Dear family, brethren, and friends,

On Monday, April 17, I woke up at 2:15 A.M. and joined Jonathan Carino in going to the airport in Cebu City to catch our flight to Manila, where we boarded another plane to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.  Arriving at 11:00 A.M., we rushed to attend the wedding of Robert and Aiza Paet, where I led prayer on their behalf.

After a good lunch with the wedding party, Rody and I went to his vehicle to use a cell phone connection in conducting a 30 minute radio program.  Listeners had requested discussion about how the thief on the cross was saved and why it is wrong to use instrumental music in worship.  The thief lived and died under the Law of Moses.  Hebrews 9:15-17 clearly teaches that the new covenant of Christ did not go into effect until after his death.  The thief never heard the Great Commission which was given after Jesus arose and before he ascended to heaven: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:15-16).

As for instrumental music in worship, consider Matthew 28:20 which points to our new life after baptism:  “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Christ commanded that we observe the Lord’s Supper as part of worship, using unleavened bread and fruit of the vine to commemorate his death for our sins (Matt. 26:26-29).  If we add coke and hamburger to the Lord’s Supper, as some churches have done, we act without the authority of Christ – we substitute our will for his command.  Through the Apostles Christ commanded singing as part of worship, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).  If we add instrumental music, as most churches have done, we act without the authority of Christ – we substitute our will for his command.

After the radio program, Jonathan and I checked in at our hotel.  I used the afternoon to rest and to take exercise by walking on a track at a university about a mile from the hotel.

This evening we enjoyed a wonderful supper at Rody’s home with Tessie and all the family.  I then studied the Bible on marriage for an hour and a half with Teddy Gumpad and his fiancee Bing in preparation for their marriage tomorrow.

The date April 18 will always be remembered and celebrated by Teddy and Bing Gumpad as the day they took their marriage vows to share their life together serving God and each other.  About 100 people gathered to give approval and encouragement to this couple as they began this new journey.  The service was conducted by Jonathan Carino, Lordy Salunga, Rody Gumpad, and me.  I was given the privilege by Teddy and Bing to admonish them from God’s Holy Word.

My sermon on “How Love Grows in Marriage” pointed out that as they took their marriage vows, God joined them in accordance with His law and their covenant of marriage.  Thus, they began a new life of growing in married love.  1. Our love grows when we let God’s love point the way.  By His love He created us to be His companions, gave us the gift of companionship in marriage, and sent Christ to save us, meeting our earthly and spiritual needs (Eph. 5:22-33).  God has shown us the pathway of unselfish and sacrificial love, and we should earnestly follow it in our marriage.

2. Our love grows because God’s law protects our love.  He commanded and ordained marriage as one man for one woman for life.  This law is simple, direct, and powerful protection for married love so that it may constantly grow.  The commitment of married love is altogether absent in fornication.  Adultery destroys the commitment and trust upon which marriage is based (and is the only ground for divorce which permits the innocent partner to marry a new mate).  God’s law forbidding divorce and remarriage protects our love and allows it to grow by requiring us to constantly remember our vows in order to resolve problems and differences which arise.  Polygamy creates favoritism and competition, undermining true married love.  Homosexual relationships prevent people from experiencing the male-female companionship ordained by God in marriage.

3. Our love grows because it is nourished by God’s Word.  For instance, the Song of Solomon celebrates love in marriage.  It teaches that love has its own way to grow, as by expressing affection, compliments, and praise.  Love’s commitment is constant when we have springtime experiences and when we face troubles and struggles in our relationship.  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us that love grows when we seek the welfare and well-being of another person.  Also, when a husband and a wife read and meditate upon God’s Word together, their love will consistently grow and deeper.

May God bless all men and women who embrace the companionship of marriage, serving Him and each other in the journey of life!

A Bible lectureship was planned for Wednesday and the church building was filled with over 200 people.  At times the electric current was weak and the two air conditioning units and the many fans could not keep up – the auditorium became hotter and hotter as the morning wore on.

In spite of the heat, everyone was very attentive to the lessons presented by Jonathan Carino and Lordy Salunga on various aspects of marriage.  One point that stood out in both of their presentations is that God binds us in marriage when an eligible man and an eligible woman take the vows of the marriage covenant.  God not man regulates marriage, although we understand we should obey any applicable civil laws.

My first lesson was entitled “Mistaken Views VS False Doctrine” (2 Pet. 1:5-7; 2:1).  When we honestly and earnestly strive to grow in knowledge of the truth, little by little we overcome mistaken views.  This can be seen in the lives of Job, Abraham, and the Apostles of Christ.  God patiently helps us to grow in the truth, and we must be patient with each other.  On the other hand, false teachers compromise and pervert the truth, drifting further and further away from God’s Word and leading men into sin.  This danger is illustrated by Hymenaeus, Philetus, and teachers tolerated at Pergamos and Thyatira.  Such men and their doctrines must be opposed and exposed.

By lunch time my clothes were so wet with sweat that I came back to the hotel to shower and change my clothes.  My next sermon dealt with “Modest Dress through the Ages” (1 Tim. 2:9-10), tracing the principle of modesty through the three dispensations.  I urged preachers to have Bible studies with couples who ask them to perform marriage ceremonies and to include instructions to brides about the importance of wearing a modest wedding dress.  Even Christian brides often wear wedding dresses which are emphatically immodest.

This was an uplifting day as we fed our souls on God’s Word and renewed acquaintances known through the years.  Jim McDonald first brought me to Tuguegarao 20 years ago, for which I will always be grateful, and we included him in our prayers as he is recovering from open heart surgery.

Although the lessons today were aimed more at edifying the saints than converting the lost, two precious souls came forward to confess their faith in Christ and to submit to him in water baptism for the remission of sins.  We were also thankful to have a Baptist preacher present among the visitors.

Tomorrow morning Rody Gumpad and Jerome Forelo will drive two vehicles to transport us to Angeles City, Pampanga to begin the next segment of my itinerary.  We will leave very early in the morning in an effort to reach Angeles City before dark.

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement as we continue to press forward!

In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook

To see good Bible study material, go to:
http://www.HebronChurchOfChrist.com
http://www.biblework.com
http://www.truthmagazine.com
http://www.CEIbooks.com