WEBVTT 00:00:11.229 --> 00:00:16.670 Pray together once more, please. Heavenly Father, 00:00:16.929 --> 00:00:19.649 we are thankful and grateful to be your people 00:00:19.649 --> 00:00:22.989 and thankful for your help thus far in the meeting. 00:00:23.370 --> 00:00:25.629 We ask you to continue with us now as we attempt 00:00:25.629 --> 00:00:28.589 to open your Word and to hear from you and to 00:00:28.589 --> 00:00:30.949 learn all that you have for us this morning. 00:00:32.049 --> 00:00:34.909 We claim the promise that you indeed will accomplish 00:00:34.909 --> 00:00:38.130 all of your perfect will and that your Word will 00:00:38.130 --> 00:00:41.179 not return until you avoid. So we ask that that 00:00:41.179 --> 00:00:43.200 would be the case this morning, that you'd enable 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.899 us to humble ourselves under the Word, to apply 00:00:46.899 --> 00:00:51.439 it to ourselves, and to seek after you to change 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.520 whatever needs to be changed in our lives. Help 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:57.000 me as I present the Word, keep me from error, 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:00.100 but enable me to present the fullness of all 00:01:00.100 --> 00:01:03.299 that you've given. And so we do ask again this 00:01:03.299 --> 00:01:05.719 morning for the lost, that they might be found 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:09.019 of you. that you would grant repentance and faith 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:12.120 to many who are yet in their sins, not only in 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:14.439 this assembly, but in others who are faithfully 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:17.859 proclaiming your word. And we ask in Christ's 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:21.900 name, amen. Well, I'm going to be dealing with 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:25.299 the church this morning, and I'm going to be 00:01:25.299 --> 00:01:28.180 continuing on the subject for a number of weeks. 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:32.879 And so I just want to introduce the subject this 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.319 morning. Some of these verses that we... Today, 00:01:36.780 --> 00:01:42.840 I'll be more in detail in subsequent weeks. But 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:46.939 I think there's possibly an underappreciation 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:50.959 of the value of the Church in our present -day 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.939 society, perhaps even here. So that's really 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:58.799 the heart, my heart this morning, is for us to 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:03.700 see the true value of what Christ has accomplished. 00:02:05.279 --> 00:02:10.719 in his church. So I've got a number. We're going 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:14.520 to take a tour through the New Testament here. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.800 So I've got a number of different verses. You 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:20.539 don't have to try to turn two of them all. Most 00:02:20.539 --> 00:02:24.960 are sharp. And I'll be reading them. But if you 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:29.000 want to turn as we go, that's fine. I'm going 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:35.620 to begin with Matthew 16 verses. 15 through 18 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:47.620 In verse 15 we read he saith unto them but whom 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:51.300 say ye that I am and Simon Peter answered and 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:53.919 said thou art the Christ the son of the living 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:57.699 God and Jesus answered and said unto him blessed 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:01.120 art thou Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:04.240 hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:08.719 which is in heaven and I say unto thee that thou 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:11.780 art Peter and upon this rock I will build my 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:14.979 church and the gates of hell shall not prevail 00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:18.199 against it." So there's a lot here but all I 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:20.340 wanted to do this morning was to focus on this 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:23.340 last sentence in the last verse where Christ 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:27.300 declares that I will build my church and the 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:30.740 gates of hell will not prevail against it. So 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:34.719 the church is Christ's Christ is building his 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:40.479 church and the church We should understand as 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:44.580 his called out people the Ecclesia The ones whom 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:47.099 Christ has called out from the world brought 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:51.419 unto himself and put into his church He's building 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:54.800 it. He's building it from the time he Started 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:58.460 and he's continued to build it today all of us 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:01.930 here are a result of Christ's work within us. 00:04:02.889 --> 00:04:05.750 And He worked within us to bring us to Himself 00:04:05.750 --> 00:04:09.810 and to His Church. There really is no separation. 00:04:10.110 --> 00:04:14.469 Remember? The Church is Christ's body. The Ecclesiads, 00:04:14.689 --> 00:04:18.170 the called out ones, are Christ's body. Christ 00:04:18.170 --> 00:04:22.269 is the head. It's His Church. But He does have 00:04:22.269 --> 00:04:26.949 a body. That's you and me. So, in other words, 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:30.819 This is a miraculous thing that Christ has done. 00:04:31.019 --> 00:04:34.699 All of these years, this poor, helpless little 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:39.680 church has persevered and prevailed because it 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.019 is Christ that built it. The gates of hell cannot 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:46.980 prevail against it. Nobody carries their gates 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:50.579 into battle. It's not a picture of the gates 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:53.600 of hell battling against the church. It's a picture 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:57.129 of the church battling down the gates of hell. 00:04:58.189 --> 00:05:00.889 In other words, bringing men out of the service 00:05:00.889 --> 00:05:05.269 of Satan and bringing them unto Christ. Nothing 00:05:05.269 --> 00:05:07.509 will prevail and it's been true. It's been true 00:05:07.509 --> 00:05:09.910 for centuries. It'll be true as long as this 00:05:09.910 --> 00:05:14.089 old earth keeps spinning around. Christ is building 00:05:14.089 --> 00:05:19.069 his church. It's a spiritual reality. None of 00:05:19.069 --> 00:05:24.779 us contributed anything except our sin. Spiritual 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:28.500 reality. Christ is building his church. It's 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:30.860 not so -and -so's church. We should never talk 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:35.439 like that. That's prevalent in our day. It's 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:38.180 not Mr. So -and -so's church or Elder So -and 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:43.360 -so's church. It's Christ's church. That's who's 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:48.540 the head of the church. Okay, then we're going 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:53.129 to turn to Matthew... 28, I believe, Matthew 00:05:53.129 --> 00:06:03.389 28. I'm sure it's a very familiar passage, the 00:06:03.389 --> 00:06:08.310 so -called Great Commission. So in Matthew 28, 00:06:08.490 --> 00:06:16.769 verses 18 and following, And Jesus came and spake 00:06:16.769 --> 00:06:20.389 unto them, saying, All power is given unto me 00:06:20.389 --> 00:06:24.529 in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach 00:06:24.529 --> 00:06:27.689 all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 00:06:27.689 --> 00:06:30.430 Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, 00:06:31.069 --> 00:06:33.930 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever 00:06:33.930 --> 00:06:38.149 I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, 00:06:38.430 --> 00:06:43.230 even unto the end of the world. Amen. So here's 00:06:43.230 --> 00:06:47.009 Christ's last bit of instruction here while he 00:06:47.009 --> 00:06:49.970 was... before he rose before he ascended into 00:06:49.970 --> 00:06:53.870 heaven and he's telling his disciples that I'm 00:06:53.870 --> 00:06:57.790 in charge I have all power there is no power 00:06:57.790 --> 00:07:01.629 on earth that can resist me I will in other words 00:07:01.629 --> 00:07:04.509 accomplish all of my purposes and I will accomplish 00:07:04.509 --> 00:07:10.569 my purposes through you you understand it's through 00:07:10.569 --> 00:07:13.850 us that he's going to accomplish his purposes 00:07:13.850 --> 00:07:18.379 he could have He didn't need to use men. He has 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:22.139 all power. But the plan of God and the purposes 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:24.439 of God is to call the people out of the world 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:28.879 unto themselves and then empower them to be useful 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.939 servants of Jesus Christ. So he's telling these 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:38.920 apostles and no doubt this commission is primarily 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:41.879 fulfilled here by the apostles themselves when 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.360 he's telling them to go out into the world and 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:48.600 make disciples. But that's not the only people 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.259 that should learn and follow these directions. 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:57.060 We all should follow these instructions to a 00:07:57.060 --> 00:08:01.319 greater or lesser degree in our workplaces, but 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:05.319 also in our homes. Our homes should be gospel 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.259 centered. We should be calling our children to 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:11.779 Christ. We should be setting a proper example 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:15.740 to them daily, living before them. as Christ 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:18.120 has told us to live, teaching them all that Christ 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:23.079 has taught us. It's quite a commission, it's 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:25.459 quite a responsibility that He's given unto His 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:28.399 people and it's one that we cannot do apart from 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:32.769 Him. Everything that we do must be bathed in 00:08:32.769 --> 00:08:35.370 prayer. Everything that we try to accomplish 00:08:35.370 --> 00:08:38.169 must be bathed in prayer. We don't have the strength 00:08:38.169 --> 00:08:40.509 apart from Christ to do any of these things, 00:08:40.549 --> 00:08:43.289 but in Christ we can do all that He's called 00:08:43.289 --> 00:08:46.409 us to do. And this is what He's called us to 00:08:46.409 --> 00:08:51.610 do. To bring or to call men and women to Himself, 00:08:51.730 --> 00:08:55.529 to Christ. Point them to Christ. Now remember, 00:08:56.509 --> 00:09:00.570 this is a supernatural act. We can't save anybody. 00:09:01.950 --> 00:09:05.169 All we can do is point them to Christ. Be an 00:09:05.169 --> 00:09:08.110 example of Christ. And that's what we're called 00:09:08.110 --> 00:09:11.789 to do. The results are up to Christ. We might 00:09:11.789 --> 00:09:14.070 witness to a hundred people that are not called. 00:09:15.330 --> 00:09:19.629 The hundred and first might be called and will 00:09:19.629 --> 00:09:22.629 be called. Remember, the only confidence we have 00:09:22.629 --> 00:09:25.990 in evangelization is what? That God has a people 00:09:25.990 --> 00:09:29.250 for Himself. And He's called us to call them 00:09:29.250 --> 00:09:33.009 out. And He then will bring them to Himself. 00:09:33.370 --> 00:09:36.769 The Gospel, the power of God unto salvation to 00:09:36.769 --> 00:09:40.769 all who believe. This is what we're all about. 00:09:40.830 --> 00:09:44.370 This is what we're supposed to be doing. So, 00:09:45.850 --> 00:09:48.230 we don't want to minimize this calling out. We 00:09:48.230 --> 00:09:51.820 don't want to minimize sharing the Gospel. We 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:54.080 have special events and such where we go out 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.200 into the community and share the gospel, but 00:09:56.200 --> 00:10:01.080 we must take the opportunities day by day that 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:04.360 God presents us with to share Christ with the 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:13.279 dying world. The church gets this privilege and 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.679 it is a privilege to share the gospel. It's the 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:22.360 greatest news we can tell anybody. Okay, then 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:34.960 we'll go on. We'll look at Acts. Very familiar 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:42.259 passage, Acts 2. Remember, we're just taking 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:45.179 a little cruise through the New Testament. We're 00:10:45.179 --> 00:10:47.600 going to get into more detail in probably all 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.019 of these subjects through the next few weeks. 00:10:50.850 --> 00:10:54.330 But in Acts 2, now this is the day of Pentecost. 00:10:54.389 --> 00:10:56.490 You're familiar with that. The Holy Spirit's 00:10:56.490 --> 00:11:00.470 been poured out. And a great many people were 00:11:00.470 --> 00:11:03.090 converted as a result of the outpouring of the 00:11:03.090 --> 00:11:07.690 Holy Spirit. Again, it's a supernatural act. 00:11:08.029 --> 00:11:11.549 It's all of God. Peter got up there and proclaimed 00:11:11.549 --> 00:11:14.250 the gospel. Just like what we were talking about. 00:11:14.289 --> 00:11:17.539 Just like what he was told to do. and lo and 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:20.360 behold God saved thousands of people but we read 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:24.799 here in verse 41 of the second chapter of Acts 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.399 then they that gladly received his word were 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.220 baptized and the same day there were added unto 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:35.179 them about three thousand souls and they continued 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:38.659 steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:42.860 and in breaking of bread and in prayers and fear 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:46.309 came upon every soul and many wonders and signs 00:11:46.309 --> 00:11:50.450 were done by the apostles and all that believed 00:11:50.450 --> 00:11:55.210 were together and had all things common and sold 00:11:55.210 --> 00:11:57.649 their possessions and goods and parted them to 00:11:57.649 --> 00:12:01.929 all men as every man had need. So here's a picture 00:12:01.929 --> 00:12:04.970 of the communion of the saints. The fellowship 00:12:04.970 --> 00:12:07.809 of the saints is pictured here right off the 00:12:07.809 --> 00:12:13.370 start. They didn't get converted or God didn't 00:12:13.370 --> 00:12:15.980 save them. And then they just scattered around. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:21.840 They formed a community, a people. And they had 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.399 certain goals. And the goals are clearly stated 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:28.860 there. The apostle's doctrine, the fellowship, 00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:34.379 the breaking of bread, prayers. That became the 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:38.940 central thing in their lives. We can read on 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:41.299 and see how they gathered frequently. They gathered 00:12:41.299 --> 00:12:44.600 at the temple on on the Jewish Sabbath and proclaim 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:46.980 the gospel then. They gathered on the first day 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:51.019 of the week and worshiped Christ together. They 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:58.200 were a group, an ecclesia, together. And they 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:00.580 took it seriously. If there were needs among 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:03.240 them, they did all they could to meet those needs. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:09.759 That's what it says. So again, we'll probably 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:16.500 see some of these things. more detailed but if 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:19.039 you're going to think on this these verses through 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:22.259 the week just think of the community of believers 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:28.360 the wonderful miracle that had happened just 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:32.419 a bunch of individual peoples and and because 00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:36.659 of what christ did in their lives they became 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:41.879 new people new creatures They wanted fellowship. 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:46.539 They wanted to learn. They continued steadfastly. 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:50.519 It wasn't haphazard. It wasn't hit and miss. 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:53.860 It wasn't, well, when I get around to it, or, 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:57.600 oh, if I got time, I will. No, they were steadfast 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:01.340 in these things. That's how important Jesus Christ 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:04.519 was in their lives. Again, this is the beginning 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:09.039 of the church, right here. This is what we need 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:13.659 to continue on and what has continued on through 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:21.639 this through the centuries Okay First Corinthians 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:54.279 Chapter 12 beginning at verse 12. For as the 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:57.379 body is one and hath many members, and all the 00:14:57.379 --> 00:15:00.639 members of that one body, being many are one 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:04.940 body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit are 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:08.309 we all baptized into one body. Whether we be 00:15:08.309 --> 00:15:12.950 Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and 00:15:12.950 --> 00:15:17.929 have been all made to drink into one spirit So 00:15:17.929 --> 00:15:23.490 here I want it again to emphasize here the spirituality 00:15:23.490 --> 00:15:28.509 of the church It's it's all the work of the spirit. 00:15:28.509 --> 00:15:31.490 We've all been baptized into Christ. We've all 00:15:31.490 --> 00:15:36.029 been baptized into the same spirit That's our 00:15:36.029 --> 00:15:40.870 commonality We're all one in Christ. We're all 00:15:40.870 --> 00:15:44.309 different Just like the body has different members, 00:15:44.309 --> 00:15:47.570 but we're all one in Christ. We're united in 00:15:47.570 --> 00:15:53.289 Christ We're a functioning body in Christ That's 00:15:53.289 --> 00:15:58.090 the church We're here to function as the body 00:15:58.090 --> 00:16:03.049 of Christ to carry out Christ's wishes To bring 00:16:03.049 --> 00:16:06.889 great glory to our head to acknowledge him as 00:16:06.889 --> 00:16:13.179 our head He is His church. He's running it. We 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:17.220 want His will to be done. We don't want our will 00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:21.519 to be done. That's a disaster. We want to follow 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:24.740 Christ and His will be done in our midst. We 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:29.100 need to value one another. We're not cutting 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:32.840 any members off. We're not leaving any members 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:37.720 behind. We're all tied together in this one spirit 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:41.799 in Christ And we want us all coming together. 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:46.419 We want us all going together We want commonality 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:53.179 we want unanimity in the church It's important, 00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:57.139 you know, we don't work for unity God's provided 00:16:57.139 --> 00:17:02.000 it Christ has given us unity. We are united all 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.279 word called upon to do is to maintain that unity 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:10.019 that He has given us. We can't allow any interference, 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:13.640 any division, any work of the devil to come between 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:18.400 us, any temptations, our own pride, our own jealousies. 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:21.619 We can't give any place to any of those things 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:26.339 in the church. We are one in Christ. Love our 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:30.390 brothers, love our sisters. Do whatever we can 00:17:30.390 --> 00:17:33.710 to help them and bring them along. They had all 00:17:33.710 --> 00:17:36.769 things in common. That's the Church. It's a beautiful 00:17:36.769 --> 00:17:41.950 thing. It's glorious in Christ. It's certainly 00:17:41.950 --> 00:17:44.630 nothing that a man could have ever devised or 00:17:44.630 --> 00:17:47.269 maintained or anything else. It's supernatural. 00:17:52.710 --> 00:17:57.150 It's a glorious miracle. And we're part of it. 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:01.799 We're not the church, we're part of the church. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:05.819 All those faithful communions are all at one 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:18.599 with us. Alright, back to Acts. Did God give 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:25.819 any structure to this church? Is it just a majority 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:29.950 vote? Is that what it is? I think they call that 00:18:29.950 --> 00:18:32.990 congregationalism today. I think if the majority 00:18:32.990 --> 00:18:35.029 of the congregation votes on something, then 00:18:35.029 --> 00:18:40.390 that's it. Is that what's set up? Has he set 00:18:40.390 --> 00:18:44.809 up a dictatorship? What has he set up? Has he 00:18:44.809 --> 00:18:47.589 set up capitalism, socialism? What's the government? 00:18:47.690 --> 00:18:53.430 What's the governance of the church? Well, as 00:18:53.430 --> 00:18:55.789 you already know, but I'm just simply reminding 00:18:55.789 --> 00:18:59.910 you that governing the church falls to the eldership 00:18:59.910 --> 00:19:03.509 according to the Bible. And it's always a multiplicity 00:19:03.509 --> 00:19:06.890 of elders. It's never a one -man show. It's never 00:19:06.890 --> 00:19:11.190 a one -man centralized leadership. That's dangerous. 00:19:12.390 --> 00:19:15.430 It's always a multiplicity of multiple elders. 00:19:16.809 --> 00:19:20.190 And it's people, it's elders that God has gifted. 00:19:21.109 --> 00:19:26.339 Just ordinary men that God has gifted. to do 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:31.380 the work of an elder. And it's only men. That's 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:34.599 the Bible. We'll probably get into some of this 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:37.759 as we go on, but I'm introducing the subject 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:44.680 now. You know that we do have three elders here. 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:50.920 And we should be reading this Acts 20 more often 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:54.910 than we are probably. But this is Paul's farewell 00:19:54.910 --> 00:19:59.730 address to the Ephesian elders. And so this is 00:19:59.730 --> 00:20:01.910 what he tells them. I'm only going to read one 00:20:01.910 --> 00:20:07.470 verse, verse 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves. 00:20:08.109 --> 00:20:10.990 That's number one. You want to be a faithful 00:20:10.990 --> 00:20:14.410 elder. You want to be able to lead a body of 00:20:14.410 --> 00:20:17.069 Christ. You want to be able to lead your church 00:20:17.069 --> 00:20:22.720 if you're not an elder and you're a man. be able 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:26.859 to lead your family as a husband, as a father. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:32.240 Take heed to yourself. You can't lead anybody 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:36.420 unless you take heed to yourself. Look at yourself. 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:43.160 Honestly assess yourself. Then after you have 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:47.279 taken stock of yourself and Paul says to all 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:50.079 the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:55.460 you overseers. bishops same word here's translated 00:20:55.460 --> 00:21:04.220 overseers elders God has made overseers for his 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:10.559 church and you got to take heed to those folks 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:16.180 that you're leading that you're overseeing says 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:19.380 so is even says the Holy Ghost hath made you 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:25.420 overseers Take heed to all the flock. When we 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:28.279 went through this before, remember, we talked 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:32.359 about the vital relationship between people and 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.079 elders, people of the leadership. You call it 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:39.720 pastor, whatever, elder, bishop. The vital relationship 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:44.119 that is supposed to exist between these two peoples. 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:51.000 It's a love relationship we said. The elders 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:55.319 are to love the people, and the people are to 00:21:55.319 --> 00:22:00.380 love their elders. They're to be working with 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:04.700 each other, not against each other. The elders 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:07.700 are to bring the folks along, equip them for 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:11.400 the service, all manner of things that I'm not 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:15.940 going to get into today. But the flock that God 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:18.940 has made you oversee is what a responsibility 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:24.400 that is for the elders. We should appreciate 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:31.720 and pray for our elders as the elders do for 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:34.500 the people. And what is one of their main things? 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:39.819 To feed the Church of God. To feed them. Feed 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:44.960 y 'all. I don't you know we get together we have 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:47.319 our elders meetings and we talk about the needs 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:51.200 and so and such and such and then we go our way 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:55.660 and and I'm preaching for a while here now and 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:58.799 I've got to seek the Lord how am I supposed to 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:01.059 feed these folks what am I what do they need 00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:05.759 to hear what can I bring today or what can I 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:08.019 bring the next day or the week or whatever it 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:12.759 is that's how it is you know If I didn't think 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:15.160 that the Lord would have me to preach on this 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:18.559 subject, I wouldn't be doing it. It's a result 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:22.920 of seeking the Lord to feed the people He's put 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:28.880 me overseer of. That overseer, overseeing goes 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:33.279 to all areas. Like, why do we meet at 10 o 'clock 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:37.299 on Sunday morning? Well, that was decided that 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:39.859 that would be the best time to do it. Why do 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:42.380 we have prayer before we have the worship service? 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.299 Because prayer is important. We don't think we 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:49.599 can worship without praying. Praying is a vital 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.039 part of the church and it's missing in too many 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:55.140 places today. Well, that's the very first thing 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:59.319 we do when we come together is pray. Sometimes 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:02.559 we pray for an hour, sometimes four to five minutes, 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:06.950 sometimes an hour and fifteen minutes. you know 00:24:06.950 --> 00:24:09.329 whatever it is it doesn't matter we're not governed 00:24:09.329 --> 00:24:15.450 by time we've got all day right folks whatever 00:24:15.450 --> 00:24:18.430 however long it takes to lay our petitions out 00:24:18.430 --> 00:24:24.509 before our god that's what we want to do okay 00:24:24.509 --> 00:24:27.349 enough said but that's the governance of the 00:24:27.349 --> 00:24:31.569 church all the all the ministry decisions and 00:24:31.569 --> 00:24:33.970 when we have a when we have our annual meeting 00:24:34.109 --> 00:24:38.049 We lay things out for you guys to discuss, and 00:24:38.049 --> 00:24:41.210 we ask for any input before the meeting even 00:24:41.210 --> 00:24:46.509 starts. Anyway, it's not a dictatorship, but 00:24:46.509 --> 00:24:49.849 we hope it is godly leadership, according to 00:24:49.849 --> 00:24:55.390 the scriptures. That's our goal, anyway. All 00:24:55.390 --> 00:25:16.750 right, a couple more. I've got First Peter. This 00:25:16.750 --> 00:25:20.970 is one that I'm sure I'm going to be looking 00:25:20.970 --> 00:25:29.670 at later So in first Peter chapter 2 We read 00:25:29.670 --> 00:25:32.829 Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile 00:25:32.829 --> 00:25:36.269 and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings 00:25:36.269 --> 00:25:39.910 as Newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the 00:25:39.910 --> 00:25:43.910 word that she may grow there by that's us We've 00:25:43.910 --> 00:25:47.059 got newborn babies here We're familiar with how 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:51.980 they demand milk. This is how we should go after 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:55.640 the word. This is how we should pursue God so 00:25:55.640 --> 00:26:01.160 that we might grow. Remember, we're growing. 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:05.119 We're not static. We're not satisfied with where 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:08.140 we are. We're not content. We are content, but 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:17.640 we're not satisfied. We want more. If so be you 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:20.900 have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Now obviously 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:23.299 that's not true of anybody that hasn't tasted 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:27.200 that the Lord is gracious. We've tasted it. We 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:30.680 know how good it is. We know what a savior we 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:33.480 have. We want more. We don't want just a taste. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.920 We want to eat. We want to go after. We want 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:40.980 to consume. But of course it always begins with 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:43.900 a taste. You have a taste for God. You have a 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:47.000 taste for growth. Do you have a taste at the 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:53.039 love of God in Christ Jesus? Now, here in verse 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:56.880 four, to whom coming as unto a living stone, 00:26:56.960 --> 00:27:00.180 disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:03.299 precious. That's talking about Jesus Christ. 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:08.599 Chosen of God and precious. Is he precious to 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:11.539 us? Hopefully so. But here we are in five. Here 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:16.180 we come in. Ye also as lively stones are built 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:20.720 up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:25.019 up spiritual sacrifices Acceptable to God by 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:29.859 Jesus Christ There's the purpose of the church 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:33.900 To carry out all of these instructions all of 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:38.900 these reasons for living for reasons for being 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:45.000 in Christ Results of being in Christ. Not to 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.059 get into Christ. But because we are in him, this 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:53.819 is what our desires have come to. To be living 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:59.720 stones. The picture of a house. Spiritual house. 00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:05.240 A living stone is a spiritual reality that results 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:09.960 in a spiritual living house. That's the church. 00:28:11.049 --> 00:28:16.450 That's what we are. It's not this building. Not 00:28:16.450 --> 00:28:21.990 any building. We are the stones. We are the spiritual 00:28:21.990 --> 00:28:25.730 stones that have been brought together that are 00:28:25.730 --> 00:28:29.750 growing up to be built up into a bigger and bigger 00:28:29.750 --> 00:28:32.710 and more beautiful house. How is that possible? 00:28:32.750 --> 00:28:34.990 Because we're going to be growing in Christ. 00:28:35.009 --> 00:28:37.490 We're going to be growing in Christlikeness. 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:42.579 Our love is going to increase to God and to man. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.940 It's a beautiful thing to be part of. It gives 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:54.119 reason to your living. To be a holy priesthood. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:59.160 To offer up spiritual sacrifices. The priesthood 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:03.420 of all believers. Intercessors for one another. 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:11.220 Critical again. I'm going to stop there. Spiritual 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:18.140 sacrifices. We do have spiritual sacrifices. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:21.759 They're spiritual. They're not physical sacrifices. 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:27.440 They are physical in one way is that they happen 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:30.819 through our bodies, which are physical. But they're 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:36.140 spiritual sacrifices. So we want to talk about 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:40.509 spiritual sacrifices. in the coming weeks. So 00:29:40.509 --> 00:29:48.769 I'm going to read verse 6. Wherefore also it 00:29:48.769 --> 00:29:51.269 is contained in the scriptures, behold, I lay 00:29:51.269 --> 00:29:54.529 in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, 00:29:55.009 --> 00:29:58.589 and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 00:29:59.029 --> 00:30:02.289 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. 00:30:02.650 --> 00:30:05.509 But unto them which be disobedient, the stone 00:30:05.509 --> 00:30:08.250 which the builders disallowed, the same is made 00:30:08.250 --> 00:30:11.670 the head of the coroner." So you can see this 00:30:11.670 --> 00:30:16.390 all revolves, this organism of the church, the 00:30:16.390 --> 00:30:21.450 spiritual ecclesia called out one. It all revolves 00:30:21.450 --> 00:30:24.890 and it is a result of Jesus Christ. We never 00:30:24.890 --> 00:30:29.750 lose Jesus Christ. He's always here. He's the 00:30:29.750 --> 00:30:32.619 chief cornerstone. It doesn't matter that the 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:35.339 builders rejected Him. God overcame their decision. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:43.359 He's precious unto us. We want to show that preciousness 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:49.440 to Him. We want to love Him because He first 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:52.819 loved us. We want to love one another because 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:58.099 He first loved us. It's a glorious thing to be 00:30:58.099 --> 00:31:04.069 part of. Can you see Jesus in one another? Do 00:31:04.069 --> 00:31:08.990 you look for Jesus in one another? Yes, yes, 00:31:08.990 --> 00:31:14.390 yes I'm gonna wrap it up with two more one from 00:31:14.390 --> 00:31:22.450 Hebrews Hebrews chapter 12 This is a great contrast 00:31:22.450 --> 00:31:29.529 here folks read the whole old covenant context 00:31:29.529 --> 00:31:38.250 but in Hebrews 12 let's say in verse 21 we read 00:31:38.250 --> 00:31:41.390 and so terrible was the sight that is the giving 00:31:41.390 --> 00:31:45.589 of the old covenant under under Moses that Moses 00:31:45.589 --> 00:31:50.230 said I exceedingly fear and quake remember remember 00:31:50.230 --> 00:31:55.480 the fire the lightning thunder Don't come near 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:57.819 don't come near. That's what the whole covenant 00:31:57.819 --> 00:32:01.619 Made this total separation between God and his 00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:06.480 people. I Am holy you're sinful You have one 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:10.759 high priest. He makes intercession for you People 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:13.180 couldn't stand it. They said we can't take any 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:16.200 more of this. We'll tell us you just tell us 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:19.500 yourself Moses That was the giving of the old 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:24.849 covenant But that's done And in verse 22, we 00:32:24.849 --> 00:32:28.710 read what we have come to. But ye are come unto 00:32:28.710 --> 00:32:31.650 Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, 00:32:31.789 --> 00:32:34.250 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable 00:32:34.250 --> 00:32:37.569 company of angels, to the general assembly and 00:32:37.569 --> 00:32:39.910 church of the firstborn which are written in 00:32:39.910 --> 00:32:42.829 heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to 00:32:42.829 --> 00:32:45.930 the spirits of just men made perfect, and to 00:32:45.930 --> 00:32:49.089 Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant, 00:32:49.470 --> 00:32:52.039 and to the blood of sprinkling. that speaketh 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:55.839 better things than that of Abel. It's a beautiful 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:58.900 thing. It's a communion thing. You don't have 00:32:58.900 --> 00:33:02.299 to stay. Come. Come to Christ. This is what we're 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:04.740 supposed to be experiencing now. This isn't talking 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:08.380 about some future time when we're in heaven or 00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:13.000 when Christ returns. This is now. We are to feel 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:17.039 and experience these things now. This close communion 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:20.240 with God. This fellowship with Jesus Christ. 00:33:20.490 --> 00:33:23.529 with one another, with the angels, with just 00:33:23.529 --> 00:33:27.849 men made perfect. It's no longer stay away, you're 00:33:27.849 --> 00:33:31.569 too sinful, it's all now. Come, come, I'll receive 00:33:31.569 --> 00:33:36.150 you. In Jesus Christ, we're made fit to have 00:33:36.150 --> 00:33:43.089 communion with God. It's glorious that men can 00:33:43.089 --> 00:33:46.230 have communion with eternal God, the creator 00:33:46.230 --> 00:33:49.880 of heaven and earth. We can know Him. We can 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:53.140 experience Him. And we can know and experience 00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:56.240 Him in a real and living way when we gather together 00:33:56.240 --> 00:34:00.059 as a church, as an ecclesia, as a called out 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:03.900 people. We're bringing the Holy Spirit with us. 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:06.359 We're coming with eagerness and anticipation. 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:10.579 We can't wait to meet with one another with God 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:13.880 around the throne of grace to receive from Him 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:16.519 all the goodness, all the mercy, all the love. 00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:19.659 all the training and teaching and everything 00:34:19.659 --> 00:34:23.320 else that he has for us this day. Whatever he 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:32.860 has for us, we want it. Okay, last verse. And 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:38.659 this is our hope. This is the future. In Revelation 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:51.469 21. Whoever has this hope purifies himself as 00:34:51.469 --> 00:34:57.889 he is pure Revelation 21 verse 1 and I saw a 00:34:57.889 --> 00:35:00.489 new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven 00:35:00.489 --> 00:35:03.230 and the first earth were passed away and there 00:35:03.230 --> 00:35:07.590 was no more sea and I John saw the holy city 00:35:07.590 --> 00:35:11.010 new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven 00:35:11.010 --> 00:35:15.039 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband People 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:17.320 you see it that was coming down out of heaven 00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:21.219 the people and I heard a great voice out of heaven 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:25.360 saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men 00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:29.179 and he will dwell with them and they shall be 00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:32.940 his people and God himself shall be with them 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:37.920 and be their God and God shall wipe away all 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:41.420 tears from their eyes and there shall be no more 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:46.349 death neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall 00:35:46.349 --> 00:35:49.869 there be any more pain, for the former things 00:35:49.869 --> 00:35:53.389 are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne 00:35:53.389 --> 00:35:57.150 said, Behold, I made all things new. And he said 00:35:57.150 --> 00:36:01.429 unto me, Write, for these words are true and 00:36:01.429 --> 00:36:05.610 faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I 00:36:05.610 --> 00:36:09.070 am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 00:36:09.289 --> 00:36:12.190 I will give unto him that is a thirst of the 00:36:12.190 --> 00:36:16.289 fountain of the water of life freely. And he 00:36:16.289 --> 00:36:19.449 that overcometh shall inherit all things, and 00:36:19.449 --> 00:36:24.730 I will be his God, and he shall be my son." A 00:36:24.730 --> 00:36:30.969 glorious ending awaits. We have a pure hope, 00:36:31.909 --> 00:36:37.400 a sure hope of a great ending. Let us strive 00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:42.300 after God. Let us experience Him now. Let us 00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:48.960 serve Him now. Let us love Him now. Amen.