Brother Gary Sunday Evening 7/27/14

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 7/27/14

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We know some things about nourishment.  We have learned that some foods are better for us to eat than others.  When we are a bit shaky and wobbly then it is better to take a piece of toast with almond butter than that piece of pie that is in the refrigerator. 

There is such a vitalness of receiving nourishment from the head and from the body of Christ.  Tonight the first song we sang was written by Fanny Crosby:  Blessed Assurance, “Perfect submission, all is at rest I and my savior are happy and blessed”

We have learned from the Word of God and the precepts of God of line upon line that God has a definite plan of giving nourishment in our soul. 

We have come together tonight to speak the truth in love.  As I heard the testimonies we went back along ways in our service tonight to when God gave Sister Dorothy the song, “Until Then.”  The inspiration is as real from that song as it was in 1985 when God gave it to her. 

We don’t know how long we have until we will be ushered into the presence of God.  We have been so blessed.  To think of what sin offered and then I think of what sin would have paid.  They are two different things, two different concepts. 

When I look at how sin has paid our family members.  Some of them are in eternity. 

Among the things in eternity is that it is not without regrets.  They are full of regrets.  Sister Hayen’s daughter asked her the question, “Mom why didn’t you tell me how terrible your life was when you were in sin?”

Jesus told us the same type of story.  A rich man began to plead as he lifted up his eyes in hell, “Give me a drop of water, and send someone back to tell my family.”

I thought of the Songs of Solomon “Come my beloved.”  And I thought of Jesus saying, “Come unto me.”  And then I thought of Revelations, “The spirit and the bride say come.” 

We are to grow up into Him in all things. 

Thank God for the new babe in Christ.  She has laid the foundation of confessing her sin, turning from her sin, believing God to forgive her of her sin.  Believing God that He not only casts our sin as far as the east is from the west but has also buried our sin in the depths of the sea.

She has the same opportunity as the rest of us of receiving nourishment into her soul from God.  We cannot receive nourishment into our soul without that contact with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is the design of God that blood flows into our muscles.  When they get tight the blood cannot get through it and it brings a headache to the mind and it is painful.  Don’t let anything tighten up that royal cable.  Don’t let anything get in there.  Don’t mess up with receiving thoughts that have mold contaminating them that would hinder receiving from that royal cable.

Everyone took part in the service tonight.  We as individuals have a vital part in worship.  It is important that we are all here, and that everything is clear between me and God and between me and my fellowman. 

The body of Christ moves.  These saints sang and the body took the message.  Brother Bill and Sister Teri sang, “He will not fail me now.”  Your mind goes back to all the pitfalls and the sore temptations and we think, “I’m so glad that I didn’t go that way and instead stayed true to God.”

It is wonderful.  Some were very vocal.  We thank God for every bit of it.  Others were quieter.  Just because you don’t hear the joint pop doesn’t mean that it is not working.

Maketh increase:  the way that we grow is by doing what God wants us to do.  It doesn’t mean that in order for me to grow I need to sing or testify every service.  No.  The way to grow is by doing what God inspires you to do for every service.  When it is your turn to be quiet, then be quiet.  When it is your turn to speak out, then speak out.

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Walk worthy:  what God has called you to do, keep your life clear, keep your life in order.  Perfect submission.  Our priority is not money, it is my vocation.  We are called to be wives, husbands, children, all of them need time.  We are called to be saints.  It takes time.

This is the rest and this is the refreshing.  Walk worthy.  We all have jobs and responsibilities.  Some of you have really big jobs.  The mothers have a really big job.  You may be in a difficult state but you must stay focused. 

“God I have to have it precept upon precept and line upon line.  Not only do I need to work, and take care of my son, but I need to be rightly related to Christ and giving out to someone else.” 

If all the rivers flow to you then it won’t be long until there will be a smell.  If you give out, then it will not be so.

Let us ever stay humble before God.  When God uses you it is all about God.  When God uses your testimony, song, whatever to be right on target.  It is all about God.

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Some of these fruits of the Spirit we don’t have in our natural makeup.  Some of us wouldn’t be very longsuffering. 

Forbearing one another in love.  Give others lots of space.  Draw a real close line for yourself. 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Amen.  Labor to keep the unity of the Spirit.  You will have some personal opinions and you have a right to them.  Keep them personal.  You may not have an appreciation for the way that I water; keep it to yourself.   

Don’t cause the body of Christ any trouble over the way that Sister Dorothy painted her fence. 

There is only one body.  We need each other.  I need your prayers.  I am very grateful for everyone that prays for me.  My mother said, “I live by prayer.”  We need the prayers of the saints.  People outside the body cannot pray for us inside the body and do any good.

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

We can go back to the primary things and the saints rejoice in it.  In God’s church those precepts are still alive.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Some of us will feel fire this week.  Sometimes God says, “Son there is some refining that I want to do.  We say, “God I want the refining.”

I like it, an edifying church.  A nourishing church.  Let’s be that church.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

No division, one; a knowledge of the son of God.  I am still singing, “More about Jesus would I know.”

We want to stand before Him in all the understanding that we have, perfect brother and a perfect sister, thoroughly furnished unto good works.

Jesus knows how to deal with little children.  He knows how to deal with their hearts: how to obey their parents, to pray, to trust God.  Little children need to know how to place things into God’s hands.  You don’t have to be very old until there are things that you desire.  You need to know how to put it in God’s hands.  As you grow He knows just how much to require of you. 

To the measure of the fullness of Christ:  Jesus is not afraid to give us a compliment.  When you have done your best then he says, “You have done your best.”

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Aren’t you glad to know what the doctrine is?  By the slight of men:  People like to use whatever tactic to push your buttons you can have victory, “I don’t have any buttons, I am a child of the king.”

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.