Contents
Falling From Glory - By Don McClain
People Talk -
James L.(Jim) Yopp
(Electronic Edition)
(Romans 1:16)
July
The Gospel Spotlight is a
publication of the
Contents Falling From Glory - By Don
McClain People Talk -
"T
Falling From Glory -
By Don
McClain The glories of Solomon’s
kingdom are described in 1 Kings, chapters 9 and 10. After building and
dedicating the temple, (8:62-66), The Lord appeared to Solomon the second time,
(9:2), presenting him with a glimpse of the future of his kingdom. If the
kingdom was to continue in prosperity, Solomon and his sons must continue to
follow the Lord, (9:4,5), The choice was Solomon’s – serve and obey the Lord,
ensuring the continued success of Israel, or assure its fall by turning from
following the Lord (9:6-9). We know the sad tale of Solomon’s apostasy, how his
700 wives turned his heart from the Lord, (11:3), thus the downward trek, and
fateful end of a once mighty and glorious kingdom was put into motion.
After several adversaries
began to rise against Solomon, Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon rebelled against
him. God sent a prophet to Jeroboam informing him that he would one day be king
over ten tribes of Israel, but for the sake of David, Judah would remain under
the rule of David’s descendants, (11:30-37). Jeroboam was then presented with
the same information and choices given to Solomon, "38‘Then it shall be, if you
heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight,
to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be
with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will
give Israel to you. 39‘And I will afflict the descendants of David because of
this, but not forever," (11:38-39). Chapter twelve opens with
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon being appointed king over Israel. Jeroboam had fled
from Solomon to Egypt for protection, (11:40), but when he heard of Solomon’s
death, and Rehoboam being made king, he returned and assembled with the people
of Israel before the newly appointed king, (12:2,3). Basically, Jeroboam and the
people ask for a huge tax cut and offered Rehoboam their allegiance if their
request was granted. Rehoboam turns to the wise elders to hear their advice as
to how he should respond to the people, their advice was – "If you will be a
servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good
words to them, then they will be your servants forever", (12:6,7). Rehoboam
however didn’t think the wise elders were all that wise, so he rejected their
counsel and sought out the advice of his younger, inexperienced peers,
(12:8-11). The advice they gave was - "Thus you should speak to this people . .
. . whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my
father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!,"
(12:11). The result was inevitable – the kingdom was divided, Jeroboam was made
king over ten tribes of Israel, leaving Rehoboam with the tribes of Judah and
Benjamin. The course for a once mighty, glorious, and prosperous nation was set.
After the division, (925 BC),
Jeroboam set up idols in Dan and Bethel to prevent the people from going to
God’s appointed city to worship, (12:26-30). He also established acts of worship
similar to those found in the Law of God, (12:31-33). But, similar isn’t the
same! How the religious world needs to see this simple truth today! The apostasy of the northern
ten tribes accelerated and eventually, nearly 200 years later (721 BC), the
northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria, (2 Kings 17:5-23). Judah was
conquered 135 years later, (586) by Babylon. The fruits of apostasy are
sometimes slow to be realized, but in its beginning, the steps taken to get the
apostasy ball rolling are all too evident! Israel’s apostasy began with a once
God-fearing, wise, honorable, powerful, and wealthy man who allowed his "love
for many foreign women" (11:1), to carry him away from the straight and narrow
path of God’s Law. He permitted the godless to influence his course in life. He
turned his heart away from The Lord to idolatry. The son of this once wise king
continued the apostasy by refusing the counsel of the wise elders, allowing his
greed and pride to influence his decision to accept the advice of his young and
foolish peers. The result was disastrous - A divided house cannot stand, (Luke
11:17). Associating with the
wrong people, How important is it to choose
spiritually minded people as our friends and companions in this life? With the
exception of one’s choice of becoming a Christian, the most important choice one
can make is that of choosing one’s spouse. Many have been ruined spiritually
because they chose poorly in marriage! (1 Cor. 15:33)Rejecting God, and turning
to the world Such is seldom an
over-night thing . . . . It is usually a gradual process of the desensitization
of our conscience. Things once recognized as absolutely wrong are now only
questionable. Things once held as being important and a matter of principle are
now deemed as "not that big a deal." We see this trend in our society with
adultery and homosexuality. – We see this attitude in the religious world and
even in the church as people reject the authority of God and pursue to do and
worship as they please. (1 Cor. 2:4)Ignoring the counsel of godly, wise and
experienced people, Why do many young people
think they know it all? "The elders are just old fashioned" . . . "The preacher
is stuck in the 50’s," . . . Elders, faithful preachers, parents and
grandparents have things very valuable to share and only fools refuse to listen!
‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and
fear your God: I am the Lord.’ (Leviticus 19:32) Accepting the advice given by
those who are inexperienced and governed by the world and selfish ambition.
It is bad enough not to listen
to folks who have been around the block a few times, but many compound the
problem by listening to their spiritually blind peers. It is true that many
people today are better "educated" than those of the previous generation, but .
. . the wisdom and understanding gained through years of living is invaluable! –
Those who reject the council of the aged for the council of the inexperienced
young are walking in the steps of Rehoboam and eventually stand where he stood –
in a world of trouble!Allowing sin to dominate and control us, refusing to
repent. Sin enslaves – Sin distorts
one’s perception – Sin takes one farther than one intends to go – Sin holds one
longer than one wants to stay – Sin DESTROYS relationships, reputations,
influence for good, whatever joy and peace one may have had, not to mention the
eternal condemnation of the soul! The moment that our
heart turns from His Word, we begin a journey that leads to eternal condemnation
unless we repent and remain on the course set forth in God’s Word. Sin has a way
of taking us much further than we initially intend to go, and the love affair
developed between the apostate and the world is a relationship that is extremely
difficult to overcome. But - It can be DONE if we are willing to repent! (Luke
15:11-24). Only when we fully follow the Lord are we assured of success! And by
the way - It’s our choice!
People Talk James L.(Jim) Yopp The above may seem like an
understatement. It is certainly true that people talk: men, women, boys, girls,
and any other class we could talk about. The power of speech is a wonderful
asset. It the faculty God used to communicate with man. It is the faculty men
use to: communicate with one another. It can also be a source of much anguish
and/or misinformation. PEOPLE TALK when they should
listen. - Have you not realized in your
own life--how much better off you could have been--how much profit you could
have been--how much less trouble you could have faced--if you listened? The
Pharisees should have listened to Christ instead of trying to intimidate their
disciples by long and smooth speeches. PEOPLE TALK about things they
should not. - Railings, slanders,
obscenities, and all unruly speech should have no place in the life of a
disciple(Ephesians 5:4). Our communication media(TV, radio, newspaper) has
become the excuse for evil minded men to ply their trade through the cry of
"free speech." Yet, we should have as much right to pick up a newspaper, watch a
TV program, or go to a movie without being subjected to the vile eruptions that
pollute the spiritual atmosphere that should exist around us. PEOPLE TALK about things they know
nothing about. - Gossip comes in many
forms, from many sources, and is prompted by impure motives. Some people delight
in finding a receptacle for their latest "news." The garbage collectors then
spread their misinformation into minds not already infected with seeds of
accusation. Gossip is not limited to some lady(old or young) leaning over a
neighbor's fence. It is found in barber shops, preacher's gatherings, and living
rooms. It is not becoming, wherever found. Whether told on a person, on a
congregation, on an eldership, or on a preacher, it spreads infections that
cannot result in good. Falsely accused people or congregations become the
unwilling victims of those who lick their lips and feel they have done no
wrong. PEOPLE TALK about good things when
they are Christians. - Speech is a
product of a person's heart(Matthew l2:34-35). The child of God is sowing the
good seed of righteous speech to give grace to those who take the time to
listen(Colossians 4:6). Does your speech match your profession? PEOPLE TALK to their friends and
neighbors about the truth when they are interested in the souls of others.
- When the woman at the well realized
the power and knowledge of God, she told her fellow townsmen. Cornelius wanted
his family to know of the truth. We are certainly commanded to be ready to "give
answer"(1 Peter 3:l5) and, should be prepared to talk to others. We will have
our friends in for a social talk--how about having them in for a lesson on the
Bible? PEOPLE TALK about pleasing God by
following the word of God when they are disciples. - The speech of those who are members of Christ's church
should reflect the idea of "speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent
where it is silent." Our voices should be used to demand "book, chapter, and
verse" for every thing we do of a religious nature. If we talked more about
seeking Bible authority, we would avoid the Ashdodic speech which seems to creep
into so many modern conversations. People will talk. What is
important is HOW they talk and WHAT they talk about. By the way, what HAVE I
been saying?
Test all things" 1 Thess. 5:21 Warren E. Berkley - (From Expository Files, July
2003) There are many people with some
desire to be religious, but not enough desire to dig in to read and study the
Bible. Many of these just find a man, a preacher, and trust him. Whatever he
says, they depend upon; he is their "man of God," in a sense beyond the
biblical. They believe what he says; trust his answers to every question,
resting the salvation of their souls in him. They still read and study the Bible
some, but always take his word. Not a good idea because no man is
infallible. Regardless of how much you
love someone, that affection does not make them infallible. Men may prove
themselves to be educated, eloquent, charming and able to fill buildings with
people. Yet they remain fallible, capable of error. Those in Berea searched the
Scriptures daily, to see if what they were hearing was true to God’s Word (Acts
17:11). John and Peter both warned of
false teachers, and Jesus said they may come to us in sheep’s clothing (Matt.
7:15; 1 Jno. 4:1; 2 Pet. 2:1). John said our duty is to "test the spirits," and
Paul said: "Test everything. Hold on to the good." (1 Thess. 5:21). There is one body of religious
instruction that should govern all that we believe, teach and practice. That is,
the Word of God. Nothing should be accepted as true; nothing should be practiced
or recommended – unless it is taught in the Word of God. Each individual must
take this obligation seriously.
What the Empty Seat Says John Isaac Edwards "Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Tomorrow is the new moon: and
thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty" (1 Sam. 20:18). One of the
greatest problems facing many churches today is that of empty seats. The empty
seat says much. Just what does the empty seat say? 1.) Some are not putting the Lord’s church first. Jesus
taught, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all
these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom, the Lord’s
church, is to come first before everything else! Whenever my seat is empty, it
says that my priorities are all mixed up. 2.) Some are of little faith. The context of Matthew 6:33
finds Jesus talking about folks who were worried about the material things of
life. In verse 30 Jesus said, "Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the
field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much
more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" The Lord assures us that as we put the
church first He will take care of us. One reason many seats are empty is that of
folks working and such indicates a lack of faith. 3.) Some do not properly value their influence. Whether we
realize it or not, all of us possess influence. The Lord declared, "Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). My attendance has a tremendous
influence on others. Think about your influence on your fellow members, your
family, visitors, new converts, and the like when your seat is empty. Wouldn’t
it be tragic if your lack of attendance influenced others to not attend? 4.) Some do not love the Lord. Hebrews 10:25 shows
attendance to be a command of God, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching." Obedience is proof of our love for the
Lord. Jesus revealed, "If a man loves me, he will keep my words . . ." (John
14:23). To forsake the assembling is to disobey the Lord! 5.) Some are not building up the church. Each member of the
Lord’s body has a responsibility to supply a part to build up the church (Eph.
4:10-16). Faithful attendance on the part of each member goes a long way in
making the church strong! 6.) Some have moved away or died. Let’s not overlook the
point that some seats are empty because folks have moved away or passed away.
When those who are faithful and involved are gone, they are truly missed (1 Sam.
20:18). Let us work to fill these seats with new converts by teaching others (2
Tim. 2:2). (This article was taken from The Westside Messenger)
Before I Speak . . . Carl McMurray In Jas. 4:9, James writes, "Do not complain brethren against
one another..." It is pointed in a different direction, but the thought is still
the same in 1 Cor. 10:10 where the apostle instructs Christians not to grumble.
Surely we understand God's admonition not to complain and grumble, but when we
are unhappy about something, how many of us stop to consider if we are about to
sin with our tongue? An article by Cathy Miller in Discipleship Journal,
May-June 1998, addresses this problem with seven quest- ions to help us break
the complaining habit. 1. Am I The Problem? If I were quiet would there be a problem at
all, or am I just being self-centered and wanting things to suit me? 2. What Is My Real Motive In Complaining? Does my compla- int
glorify God or help me to serve others in some way? Want- ing to make someone
else look bad or desiring attention would be impure motives. 3. Am I Being Humble, Gentle, Patient And Forbearing With Others?
(Eph. 4:1-3). 4. Am I Genuinely Interested In Submitting To The Church's Elders?
(Heb. 13:17). Be careful lest our complaint be little more than a thinly
disguised case of rebellion. 5. Am I Demanding That Others Be Perfect? If not, exactly what
mistakes will I allow others to make without complaint? Matt. 7:12 indicates
that I should first consider how I would feel if someone took this same
complaint to the elders about me. 6. Can I State My Complaint In The Form Of An Encouraging
Suggestion Rather Than A Hurtful Criticism? (Col. 3:12-14). 7. Am I Willing To Be Part Of The Solution? Your willingness to
help and be active in solving the problem gives validity to your recommendation.
It says you are willing to do more than grumble. Back up your words with actions
(Jas. 1:23-25). Consider the above before you speak against another and God will
bless you for your self-control and thoughtfulness toward His family. ----Carl
McMurray in Gospel Power, Vol. 10, No. 27, July 6, 2003.
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