From Gary... Getting along with others

Good fences make good neighbors. If that is true, then this must be a nice place to live.  After all, just knocking on this person's front door requires a real effort.  Reality is: sometimes its hard to "get along" with others.  So many things can happen; barking dogs,  noise levels at night, kids fighting, dirty looks, envy... and the list is practically endless.  I even had a neighbor once who took over six months to fix his septic tank-- its been over 30 years and I still remember that smell in August!!!  Getting along to go along calms things down and a quiet response solves most problems.  One thing that really helps is prayer, because it changes things and most of the time -- this means you!!!  Jesus put it this way in the Sermon on the Mount...

Matthew, Chapter 5

 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’   44  But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,  45  that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.   46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?   47  If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?   48  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 

Wise words to live by!!!  Beyond the obvious settling effect, people will notice something different about you and wonder.  I can tell you from experience that this message from Jesus is not an easy thing to do, but it is GOD'S WAY and that is the best way!!!  Bottom line is.... be as peaceable with those around you as you can be.  If not, well, pull up your ladder and stay by yourself; and see how long that lasts!!!

From Gary V. Womack... Thankfulness

Thankfulness

TEXT:  Lk. 17:11-19

Thanks An expression of gratitude. Grateful acknowledgment of something received by or done for one.

ALL HAD A NEED

Rom. 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the 

                  glory of God."

Eph. 2:11-13 WE WERE ONCE WITHOUT GOD & 

                     WITHOUT HOPE.

Jas. 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is 

                from above, and comes down from the 

                Father of lights, with whom there is no 

                variation or shadow of turning."

ALL ASKED FOR HELP (MERCY) - 

We should ASK for our needs - it is an expression

of trust on our part to ASK.

Ja. 4:2-3 "You lust and do not have. You murder 

              and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and 

              war. Yet you do not have because you do 

              not ask. (3) You ask and do not receive, 

              because you ask amiss, that you may 

              spend it on your pleasures."

Mt. 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and 

               you will find; knock, and it will be opened. 

               (8) For everyone who asks receives, and 

               he who seeks finds, and to him who  

               knocks it will be opened."

ALL OBEYED HIS COMMAND - He tested their faith by telling them to go to the priest before they were healed.

Jas. 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when you 

                 fall into various trials, (3) knowing that 

                 the testing of your faith produces 

                 patience."

Mt. 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, 

               Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 

               but he who does the will of My Father in 

               heaven."

OBEDIENCE IS THE CONDITION OF ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN

Rev. 22:14 "Blessed are those who do His 

                  commandments, that they may have

                  the right to the tree of life, and may 

                  enter through the gates into the city."

ONE WAS THANKFUL - 9 of them were 

                                      not thankful.

2 Tim. 3:1-5

                   "In the last days, some would be 

                   unthankful

NOTICE the sins that unthankfulness is listed with.

Rom. 1:21 "because, although they knew God, they 

                 did not glorify Him as God, nor were 

                 thankful, but became futile in their 

                 thoughts, and their foolish hearts were 

                 darkened."

HOW HE EXPRESSED HIS THANKS:

HE RETURNED - "Gratitude goes out of its way to express itself." (gvw)

HE GLORIFIED GOD WITH A LOUD VOICE

Rev. 4:9-11 In heaven, God is glorified in 

                   thanksgiving and praise. Will there be 

                   any room for the unthankful in Heaven?

HE FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET - Humility. NOTICE again in:

2 Tim. 3:2 the boastful and the proud are 

                 unthankful. Do we fall down at His feet in 

                 prayer to thank Him - or do we let days 

                 go by without speaking to Him.?

HE THANKED HIM "There is no thankfulness where it is not expressed." (gvw)

Col. 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do 

                all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving 

                thanks to God."

Psm. 100:1-ff "...enter into His gates with 

                          thanksgiving..."

INVITATION

To refuse God's generous offer of His Son is to express unthankfulness

To believe and obey is the greatest expression of thankfulness there is:

Acts 16:30-34

Notice the thankfulness of the Philippian jailer -

He believed the gospel & was baptized He served those he had imprisoned He rejoiced in believing

From Jim McGuiggan... God Punishing the Innocent (2)

God Punishing the Innocent (2)

God created us a community and he works with us as a human community. This is a matter of critical importance. If we look not only at "sin/curse" texts but also at blessing texts we see that God's works just as surely in a community/humanity way in blessing as in cursing. We see it in life, everywhere in life, and we have Christ's affirmation of God sending rain/sunshine/fruitful seasons/heart gladness on humanity (Matthew 5, Acts 14,). Then there's Acts 17 where we're told that God gives "life and everything else" to humanity and that "in him we live..."—this is true of humanity.

God's visiting sin on children of those who hate him means they bear the consequences of the fathers' crimes when God punishes the guilty fathers. The innocent are not regarded as actual sinners so God has no intention of punishing them. But God does not exempt the children from suffering though he does not "punish" them. An earthly judge who sends an embezzling father to prison does not "punish" his four children though he certainly knows his decision means loss for the children. The earthly judge has no option but to act within the "community" nature of life that the Holy Father has chosen to create and within which he insists on working. The earthly judge (so to speak) "visits the sin of the father on the children."

The reverse is also true. "Showing mercy" to the children of lovers of God (an Old Testament doctrine) has nothing to do with attributing "moral goodness" to a child who has done neither good nor evil. It is the reverse process of "visiting sin". It is the God-determined and "natural" overflow of blessing that comes to a child whose parents are blessed by God. The blessing of the children is the result not of their personal holiness and love of God; it comes to them through the love of their parents and God's consequent blessing.

But even in passages like Exodus 20:6 we aren't being taught that mercy is only shown to the children of God-lovers—see the universal texts above from Acts. Nor are we to conclude that Exodus 20:5 or Deuteronomy 5:8 are iron clad retributive threats much less "imputation" texts. These promise/threats are part of a larger picture and over-arching purpose. God extends and retracts them as suits his purpose. Lovers of God suffer and non-lovers are blessed.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Alternatives To The Resurrection

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

              Alternatives To The Resurrection (28:11-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. There are certain facts of history that no one can deny...
   a. Many people testified they saw Jesus raised from the dead
   b. These same people suffered greatly because of their testimony
   -- Such facts support the actual resurrection of Jesus from the dead

2. From the beginning, there have been alternative theories to explain
   the empty tomb...
   a. Matthew records the earliest theory: the disciples stole the body
      - Mt 28:11-15
   b. Other theories have been raised as well

3. Because of the significance of the resurrection (described in a
   previous lesson)...
   a. Those opposed to the gospel know this event must be discredited
   b. We who believe in Jesus must always be ready to provide a defense
      - 1Pe 3:15
      1) Not only why we accept the testimony of the witnesses (see
         previous lesson)
      2) But why we find alternative explanations impossible to accept

[In this study, we shall consider various "Alternatives To The
Resurrection", and why they are inadequate to explain the empty tomb.
We begin with the first explanation...]

I. THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The disciples stole the body, then claimed He rose from the
         dead
      2. This was the "official" theory offered from the very beginning
         - Mt 28:11-15

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The explanation defies logic
         a. If the soldiers were asleep...
            1) How did they know it was the disciples who took the
               body?
            2) How could the large stone guarding the entrance be
               rolled away without awakening the soldiers?
         b. The soldiers guarding the tomb were Romans - Mt 27:62-66
            1) They were professional soldiers
            2) Charged to guard the tomb with their lives
            3) The punishment for falling asleep on duty was death
      2. This would make those who testified they saw Jesus liars and
         frauds
         a. As we saw in the previous lesson, they claimed empirical
            evidence
         b. Suppose just a few disciples stole the body, unbeknown by
            others...
            1) Such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, or the women
            2) Others still say they saw Jesus, ate and drank with Him
         c. You have to explain why they were willing to lie and die
            knowing it was a lie

[The likelihood of timid disciples stealing the body of Jesus out from
under the noses of highly disciplined and skilled Roman soldiers while
they slept (an offense punishable by death) is hard to believe! Perhaps
that is why those who refuse to believe in the resurrection have
proposed alternative explanations, one being...]

II. THEY WENT TO THE WRONG TOMB

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The women went to the wrong tomb, and found it empty
      2. They erroneously concluded that Jesus had risen, and their
         story spread

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The women had been to the tomb before - Mt 27:61
      2. The religious and political leaders could have easily silenced
         the apostles' claim
         a. If the women went to the wrong tomb, then the right tomb
            was still sealed and guarded by the Roman soldiers
         b. When the apostles' created an uproar with their story of
            the resurrection of Jesus (cf. Ac 4:1-2; 5:27-33), the
            Jewish leaders could have directed people to the right tomb
            and presented the body of Jesus!
      3. You still have the testimony of the apostles to contend with

[A more popular explanation in some circles is...]

III. JESUS SWOONED AND LATER REVIVED

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. Jesus did not actually die on the cross, He only swooned
         a. Suffering from shock, pain, and loss of blood, He fainted
            (swooned) from exhaustion
         b. Thinking that He was dead, the Roman soldiers took Him down
            and buried Him in the tomb
      2. In the coolness of the tomb, Jesus revived
         a. Somehow He left the tomb
         b. Appeared to His disciples, then lived in obscurity to die
            years later

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. Jesus would have had to revive sufficiently enough to:
         a. Break through the burial garments that bound Him, including
            a hundred pounds of spices used in preparing His body for
            burial - Jn 19:38-40
         b. Role away the large stone that sealed the tomb
         c. Fight off the Roman guards protecting the tomb
         d. Walk the seven miles to Emmaus where He was seen by the two
            disciples
         e. Walk back to Jerusalem where He was seen by the apostles
         -- All within the same day!
      2. Every effort was made to prove He was dead
         a. The Roman soldiers at the cross pierced His side - Jn 19:
            31-34
            1) Out of which flowed blood and water
            2) An indication He was already dead, having died of a
               ruptured heart
         b. Pilate made sure He was dead - Mk 15:43-45
            1) When Joseph of Arimathea wanted the body
            2) The Roman centurion confirmed that Jesus was dead
      3. Not only would this make the apostles liars and frauds, but
         Jesus also for allowing a lie to spread for years!

[Another popular alternative explanation is...]

IV. THE DISCIPLES HAD HALLUCINATIONS OR VISIONS

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. All of Christ's post-resurrection appearances were only
         supposed appearances
      2. Those who claimed to see Jesus had hallucinations

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. Remember that the appearances were not just to individuals,
         one at a time
         a. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus claimed to see Him
            - Lk 24:13-35
         b. Ten apostles claimed to see Him - Jn 20:19-25
         c. He appeared to over 500 people at once - 1Co 15:6
      2. The hallucination theory contradicts laws and principles which
         psychiatrists say are essential to hallucinations:
         a. Only certain kinds of people have hallucinations
            1) These are usually high-strung, highly imaginative, and
               very nervous people
            2) Usually only paranoid or schizophrenic individuals have
               hallucinations
            3) The appearances were not restricted to people of any
               particular psychological make up
         b. Hallucinations are linked in an individual's subconscious
            1) An individual may have an hallucination
            2) But hallucinations do not appear to groups of people
         c. They occur in people when there is a spirit of anticipation
            or hopeful expectation
            1) The disciples had no such anticipation - Lk 24:13-21
            2) They were prone to disbelieve even after they were told
               of the resurrection - Jn 20:24-25

[Then there is the theory that...]

V. SOMEONE IMPERSONATED JESUS

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The appearances were not really Christ at all, but someone
         impersonating Him
      2. This is evident because in some cases they did not recognize
         Him at first

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The disciples were reluctant to believe in the resurrection
         a. Some were doubtful, such as Thomas - Jn 20:24-25
         b. It would have been hard to convince them unless it was
            really Him
      2. It would have been impossible to impersonate Christ's wounds
         a. This was Christ's proof it was really Him - Jn 20:26-27
         b. Which convinced doubting Thomas - Jn 20:28-29
      3. The apostles traveled with Jesus for three years
         a. It is incredible that anyone could have gotten away with an
            impersonation
         b. Which is why the apostles were witnesses of the 
            resurrection - Ac 10:39-41
      4. The one claiming to be Jesus performed miracles
         a. Suddenly appearing in locked rooms - Jn 20:19
         b. Directing them how to catch fish - Jn 21:1-7

[Closely related to this would be the theory that...]

VI. SOMEONE WAS MISTAKEN FOR JESUS

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The disciples simply mistook for Jesus someone who looked like
         Him
      2. For example, the women mistook the gardener for Jesus - Jn 20:
         14-15

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The same problems as with the impersonation theory
         a. Disciples reluctant to believe in the resurrection
         b. Impossible to recreate the wounds of Jesus
         c. Ample time with Jesus to verify His identity
      2. While Mary may have mistaken Jesus for the gardener, she was
         able to look through her grief and recognize who He was

[Finally, here is an alternative proposed by some theologians who just
cannot accept the idea of a physical, bodily resurrection...]

VII. IT WAS ONLY A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. Christ's resurrection was not a real physical resurrection
      2. Christ's body remained in the grave and His real resurrection
         was spiritual in nature
      3. It was only told this way to illustrate the truth of spiritual
         resurrection

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. If it was only a spiritual resurrection, what happened to the
         body?
         a. The enemies of Christ were never able to produce a body
         b. Which they would have gladly done to discredit the apostles
      2. Again, the nature of the apostles' testimony is empirical:
         they ate and drank with Him, touched Him - Lk 24:36-43; Ac 10:
         39-41; 1Jn 1:1-2
      3. Paul argued a bodily resurrection of Jesus as evidence for our
         own bodily resurrection - 1Co 15:12-58

CONCLUSION

1. The resurrection of Jesus has been variously interpreted as...
   a. A great hoax (the resurrection is false)
   b. Mythology (the resurrection is fiction)
   -- Therefore various alternatives have been proposed to explain the
      empty tomb

2. But there is only one interpretation worth accepting...
   a. It is the supreme event of history (the resurrection is fact)
   b. Supported by empirical testimony provided by reliable witnesses
   c. With implications of great significance for both unbeliever and
      believer alike

When you consider the strength of the apostles' testimony, and contrast
it with the weakness of the alternative explanations that have been
proposed, it leads an honest person in only one direction:  to faith in
Jesus Christ as the Son of God...

   "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His
   disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are
   written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
   of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
                                                     (Jn 20:30-31)

Are you willing to believe in Jesus, that you might have life in His
name?  Then heed the words of the apostle Peter proclaimed in the first
gospel sermon:

   "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
   has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
   to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what
   shall we do?"  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every
   one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
   remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
   Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to
   all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
                                                       (Ac 2:36-39)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011