Brother Gary Sunday Evening 2/10/13

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 2/10/13

What is the purpose that God had in establishing truth on earth and His church?

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

God has a definite work for the church to do.  My first thought is that the church is to take care of each other.

In Romans 12, the first five verses are Paul instructing the Church at Rome to be a living sacrifice, to be separate from the world, and to understand the grace given to us.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We will only be able to benefit the Body of Christ or rescue the perishing if we are a living sacrifice.  If we are not, then our whole life will revolve around self.  Paul was teaching the necessity of being a living sacrifice.  It doesn’t lessen the truth of being sanctified.  In order to be a blessing and fulfill the responsibility of being members one of another, we must be a living sacrifice.

The spirit of the world is always trying to influence you.  Paul said don’t be conformed to that but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  The key to successful spiritual living is to keep our mind renewed.  It must be a preference in our life.  Life fills our mind with life, cares, problems, troubles, and tribulations like we exhorted this morning.

If we don’t renew our mind then it won’t be long and we will go down the path of the natural mind to troubles, cares, and trials.

I think that people get sometimes under an oppressive spirit of, “I’m nothing and can do nothing.”  This is not what Paul was teaching, he was teaching that we are not to think that we have the answers in our self. 

We are the ones that Christ is going to use to get His work done.  He will not use sinners; he will not use someone that is really smart.  God help us to realize that we are the members he is counting on to carry the message.

There will be times when unbelief is going to battle us.  There will be times when we know the history of an individual and look upon someone as not good material for Jesus Christ.  But that all changes when they start to repent.  When they repent a whole different set of possibilities and probabilities take place.  Jesus taught us that with God nothing is impossible.

God wants us to think soberly, “God help me to understand what you want me to do for the Body of Christ.”  In order to enjoy living, in order to enjoy the good things of God, in order to enjoy the presence of God, It is vital that we have a burden to be used of God to help our brothers and sisters in Christ.  If we don’t, we will become sick: wrapped up in the challenges of life and in our own selves. 

As members in particular, God has grace, the inspiration of the divine to help us realize that we are one of His, and He has gifted us with what is needed to help each other.

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

It is vital that we realize how much we need each other.  We want to be beneficial to one another especially spiritually.  The main goal is to help our brothers and sisters in Christ spiritually.

Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

We are all different and there are different gifts given to us.  The gift of prophesy is not just the gift to preach the Revelation message or of Daniel.   

Prophesy means exhorting, testifying, teaching, and preaching.  When we get together and visit, when we are in the house of God together and the saints are testifying, when we are taught the Word of God, and when we go to rest home service the lesson that is taught is not just for the residents but for all of us that are in the service.

God’s grace is available to us to be of a great blessing and help one to another.

1Co 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1Co 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

You have something to pray about, to desire.  There are a million people messed up on verse 2 because they don’t read verse 3.  People talking in a language that you don’t understand will not edify you or prophesy to you.  The devil and false religion have twisted this scripture and think that they are prophesying when they do whatever they do.

He that prophesies speaks to one another to edification.  Isn’t that wonderful?  We want to do all that we can to edify the saints of God first spiritually.  It is wonderful to have the saints of God testify and exhort because it edifies. 

The battle that this one faced is not just the battle of one person on the back roads of Montana.  When someone gets saved it is nothing for the enemy to try to distract them, but we have come to Mount Sion.  The battle that we face with unbelief we need to trust to God and take that shield of faith and stop the attack of the enemy.

Comfort:  If there is anything that America doesn’t have in 2013, it is any comfort.  There is no feeling of being secure in America anymore.  There is no feeling of, “We are going to work and labor.”  God wants us to comfort one another.  God is going to take care of His children.  He will see us through.

Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

The thought of the ministry is not pastors and evangelists, it is that job that God has chosen you to do. 

Act 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Act 6:2  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Act 6:3  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Act 6:4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Our job that we have from God is to get the work done, the physical work done as the Church of 2013.  As long as the church is here, as long as we are blessed to own property, and are blessed as brothers and sisters in Christ, there will be times of physical work on the church property or helping the saints of God with whatever needs that they have.

This is a part of our ministry: us helping one another.  I have had a lot of pain in my shoulders and arms the last few months.  I had difficulty getting the wood into my basement and the brothers and Roger saw to it that my need was met.  There will be times, we are not to take advantage of the saints or manipulate anything, but there will be times when we need help. 

We cannot have a pocket full of hundred dollar bills and take advantage of the saints.  But if you need food, then come see me, I have a cellar full.

Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Exhorting means warn the disobedient and support the weak.  God help us that as individuals get saved, children and young people get their bearings, to exhort the weak and help someone get their feet.

God help us to help someone that feels bad to find their way, and to encourage those that are under adverse conditions.  Sometimes a new boss shows up and they make our life miserable.  Sometimes a client shows up that is not very nice.  Just keep smiling and God will send someone good through the door.

The thing that is so important here is that we have gone through enough fire that we can help someone in a tough spot without condescending to them.  There may be those that feel that they have a perfect family.  We want you to enjoy that season. 

I’m not saying that this will happen to either of the Kelly families, but to most families things happen that make things not quite so perfect.  Either we poor oil or we poor salt in the wound.  You say, “I never had a wayward daughter or son…”  You probably never had children.

Know how to exhort without condescending.  The whole goal is to help our brother and our sister.  You cannot go back to the past to undo what has been done; it is today.  We need everybody healed and healthy.

It is so wonderful when people give with simplicity.  No show, just giving, no strings attached, no blowing of the trumpet, just want to give.  Then to be able to receive when someone gives you something, when you are given something then receive it as God blessing you.

Rules with diligence:  This whole thought was in the morning time church there were a lot of people traveling and going.  There were those that took the responsibility of taking the travelers in and caring for them.  There will be a bed and breakfast; we will be there for you. 

Show mercy with cheerfulness.

‘Without dissimilation’ means without partiality.  Give love even if someone doesn’t receive it well.  Make it easy to live, forgive, and love. 

Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

There is nothing like the kindness of a brother and sister. 

Rom 12:11  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

There are things that we are hopeful for.  We are hopeful that Luke will get home.  We are hopeful that they will sell out and serve God.  I’m hopeful that children of the saints will get saved and escape what the enemy would do to them.

Patient in tribulation:  If things don’t work out quite as fast as you hoped, let me help you.  God’s time clock is always right. Instead of you saying, hurry up and give me something that is not quite as good, be patient.  God always gives the best.

Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Rom 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

My burden is, let’s do a good job taking care of each other.