The Reporter   
 Volume 47 # 14,  --  April 6, 2007

Changing Hearts And Causing Faith
– Matthew Fifteen –

   It is Jesus' desire that our hearts be changed and our faith becomes strong. Pure hearts and strong faith lead to devoted service to the Master. A lack of purity of heart or having weak faith causes one not to be able to distinguish between faith and custom. These failures also cause us not to recognize Jesus as the Christ of God.

   Jesus was the master teacher. In spreading God's truth He often came in conflict with the religious leaders of His day over the matter of keeping traditions. Traditions start and people keep them up with no understanding of why. The problem is never tradition but it is "traditionalism." This happens when people give human traditions the same authority as is given to the word of God.

   Paul even referred to the word of God as the "ordinances" or "traditions" that I have delivered to you. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." (I Corinthians 11:1-2) He said, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (II Thessalonians 2:15)

   Obviously not all "traditions" of men are wrong.  When the traditions are the inspired teachings of God they must be respected. The doctrines and commandments of men are not to be looked upon in that way. The problem with the traditions of men is that they can: (1) make void the word of God, (2) lead to vain worship, and (3) lead to hypocritical worship that does not come from the heart. We must be certain that our faith is based on the written Word of God and not on the traditions of men.

   Jesus also dealt with the bind leaders of the blind. These blind leaders held to the traditions of men. They put traditions above the word of God. They planted things that God had not planted. Jesus said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."

   The very touching account of the Syrophenician woman was is also found in Matthew 15. She was a Gentile. She was from one of those nations that should have been driven out of the land of Canaan. This account of a mother's search for help for her demon possessed daughter demonstrated great faith.

   Matthew 15 likewise provides record of Jesus feeding the 4,000. There were Jews, Gentiles, men and women, adults and children. The thing they all had in common is that they were hungry. They were hungry both spiritually and physically. Their spiritual hunger caused them to stay with Jesus three days without physical food. His compassion caused Him to perform this great miracle.

   A Change Of Heart Is Needed – Matthew 15:1-20: Through traditions the Pharisees were transgressing God's law. They were beautiful on the outside but they needed a change of heart on the inside. (Matthew 15:1-3) Just having the outside right but not the heart makes one a hypocrite. "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." (Matthew 15:8) This change can never be brought about by blind leaders of the blind.

   Jesus said that the, evil things in a person's life come from the heart. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matthew 15:19-20) Good things come from a good heart, and evil things come from an evil heart. When our heart is pure we have peace and can enjoy the abundant life!

   A Change Of Heart Brings You To Jesus – Matthew 15:21-28: A woman with a changed heart came to Jesus asking for help for her daughter. "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." (Matthew 15:22) She knew Jesus could help and a changed heart brought her to Him. Jesus' response to a changed heart was, "...O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed from that very hour." (Matthew 15:28)

   This woman was commended for her faith because she acted boldly on her faith. Her request to Jesus was urgent and Jesus was willing to give her daughter the needed help!

   A Reason To Change Your Heart – Matthew 15:29-31: Both what Jesus said and what He did gives good reason to change your heart. "Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel." (Matthew 15:30-31)

   The multitude wondered about the things done by Jesus as well they should because only a man sent from God could do these signs. Right before their eyes they had proof of both the love of Christ and of His miraculous power. Jesus is the Son of God and His actions and words demand a change of heart. Jesus had two purposes in His personal ministry. He wanted to bring glory to God and to be a blessing to humanity. In His life and actions we observe that He accomplished both!

   More Reason To Change Your Heart – Matthew 15:32-39: The multitude had been listening to Jesus three days without eating. He had compassion on them and did not want to send them away hungry and faint. (Matthew 15:32) Jesus multiplied seven loaves and a few little fish (Matthew 15:34) to feed four thousand men, besides women and children, most of whom were Gentiles. (Matthew 15:38.)

   What a lesson of Jesus' power and His faithfulness and His sufficiency? This miracle proved Jesus to be God's Son and demanded a total change in every human heart. It is wonderful news to know that Jesus feeds and saves even those that are Gentiles.

   In a world full of hypocrisy and evil actions there is a great need for changed hearts and strong faith. Only Jesus can change hearts. Blind religious leaders do not and cannot help. "But He answered and said, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." (Matthew 15:13-14)

   To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (II Peter 3:9), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized into Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) Those that put on Christ should then live life with a pure heart, clean hands and great faith. The change of heart and life will be obvious when one truly comes to Jesus.

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

1. Prayer List: Baptist South: J.C. Lowery. In Need Of Prayers: Jody Barr (accident), Linda Bender, Emily Cain, Marie Curlee, Nelson Daughtry, Buddy Davis, Roy Goodwin, Montine Hardin, Latrelle Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Billy Heartsill, James Hill, Andy Hobbie, Darrell Jones, Dot Killingworth, Wanda Kyser (mother of Ann Cauthen – 13301 C Roy Miller Road, Grand Bay, AL 36541), Mary Lawrence, Steve McCreary, Steve Osborne, Glenn Phillips, Mary Powell, John Reynolds, Ottey Simno, R.B. Stabler, Roger Strange, and Melissa Woodruff. Crowne Health Care: Linda Conway, Ileane Fussell, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Doris Taylor and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson, Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, and Jean Hayes.

2. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Marie Owens and Brenda Herring in the death of their aunt, Betty Jo Sayler.

3. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in Iraq: Sam Sanders, Jason Godwin, Michael Howell, Kimberly Williams, Taylor Bodie, and Lynn Kervin. Pray for them often!

4. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: April 9th Brett Barr, April 10th Brenda Stallings, April 12th Donald Davis, and April 14th Donna Patterson.

5. Disney On Ice: Bobby & Mary Lou Terrell have offered to pay for any K-6th graders to attend Disney on Ice on May 5th at 11:00 a.m. in Montgomery. Let Darrell know ASAP if you would like to attend. (Parents of young children are also welcome)

6. Cover Dish/Bridal Shower: A cover dish/bridal shower is planned for Chris Bagents and Dusty Dunn for Saturday, April 14th at 6:00 p.m.  Honor Chris and Dusty as they prepare for their wedding. Everyone is asked to help by bringing something for the meal.

7. Guyana Trip: Darrell and Jamie Powell, Marcus Harrell, Tyler Ray, Meaghan Till, and Morgan Till will be in Guyana June 2nd-11th. Prayers and financial support would be greatly appreciated.

8. Backwoods Christian Camp: Our week at Backwoods will be July 8-13. Camp fees will again be paid from the Carl Sessions Camp Fund for all Walnut street youths that participate. Registration forms are at the Welcome Center. Get them filled out and back to Darrell right away!

9. Your Help Is Needed: (a) Lomax and Charles will be leaving for Guyana Thursday, April 12th to help build the church building in the village of Kwatamang. Money is needed to buy seed for the villagers to plant for food and possibly extract cost for building supplies as the government has imposed an additional 15% tax. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Please note on you check for Guyana Fund. (b) We all need to work together to make sure we turn off lights, lock doors and in general help keep the church building clean and secure. If you see lights on please turn them off, even if you did not turn them on. If doors are unlocked please lock them. If you turn the water on to water plants please make sure it is turned off! Thanks for your help!

10. Thank You: (a) Dear Church Family, Our special thanks to all who said prayers, sent a card or paid a visit. As busy as your schedules are you still took the time for me. Thanks to all who sat with Eleanor during my surgery. Thanks to the church for the beautiful plant. To all who sent food for our physical body – you’ll not be forgotten. God is so good and still continue to bless us. We love each of you. R.B. (Tete) & Eleanor Stabler (b) Dear Walnut Street, Thank you so much for all the cards, calls, and prayers during my surgery and recovery. It is a comfort to be part of such a loving church family. Love, Michelle Bagents (c) I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing food, your visits, calls, and all of your acts of kindness and especially your prayers. It is such a blessing to have all of you as a caring church family. In Christian Love, Dot Killings-worth (d) Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and kindness during this difficult time. From the family of Charles Lee.

“True Believers Behave”

    My wife, Jamie, told me about an experience that she had when she accepted a Baptist friend’s invitation to attend a “judgment house” around Halloween one year. The people inside the judgment house began by acting out the deaths of two men. One was a moral young man who was in a car accident. But he had never “accepted Christ as his personal savior,” so he was sent to hell. The other man was a forty year old, wife beating drunk, who died in a house fire. But since he had accepted Christ by saying a simple prayer when he was young, he was sent to heaven to be rewarded for all eternity. It is true that the young man’s morality, without obedience to God, would not save him (II Thess 1:8, Mt 7:21-23). But the idea that the man who had lived in sin for years without repentance would be in heaven is certainly not a Biblical concept.

   The title of this article is a statement that is sometimes used to explain the Baptist Church’s “once-saved, always-saved” doctrine. Here is how one Baptist explains this doctrine: “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul.” (Sam Morris; First Baptist Church; Stamford, TX). What does the Bible say about how sin affects a child of God?

   Paul was speaking to Christians at the church in Galatia when he explained that those who try to bind the old law are “severed from Christ,” and “have fallen away from grace” (Gal 5:4). In order to be severed from Christ, they must first have been joined to him, and to fall from grace, they must first have been in grace. The Hebrew writer said warned Christians about punishment for forsaking the assembly. (Heb 10:29). 

   The idea that one who becomes a Christian cannot fall from grace and once again be lost in sin is clearly contrary to the teachings of the Bible. It is sad to think about the countless souls who have been convinced that all they must do is say a little prayer (that is also foreign to scripture) and they will be secure in Christ no matter what. There is security in the Lord, but only to those who obey Him (John 14:15).

-         - - -Darrell Powell

Honorable poverty is better than unscrupulous wealth.

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

Walnut Street Church of Christ
P.O. Box 551
Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551
(334-382-3001)