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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
WELCOME: eMember Reflections Group Tuesdays @ 7:00 pm
Reflections Church Service
November 28, 2021
“This Time I’ll Praise Him”
Genesis 29:31 - 35
Manipulation - the harmful influence over others.
Dishonesty
Passive Aggressive
Separation from others
Verbal Abuse
Gas-lighting
Use of sex to achieve goals
We try to help God and mess up what He’s trying to do. We delay the promise by putting our “helping hand” in the mix.
*Jacob never prays for guidance when searching for his wife, Rachel, like Isaac did for Rebekah. He just saw it and went for it.
We need to embrace the sovereignty of God. We need the spirit of Job. You cannot manipulate God.
Leah realized that only God really loved her.
She got to the point where she stopped being used.
*At some point you have to be more concerned about what’s coming out of you than what’s going into you.
ICEBREAKER:
Opening Question: How do you define Church?
(Jackie Hill Perry video)
Act 2:42-47
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
If you are not devoted to God’s doctrine or teaching then the truth is the only other teaching you will be adhering to is the one the world puts out and that is controlled by the devil. He can and does bless individuals, but you are never called by God to be holy unto yourself.
Your salvation and blessing is not just for you it is to be put to service of the King and His agenda, which is to bring others into the wonderful message of joy and peace you now have because of your relationship with Him.
(Look @ the book of Genesis we just finished was any of that about one individual?) The line that the Messiah Jesus Christ would come from was the fourth child of Leah (Judah) the one when she finally gave God the praise, and stopped looking for love and praise from her husband.)
This dependence upon the Word of God, rather than following certain individual "founders" is seen again in:
Galatians 1:8 - 9
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
The basis for determining truth from error is not based upon even WHO it is that is teaching it, “we or an angel from heaven,” but whether it is the same gospel that they had already received – and this gospel is recorded in Scripture.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The word encourages us to stir one another to love and good works, you can’t do that if you are not in a community of believers. Who you stirring, yourself?
Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Who is watching your soul? You need a shepherd after God’s own heart because you can’t see all the pitfalls. By nature this analogy shows that a shepherd (being taller than the sheep) has greater and further vision than you do. Most people won’t get past the word “Obey”.
Jeremiah 3:15
15 “ ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
God gives shepherds after His own heart to feed you with knowledge and understanding. If you are not part of a covenant community who is feeding you? Yourself? You don’t have enough wisdom to guide your own life.
(Use the analogy of someone diagnosing their own medical condition without medical training just reading books or representing yourself in a court of law even lawyers are advised not to represent themselves in cases against them)
Question: How do we determine whether a church is teaching correct doctrine or not?
Answer: The only infallible standard that Scripture says that we have is the Bible
2 Timothy 3:15-17
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Matthew 5:18
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Isaiah 40:8
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
1 Peter 2:25
25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Galatians 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Tradition is a part of every church, and that tradition must be compared to God’s Word, lest it go against what is true
Mark 7:1-13
1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
It is true that the cults and sometimes orthodox churches twist the interpretation of Scripture to support their practices; nonetheless, Scripture, when taken in context and faithfully studied, is able to guide one to the truth.
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Christ gave leadership as gifts to equip you for the work of ministry. If you’re not under sound leadership who is equipping you and for what? And do you despise the gift Christ Himself gave for your good? If so that says something about how much you value the giver if you disregard the gift.
Question: In light of what we discussed what do you expect from church?
Question: What should church expect from you?