1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,680 Should we turn in our Bibles to Hebrews 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,320 chapter 10, please? 3 00:00:08,040 --> 00:00:09,300 Hebrews chapter 10. 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,320 I'd like to begin reading in verse 19. 5 00:00:14,140 --> 00:00:16,680 Hebrews 10, 19. 6 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,560 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest 7 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,900 by the blood of Jesus, by a new 8 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:32,220 and living way which he consecrated for us 9 00:00:32,220 --> 00:00:35,900 through the veil, that is, his flesh, and 10 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:37,840 having a high priest over the house of 11 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,420 God, let us draw near with a true 12 00:00:40,420 --> 00:00:44,360 heart in full assurance of faith, having our 13 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,260 hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our 14 00:00:47,260 --> 00:00:48,920 bodies washed with pure water. 15 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,620 Let us hold fast the confession of our 16 00:00:51,620 --> 00:00:55,020 hope without wavering, for he who promised is 17 00:00:55,020 --> 00:00:55,480 faithful. 18 00:00:56,220 --> 00:00:58,440 And let us consider one another in order 19 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,740 to stir up love and good works, not 20 00:01:01,740 --> 00:01:03,819 forsaking, this is the golden verse for this 21 00:01:03,819 --> 00:01:07,680 morning, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together 22 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,920 as is the manner of some, but exhorting 23 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,100 one another, and so much the more as 24 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:16,680 you see the day approaching. 25 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,700 First of all this morning, I'd like to 26 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:23,980 think with you about the privileges and responsibilities 27 00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:29,080 of fellowship in a Christian gathering, Christian meeting, 28 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,080 Christian assembly. 29 00:01:32,620 --> 00:01:34,380 But let me say at the outset, we 30 00:01:34,380 --> 00:01:38,700 often hear the expression, assembly distinctives. 31 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:41,500 And I'd like to say at the outset, 32 00:01:41,620 --> 00:01:44,020 there should be no such thing as assembly 33 00:01:44,020 --> 00:01:45,340 distinctives. 34 00:01:45,340 --> 00:01:47,500 And the reason for that is, the truth 35 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:50,680 is all here in the Word of God, 36 00:01:51,060 --> 00:01:54,080 and it's for all the people of God. 37 00:01:54,620 --> 00:01:57,400 Now it may be true that some adhere 38 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,920 more closely to the principles of the Word 39 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:02,580 of God than others, but I'd just like 40 00:02:02,580 --> 00:02:05,960 to remind myself that there are really no 41 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,840 assembly distinctives here for every Christian and every 42 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:11,920 Christian fellowship. 43 00:02:14,370 --> 00:02:17,070 And certainly there's no reason for pride among 44 00:02:17,070 --> 00:02:18,570 God's people, is there? 45 00:02:19,110 --> 00:02:20,870 I often think that if we could see 46 00:02:20,870 --> 00:02:23,150 ourselves as God sees us, we'd have enough 47 00:02:23,150 --> 00:02:24,910 failure to sink a battleship. 48 00:02:26,090 --> 00:02:27,910 I mean, seen in the light of God's 49 00:02:27,910 --> 00:02:30,670 holiness and God's purity, that's true. 50 00:02:31,290 --> 00:02:34,010 So there's no reason for us ever to 51 00:02:34,010 --> 00:02:37,330 be prideful, but to seek to press toward 52 00:02:37,330 --> 00:02:39,090 the mark for the prize of the high 53 00:02:39,090 --> 00:02:41,810 calling of God in Christ Jesus. 54 00:02:42,370 --> 00:02:44,030 And so a lot of the things I 55 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:47,330 say today would be true of privileges and, 56 00:02:47,470 --> 00:02:51,230 for instance, responsibilities in any Christian fellowship, in 57 00:02:51,230 --> 00:02:53,530 any group of people who gather in the 58 00:02:53,530 --> 00:02:55,810 name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 59 00:02:57,150 --> 00:02:57,690 Privileges. 60 00:02:57,950 --> 00:03:01,510 First of all, there's the promised presence of 61 00:03:01,510 --> 00:03:03,080 the Lord Jesus Christ. 62 00:03:03,570 --> 00:03:06,010 He said, for two or three are gathered 63 00:03:06,010 --> 00:03:08,930 together in my name, there am I in 64 00:03:08,930 --> 00:03:09,710 the midst of them. 65 00:03:11,130 --> 00:03:12,350 Think of that. 66 00:03:13,570 --> 00:03:18,610 Think of meeting together with your creator in 67 00:03:18,610 --> 00:03:19,070 the midst. 68 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:24,190 With the one who gives you the breath 69 00:03:24,190 --> 00:03:26,370 to breathe at this very minute. 70 00:03:29,790 --> 00:03:33,210 With the one who formed the starry universe, 71 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:41,640 the millions of galaxies and millions of stars 72 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:42,620 in every galaxy. 73 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:44,200 Billions, sorry. 74 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,240 Billions of galaxies and billions of stars in 75 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:50,080 every galaxy. 76 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,000 Of the one who threw Orion out into 77 00:03:55,000 --> 00:04:00,320 space and keeps the heavenly bodies in their 78 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:01,440 perfect orbits. 79 00:04:02,820 --> 00:04:04,560 That's really what it means. 80 00:04:05,380 --> 00:04:07,920 But not only that, to gather together with 81 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,660 the promised presence of the one who died 82 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:18,050 on Calvary, the one who formed us and 83 00:04:18,050 --> 00:04:20,950 was willing to die for us, to put 84 00:04:20,950 --> 00:04:24,430 away our sins by the sacrifice of himself, 85 00:04:25,770 --> 00:04:29,090 so that we might dwell with him for 86 00:04:29,090 --> 00:04:30,350 all eternity. 87 00:04:30,990 --> 00:04:34,810 With him, as like him, forever. 88 00:04:36,050 --> 00:04:41,730 It's no mean privilege to meet with the 89 00:04:41,730 --> 00:04:42,050 Lord. 90 00:04:44,630 --> 00:04:46,870 And then, of course, there's the privilege of 91 00:04:46,870 --> 00:04:48,510 collective worship. 92 00:04:49,410 --> 00:04:52,550 The privilege of collective worship, and I'm thinking 93 00:04:52,550 --> 00:04:54,530 especially of the Lord's Supper. 94 00:04:54,530 --> 00:04:58,900 What a wonderful thing it is to meet 95 00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:03,740 with like-minded believers and just put all 96 00:05:03,740 --> 00:05:05,860 the cares of the world aside. 97 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:09,820 Blot out all the things that tend to 98 00:05:09,820 --> 00:05:14,270 distress us and just be there in the 99 00:05:14,270 --> 00:05:15,130 presence of the Lord. 100 00:05:15,270 --> 00:05:19,250 For in worship, by faith, we leave this 101 00:05:19,250 --> 00:05:24,730 earth and we go into the holy presence 102 00:05:24,730 --> 00:05:25,490 of God. 103 00:05:26,790 --> 00:05:33,540 And we have audience with the King of 104 00:05:33,540 --> 00:05:33,860 all. 105 00:05:35,540 --> 00:05:37,180 That's what really worship is. 106 00:05:39,630 --> 00:05:43,670 It's by faith leaving this present scene and 107 00:05:43,670 --> 00:05:47,850 just going into the sanctuary, the throne room 108 00:05:47,850 --> 00:05:49,710 of the universe. 109 00:05:52,010 --> 00:05:55,330 As I say, having audience with the great 110 00:05:55,330 --> 00:05:59,230 God and with the Lord Jesus Christ. 111 00:05:59,230 --> 00:06:03,800 I tell you, if we really entered into 112 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:05,920 these things, it would have the hush of 113 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,380 eternity in our hearts, wouldn't it? 114 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:11,600 It really would. 115 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:16,380 It's awesome when you really think of it. 116 00:06:19,090 --> 00:06:21,490 And then the privilege of collective prayer. 117 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,540 What it means to gather with God's people 118 00:06:26,540 --> 00:06:31,820 and go into the presence of the Lord 119 00:06:31,820 --> 00:06:35,160 with our praise and with our prayers, with 120 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:36,600 our petitions. 121 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:40,480 It's really wonderful. 122 00:06:43,180 --> 00:06:45,220 And to see those prayers answered, to see 123 00:06:45,220 --> 00:06:50,260 God moving the checkers on the checkerboard, to 124 00:06:50,260 --> 00:06:53,860 see Him working in His sovereign way and 125 00:06:53,860 --> 00:06:56,560 to see Him answering prayers in a way 126 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,200 that would never have happened according to the 127 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,360 laws of chance or probability. 128 00:07:05,030 --> 00:07:09,390 Thank God for prayer meetings where the presence 129 00:07:09,390 --> 00:07:10,650 of the Lord is felt. 130 00:07:10,650 --> 00:07:14,710 And I like to remind myself in that 131 00:07:14,710 --> 00:07:15,230 connection. 132 00:07:15,610 --> 00:07:17,290 I think some of our young people or 133 00:07:17,290 --> 00:07:20,290 brothers are afraid to pray publicly. 134 00:07:20,870 --> 00:07:24,690 Afraid that they might make some theological disaster 135 00:07:24,690 --> 00:07:26,670 or something like that in their prayers. 136 00:07:28,670 --> 00:07:30,870 Revelation 8 has been such a help to 137 00:07:30,870 --> 00:07:32,810 me where we have a picture of the 138 00:07:32,810 --> 00:07:37,230 Lord Jesus Christ there standing between us and 139 00:07:37,230 --> 00:07:38,170 God the Father. 140 00:07:38,170 --> 00:07:41,150 And our prayers ascend to Him. 141 00:07:42,070 --> 00:07:43,810 And He adds incense to them. 142 00:07:44,610 --> 00:07:46,130 And then they go on to God the 143 00:07:46,130 --> 00:07:46,530 Father. 144 00:07:47,470 --> 00:07:49,730 And I think that incense is the fragrance 145 00:07:49,730 --> 00:07:53,250 of His own person and work. 146 00:07:53,870 --> 00:07:54,690 How do you like that? 147 00:07:55,290 --> 00:07:58,710 The fragrance of His own person and work. 148 00:07:59,090 --> 00:08:01,950 He removes all impurities from our prayers. 149 00:08:02,090 --> 00:08:03,330 And there are plenty of them too. 150 00:08:04,230 --> 00:08:05,790 He removes all of those. 151 00:08:05,930 --> 00:08:07,310 And when they get to God the Father, 152 00:08:07,750 --> 00:08:09,150 they're absolutely perfect. 153 00:08:09,670 --> 00:08:11,590 That's an encouragement prayer for me. 154 00:08:12,490 --> 00:08:15,750 Sometimes you might hear some young brother and 155 00:08:15,750 --> 00:08:18,110 he thanks God the Father for dying on 156 00:08:18,110 --> 00:08:18,990 the cross for him. 157 00:08:19,090 --> 00:08:20,630 Of course, God the Father didn't die on 158 00:08:20,630 --> 00:08:20,910 the cross. 159 00:08:21,410 --> 00:08:22,430 It doesn't make any difference. 160 00:08:23,010 --> 00:08:24,190 God knows what He means. 161 00:08:24,710 --> 00:08:27,010 And as I say, that's all removed and 162 00:08:27,010 --> 00:08:27,430 corrected. 163 00:08:27,830 --> 00:08:30,590 When it reaches God the Father, it's absolutely 164 00:08:30,590 --> 00:08:31,330 perfect. 165 00:08:31,330 --> 00:08:33,650 The privilege of collective prayer. 166 00:08:34,250 --> 00:08:37,590 Then instruction in the Word of God. 167 00:08:40,970 --> 00:08:44,010 I look back to my own boyhood when 168 00:08:44,010 --> 00:08:46,790 we sat under the ministry of the Word 169 00:08:46,790 --> 00:08:49,990 of God and how indebted I feel to 170 00:08:49,990 --> 00:08:50,770 those men. 171 00:08:53,390 --> 00:08:55,530 The first Sunday school class I ever remember, 172 00:08:56,050 --> 00:08:59,570 I was taught the parables of the mysteries 173 00:08:59,570 --> 00:09:01,690 of the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 13. 174 00:09:02,030 --> 00:09:03,170 Can you imagine it? 175 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,110 A kid studying that. 176 00:09:06,530 --> 00:09:07,830 Still with me today. 177 00:09:08,850 --> 00:09:11,650 And I can remember sitting around tables in 178 00:09:11,650 --> 00:09:14,270 that assembly and going through the book of 179 00:09:14,270 --> 00:09:14,870 Isaiah. 180 00:09:16,350 --> 00:09:17,010 Isaiah? 181 00:09:17,450 --> 00:09:19,250 What about John's Gospel? 182 00:09:19,410 --> 00:09:20,190 No, Isaiah. 183 00:09:20,870 --> 00:09:23,290 And you know it's still with me today. 184 00:09:23,690 --> 00:09:24,670 What a privilege. 185 00:09:25,270 --> 00:09:28,310 I tell you, I'm very indebted to the 186 00:09:28,310 --> 00:09:32,150 fellowships that I had the privilege of being 187 00:09:32,150 --> 00:09:34,270 in down through those years. 188 00:09:34,430 --> 00:09:35,470 And I wasn't even a Christian. 189 00:09:36,250 --> 00:09:38,650 But the Holy Spirit was putting the coals 190 00:09:38,650 --> 00:09:40,890 on the fire to ignite them some years 191 00:09:40,890 --> 00:09:41,230 later. 192 00:09:43,950 --> 00:09:47,650 I personally have great sadness of heart when 193 00:09:47,650 --> 00:09:51,450 I think of how biblically illiterate the church 194 00:09:51,450 --> 00:09:52,950 in the United States is. 195 00:09:53,870 --> 00:09:54,910 Biblically illiterate. 196 00:09:55,110 --> 00:09:56,290 It used to be that you could talk 197 00:09:56,290 --> 00:09:58,150 to people and they had a smattering of 198 00:09:58,150 --> 00:09:59,390 ignorance about the Bible. 199 00:09:59,390 --> 00:10:02,010 But they really don't have that anymore. 200 00:10:03,130 --> 00:10:05,670 And so what a wonderful privilege it is 201 00:10:05,670 --> 00:10:07,890 to be in a fellowship where the Word 202 00:10:07,890 --> 00:10:11,610 of God is taught and where people's minds, 203 00:10:11,690 --> 00:10:14,490 young people's minds, are filled with the Word 204 00:10:14,490 --> 00:10:15,390 of God. 205 00:10:15,590 --> 00:10:17,390 A sacred deposit. 206 00:10:20,070 --> 00:10:21,490 And then of course there's the blessing of 207 00:10:21,490 --> 00:10:22,950 serving with others. 208 00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:25,950 And we heard about that last night a 209 00:10:25,950 --> 00:10:26,610 great deal. 210 00:10:27,190 --> 00:10:29,670 The blessing of serving with God in the 211 00:10:29,670 --> 00:10:30,870 Sunday school class. 212 00:10:30,990 --> 00:10:31,690 And who can know? 213 00:10:32,030 --> 00:10:32,730 Who can know? 214 00:10:32,810 --> 00:10:35,810 I think of teachers who have become discouraged 215 00:10:35,810 --> 00:10:36,770 along the way. 216 00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:37,950 They thought nothing's going to happen. 217 00:10:38,090 --> 00:10:38,930 Things do happen. 218 00:10:39,750 --> 00:10:41,170 I want to tell you, the Word of 219 00:10:41,170 --> 00:10:44,490 God is never taught and ministered in the 220 00:10:44,490 --> 00:10:48,110 power of the Holy Spirit without producing results. 221 00:10:48,270 --> 00:10:48,930 Do you believe that? 222 00:10:49,390 --> 00:10:50,090 I believe that. 223 00:10:50,150 --> 00:10:51,190 Well, the Bible says it. 224 00:10:51,230 --> 00:10:53,770 He said, His Word will not return to 225 00:10:53,770 --> 00:10:54,190 him void. 226 00:10:54,330 --> 00:10:56,550 It will accomplish a thing that he has 227 00:10:56,550 --> 00:10:58,170 sent it forth to do. 228 00:10:58,330 --> 00:11:00,350 So when you're engaged in that work, in 229 00:11:00,350 --> 00:11:02,650 ministry, in teaching the Word of God, you're 230 00:11:02,650 --> 00:11:03,750 in a work that can't fail. 231 00:11:04,510 --> 00:11:07,330 It's got the promise of success right in 232 00:11:07,330 --> 00:11:08,210 the Word of God. 233 00:11:08,870 --> 00:11:11,630 Privilege of serving the Lord in gospel work 234 00:11:11,630 --> 00:11:14,150 and witnessing for the Lord. 235 00:11:14,830 --> 00:11:17,590 Recently, a hundred people went out to Little 236 00:11:17,590 --> 00:11:18,490 Rock, Arkansas. 237 00:11:19,330 --> 00:11:23,330 And they paid their own expenses out there. 238 00:11:23,630 --> 00:11:25,750 And they paid their own hotel out there, 239 00:11:25,790 --> 00:11:26,470 a hundred people. 240 00:11:27,050 --> 00:11:30,610 And they went to every house in Little 241 00:11:30,610 --> 00:11:31,470 Rock, Arkansas. 242 00:11:31,890 --> 00:11:35,250 Every house, including the house of Hillary Clinton's 243 00:11:35,250 --> 00:11:37,570 mother and left a packet of literature with 244 00:11:37,570 --> 00:11:39,470 her there. 245 00:11:39,870 --> 00:11:41,430 And if you'll read the last issue of 246 00:11:41,430 --> 00:11:43,350 Uplook Magazine, it's really historic. 247 00:11:43,350 --> 00:11:46,730 It has stories of the things that happened 248 00:11:46,730 --> 00:11:48,150 in that outreach. 249 00:11:48,250 --> 00:11:49,410 And I want to tell you, the people 250 00:11:49,410 --> 00:11:50,050 were bubbling. 251 00:11:50,550 --> 00:11:53,210 They were really overflowing with praise to the 252 00:11:53,210 --> 00:11:53,470 Lord. 253 00:11:54,090 --> 00:11:58,190 They were out there in 107 degree temperature. 254 00:11:58,830 --> 00:12:00,430 And they went to one door and knocked 255 00:12:00,430 --> 00:12:00,910 on the door. 256 00:12:01,010 --> 00:12:02,810 And a person came to the door and 257 00:12:02,810 --> 00:12:05,130 said, You people must have something if you're 258 00:12:05,130 --> 00:12:07,490 willing to go house to house in 107 259 00:12:07,490 --> 00:12:08,470 degree temperature. 260 00:12:09,710 --> 00:12:11,170 They went to another door. 261 00:12:11,710 --> 00:12:13,190 And the lady opened the door and they 262 00:12:13,190 --> 00:12:14,790 talked to her about the Lord Jesus. 263 00:12:14,910 --> 00:12:16,690 And she said, I've lived here for 24 264 00:12:16,690 --> 00:12:19,010 years and you're the first people who ever 265 00:12:19,010 --> 00:12:20,770 came to talk to me about Jesus. 266 00:12:21,410 --> 00:12:23,930 And that magazine is just filled with stories 267 00:12:23,930 --> 00:12:25,070 like that. 268 00:12:26,690 --> 00:12:29,150 A fellow went to a home to see 269 00:12:29,150 --> 00:12:30,850 if he could get the little fellow to 270 00:12:30,850 --> 00:12:32,170 come to the children's meetings. 271 00:12:32,870 --> 00:12:34,430 And it was a foster home. 272 00:12:34,590 --> 00:12:36,590 And the foster mother said to him when 273 00:12:36,590 --> 00:12:38,770 he went to the door, Well, he doesn't 274 00:12:38,770 --> 00:12:39,350 like men. 275 00:12:39,770 --> 00:12:41,750 I think he had been abused, this little 276 00:12:41,750 --> 00:12:42,050 fellow. 277 00:12:42,590 --> 00:12:43,950 And she said, he doesn't like men. 278 00:12:43,990 --> 00:12:45,370 And the little fellow said, I don't like 279 00:12:45,370 --> 00:12:45,730 men. 280 00:12:46,250 --> 00:12:48,050 But you know that dear brother, he kept 281 00:12:48,050 --> 00:12:48,630 persisting. 282 00:12:48,710 --> 00:12:51,090 He'd go back and he'd bring gifts to 283 00:12:51,090 --> 00:12:52,170 that little fellow. 284 00:12:53,910 --> 00:12:55,890 And pretty soon the little fellow went to 285 00:12:55,890 --> 00:12:56,410 the meetings. 286 00:12:56,910 --> 00:12:58,810 And pretty soon he was practically glued to 287 00:12:58,810 --> 00:12:59,890 that Christian worker. 288 00:12:59,990 --> 00:13:01,710 He wouldn't leave him out of his sight. 289 00:13:02,150 --> 00:13:04,350 And now they're thinking of adopting him. 290 00:13:05,770 --> 00:13:07,610 I mean, the magazine's filled with stories. 291 00:13:07,690 --> 00:13:08,830 I don't know whether that one is in 292 00:13:08,830 --> 00:13:10,590 it, but it was told to me personally. 293 00:13:11,410 --> 00:13:13,890 The joy of serving with others. 294 00:13:14,010 --> 00:13:16,190 I'll tell you, it made an impact on 295 00:13:16,190 --> 00:13:18,250 the lives of a hundred people that they'll 296 00:13:18,250 --> 00:13:19,390 never forget. 297 00:13:19,750 --> 00:13:23,610 The joy of visitation, including hospital visitation. 298 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:25,570 You know, a lot of people are afraid 299 00:13:25,570 --> 00:13:27,350 to visit in hospitals. 300 00:13:27,550 --> 00:13:28,250 I don't know why. 301 00:13:29,130 --> 00:13:32,490 But there's a tremendous joy in doing that 302 00:13:32,490 --> 00:13:33,070 kind of work. 303 00:13:33,070 --> 00:13:35,570 And oftentimes you come away more blessed than 304 00:13:35,570 --> 00:13:38,530 any blessing that you were able to give. 305 00:13:39,270 --> 00:13:42,190 The thrill of Christian literature work. 306 00:13:43,190 --> 00:13:45,270 And I might say this just in passing, 307 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:47,970 that I believe that the distinctive ministry that 308 00:13:47,970 --> 00:13:51,190 God has given to assemblies like Hillview down 309 00:13:51,190 --> 00:13:53,830 through the years has been the ministry of 310 00:13:53,830 --> 00:13:54,810 Christian literature. 311 00:13:55,790 --> 00:14:00,190 It has had an impact on the whole 312 00:14:00,190 --> 00:14:02,090 evangelical world. 313 00:14:02,090 --> 00:14:04,270 Then the privilege of giving. 314 00:14:05,150 --> 00:14:08,230 Perhaps we don't think of giving as being 315 00:14:08,230 --> 00:14:10,250 a privilege, but it is a tremendous privilege. 316 00:14:10,750 --> 00:14:13,090 It's a tremendous privilege to be reaching out 317 00:14:13,090 --> 00:14:15,810 to the far ends of the earth with 318 00:14:15,810 --> 00:14:20,270 our gifts and sacrifices for God. 319 00:14:20,370 --> 00:14:22,710 And who knows what is ever accomplished by 320 00:14:22,710 --> 00:14:23,050 that. 321 00:14:23,050 --> 00:14:27,850 But nothing is ever done in the name 322 00:14:27,850 --> 00:14:30,390 of the Lord Jesus and for his glory 323 00:14:30,390 --> 00:14:32,910 that will not be rewarded at the judgment 324 00:14:32,910 --> 00:14:33,690 seat of Christ. 325 00:14:34,130 --> 00:14:35,170 I think that's wonderful. 326 00:14:36,010 --> 00:14:38,410 God is a good record keeper. 327 00:14:39,050 --> 00:14:40,650 He's a good accountant. 328 00:14:41,350 --> 00:14:43,890 And nothing you ever do and nothing you 329 00:14:43,890 --> 00:14:47,570 ever give for him passes without its reward. 330 00:14:48,450 --> 00:14:50,670 I tell you, it's starting to think of 331 00:14:50,670 --> 00:14:52,510 a reward that some people are going to 332 00:14:52,510 --> 00:14:55,570 get in that connection. 333 00:14:56,350 --> 00:14:58,570 The privilege of fellowship. 334 00:14:59,230 --> 00:15:00,610 Of being with Christian people. 335 00:15:00,710 --> 00:15:02,070 We feel this very strongly. 336 00:15:02,470 --> 00:15:05,350 In a country where the anti-Christian bigotry 337 00:15:05,350 --> 00:15:07,410 is increasing all the time. 338 00:15:07,670 --> 00:15:11,130 Where the media never loses an opportunity to 339 00:15:11,130 --> 00:15:14,730 whack away at Christianity, at Christ, and at 340 00:15:14,730 --> 00:15:15,730 Christian people. 341 00:15:15,730 --> 00:15:17,830 It's a wonderful thing just to come together 342 00:15:17,830 --> 00:15:21,890 with like-minded believers in the Lord Jesus 343 00:15:21,890 --> 00:15:22,270 Christ. 344 00:15:22,410 --> 00:15:25,190 And be able to talk about the things 345 00:15:25,190 --> 00:15:26,470 that matter. 346 00:15:27,210 --> 00:15:30,090 And then, of course, a caring family in 347 00:15:30,090 --> 00:15:34,490 times of sorrow, trial, and distress. 348 00:15:34,930 --> 00:15:36,630 It's a wonderful thing. 349 00:15:37,070 --> 00:15:38,470 A caring family. 350 00:15:39,730 --> 00:15:41,590 Maybe somebody is hospitalized. 351 00:15:41,790 --> 00:15:43,230 Maybe some mother is hospitalized. 352 00:15:43,230 --> 00:15:46,930 The meals just flow over into that home. 353 00:15:47,150 --> 00:15:49,370 Nobody has to worry about the food. 354 00:15:49,730 --> 00:15:51,050 People there to help. 355 00:15:51,210 --> 00:15:52,550 Take care of the children. 356 00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:54,230 And just moving together. 357 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,380 Let me give you the other side of 358 00:15:59,380 --> 00:15:59,880 that story. 359 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:01,320 There was a fellow in the Navy with 360 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:01,520 me. 361 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,140 I prayed for him for 50 years. 362 00:16:03,460 --> 00:16:06,340 And he died, as far as I know, 363 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:08,460 without ever coming to the Lord Jesus. 364 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,520 And his wife would call me, his widow 365 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:12,780 would call me, and she would just be 366 00:16:12,780 --> 00:16:13,120 left. 367 00:16:13,900 --> 00:16:17,440 And I said to her, and they had 368 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:18,460 no faith at all. 369 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,060 I said to her, do you have any 370 00:16:22,060 --> 00:16:22,360 friends? 371 00:16:22,460 --> 00:16:24,660 She said, we don't have any friends. 372 00:16:24,780 --> 00:16:26,540 She said, we just saved money until we 373 00:16:26,540 --> 00:16:28,140 had enough money to go on a tour. 374 00:16:29,420 --> 00:16:31,260 I said, do any of your neighbors take 375 00:16:31,260 --> 00:16:31,360 it? 376 00:16:31,420 --> 00:16:33,720 No, she said, we have not associated with 377 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:34,300 our neighbors. 378 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:37,720 And she was sitting there all by herself 379 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,600 in a home in Arizona. 380 00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,220 And nobody cared. 381 00:16:43,020 --> 00:16:44,740 That's the way she had always lived. 382 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:46,780 That's the way it was now. 383 00:16:47,220 --> 00:16:48,340 And I thought, what a contrast. 384 00:16:48,780 --> 00:16:49,720 What a contrast. 385 00:16:49,860 --> 00:16:52,720 A fellowship with like-minded Christians and how 386 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:53,940 they just come together. 387 00:16:55,380 --> 00:16:58,700 A beautiful thing happened up recently with us. 388 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:01,340 A young fellow had to go to the 389 00:17:01,340 --> 00:17:03,619 University of California, San Francisco, for a liver 390 00:17:03,619 --> 00:17:04,240 transplant. 391 00:17:06,780 --> 00:17:09,800 And you know what an emotional roller coaster 392 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,220 oftentimes it is when something like that is 393 00:17:12,220 --> 00:17:13,319 happening. 394 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,359 Well, his wife went to the home of 395 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,819 one of our sisters one day, and she 396 00:17:19,819 --> 00:17:23,160 was really at the edge, as it were. 397 00:17:23,980 --> 00:17:25,579 She went in, and there were two ladies 398 00:17:25,579 --> 00:17:27,640 talking in there, two Christian ladies talking. 399 00:17:32,300 --> 00:17:34,920 And she just was about ready to dissolve. 400 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,180 And when one of those ladies saw her 401 00:17:37,180 --> 00:17:39,160 ready to dissolve, she quickly got up from 402 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:40,960 her seat and went over and sat beside 403 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,960 her and put her arm around her. 404 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,460 And she said, I'm connected with a prayer 405 00:17:46,460 --> 00:17:49,260 fellowship, and your husband's name is going to 406 00:17:49,260 --> 00:17:51,060 go on it, and it will reach 2 407 00:17:51,060 --> 00:17:51,960 ,000 people. 408 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:54,400 I tell you, that means something, doesn't it? 409 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:56,660 It made her day. 410 00:17:57,780 --> 00:18:02,180 2,000 people enlisted to pray for our 411 00:18:02,180 --> 00:18:02,440 Barry. 412 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,420 And the good news is that Barry Coleman 413 00:18:04,420 --> 00:18:07,060 is doing wonderfully well. 414 00:18:07,660 --> 00:18:09,580 And then a worldwide fellowship. 415 00:18:10,500 --> 00:18:14,280 Some of you have traveled various parts of 416 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:14,640 the world. 417 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,400 I don't know many parts of the world 418 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,760 where you couldn't go and find real Christian 419 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:20,300 fellowship. 420 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,240 And you're with those people for just a 421 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,340 short time, and it feels that you've known 422 00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:25,080 them forever. 423 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,560 And there's no fraternity, sorority, or society in 424 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:32,380 the world to compare with the Christian fellowship. 425 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:36,300 The world has nothing to offer comparable to 426 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:36,480 it. 427 00:18:37,620 --> 00:18:39,820 I think of places that I have visited 428 00:18:39,820 --> 00:18:42,780 and the friendships that have been formed, and 429 00:18:42,780 --> 00:18:45,920 they go with you through all of life. 430 00:18:46,580 --> 00:18:52,000 Privileges of fellowship in a local assembly. 431 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,460 But there are also responsibilities, aren't there? 432 00:18:56,500 --> 00:18:58,300 And oftentimes we forget these. 433 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,240 You know, the French have an expression, noblesse 434 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:02,940 oblige. 435 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,800 Nobility has its obligations. 436 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,080 Nobility has its obligations. 437 00:19:11,260 --> 00:19:14,380 It means that nobility obligates. 438 00:19:14,380 --> 00:19:18,640 It's the obligation of honorable, generous, and responsible 439 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:23,320 behavior associated with high rank or high birth. 440 00:19:24,580 --> 00:19:26,960 And dear Christians, we are people of high 441 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:27,300 birth. 442 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,260 Children of the Heavenly King. 443 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,400 And there are responsibilities that go with that. 444 00:19:35,740 --> 00:19:37,760 Let's think of some of those responsibilities. 445 00:19:38,540 --> 00:19:43,180 There's a responsibility to exercise our spiritual gift. 446 00:19:43,180 --> 00:19:45,880 Because it's only as we do that that 447 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,200 the body grows, functions, matures. 448 00:19:49,780 --> 00:19:51,960 We saw that as we were in Ephesians 449 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,880 chapter 4. 450 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,680 The body needs you. 451 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,680 It needs your contribution to the body. 452 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,220 You should be willing to do for the 453 00:20:04,220 --> 00:20:06,520 Lord what you wouldn't be willing to do 454 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,360 for any secular employer and beyond. 455 00:20:12,770 --> 00:20:14,790 You know, employers today, they can tell you 456 00:20:14,790 --> 00:20:18,090 go to Singapore and you go. 457 00:20:20,370 --> 00:20:21,790 But God might tell you to go to 458 00:20:21,790 --> 00:20:24,990 Madagascar and it's a different story, isn't it? 459 00:20:25,630 --> 00:20:27,390 We should be willing to do for the 460 00:20:27,390 --> 00:20:29,590 Lord what we would never do for any 461 00:20:29,590 --> 00:20:30,570 secular employer. 462 00:20:31,170 --> 00:20:33,830 An obligation to endeavor to keep the unity 463 00:20:33,830 --> 00:20:35,910 of the spirit and the bond of peace. 464 00:20:36,610 --> 00:20:41,670 Not to be the source of conflict, but 465 00:20:41,670 --> 00:20:44,150 to be confessing faults to one another. 466 00:20:44,270 --> 00:20:47,550 Learning to live in brokenness before the Lord. 467 00:20:47,890 --> 00:20:51,170 In other words, in order that the assembly 468 00:20:51,170 --> 00:20:52,590 might not suffer. 469 00:20:54,090 --> 00:20:59,550 There's the obligation to attend meetings faithfully. 470 00:21:03,290 --> 00:21:07,030 One of the few places today where you're 471 00:21:07,030 --> 00:21:10,770 sure to find commitment is in the dictionary. 472 00:21:11,850 --> 00:21:13,110 You can always find it there. 473 00:21:16,610 --> 00:21:20,730 But it's less and less obvious in many 474 00:21:20,730 --> 00:21:24,270 meetings of Christian fellowships. 475 00:21:24,270 --> 00:21:28,290 I think that faithful attendance at our meetings 476 00:21:28,290 --> 00:21:31,190 is one of the casualties of the frenzied 477 00:21:31,190 --> 00:21:35,510 lives on the one hand and our weekend 478 00:21:35,510 --> 00:21:37,950 escapes on the other. 479 00:21:40,260 --> 00:21:45,060 What is a valid reason, for instance, for 480 00:21:45,060 --> 00:21:48,400 not attending the breaking of bread? 481 00:21:50,580 --> 00:21:51,900 Remember the king is there. 482 00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:55,260 Remember the one who died for you in 483 00:21:55,260 --> 00:21:56,380 Calvary is there. 484 00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:59,540 What would be a good reason for not 485 00:21:59,540 --> 00:22:00,060 attending? 486 00:22:03,180 --> 00:22:04,360 Aunt Minnie's birthday? 487 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,200 A family get-together on Groundhog Day? 488 00:22:14,260 --> 00:22:16,540 What would be a good reason? 489 00:22:21,430 --> 00:22:22,470 It's pretty hard to think of a good 490 00:22:22,470 --> 00:22:23,010 one, isn't it? 491 00:22:24,390 --> 00:22:27,710 If we really believe the Lord Jesus is 492 00:22:27,710 --> 00:22:31,130 there, it would be pretty hard to find 493 00:22:31,130 --> 00:22:34,590 a good reason for not being there. 494 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:38,060 He requested it. 495 00:22:39,540 --> 00:22:43,000 He said, this is my body which is 496 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:43,800 broken for you. 497 00:22:43,980 --> 00:22:46,820 Do this in remembrance of me. 498 00:22:47,860 --> 00:22:50,520 And he is there when we do meet 499 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:52,220 together. 500 00:22:52,220 --> 00:22:55,400 We appropriate, as I said before, we appropriate 501 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,120 this fact by faith. 502 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,520 We don't act as if it were true. 503 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:02,940 We act because it is true. 504 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:11,140 Someone may object, as I said, that, well, 505 00:23:11,220 --> 00:23:11,780 he's everywhere. 506 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:12,820 I know he's everywhere. 507 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,200 There's a special sense in which he's present 508 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,840 when his people gather together to worship him. 509 00:23:23,340 --> 00:23:27,000 The early church was faithful in its commitment 510 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,180 to the local assembly. 511 00:23:31,310 --> 00:23:33,930 We've already referred to Acts 2.42. It 512 00:23:33,930 --> 00:23:39,070 says they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, 513 00:23:39,330 --> 00:23:41,510 fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. 514 00:23:41,790 --> 00:23:44,370 It doesn't say they continued in those things. 515 00:23:44,430 --> 00:23:49,730 It says they continued steadfastly in those things. 516 00:23:50,330 --> 00:23:53,510 And the apostle Paul knew that when he 517 00:23:53,510 --> 00:23:56,130 left Philippi to go to Troas, he'd find 518 00:23:56,130 --> 00:23:59,970 the believers there breaking bread on the Lord's 519 00:23:59,970 --> 00:24:00,250 Day. 520 00:24:01,570 --> 00:24:04,070 Could Paul depend on us to be there 521 00:24:04,070 --> 00:24:05,470 at that time? 522 00:24:06,670 --> 00:24:08,970 I like to remind myself that when I 523 00:24:08,970 --> 00:24:12,270 am not present, the Savior misses me. 524 00:24:12,970 --> 00:24:15,190 And he misses you, too, when you're not 525 00:24:15,190 --> 00:24:15,570 present. 526 00:24:15,570 --> 00:24:17,630 I often think of that time when he 527 00:24:17,630 --> 00:24:21,210 went to the house of Simon the Pharisee. 528 00:24:23,070 --> 00:24:24,550 And he got kind of a cold welcome. 529 00:24:24,690 --> 00:24:28,390 The Lord Jesus said to him, you didn't 530 00:24:28,390 --> 00:24:31,170 give me any water for my feet. 531 00:24:32,170 --> 00:24:34,810 You gave me no kiss. 532 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,780 You didn't give me oil to anoint my 533 00:24:39,780 --> 00:24:40,160 head. 534 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:42,280 You gave me no kiss. 535 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:43,760 Do you ever think that when you're not 536 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,300 there, and he is there, he misses your 537 00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:48,620 kiss? 538 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:49,540 I believe that. 539 00:24:50,660 --> 00:24:53,080 I'm just a simple believer that I really 540 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,680 believe that with all my heart. 541 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:59,100 If he missed the kiss of an unregenerate 542 00:24:59,100 --> 00:25:04,400 Pharisee, how much more does he miss the 543 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,580 kiss of one whom he redeemed by his 544 00:25:06,580 --> 00:25:07,320 precious blood? 545 00:25:12,370 --> 00:25:15,650 Attendance at the assembly is an index of 546 00:25:15,650 --> 00:25:17,130 our love for Jesus. 547 00:25:18,490 --> 00:25:20,550 It's an index of our love. 548 00:25:20,910 --> 00:25:23,310 He said, if you love me, keep my 549 00:25:23,310 --> 00:25:23,750 commandments. 550 00:25:24,310 --> 00:25:25,970 That's one of his commandments, isn't it? 551 00:25:26,130 --> 00:25:28,970 This too is remembrance of me. 552 00:25:29,610 --> 00:25:32,730 And it's an index of our priorities, as 553 00:25:32,730 --> 00:25:33,950 I already suggested. 554 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:43,140 Which is more gripping, a prayer meeting or 555 00:25:43,140 --> 00:25:44,360 watching the Super Bowl? 556 00:25:46,370 --> 00:25:49,130 Well, it depends on how you're looking at 557 00:25:49,130 --> 00:25:49,250 it. 558 00:25:49,350 --> 00:25:50,950 If you're looking at it from a natural 559 00:25:50,950 --> 00:25:54,090 standpoint, the Super Bowl is far more gripping. 560 00:25:56,410 --> 00:25:58,310 But if you're looking at it through the 561 00:25:58,310 --> 00:26:00,650 eyes of faith, it's not. 562 00:26:01,670 --> 00:26:04,610 That makes all the difference in the world. 563 00:26:05,370 --> 00:26:08,210 Because in the prayer meeting, you're having intercourse 564 00:26:08,210 --> 00:26:09,930 with the God of all creation. 565 00:26:11,050 --> 00:26:13,030 In the Super Bowl, you're getting excited about 566 00:26:13,030 --> 00:26:15,290 scores that 100 years from today won't make 567 00:26:15,290 --> 00:26:15,950 any difference. 568 00:26:15,950 --> 00:26:19,050 It just depends on what kind of glasses 569 00:26:19,050 --> 00:26:19,690 you have on. 570 00:26:20,210 --> 00:26:22,950 What kind of lenses you have in your 571 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:24,430 eyes. 572 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,320 Which is more important, to do routine repairs 573 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,840 on a house or to be at the 574 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:33,400 prayer meeting? 575 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:34,560 Things like that. 576 00:26:35,060 --> 00:26:37,700 We have to think about our priorities and 577 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:39,500 get them straight. 578 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,080 When we go away on vacation, are we 579 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,200 careful to be somewhere where we can meet 580 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,220 with the Lord and with his people? 581 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:54,400 Or when we're being transferred, does the presence 582 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,360 of a scriptural fellowship weigh in our decision? 583 00:27:00,580 --> 00:27:03,600 Or do we go anywhere and then regret 584 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,100 that there isn't any scriptural assembly there? 585 00:27:09,940 --> 00:27:13,160 And in weighing all of these responsibilities, we 586 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:17,340 always have to remember that what we do 587 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:18,700 is more for our good. 588 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:20,640 Commitment is more for our good than it 589 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:21,200 is for his. 590 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,300 I mean, what does it matter to the 591 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:25,400 great sovereign of the universe? 592 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,420 Relatively speaking, but it matters a lot to 593 00:27:31,420 --> 00:27:31,720 me. 594 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,440 We're the poorer when we're uncommitted. 595 00:27:41,580 --> 00:27:43,940 I remember he said to the disciples, You 596 00:27:43,940 --> 00:27:47,360 are those who have continued with me in 597 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:50,260 my temptation, and I appoint to you a 598 00:27:50,260 --> 00:27:50,560 kingdom. 599 00:27:52,220 --> 00:27:55,180 He takes note of our commitment to him, 600 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,860 and he has appointed for us commitment. 601 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,440 And just let me say this, too, that 602 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,380 I think that the meetings of the assembly 603 00:28:04,380 --> 00:28:08,240 have a sanctifying influence on our lives. 604 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,100 For instance, every time we come and remember 605 00:28:11,100 --> 00:28:14,560 the Lord in his death, we're reminded of 606 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,700 what our sins cost him. 607 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:21,880 It increases our hatred for sin and our 608 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,740 desire to do that which is pleasing in 609 00:28:25,740 --> 00:28:26,460 his sight. 610 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,380 In going to a prayer meeting, we learn 611 00:28:31,380 --> 00:28:32,280 how to pray. 612 00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:34,620 The best way to learn how to pray 613 00:28:34,620 --> 00:28:36,540 is to be with Christians when they're praying. 614 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,440 I listen to the prayers of people, and 615 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:42,600 I think, that's wonderful, I never thought of 616 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:42,860 that. 617 00:28:43,860 --> 00:28:46,480 You make a mental note of it, and 618 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,340 it helps you along the way. 619 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,540 We learn to worship, we learn to give, 620 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,540 and we learn to develop rapport with our 621 00:28:55,540 --> 00:28:57,160 fellow believers. 622 00:28:57,580 --> 00:28:59,380 So the golden text, as I said, is 623 00:28:59,380 --> 00:29:02,960 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as 624 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,120 the manner of some is, but exhorting one 625 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,240 another, and so much the more as you 626 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:09,340 see the day approaching. 627 00:29:13,630 --> 00:29:15,910 I have some friends down in Nashville, Tennessee, 628 00:29:16,070 --> 00:29:17,870 and they met John and Mary Lou Phelan. 629 00:29:19,330 --> 00:29:23,110 John was in the Second World War, and 630 00:29:23,110 --> 00:29:26,290 he was down in Southern California, and he 631 00:29:26,290 --> 00:29:28,070 ran into a man named Harold Kessler. 632 00:29:28,930 --> 00:29:30,630 Some of you may know Harold Kessler. 633 00:29:31,590 --> 00:29:34,470 Harold Kessler led him to the Lord and 634 00:29:34,470 --> 00:29:37,810 did a great job in discipling him, including 635 00:29:37,810 --> 00:29:40,290 the truth of the New Testament church. 636 00:29:43,060 --> 00:29:46,520 After the war, Johnny and Mary Lou were 637 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,120 back there in Nashville, Tennessee. 638 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,860 The local Methodist church asked him to come 639 00:29:52,860 --> 00:29:54,020 as assistant pastor. 640 00:29:55,340 --> 00:29:57,440 It would have been a prestigious position. 641 00:30:01,250 --> 00:30:03,630 John was sold on the principles of New 642 00:30:03,630 --> 00:30:07,550 Testament Christianity and the New Testament church, and 643 00:30:07,550 --> 00:30:11,490 he and his wife remembered the Lord for 644 00:30:11,490 --> 00:30:14,410 one year in the living room of their 645 00:30:14,410 --> 00:30:16,150 home, just the two of them. 646 00:30:17,530 --> 00:30:19,470 That is commitment. 647 00:30:21,310 --> 00:30:24,970 At the end of one year, some brothers 648 00:30:24,970 --> 00:30:26,250 went down there with a tent. 649 00:30:26,250 --> 00:30:29,410 They pitched the tent at 65th and Louisiana, 650 00:30:29,730 --> 00:30:32,810 and they started preaching the gospel, and souls 651 00:30:32,810 --> 00:30:34,010 started getting saved. 652 00:30:35,850 --> 00:30:39,210 Today, there is a large assembly in Nashville, 653 00:30:39,650 --> 00:30:41,230 and there is a hive off in an 654 00:30:41,230 --> 00:30:43,670 adjacent town, and there is a camp just 655 00:30:43,670 --> 00:30:45,890 as big as this one, Horton Haven, and 656 00:30:45,890 --> 00:30:49,090 they are all the result of that couple 657 00:30:49,090 --> 00:30:52,030 being faithful to the Lord, being committed to 658 00:30:52,030 --> 00:30:55,310 Him, and meeting for one whole year, just 659 00:30:55,310 --> 00:30:57,290 the two of them, to remember the Lord. 660 00:30:57,930 --> 00:30:59,170 I want to tell you something, friends. 661 00:30:59,430 --> 00:31:00,130 That's commitment. 662 00:31:01,290 --> 00:31:02,750 And God honors it. 663 00:31:02,790 --> 00:31:04,970 Them that honor me, I will honor. 664 00:31:07,510 --> 00:31:09,230 Jim McCarthy and I were at a conference 665 00:31:09,230 --> 00:31:12,270 up in upper Minnesota recently, and there was 666 00:31:12,270 --> 00:31:14,670 a couple that came there, Jack and Charlotte 667 00:31:14,670 --> 00:31:16,030 Mostert. 668 00:31:17,190 --> 00:31:19,550 Jack and Charlotte were for many years in 669 00:31:19,550 --> 00:31:22,390 fellowship in the Laughlin Street Assembly there in 670 00:31:22,390 --> 00:31:22,890 Chicago. 671 00:31:23,850 --> 00:31:25,310 And of course, then there was a flight 672 00:31:25,310 --> 00:31:26,130 to the suburbs. 673 00:31:27,250 --> 00:31:29,170 All the people fled out to the suburbs, 674 00:31:29,470 --> 00:31:33,090 and in a way, Laughlin Street, it became 675 00:31:33,090 --> 00:31:35,050 something like a ghetto, you know, that whole 676 00:31:35,050 --> 00:31:35,550 area. 677 00:31:37,530 --> 00:31:40,430 The whole complexion of the assembly, the people 678 00:31:40,430 --> 00:31:41,670 in the assembly, all changed. 679 00:31:41,670 --> 00:31:44,750 Jack and Charlotte stayed with it down through 680 00:31:44,750 --> 00:31:45,290 the years. 681 00:31:46,290 --> 00:31:48,830 A few months ago, Charlotte and another lady 682 00:31:48,830 --> 00:31:51,350 were walking out of the Laughlin Street Chapel, 683 00:31:51,630 --> 00:31:53,430 and there was a gang fight going on 684 00:31:53,430 --> 00:31:56,930 in the neighborhood, and a random bullet came 685 00:31:56,930 --> 00:31:58,310 and hit the other lady in the leg. 686 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:03,220 Jack and Charlotte are still there, carrying on 687 00:32:03,220 --> 00:32:03,880 for Jesus. 688 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:06,180 It didn't drive them away at all. 689 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:08,680 I'm going to tell you, that's commitment. 690 00:32:12,820 --> 00:32:17,040 And God prizes it very, very highly. 691 00:32:18,060 --> 00:32:19,160 Other responsibilities. 692 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:23,980 Share in the fellowship of the assembly, expenses 693 00:32:23,980 --> 00:32:26,660 of the assembly, and in sending funds out 694 00:32:26,660 --> 00:32:29,480 to missionaries. 695 00:32:32,790 --> 00:32:37,210 You know, what the local assembly is largely 696 00:32:37,210 --> 00:32:39,030 determines what the missionaries are going to be 697 00:32:39,030 --> 00:32:39,630 on the field. 698 00:32:40,190 --> 00:32:42,870 They're an expression of the local assembly. 699 00:32:44,050 --> 00:32:47,630 We have a responsibility to pursue personal holiness. 700 00:32:49,150 --> 00:32:50,170 Very important. 701 00:32:50,690 --> 00:32:51,890 Pursue personal holiness. 702 00:32:51,930 --> 00:32:54,270 That's before we come to the Lord's Supper, 703 00:32:54,270 --> 00:32:57,130 we should examine ourselves before the Lord, confess 704 00:32:57,130 --> 00:32:59,350 and put away all known sin. 705 00:33:01,470 --> 00:33:03,270 I know that when there's an ulcer in 706 00:33:03,270 --> 00:33:05,590 my body, it affects the whole body, doesn't 707 00:33:05,590 --> 00:33:05,810 it? 708 00:33:06,990 --> 00:33:08,190 It's not a private matter. 709 00:33:08,290 --> 00:33:09,290 An ulcer isn't private. 710 00:33:10,710 --> 00:33:12,210 It affects my whole body. 711 00:33:12,210 --> 00:33:14,070 That's true in the local fellowship, too. 712 00:33:14,990 --> 00:33:16,190 When there's sin there. 713 00:33:17,690 --> 00:33:19,310 An assembly not far from here. 714 00:33:20,130 --> 00:33:23,290 And the young people's work wasn't going well. 715 00:33:23,890 --> 00:33:24,870 Wasn't going well. 716 00:33:25,010 --> 00:33:27,090 And the other elders, they thought, what's going 717 00:33:27,090 --> 00:33:27,530 on here? 718 00:33:27,570 --> 00:33:29,930 We just can't understand what's the trouble here. 719 00:33:30,290 --> 00:33:31,530 And finally it came out. 720 00:33:32,070 --> 00:33:34,810 One of the men carrying on an immoral 721 00:33:34,810 --> 00:33:38,630 liaison with a woman in the assembly. 722 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:40,570 That was the ulcer. 723 00:33:42,290 --> 00:33:44,390 And when that was taken care of, the 724 00:33:44,390 --> 00:33:47,770 work among the young people became very vigorous 725 00:33:47,770 --> 00:33:49,650 and very helpful. 726 00:33:50,170 --> 00:33:55,690 We should practice mutual help, exhortation and edification. 727 00:33:57,390 --> 00:34:00,990 Edifying one another, not criticizing one another, but 728 00:34:00,990 --> 00:34:02,130 edifying one another. 729 00:34:02,130 --> 00:34:07,730 We should love one another fervently. 730 00:34:08,969 --> 00:34:11,050 And we should pray for one another. 731 00:34:12,969 --> 00:34:15,530 And I think one of the great things 732 00:34:17,030 --> 00:34:18,790 we can do is share in the ministry 733 00:34:18,790 --> 00:34:19,830 of hospitality. 734 00:34:20,790 --> 00:34:22,449 The longer I live, the more I realize 735 00:34:22,449 --> 00:34:25,409 how important hospitality is in connection with a 736 00:34:25,409 --> 00:34:26,170 local fellowship. 737 00:34:28,449 --> 00:34:29,969 I can just go back to that visit 738 00:34:29,969 --> 00:34:32,429 that Jim and I had in northern Minnesota. 739 00:34:32,429 --> 00:34:33,710 At the end of one of the meetings, 740 00:34:34,310 --> 00:34:35,650 a sister came to me and she said, 741 00:34:35,730 --> 00:34:36,850 I want to tell you a story. 742 00:34:37,110 --> 00:34:37,710 I said, tell me. 743 00:34:38,650 --> 00:34:40,310 She said, well, she said we had been 744 00:34:40,310 --> 00:34:41,730 in the church and she said we were 745 00:34:41,730 --> 00:34:42,949 hurt something terrible. 746 00:34:44,010 --> 00:34:46,870 She said we were really offended and really 747 00:34:46,870 --> 00:34:47,190 hurt. 748 00:34:47,690 --> 00:34:49,989 And we decided that we were never going 749 00:34:49,989 --> 00:34:53,389 to allow ourselves to get into that corner 750 00:34:53,389 --> 00:34:53,830 again. 751 00:34:54,489 --> 00:34:57,370 We were going to maintain our distance from 752 00:34:57,370 --> 00:34:57,790 people. 753 00:34:58,670 --> 00:35:01,090 We were going to maintain our distance from 754 00:35:01,090 --> 00:35:02,670 a local fellowship. 755 00:35:04,310 --> 00:35:07,450 She said, but one time, she said, my 756 00:35:07,450 --> 00:35:09,290 husband and I and the children, we decided 757 00:35:09,290 --> 00:35:12,770 to go to the local Bible chapel. 758 00:35:14,250 --> 00:35:15,870 And I've been to that Bible chapel. 759 00:35:15,990 --> 00:35:17,090 I want to tell you there's nothing to 760 00:35:17,090 --> 00:35:18,770 appeal to the flesh in there. 761 00:35:21,250 --> 00:35:22,430 But God is there. 762 00:35:22,930 --> 00:35:23,910 The Lord is there. 763 00:35:24,430 --> 00:35:26,890 And they went there and they went in 764 00:35:26,890 --> 00:35:29,190 and one of the brothers met her. 765 00:35:29,270 --> 00:35:30,650 And he said, you know, when I left 766 00:35:30,650 --> 00:35:33,470 home, the Lord laid it on my heart 767 00:35:33,470 --> 00:35:35,890 to bring this book to give to somebody. 768 00:35:36,570 --> 00:35:38,250 And he said, you must be the somebody. 769 00:35:38,690 --> 00:35:39,770 And I just want to give you this 770 00:35:39,770 --> 00:35:39,950 book. 771 00:35:40,790 --> 00:35:42,710 And she said to me, the Lord laid 772 00:35:42,710 --> 00:35:43,510 it on my heart. 773 00:35:43,590 --> 00:35:45,230 She said, I never heard of anybody talk 774 00:35:45,230 --> 00:35:46,170 like that before. 775 00:35:46,530 --> 00:35:48,350 The Lord laid it on my heart. 776 00:35:48,890 --> 00:35:51,010 But anyway, they sat through the meeting and 777 00:35:51,010 --> 00:35:52,570 they looked around and they saw all these 778 00:35:52,570 --> 00:35:57,510 women with head coverings on, you know, mantillas 779 00:35:57,510 --> 00:35:58,490 on their head. 780 00:35:59,850 --> 00:36:01,430 And on the way home, the kid said 781 00:36:01,430 --> 00:36:02,530 to her mother, what was that? 782 00:36:02,710 --> 00:36:05,710 Why did all those women have head coverings 783 00:36:05,710 --> 00:36:06,350 on their head? 784 00:36:06,510 --> 00:36:09,770 And she said, she said, don't even think 785 00:36:09,770 --> 00:36:10,130 about it. 786 00:36:10,170 --> 00:36:11,590 She said, we'll never be back. 787 00:36:16,140 --> 00:36:17,480 So they went back home. 788 00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:18,120 That was it. 789 00:36:18,180 --> 00:36:19,920 You know, they were going to hold people 790 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:20,760 at arm's length. 791 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,040 They weren't going to become deeply involved in 792 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:23,960 anything like that. 793 00:36:25,420 --> 00:36:27,680 Well, the next Sunday, her husband said to 794 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:28,180 her, are you ready? 795 00:36:28,860 --> 00:36:29,980 And she said, ready for what? 796 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:31,120 He said, ready to go. 797 00:36:31,740 --> 00:36:32,920 She said, ready to go where? 798 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:34,700 He said, ready to go to the chapel. 799 00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:36,880 She said, ready to go to the chapel? 800 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:37,640 He said, yes. 801 00:36:38,700 --> 00:36:40,060 She said, am I supposed to wear one 802 00:36:40,060 --> 00:36:41,200 of those things on my head? 803 00:36:41,860 --> 00:36:43,180 And he said, yes, I think so. 804 00:36:49,460 --> 00:36:53,180 And they went back that Sunday and they 805 00:36:53,180 --> 00:36:54,660 were invited out to dinner. 806 00:36:57,380 --> 00:37:01,340 And for 22 times in the months to 807 00:37:01,340 --> 00:37:03,980 follow, they were invited out to dinner. 808 00:37:07,130 --> 00:37:09,130 She said, we had attended churches for years. 809 00:37:09,210 --> 00:37:11,130 We had never been invited out to dinner. 810 00:37:13,650 --> 00:37:16,350 I said to the kids, don't worry, we'll 811 00:37:16,350 --> 00:37:17,190 never be back. 812 00:37:18,090 --> 00:37:19,290 She said, we never left. 813 00:37:19,290 --> 00:37:26,680 The importance of showing hospitality. 814 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:29,640 And then, of course, the responsibility of sharing 815 00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:31,540 in the work in the local chapel. 816 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:37,020 Cleaning, repairing, and submitting to the leadership of 817 00:37:37,020 --> 00:37:37,780 the elders. 818 00:37:42,140 --> 00:37:46,580 Now, just some closing thoughts in connection with 819 00:37:46,580 --> 00:37:47,460 assembly life. 820 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,980 Try to look at other Christians the way 821 00:37:51,980 --> 00:37:52,900 Jesus does. 822 00:37:54,260 --> 00:37:55,680 That's not easy, is it? 823 00:37:56,420 --> 00:37:57,700 It's really not easy. 824 00:37:58,460 --> 00:38:00,020 But that's the way we should do it. 825 00:38:00,100 --> 00:38:02,740 Try to look at other believers the way 826 00:38:02,740 --> 00:38:04,720 the Lord Jesus does. 827 00:38:06,740 --> 00:38:09,300 Avoid a critical spirit. 828 00:38:09,420 --> 00:38:11,760 I don't know anything that's more detrimental to 829 00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:16,100 the spiritual life of an assembly than a 830 00:38:16,100 --> 00:38:17,740 critical spirit. 831 00:38:19,310 --> 00:38:22,730 Some of us feel that we really have 832 00:38:22,730 --> 00:38:24,510 a talent for criticism. 833 00:38:25,790 --> 00:38:27,730 Well, that's one talent the Lord wouldn't mind 834 00:38:27,730 --> 00:38:28,450 you burying. 835 00:38:33,820 --> 00:38:36,620 It's a good thing to recognize the difference 836 00:38:36,620 --> 00:38:40,820 between matters that are fundamental, that are important, 837 00:38:41,500 --> 00:38:43,820 and that are secondary and peripheral. 838 00:38:44,540 --> 00:38:46,340 There are some things that are fundamental. 839 00:38:46,460 --> 00:38:47,860 We went over that previously. 840 00:38:47,860 --> 00:38:50,820 They're the basic truths of the Christian faith. 841 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:52,680 There's no compromise with those. 842 00:38:53,500 --> 00:38:56,800 There are other things that are important because 843 00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:58,380 the Bible teaches on them. 844 00:38:59,780 --> 00:39:02,060 But there's a difference of opinion among Christians 845 00:39:02,060 --> 00:39:03,500 in the interpretation of them. 846 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,060 I think in a case like that, the 847 00:39:06,060 --> 00:39:08,720 assembly should adopt a position on those issues. 848 00:39:09,340 --> 00:39:10,980 And then when you come into fellowship in 849 00:39:10,980 --> 00:39:15,620 that assembly, you can believe differently, but you 850 00:39:15,620 --> 00:39:17,640 mustn't push it publicly or privately. 851 00:39:18,340 --> 00:39:20,320 That keeps peace in the assembly. 852 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:23,320 And then there's other matters that are peripheral. 853 00:39:23,860 --> 00:39:25,800 There are matters that God doesn't care about. 854 00:39:26,500 --> 00:39:29,520 God doesn't care whether you're a vegetarian, but 855 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:30,280 he doesn't. 856 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,060 He's not too concerned whether you use leavened 857 00:39:34,060 --> 00:39:37,620 bread or unleavened bread, or grape juice, or 858 00:39:37,620 --> 00:39:39,160 wine, fermented wine. 859 00:39:40,060 --> 00:39:42,720 He leaves many of these things to the 860 00:39:42,720 --> 00:39:45,320 local assembly to work out. 861 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:49,720 Again, I say what I suggested before. 862 00:39:49,860 --> 00:39:51,700 Get convictions for yourself. 863 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:56,120 What your parents believed about the truth should 864 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:57,620 not be enough for you. 865 00:39:57,740 --> 00:40:00,660 Get your own convictions from the Word of 866 00:40:00,660 --> 00:40:00,900 God. 867 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:02,760 Maybe that could come out of our meetings 868 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:04,980 here, where you go to the Word of 869 00:40:04,980 --> 00:40:06,360 God and see it written in the Word 870 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:06,600 of God. 871 00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:11,230 And if you see it written, when you 872 00:40:11,230 --> 00:40:13,150 get those convictions, stick to them. 873 00:40:13,410 --> 00:40:15,550 An old man, Alfred May, said that to 874 00:40:15,550 --> 00:40:16,750 me years ago. 875 00:40:16,830 --> 00:40:19,870 He said, Bill, when you get scriptural convictions, 876 00:40:20,270 --> 00:40:21,290 stick to them. 877 00:40:22,290 --> 00:40:24,490 And I have sought to do that. 878 00:40:25,210 --> 00:40:26,250 I would also say this. 879 00:40:26,330 --> 00:40:30,910 No man's gift is too big for God's 880 00:40:30,910 --> 00:40:31,370 principles. 881 00:40:33,090 --> 00:40:36,110 I might be in a little nondescript assembly, 882 00:40:36,110 --> 00:40:39,030 and I might think, well, my gift is 883 00:40:39,030 --> 00:40:40,710 really too big for this type of thing. 884 00:40:40,890 --> 00:40:43,650 I should seek a wider sphere of influence 885 00:40:43,650 --> 00:40:48,170 and leave the principles and just go off 886 00:40:48,170 --> 00:40:50,550 to where I'd reach a bigger audience. 887 00:40:51,270 --> 00:40:53,710 No man's gift is too big for God's 888 00:40:53,710 --> 00:40:54,170 principles. 889 00:40:55,010 --> 00:40:57,050 Stick to the principles and let the Lord 890 00:40:57,050 --> 00:40:58,270 lead you. 891 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:02,520 I think it's interesting that when other people 892 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:04,900 have abandoned something, we discover it. 893 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:09,500 And when people discover something wonderful that we 894 00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:10,740 have, we abandon it. 895 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:13,280 That's been going on. 896 00:41:14,620 --> 00:41:16,860 I thank God for the great truths of 897 00:41:16,860 --> 00:41:18,800 the New Testament assembly. 898 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:22,260 And it's strange to see people abandoning those 899 00:41:22,260 --> 00:41:24,800 truths for something less. 900 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:29,920 There, at the same time, others are coming 901 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:30,600 to see them. 902 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:34,760 I read you all of those quotations from 903 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:37,800 clerics who say, look, this is the New 904 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,880 Testament way, where the gifts are given for 905 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:42,700 the perfect, for the saints of the work 906 00:41:42,700 --> 00:41:45,640 of the ministry, for the edifying of the 907 00:41:45,640 --> 00:41:47,340 body of Christ. 908 00:41:49,100 --> 00:41:51,060 And just let me repeat what I've said 909 00:41:51,060 --> 00:41:52,800 several times already. 910 00:41:53,300 --> 00:41:58,520 Remember that just following the pattern is not 911 00:41:58,520 --> 00:41:59,340 enough. 912 00:41:59,340 --> 00:42:02,640 We want to have the right pattern based 913 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:04,600 upon the word of God, but we want 914 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:07,720 to have the spiritual power that is necessary 915 00:42:07,720 --> 00:42:09,640 to go with it. 916 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:12,960 I believe the spirit of God is moving 917 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,240 in a special way in our days, in 918 00:42:15,240 --> 00:42:18,400 connection with the whole subject of assembly planting. 919 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:23,440 God seldom reforms a movement. 920 00:42:24,580 --> 00:42:26,060 He begins something new. 921 00:42:27,740 --> 00:42:31,620 I want to be involved in God's work 922 00:42:31,620 --> 00:42:33,900 of beginning something new in the United States. 923 00:42:34,080 --> 00:42:38,940 The same principles, but a fresh display of 924 00:42:38,940 --> 00:42:39,820 those principles. 925 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:41,680 I believe God is doing that. 926 00:42:41,840 --> 00:42:43,240 Doing it in Little Rock, Arkansas. 927 00:42:43,460 --> 00:42:45,280 Doing it in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 928 00:42:45,940 --> 00:42:47,800 And hopefully he'll be doing it in this 929 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:50,440 area as well, in more than one place 930 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:50,820 as well. 931 00:42:51,080 --> 00:42:52,620 It's in the air, friends. 932 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:54,100 Let's be part of it. 933 00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:55,240 Shall we pray? 934 00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:03,680 Father, we thank you for these times when 935 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:05,300 we can be together. 936 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:08,280 When we can sit at the feet of 937 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:11,560 Jesus and hear the voice of the tender 938 00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:13,940 shepherd through the word of God. 939 00:43:16,020 --> 00:43:19,000 We're reminded of how precious the church is 940 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:20,800 to you. 941 00:43:21,620 --> 00:43:23,740 And we want it to be precious to 942 00:43:23,740 --> 00:43:24,480 us as well. 943 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:28,100 Help us to be more faithful, we pray. 944 00:43:29,020 --> 00:43:31,040 Help us to be more committed. 945 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:34,120 Help us to be the men and women 946 00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:37,420 of God that you would have us to 947 00:43:37,420 --> 00:43:37,740 be. 948 00:43:38,660 --> 00:43:42,880 Make these truths real in our lives and 949 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:45,200 through our lives to others as well. 950 00:43:45,940 --> 00:43:48,380 We pray in the Savior's worthy and precious 951 00:43:48,380 --> 00:43:48,820 name. 952 00:43:49,420 --> 00:43:49,640 Amen. 953 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:50,720 And 954 00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:06,180 it's 955 00:44:58,980 --> 00:45:02,580 strange to see people abandoning those truths for 956 00:45:02,580 --> 00:45:03,660 something less. 957 00:45:05,940 --> 00:45:08,980 At the same time, others are coming to 958 00:45:08,980 --> 00:45:09,440 see them. 959 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:13,620 I read you all of those quotations from 960 00:45:13,620 --> 00:45:16,660 clerics who say, look, this is the New 961 00:45:16,660 --> 00:45:17,500 Testament way. 962 00:45:18,500 --> 00:45:20,200 Where the gifts are given for the perfect 963 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:21,780 of the saints for the work of the 964 00:45:21,780 --> 00:45:22,140 ministry. 965 00:45:22,720 --> 00:45:26,180 For the edifying of the body of Christ. 966 00:45:27,900 --> 00:45:29,880 And just let me repeat what I've said 967 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:31,660 several times already. 968 00:45:32,220 --> 00:45:37,340 Remember, that just following the pattern is not 969 00:45:37,340 --> 00:45:38,180 enough. 970 00:45:38,860 --> 00:45:41,480 We want to have the right pattern based 971 00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:42,580 upon the word of God. 972 00:45:42,580 --> 00:45:45,100 But we want to have the spiritual power 973 00:45:45,100 --> 00:45:48,500 that is necessary to go with it. 974 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:51,800 I believe the Spirit of God is moving 975 00:45:51,800 --> 00:45:53,320 in a special way in our day. 976 00:45:53,500 --> 00:45:55,820 It's in connection with the whole subject of 977 00:45:55,820 --> 00:45:57,300 assembly planting. 978 00:45:59,740 --> 00:46:02,320 God seldom reforms a movement. 979 00:46:03,460 --> 00:46:04,880 He begins something new. 980 00:46:06,500 --> 00:46:10,460 I want to be involved in God's work 981 00:46:10,460 --> 00:46:12,720 of beginning something new in the United States. 982 00:46:12,720 --> 00:46:17,780 The same principles, but a fresh display of 983 00:46:17,780 --> 00:46:18,680 those principles. 984 00:46:19,240 --> 00:46:20,520 I believe God is doing that. 985 00:46:20,720 --> 00:46:22,080 Doing it in Little Rock, Arkansas. 986 00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:24,120 Doing it in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 987 00:46:24,780 --> 00:46:26,660 And hopefully he'll be doing it in this 988 00:46:26,660 --> 00:46:27,960 area as well. 989 00:46:28,020 --> 00:46:29,680 In more than one place as well. 990 00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:31,260 It's in the air, friends.