HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH EZINE

Morningstar Fellowship Church, or Ministries, is another small and not too well known movement started in 1985 by Rick and Julie Joyner and is but one more movement that was started and maintained only for financial gain. The "doctrine" of the movement is nothing more than "Love for God and Love for your fellow man". Two noble requirements but absolutely nothing new whatsoever. They will accept just about any church into their fellowship who accept those two requirements and they offer two levels of membership. Level one is that with oversight from Morningstar and the level 2 is without their oversight. I am confident, however that there is a substantial charge regardless of which level a church might accept.

Jim Bakker, former leader of the PTL (Praise The Lord) ministries and who served several years in prison for overselling timeshares to a hotel on the PTL grounds has, since release from prison, associated himself with Rick Joyner, which in itself, is reason for questioning the motives of either of these two men.

For those who might have an interest in more information concerning this movement, you may click on the header of this article to visit their homepage or you may visit the links listed below for more information.

There is a story in 1 Kings 13:11-26 that illustrates so aptly the consequences of disobedience. If any lesson highlights Matthew 7:21, surely this is it. "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." If any lesson illustrates the importance of Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:12 this is it. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

Let us notice several things about the story that should be significant to us, especially those of us who preach the gospel. Here was a true believer. Note 1 Kings 13:1, "And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense." He was not a simple peasant caught in the field by a lion. He was not a criminal, caught in the act of robbing who was killed by a policeman. He was a man of God with a message from God. "He came by the word of the Lord." He was not merely a commentator, but an ambassador of God, sent on a mission with a specific message.

He was a man with courage. 1 King 13:2, "And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD." King Jeroboam had built the altar, and the king was standing there listening. He was not merely hinting some general things from a distant pulpit.

He was a man of power. 1 King 13:3-4, "And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him."

He was a man of self-denial. When the king invited him to refresh himself and take a reward, he refused. He was no hireling. 1 King 13:7, "And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward."

One of the most significant things in the story is that he fell by listening to a man instead of to God. The man he listened to was an older man, for whom he had been taught to have respect. He was a prophet of God, which made him more trustworthy in the mind of the young prophet. We need constantly to be aware that one's being a prophet, priest or preacher, aged or otherwise is no guarantee that he will be speaking the word of God. Remember that Paul said in Galatians 1:8, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Remember 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

Surely a person cannot look at this story along with that of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Nadab and Abihu, Moses, Uzzah, Saul, Naaman and others without being impressed with the fact that things may seem trivial in our sight, but whatever God has said is important. It is true that God has revealed that some things are more important than others. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Note carefully that he did not say, "Do the weightier matters, and do not be concerned about the smaller things."

Regardless of who or what contributed to his apostasy, he had to face death and the judgment of God alone. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

We also need to realize that God's judgments are sure. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Sin may be forgiven, but someone always suffers the consequences of any sin. David is one of the most significant cases. He committed adultery and murder, and was forgiven, but he and his house suffered. 2 Samuel 12:10 says, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

There are other lessons in this story, but if we are impressed with the consequences of disobedience to any command of God, and so order our lives that we have respect for His word, His will and His way in all that we do or say, the purpose of this article will have been accomplished.

Reprinted from the Old Paths Archives

Chula Vista Books is owned and operated by Mark and Teah McWhorter. We carry a wide selection of Bible related materials--ladies' books, childrens' materials, commentaries, apologetics, lectureship books, missions books, class books, debates, sermon books, church history, topical studies, Bible covers, Bibles, tracts, BCCs and more.

We also send out used book lists from time to time. Unfortunately we do not have a catalog at present but invite your inquiries. If you would like to be on our mailing list, send us your email address.

Mark McWhorter, 420 Chula Vist Mtn Rd, Pell City AL 35125, Phone 205-338-1843

Does your congregation have a web site? Can you add, update and delete information from your existing web site easily? If you answered no to either question visit The Lord's Way. This new service allows you to create a web site for your congregation and update it yourself whenever you want by simply completing online forms. The service is designed for any congregation that wants a web site that contains current, updated and fresh information but does not want to invest the time and money in learning about the inner-workings of the Internet. Your new site will be packed with information about your congregation. Visit us and take a tour!

My friend, and brother in Christ, Max Rogers emailed me the following little story and I found it to be not only amusing, but unfortunately, quite realistic. See what you think.

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

The theme for SELTC 2003 is "Go!" Based on the book of Matthew, this year's study challenges each of us to allow God to rule in every area of our life. We pray that this year's study affords you the opportunity to grow closer to God and each other. The date for this year's convention is April 18-20, 2003. We will be meeting at the Adam's Mark in Mobile, AL. For more information please visit our website at www.seltc.org or call 205-988-5808.

The Bear Valley Bible Institute, Scottsboro Extension (BVBISE) is half-way through it's second year of operation under the oversight of the elders of the Broad Street Church of Christ in Scottsboro, Alabama. The school is an extension of the BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE of DENVER. 40 courses (and eight out-of-class mini-courses) completed over a four-year period lead to the Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree. The Associates Degree may be earned in half that time.

One course is taught each month (except July and December) in two all-day Saturday sessions along with outside assignments. The school is TUITION FREE. The only costs to the student are for required texts & materials, and a $5 fee each Saturday to help cover the teacher's expenses. The teachers are academically well-qualified and experienced gospel preachers who know and love the Bible as the verbally inspired and authoritative word of God, and who volunteer their time and work as a labor of love.

BVBISE is committed to training sound and able Bible teachers (men and women), and faithful gospel preachers for service in the kingdom of Christ. The format is designed to make this training possible for men and women who must continue their jobs and other pursuits while they study. Credit is given for previous college or preacher-school study. A preacher-school graduate may be able to earn the Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree in as little as four months of study. For more information please contact the Broad Street Church of Christ, 613 South Broad Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768. Phone: 256-574-2489. EMAIL

A Fox one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. "If," said he, "you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, "You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape."

Look before you leap....Aesop