Keep the Jews in Context

David Sproule

God had an eternal plan!  That plan did NOT waver one bit based upon man’s acceptance or rejection of that plan!

Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  God’s eternal plan was already in place and already at work (Gen. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Eph. 3:1-11).  The whole world turned their hearts to wickedness in the days of Noah.  God’s eternal plan was already at work and would not be thwarted (Luke 3:36; 2 Pet. 1:5; 1 Pet. 3:18-22).  The Israelites became slaves to an Egyptian superpower (Ex. 1:1-22).  God’s eternal plan was already at work and this was part of it (Gen. 15:13-14; Acts 7:6-7).  Israel continually rebelled against the Lord from the exodus through the judges (Deut. 1:19-28; Judg. 2:11-23; 1 Sam. 8:1-22).  God’s eternal plan was still at work and would not be altered (2 Sam. 7:10-13; Acts 13:20-24; 1 Cor. 10:1-6).  The nation of Israel became strong and their borders expanded far and wide (1 Kgs. 4:21), as God had promised (Gen. 15:18-21), but they turned against God and worshiped idols (2 Kgs. 22:15-17; 23:26-27).  God’s eternal plan was still at work, and He would remain on course, even though His people were taken into captivity (Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10-14; 32:21-44; Deut. 30:1-10).  The Lord had a purpose for the Jews.

This is the background for Romans 9-11.  Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned, wept and wrote of Judah’s captivity in Babylon; yet, all three prophets gave Israel hope, speaking of a “remnant” that would come out of captivity.  The remnant had a purpose—to bring the Messiah into this world!

So, Paul addresses the Lord’s rejection of Israel and the acceptance of the Gentiles in Romans 9-11, emphasizing that such was foretold by the prophets (9:25-29) and was not arbitrary (9:30-10:21).  Paul longed for his “countrymen” (i.e., the Jews) to “be saved” (9:3; 10:1), and they could be saved in the same way that the Gentiles were saved (i.e., through obedience to the will of God, 10:1-17).

Just as a “remnant” of Jews came out of Babylon (9:27), fulfilling those prophecies and their God-given purpose, a figurative “remnant” of Jews (“some of them” [11:14], not all!) would be saved in Paul’s day (11:5), by following the same plan that God had for the Gentiles (11:22-24).  “All” of the Jews who would “be saved” would “so” be saved (an adverb of manner), by following God’s plan—that is the context of 11:26.

Even when the Jews rejected the Messiah when He came (John 1:11), that was expected by Jehovah (Psa. 118:22-23) and would not alter His eternal plan of redemption.  God wants “all” (Jew and Gentile) to be saved! “The way” for salvation is the same for all—through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  Each person (not as a nation) must choose for himself.

Revive Us Again

Wade Webster

The prophet Habakkuk prayed, “O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:1-2).  We often sing a song based on this prayer.  No doubt, you are familiar with the song, Revive Us Again.  The verses of the song praise God for the gifts that He has given and the chorus of the song pleads for God to revive us again.  It is this ending plea for revival that we want to examine more closely.

The Prayer – Revive

The word revive means “to quicken, to revive, to refresh, to restore.”  Habakkuk was asking God to revive his work and his workers.  The workers were spent and the work was stalled.  Both needed reviving.  Nine times in Psalm 119, the psalmist asks God to revive him:

• “My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word” (Psalms 119:25).
• “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way” (Psalms 119:37).
• “Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness” (Psalms 119:40).
• “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (Psalms 119:88).
• “I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word” (Psalms 119:107).
• “Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice” (Psalms 119:149).
• “Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word” (Psalms 119:154).
• “Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments” (Psalms 119:156).
• “Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness” (Psalms 119:159).

Like the psalmist, revival should be our constant prayer and song.

The People - Us

Revival is not just for others, it is for us.  No matter how strong we are, there will be times when we will need revival.  Even the Apostle Paul needed reviving and refreshing and renewing. In First Corinthians, Paul wrote, “I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied” (1 Cor. 16:17).   In like manner, in Second Corinthians, he wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).  Like Paul, we need revival.  Like Habakkuk, we should ask God for it.

The Problem – Again

Our problem is that we need reviving  again and again because we grow weary in well-doing.  The apostle Paul knew this.  That is why he wrote the following words to the saints at Galatia: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:7-10).  Although we know the rewards of sowing to the Spirit - eternal life, we still sometimes grow weary in well-doing.  Thankfully, God can and does revive us again.

Does the church where you worship need revival?  Do you?  It is okay to admit that you need it.  Admitting that you need it is the first step to acquiring it.

Three Steps to a Successful Gospel Meeting

Wade Webster

Our Gospel Meeting is almost here.  I am confident that our scheduled speaker will do his best to make the meeting a success.  He will prepare and present lessons that will encourage and enlighten us.  What can we do on our side to make our meeting successful?

Supplication

Jesus taught His disciples to ask that they might receive.  He declared, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mat. 7:7-11).  Sadly, we often do not have because we do not ask. James declared, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (Jam. 4:2).  We serve a great God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).  Let’s make sure that we do not fail to ask for His blessings upon our gospel meeting.  Let’s pray for the preacher and the hearers.  Let’s pray for the members and the visitors who will come. Let’s pray for the those who need to be baptized and for those who need to be restored.

Invitation

Isaiah prophesied the establishment and the evangelism of the church.  He noted that the church was going to go out and invite men to go up with them to worship.  We read, “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.  Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:1-3).  Sadly, many Christians today have ceased to be evangelistic.  They have stopped inviting others to come. In addition to hanging invitations on doors in the immediate vicinity of our building, we need to invite our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to come and to worship with us.  Often, these individuals cannot come when we invite them to our regular services because they have their own religious services at the same time.  However, a gospel meeting affords times for them to come that are not in conflict.

Participation

Luke recorded the actions of the apostles and disciples in the book of Acts.  They each did their part in the work of the church.  On one occasion, Luke recorded, “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea” (Acts 11:29).  For sure, the apostles and disciples had different levels of ability.  To their credit, they used the abilities that they had, whether big or small.  We need to do the same.  In addition to praying for the success of the meeting and inviting others to come to the meeting, we need to make sure that we participate in it ourselves.  We need to come to all the services.  Sadly, congregations today often struggle to get their own members to come to their own events.  This should not be the case.  In addition to coming to the meeting, each member should strive to greet any visitors that are present.  They should also get the visitors to fill out a visitor card so that follow-up contact is possible.  Members should also make sure that they thank the preacher each night for his lessons.  Much study and sacrifice are involved in holding a gospel meeting for someone. 

Supplication, invitation, and participation are three simple things that every member can do to help us to have a successful meeting.  Can we count on you?

What A Gospel Meeting Does – Part 2

Victor Eskew

#5:  A gospel meeting confronts false doctrine.  “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:4-5).  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).

 #6:  A gospel meeting brings salvation.  “For whosover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?  and how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:13-15).  “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (I Cor. 1:212b).

#7:  A gospel meeting increases our faith.  So then cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” (Eph. 1:13).

#8:  A gospel meeting strengths the inner man.  “”For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Col. 1:9-11).

 #9:  A gospel meeting reminds us of what is important.  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).  “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word…But one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39, 42).

 #10:  A gospel meeting prepares us for eternity.  “And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).  “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:17-18).

If gospel meetings can accomplish these ten things, how can anyone believe they are useless today.  Our problem is two-fold when it comes to gospel meetings.  First, we just refuse to get excited about them as the church.  We do not want to attend.  Therefore, we can not enthusiastically invite others to attend.  Second, we have lost our faith in the power of the Word of God.  Even for many Christians, the message has become dull and boring.  Dear readers, when we are excited about the salvation of the lost, gospel meetings will be one vehicle we can use to teach others.  And, when we are convinced of the power of God’s Word (Heb. 4:12), we will use every available means to hear it for ourselves and get others to hear it as well.  The reality is that the gospel meeting is not ineffective; we have become unfaithful and ineffective.

What A Gospel Meeting Does – Part 1

Victor Eskew

“The day of the gospel meeting is over.”  “Gospel meetings are no longer effective.”  “We need to find alternatives to our gospel meeting.”  “Gospel meetings are just not what they used to be.”  These are some of the statements that are made by elders, preachers, and members regarding gospel meetings in our 21st-century society.  These feelings have led many churches to quit having gospel meetings altogether.  Some churches have not had a gospel meeting in years.

In this article, we want to look at the subject:  “What A Gospel Meeting Should Do.”  By the end of this article, it is hoped that we will come to understand that a gospel meeting has many, many noble purposes.  These purposes are Scriptural.  They should cause us to be eager in our efforts to promote and support the gospel meeting being held by our local congregation.  We will consider ten things a gospel meeting does.

#1:  A gospel meeting obeys God’s command to preach the gospel.  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Tim. 4:2).

#2:  A gospel meeting sows the seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men and women.  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5-6).  “But that on good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

#3:  A gospel meeting enlightens the mind. “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 19:8).  “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130).

#4:  A gospel meeting warns the wicked.  “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).  “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ” (Col. 1:28).

#5:  A gospel meeting confronts false doctrine.  “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:4-5).  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).