Truth Magazine

By Clarence W. Fell

Personal work is essential for growth. If we don’t do the work then no work gets done. Unfortunately our attitude is not always as it should be toward personal work. We get tired and discouraged because we sometimes see little success from our efforts. Then the Devil steps in and starts whispering, “What’s the use? No one wants to hear the Bible anymore.” Tired and discouraged we are tempted to agree. We start trying to convince ourselves that we can do all our personal work by example from now on. Many of us have felt something like this at one time or another. Not even elders, deacons, teachers and preachers are immune. Therefore, having faced the temptation first hand, I made up a list of motivators to help adjust an improper attitude. I trust you will find some encouragement in the following points.

1. You can’t lose them all. The law of averages guarantees you will win some sooner or later. Hang in there and stick with it (Heb. 3:14).

2. At any given time it is reasonable to say that one percent or more of your area population is interested in a Bible topic (Eccl. 3:11). It’s a matter of fishing until you find them and then developing a friendly relationship.

3. When digging for diamonds you have to go through a lot of dirt. The same is true when searching for honest hearts (Matt. 7:13-14). But it’s worth it (Lk. 15:10).

4. Sincere efforts in evangelism please God even if we don’t change the world by our efforts (2 Tim. 4:1-5).

5. There is no set quota that you must fill. God simply requires that you keep trying (Rev. 2:10). Eventually you’ll lead someone to Jesus.

6. Not even Jesus had a 100 percent success rate so why should we expect to convert everyone we approach (Mk. 10:17-22).

7. Facing the challenge of evangelism indicates maturity. Avoiding the challenge indicates immaturity (Heb. 5:12-14).

8. Doing what you can in evangelism shows you care for the lot. Talk is cheap and actions do speak louder than words (Jas. 2:14-26).

9. Doing what you are able to do in evangelism shows you understand God’s desire for Christians to do what they are able to do (Matt. 25:14-30).

10. Doing what we are able to do in evangelism shows we care for the local work (1 Jn. 2:3-6).

11. The few (or many) successes you have will be worth all the effort. They will be the most valuable successes of your life (Matt. 16:26).

12. You can’t catch fish if you don’t keep your bait in the water. Be a persistent fisherman (Matt. 4:18-20). You’re not a loser until you quit.

13. Persistence will pay off! (Matt. 10:22)

14. Continuous effort and contact bring you closer to success (Acts 18:4; 19:8-10).

15. Every effort when viewed in retrospect will probably teach you something and move you further up the ladder of maturity (Heb. 5:14).

16. It is not your individual responsibility to convert the entire world, but rather to make an honest, sincere and continuous effort in the area you live (Mk. 5:18-20).

17. There is life for the personal worker after “no” (Lk. 9:5-6).

18. There is no greater challenge than that of becoming proficient in personal evangelism. Few exercise the selfdiscipline necessary to become proficient at personal evangelism (Matt. 9:37). Will you be one of them?

19. What better way to express your love and appreciation to God and others than through personal evangelism (Jn. 15:14; 2 Cor. 5:14)?

20. Success in evangelism is one of the greatest feelings on earth. It’s great to fall asleep with a smile on your face. Go for it! (Gal. 6:4)

21. Doing evangelistic work is active involvement in life. It is not being a spectator, bystander or a couch potato, it is participation in life. It’s really living, having a part in life, making a difference and having a purpose (Matt. 12:30).

22. It is my legal, consAitutional and God-given right to approach anyone in a polite manner and endeavor to interest him in the Bible (Rom. 13:1-7).

23. Eternity is in the heart of man, every man (Eccl. 3:11). God put it there! The prospect may have buried it deep and deny that it is there but it is there and we can appeal to it. Man has not changed. He is the same as ever (Eccl. 1:9).

24. Set a good example for the congregation: do personal work! (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 2:7-8)

25. A barren Christian is a contradiction of terms (Matt. 13:23).

26. Our job is not just to hold the fort but rather to storm the heights also (Jude 3).

27. The world is seeking someone to follow and will follow someone. Will it be Jesus or Satan? (Matt. 9:35-38; 12:30)

28. People are hungry for a better way of life. Show them the better way that Jesus offers (Jn. 10: 8-11).

29. Faith is a natural part of man. He believes in many things (doctors, dentists, banks, news reports, history, friends, etc.). He can also believe in God if he chooses to do so (Jn. 20:30-31).

30. Satan cannot stop you (Rom. 8:31-39).

31. Let’s face it, there is no magic formula; if the church is going to grow we must work (Rom. 10:14-15).

32. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. No pain, no gain (2 Tim. 2:3).

33. If one idea doesn’t work, try another one. Never, never, never quit (Gal. 6:9).

34. Today is a new day. Forget yesterday’s failures and move on (Phil. 3:12-16).

35. God doesn’t reward laziness but he does reward diligence (Heb. 11:6).

36. Personal work is like swimming in cold water. You’re uncomfortable at first but after a while you don’t want to get out (Acts 8:14).

37. When you evangelize you are part of the solution. When you don’t, you’re part of the problem (Matt. 12:30).

38. Even if you are on the right track you’ll still get run over if you just sit there (Rev. 3:15-16). Christianity is a race (Heb. 12:1). Get up and get moving! (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

39. The crucifixion (Matt. 26:46-27:56). How can we sit idle when Jesus suffered and died that we might have the hope of salvation (2 Cor. 5:14).

So there you have it. I trust that one or more of these thoughts will be of help to you when facing discouragement. Keep the list handy and if you start getting discouraged refer to it and adjust your attitude before the problem becomes too serious (Rev. 3:15-16).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 21, pp. 643-644
November 7, 1991

By Lewis Willis

The Akron Beacon Journal (6-30-91), published an article about the Mormon Church. The article was based on an investigation by another newspaper, the Arizona Republic. The thrust of the investigation had to do with the finances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Arizona Republic reported that the Mormon Church is “an $8 billion-a-year corporation, comparable with Union Carbide and Borden Products.” If you should place them on the Fortune 500 list of industrial corporations, they would rank about 110th.

The “newspaper said that it was able to conclude that the Mormon Church controls at least 100 companies or businesses. . . Never borrows money to finance its acquisitions. It pays cash, using a portion of its members’ contributions and its business income. . . Has become one of the nation’s largest private landowners, with holdings in all 50 states . . . Has an investment portfolio of stocks and bonds in excess of $1 billion . . . Appoints spiritual leaders who can double as business leaders to oversee real estate, communications, tourism, insurance and education operations.”

Two of its investments, ZCMI Department Stores and Beneficial Life Insurance Co., have grown into multimillion-dollar operations. They have amassed more than $1 billion in farm, ranch and other real estate holdings. Among these holdings are 315,000 acres near Orlando, Florida, said to be worth $250 million.

The newspaper said, “The diversified corporate organization built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is apparently free of financial fraud or personal wealth-building among top officials.” Mormons are required by religious doctrine to tithe 10 percent of their gross income. About 1/3 of Mormon families are thought to do so. The majority of the church’s money is spent for religious purposes: worship, missions and education, according to the newspaper.

“The newspaper said the figures (about the financial worth of the Mormon Church, LW) were conservative estimates based on an eight-month investigation. Accurately assessing the church’s finances from the outside is impossible, however, because Mormon leaders in 1959 stopped releasing financial reports, even to their own members.”

From these facts and figures, it is rather evident why the Mormon Church has such clout in our country. It is also obvious why the state of Utah bows to their wishes, since Salt Lake City is their headquarters and their members dominate the population. But, is all of this scriptural?

The New Testament Church is clearly different from such operations as the Mormon Church. If one knew nothing of the doctrines of the two churches, the difference between them would still be evident. The Mormon Church is either a church which has gone into business, or, a business which operates a church. The New Testament Church is content to be nothing but the church.

You can look through every page of the New Testament and you will be unable to find anything indicating that the First Century Church was also a business enterprise. There are no commands, approved apostolic examples or statements that necessarily infer that God intended the church to be in business. In other words, the Scriptures are silent on this matter.

Some think that they are authorized to act if the Scriptures are silent. Nothing could be farther from the Truth. In fact, the very opposite is the case. Does God’s silence about mechanical instrumental music mean that it is alright to use it? I believe God was silent about using cornbread and buttermilk on the Lord’s table. Does that mean that it is alright to use these elements, instead of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine? God was silent about infant baptism. Does his silence constitute authority for us to start baptizing babies? He was silent about sprinkling as an acceptable form of baptism. Does his silence indicate consent?

The answer to all of the questions above is evident. God’s silence is not consent. In fact, God’s silence is a prohibition against action, because such action is unauthorized. The Lord’s church recognizes such, and limits its action accordingly. Therefore, it does not own land, department stores, insurance companies, or stocks and bonds, etc. When a church is engaged in such business enterprises, that becomes one way of identifying that it is not the New Testament church.

The church of Christ will continue to teach its members that God said, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Cor. 16:2). We will continue to exhort, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). We believe that such is sufficient to enable the church to do the work that God assigned to it: evangelism, benevolence and edification (Eph. 4:12). The commandments of the Lord shall remain in force in the church of Christ, thus distinguishing it from the churches of men, which set themselves up in business. And, we shall note the difference so that all can see.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 21, 641, 663
November 7, 1991

By Sewell Hall

On the evening of February 28th, this year, Ken and Jean Chaney slipped off of an isolated icy road in California, and soon their car was almost completely covered with snow. There was little or no chance of being rescued until the spring thaw, too far in the future to offer any hope of survival. They faced the ordeal of freezing or starvation, the certainty that one or the other would see a companion die and then go on to face death alone. How would you react in such circumstances? Would you be calm or distraught? How would you spend your time? On what would you depend for strength to cope?

Every responsible human being has faced or will face such crises as these – traumatic personal experiences, the loss of loved ones and death itself. These may not come all at once, as in this case, but they surely must be faced sooner or later by everyone of us.

As Jesus met with his disciples in the upper room on the very eve of his betrayal, he knew better than they the terrible challenges they were about to face. Although they had not yet comprehended the reality of his approaching crucifixion, they were already expressing concern about his insistence that he was about to “go away.” They had depended on him for everything; how crushed they would be to see him crucified and buried!

Jesus knew, too, the personal jeopardy they would sense as his disciples. Peter would feel so threatened that he would Heaven, A Comfort to the Troubled. . . actually deny him. Most of the others would scatter. And when reports of his resurrection began to circulate, they would bar the doors in fear. Jesus could see down into the future the persecution and death which they would face because of faith in him.

What could Jesus say to comfort them for the moment and for the future? As always, he knew the words to say:

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so ‘ I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (Jn. 14:1-3).

These words can serve to comfort us as they comforted them.

Grounds of Comfort

First, there is comfort in believing in God and in his Son. We are not in a world governed by fate or chance. God made it and he is in control. The earthly sojourn of his son reassures us that he knows our needs and is concerned for our welfare. “He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)

Second, there is comfort in his words of consolation. it is heart-warming to look through the Bible and see the reaction of God, his angels, and his Son when his children were frightened. In these verses it is, “Let not your heart be troubled.” The words, “Do not be afraid,” are found more than 70 times in Scripture.

But the Lord goes further to provide specific promises. He assures us that there are many dwelling places in his Father’s house, that he was going to prepare one for us, that he would come again to receive us, and that our dwelling place will be with him forever.

Many Bible students consider this a promise of the fellowship that Christians now enjoy as result of Christ’s going away to the Father and offering his shed blood for our redemption. But in view of many passages about heaven which seem to beparallel to this one, we are confident that we do no violence to the truth if we interpret this promise in the usual way: that Jesus was promising a dwelling place in heaven to his anxious and fearful disciples.

The Comfort of Hope

The hope of heaven is the greatest possible comfort in times of affliction. Abraham “sojourned in the land of promise as in a fcreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:9-10). The weight of heavenly glory which Paul anticipated made the afflictions that he was suffering seem light, and the eternity of that glory made his afflictions seem to be “but for the moment” (2 Cor. 4:17). Peter observed that the saints to whom he wrote greatly rejoiced in their heavenly inheritance, though for the time being they were “grieved by various trials” (1 Pet. 1:3-6). Climaxing the book of Revelation, written to encourage those who were oppressed by Roman persecution, is a picture of the saints at home with God. Jesus himself, “for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). If these notable sufferers found comfort in the hope of heaven, so can we.

Look away from the cross to the glittering crown,

From your cares, weary one, look away;

There’s a home for the soul, where no sorrow can come

And where pleasures will never decay.

The hope of heaven is the greatest possible comfort when we lose our Christian loved ones. Though David could not bring his dead son back, he took comfort in the fact that he could go to him (2 Sam. 12:23). Jesus comforted bereaved Martha with the promise, “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (Jn. 11:25). Paul wrote to Thessalonian Christians who were sorrowing over the loss of their brethren, assuring them that at the coming of the Lord those dead saints would be caught up together with the living saints to meet the Lord in the air, “and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). To this he added, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (v. 18). What greater comfort could be found in bereavement than the words of Revelation 14-13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

Called home from service to reward,

Called home from toil to rest;

Thy soul from earthly sense hath gone

To dwell among the blest.

Called home from rugged paths of time,

To tread the street of gold;

Around thee lies a land sublime,

All glorious to behold.

If the hope of heaven comforts us in affliction and in the loss of loved ones, how much greater is the comfort when we ourselves face the spectre of death! Without the assurances of God’s word, the approach of death would be the most frightful experience possible; how we all fear the unknown! But faith in the exceeding precious promises of God and of his Son robs death of its terror. Walking by faith, we see death as a move from an earthly tent in which we groan into “a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1). We see it as the moment of victory, the successful end of the race. We see it as the gate through which we pass to obtain the reward for which we have lived our lives, and to experience the union with our Lord in that place which he has prepared for us where we “shall be like him” (1 Jn. 3:2) and live with him and with the Father forever.

After the battle, peace will be given;

After the weeping, song there will be;

After the journey, there will be heaven,

Burdens will fall, and we shall be free.

– James Rowe

The comfort which the hope of heaven brings is evident in the lives of saints who appear on the pages of Scripture. What Bible student would fail to think of the courage of Paul as he faced death, confident that “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give unto me on that day” (2 Tim. 4:8)? The hope of heaven demonstrated by the martyrs of the early centuries, even in the face of death, so adorned the doctrine of Christ as to challenge the Roman Emperor to bow at the feet of him who could inspire such calmness in death.

The Chaneys who were stuck in the snow-bank kept a diary which was found when their bodies were discovered weeks later. Their attitude was summarized in the words, “Here we are, completely in God’s hand! What better place to be!” They spent their time singing hymns, taking catnaps and quoting Bible verses. Their diary included admonitions to their children and grandchildren. And it closed, 18 days after it was begun, with this observation: “Dad went to the Lord at 7:30 this evening. It was so peaceful I didn’t even know he left. That last thing I heard him say was, ‘Thank the Lord.’ I think I’ll be with him soon.”

The hope of heaven still comforts the troubled heart.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 20, pp. 627-629
October 17, 1991

By Mike Willis

In recent issues, I have been studying Philippians 4 to learn principles of spiritual health which enable us to enjoy life’s best moments and to endure its adversities. We have previously emphasized that good spiritual health requires the following: (a) Rejoicing in the Lord; (b) Letting your moderation be known to all men; (c) Living with the awareness that the Lord is at hand; (d) Being anxious for nothing; (e) Thinking on things which are pure; (f) Being content with one’s circumstances. In this lesson, I want to emphasize that good spiritual health requires the confidence that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (4:13).

An Abused Verse

The positive mental attitude philosophy has used this verse to prop up their philosophy which teaches that man can do anything he thinks he can do. The positive mental attitude philosophy teaches that correct thinking releases powers enabling men to reach their own potentials. Typical of this human philosophy are the writings of Norman Vincent Peale who said, “Send out positive belief thoughts and they will strongly tend to bring back belief results” (You Can If You Think You Can 42). To generate these positive thoughts, Peale recommends the following technique:

As you walk down the street tonight I suggest that you repeat certain words which I shall give you. Say them over several times after you get into bed. When you awaken tomorrow, repeat them three times before arising. On the way to your important appointment say them three additional times. Do this with an attitude of faith and you will receive sufficient strength and ability to deal with this problem. . . .

Following is the affirmation which I gave him – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). (The Power of Positive Thinking 14).

Paul was not teaching unlimited human potential when he said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” He knew there were limitations imposed on him by his native abilities, God’s providence, and external circumstances. To imply from this verse that man has the ability to accomplish anything he can think is to teach the omnipotence of man! R. Finlayson wrote,

That does not mean that we can

“Rift the hills or roll the waters,

Flash the lightning, weigh the sun.”

Such an omnipotence is not like us; it is only like the One, and such glory he cannot give to another…. It must mean that we can do all things such as are like us or can be expected of us (Pulpit Commentary: Philippians 182).

What the Verse Is Teaching

The Christian is subject to temptation, adverse circumstances, and human suffering. The Lord is promising strength to enable us to overcome every circumstance. There are a number of passages which confirm that this is true, including the following:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10: 13).

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4).

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (Jn. 15:4,5,7).

Albert Barnes commented on this passage as follows:

From the experience which Paul had in these various circumstances of life, he comes to the general conclusion that he could “do all things.” He could bear any trial, perform any duty, subdue any evil propensity of his nature, and meet all the temptations incident to any condition of prosperity or adversity. His own experience in the various changes of life had warranted him in arriving at this conclusion; and he now expresses the firm confidence that nothing would be required of him which he would not be able to perform (Barnes Notes: Philippians 219).

From this knowledge Barnes added that we should learn these lessons:

(1) That we need not sink under any trial, for there is one who can strengthen us. (2) That we need not yield to temptation. There is one who is able to make a way for our escape. (3) That we need not be harassed, and vexed, and tortured with improper thoughts and unholy desires. There is one who can enable us to banish such thoughts from the mind, and restore the right balance to the affections of the soul. (4) That we need not dread what is to come. Trials, temptations, poverty, want, persecution, may await us; but we need not sink into despondency. At every step of life Christ is able to strengthen us, and can bring us triumphantly through (220).

Our strength is not in ourselves but in Christ. Our confidence is not in our own ability but in Christ. Were I leaning upon my strength alone, I would have no confidence that I could be victorious over sin. Relying on that strength which Christ provides, I have full assurance that I can win the victor.

There is no justification in excusing sin by such comments as “I am only human.” Comments such as this imply that sin is somehow inherent to our humanity, as if it were caused by a corrupt human nature, or imply that God did not provide sufficient help to enable us to resist sin’s temptations. Neither of these is true. Humans sin because they chose to sin, not because of an inherited defect or lack of divine grace.

Christ Strengthens Us

This and other passages teach that Christ strengthens us (cf. Col. 1:11; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:17). How does the Lord strengthen us? He does not act miraculously to give us strength. Here are some ways we are strengthened:

1. Through the word. David said, “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word” (Psa. 119:28).

2. Through our brethren. The Lord told Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Lk. 22:32). Exhortation from and the good example of our brethren gives us strength to persevere.

3. Through prayer. Godly men prayed for God to give them strength (Neh. 6:9). God answers the prayers of his saints.

In addition to these things, God works providentially in the life of every man. The circumstances which men face strengthen him, if he will follow God’s word as he faces temptation.

Take Courage

I take courage from such statements as Paul made in this text – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” I witness others whO have survived the struggles of life and lived faithfully to their God and know that I can do the same. They experienced the same trials common to man which I face and they overcame through faith in Christ.

I take courage from the promise of divine grace to help me in the time of need (1 Cor. 10: 13; Heb. 4:16). Knowing that God is with me, who can be against me?

Conclusion

The powerful spiritual principles which Paul taught in this chapter show us how he faced the adverse circumstances in his life, all the while maintaining his faithfulness to the Lord. We will do well to study them and take courage from the promises of God. Indeed, we too can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 21, pp. 642, 662
November 7, 1991