Vol. 04, No. 06

Steven J. Wallace
02/16/25 - Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

SPIRITUAL PURPOSE

John Edwards

Paul wrote, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose…” (2 Tim. 3:10). 

What is your purpose?

To Build. Solomon said, “I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God…” (1 Ki. 5:5). Thus, it is written: “So he built the house, and finished it…” (1 Ki. 6:9). This was the purpose of Nehemiah and the wall-builders. Nehemiah requested of King Artaxerxes, “…send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchers, that I may build it” (Neh. 2:5). When Nehemiah sounded the building call, “…come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem…”, would you have said, “…Let us rise up and build…” (Neh. 2:17-18)? The message of Haggai was, It Is Time to Build (Hag. 1:2-5, 8). The church needs builders (Acts 20:32; Jude 20). Is it your purpose to build up the church of God?

Mouth Shall Not Transgress. The Psalmist declared, “…I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress” (Ps. 17:3). Again, “I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue” (Ps. 39:1). Some mouth sins include: slander (Prov. 10:18), flattery (Prov. 26:28), backbiting (Ps. 15:3), taking the name of God in vain (Ex. 20:7), lying (Prov. 12:22), multitude of words (Prov. 10:19), and evil speaking (Eph. 4:31). May our petition be, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).  

Not Defile Self. Daniel was a faithful servant of God because of his spiritual purpose. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” (Dan. 1:8). There are things which “…come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Mt. 15:18-20). Let us be purposed not to defile ourselves. 

To Cleave unto The Lord. Barnabas “…exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). To cleave unto the Lord is to be steadfastly devoted to the Lord so as to remain and continue with Him.  

To Go. Paul was “…purposed in the spirit…to go to Jerusalem…” (Acts 19:21). There are some places we need to be purposed to go. When “thy brother hath ought against thee”, “…go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Mt. 5:23-24). Jesus said, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth…” (Mt. 9:13). “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone…” (Mt. 18:15). Matthew 21:28 records, “…go work to day in my vineyard.” Jesus commissioned, “Go…teach” (Mt. 28:19) and “Go…preach” (Mk. 16:15). Are you purposed to go? 

To Give. We are taught, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Saints are ordered, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…” (1 Cor. 16:2). Jesus instructed, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Lk. 6:38). “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). One reason we work with our hands is “…that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28). How is your purpose in this area?

Without purpose, one will never obey the Lord (Heb. 5:9) or be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). What's your spiritual purpose?

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“GAMBLING AND THE CHRISTIAN”

Ephesians 5:1-7

1. The global casino and online gambling industry as a whole was worth an estimated ________________ in 2022 and grew to __________________ in 2023.[1]
2. Does Ephesians 4:14 imply that gambling is rooted in trickery?
   1. “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” (Ephesians 4:14)
   2. Note: the word "trickery" (kybeia, Greek) literally means “a cube, a die,” referring to dice-playing. Greek scholar Henry Thayer explains that this term was used “because dice players sometimes cheated and defrauded their fellow players.” While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it condemns deception, greed, and dishonest gain—all of which are interconnected to gambling.
   3. If gambling depends on chance and profits from another’s loss, can it be separated from the trickery warned against in Scripture?
3. Name three components that are needed to constitute “a gamble.”
    
4. “A man with an evil eye hastens after ____________, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” (Proverbs 28:22, NKJV)
5. "What are some things people wrongly compare to gambling, and why are they false equivalents?"
   
   
    
6. Jesus taught, “For every tree is known by its own fruit. People do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a bramble bush” (Luke 6:44). Reflecting on this teaching, what type of "fruit" does gambling produce in people's lives?
   
   
   
    
7. "What are some biblical ways to rightfully acquire money and property?"
   
    

Sunday Evening: “The Mistaken Sadducee on the End Times” (2)

2 Timothy 2:15-18

LIST SOME SCRIPTURES TO ANSWER EACH POINT IN THE CHART BELOW:

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