February 20, 2000 Humble Messenger
Humble Messenger
Volume 8, Week 8 February
20, 2000
-------------------------------------------
Building Knowledge
Holy Spirit given to "those who obey Him" srf
"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the
Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32.
The meaning often given is that "those who obey Him" means all obedient
Christians. Is this correct? What does the Holy Spirit being "given" to these
people do for them? How is it known that the Holy Spirit has been given to them?
Looking at the immediate and larger context, here is what we find.
In the immediate context the question is who the apostles will obey: 1) the Jewish Supreme
Court who gave them "strict orders not to continue teaching in this name" (v.
28), or 2) God who charged them to be "witnesses of these things" (i.e. that God
raised up Jesus who they crucified and exalted him as a Prince and a Savior through whom
Israel could obtain forgiveness of sins, v. 30-32a). Peter said "we must obey
God" (v. 29) by continuing to bear witness to these things. Clearly, it is the
apostles obedience to their charge of being witnesses that is in the context.
He said the Holy Spirit is also bearing witness--"and so is the Holy Spirit" (v.
32). This accords with the Lord's promise to the apostles, "When the Helper comes,
whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from
the Father, He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also, because you have
been with Me from the beginning." Jn. 15:26,27 (italics mine, srf). How did the Holy
Spirit "bear witness"? Through some subjective, untestable experience? No.
Through the objective "testimony" of the miracles performed by the apostles, vv.
10-16. See also the larger context from the beginning of Acts and the apostles' ministry:
2:33, 42-43; 3:15-16; 4:8-10, 13-14, 21-22. This harmonizes with what we read in Heb.
2:3-4: "...After it [the message of the great salvation through Jesus] was at the
first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing
witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the
Holy Spirit according to His own will" (italics mine, srf). This is what the Holy
Spirit "given" to the apostles did for them and in them--it confirmed their
testimony as "witnesses" by the miracles they performed. And this is how they,
and we, can know that indeed the Holy Spirit was given to them!
To make this passage refer to some subjective experience of believers today is to ignore
the context and to rob the believer of the objective, faith building evidence of these
events. Satan is smart enough to make people think they are more "spiritual" for
believing they have been promised and received the Holy Spirit according to this implied
promise, when in fact they have been deceived!
[Suggestion: If you wish to file this article in your "Acts"
notes or notes on the Holy Spirit for later reference, you can copy it from the email copy
of the bulletin and reformat it or download it from the web site, http://www.
kingwoodcable.com/colblip/humblechurchofchrist/.]
-------------------------------------------
Followup/Visitation Program To Be Initiated
In order to provide an organized mechanism for contacting visitors, sick members
and others needing encouragement, the elders are proposing a congregational program to
focus on this effort. The program will include preparation of short written notes to our
visitors, short notes or telephone calls to members who are sick or need encouragement,
and personal visits and/or home Bible studies where appropriate. This program will be
conducted on a voluntary basis and each one will be able to volunteer for the level of
involvement in which they feel comfortable participating. It is anticipated that the
individual time commitment will be a maximum of 1-2 hours per month.
More information will be provided in a question and answer session at the end of the
Sunday evening service. It is hoped that sufficient numbers will take this opportunity to
serve the needs of the congregation.
Thanks,
Boyd
-------------------------------------------
Studying about gambling and remember an article in the Humble Messenger about lotteries
but do not have a copy? Easy enough. Go to the church's web site http://www.kingwoodcable.com/colblip/humblechurchofchrist/.
Type "lotteries" in the "Search" window and click on
"Find." Presto! You will be taken to the November 14, 1999, Humble Messenger and
an article entitled, "Is Gambling (Lotteries) Honorable?"
You can do the same with other topics. For example, what does it mean to "place
membership" and is it a scriptural concept? Try typing "membership" in the
search box and see what you come up with.
Taking a trip? Need to find a church? Want a map? Go to the church's web site and clink on
"links" then scroll down to the bottom of the screen.
http://www.kingwoodcable.com/colblip/humblechurchofchrist/
-------------------------------------------
NEWS
Mark and Ester Hargrove have moved. Their new address and
phone: 13100 Stonefield Dr., #2301, Houston; (281) 875-3901 . . Jason Swann is in
Room 404 at the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR). The general number
is 713-799-5000 but a direct number to the room is 713-797-7407. If anyone wishes to send
a card to Jason, mail it as follows: Jason Swann, c/o TIRR Systems; 1333 Moursund,
Houston, Texas 77030-3505. If you would like to help the Swann's with the expenses
incurred in an extended hospital stay such as parking, eating, hotel bills, etc., you can
give whatever you wish to Wally Ottersbach and he will see that they receive it . .
. John Clark will be speaking on the subject of evolution in a Gospel Meeting
February 20-25 at the Wallisville Road congregation in Highlands. John is very competent
in this field. If you are interested in this subject, it may be well worth your time and
effort to attend this meeting . . . If you wish to be in the annex class next quarter,
please sign up in the foyer . . . Karen Aldridge's mother was in a car accident in
Russelville, AK. She was there taking care of Karen's grandmother. She is sore, but
otherwise OK . . . Reuben Amador's mother passed away Friday, February 18. The
funeral is scheduled on Monday at the Ritchea-Gonzles Funeral Home (361/364-1311), 120 S.
McCall, Sinton, Texas . . . The March list for rides for Zelma Bobbitt is posted in
the foyer. Commendation and thanks is in order for those who so promptly volunteered to
provide rides for her each night during the meeting.
-------------------------------------------
Resolution Tips--What Works For Me
Resolution: Evaluate and Reevaluate Our Priorities Mt. 6:33; Mk. 4:19; Lk.
12:15
Tips: (submitted by your brothers and sisters in Christ): In the 12 step program
that I attend for my addiction the tenth step says [it is] the most important--"Daily
Moral Inventory." Every night in prayer I take amoral inventory of myself and my
actions and my thoughts for that day. This keeps me in touch with where I stand in God's
Word!
-------------------------------------------
Transportation for Zelma Bobbitt
Sun., 20, pm - Ennis & Elizabeth Osteen
Wed., 23, pm - Rocky Rodriguez
Sun., 27, pm - Cannons
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday Evening Close
Feb. 23 Mark Ary
Mar. 1 Bill Faulkner
Mar. 8 Fred Ferguson
Mar. 15 Steve Fontenot
Mar. 22 Michael Gove
Preaching Schedule
Mar 5, A.M. Gregg Hutson
Mar 5, P.M. Kris Emerson
Mar. 19, A.M. & P.M. Danny Wilson
-------------------------------------------
SCHEDULED TO SERVE
Wednesday Feb. 23
Song Leader: Craig Ottersbach
Close: Mark Ary
Sunday AM, Feb. 27
Announcements: Larry Legg
Song Leader: Gary Tuttle
First Prayer: Rocky Rodriguez
Lord's Table
_ Bread: Dwight Osteen
_ Fruit of the Vine: Jay Lietka
_ Contribution: Mark LaBurt
_ Assistant: Ed Schindler
Preaching: Steve Fontenot
Closing Prayer: Rob McCaskill
Sunday PM, Feb. 27
Song Leader: Gary Tuttle
First Prayer: Mike Head
Lord's Table
_ Bread: Dwight Osteen
_ Fruit of the Vine: Jay LIetka
_ Contribution: Mark LaBurt
Preaching: Steve Fontenot
Closing Prayer: Matthew Hodges
If you are a scheduled song leader but know
you will be unavailable, please notify Jim Crain.
If you are scheduled to serve in any other capacity but cannot serve as scheduled, please
notify Boyd Hurst.