9/27/2020 Acts 2:42-47 | Characteristics of a Healthy Church

Amen. All right. I'm thankful for those. Who showed up like Tyler said yeah, we did hear a lot of honking. That's great. I am thankful that we get to meet that we get to meet in this place. That church was gracious enough to allow us to meet in this place. I'm just super thankful. I can't thank God enough throughout the week that what would we do cuz we can't get into the school's right now. And so just super thankful for that and you guys should be encouraged. This is what God has ordained for his church to be together to be with each other. It's a wonderful thing. And so all right. Well, we're just still in Chapter 2 and acts so Acts 2 4247. This is the famous passage about the church. And so we're going to go through 10 characteristics of the early church or let's just say this way 10 characteristics of a healthy church, and so buckle your seatbelts. We're going to go fast like we normally do with the scripture we're going to go and and of course, you know you Always look at this again on online. They're recording it and you can get all the scripture passages. I know people ask me after I just said I know I know you're getting through the the scriptures are I'd love to meditate on them throughout the week. And so we want to make that available for everybody. It's just a great thing. I might study days are on Tuesdays. And so I just get to meditate on this stuff and it's just it encourages me all week. Cuz I think about is I chew on it. What is a healthy church and we were coming to church here are some of you guys are new we welcome people that are that are new to this family. And I know many people are you know might be watching on a know many people are watching on live stream and wish you could be here. I wish this place was 200 more seats bigger here. I just I really do want our whole family to be here. Do you guys know that there's a hundred and thirty-six people signed up for Detroit? That's amazing. That's incredible doesn't seem like courvoisier's into me as is far as what everybody says about it. And so we're going to literally take up a whole airplane on Spirit Airlines stewardess will have no idea what's coming their way. It'll be a wonderful thing. Actually. It really is exciting honestly, and I know the Lord will richly bless you don't earn salvation Ian earn his favor. It's all by Grace, but he is pleased with his church for taking a risk like this and going and then I think when we're flying back, I think we're going to say really wasn't much of a risk. It's just a two hour plane ride to Detroit, Michigan. It's going to be great on your skin. I think it's already in the 30s. Is it night already? So that'll be exciting. And if you are if you're like have no idea what I'm talking about. We are going to Detroit Michigan to work amongst the Muslims and our sister Church Antioch, Detroit. And we would love to be there in encourage them in this crazy time and also reach those who are far from him. And that's who we are weather. Whatever season were in. You know, the Bible says to preach the word of God in season and out of season and let me just say this that it is in season to speak directly to the issues of today. And God never said unless there's something crazy going on the world don't evangelize, you know, but it's a go of Angela no matter what no matter what go and that's where we're just simply going and we're going to see what God is going to do in let's go with expectation. Let's not refrain from even doing the work here that the campus certainly needs us UCF. And also I was talking to some 60 year old man this week and Sanford and one of the things I said you you work among students UCF. You're crazy. What is wrong with you? I like I wouldn't want to do anything else. I love college students. It's it's wonderful until we love to invest in the Next Generation. These are leaders and certainly can't complain about the Next Generation. Right? We can't complete unless we invest we've got to invest we've got to go deep with people and it's just a thrill to to watch even this weekend movies with our leaders this week and just such a joy to watch their growth over the last we've been at church for 8 years and just to watch them just lead people on take people through the scriptures and have hard conversations. It's incredible to wash that that investment in which Jesus set us is he said hey, whatever and I'm giving you this message you go take that and give it to other faithful people in those faithful people give it to two other Fable people and that's in 2nd Timothy 2:2 many of you know that Matthew 28:20, I could go over and over now tell me where disciple-making church and that's the beautiful thing. We don't just talk about we do it and that's what's so exciting to be a part of a church that actually does it and you know that this thing is to you know, we haven't talked about in a while. I mean just the season that were in a very clearly that the first five years and this is not something totally out there. Is that like it's some crazy prophetic word that wouldn't apply to any other Church really, but he just spoke very clearly that that the first five years of the foundational years share the gospel talk about, you know, being part of a family and doing life groups in the house the house it will talk about today and discipleship in sharing the gospel. Being a missional church. In other words, Jesus Family Mission, you know, where a family who seeks Jesus together on Mission. That's who we are as a people and just a Quick phrase, you know, you can put it anywhere you can I know people like tattoos and it wouldn't happen to know. So if you never go wrong with that, they don't really make sense 20 years from then I'm not advocating Tattoos, by the way. That to your body. I know the Old Testament passage, but that's who we are guys and it's a delight to be a part of it and literatures that not just talk about it, but actually does it and see if you want to go on this mission trip. I'm going to say something very daring here and the all the administrators are looking at me, like don't you dare but I'm going to do it. And so if you if you want to come with and sign of even though we're past the deadline. Okay, this is this is also who we are nervous saying this. I think there's room on I think it's 7:37 does have 150 States rights act like that. So we still have more seats available on our airplane available on our private jet called Spirit Airlines. So many guys are coming on the weekend to which is awesome. I mean and you can't go the whole time cuz it working and I get it. So just I think there is a light one Friday night and then comes back Sunday night. So if you can if you work at a church there churches cancelled here, by the way, for those who are alive. Not not to penalize anybody. We're not doing that on purpose, you know to penalize people but with all that it takes to do Church. A lot of our leaders will be gone but we're encouraging people to do prayer walk and share the gospel here in our own City. So please be encouraged if you are staying home for whatever purposes there's a purpose here. So, all right, let's go verse 42. I'm going to stick to it. There were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread. Enterprise everyone kept feeling a sense of all and Many Wonders and signs were taking place to the apostles and All We R Who believed were together and had all things in common and they began selling their property and possessions and we're sharing them with all as anyone might have need day by day. They are continuing with one mind in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. They were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of hard praising God and having favor with all the people in a lord was adding to their number day by day those who are being saved with a Church. Of course you remember we just did three sermons that broke up Peters one sermon, but we took three weeks to go through it and just I think some of our guys who were you know, who are leaders here. They said and we just we literally just went through the gospel for the last 4 weeks. It was so clear what the gospel is and how refreshing that was. And so if you want to go back and look at that you can But it really is encouraging just to hear the gospel over and over again. I was just literally right here while we sang it right? I mean that's the purpose of worship singing the gospel singing back to Jesus who he is and what he's done, but just right here just preaching the gospel again to myself and how awesome he really is and how he saved us for a purpose and you cannot be more thrilled. I didn't everything else pales in comparison to what he's done for us. This is why we gathers it's who we are. So the first point is that the characteristic of a healthy church and is obvious but they were Believers and verse 44. It says that those who believed and it verse 42 they represent Believers now that's obvious, but you wouldn't be it's not as obvious today churches are full of non-believers now not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, but they're not the church. And what happens is overtime we church has become so about hair when I reach I'm going to reach I want to reach with a dumb down the message which is ironic that can't save anybody watered-down gospel. But if you want Believers in your church hear the gospel Believers are the church. It's the called out ones ekklesia. It's called out there different or set apart. There are have new Nature's. They're no longer dead. They're no longer blind, but now they can see they're alive. It's the church, right? These are the marks of a genuine genuine salvation. So I'm going to go through some scriptures here. But the first one is they obey the word it says your search and John 8:31. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him. If you continue key word underline in my word, then you are truly Disciples of mine. You have to ask yourself in the Bible. It says in Corinthians Paul is saying examine yourself and see if you're in the face not if you have faith, but in the face in the face means in 1st Corinthians 16, it means that in the faith. It's the fits the faith that we believe it's it's a it's Genesis to Revelation. Right? It's it's the word of God is the gospel message. That's what we've signed up for would see if you're in the face and there are times in my walk with diamond were here in this is a college student and just thinking oh my goodness examine myself and saved for a year before and I'm in church listening isn't thinking oh my goodness. It wasn't that passage is not to bring about anxiety, but it sure.

assurance it is not normal for a Believer believer to doubt their salvation. But to always be in the habit of examining yourself. Just a how many people have just literally just stuck in the heaven because they examine themselves perhaps on their deathbed we're even now right now and this and your maker thinking man, I'm I am I saved those who are truly his they continue in the word. Those are his John 15:4, you know, this one I am the True Vine streets of speaking and my father is the vinedresser every branch in me. That does not bear fruit. He takes away and every branch that bears fruit he prunes that's us when a prusik pruning season. We laid the foundations down, but we're in a pruning season cancel that we're printing pruning. printing You don't forget that but it is hard. I mean I leave it in Seoul person my daughter 9 year old daughter. So a person that can trim or rose bush in the front yard, and it's so sad because you got to click them. It's like but if you don't clip them their NACA is not going to be a beautiful Bush. Write that kind of reddish pink roses. They're beautiful. That's what he's doing right now. Those who are here the encouragement those who are his if you're feeling this has been a tough season, but you're continuing or be encouraged cuz you're his. You're his it's it's an encouraging thing. You will bear fruit. There's going to be breakthrough and it's not some like false prophets to be breakthrough. Those people right now her sitting there thinking man. When is this going to be over and I'm talking talking about the pandemic. This is just allowing us to see what's wrong. I'm talking about the things in your heart the sin in your heart. The patterns The Unbroken patterns, maybe that are there and you're frustrated with them the pride the sexual morality the greed the Envy those things God is wanting to work through you to put those dead roses off your life so that you can bear so much fruit in the season to come and then you continued in 5 years later we go through another one or two years. I mean, I don't know, you know, it's just this is what it means to follow Jesus he prunes it show that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Maybe they were wondering perhaps. Oh if he cuts me if he cuts me up if I feel cut up if I feel like this is really too I'm going through trials he's saying and I don't know you it proves that your mind. And Hebrews 12, it says the same thing that if if you're don't if you never go to the discipline of the Lord You're not his your illegitimate sons and daughters. Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine. So neither, can you unless you abide in me? What is the mark of a Believer? We abide with him in season? When is all good when everything is awesome, and when things are not so good. When things are when it's winter and you're feeling how nowhere that's why someone is so important when we are people of the word and when we stay close to the river of the word, we will bear fruit in All Seasons. It says The wonderful promise that's why the word is so important Matthew 13 3328 and he spoke many things to them in Parables saying behold the store went out to sow and he showed some seeds and fell beside the road and the birds came to Satan speaking Satan coming it came and ate that the seeds up that means people who hear the word in service or on the streets and they say yes and then the night they go to bed and wake up the next morning as if nothing happened. This is true these things happen. I've seen that happen you wonder you follow up with somebody on campus. You have their number you follow up with them like what? I don't know what you're talking about, but nothing to do with you yesterday. What happened? the pesky little bird come sweeping. App to see that you planted others fell on Rocky places where they did not have much soil and immediately they spring up so they accepted this message be cut but because the soil had no depth, but when the sun had risen this is persecution, they were scored so because they had no root they wither away how many of us know people like that? It just takes time right weeks go by perhaps months go by Seasons go by doesn't say. Oh, you're maybe years go by all of a sudden perseke of a sudden. It just gets a little hard in their life.

And then they're out your like what we got to go to the word. Let me just say that the word has all the answers for every problem. Every question the word has an answer to it. So wonderful. Others fell among thorns in the thorn. This is the hardest one for me the Thorns fell among the thorns and the thorns came up and took them out and others fell on the good soil and yielded crop hundredfold some 60s and 30. It is hard to watch people. You're following Jesus just get caught up in the distractions of the world. Somehow find those things more pleasurable. It's hard to watch. These are Sons, he's our daughters. These are people who said yes. These are people who we shared an airplane seat overseas. These are people that we had over our house and sitting and having dinner with them and being hospitable. These are people these are real people human beings. It's hard to watch it's hard to watch them go. It's hard to see people say no after they've said yes. It's like that one where Jesus said in with him and Matthew 20, I believe it is you said which one is of me? Basically, right? The one who said no first and then yes, I the one who said yes first and then no. And I think that's true. Sometimes people counting that cost and saying I don't know and then all this and those are the ones who are most faithful in this church, by the way. I remember even some of our college guys having just tell him to call the other day. I remember this one time where was so frustrating with this college guy. You know who it is. I have never seen him down on the bench and I had at UCF. I was like look, man, I can only meet with you I think one more time.

I just I just was like pulling teeth, you know, because it was like you'd show up and yet not be hungry and I was like man, I just got to meet with those right now. Don't know the answers to be perfect. That's not what discipleship is. No one is But you got to give me something to work with. It's got to be a level hunger some say that the disciples were not even saved until. Until Jesus died and Rose and that might be tree breathed the Holy Spirit on him, but I don't know. I mean there's some say that and so another words Jesus was looking at the hunger and he's looking at the yes in their heart and is willing to walk with them and then of course this person said I'm in He's been with us ever since faithful not even leading our families Family Life groups. Amazing there. Is there are those who bear the 3260 hundredfold fruit. There are those people and what a wonderful thing when people do that with a heartbreaking thing when they give up, But it says in 1st John 2:9. Here's the answer. They said they they went out from us, but they were not really of us for if they had been of us. They would have remained with us, but they went out show that it would be shown that they are all not of us. Have a tongue twister there is men in the world John but they hear the characteristics. It's a bang the word biting with Jesus bearing fruit faithful and then of persevering.

Guys, this is a long race a long one. And of course your life to get cut short anytime but for most of us, it's going to be for the long haul it could be in our 60 seventies eighties nineties hundreds for some It's a long race and you know that in Hebrews 12 meditate on that reverses, but that word race mean zagan in the Greek means Agony this race is awesome. You Christian journeyman know, it's Agony. You sold sold you something that wasn't true. It's hard. It's very hard. And that's okay. It's Some people like man, it's just so hard. I'm like a little lamb have a conversation with you this way so hard. It's such a it's so hard. Why is it so hard it sagging it is hard. The Bible says that it's happening. The race is difficult. But God has called us to persevere that those in the end. It says in Revelation win the crown. It's those who persevere to the end. They're the ones who win. She said that so many churches are full of unsaved people. In fact, it says in the Christian Post. I was reading an article just recently that 2% of Millennials don't have a Biblical worldview. You cannot be saved without a Biblical worldview don't kid yourself.

2% don't have no 2% Don't have a Biblical worldview. I'm sorry. That's a Oh my gosh. Okay. Yes 2% have it that's bad. You're like man is not a bad deal, but top trailers really hard really high standard, but

And 98% don't have a Google worldview and yet these are people that go to church like you and me and they sit in these chairs are fuser whatever. They're sitting on Hard chairs ever did at the school.

But that's that's really sobering guys. We're not taking 50 which is pretty sad. We're talking to that's insane and I thought it would be cool and even going to look at it, but we're talking basic. We're talking like Jesus born of a virgin. I mean like Basics weren't talking God created the Earth were talking that the Bible is inerrant and it's infallible. And it's it's it's it has full authority of our lives were talking that Jesus died and rose again. He actually literally ascended we're talkin that Christians. The only way to Salvation is through Grace. Basic stuff and I'm thinking what happened to the millennial generation, but then you go up a chain you go up a generation and there's like two something like 8% and the next one generation axe in and then even before that one. It's a sad sad. Story for the church and that's why this is honestly important that we talk about these things. I know they're uncomfortable sometimes to talk about but we do need to Define again what the church is. The church are are people who believe I was thinking about just going old school on you guys and coming out with the breaking out the old confessions of old, you know, just reading the the the Creed the old frees the Apostles Creed just reading that it's there is powerful and and even I think it was even made into a song right we believe in God the Father which one is that? I don't remember the Creed, of course, I am terribly terrible. possessing And I want to I want to explain this in a bit, but I do want to run through some scriptures that give you a picture of the fact that this is how most churches do Church says in 2nd Corinthians 6 14 and 15 and says do not be bound together with unbelievers for what partnership have righteous and lawlessness or what Fellowship has light with Darkness would Harmony has Christ with Belial which is the devil or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever.

There is no commonality. There's none at all biblical Unity are people who agree upon the basic Creeds and doctrines the apostles teaching of the church.

Can we still have people that don't know God come over to our house and invite them in the course, we bless them. We bless your enemies. We bless those we continue to fight for them and pray for them and share the gospel with them and believe but don't deceive them and thinking and telling them that there's a church when they're not. That actually hurts people it deceive them in and gives them a false sense of assurance that all just hate your family your family your family. Don't use that word flippantly. All your family your family or you know, what we we could be the Bible doesn't even say your friends.

I know that's hard, but this is the truth. So what does that mean? Because of the Bible says if God says their enemies of me their children of Wrath then how can we call them friends? No, I don't think anybody like walk out here is my friend John and here's my mother the children of Wrath man of Wrath right here. His name is Jim good guy though, you know, it's kind of a perspective Christian here. I so weird, but so don't I have to say it because I know someone will probably you know think like we just need to say it how it is and you know, like with the literal but we're called to love them but don't deceive cuz I think a lot of times is where we get hurt when people decide to leave or not, but they were family. And the thing is they were not. Because God says those who are family are those who are the church they were mean. They continued they bear fruit. They persevere. That's the truth and that helps us in a very trying season but it's the truth. Do we believe we have a place in our heart that says, oh, let's believe let's believe that they're going to turn right? Yes, of course. In fact that actually goes even further and says go and meet with them to try to bring them back. To try to reconcile to try to to do whatever it takes as it says in Jude in Galatians to restore a brother to bring them back into an alignment with Jesus to medical term restore bone is out of place. You crack it back into place. It's just so when a when a member of the body of Christ is out of place. It's almost like you know, when you're that you're like your arm is out of socket. It's going to look kind of funny and that's what it looks like. It kind of looks like that in 10 are people from the outside like man that it's week. And so you either put that thing you got to believe the put it back into place to help now that goes to restoring Believers. So I cannot restrain Believers. There is no restoration for the unbeliever. They need to come the same way. You did the repentance interface. 1st Thessalonians 1 1 through 10 to church of the festival in Thessalonians in God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you making mention of you in our prayers watch the language of Paul how he loves this church and what a church is constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love instead of Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father knowing brother and beloved by God his choice of you for our gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power and the Holy Spirit with full conviction just as you know, what what kind of men we prove to you to be among you for your sake. You also become imitators of us in the Lord having received the word and much tribulation. It wasn't easy for these guys that's not for us with the joy of the holy spirit so that you become an example to all the Believers in Macedonia and a ko4 the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you. So they were they were missionaries. They weren't they understood the mission of God, they weren't just saved but they also want others to be saved in the city's but also never place your faith tour God has gone for so that we have no need to say anything. I mean, this is not like Paul another letters r i mean he was that mean that selonians day. They had a pretty good deal going for they themselves report to us about us what kind of reception we had with you and how you turned to God from Idols to serve a living and true God it was genuine as they they had that if you can't tell the difference really between your old life in your new life. I would ask God examined that that's some people Say they've grown up in Christian homes. I do believe that there are people like that. I just I don't know when that day actually happened, but it's like I don't remember a day of her people exercise. I don't remember a day where I didn't believe that's okay. I believe you trust God today now in real time. And then okay, so and to wait for his son from heaven. So there people that believe that Jesus is coming back home. He raising the dead that is Jesus who rescued us from the Wrath to come. However, there are in church has John had to write this to the in Revelation Revelation 2 1416 says but I have a few things against you because you have there are some who hold the teaching of Balaam. This is Jesus speaking to the church who kept teaching the lock to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans there for repent or else I'm coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Jesus makes War what? This is why it's important to preach the word of God and we have a church full of believers who are strong in the word and we're hungry for the word the quickest way to Unity and dissension in a church is when we compromise. It's winners mixture. It's when we compromise. We allow the light and darkness to blend together somehow and some sort of cultural love and unity.

Evaluate that evaluate that maybe in your own life group your own season your own households. How have you compromised lifetimes compromise comes because we we have good intentions, but we forgotten the truth truth and love never divorce itself. Jesus understood it at Truth and Love are the same God is love it is also the way the truth and life. You can't divorce that at all. Just like two pieces of paper there glued together. You can never try ripping it apart. You can't it's impossible. You cannot divorce truth in love, but that is the quickest way to see disunity and Ascension in your own home and you're on household and life group in the church. Car is whining there be true biblical unity, and we not the culture. Gets to Define that. We not the culture gets Define with truth is and love that wonderful thing and it's through the scriptures. So don't buy into the world definition of those things number to Orlan 2 through 10 out of 10 wonderful hunger for the truth. All right, that's the second characteristics number one Believers number to the Hunger for the tree 1st Peter 2:2, like newborn babies long for Pure milk of the of the word that buy it. You may grow in respect to Salvation Romans 12:2. I said this morning or earlier today do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect in 1st Timothy 4:11, prescribed and teach these things that's what our job is is to teach the truth. Sometimes I you know I come my drive here and maybe there might be a tinge of anxiety. I'm like, oh no I'm going to say things right or just got says preach the truth.

Preach the word. That's it for Timothy 4:6 in pointing out these things to the brother and you will be a good servant of Christ. Jesus constantly nourished. We're nourished on the words of fate of the other Faith or it again of the sound Doctrine which you have been following 1st Timothy 4:13, give attention to the public reading of scripture, which we have you should get in the habit of that if your life group does not publicly read the scriptures. Let us know.

There that is the most important thing that you could be doing is continually having it on even in your own homes reading it having a Bible in different places. Having the word of God readily and available to you. And for your people reading it out loud. There's something that happens in exhort at and then also exhorting them and teaching it says in 1st Timothy 4:16 pay close attention to yourself and your teachers persevere in these things for as you do this, you will ensure salvation both for yourself. It's as a benefit to us, but also those who hear you you What's the word of God does 2nd Timothy 4 1 through 2. It says I saw me charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead and by his appearing and the and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with great patience and instruction. So good Titus 1:9 and Elder must be fast in this is this is what an elder is ever going to be talking about Elders a lot in the coming weeks and fat the holdfast and faithful to the word which is in accordance with the teaching that he may be both be able to go to exhort and sound auction in to refute those who contradicted and here's the problem today and it's still a problem and Hosea 4:6 in the Old Testament Prophet says, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Let that one s***. You're wondering what in the world is going on. It's because there's a famine in the land and a famine in the land is the Famine of the word not in the word not in the world, but in the church.

I want you guys in over the next so many weeks in months if such a hunger for the word and such a steady diet of it that when you listen to anything water down you'll walk out. That is why I'm doing this because I want to give you such a taste for the word of God that you're like, I can't even sit in this place and hear this. I want to give you such a taste for it that you are you can't even accept you can't even be in the same room with someone speaking lies or water down water down gospel should say that is not for us when we come to the dinner wanting a steak dinner and all they're giving us is crackers. Walk out and I've always said you can learn from that. You can learn something from someone sure, but we live in a day and age right now. They're there is a famine and we need to call out. It says actually to refute those who do not preach the truth. Wow, that's unheard of how you do that with gentleness and respect and if you're talking to an elder make sure that you have two or three Witnesses. So don't just Waltz right in there and think you have all the answers cuz you don't and you may not have the right way. There is a way in which things work the Bible he has every answer that we need everything to mazing. I'm at all. I don't know why we're not in the Bible no more in the Bible that how do you even know God cuz I had these guys are always fighting another God. Are you in the Bible? No. How do you know who God then? I listen to Bethel worship. I'm sorry, but I don't think you know God. I am not trying to be a jerk. I'm not trying to be rude, but but you just listening to worship music is not going to bring you closer to God. It's not going to happen. Even if there were no listen if you were here to Old School hymns, maybe they got from the Bible to get to the original source. It original itsy Israel. Here's the here's the key in Psalm. 103 says it like this that Israel new the acts of God, but Moses knew the ways. There's a difference and the difference is Moses actually spend time with God.

flying without him realizing it wasn't a promise line without God. There's no life without him is he spent so much time with him that all of it? Of course. I knew the river just cut half of his pretty amazing. You got people can witness the things of God hear the testimonies of God and not knowing why because you got to know the word of God. Moses knew the word. He literally got to enjoy the writing on the Ten Commandments on Stone with the Finger of God. How amazing would that be? He wasn't satisfied with just seeing and being a part of the bigger flock just kind of hanging out and sit in the back and just observing. There's got to be a time when you get off the bench and you participate and that's the day that you say I'm in and when you say I'm in your in your in the word, you're in fully obeying persevering continuing abiding. This is the mark of a Believer hunger. All right also acts 17 it says it like this that the bereans they searched the scriptures to know. What is true. This is how we need to live. We live in Acts 17:11. We live like that. We're like the bereans we test things we're not ignorant guys all this can swing another way right where people become all about knowledge. But you know what there's an answer for that is Paul says knowledge puffs up but love is what we're going for love and you know, when you have love is the leader you have you want to know more of God's word, which is knowledge to help them for when knowledge is the leader. Love usually is not a close second. pruritus and that is so important for us to know that we're not going through it all we're going this way. Just relax. Okay, just relax chill and and read the word good because the word of God will produce joy in our lives does in John 15. I'm saying all these things work out for the purpose of your joy. And you mean to tell me if you get more of the word if you get more the word is a Pharisee you'll puffs up. But if you get more the word is a Believer you love more you'll feel more connected to God. You'll feel Joy will feel. Peace.

naked All right, so you're not too worried. Okay. So here's a quote that I found. I don't know what we're going to do here. Okay. So here's a quote that I found out. I was good. Dr. RC Sproul. If you send me you guys know this man, he's phenomenal he died in 2017, but he wrote so many great books and Theology and but here's it hears what he says you speaking in a while ago on this piece of hair. That won't come off. My fingers are so don't talk to me about Doctrine people say I don't need any Doctrine all I need it is Jesus that is how far we have come from. The first century church was focused its attention to see in the book of Acts acts to its attention steadfastly continuously on coming together to study the doctrine of the Apostles did not study inventions of the gnostics or of those outside the heart and soul of the Orthodox Christian Community. I would say the same for the pragmatics today. Those people that are basically administrators leading churches these mega churches just giving people what they want to hear for the successful lives, but they studied the apostolic Doctrine today. Apostolic Doctrine is the scriptures the early church was a Bible study Church steadfastly continuing devoting to it to devouring the word of God that came from the apostles in the sixties the charismatic movement exploded on Center Stage sudden Revival broke out in Notre Dame and in Mainline churches, including Lutheran Episcopal Methodist and Presbyterian when I began teaching ministerial students at the Presbyterian College the students wanted to talk about nothing but charismatic gifts people like that. Ever since those days I have said that if I find if I want to find somebody who loves to pray, I'll look for hairs Matic. Those who had those students would come to our house every night and we would pray for hours. Sometimes all night long and I was involved in that for a little while, but the charismatic were so focused on getting Spirit-filled and manifesting the gift of tongues and other such phenomena that it was taking them away from the scriptures. I have heard at least a hundred specific prophecies uttered under the so-called influence in the holy spirit that never have come to pass people became so excited about the experience about the gifts of the Spirit and becoming an armed being Spirit-filled that they didn't want to hear anything about.

Church, this is the reason why people fall away.

See if the whole point of 1st Corinthians 12 to 14 when Paul talks about the gifts. The purpose of that was loved the purpose of that was growing closer to God in my gift is going to help this person know God it was never meant to pursue. It was never meant to say I want these gifts just because this is so awesome. He was telling the Corinthian people. He said look you missed it you what you guys are such a sensual church, if you believe that if I have all these Joey gifts that I'm somehow better. They just wanted to be better just as rich people want to be better than Poor People's the same thing. They got money, but we got gifts the same thing. And what he was saying is all the gifts are wonderful there for you there for the church there for the build up the church. Don't miss that. But when people a group of people begin to pursue the manifestations of the gift and the gifts themselves, and they will go into a ditch and they will leave so many astray.

The scriptures are the centerpiece the fellowship with Jesus at the center piece of says first John 1:3. We have seen and heard we Proclaim to you so that you two may have fellowship with us here in the church and indeed our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ. Is that great? Number 3 Mark of the church is fellowship. Its Family Guy's we were always meant to be together no matter what happens in the world. If you ever realize this is just a test. The pandemic is just a test of what is to come for the church. So you got to know your church history, see how you got to know the history of the church in the last two thousand years hasn't been easy as it it. Hasn't at all. But God is saying that when we work is history repeats itself and when you see that it throughout church history at all. It just repeats itself in a fire like you read some you're like, oh my God, there's nothing new Under the Sun is Solomon said

Hebrews 10 24 and 25 and never gets tiring But don't neglect meeting with one another as in the habit of some. We need to meet to Spur one another on and Good Deeds. We need each other. It's important and some of you who are new stay for awhile. It always thought was funny when people just you come for a week you come from one week and you kind of figured it out when I get that if there's something off right but that's great. But you don't know church is more than just a teaching the apostles teaching. It's important, right? We said that they believe and the hunger the word. Yes got to be their centerpiece. But also you got to know people. You got to you got to be hospitable and have people over the house and talk. What is this church all about tell me your testimony tell me your story and not putting the demands on one liter, but also understand that all of us wish you were cuz all of us are believers. So we all have ownership. We all have the ability to share these things. It's only when we rely a week Church relies on its leaders a strong Church relies on its people is true. Okay what you're the one another's I won't begin to all these but hard times and hers the one another's in the Bible. You probably read so many of them but 59 x it occurs as a command to be more specific commands to to do certain things to one another right show 12 Romans 12:16. Let's just do this one Romans. 12:10 says be devoted to one another in brotherly love giving preference to one another be devoted. Yes be devoted to each other. This is your family. This is your people that it's not an in and out thing. Is that all until someone offends me people will offend you. I will offend you not purp on purpose I will offend you.