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The Battle For The Soul

Speaker

Why Do We Do It That Way?

Tracy Moyers

Why Do “I” Do What “I” do?

“I” not Preacher, Teacher, Parents, etc… We live in a society that says, anything

goes as long as It doesn’t hurt anyone Makes someone feel better (uplifted) Gives someone hope

Why Do “I” Do What “I” do?

What reasons/motivations have you heard from people when asked “Why” they do __ The Bible says so

My preacher, church or parents do it that way God wants me to be happy “I” don’t see why God would have a problem with

this. You can’t judge me --Judge not lest you be judged

(Matt. 7:1) As long as I am sincere, God doesn’t care

Three Questions of the Hour

Does God care what I believe or do?

How did Jesus and the apostles answer questions about what one should believe or do?

How do I answer these questions today?

Did God Care During the Patriarchal Age?

Adam and Eve had one command to obey Did God care if they kept it? What happened?

What about the sacrifices of Cain and Abel? Did God care how they offered their sacrifice? What happened?

God commanded Lot and his family to flee Sodom and Gomorrah and not look back. Did God mind when Lot’s wife lingered behind

longing for what she was leaving?

Did God Care During the Mosaical Age?

God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock Did God mind that Moses hit the rock instead? (Num. 20:12) What happened?

Nadab and Abihu got excited and began to offer “new worship”

Did God care how they offered their sacrifice? (Lev. 10:2-3) What happened?

Uzzah put his hand out to steady the Ark when it looked like it was going to fall from the cart.

Did God mind? (1 Chr 15:13) What happened?

These were all religious and sincere people!

Does God Care During the Christian Age?

Jesus was asked the same question about authority for what he was teaching. Matt. 21:23

Jesus didn’t reject the question. John’s teaching – was it from heaven or man? He was clear with them His authority was from heaven.

Peter and John are put in prison for preaching Christ Acts 4:7 Jews asked, “By what power (authority) or by what

name have you done this?” Acts 4:8-12 Peter answered, “We do it in the name of Jesus

Christ.” The need for authority never goes away.

Does God Care During the Christian Age?

Col. 3:16-17 – Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.

James 1:21-25 – Be ye a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

Rom. 2:16 – God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

John 12:48 – We will be judged by the words Jesus spoke.

Matt. 7:21-ff – Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom – only the ones who do the will of my Father.

Does God Care?

Is worship for the One being worshiped or for the worshiper? If it is for the “One” being worshiped, then

who should define how it is done? How many decide how they worship based on

what they will get out of the service?

Shouldn’t it be based on what we put into the worship?

How did Jesus answer questions

I am impressed with the number of times Jesus answered a question with Have you not read … It is written …

Jesus answered questions, by quoting scripture

Jesus Tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:1-10)

Satan: Command these stones to become bread Jesus’ Response: It is written, man shall not live by

bread alone

Satan: Throw yourself down Jesus’ Response: It is written, you shall not tempt

the Lord your God

Satan: Worship me and I will give “the world” Jesus’ Response: Away with you, it is written, you

shall serve the Lord your God

Jesus Questioned by the Pharisees

Jesus and His disciples pluck grain to eat on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1-8) Pharisees: Look, your disciples sin, harvesting on

the Sabbath. Jesus: Have you not read what David did …

Pharisees question Jesus on marriage and divorce (Matt. 19:1-10) Jesus: Have you not read that He who made them at

the beginning made them male and female ...

Jesus Questioned by the Leaders

By what authority are you doing these things? (Matt. 21)

Jesus is teaching about the Jew’s rejection of God’s plan: Have you not read the stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone.

The Sadducees challenge Him concerning the resurrection from the dead (Matt. 22:23-34) Jesus begins with “You are mistaken not knowing

the scriptures …” Then He continues in verse 31, “Have you not read,

what was spoken to you by God, …”

The Scripture Can be Read and Understood

Many will try to teach the Bible is too hard for people to understand.

Do the following passages agree with this? 2 Cor. 1:12-14 – We are not writing any other things

to you than what you read or understand. Eph. 3:1-5 – When you read you may understand my

knowledge of the mystery …

The Scripture Can be Read and Understood

Many will try to teach the Bible is too hard for people to understand.

Do the following passages agree with this? 1 Tim. 4:13 – Paul instructs Timothy to give attention

to the reading, exhortation and doctrine. 2 Tim. 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself

approved, … rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 3:14-17 – All Scripture are profitable for …

which will make you complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Sometimes we need help

Remember the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:28-35) He needed help understanding what he was reading Notice Phillip started where he was “reading” and

taught him Jesus

Peter admits that some of Paul’s writings were hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15-18) Some even twisted and perverted his words

How do I answer these questions today?

We must cultivate a “thus says the Lord” attitude toward any question.

Why? His kingdom is not a democracy! (Eph. 1:22-23) We are to “Seek First the Kingdom of God” (Matt.

6:33) We will be judged by the word (John 12:48)

How do I answer these questions today?

When faced with a question Read scripture Honestly look for what God has to say on the

subject. Obey commands Mimic examples

When someone asks a question of you, can you answer with “thus says the Lord”

Can You Give Book, Chapter and Verse?Acts of Worship•Singing ___________•Praying ___________•Giving ____________•Teaching __________•Lord’s Supper __________

Names Describing the Church•Church of God __________•Church of Christ __________•House of God __________•Household of Faith _________

Names Describing the Church•Disciples __________•Christians __________•Saints __________•Brethren __________

1 Tim. 3:15Gal. 6:10

Rom. 16:161 Cor. 1:2

Acts 11:26Romans 1:7

Acts 11:26

Galatians 6:1

Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:161 Tim. 2:11 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8

Acts 20Acts 20:7

Can you give at least one passage for each act of worship you do each week?

We must respect God’s Silence

Silence is prohibitive not permissive. 1 Cor. 4:6; Deut. 12:32; Josh. 1:7; Rev. 22:18-19

When God tells us how to do something, it excludes everything else.

We must understand the laws of inclusion and exclusion. Male lamb of the first year without blemish excludes

all others. Ex. 12:5 Unleavened bread and fruit of the vine excludes

other things. Matt. 26:26-29

We must respect God’s Silence

Many seek authorization for their wrongful practices by asking, “Where did God say not do it?”

If this were true, we could practice about anything we wanted to and not be wrong Nadab and Abihu offered fire, which the Lord “commanded them

not” Lev. 10:1-2 Moses struck the rock and did not enter the Promised Land. Num.

20:9-12 We have outlined for us a pattern for worship to God when

we assemble Teaching, Giving, Lord’s Supper, Praying, Singing. Acts 2:42; Eph.

5:19; 2 Cor.16:1-2 These things are given to the exclusion of all else To add anything else to our worship would be intruding into the

silence of God

AuthorityBible Doctrine/Worship

Is there Scripture?YES NO

Read/Study

Understand

Observe/Apply

Respect God’sSilence!

God’s Silence is not permission!

And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 3:17

Three Questions of the Hour

Does God care what I believe or do? Yes!

How did Jesus answer questions about what one should believe or do? Have you not read … It is written …

How do I answer these questions today? Thus says the Lord, …

Questions?

Do You Have Any Questions?

Tracy Moyerstmoyers@hiwaay.net

The following slides are extra information that will not be covered during the session. However, it is includes for your future studies. If we can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Types of Authority

Specific God has given us commands in which we have no

choices. God has already made the choices and we simply

comply

General God has gives a command in which He has left us

with choices as to how to carry the command out.

Let’s look at a few examples

Noah builds an Ark (Gen. 6)

Build an ark (box) Given specific dimensions and type of wood to use, Specific instructions for doors, windows and deck

Specific Build an ark means Noah couldn’t build a car, plane,

balloon, etc.. Use gopher wood meant Noah couldn’t use oak, pine, steel,

plastic, etc.. General

No specific command as to tools So Noah could use hammer and nails or glue to hold it together He can use any type of saw. God simply didn’t specify leaving this part up to Noah.

Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20)

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Specific Go (where?) into all the world Teach (what?) the gospel (Mark 16:15-16) (To whom) all nations “every creature” (Do what) baptize them (authority) in the name of the Father,

Son and Holy Spirit General

Go (how?) by foot, boat, animal, car, plane, etc… Baptize (in what type of water?) river, pool, sea, tub, etc..

Command to Assemble Heb. 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 5:4

..not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another..

Specific Assemble Give, pray, sing, Lord Supper and teach Day (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2)

General Time of day is left to us (Morning or evening) Number of times to assemble is up to us Location of the assembly is up to us (upper room, home,

synagogue, building, etc…) The location is never central in the passages

How do we establish authority?

Command - Direct statement from God’s Word

Example - An inspired example set forth in the N.T.

Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

How do we establish authority?

Command - Direct statement from God’s Word These are simply commandments that

must be heeded if we want to please God “Go into ..” (Mark 16:15). Illustration: Lord’s Supper, “This do...” (1

Cor.11:23-25) Example - An inspired example set forth in the N.T. Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

How do we establish authority? Command - Direct statement from God’s Word

Example - An inspired example set forth in the N.T. Instead of directly telling us to do a thing, God

sometimes tells us indirectly by giving us an example of first century Christians practicing it. “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ” (1

Cor.11:1). Illustration: Lord’s Supper, by example we

learn what day it should be practiced, “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7).

We also learn of the need of a plurality of elders by example Acts 14:23.

Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

How do we establish authority? Command - Direct statement from God’s Word Example of Jesus and Inspired apostles Logical Conclusions – Necessary Inferences

These are truths which are not specifically, directly, or expressly stated, but which are nevertheless revealed, because they necessarily follow as a logical consequence of what is stated. Jesus made use of logical conclusions Mt.22:23-32. Illustration: Lord’s Supper, We learn how often we are to partake of

the Lord’s Supper, how often does the first day of the week come? (You have to use the brain God gave you.)

The command to assemble (Heb.10:25) requires a place to assemble, conclusion: we have authority to provide a place.