The Qualities Of Noble Male Leadership

Warren E. Berkley

¹After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. ²And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, ³he consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. ⁴Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the springs and the brook that ran through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” ⁵And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. ⁶Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, ⁷“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. ⁸With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chron. 32:1-8)

 Observe in this passage several qualities of noble male leadership. These are exemplified by Hezekiah’s response to the threat of Sennacherib. The Assyrian invaded Judah, hoping to conquer key cities. When this threat came to the attention of Hezekiah he took prudent actions immediately.

 We learn that threats should be “…met with courage, energy, intelligence, and piety. These qualities Hezekiah was now showing. He had given way to trepidation, and he had resorted to means which were unworthy of his position and his piety (see 2 Kings 18:9-16). But now he was in a nobler mood. His courage rose to the occasion (ver. 7); his energy was manifested in the effective measures (vers. 4, 5) he took to distress and to disappoint the enemy; his intelligence was shown in his taking counsel with the strongest and wisest of his people, in the rapidity of the measures he adopted and in their sagacity, and also in his effort to inspire the people with confidence and security; his piety shone forth in his address to the people, calling on them to remember that they had not an ‘arm of flesh,’ but ‘the Lord their God,’ to lean upon. Let us meet any form of trouble — disappointment, loss, bereavement, sickness, or any affliction whatsoever — in this spirit and with these qualities, and it will not master us; we shall prevail over it. It will not leave desolation and ruin in its track; it will rather leave benefit and blessing behind it.” (Clarkson, Pulpit Commentary) These comments are helpful and true. But our focus now is directed to the noble qualities of male leadership.

 At this time in Hezekiah’s reign as king, his leadership was marked by mature watchfulness. Verse 2 says that king Hezekiah “saw” what Sennacherib was doing; it came to his attention. National defense requires that leaders be vigilant. It is necessary to watch for the approach of any threat to the people. At Ft. Meade, Maryland there is a park called “National Vigilance Park.” It is dedicated to honor the pilots in various wars who flew missions of aerial reconnaissance. These men and their leaders were watching; alert to threats and the approach of the enemy. Hezekiah was that kind of leader. He saw the approaching threat and was alert to the danger; ready to respond because of duty to God and man.

 Then, the Bible says He consulted with his officials (vss. 1-3). Good leaders confer and consult, asking for a good plan from qualified people; listening to people of wisdom. There can be great value in listening to people who know and who care. One quality of noble leadership is to listen and learn from others. Hezekiah saw the enemy threat and consulted with his officials.

 Then He went to work. Verse 5 says, “he worked hard.” Water supplies accessible to the Assyrians were blocked off. Walls were repaired and fortifications made stronger. Bulwarks were urgently erected. Weapons and shields were manufactured. Defensive preparations were undertaken by the authority and under the orders of the vigilant king. We should know, even when we see the threat of the enemy; even when we consult with those who are qualified to help and we form a plan, the plan doesn’t work itself. The plan must be activated by people. The work must be done.

Likewise, in the components of noble leadership, we observe in Hezekiah – delegation. Verse 6 says that “he appointed” men to do certain things. Good leaders realize, they cannot do everything alone. There must be the participation of others; a team effort. Good leaders use the process of delegation. Not only do they consult with others, they assign duties to qualified people. Certainly not every task can be delegated. Mature leaders must carefully consider what can and what cannot be delegated. Care must be taken to delegate duty to people who are qualified. Higher efficiency, productivity and success is often directly related to skills of delegation. Woodrow Wilson once said: "I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow."

Hezekiah encouraging his people. In any nation, any organization, any family, any church, morale/attitude is critical! There needs to be an environment of hope. It is good for people to hear their leaders say: “This is right; this is good!”  “With us is the Lord our God.” “Let us press on, with love for God and love for each other.” Think of leaders as encouragers in that which is good, right and valuable. Hezekiah filled that role. He was watchful; consulted with qualified people; labored (active faith); delegated wisely and encouraged the people. These are the defining characteristics of noble leadership. One more thing . . .

A defining component of Godly Leadership is (in verse 20): Prayer. “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer…” All leadership; all work; all efforts –  must be submitted to God, for His care and guidance (Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6).

Take these qualities of noble male leadership, and move into the practical applications! Think of national leaders, spiritual leader and family leaders.

National Leaders should find in this biblical example a model for noble leadership. Governing authorities should watch for all approaching threats. They should consult with those who are wise and skilled. Our leaders should labor to activate a good plan. Civil servants need to appoint or delegate duties to qualified people (not just those to whom favors are owed). And never overlook the value of encouraging the citizens to be faithful, to do what is right, to act in the interests and good of all. Leaders should lead to generate and encourage these components of good morale.

Spiritual leaders - in the New Testament, elders. It both necessary and good for congregations to be led by men who are devoted to these defining characteristics of noble male leadership. Elders must be watchful – aware of threats against the flock (Acts 20:27-32). Elders should be willing to consult; to take into account or consider the wishes and wisdom of those in the clock with ability and goodwill. Elders must be workers; laborers in the vineyard who can delegate various aspects of work to people who are qualified. And spiritual leaders need to encourage the flock in that which is good and right. These are the defining characteristics of good & noble leadership. Our prayers and efforts should be directed to our young men who can become elders some day. {Observe in the text, the unity of the people under good leadership: “they helped him … many people gathered … the people were strengthened.”}

Fathers, Husbands!

If you are a husband and/or a father – God expects you to be a spiritual leader in your family. In Eph. 6:4, Fathers are addressed and assigned the work of “the training and admonition of the Lord” in the responsibility they have to their children. In Eph. 5:23, “the husband is the head of the wife.” God expects husbands and fathers to be spiritual leaders.

This is more than just financial support. This includes but is not limited to physical provision of shelter, food and clothing. We are here placing stress on Spiritual Leadership!

We must get back to thinking of husbands and fathers as spiritual leaders in the home! Read the Bible to your family, and led them in prayer. Be certain your children attend their Bible classes, and do whatever reading and assignments they are given. Encourage the whole family in the direction of full participation in the work of the church. And don’t allow sports, entertainment and secular activities to rob your children of that participation!

The time is past and remains urgent today to emphasize this; to re-establish heads of households as the spiritual leaders in the home. Fathers and Husbands, consider the model of efficient leadership exemplified by Hezekiah.

1.       WATCHFULNESS. This simply means looking, monitoring – aware of the influences, threats and weaknesses in your family. Pay attention daddy!

2.       CONSULTATION: getting help you may need, from wise and qualified people to address the threats you must respond to.

3.       LABOR is the matter of working hard for the spiritual success of your home; for a godly marriage and for children who become faithful to the Lord.

4.       DELEGATION involves assigning various duties to family members, fairly and in keeping with the goal of godliness and purity.

5.       ENCOURAGEMENT. The apostle Paul was very careful to say this to fathers: “…do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged,” (Col. 3:21). This directs fathers to sincerely engage in the opposite of discouragement. This prohibits discouragement and places the duty on fathers to impart and inspire encouragement. Praise your children in what is right; convey to them your love and care for them; explain your concerns about their spiritual future. Talk to them  about God, about obeying the gospel; read and pray with them. Encourage them from the early ages, to be morally discerning people of godly character. It will not just happen!

And may I add, the first step in leadership in the home is to be led by the Lord yourself! You cannot be ungodly and lead in a godly manner. You cannot do things that are wrong and effectively lead people in what is right.

One of the pressing needs of our time in the home, the church and the nation is noble male leadership! Women cannot do it all. Women have their assignment from God and great power and influence comes to pass, when godly women accept the challenges and duties, which in some cases – men have neglected and shunned! But let us never give up calling upon men to be accountable; to learn noble leadership from Bible examples, like this one in 2 Chron. 32.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”

The Absolute Word of God

by Kenneth R. Peden

Luke 1:13-20

13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 And Zacharias said to the angel “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

Like a 2:00 a.m. telephone call that changes your life forever; so was the announcement of the coming of John the Baptist. Unexpected and without warning, Zacharias received this message of God through the angel Gabriel. For a moment put yourself in Zacharias’ position as he learns first hand the power of the Creator.

"You shall call his name John” For Zacharias this name would seem unusual. No one in his family had ever been called by this name. In our day and age it is not unusual to hear of families giving new and unusual names to their children. But not in Zacharias’ day! Back then there were traditions and traditions were to be honored, not broken. At any rate, though the name John may not have made the short list, it certainly was not inappropriate. The name “John” means “Jehovah hath been gracious.” Truly God had been gracious to allow Zacharias and Elizabeth to have a child in their old age, but more than that, God had now lifted a four hundred year span of silence to utter words of comfort to the whole nation of Israel and ultimately to all of us. The next message of God by the angel is one of promise.

“You will have joy and gladness” When God says “you will have joy and gladness” be assured that it will be like nothing you could ever imagine. In the days of Zacharias, every nation in the known world was subject to the Roman government. If that were not enough, the common Jews had been cut off from the Law of Moses by the religious leaders of their day. With no hope of overcoming the Roman oppression, and no real perspective of God's law, the people of Israel existed with little or no hope. The arrival of John would change all of this. That is not to say that John would defeat the Romans or open a college of law studies. It simply means that for the first time in centuries, the common man would have hope in righteousness. John was an uncommon preacher for the common man. His message of repentance and searching for the kingdom to come, indeed "turned the hearts of the fathers to their children." But before this joy would take place, Zacharias would have a startling lesson to learn.

“You did not believe” When you doubt the word of God, be aware! God has noted your unbelief. We live in a world full of negative influences from the evil one. The questions that surround us every day may tempt us to doubt God’s word. You must not! You may never have the answers to all the questions of this world, but you should never, never allow your inability to understand cause you to disbelieve. Zacharias could not understand how a child could be born to Elizabeth at such an old age but he should not have doubted the ability of God. Dear reader listen, God saw the disbelief of Zacharias, and He can also see yours.

“You will be mute” As Zacharias soon found out, doubting God's word has its consequences. The miracle of the angel's visit should have been sufficient as proof of God’s word. Yet like many today, Zacharias was unable to clearly see this because he was too focused on the physical impossibilities of man. Later God did send further proof to Zacharias, yet it came in the form of a rebuke. For nearly a year Zacharias would be unable to speak. The silence of Zacharias was only temporary; however, the final consequence of disbelief is eternal condemnation.

In each of these four statements the words of God were absolute. The command was clear: “You shall call his name John.” The result was likewise manifest in the life of John: “You shall have joy and gladness.” Zacharias’ disbelief was visible to God: “You did not believe.” And the consequences of disbelief were brought to pass: “You shall be mute.” Zacharias’ story is not unlike our own; God our Creator has given us commands by which we must live and we are assured of eternal joy and happiness. On the other hand, the consequences of disbelief remain and all who doubt the word of God will be cast into an eternity of fiery proof which will expel all doubt. Perhaps you have allowed suspicion to overshadow faith in your life. If so, remember the story of Zacharias, a man whose prayer was answered and then couldn’t believe it.

Lights in the World
(Philippians 2:15)
By Jon W. Quinn

Some suggest that we in America today are living in a "post-Christian culture". I think this may be sadly accurate. The old norms, once held sacred by society at large, are no longer held by the majority. For example, it has been determined that recently, for the first time in history, more children were born to unmarried women than to married women in our nation. A very large number of those were not accidents. Many single women are opting to conceive. Most of these say that they would marry "if the right man came along" but since they have not met such a man, and since they want children, they will accept a man as the father of their child but not as their husband.

What we are dealing with here is a very basic principle taught in God's book having to do with marriage, family, children and sexual morality that has been cast aside by our culture. And our culture is not even neutral in this regard. From tax laws to entertainment, people are encouraged to adopt this new way of thinking, and mocked as "old fashioned" or worse if they take a Biblical stand.

But this is just one example of many that could be cited as evidence that we are becoming increasingly more pagan in our beliefs and practices. We could also point to the popularity of New Age religions, astrology and other forms of the occult, acceptance of homosexuality as an "alternate lifestyle" instead of sinful, and other hot topics such as these. Additionally, there are powerful men and women in our society that reject God, being purely humanistic. They run TV networks and news organizations, shaping attitudes in society.

So, what does a Christian do? Does he wring his hands? Hide? Worry? I believe he does the same things as Christians did in the first century, for there is no discernible difference in their living in a "pre-Christian" culture and our living in a "post-Christian" culture. Roman and Greek culture consisted of paganism, intellectualism, hedonism, materialism, and immorality. Christians were instructed to appear as "lights in the world" in the midst of a "crooked and perverse generation" (Philippians 2:15). So must we.

Work Out Your Own Salvation
Before we can be a light to the world, we must be lit. The Bible says we are to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12). This means to treat the salvation of the Lord with deep respect. This would involve us removing beams from our own eyes so we may help another remove the speck in his eye (Matthew 7:1-6). This passage in often misused to say that we ought to never judge another. That is not what Jesus says, but rather, to first set our own house in order.

With "Fear and Trembling"
The concept of "fear" in relationship to God and salvation is not very popular today, but it is a part of our salvation. Many have a very diluted concept of the fear of God if they have any concept of it at all. This is unhealthy; as unhealthy for us spiritually as it is unhealthy physically for a child to have no fear of fire, or deep water, or some other serious situation. Jesus certainly taught "the fear of the Lord" (Matthew 10:28).

Without the proper awe of God and His word, it is unlikely that we will make a serious effort to "work out (our) salvation." We may become apathetic, neglectful or compromising as we make excuses for our lack of adherence to our Lord's words. The problem today, more often than not, is not that people are too fearful of disobeying God, but not fearful enough.

Letting God Work In Us
To be lights in the world, we need to allow God to do His work in us (Philippians 2:13). The Bible teaches that God is willing to do things with us that are beyond our ability to comprehend (Ephesians 3:20,21). He gives us motivation, direction and assistance as we seek to carry out His will. We can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13).

Without Murmuring or Disputing
Another key to being a light is maintaining a positive attitude (Philippians 2:14).. There is an anti-prospering commercial which advises "Don't let them see you sweat." Don't let the job interviewer know you're nervous and so forth. To us, the idea would be not to let the world intimidate us. If we are constantly moaning and complaining, our light will be very dim. It was murmuring that led to Israel's downfall (1 Corinthians 10:10-12). Unity among brethren is an important factor in this as well (John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4).

As Children of God Above Reproach
Being a light means I will have to be "blameless and innocent" as a child of God (Philippians 2:15).We are not perfect, but we can press on toward perfection. This would involve confessing and repenting of our sins and mistakes (1 John 1:8-10). We should live in such a way that our lives are examples of the good qualities of discipleship; love, joy, peace, endurance, faith, knowledge, self control and so forth. Nothing will hinder our being lights in the world more than hypocrisy or inconsistency.

Holding Fast the Word of Life
Being a light means we hold fast to the words of the New Covenant (Philippians 2:16). The word of God is the "sword of the Spirit" and we should be willing to use it. It is the only "offensive weapon" in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). I am not to use fatefulness, evil speaking, gossip. Neither do I use human creeds, traditions and opinions. This would snuff out my light. But to boldly hold forth the word of truth is nothing to apologize for. Be a light! The dark world needs more light.

Editor's note: This article is based on some thoughts presented in an outline by my friend, Mark Copeland.
 

Working at the End
(1 Peter 4:7-11}
By Ethan R. Longhenry

 

In our reading of the New Testament we will find that the motivation to work for today and to keep up laboring in the vineyard is often found in the expectation of Christ's return at any moment. Peter expresses this motivation well in 2 Peter 3:11-18:
 

Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and
earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that
ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace,
without spot and blameless in his sight. And account that the longsuffering
of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according
to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; as also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be
understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the
other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, knowing
these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of
the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now
and for ever. Amen.
 

Peter here urges us to live in a holy and godly manner since so great a destruction is on the horizon. He tells us further that we ought to be steadfast in the faith and remain pure so that we may be found righteous and holy on that day.

These thoughts are very good; are there, however, other activities for Christians to keep in mind owing to the nearness of the end? Certainly! Peter tells us further about the actions that befit a Christian living in these times. Let us now read this text, 1 Peter 4:7-11, and then examine what Peter has said:

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer: above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: using hospitality one to another without murmuring: according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us begin with verse 7:

"But the end of all things is at hand." Peter here is making a declarative statement which is made evident in his and Paul's writings: Christ will return, and will do so soon. This is an ever-present concern that ought to be held by all men. "...Be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer." Peter here begins to make some conclusions on the basis of the previous declarative statement: "therefore, do these things." We are told first to be of a sound mind, an  idea seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8: But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Paul relates to us that Christians are to be of the day, and to set aside the works of the darkness. Christians must always be alert, at any moment ready for the Lord's return! There is no room for slackening off while we walk upon this earth.

Peter continues his thought with "be sober unto prayer." Why would we be sober unto prayer? Prayer is seen as our avenue of communication with God (Matthew 6:4), and if we are going to approach the Almighty God and petition Him with our concerns and cares, we had better be in a proper frame of mind to do so! Prayer must always become a greater and greater part of our lives, especially as we see time continuing on to its inevitable close.

And now, verses 8 and 9: "above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins." Peter here gives the ultimate priority for the Christian in the end times: fervent in love among yourselves. This same point is emphasized by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, and John speaks in 1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Love, therefore, must be an integral part of the life of the Christian, and what better power of witness is there than to demonstrate such great love for one another? Christians ought to be people known by and peculiar because of their great love, not only for themselves, but for all men!

Peter also mentions that love covers a multitude of sins, a thought reminiscent of James 5:20, where we learn that helping to restore a fallen brother to the faith covers a multitude of sins. Our love for one another will find great approval in the eyes of our Father, and He will reward us in kind.

"...Using hospitality one to another without murmuring." Why would Peter ever discuss hospitality in a discussion of the end times? We may look at the world around us and see why -- hospitality is lost on many. This should not be so for the Christian! Paul, in Romans 12:13, says that the Christian should be "given to hospitality." Being hospitable is required of elders (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8), and is one of the requirements a widow would have to meet to be placed on the "list" (1 Timothy 5:10). The Hebrew author tells us in Hebrews 13:2:

Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Christians are to be hospitable people-- this is one impression that can be left on an unbeliever or a member of a denomination that will not be easily
dismissed. We must be given to hospitality even more now that the day is approaching, so that the love of Christ may be manifest even more as the wickedness of the world may increase.

Peter further commands us to be hospitable "without murmuring," or, in more understandable English, "without complaint." If you, as a Christian, cannot stand to be hospitable to people on Earth, what are you going to do when you spend eternity with these people? If you believe that it is simply "too much work" to be hospitable, what would you do if the Father considered it "too much work" to prepare a place in Heaven for you (Matthew 25:34)? What if the angels of the Lord desired to be in your presence? Then what would you say? Hospitality may not be easy, but it is commanded of us for our own good, to make sure that we are continually edified and encouraged so that we may resist the evil one.

Verse 10: "according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves." Have we all received some form of a gift? Absolutely! As Paul says in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11: And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth  mercy, with cheerfulness.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another
discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.

Even though some of the gifts listed above are no longer dispensed to Christians, we certainly all may find in these lists some gifts that God has given us. What are we to do with these gifts? Use them! We have been commanded to use them for the benefit of the whole body, so that all may receive the edification and the encouragement they need to fight off evil and remain righteous. It is a terrible thing to allow the gifts of God to waste away! "...As good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Jesus relates to us a parable in Matthew 24:45-51 about the good servant and the wicked servant and their respective rewards. We must work diligently to be found as one of the servants who treated his master's property well, having received so great a salvation at so great a cost. We must not be found lacking in our stewardship of the works of God!

Finally, let us examine verse 11: "...If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God." We read in the Old Testament concerning the men of God who spoke to Israel and the importance of the transmission of the message of which they were given. False prophets speaking falsely were sharply condemned for leading people astray. Although the office of prophet is no longer filled in these times, the importance of the transmission of the message of God-- the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ-- is great indeed. Those of the body who speak must be diligent to confirm that what they say is truly the will of God, knowing that he is speaking as the oracles of God. It would be a most fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God if you had claimed to be speaking His truth but had actually led many astray. Let us give heed to ourselves and our teachings!
"...is any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth." Jesus relates to us the following in John 13:12-16:

So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me, Teacher, and, Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to serve others. His life is an example of servitude; perhaps no Scripture emphasizes this as well as Philippians 2:5-9. If Christ completely emptied Himself and suffered humiliation on our behalf and thus served us, should we not ourselves serve others? And since God demonstrated amply through the Son that he who serves is greatest, does He not supply the strength needed for men to serve?

We live in a world where everyone not only desires but even expects to be served, and there seems to be little room for the servant. We must decry this trend by emptying ourselves and becoming lowly servants of God, doing whatever whenever we can to serve our God and to assist all men in discovering the truth about Jesus Christ. Service is the only way to enter
the Kingdom of Heaven.

Peter concludes this portion of his message to us with the following: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Our ultimate aim in all that we do is to glorify God and the Lord Jesus Christ, for the power and the glory lie only with them. We have no power to save, nor do we have the power to sacrifice ourselves for the sins of others. We have all sinned, and we have all required the sacrifice performed on our behalf.

As the end nears, let us be diligent in applying ourselves to the message of the Gospel, to love, be hospitable, to exercise our abilities and to minister to others. Let us do all of these things to glorify our God who has saved us from all unrighteousness. Let us strive for these things while there is still time to do so in order to be found as the profitable servant who has guarded the house of the Master well!

http://www.deusvitae.com

If America Fell

By David Watts

(Originally Published in Gospel Anchor, Feb. 1988. Bro. Watts passed away

July 9, 2001.)

Could America be invaded and de­feated? Could our nation be destroyed? It is common knowledge that our nation's enemies have the capacity to annihilate us. Thus far they have been deterred from doing so by our threat of retaliation, but if they decided to attack us, we could not save ourselves from destruction. We could obliterate them in the few minutes we had before our land was reduced to rubble, but we could not prevent our own de­struction. And, as more and more unstable governments gain nuclear weapons, there is a growing fear that a crisis sparked by a smaller nation could escalate into wider devastation that would include us.

If the prospect of America being turned into a graveyard seems farfetched, imagine what it would be like if our nation ex­perienced a catastrophic financial col­lapse. In recent years some have said this was inevitable. Books predicting an enormous economic collapse have been best-sellers. Some people are buying gold for the time when paper money will be worthless. Some have urged people to prepare for the future by stockpiling guns, tools, and seed to barter with once the collapse comes.

If our nation went into irreversible decline, or was actually destroyed, what message would the Bible have for us? Consider three answers to that question:

1. If America fell, it would definitely be deserved.

Our society is sinful and corrupt. While ordinary citizens like us may never know the truth about the high-level secret provo­cations that go on between nations, we do know about the internal corruption of our own society.

The majority of American adults are fornicators. A recent government study is said to show that eighty percent of single American women in their twenties are fornicators. (Men have traditionally been even more promiscuous than wo­men.) But we don't need government studies to tell us what is common know­ledge, and it is common knowledge that such sexual immorality is rampant throughout our society.

Homosexuality is now widespread in our society. If it is not yet possible to say homosexual perversions have become re­spectable in our nation, at least it is no exaggeration to say they have become socially acceptable to many. Homosexuals in our nation appear to be one of the most powerful pressure groups. Apparently many of our politicians and media moguls either sympathize with them or find it politically and/or economically expedi­ent to support their perverted causes.

Each year more than a million unborn babies are killed by abortion. The blood of righteous Cain cried out to God for ven­geance (Gen. 4: 10), and one trembles when contemplating how heaven must see the blood of almost countless infants who have been killed throughout our nation with the sanction of the highest court in our land.

And everywhere God is blasphemed. His name is not only used as a vulgar exclamation in millions of daily conversations, but it is constantly profaned in print and on radio and television. And glimpses into the secret chambers of our highest officials have confirmed that blas­phemy against God is routinely found there also.

Furthermore, the God-given responsi­bilities of government, to protect the lawful and punish the lawless, now often seem to be almost reversed. Murder is rampant in our land, and capital punish­ment of convicted murderers is usually blocked. Criminals seem to be released from custody faster than their victims can be discharged from the hospitals. Our lawmakers themselves are often dis­covered to be blatant lawbreakers. And then the sociology "experts" want us to believe law-abiding citizens, not the criminals, are somehow to blame for the criminals' conduct.

No, this isn't a "Christian nation," and it isn't a nation of Christians. We may put "In God We Trust" on our money, and we may use the Bible in our courtrooms and during inaugurations, and we may teach our children to say we are a nation "under God" when they pledge allegiance to the flag, but in many ways we are living in a Godless, immoral, and corrupt nation.

And before we congratulate ourselves that we are not as evil as other peoples, we should remember one way God reckons guilt is by the measure of a people's opportunities. Jesus, for example, taught it would be more tolerable in the day of judgment for the people of certain pagan cities, including Sodom, than it would be for some of the "respectable" Jewish people of His generation (Matt. 11:20­24). These Jews were not more immoral than the sinners of Sodom, but they had greater guilt because they failed to live up to their greater blessings. Greater op­portunities mean greater guilt for those who fail to live up to those blessings. What nation has had greater freedom and light than our nation? To say the least, we cannot be sure God judges our guilt to be less than that of some foreign nations we consider to be "pagan."

The Scriptures say, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). It isn't being radical to acknowledge it would be de­served if God allowed our nation to be destroyed. We don't know whether that will happen, but if God's longsuffering should soon be exhausted it will surely be deserved.

   2. If America fell, it would not be the first time God allowed, or caused, a nation to fall.

In the time of Noah, God destroyed a population potentially numbering in the millions. He did that because they were morally corrupt and filled with violence (Gen. 6:5,11-13).

In the time of Abraham, God extermi­nated the people of Sod om and Gomorrah because of their homosexuality and other sins (2 Pet. 2:6).

In the days of Moses, God broke the back of the idolatrous Egyptian nation. Because of their depravity, God de­stroyed the Canaanites in the time of Joshua (Lev. 18:24, 25).

In the time of Isaiah, and later in the days of Jeremiah, God brought down the northern and southern kingdoms of the Jews. And it is thought-provoking to recall that He used neighboring nations to ac­complish those judgments (cf. Isa. 10:5, 6), nations the Jews would have con­sidered more wicked than themselves.

And during the apostles' generation, God used the Roman Empire to crush the ungodly Jewish nation which rejected Christ.

These are just some of the most promi­nent national judgments revealed in the Bible. We cannot know the details of God's providential role in the rise and fall of nations after the Scriptures were com­pleted. And though we dare not pretend to know the secret counsel of God con­cerning our own nation's future, this much we can know: if America falls it will not be the first time God allowed, or caused, a wicked nation to go down.

3. If America fell, God would not forget his people.

This is not to say Christians are prom­ised exemption from hardship and suffer­ing during political upheavals. But the godly people of a place are not forgotten by God amid an ungodly majority.

   Noah wasn't forgotten in a world filled with corrupt people (2 Pet. 2:5).

   Lot wasn't forgotten when Sodom was blotted out (2 Pet. 2:6, 7).

During His judgments against the apostate Jews, God didn't forget the faithful Jews (Amos 9:8-10; Ezk. 9:1-6; Mal. 3:16,17).

And Christians weren't forgotten during the early decades of the Lord's church (Matt. 24:22; Rev. 7:1-3).

Remember, this didn't mean godly people always escaped suffering when their nation fell, but they were never forgotten by God, and divine vindication and compensation is not limited to this life. Jesus said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:28-31). God doesn't forget the righteous.

Conclusion

None of this means Christians want to see our nation fall. In fact, the Bible teaches us to pray for rulers that we might lead quiet and peaceful lives (1 Tim. 2: 1,2). We might all do well to imitate Abra­ham, who interceded for the people of Sodom (Gen. 18:23f), or Amos, who learned of coming judgment against Israel, pleaded in such a way God changed His mind about sending some of the just punishment they deserved (cf. Amos 7:1f). Certainly Christians can pray that our nation will not fall or decline if it can be God's will that we continue.

So, as Christians, we don't want to see our nation decline or collapse. But ulti­mately our hope must be in God, not our President. Our confidence is in the Bible, not the Constitution. We trust in provi­dence not politics.

In this evil, troubled, and uncertain world, Christians can have an inner peace and tranquility the world has no claim to. That peace is not dependent upon whe­ther the Stock Market is up or down, or whether the gross national product is high or low. It is not built on trust in political maneuvering by our statesmen, or military alliances with our allies, or yet unbroken peace treaties with our ene­mies. It is the peace and confidence that comes from knowing God will always rule, and we belong to Him.

The Plan of Salvation

        By Jon  W. Quinn

Plan #1

    Announced by the apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to new believers in Christ  who had asked what they must do:

     "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift of  the Holy Spirit."  (ACTS 2:38)

Plan #2

    On the back page of a tract, sinner were urged to pray this prayer to be saved. This  prayer is not found in the Bible; nor were alien sinners commanded to pray for their forgiveness.

The Sinner's Prayer:

    "O' Lord, I accept that I am a sinner and that Jesus died for my sins. I now accept Him into my heart as Lord and Savior asking for your mercy and forgiveness in His name. Amen."

The editors of Expository Files are happy with plan #1 and thankful to the God of all grace for it. We cannot recommend Plan #2 at all, but will change our minds when this prayer can be shown  to us in the Bible.

Final Page, Jon W. Quinn

What He Became - What We Can Become

Jesus became the Son of Man that we might become the sons and daughters of God. He came to our world from heaven - where there is no fear, cold, darkness, pain or death. Here He lived in poverty. He never attended a prestigious school of theology. Yet even His enemies remarked , "Never a man so spake." (John 7:46). He laid aside His heavenly robes and perfect splendor to take upon Himself human form. He left majestic heavenly courts to be born in a stable. He left adoring myriads of angels and other wonderful creatures, mighty, beautiful and wise to be welcomed by a small band of shepherds. The Scriptures say, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Cor. 8:9).

He came to prepare a lost people for spiritual riches and ultimate heavenly glory - and in all the universe He was the only one that could do it. He died, then conquered death, and has ascended back into heaven promising to one day return. At that time, He has promised that the tombs will open, the dead will rise and be changed from corruptible matter into spiritual, judgment will take place, and He will take His people home. Every tomb will empty itself of its contents at the sound of His voice... that is, every tomb except for one. It is already empty.

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