is not just doing good as a Christian but that which makes one a Christian. He did not say I knew you but you have left me . I never knew you. They never obeyed the will of the father to become Christians to be saved. Even though they cried Lord Lord they did not Call on the name of the Lord in the way that would save them . Let us let Paul shed light on how to Call on the Lords name. Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' That''s right Paul says you call on his name by being baptized to wash your sins away. This agrees exactly with peter where in same the sermon where he says all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved he says Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Do you Love the Lord enough to obey the will of the father and become a Christian by calling on the name of the Lord
les Henson