Volume  3    Issue   22   April 6th, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    I am sure that the title of this article got your attention.  It should.  The title of this article comes from what Jesus said of Judas: (John 6:70-71) “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”  When one reads any one of the four accounts known as the “Gospel” they find areas where it is revealed that Judas, one of the disciples, betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15).  This betrayal is a fulfillment of an Old Testament Prophesy (Zechariah 11:12).  When we read of that today we find ourselves amazed that Judas would do such a thing.  However, we find Christians betraying the Lord for a lot less than thirty pieces of silver today.  Why are we amazed at what Judas did?  Judas was a called a “devil” because of his deceit and betrayal.  What does that say of those who do that very thing today?

    Some Christians are willing to betray the Lord by selling His body to the devil.  There are many brethren throughout the church today who are teaching error and thus betraying the Lord.  They have put comfort and popularity above truth and faithfulness (Proverbs 23:23).  There are those who betray their brethren for 30 minutes of extra sleep during times when the saints assemble (Hebrews 10:25).  There are those who betray the Lord by taking His money and spending it on unauthorized things.  There are those who betray the Lord by throwing Bible Authority out the window (Colossians 3:17).  There are those are betray the Lord by making worship a time of mere entertainment (John 4:24).  There are those who betray the Lord by making the “Great Commission” the “Great Permission” to use things other than the Gospel to cause church growth (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 5:42, and Acts 6:7).

    There are those who are betraying the Lord by their apathy.  They sit back and watch everyone else do what is wrong, but take no action in preventing these things from going on.  Association equals participation (II John 9-11).  Have you reflected upon your spirituality to find out whether or not Satan has found your price and used it to buy your faithfulness?  The Judases of today are those who have decided to sell out on that which is right!  (I Peter 5:8) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

    Everyone can be a master at letting other’s know what is wrong in their lives, but not being able to tell what is wrong in their own lives.  We cannot be like that and expect to get to Heaven.  When we fail to examine ourselves we not only sell out on the Lord, but our own selves as well.  There are enough individuals that are willing to name their price and take it.  We need some who are willing to tell the devil that they are not for sale.  What will your answer be?  Judas said yes, but found that ultimately the price was not worth the result.  He took his life and is in “his own place” (Acts 1:25) because of it.  You need not commit suicide physically, but you might need to end your life of sin.  (Romans 6:16) “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”  Are you a devil?
 

Quick Notes

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Kathren Lucas (in KY visiting her daughter), Joan Croyle, Nancy Green (Barb’s cousin that has cancer), Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s also suffering from cancer), and the Lockwood family (as they await Mike’s deployment orders).