Truth Magazine

By Dan King

Every teacher has experienced difficulty with class control at one time or another, possibly many times. Students like to get the teacher off on peripheral or incidental matters in order to avoid having to do some assignment or to slow progress so as to minimize work on their own part. Discipline on the part of the teacher is necessary to keep things on the right track. Otherwise, neither teaching nor learning will be accomplished, and the whole teaching-learning process will have broken down. A teacher must first decide what is vital, and then determine to remain with vital things. Both self and class control will be essential to assure success.

Like all teachers from time immemorial, Jesus met with pupils who wanted to divert attention from some immediate doctrine or principle which he considered essential, to something of less import. He could have chosen to spend much time and many words pursuing such incidental questions and subjects. But it would have meant that he was turning away from his high purpose to “chase his tail,” so to speak. Jesus refused to waste precious time and effort upon what was of so little consequence. When he was challenged by the Samaritan woman at Sychar about the Jewish insistence upon centralized worship in Jerusalem, he turned the challenge into an opportunity for instruction on what the Messianic reign would bring:

“Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither in this mountain (Gerazim), nor in Jerusalem shall you worship the Father . . . the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; the Father seeks such people to be his worshippers. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must do so in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24).

He refused to be led away into a debate over the legitimacy of Gerazim or Jerusalem. His kingdom would exalt neither one as primary. So, why pursue the matter at all? It was not vital, so he did not.

There was, however, an issue of more profound significance, and to this he drew attention with the words: “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know; for salvation is of the Jews” (v. 22). An essential question with a Samaritan was the issue of the place of the Messiah’s origin: which people was to be his people, the Jews or the Samaritans? This was not a subject of only peripheral interest, as the following conversation shows:

“The woman said to him, `I know that Messiah is coming (he that is called Christ); when he arrives, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, `I that speak to you am he’ (vv. 25-26).

Jesus was relentless in his pursuit of the main point of their conversation. He had in mind to convince her that he was the Messiah of the Law, promise and prophecy, and would not be sidetracked away from this fundamental didactic goal. It was vital, so it was worth further exploration.

We, as teachers today, need to develop in ourselves the same relentlessness in the pursuit of our main class goals. Preparing ourselves mentally by knowing where we are going and how we intend to get there, then focusing upon attaining this ultimate target by taking the essential steps in this direction one at a time. This is the way to avoid being taken off course. Unswerving mental “focus” is in-deed the key to getting where we want to go as teachers. This we learn from Christ.

Students, help the teacher and the entire class by pre-paring your own lesson in advance and being ready for questions and discussion. But, leave off asking irrelevant questions. Ask questions and offer discussion of matters under immediate consideration. Don’t force the teacher to embarrass you by telling you that your question is more appropriate for another time and another study. Ask “off the wall” questions in private and after the class. Jesus stayed with vital matters, so you stay with vital matters! This will help everyone!

Teachers, keep your class on track. Keep them on the subject. The only way you can do that is by preparing your material adequately in advance and then coming to class and “delivering it.” If you permit yourself to be drawn off the topic of the Bible study onto extraneous and unimportant matters, you have failed as a teacher. Remember, Jesus was flexible enough to answer questions and engage in discussion which was on the subject. But he was inflexible toward the person who merely wanted to send him off onto a “wild goose chase.” Don’t permit one or two of your students to do this to your class. The whole class suffers when you do. Jesus stayed with vital matters, so you stay with vital matters! Learn this important lesson from Jesus.

Guardian of Truth XL: 10 p. 14-15
May 16, 1996

By Jim McDonald

Preaching at Infanta, Quezon

When the seminar at Resurreccion was past, R.J. and I bade each other a sad farewell. He had given nearly three weeks of his time to the Philippine work and had been warmly received by them. Ben Cruz and his family had come to the Resurreccion lectures and R.J. returned to Manila with them. Emilio Alvarez and Rene Ignacio had come to Resurreccion and we traveled with them to Infanta, Quezon. The next four days were spent here as we preached in baranguay halls, nepa huts of Christians and in brethren’s buildings. We were greeted with much argumentation on this trip from “Iglessia Ni Christo” sympathizers. The Iglessia Ni Christo is a very powerful religious group in the Philippines and like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, affirms that Jesus Christ is only a man. But, despite their opposition, teaching continued. We preached in a fishing village called Sitio Bayan where brethren had been conducting classes for nearly a year. Once we had concluded our lesson, one of the village “elders” arose and said to the assembled congregation: “We have been hearing these brethren for several months now and know that they are teaching us the truth. It is decision time for us.” When he had finished 15 men and women expressed their desire to confess faith in Christ and to be baptized into the Lord Jesus. The sea was too turbulent that day for baptizing so brethren had to return on another day to complete the deed. A new congregation was begun on the shores of this sea when their obedience was complete. Aurelio Ruanto, an older preacher from Infanta, will go out and preach for these brethren each Lord’s Day. Aurelio needs help for transportation costs and $25 a month would be sufficient. Is there someone who will have fellowship with this brother as he helps to nurture and edify this infant congregation?

We finished our stay in Infanta by preaching at the Lord’s Day morning worship. Two more expressed a desire to be baptized; one a former Iglessia Ni Christo member.

Mindoro

We returned to Manila from Infanta on Sunday after-noon, preaching to another Manila congregation that evening. Then, we made our way to Ben Cruz’s where we were to meet brethren who would accompany us to Mindoro so that we could preach on that island. We had been at Ben’s scarcely 20 minutes before Lordy Salunga and Rick Darasin arrived. Lordy preaches for the Angeles City brethren and is one of the most able of the preachers in Luzon. He has an excellent grasp of American issues and is sound in the faith. Rick is a fledging young preacher, a convert from Catholicism through the efforts of Lordy, and is the only member of his family who is a Christian. He hails from Leyte, an island of the Visayas, and he with Lordy will make a preaching trip to his people later this year. He also accompanied me to Mindoro. On Monday morning Gady Castres (who is from Mindoro) arrived with his son and we traveled to Batangas so that we might catch a ferry from there to Calapan, one of Mindoro’s largest cities. From Calapan we went to Aurora where we preached and spent the night with Elesio Sikat, preacher for Aurora brethren. There are approximately 15 congregations on Mindoro and during the next three days we visited eight of them. On Thursday of that week we hired a jeepney and traveled 160-170 kilometers to the most remote of congregations, preaching in various places along the way. Brother Menor, aged preacher in Calapan, determined he would make this long, hard trip and although we were fearful for the drain it would make on him, he probably made the trip easier than I did! A few were baptized while we were in Mindoro as in other places.

Return To Manila

Our company returned from Mindoro with three or four Mindoro preachers traveling part of the way with us. Efren Algaba had recently moved his family to Luzon and had begun a work in South-central Luzon, an area that badly needs men like Efren. Two or three Mindoro preachers were going to his place to help him further evangelize, then they would return home to Mindoro. Those brethren who had traveled with me from Manila continued on with me to Manila where we went to brother Cruz’s and they returned to their own homes.

Brother Marrs joined me at Ben’s. It was wonderful to see him! We had been in the Philippines for almost a month but had not really worked together as on our previous two trips together. During the next two days (Saturday and Sunday, January 27, 28 we preached in three different congregations north of Manila, one of which had been badly affected by the explosion of Mt. Pinetubo in the early 1990s. This was a village called “Bettis.” Lahar (liquid lava unleashed upon the towns below by summer rains) had nearly buried the village the year before and government aides warned that the June rains would likely finish the job this year. Inhabitants were warned to get out while yet they could. Many had but many yet remain. The congregation in Bettis has lost many of its people but still a remnant remains. Funds were given to each of the families in the congregation and brother Marrs urged the preacher to be like “Moses” and lead the congregation collectively to a refugee camp provided by the government. In this area the dust was stifling. Beggars lined the sides of the roads with their hands stretched out for alms from those passing by. And yet, as inconceivable as it might seem, we could see TV antennas on the roof tops of their hastily built hovels! During these two days we preached in four different congregations, returning to Manila late Sunday night. About eight were baptized in visits to these four congregations.

Palawan

Palawan is an island southwest of Luzon about an hour distant by plane. Puerto Princessa is its capital city and is one of the cleanest cities we saw in the Philippines. Strict rules against trashing have been passed and are rigidly enforced. Local residents told of one of the national senators who was fined because he threw down a piece of paper or some similar item. Oil exploration and production exists on this island and Muslims eye the island as a prize for them to seize.

There are 16-17 congregations on Palawan. We arrived on Monday and were scheduled to leave on Thursday. First, we conducted a seminar for preachers, giving out tracts, Bibles, and sets of the Jehovah Witnesses material. The next two days were scheduled to be spent teaching churches. We met “Tony” in Palawan. “Tony” was a preacher for the Disciples of Christ, the only preacher for this group in Palawan. He preached for two congregations. He had been taught by brethren and after asking some questions, requested to be baptized. He arranged a quick meeting for us with his congregation the next day.

We traveled from Puerto Princesso to Brooks’ Point where there are three or four other congregations. But, the distance between the two cities is almost 200 kilometers and the roads were terrible. On Wednesday we preached for a congregation just 9-10 kilometers from Brook’s Point, but getting there proved to be a task be-cause we had to ford a river in whose midst our jeepney become “stuck.” There we sat while the water rushed through our jeepney, so high sometimes I had to put my feet on the dash to keep them from getting soaked. On our return we found another jeepney stuck in the same spot so we abandoned the jeepney, crossed on a walkway to the other side and hired a “tricycle” to carry us back to Brooke’s Point where we were to catch a bus back to Puerto Princesso. As the tricycle also went through swirling water it seemed for a moment that we would all be swept into the stream below but the driver managed to wrest control of his tricycle from the current and get us safely to the other side. We spent the next day talking with brethren while waiting for a plane that would carry us to Cebu. (More to come.)

Guardian of Truth XL: 10 p. 12-13
May 16, 1996

By Donnie V. Rader

Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). This series has been about learning to deny our-selves  learning to control or master ourselves. We have seen that God demands self-denial (part 1). We saw that we must suppress our will and put God’s will first (part 2). We learned that meekness is a part of mastering ourselves and we saw how to apply it in our lives (parts 3 and 4). We looked at the principle of temperance and how it applies in so many areas of life (part 5).

In this last article in the series, let’s consider how we can develop self-discipline.

Begin With An “I Can” Attitude

The apostle Paul had an “I can” attitude. He said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). This is not an all inclusive statement. Rather, in con-text Paul is saying that he can do what God expects of him. He can live with or without some of the pleasures of life. He can abound or be abased. In application, I learn that I can fulfill any command, bear any trial, perform any duty, meet any temptation and live in any circumstance with Christ.

Since God expects me to control myself, then I can do it. I can say “No.” I can refrain. I can bridle my tongue. I can quit what I know to be wrong. I can make myself do what I know I need to do (James 4:17). I can do without some things that I may desire and want. I can overcome habits and practices that I have learned and developed.

One who begins with a defeatist attitude will not discipline self. When facing a challenge some will say things like, “I don’t know . . . I’ll try, but I don’t think I can do it.” Or, “It is hard for me to ….”

If we begin with the attitude that we can control our-selves, then that leads to an “I will” attitude (cf. Heb. 6:3). That involves determination. With those attitudes we will master self.

Refuse To Dwell On What You Need To Deny

Too often we dwell on things that we don’t need, can’t afford or can’t do. We spend time thinking about how we would like to get even with someone, knowing all the while that we cannot. We may focus on the fun we are missing by living right. We may think about things we would like to say that we shouldn’t. Ungodly fantasies may camp in our minds.

We must realize that it is hard to “window shop” without either buying something or making ourselves miserable.

The answer is simply to control our thinking. Outward sins come from our thoughts (Matt. 15:19). The point is: stop your thoughts before they lead to sin. Lustful thoughts can lead to adultery (2 Sam. 11; Matt. 5:28). Bitterness and hatred can lead to murder (1 John 3:15).

This principle includes thinking on things that are sinful. We are to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts” (Titus 2:12). It also includes things right within themselves like:

(1) material things beyond our reach (Phil. 4:11; Heb. 13:5), (2) something the doctor has forbidden, or (3) anything to the excess.

Think Before You Act

Joseph is a classic example of this (Gen. 39). When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he thought about: (1) the sin and wickedness involved and (2) the trust that Potiphar had in him. His thinking lead to his control of self.

David said, “I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies” (Psa. 119:59).

Some questions need to be raised (especially in the midst of temptation) to help us learn to exercise self-control:

 Is this how God wants me to respond?

 Am I yielding to my own desires or to the desires of God?

 Will I be controlling myself in this?

 Should I say this? Does it serve any good purpose?

 Is this what I need?

 Can I afford this?

 Can I do without this?

 Will I be ashamed after I do this?

 Will I regret my actions later?

 Would I want my children and other family members knowing if I do this?

It follows that if all sin comes from the wrong thoughts, then the right thoughts lead to right actions (Matt. 15:19). That is one of the reasons why Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, what-ever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy  meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

Recognize God’s Avenues For

Fulfilling Your Desires

Desires and temptations are not wrong. Jesus was tempted, but he did not yield (Heb. 4:15). Desire for some things is natural. What we must realize is that God has a proper way for fulfilling legitimate desires.

Man has the desire to eat. God’s way of fulfilling that desire is that man should work so he can have food to eat (2 Thess. 3:10). His desire to eat should not cause him to violate Bible principles. He can’t steal his food. He must not be a glutton.

Man has a natural sex drive. However, he cannot fulfill that desire any way he chooses. Rather, God’s plan is for that to be fulfilled within the honor of marriage (1 Cor. 7:1-9; Heb. 13:14).

We have desires to deal with or react to things that are said and done to us. Yet, God has a way for us to handle that. If someone has committed a crime against us, we are told, “do not avenge yourselves” (Rom. 12:19). The next chapter shows that God has a way of dealing with that through the civil government (Rom. 13:1-7).

The point is that our desires have to be controlled or channeled.

View Yourself As A Steward

We all are stewards (1 Cor. 4:2; Luke 12:42). That means that God has entrusted us with a number of things in life. We are given responsibility to properly manage them for God. We are stewards of our life, our money, and our time. If we think of ourselves as stewards who will give an account of all that we have, we can develop the self-control that we need.

Remember The Word And What It Says

This is what Jesus did when he was tempted of the devil (Matt. 4:1-11). Joseph did the same thing in recalling that fornication is “great wickedness, and sin against God” (Gen. 39:9). David considered the word as a deterrent to sin. He said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psa. 119:11).

Thus, we must study the word and ever keep it on our minds. We should meditate on it day and night (Psa. 1:2). Our hearts need to be saturated with the word (Deut. 6:6-9). Then, as we recall what the word says on a particular matter, it helps us develop and exercise self-discipline.

We must discipline ourselves to be his disciple.

Guardian of Truth XL: 10 p. 10-11
May 16, 1996

By Donnie V. Rader

Temperance is essential to .. .

Becoming a Christian Basic happiness

Unity

Living pure

A happy marriage

Temperance is needed in .. .

Our temper Our pride

Our words

Our thoughts Our reactions Our will

Our opinions

Our buying and spending

Anything that might be a hindrance to us

General self-discipline (self-help)

God’s word instructs us to be temperate. It is one of the “Christian graces” that is to be added as we grow in grace and in knowledge.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance . . . (2 Peter 1:5-6).

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things (1 Cor. 9:25).

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience (Titus 2:2).

Temperance is self-control. In fact, some translations use that expression in the above passages. A.T. Robertson suggests that it comes from a word describing one “holding him-self in” (Word Pictures of the New Testament, en-line edition).

Passages like the above tell us that we can (and we must) control our-selves. Furthermore, they tell us that we can make ourselves do what we know we need to do. Temperance is a general principle that applies in many areas. Let’s see the things that temperance is essential to and some areas wherein we need to apply it.

Temperance Is Essential To .. .

1. Becoming a Christian (Acts 24:25). One cannot even obey the gospel unless and until he denies his own will and yields to the will of God. That involves controlling self. Repentance involving ceasing things that are contrary to God. That involves self-control.

2. Basic happiness (Matt. 5:5). Those who are truly happy are those who place restraints on themselves. Sometimes young people think that if they can ever get out from under their parent’s rule they will be able to really enjoy life. They think that if they can live without any control, life would be fun. Not so. True happiness comes only when we learn to master ourselves.

3. Unity (Eph. 4:1-3). In this text Paul lays down several attitudes that are essential to have unity. He says, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one an-other in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” These cannot be attained with-out self-control.

4. Living pure (Titus 2:12). God’s grace teaches us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lust”. We must say “NO!” to these in order to live pure. That re-quires self-control. Do you realize that every sin involves a lack of self-control? Thus, temperance is essential to living pure.

5. A happy marriage. Self-denial is essential to harmony in the home. I can’t think of a marriage problem that doesn’t involve a lack of self denial or self-control. Immorality, nagging, lack of communication, lack of love, being inconsiderate and not understanding one another are all due to a lack of self-control.

Several years ago I saw a book about solving marital problems. I haven’t seen a copy of it since. I’ve wished several times I had bought a copy of it then. Throughout the book various problems in marriage were listed and explained. Then below that the answer to the problem was given. As I thumbed through a copy, I noticed that every problem was given the same basic answer: Mark 8:34. That passage deals with self-denial. At the time I thought the approach was quiet simple so I didn’t buy a copy. However, I have thought about that simple approach many times. The more I think about it the more I realize how much self-denial is a factor in a happy marriage. As I see people with marriage problems I can quickly identify that either one or both are not denying themselves.

Temperance Is Needed In .. .

Temperance must be applied in all areas of life. I wonder if we don’t limit the idea of temperance to our temper or our tongue. Certainly, these must be con-trolled. However, there are many areas wherein we must apply self-control.

1. Our temper. The Proverb writer said, “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (14:17). Just twelve verses later he said, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly” (v. 29). The same books states, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (16:32). Again, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (25:28).

2. Our pride. We must control what we think about ourselves. Paul urged all not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think (Rom. 12:3).

3. Our words. While the tongue is hard to control, it is not impossible to handle. We must be slow to speak (James 1:19). If we do not bridle our tongue, our religion is empty and vain (v. 26). The fact that Paul accused some of “saying things which they ought not” (1 Tim. 5:13) suggests that we must control the tongue. In the Proverbs we read, “He who has knowledge spares his words …” (Prov. 17:27).

4. Our Thoughts. Not only our words, but even our thoughts must be put into subjection to the Lord (2 Cor. 10:5). While some say, “I can’t help what I think,” we can and must control our thoughts. Controlling our thoughts means we must: (a) cease lust and immoral fantasies (Matt. 5:28; 2 Tim. 2:22), (b) fight bitterness (James 3:14), (c) be forgiving (Eph. 4:32) and (d) be optimistic (Phil. 4:8, 13).

5. Our reactions. We cannot retaliate when we have been wronged. We must treat others right whether or not they do so to us. Jesus set us an example of controlling our reactions, ” when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten” (1 Peter 2:23). Remember what Jesus said about those who put him on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

6. Our will. We have previously noted that we must yield our will to the will of God in order to become Christians (Acts 24:25). Paul exemplified temperance in his will, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

7. Our opinions. While we may be entitled to hold to our own opinions, we must not bind that which is not a part of divine revelation on others (Rom. 14:22). Thus, we must exercise self-control.

8. Our buying and spending. Many live in debt and struggle with financial difficulties simply because they do not curb their desire to buy and spend. We must be careful about how much we owe. We cannot afford to get to the point that we cannot pay our debts (Rom. 13:8). The impulsive buyer does not exercise temperance.

9. Anything that might be a hindrance to us. That applies even to things right within themselves (1 Cor. 6:12). Whether it be sports, a romance, or a job that could little by little lead me away from my diligent service to the Lord, I must be in control.

10. General self-discipline (self-help). Temperance (self-control) means that I make myself do what I know I need to do. If not, then how could we be practicing self-control? Thus, it includes (a) making myself study the Bible without being forced to prepare lest I be embarrassed in class, (b) working without a boss or time-clock, (c) taking care of my body (using some will power), and (d) con-trolling my time and not wasting it.

Without Temperance .. .

Can you image what life would be like if we threw temperance out the window? We would follow our own de-sires and pleasures. But, then so would others, which might cause harm to us. We would be selfish. We would live like beasts. Unhappiness would fill our lives. Our relationships would turn sour. Our spirituality, our health, our finances, our self-esteem, and our jobs would suffer. Satan would take over and reign in our lives (cf. 1 Cor. 7:5).

Misconceptions About Temperance

It is not unusual for someone to do something like letting their temper flare and then justifying it on the basis of “That’s just my nature” or “I just can’t help it, that’s just the way I am.” A lack of self-control may be your “nature” in the sense that it is something you have developed and learned. However, it is not something beyond your ability to control. Since the Bible demands self-control, we can help what we think, say, and do.

Quite often we hear someone say, “I just don’t have any will-power.” This sounds as if I can’t help it. It suggests that some have will-power and others don’t, just like some are tall and some are short. Thus, if we don’t have any will-power, it is because we haven’t tried to develop and use it.

Conclusion

We can and must control ourselves. Real self-control will not just say “We should . . .” but, “We will . . .” In the last article in this series we will consider how to develop self-discipline.

Guardian of Truth XL: 9 p. 6-7
May 2, 1996