THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

The apostle Paul declared in Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” There has always been consequence to sin from the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden (Genesis 2,3). Man should not think that he can escape the eye of God.

King David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) and became the greatest king to sit upon the throne of Israel. Whenever David’s name is mentioned there is always a sidebar of remembering the incident with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite. In 2 Samuel 11 we read of David walking on the roof of his house one evening when he “saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold” (2 Samuel 11:2). David brought Bathsheba into his palace and lay with her. Later she told the King that she was with child. Wanting to cover the incident up, her husband was recalled from the besieging of the city of Rabbah.

Uriah the Hittite was one of the mighty men of David (2 Samuel 23:39; 1 Chronicles 11:41). He was a man of honor and nobility in service to his king. When called home from the war, he refused to enter his house as long as his men and the ark were engaged in battle. Failing at other attempts to coerce Uriah into bed with his wife, David sent an order (by the hand of Uriah) to his general, Joab, to place Uriah in the heat of battle and then withdraw. Uriah carried his death notice and died in the battle.

It was later God sent Nathan the prophet to David to declare unto him the judgment of the Lord upon David & Bathsheba, the child and the descendants of David. The immediate consequence of David’s sin was the condemnation of God. The grace of God allowed David to live (2 Samuel 12:13) but the child would die. Further consequence that David would suffer is the sword would never leave his house and adversaries would rise up against him – even from his own household (see Absalom and Adonijah). The house of David suffered many years of hardship because of David’s sin.

The punishment outlined by Nathan (2 Samuel 12:7-15) was immediate at least in the lifetime of David. The sad part of David’s sin was that he would forever be marked as the man who took Uriah’s wife. When the account of Abijam’s reign in Judah is given in the book of 1 Kings it says: “Because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5). The consequence of sin remained.

Remarkably when the genealogy of Jesus Christ is given in Matthew’s account, David is again marked with his sin. “Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6). Generations removed David is still remembered for what he did to Uriah and his sin with Bathsheba.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay. The lust of the flesh will mark a person for lifetime as the one who is known for what they have done. This does not dismiss forgiveness as God forgave David but the reality of the reaping of sin sowed in a moment’s reckless folly will blacken the pages of life – and sometimes long after the person has died. Many have walked that road today and bear a heavy burden. David cries from the grave long passed: “O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness” (1 Timothy 6:11).

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have a mate that is not a Christian? This article is written in love and in hopes that it will give some insight into this type of marriage. Several aspects of life will be discussed.

One of the first things that comes to mind is worship services. Will your mate see the “need” for you to be in worship service three times a week? Will he/she say that “once a week” is enough? Various reasons for not attending could be given: you need “family time” together; there is a company event you should attend; errands must be run; company is coming over; and the list could go on and on. You, on the other hand, should realize that your place is in the worship service, and you should look forward to being with your brethren. How will you react to these “reasons” for not attending? Will he/she want you to contribute, as you should?

When you are planning a vacation, will your spouse transfer to a city where there is no congregation, or to a city where the nearest congregation is far away? Will he/she try to get you away from your brethren during this job transfer period? Certainly, the believing spouse must let her husband/wife know that worship services are important – whether in town or on vacation. You must let it be known that you intend to live in a city where there is a group of Christian to meet with.

What about your home life? What types of recreation will your spouse want you to participate in? What about the types of music that he/she will want to listen to. What about the types of beverages that may be in your home? What about prayer and Bible study? Will you be able to discuss spiritual things?

Will your spouse encourage you to visit or communicate with those who are sick or weak? Will you be able to provide written encouragement to your brethren? What about having Christians in your home or being able to visit other Christians socially? Will you call other Christians during the week?

What about children? If your spouse makes it difficult for you to attend worship services without children, let me guarantee it will be much worse with children! If it is hard to get one person ready for worship, it will be harder with children – especially when they are younger. Keep in mind that you are responsible for the souls of your children. Will your spouse want the children go to his/her church? If you are lucky enough to take them to church services, will he/she “tear down” everything that you are trying to teach them?

What about this division in the home? Won’t the children be confused? How would you feel if your children were not faithful Christians? Personally, I could not live with myself if I knew that I did not bring my children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Probably the biggest overall difference in your marriage is that you and your spouse will “think differently.” You will have different goals. The Christian will have God in his/her mind, along with helping the brethren and teaching those who are lost. The non-Christian will be concerned about “worldly” things – money, recreation, and the like. The Christian must consider God in decision-making. You will think differently! And this is a major consideration in causing problems in your marriage. Think about it.

1. There is genuine love between husband and wife. The relationship is not based on mere physical attraction. Love deepens with passing years.

2. There is unselfishness. Each has a sincere desire to please the other. The husband wants his wife to be happy; the wife wants her husband to be happy.

3. The pledge of loyalty is never forgotten. No matter what happens, each mate always thinks back on the serious vow of loyalty made to his or her companion “till death do us part.”

4. Forgiveness is practiced. When mistakes are made, tempers flare, harsh words are spoken, or a misunderstanding arises, apologies are offered and forgiveness is freely extended.

5. Understanding is shown. A good wife understands her husband and is charitable toward his weaknesses and peculiarities. A good husband demonstrates sympathy and understanding toward his wife.

6. There is togetherness. Neither companion wants to be away from the other for long. They live, love, work, plan, laugh, cry, talk, and dream together. Marriage is a state of sharing.

7. There is mutual trust. A faithful wife is one in whom the heart of her husband safely trusts, and a devout husband is one in whom his wife has confidence that dispels suspicions and fears.

8. There is honesty. Neither partner in marriage lies to the other. Problems are discussed frankly, difficulties are admitted openly, and each feels free to confide in the other.

The above are a few of the reasons why some marriages succeed in this modern world.

Question: "I believe that when we pray for something, in faith, God will give it to us. If we are sick, we can pray and God will heal us. He is able to do all things. So, the question is: 'Does God Answer Every Prayer?'"

Answer: I fully agree that God will hear and answer our prayers: "We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do His Will, him He heareth" (John 9:31). When His children pray, God answers: "For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears unto their supplication" (I Peter 3:12). The apostle John writes, "And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight" (I John 3:22). For one who believes God, there can be no question that He hears and answers our prayers.

But to believe that God answers prayer does not mean believing that God will give us whatever we ask of Him! Do parents always give the child what he or she wants? God answers our prayers in a variety of ways --"Yes," "No," "Later," or "Here is something else." There are numerous examples of all of these in the Scriptures. You see, God gives us what we NEED. And that is quite often different from what we think we need. Too many think of prayer as some kind of divine "faucet" that we can use to obtain blessings from God. It is not. Inherent in every prayer must be the attitude shown in the prayer of Jesus, "Not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). As James wrote, "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that" (James 4:15). Will prayer always heal the sick? The apostle Paul wrote of the illness of Epaphroditus, his fellow-worker, "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him" (Philippians 2:27). On the other hand, the same apostle wrote, "Trophimus I left at Miletus sick" (II Timothy 4:20).

Surely Paul had prayed for both men, but one was healed and one was left sick. Maybe the best example is Paul, himself. He refers to a physical affliction he had as a "thorn in the flesh." We are not told what the affliction was, but he reveals his attitude toward it: "Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My power is made perfect in weakness" (II Corinthians 12:8-9). Paul sure didn't get what he prayed for!

God often answers our prayers as He did with Paul. We don't always get what we ask for. If simply praying for the sick meant automatic healing, there would be no need for doctors or hospitals, and the loved ones of Christians would never die! But the Lord plainly said, "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick" (Matthew 9:12). And again, "It is appointed unto man once to die..." (Hebrews 9:27).

When we minister to those who are physically ill, and pray for them, we are doing just what James 5:13-16 teaches us. And while the prayer of faith will "save" the sick, it won't necessarily make him or her physically healthy. Saints still get sick and die, just as did the apostles and their families. So, let us do what we can to restore and maintain health, pray to God for His blessing of healing, and trust in Him to do what is best for His people. And best of all, let us learn to accept whatever answer He gives us. [via Gospel Minutes; Vol. 56, No. 3; Jan. 19, 2007]

The word “illustrate” is from the Latin illustrare, which means to light up. Windows light up a house; pictures light up a magazine article. Illustrations shed light on ideas. C. H. Spurgeon defined illustrations as windows that let light into the chambers of the mind. He recognized that bald statements are soon forgotten but that an apt illustration sticks in the soul like a hook in a fish’s mouth. A book of his illustrations carried the title Feathers for Arrows, for he conceived of illustrative material as feathers that guide the arrows of truth home to the minds of readers. Or, compare one’s message to a nail, while the illustration becomes the hammer that drives it home. The nail (truth) is the important factor, while the hammer (illustration) is only a tool. [Robert J. Hastings, A Word Fitly Spoken, Broadman, Nashville, 1962, p.9]

Tony Manconi, vacationing in New Hampshire, visited a Nashua church for the service. The preacher’s sermon was very brief, but the preacher explained. He said his family’s new puppy got into his study the night before and chewed up his notes. Afterward at the door, Tony asked, “Preacher, are there any more puppies in that litter? I’d like to take one to my preacher.” [Paul Harvey, 8-18-93]