Caring For New Plants

Wade Webster

It is the time of year when people are redoing their landscaping. Many are adding new plants and shrubs. Maybe, you are working on yours right now. Jennifer and I are. I would like to think that we are not the only ones with our hands in the dirt.

As you know, new plants are especially vulnerable. They need lots of tender love and care. In fact, they are not likely to survive without it. It seems to me that the same is true in the spiritual realm. New converts require lots of attention. Consider a few parallels.

New plants need room to grow. The instructions that come with new plants advise digging a hole for the new plant that is twice the size of the container that the plant is in when it is purchased. I don’t really like digging holes. That probably comes as no surprise. If I must dig a hole, I want to keep it as small and as shallow as possible. If left up to me, I would dig a hole no bigger than the container. However, a hole that size would leave no room for the new plant to grow. Though the plant might survive for a time, it would likely be sickly and soon die because it would have no room to grow. The same is true of new converts. They need room to grow. Unless they grow, they are not likely to survive for very long. We must do all that we can to help new converts to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18).

New plants require lots of water. For example, the watering instructions for a small tree suggest five gallons of water at the time of planting. Then, every day, for the next two months, the instructions suggest a gallon and a half of water. After two months, the watering decreases to a gallon and a half of water every two to three days. That is still a lot of water. That is still a lot of work. Without regular watering, the new plant is not likely to survive. In like manner, new converts require lots of watering. Paul understood this. To the saints at Corinth, Paul wrote, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:5-8). As you know, Paul planted many churches. He made it a point to go back and visit (water) them. Luke records, “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:21-23).

New plants must be placed where they can thrive. Some plants need full sunlight, others . need partial sunlight, and a few need full shade. To thrive, and possibly to survive, plants need the right amount of sun. In like manner, new converts are placed in different places by God. Some need more light than others. We read, “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased…but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it” (1 Corinthians 12:18, 24).

As you know, we have several new converts at Bridgewater. Let’s make sure that we give them the space, the water, and the sun that they need to grow.

A Rolling Stop

Wade Webster

Have you ever seen someone do “a rolling stop?” A rolling stop is when a person does not come to a complete stop at a stop sign before preceding through an intersection. Of course, there really is no such thing as “a rolling stop.” If a person is rolling, they haven’t stopped. They have merely slowed down.

Have you ever thought about “a rolling stop” spiritually? I am convinced that many live the same way that they drive. They never really stop like God commands them to do in His word. They merely do “a rolling stop.”

Pharaoh did “a rolling stop.” Time after time, plague after plague, we think that Pharaoh has finally learned his lesson and is going to let God’s people go. However, he never really stops. After the frogs are removed, we read, “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said” (Exodus 8:15). Ultimately, “a rolling stop” will cost him his life. As you recall, after the death of his firstborn son, he lets the Israelites go. However, he changes his mind and pursues after them. When he intersects with God on the highway that God has made through the sea for His people, he will come to a complete and final stop (Exodus 14:5, 23-31).

The drunkard of Proverbs 23 likely did “a rolling stop.” When the adverse effects of alcohol arrive the drinker usually regrets their actions. They are often ashamed of how they acted when they were under its influence. They usually have thoughts of stopping when things get bad. However, when the effects of the alcohol wear off, they will seek it again. We read, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?” (Proverbs 23:29-35).

Some of the early Christians did “a rolling stop.” They escaped the pollutions of the world, but soon were entangled again. They obeyed the truth, but soon were blinded by error again. There was little to no stoppage of their old life. We read, “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:18-22). In like manner, Paul marveled at how soon some were removed from the grace of Christ to another gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).

When it comes to sin, God.doesn’t just want men to do “a rolling stop.” He doesn’t just want them to merely slow down their sinning. He wants them to come to a complete stop. Do you remember the woman that was taken in the act of adultery and thrown at the feet of Jesus? Do you remember what Jesus told her? “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Did you catch the last two words? No more. You think that Jesus would have been satisfied with this woman doing “a rolling stop?” What if she had brought her adultery almost to a stop? What if she only occasionally gave in to lust or loneliness? What if she was more discreet in the future? Do you think that Jesus would have been okay with it? I don’t believe that He would have. What about the lame man that Jesus healed by the pool of Bethesda? Jesus gave almost the same instructions to him that He gave to the adulterous woman that we just considered. We read, “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14). We don’t know what the man had done, but he wasn’t to do it or anything like it again. If he did something worse than a thirty-eight year problem that he had just battled. God wants more than “a rolling stop.”

Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!

David Sproule

In 1882, Priscilla J. Owens penned these opening words of a familiar hymn: “We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”  What could be a more “joyful sound” than that?  In fact, if you were looking for a simple two-word summary of the whole Bible, you could not find one better than “Jesus saves!”  Let us think about this exciting subject!

Jesus saves by the grace of God!  The Scripture plainly teaches, “For by grace have you been saved…” (Eph. 2:8).  Salvation is not something that we deserve or can earn—it is “the gift of [the grace of] God.”  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves by His own blood! “Through His blood” we can have “the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7), for “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22).  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves those who obey Him!  We must be “doers of the word” (Jas. 1:22), who do “the will” of the Father and “obey” Christ, that we might “enter” into “eternal salvation” (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9).  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves those who believe in Him!  We must “believe…that God raised Him from the dead” (Rom. 10:9) and that He is “the Son of God” (John 20:31), in order to be saved from our sins (John 8:24). What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves those who repent of their sins!  Sin violates God’s will (1 John 3:4) and separates us from God (Isa. 59:2).  One must turn from those sins in order to have them blotted out (Acts 2:38; 3:19).  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves those who confess their faith in Him!  We can only be “saved” if we will, “before men” (Matt. 10:32), “confess with [our] mouth the Lord Jesus” (Rom. 10:9).  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves those who are immersed into Him!  Just as essential as all of the previous acts of obedience, “baptism now saves us” (1 Pet. 3:21).  Only then will the blood of Jesus “wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16), when we “believe” (Mark 16:16), “repent” and are “baptized for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38).  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

Jesus saves those who serve Him faithfully!  Once Jesus cleanses us of our past, we are “enlisted” by Him as “a soldier of Jesus Christ,” and it is our responsibility to “please” him (2 Tim. 2:3-4).  That involves a lifetime of “faithful” living (Rev. 2:10) and active service in His church (1 Cor. 15:58; Matt. 25:23).  What a joyful sound: Jesus saves!

The last line of that beloved hymn shouts, “This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”  God “gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).  Only those who comply with His will shall have eternal salvation!

The Church is a Big Deal to Christ

David Sproule

“Well, that’s a typical preacher thing to say, isn’t it?  Of course, a preacher is going to say that the church is a BIG deal to Christ!  That’s what he’s supposed to say!”  I guess someone could respond that way, but let’s approach this strictly from the viewpoint of the Bible.  Let’s not give attention to what any ordinary man has said on this subject.  What do we need to know about the church from Jesus’ viewpoint?

The church is a BIG deal to Christ, as it was His eternal plan!  The Bible tells us that “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4), God planned for Christ to come and redeem mankind (1 Pet. 1:18-20), and His church was “the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:9-11).  Now, that’s a BIG deal!

The church is a BIG deal to Christ, as it was the subject of His preaching from beginning to end!  From the start of His ministry until the moment of His ascension into heaven, Jesus preached about His church (Matt. 4:17; 16:18-19).  He taught multiple parables about it (Matt. 13) and gave instructions on how to enter (John 3:3-5) and how to live in it (Matt. 18:4; 20:20-28).  During the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension, He was “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).  Now, that’s a BIG deal!

The church is a BIG deal to Christ, as He paid the highest price imaginable to purchase it!  The church was not an afterthought for Christ and the payment for it was not a surprise.  The shedding of “the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:19) was in the eternal plan of God, by which He “purchased” the church (Acts 20:28).   Now, that’s a BIG deal!

The church is a BIG deal to Christ, as He devoted half of the New Testament to give instructions to His church!  The purpose statement of First Timothy could really summarize the purpose of the books of Acts through Revelation: “that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church” (1 Tim. 3:15).  Now, that’s a BIG deal!

The church is a BIG deal to Christ, as He puts His saved safely inside of it!  The church is the saved (Eph. 5:23), and the saved are the church (Acts 2:47).  Jesus gave Himself to save the lost (Tit. 2:14), and when the lost are saved, He transfers them into “the kingdom” (Col. 1:13).  Now, that’s a BIG deal!

The church is a BIG deal to Christ, as He is going to return one day to take only His church home to heaven!  When “the end” comes, He is going to deliver “the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Cor. 15:24). Now, that’s a BIG deal!

Question: Is the church a BIG deal to you?

Thank God That Jesus Has ALL Authority!

David Sproule

Have you ever played a pickup basketball game where every guy on the court thought that he was in charge?  Two things usually result: chaos and frustration.  What about in your workplace—what if every person there thought they were the boss?  Can you imagine (or maybe you don’t have to) the chaos and frustration that would erupt?

How easily we understand the need for authority, even if we don’t like it in every situation.  We need authority in the home, in our schools, in the workplace, on the playing field, on the highways, in the courtrooms, etc., etc.  MOST of all, we must have authority in the CHURCH!  What would happen if there was no clear authority (meaning, every person recognized the same person to be in charge) in the church?  Two things would easily result: chaos and frustration.  In addition to those, even more significantly, unbelief and rejection of the Lord and His truth would ensue.

Thank God that in HIS church the authority is very clear!  Our authority does not reside in apostles or in angels (Gal. 1:8).  It does not reside in any preachers or church councils (Gal. 1:9).  It does not reside in our opinions, personal beliefs or feelings in our hearts (Prov. 14:12; Judg. 21:25).  It does not reside in any church traditions (Matt. 15:1-13).  It does not reside in any church manuals or creeds (Rev. 22:18-19).  If authority resided in any of these (or others that could be added to the list), then the church would belong to man and be governed by his whims.  Result?  Chaos and frustration!

Thank God that Jesus Christ has ALL authority in and over His church!  The word “authority” means “the right to control or command, total authority and absolute power.”  Jesus uses that word in Matthew 28:18, where He proclaims, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Jesus alone has “the right to control or command” His church, for He alone has “absolute power.”  His Word is our authority in all things today—“Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you” (Acts 3:22).  It will be His word which “will judge” us all “in the last day” (John 12:48).

My responsibility is to submit to His authority, to respect His Word and to obey Him in all things.  I must not “think” beyond, “speak” beyond or “go” beyond that which He has given to me in His Word (1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 John 9-11; 1 Cor. 1:10).  I must not think myself so wise or conceited that I can “instruct” or “counsel” the Lord (Isa. 40:12-14; Rom. 11:33-36).  Jesus makes it very clear that I must “hear” His Word and then I must “do the will” of my God in heaven (Matt. 7:21-27).  My entrance into heaven is dependent upon respecting the authority of Christ and fully submitting to Him!