1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,540 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the 2 00:00:05,540 --> 00:00:08,980 will of God, to the saints which are 3 00:00:08,980 --> 00:00:13,440 at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:14,400 Jesus. 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,860 Now, the Apostle here addresses the saints which 6 00:00:20,860 --> 00:00:24,100 are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in 7 00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:28,220 Christ Jesus, which in scope carries us clear 8 00:00:28,220 --> 00:00:29,640 past Ephesus. 9 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:33,620 And then he says, Grace be to you 10 00:00:33,620 --> 00:00:36,260 and peace from God our Father and from 11 00:00:36,260 --> 00:00:37,640 the Lord Jesus Christ. 12 00:00:38,580 --> 00:00:40,960 Blessed be the God and Father of our 13 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,640 Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with 14 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:50,060 all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 15 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,320 According as he hath chosen us in him, 16 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,060 and before the foundation of the world, that 17 00:00:57,060 --> 00:00:59,360 we should be holy and without blame before 18 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,480 him, in love, having predestinated us under the 19 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,480 adoption of children by Jesus Christ himself, according 20 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,960 to the good pleasure of his will, to 21 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:12,020 the praise of the glory of his grace, 22 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:15,000 wherein he hath made us accepted in the 23 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,600 Beloved, in whom we have redemption, through his 24 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,600 blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the 25 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,660 riches of his grace. 26 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:28,280 Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, shows them 27 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,820 that they are spiritual, they are a heavenly 28 00:01:30,820 --> 00:01:31,360 people. 29 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,240 The church is heavenly in character, though she 30 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,940 is down on this earth performing a very, 31 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,980 very important function while she is here. 32 00:01:43,540 --> 00:01:48,080 Now, the Apostle Paul was a specially chosen 33 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,160 vessel, and to him were given the great 34 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:57,040 revelations concerning the church of God in a 35 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:01,460 special way the Apostle Paul was entrusted with 36 00:02:01,460 --> 00:02:03,380 these revelations. 37 00:02:04,340 --> 00:02:08,840 Now, they are apparent even at the very 38 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,660 moment that the Apostle was saved. 39 00:02:11,660 --> 00:02:15,760 And I want you to turn, please, with 40 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,340 me to Acts chapter 9. 41 00:02:19,020 --> 00:02:21,020 Acts chapter 9. 42 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,340 You'll see two very, very important things in 43 00:02:24,340 --> 00:02:27,460 connection with Paul's conversion. 44 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,880 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter 45 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,140 against the disciples of the Lord, went unto 46 00:02:35,140 --> 00:02:37,460 the high priest, and desired of him letters 47 00:02:37,460 --> 00:02:40,660 to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he 48 00:02:40,660 --> 00:02:44,340 found any of this way, whether they were 49 00:02:44,340 --> 00:02:46,840 men or women, he might bring them bound 50 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,140 unto Jerusalem. 51 00:02:48,140 --> 00:02:50,320 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, 52 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:54,120 and suddenly there shined round about him a 53 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:55,680 light from heaven, and he fell to the 54 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,820 earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 55 00:02:58,940 --> 00:03:02,180 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 56 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,660 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? 57 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,260 And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom 58 00:03:08,260 --> 00:03:09,360 thou persecutest. 59 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:11,580 It is hard for thee to kick against 60 00:03:11,580 --> 00:03:12,100 the priest. 61 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:15,540 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what 62 00:03:15,540 --> 00:03:16,760 wilt thou have me to do? 63 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,840 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and 64 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,260 go into the city, and it shall be 65 00:03:22,260 --> 00:03:23,860 told thee what thou must do. 66 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,140 And the men which journeyed with him stood 67 00:03:27,140 --> 00:03:29,880 speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 68 00:03:29,940 --> 00:03:31,980 And Saul arose from the earth, and when 69 00:03:31,980 --> 00:03:34,820 his eyes were opened, he saw no man. 70 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,040 But they led him by the hand, and 71 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,760 brought him into Damascus. 72 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,920 Now, the Apostle Paul, or Saul of Tarsus 73 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,240 as he was known as at this time, 74 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,920 learned the great truth of the church at 75 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:49,280 the moment of his conversion. 76 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,460 Our Lord Jesus Christ said to Saul, and 77 00:03:53,460 --> 00:03:55,580 I'm sure he would remember this in days 78 00:03:55,580 --> 00:04:01,160 to come, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 79 00:04:03,060 --> 00:04:06,660 When Saul of Tarsus touched the saints of 80 00:04:06,660 --> 00:04:10,420 God, he touched their head in heaven, the 81 00:04:10,420 --> 00:04:11,660 Lord Jesus Christ. 82 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,740 He is the head, and he feels everything 83 00:04:15,740 --> 00:04:17,279 that touches the body. 84 00:04:18,180 --> 00:04:21,320 And here, right at the very conversion of 85 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:26,580 Saul of Tarsus, we see that Christ is 86 00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:29,740 connected with the church in a vital union 87 00:04:29,740 --> 00:04:30,480 of life. 88 00:04:31,220 --> 00:04:33,720 And that, of course, is seen under the 89 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,620 figure of the body, the church as a 90 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:39,860 body, and Christ as the head. 91 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:43,660 And another thing, the Apostle Paul saw the 92 00:04:43,660 --> 00:04:46,020 Lord Jesus Christ in glory. 93 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,580 He saw him there, and that fitted him 94 00:04:50,580 --> 00:04:53,600 to be the Apostle to the church in 95 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:54,500 a special way. 96 00:04:54,940 --> 00:04:57,580 The Apostle to the Gentiles, and the church 97 00:04:57,580 --> 00:05:00,380 is largely composed of Gentiles. 98 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,780 Because you and I were never associated with 99 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:06,840 Christ in this world. 100 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:08,640 We've never seen him here. 101 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,160 We know him not after the flesh at 102 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:11,640 all. 103 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,240 We see him in the glory. 104 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:19,200 The church is heavenly in character, and our 105 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,720 experiences now are in the heavenly. 106 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:26,980 And our heart is in heaven. 107 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:30,160 He wants our affection there. 108 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,460 We were never connected with earth. 109 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,700 Now, Israel was always connected with earth, and 110 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:39,260 always will be connected with earth. 111 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,600 But we, since we are connected with our 112 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,120 Lord Jesus Christ, our risen head in heaven, 113 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,920 our blessings are spiritual. 114 00:05:48,820 --> 00:05:51,880 We have spiritual blessings, and we're blessed with 115 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:57,360 all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in rhyme. 116 00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:02,700 Now, the Apostle Paul so wonderfully gives us 117 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:04,360 the truth of the church. 118 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:08,180 I would rather be born in this dispensation 119 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:13,020 than in any other of all the dispensations 120 00:06:13,020 --> 00:06:13,740 of God. 121 00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:17,540 Because I am a part of that church, 122 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,640 and you are a part of that church. 123 00:06:21,260 --> 00:06:27,920 That select company wherein God magnifies his grace. 124 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:38,360 The Epistles of the Ephesians is wonderfully replete 125 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,180 with expressions of God's grace. 126 00:06:42,180 --> 00:06:46,940 His grace rises to its highest height in 127 00:06:46,940 --> 00:06:50,160 the salvation of the Gentiles. 128 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:53,420 They are, he picks them up from the 129 00:06:53,420 --> 00:06:58,020 Lord's depths, without hope or without any covenant 130 00:06:58,020 --> 00:06:59,620 claim upon God. 131 00:07:00,540 --> 00:07:03,960 Strangers from the covenants of promise, absolutely nothing 132 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,000 in themselves, going outside of the veil of 133 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:08,460 blessing. 134 00:07:08,460 --> 00:07:12,660 And yet God reaches down, down past Israel, 135 00:07:13,220 --> 00:07:16,720 down to the Gentiles, the outcasts, and he 136 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,760 takes out of them a people for his 137 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:20,460 name. 138 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,820 And God magnifies his grace in the church 139 00:07:24,820 --> 00:07:25,820 in a wonderful way. 140 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:30,680 We have the most intimate place, so intimate 141 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,640 that one of the figures which we have 142 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,540 noticed last night is that of a bride 143 00:07:36,540 --> 00:07:37,860 and a bridegroom. 144 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:43,240 Absolutely the most intimate relationship on earth, still 145 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:48,980 falls far short, I'm sure, of really showing 146 00:07:48,980 --> 00:07:53,440 our blessed relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. 147 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,660 We will always be associated with him in 148 00:07:56,660 --> 00:07:57,020 glory. 149 00:07:58,020 --> 00:08:00,420 We will share all that he shares. 150 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,460 We are his, and he is ours. 151 00:08:04,420 --> 00:08:08,580 What a wonderful position in our Lord Jesus 152 00:08:08,580 --> 00:08:09,720 Christ. 153 00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:14,220 Now last night we were considering four figures 154 00:08:14,220 --> 00:08:16,480 of the church, and they're all seen in 155 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,620 connection with the Ephesians. 156 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:21,680 Three of them are outlined in this epistle, 157 00:08:22,340 --> 00:08:26,200 and one of them is spoken of as 158 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,960 the apostle talks to the elders at Ephesus 159 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:30,760 in Acts chapter 20. 160 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,600 We notice that the church is seen under 161 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,440 the figure of a building, it's seen under 162 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,220 the figure of a body, it's seen under 163 00:08:39,220 --> 00:08:41,760 the figure of a bride, and it's seen 164 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:43,360 under the figure of a flock. 165 00:08:44,340 --> 00:08:46,800 We mentioned last night that when we talk 166 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,280 about the church we exalt Christ, for it's 167 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:54,700 impossible to disassociate the church from Christ. 168 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:56,880 Absolutely impossible. 169 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,920 If we talk of the church as a 170 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:01,860 building, then Christ is the foundation. 171 00:09:02,780 --> 00:09:05,020 If we talk of the church as a 172 00:09:05,020 --> 00:09:07,160 body, then Christ is the head. 173 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,520 If we talk of the church as a 174 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,340 bride, then Christ is the groom. 175 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:13,600 If we talk of the church as a 176 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,540 flock, then Christ is the shepherd. 177 00:09:16,260 --> 00:09:19,580 He has a preeminent place, ever and always. 178 00:09:20,150 --> 00:09:23,020 Now last night we thought to show how 179 00:09:23,020 --> 00:09:25,920 we wanted to be sure that we have 180 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,460 that vital link with our Lord Jesus Christ. 181 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,680 Are we resting upon that wonderful foundation? 182 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:37,300 Are all our hopes for eternity settled upon 183 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:41,340 our Lord Jesus, that rock of ages that 184 00:09:41,340 --> 00:09:42,360 was left for me? 185 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,640 And then the body would show us the 186 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,040 vital link of life. 187 00:09:47,740 --> 00:09:50,340 Are we connected with our Lord Jesus through 188 00:09:50,340 --> 00:09:53,060 that vital link of life? 189 00:09:54,020 --> 00:09:56,600 And then the bride would bring before us 190 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,660 the love of the bride to the bridegroom. 191 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,160 Do we love the Lord Jesus? 192 00:10:00,980 --> 00:10:03,340 Is he the object that fills our hearts? 193 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:09,940 Then lastly, if the church is the flock, 194 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:11,440 then Christ is the shepherd. 195 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:16,360 Have we realized that we, as individuals, were 196 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,320 lost sheep going astray? 197 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,620 And have we been found by our Lord 198 00:10:21,620 --> 00:10:22,580 Jesus Christ? 199 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,860 If he is our shepherd, can we say, 200 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,360 the Lord is my shepherd and I shall 201 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:29,900 not want? 202 00:10:30,580 --> 00:10:36,760 Now these exercises concerning the gospel, but tonight 203 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,200 I want to take up these four figures 204 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,040 that God gives us of the church and 205 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,800 see what they have, what they may hold 206 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,960 for us in our relationship to him. 207 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,920 Now first of all, in the building we 208 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,440 have noticed already that Christ is the foundation 209 00:10:56,260 --> 00:11:00,580 and then we are the stone in the 210 00:11:00,580 --> 00:11:01,580 foundation. 211 00:11:03,180 --> 00:11:05,940 Let's notice again 1 Peter chapter 2. 212 00:11:17,670 --> 00:11:23,150 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 4, To whom 213 00:11:23,150 --> 00:11:26,010 coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed 214 00:11:26,010 --> 00:11:28,130 of men, but chosen of God and precious, 215 00:11:29,050 --> 00:11:33,190 ye also as lively or living stones are 216 00:11:33,190 --> 00:11:37,050 built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood 217 00:11:37,050 --> 00:11:42,290 to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God 218 00:11:42,290 --> 00:11:44,350 by Jesus Christ. 219 00:11:45,090 --> 00:11:47,450 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, 220 00:11:47,570 --> 00:11:50,730 Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, 221 00:11:51,390 --> 00:11:54,510 elect, precious, and he that believeth on him 222 00:11:54,510 --> 00:11:56,210 shall not be confounded. 223 00:11:57,210 --> 00:11:59,730 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious, 224 00:12:00,490 --> 00:12:02,950 but unto them which be disobedient, the stone 225 00:12:02,950 --> 00:12:06,090 which the builders disallowed, the same as made 226 00:12:06,090 --> 00:12:07,270 the head of the corner. 227 00:12:08,130 --> 00:12:12,170 Now you and I are stones in that 228 00:12:12,170 --> 00:12:12,710 building. 229 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:23,030 We are stones, living stones, placed in the 230 00:12:23,030 --> 00:12:23,330 building. 231 00:12:23,630 --> 00:12:29,050 Now the foundation was the apostles and the 232 00:12:29,050 --> 00:12:29,370 prophets. 233 00:12:30,330 --> 00:12:32,890 As we read in Ephesians, Christ himself being 234 00:12:32,890 --> 00:12:33,990 the chief cornerstone. 235 00:12:34,550 --> 00:12:38,370 Well now obviously you and I are up 236 00:12:38,370 --> 00:12:41,650 near the very top of the building because 237 00:12:41,650 --> 00:12:45,350 these stones are added as the building rises. 238 00:12:46,230 --> 00:12:48,470 Now of course we're looking at the church 239 00:12:48,470 --> 00:12:52,890 universal when we're thinking of the church in 240 00:12:52,890 --> 00:12:57,230 this respect, under this figure as the building. 241 00:12:58,230 --> 00:13:01,550 Now the local church is just but a 242 00:13:01,550 --> 00:13:04,170 replica of the church universal. 243 00:13:05,870 --> 00:13:09,270 Now in the church universal you and I 244 00:13:09,270 --> 00:13:11,270 are added as stones. 245 00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:14,790 Someday the last stone is going to be 246 00:13:14,790 --> 00:13:19,050 added to this building, this wonderful building, and 247 00:13:19,050 --> 00:13:21,590 we are going to be raptured into the 248 00:13:21,590 --> 00:13:24,610 presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. 249 00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:30,360 A saint of God, strangely enough, had the 250 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:35,500 assurance of eternal security through studying the church. 251 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:41,820 He was acquainted with the fact, as he 252 00:13:41,820 --> 00:13:44,940 read the scriptures, the Spirit of God acquainted 253 00:13:44,940 --> 00:13:47,100 him with the fact that he was a 254 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:51,840 stone in that wonderful building that God is 255 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:52,280 building. 256 00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:55,560 And then he thought to himself, well now 257 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:58,740 if I'm a stone in that building and 258 00:13:58,740 --> 00:14:01,600 other stones are added beyond me, if that's 259 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:05,480 the figure, and above me and beside me, 260 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,920 and I am put into that building, wouldn't 261 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,800 the church of God look strange with a 262 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,060 stone out here and a stone out there? 263 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:22,000 The church of God all shut through, whole. 264 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:24,420 Now wouldn't that be fine? 265 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,560 And he saw the doctrine of eternal security 266 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:30,820 through the truth of the church. 267 00:14:31,340 --> 00:14:37,520 We are living souls in that building built 268 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,900 upon the foundation of Christ. 269 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,780 Now the truth, I think that we, or 270 00:14:42,780 --> 00:14:46,080 the chief phase of the truth to be 271 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:49,720 emphasized in connection with the building, two things. 272 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,340 A building is built for a purpose, and 273 00:14:54,340 --> 00:14:57,720 we read in Ephesians chapter 2 one of 274 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:58,400 these purposes. 275 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,180 As a matter of fact they're both in 276 00:15:01,180 --> 00:15:02,020 the Ephesian epistle. 277 00:15:02,140 --> 00:15:04,740 We might as well turn to Ephesians chapter 278 00:15:04,740 --> 00:15:05,260 2. 279 00:15:15,580 --> 00:15:19,600 He says in verse 19, Now therefore ye 280 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,840 are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow 281 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,460 citizens with the phantom of the household of 282 00:15:25,460 --> 00:15:28,560 God, and are built upon the foundation of 283 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,740 the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being 284 00:15:32,740 --> 00:15:36,000 the chief cornerstone, in whom all the buildings 285 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,100 fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple 286 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:42,980 in the Lord, in whom ye also are 287 00:15:42,980 --> 00:15:49,640 builted together for an habitation of God through 288 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:50,320 the Spirit. 289 00:15:51,180 --> 00:15:54,280 Now this temple, as the temple of old, 290 00:15:55,580 --> 00:15:58,840 is the dwelling place of the glory of 291 00:15:58,840 --> 00:15:59,500 God. 292 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,240 The glory of God fills Solomon's temple. 293 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,300 It filled that temple to the extent that 294 00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:09,780 on the day of its dedication they couldn't 295 00:16:09,780 --> 00:16:13,180 even perform their services because the Shekinah glory 296 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:14,860 was filling that temple. 297 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,940 In Ezekiel's day he saw that glory depart. 298 00:16:21,340 --> 00:16:23,340 It departed reluctantly. 299 00:16:23,700 --> 00:16:25,680 It raised up over the temple, and all 300 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,500 the court in his vision was lighted by 301 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:31,280 the glory as it left the temple. 302 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:37,420 Then it stood over the threshold east of 303 00:16:37,420 --> 00:16:43,520 the courtyard, and the glory there lighted the 304 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:44,000 courtyard. 305 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,520 Then it stood on the mountain east of 306 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,200 Jerusalem, and then it departed. 307 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,980 The glory, it would seem, just was reluctant 308 00:16:53,980 --> 00:16:56,080 to depart. 309 00:16:57,660 --> 00:17:00,400 Oh, how the glory of God once hated 310 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:01,620 to leave that temple! 311 00:17:03,099 --> 00:17:09,339 But in Ezekiel's temple, or rather Ezekiel described 312 00:17:09,339 --> 00:17:13,359 it, in the millennial temple, it's interesting to 313 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,319 note that when the glory comes back, and 314 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:18,960 it's not said to be in the, the 315 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,480 glory is never said to be in the 316 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:27,680 the temple that was constructed upon the return 317 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,160 from the Babylonian captivity. 318 00:17:30,620 --> 00:17:33,040 It was a day of small things, but 319 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,640 certainly that Shekinah glory shall inhabit the temple 320 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,900 in the millennial reign of our Lord Jesus. 321 00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:42,060 And Ezekiel describes the return of the glory, 322 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,720 and it doesn't, the glory doesn't return by 323 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:46,040 step. 324 00:17:46,660 --> 00:17:48,680 It comes right straight back to the temple. 325 00:17:49,060 --> 00:17:50,900 There's no rising over the temple. 326 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,040 There's no rising over the threshold. 327 00:17:53,420 --> 00:17:55,220 There's no tearing over the mountain. 328 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,000 It comes right back to the temple. 329 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,620 Now the glory of God inhabits His church. 330 00:18:02,620 --> 00:18:06,420 The Spirit of God inhabits this living temple. 331 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,620 This temple has a purpose. 332 00:18:11,940 --> 00:18:15,040 And you and I are the temple of 333 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,440 the Holy Spirit as individuals in this world, 334 00:18:18,540 --> 00:18:20,100 and we are the temple of the Spirit 335 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:23,100 collectively, that is the entire church. 336 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,420 And the glory of God inhabits this temple. 337 00:18:28,580 --> 00:18:30,480 It's wonderful to think of that. 338 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:39,360 Now, someday this church is going to be 339 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:40,840 taken out of the world. 340 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,840 And according to the second chapter of, of 341 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:49,000 2 Thessalonians, when the church goes, the Holy 342 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,340 Spirit will go with it. 343 00:18:52,870 --> 00:18:55,090 And there will be no hindrance to evil 344 00:18:55,090 --> 00:18:55,930 in this world. 345 00:18:56,370 --> 00:18:59,090 You and I, as we are in this 346 00:18:59,090 --> 00:19:01,950 world tonight, are deterrents to evil. 347 00:19:03,190 --> 00:19:05,110 The Spirit of God is in the world, 348 00:19:05,750 --> 00:19:06,710 in the church. 349 00:19:08,070 --> 00:19:10,630 That's the only safe place of His abode. 350 00:19:10,690 --> 00:19:12,990 I know you've omniscient, that He has chosen 351 00:19:12,990 --> 00:19:16,370 to take up abode in you and in 352 00:19:16,370 --> 00:19:16,890 me. 353 00:19:17,790 --> 00:19:20,370 Now isn't that, as in that temple in 354 00:19:20,370 --> 00:19:25,790 Solomon's day, the stones were quarried separately. 355 00:19:26,770 --> 00:19:29,670 They were quarried in Solomon's quarry and cut 356 00:19:29,670 --> 00:19:33,850 out there, and all the shaping was done 357 00:19:33,850 --> 00:19:35,730 in the quarry. 358 00:19:36,730 --> 00:19:39,430 And then the stones were brought together and 359 00:19:39,430 --> 00:19:42,450 assembled in the temple, and there was no 360 00:19:42,450 --> 00:19:46,530 sound of hammer or iron or anything when 361 00:19:46,530 --> 00:19:47,630 the temple went together. 362 00:19:48,790 --> 00:19:51,010 The stones fit together. 363 00:19:51,830 --> 00:19:53,810 Now the Spirit of God fit you and 364 00:19:53,810 --> 00:19:57,330 me to be a part of this temple. 365 00:19:58,230 --> 00:20:01,410 We were fitted as individuals, but the Spirit 366 00:20:01,410 --> 00:20:03,950 of God fitted into that temple. 367 00:20:05,350 --> 00:20:07,090 And there was no, there's no noise. 368 00:20:07,210 --> 00:20:09,930 You don't know that God is doing His 369 00:20:09,930 --> 00:20:10,990 greatest work today. 370 00:20:11,790 --> 00:20:14,930 God is building a masterpiece today in this 371 00:20:14,930 --> 00:20:15,250 world. 372 00:20:15,970 --> 00:20:18,190 This is the time, this is the time 373 00:20:18,190 --> 00:20:20,790 when men are saying that God is dead. 374 00:20:24,210 --> 00:20:26,810 Did you hear about the sign on the 375 00:20:26,810 --> 00:20:28,650 church building in Michigan? 376 00:20:29,830 --> 00:20:31,590 Our God is not dead. 377 00:20:32,530 --> 00:20:33,510 Sorry about yours. 378 00:20:35,430 --> 00:20:36,530 God isn't dead. 379 00:20:37,830 --> 00:20:41,070 He's doing His greatest work in the world 380 00:20:41,070 --> 00:20:41,490 today. 381 00:20:41,710 --> 00:20:48,280 He's building the greatest edifice that all the 382 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,620 universe can possibly appreciate. 383 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,300 God is doing it. 384 00:20:56,580 --> 00:21:00,080 Now we are on display to a wandering 385 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:00,680 universe. 386 00:21:01,580 --> 00:21:04,020 Ephesians chapter 3 now, if you please. 387 00:21:07,730 --> 00:21:12,570 He says, For this cause I, Paul, the 388 00:21:12,570 --> 00:21:15,030 prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if 389 00:21:15,030 --> 00:21:16,530 you have heard of the dispensation of the 390 00:21:16,530 --> 00:21:18,430 grace of God which is given me to 391 00:21:18,430 --> 00:21:20,490 you, learn how that by revelation he made 392 00:21:20,490 --> 00:21:23,130 known unto me the mystery, as I wrote 393 00:21:23,130 --> 00:21:26,670 afore in few words, whereby when you read, 394 00:21:26,750 --> 00:21:28,890 ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery 395 00:21:28,890 --> 00:21:32,250 of Christ, which in other ages was not 396 00:21:32,250 --> 00:21:34,710 made known unto the sons of men, as 397 00:21:34,710 --> 00:21:36,650 it is now revealed unto his holy apostles 398 00:21:36,650 --> 00:21:40,370 and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles 399 00:21:40,370 --> 00:21:42,630 should be fellow-heirs unto the same body, 400 00:21:43,490 --> 00:21:47,230 and partakers of his promise in Christ by 401 00:21:47,230 --> 00:21:47,850 the gospel. 402 00:21:48,010 --> 00:21:51,390 Whereof I was made a minister according to 403 00:21:51,390 --> 00:21:53,090 the gift of the grace of God given 404 00:21:53,090 --> 00:21:55,110 unto me by the effectual working of his 405 00:21:55,110 --> 00:21:58,250 power unto me whom less than the least 406 00:21:58,250 --> 00:22:00,950 of all saints is this grace given, that 407 00:22:00,950 --> 00:22:04,970 I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable 408 00:22:04,970 --> 00:22:08,010 riches of Christ, and to make all men 409 00:22:08,010 --> 00:22:10,130 see what is the fellowship of the mystery 410 00:22:10,130 --> 00:22:13,370 which from the beginning of the world hath 411 00:22:13,370 --> 00:22:16,970 been hid in God, who created all things 412 00:22:16,970 --> 00:22:21,030 by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now, 413 00:22:21,310 --> 00:22:24,090 under the principalities and powers in heavenly places, 414 00:22:24,730 --> 00:22:29,510 might be known by the church the manifold 415 00:22:29,510 --> 00:22:30,810 wisdom of God. 416 00:22:31,370 --> 00:22:37,010 God is teaching all the created intelligences, his 417 00:22:37,010 --> 00:22:40,110 wisdom, his power and his might. 418 00:22:40,710 --> 00:22:44,230 The manifold wisdom of God is seen in 419 00:22:44,230 --> 00:22:46,070 the building of this church. 420 00:22:47,130 --> 00:22:54,130 This, I say without hesitation, is God's masterpiece." 421 00:22:55,490 --> 00:22:56,870 And you're a part of it. 422 00:22:57,990 --> 00:22:59,370 And I am a part of it. 423 00:22:59,950 --> 00:23:03,390 We're a part of that magnificent edifice. 424 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,900 And all the temples of God, in all 425 00:23:09,900 --> 00:23:13,420 their glory, even the Millennial Temple, will never 426 00:23:13,420 --> 00:23:17,400 compare with the church of God, this magnificent 427 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,960 building that has been put together by the 428 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:25,060 Spirit of God in this day of grace 429 00:23:25,060 --> 00:23:28,380 in which men are saying that God is 430 00:23:28,380 --> 00:23:28,800 dead. 431 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:30,080 God is dead. 432 00:23:30,940 --> 00:23:35,480 He is performing his greatest work, the building 433 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:36,220 of the church. 434 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,820 Then, in the case of the body, we 435 00:23:41,820 --> 00:23:43,820 have a truth to be emphasized in the 436 00:23:43,820 --> 00:23:44,180 body. 437 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:47,980 Christ is the head and we are the 438 00:23:47,980 --> 00:23:48,420 body. 439 00:23:49,500 --> 00:23:52,140 Now, I think the body would bring before 440 00:23:52,140 --> 00:23:58,100 us that we are to obey our Lord 441 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:00,440 implicitly as the members of the body. 442 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,180 That's the first truth I'm going to touch 443 00:24:02,180 --> 00:24:02,440 on. 444 00:24:02,820 --> 00:24:04,240 I want to mention three things. 445 00:24:04,980 --> 00:24:06,700 The key phase of truth to be emphasized 446 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:11,200 in connection with this figure is our implicit 447 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,060 obedience to Christ as the members of the 448 00:24:15,060 --> 00:24:16,280 body obeys the head. 449 00:24:17,700 --> 00:24:19,980 Then I want to see that we are 450 00:24:19,980 --> 00:24:21,260 nourished by that head. 451 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,820 Then I want to show one has to 452 00:24:25,820 --> 00:24:28,620 look together at the care that the members 453 00:24:28,620 --> 00:24:29,700 have one for another. 454 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,280 This is all a part of the truth 455 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:34,960 of the church seen as a body. 456 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:37,860 Well, think of that one first of all. 457 00:24:39,540 --> 00:24:43,600 The members of the body obey the head 458 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:44,580 implicitly. 459 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,660 Now, as a sad state of affairs, when 460 00:24:48,660 --> 00:24:52,360 I appear, my head, tell my foot to 461 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:55,400 move, and it doesn't move. 462 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,320 That is a sad state of affairs. 463 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,020 My head directs my body. 464 00:25:04,260 --> 00:25:07,240 And you know what happens when the head 465 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,400 has no control over the body. 466 00:25:10,220 --> 00:25:13,440 You have a very sad state of affairs. 467 00:25:14,620 --> 00:25:17,660 But our head is in heaven and we 468 00:25:17,660 --> 00:25:20,840 are his body and that means that you 469 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,620 and I should obey our Lord as implicitly 470 00:25:25,620 --> 00:25:29,160 as the members of my body obey me. 471 00:25:30,380 --> 00:25:34,660 We should no more ever think of disobeying 472 00:25:34,660 --> 00:25:39,600 our risen head in heaven as we would 473 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,820 expect the members of the body to disobey 474 00:25:41,820 --> 00:25:42,320 the head. 475 00:25:44,990 --> 00:25:48,470 Then we are nourished by the head. 476 00:25:49,630 --> 00:25:51,150 Colossians chapter two. 477 00:26:01,710 --> 00:26:04,130 Colossians chapter two, verse 19. 478 00:26:05,690 --> 00:26:08,530 Well, verse 18, for sake of connection, let 479 00:26:08,530 --> 00:26:11,630 no man beguile you of your reward in 480 00:26:11,630 --> 00:26:15,450 a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding 481 00:26:15,450 --> 00:26:17,390 into those things which he hath not seen, 482 00:26:17,510 --> 00:26:20,270 vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and 483 00:26:20,270 --> 00:26:24,310 not holding the head, from which all the 484 00:26:24,310 --> 00:26:28,830 body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered 485 00:26:28,830 --> 00:26:33,810 and knit together, increases with the increase of 486 00:26:33,810 --> 00:26:34,370 God. 487 00:26:35,070 --> 00:26:37,110 Now the head feeds the body. 488 00:26:37,630 --> 00:26:40,390 That's true in more senses or in more 489 00:26:40,390 --> 00:26:41,830 ways than one. 490 00:26:42,530 --> 00:26:44,290 More than just one sense. 491 00:26:45,090 --> 00:26:48,210 I take in food and I send it 492 00:26:48,210 --> 00:26:49,750 to my body. 493 00:26:50,350 --> 00:26:52,930 The food comes from the head and goes 494 00:26:52,930 --> 00:26:53,670 to the body. 495 00:26:54,730 --> 00:26:59,010 The central nervous system nourishes all the nervous 496 00:26:59,010 --> 00:27:01,610 systems of the body. 497 00:27:02,130 --> 00:27:06,450 Christ the head nourishes the body. 498 00:27:06,950 --> 00:27:10,350 But then the body is interdependent too. 499 00:27:11,670 --> 00:27:13,010 Dependent upon one another. 500 00:27:13,490 --> 00:27:18,090 Having bands, bands having nourishment ministered and knit 501 00:27:18,090 --> 00:27:21,670 together increases with the increase of God. 502 00:27:21,790 --> 00:27:27,050 Now notice please too Ephesians chapter four in 503 00:27:27,050 --> 00:27:27,830 this connection. 504 00:27:45,910 --> 00:27:50,230 Verse 15, seeking the truth in love, we 505 00:27:50,230 --> 00:27:54,290 may grow up unto him in all things 506 00:27:54,290 --> 00:27:57,890 which is the head, even Christ, from whom 507 00:27:57,890 --> 00:28:02,170 the whole body fitly joined together and compacted 508 00:28:02,170 --> 00:28:06,010 by that which every joint supplyeth, according to 509 00:28:06,010 --> 00:28:08,990 the effectual working in the measure of every 510 00:28:08,990 --> 00:28:14,010 part, maketh increase of the body unto the 511 00:28:14,010 --> 00:28:18,190 edifying of itself in love. 512 00:28:18,650 --> 00:28:21,970 Now this shows us the inner dependence of 513 00:28:21,970 --> 00:28:22,510 the body. 514 00:28:23,570 --> 00:28:28,210 Each part of the body supplies nourishment for 515 00:28:28,210 --> 00:28:32,790 other parts of the body, and it's compacted 516 00:28:32,790 --> 00:28:35,950 together by that which every joint supplyeth. 517 00:28:36,630 --> 00:28:37,950 Now we need each other. 518 00:28:39,490 --> 00:28:42,690 The truth of the church certainly tells us 519 00:28:42,690 --> 00:28:47,070 that you and I need each other in 520 00:28:47,070 --> 00:28:47,570 the Lord. 521 00:28:48,010 --> 00:28:50,710 You have something to supply to me. 522 00:28:51,350 --> 00:28:54,250 I have something to supply to you. 523 00:28:55,890 --> 00:28:59,130 The same truth is bought out in 1 524 00:28:59,130 --> 00:29:02,610 Corinthians chapter 12, when we look at the 525 00:29:02,610 --> 00:29:03,710 church as a body. 526 00:29:06,970 --> 00:29:09,470 Verse 12 of the 12th chapter of 1 527 00:29:09,470 --> 00:29:14,530 Corinthians, For as the body is one, and 528 00:29:14,530 --> 00:29:17,770 hath many members, and all the members of 529 00:29:17,770 --> 00:29:21,370 that one body, being many, are one body, 530 00:29:21,810 --> 00:29:23,810 so also is Christ. 531 00:29:23,950 --> 00:29:27,630 It is more properly, so also is the 532 00:29:27,630 --> 00:29:31,750 Christ, because the body and the head are 533 00:29:31,750 --> 00:29:33,490 thought of as one here. 534 00:29:34,170 --> 00:29:37,210 For by one spirit are we all baptized 535 00:29:37,210 --> 00:29:40,150 into one body, whether we be Jews or 536 00:29:40,150 --> 00:29:44,470 Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and 537 00:29:44,470 --> 00:29:49,190 have been all made to drink into one 538 00:29:49,190 --> 00:29:49,850 spirit. 539 00:29:50,110 --> 00:29:53,350 For the body is not one member, but 540 00:29:53,350 --> 00:29:53,710 many. 541 00:29:54,570 --> 00:29:57,850 Now it's interesting to notice here that Jews 542 00:29:57,850 --> 00:30:01,270 and Gentiles are seen to be in the 543 00:30:01,270 --> 00:30:01,990 same body. 544 00:30:02,710 --> 00:30:04,470 That was the mystery that was hid from 545 00:30:04,470 --> 00:30:07,430 the ages, that the Jews and the Gentiles, 546 00:30:08,670 --> 00:30:13,890 so different in their backgrounds, so different in 547 00:30:13,890 --> 00:30:17,230 their philosophies and their national makeup, should be 548 00:30:17,230 --> 00:30:19,450 members of the same body. 549 00:30:20,150 --> 00:30:22,850 But that's truth, and that's the truth of 550 00:30:22,850 --> 00:30:23,390 the church. 551 00:30:24,470 --> 00:30:26,790 And it's also mentioned in connection with the 552 00:30:26,790 --> 00:30:30,870 body in the second chapter of Ephesians. 553 00:30:30,950 --> 00:30:32,270 But let's read on here. 554 00:30:33,070 --> 00:30:35,190 For the body is not one member, but 555 00:30:35,190 --> 00:30:35,470 many. 556 00:30:35,650 --> 00:30:37,970 If the foot shall say, Because I am 557 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:39,490 not the hand, I am not of the 558 00:30:39,490 --> 00:30:42,870 body, is it therefore not of the body? 559 00:30:43,310 --> 00:30:45,550 And if the ear shall say, Because I 560 00:30:45,550 --> 00:30:48,130 am not the eye, I am not of 561 00:30:48,130 --> 00:30:50,370 the body, is it therefore not of the 562 00:30:50,370 --> 00:30:50,770 body? 563 00:30:51,630 --> 00:30:54,330 If the whole body were an eye, where 564 00:30:54,330 --> 00:30:54,950 were the hearing? 565 00:30:55,770 --> 00:30:58,670 If the whole were a hearing, where were 566 00:30:58,670 --> 00:30:59,130 the smelling? 567 00:31:00,050 --> 00:31:02,490 But now hath God set the members, every 568 00:31:02,490 --> 00:31:04,930 one of them, in the body, as it 569 00:31:04,930 --> 00:31:06,290 hath pleased him. 570 00:31:07,210 --> 00:31:10,030 And if they were all one member, where 571 00:31:10,030 --> 00:31:10,650 were the body? 572 00:31:11,330 --> 00:31:15,670 But now are they many members, yet but 573 00:31:15,670 --> 00:31:16,310 one body. 574 00:31:16,310 --> 00:31:19,750 The eye cannot say unto the hand, I 575 00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:20,910 have no need of thee. 576 00:31:21,590 --> 00:31:23,430 Nor again the head to the feet, I 577 00:31:23,430 --> 00:31:24,550 have no need of you. 578 00:31:25,410 --> 00:31:27,750 Nay, much more, those members of the body 579 00:31:27,750 --> 00:31:31,050 which seem to be more feeble are necessary. 580 00:31:33,110 --> 00:31:35,930 And those members of the body which we 581 00:31:35,930 --> 00:31:38,070 think to be less honorable, upon these we 582 00:31:38,070 --> 00:31:39,350 bestow more abundant honor. 583 00:31:39,990 --> 00:31:43,130 And our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 584 00:31:43,130 --> 00:31:45,590 For our comely parts have no need. 585 00:31:46,250 --> 00:31:49,530 But God hath tempered the body together, having 586 00:31:49,530 --> 00:31:52,210 given more abundant honor to that part which 587 00:31:52,210 --> 00:31:52,610 lacks. 588 00:31:53,170 --> 00:31:54,890 That there should be no fizzle in the 589 00:31:54,890 --> 00:31:57,430 body, but that the members should have the 590 00:31:57,430 --> 00:32:00,590 same care one for another. 591 00:32:01,930 --> 00:32:04,510 And whether one member suffer, all the members 592 00:32:04,510 --> 00:32:05,630 suffer with him. 593 00:32:06,590 --> 00:32:10,390 For one member be honored, all the members 594 00:32:10,390 --> 00:32:11,890 rejoice with him. 595 00:32:12,330 --> 00:32:16,670 Now, ye are the body of Christ, and 596 00:32:16,670 --> 00:32:19,030 members in particular. 597 00:32:19,890 --> 00:32:23,850 Now, this shows us the absolute inner dependence 598 00:32:23,850 --> 00:32:24,590 of the body. 599 00:32:26,470 --> 00:32:28,990 The mature Christians can't say to the young 600 00:32:28,990 --> 00:32:31,810 Christians, I have no need of you. 601 00:32:33,150 --> 00:32:37,750 Nor can the young Christians say to the 602 00:32:37,750 --> 00:32:39,870 mature Christians, well, I'm not of the body 603 00:32:39,870 --> 00:32:41,210 because I'm not the I. 604 00:32:43,790 --> 00:32:47,230 Those that are in the body are dependent 605 00:32:47,230 --> 00:32:49,690 upon the whole body. 606 00:32:50,750 --> 00:32:53,310 We have no members of the body that 607 00:32:53,310 --> 00:32:56,110 are independent of other members of the body, 608 00:32:56,110 --> 00:32:58,610 and we need each other. 609 00:32:59,210 --> 00:33:02,450 Now, God hath fit us in that body 610 00:33:02,450 --> 00:33:04,410 in his infinite wisdom. 611 00:33:05,230 --> 00:33:07,170 Now, I may be only the little finger, 612 00:33:08,010 --> 00:33:10,430 but that little finger may be very, very 613 00:33:10,430 --> 00:33:10,950 important. 614 00:33:11,990 --> 00:33:16,070 I may be one of these little glands, 615 00:33:16,290 --> 00:33:18,250 these little insignificant glands. 616 00:33:19,050 --> 00:33:21,610 But the body needs that nourishment. 617 00:33:22,530 --> 00:33:23,890 We need each other. 618 00:33:24,510 --> 00:33:28,350 We cannot go on in independence of each 619 00:33:28,350 --> 00:33:32,970 other, because each part of the body is 620 00:33:32,970 --> 00:33:36,330 dependent upon other parts of the body. 621 00:33:37,610 --> 00:33:40,850 We should remember that, because I think that 622 00:33:40,850 --> 00:33:45,430 we are inclined in the church of God 623 00:33:45,970 --> 00:33:48,290 to seek our own level spiritually. 624 00:33:49,830 --> 00:33:53,730 I'm going to talk about cliques within the 625 00:33:53,730 --> 00:33:54,270 church now. 626 00:33:54,470 --> 00:33:56,890 We'll talk about schisms later. 627 00:33:57,310 --> 00:33:58,630 We'll talk about divisions. 628 00:33:59,130 --> 00:34:03,210 But I'm talking about cliques that develop in 629 00:34:03,210 --> 00:34:04,890 any normal assembly. 630 00:34:06,210 --> 00:34:08,489 All right, I'm going to be practical now. 631 00:34:09,250 --> 00:34:11,670 One of them is the family clique. 632 00:34:12,230 --> 00:34:13,429 I've seen it. 633 00:34:13,550 --> 00:34:14,570 I've seen it in actions. 634 00:34:15,690 --> 00:34:17,429 One of them is the family clique. 635 00:34:18,469 --> 00:34:20,550 The little, the members of the one family 636 00:34:20,550 --> 00:34:23,050 get together, and those that are related by 637 00:34:23,050 --> 00:34:25,929 marriage, and they're talking just as fast as 638 00:34:25,929 --> 00:34:26,469 they can. 639 00:34:27,570 --> 00:34:30,870 And here is another little clique over here, 640 00:34:30,949 --> 00:34:32,870 other members of another family. 641 00:34:33,190 --> 00:34:36,130 Now, it's nice for families to feel their 642 00:34:36,130 --> 00:34:40,230 oneness, but let us remember that we are 643 00:34:40,230 --> 00:34:43,929 members of a body of which every saint 644 00:34:43,929 --> 00:34:46,190 is a part of that body. 645 00:34:46,870 --> 00:34:49,510 Now, we're so inclined to seek our own 646 00:34:49,510 --> 00:34:55,330 level mentally, and so we, and spiritually. 647 00:34:56,770 --> 00:34:58,810 I'm thinking of spiritual maturity. 648 00:34:59,570 --> 00:35:02,030 Actually, I think a young person can be 649 00:35:02,030 --> 00:35:06,250 just as spiritual as an older person, absolutely. 650 00:35:07,310 --> 00:35:10,210 But I'm speaking of spiritual maturity. 651 00:35:10,390 --> 00:35:10,890 All right. 652 00:35:11,950 --> 00:35:13,690 Is it right for me to just be 653 00:35:13,690 --> 00:35:15,410 talking to the elders all the time? 654 00:35:15,810 --> 00:35:16,510 No, it isn't. 655 00:35:16,990 --> 00:35:19,110 And if I spend all my time with 656 00:35:19,110 --> 00:35:21,110 the elders and don't pay any attention to 657 00:35:21,110 --> 00:35:23,890 the faith in Christ, there's going to be 658 00:35:23,890 --> 00:35:24,290 a neglect. 659 00:35:25,050 --> 00:35:26,950 There's going to be a repercussion. 660 00:35:28,670 --> 00:35:31,650 The members of the body are dependent upon 661 00:35:31,650 --> 00:35:35,410 one another, and if God places those members 662 00:35:35,410 --> 00:35:38,750 in there, believe me, no member is more 663 00:35:38,750 --> 00:35:39,770 important than the other. 664 00:35:41,270 --> 00:35:43,190 Now, I say that advisedly. 665 00:35:43,590 --> 00:35:46,530 God in his wisdom has fitted the body 666 00:35:46,530 --> 00:35:50,910 together to function, and I say that no 667 00:35:50,910 --> 00:35:54,770 member is more important than the other. 668 00:35:54,770 --> 00:35:57,190 That which we think to be less important, 669 00:35:57,530 --> 00:36:01,970 upon that part, God bestows a more abundant 670 00:36:01,970 --> 00:36:02,430 honor. 671 00:36:02,850 --> 00:36:04,410 He's trying to straighten the thing out. 672 00:36:05,250 --> 00:36:07,690 He is trying to compensate in his own 673 00:36:07,690 --> 00:36:08,010 way. 674 00:36:09,070 --> 00:36:11,570 Now, we need to remember this, that the 675 00:36:11,570 --> 00:36:14,710 church is a body, and that no part 676 00:36:14,710 --> 00:36:16,990 of that body is to be neglected by 677 00:36:16,990 --> 00:36:21,450 us in our thinking or in our actions. 678 00:36:22,290 --> 00:36:24,850 Even the children that know our Lord Jesus 679 00:36:24,850 --> 00:36:30,250 Christ as our Savior, and ours too, should 680 00:36:30,250 --> 00:36:34,450 not be neglected by the old, most mature, 681 00:36:34,990 --> 00:36:37,490 and most learned person in the assembly. 682 00:36:38,510 --> 00:36:42,990 We are absolutely interdependent upon each other in 683 00:36:42,990 --> 00:36:44,630 these respects. 684 00:36:46,630 --> 00:36:49,010 Now, in the matter of the bride, seeing 685 00:36:49,010 --> 00:36:52,690 the body under the figure of a bride, 686 00:36:52,870 --> 00:36:55,190 the chief phase of the truth I believe 687 00:36:55,190 --> 00:36:57,490 to be emphasized is our obedience to him 688 00:36:57,490 --> 00:36:59,930 as based on love. 689 00:37:00,890 --> 00:37:03,550 Now, in the body, we see our obedience 690 00:37:03,550 --> 00:37:06,830 to Christ as absolutely implicit. 691 00:37:07,690 --> 00:37:09,650 That's what the figure, I believe, would bring 692 00:37:09,650 --> 00:37:10,290 before us. 693 00:37:11,230 --> 00:37:13,970 But now, here's another phase of our obedience 694 00:37:13,970 --> 00:37:16,130 to the Lord that is seen under the 695 00:37:16,130 --> 00:37:17,250 figure of a bride. 696 00:37:18,910 --> 00:37:20,790 Why does she obey her husband? 697 00:37:21,610 --> 00:37:23,370 Because she loves him. 698 00:37:24,530 --> 00:37:26,490 That's why she obeys him. 699 00:37:27,330 --> 00:37:31,230 And even in the relationship of man and 700 00:37:31,230 --> 00:37:34,250 wife, which is a picture of Christ and 701 00:37:34,250 --> 00:37:40,210 his bride, obedience is insisted upon from the 702 00:37:40,210 --> 00:37:42,310 wife to the husband. 703 00:37:42,750 --> 00:37:48,000 And love is insisted upon from the husband 704 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:48,660 to the wife. 705 00:37:49,460 --> 00:37:51,260 Now, let's notice that in the fifth chapter 706 00:37:51,260 --> 00:37:54,120 of Ephesians, because I think in looking at 707 00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:58,020 the counterpart or the type here on earth, 708 00:37:58,300 --> 00:38:01,160 we can gain something of the great anti 709 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:02,960 -type Christ and his church. 710 00:38:07,650 --> 00:38:11,930 This is approaching us from the reverse direction, 711 00:38:12,110 --> 00:38:14,350 but I'm sure that we can profit by 712 00:38:14,350 --> 00:38:14,590 it. 713 00:38:14,850 --> 00:38:19,250 Ephesians chapter 5, verse 22, Why submit yourselves 714 00:38:19,250 --> 00:38:22,450 unto your own husbands as unto the Lord? 715 00:38:23,310 --> 00:38:24,710 For the husband is the head of the 716 00:38:24,710 --> 00:38:27,530 wife, even as Christ is the head of 717 00:38:27,530 --> 00:38:31,330 the church, and he is the savior of 718 00:38:31,330 --> 00:38:31,850 the body. 719 00:38:32,890 --> 00:38:35,450 Therefore, that is, he's the preserver of the 720 00:38:35,450 --> 00:38:35,830 body. 721 00:38:37,510 --> 00:38:40,970 Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, 722 00:38:41,630 --> 00:38:44,630 so let the wives be to their own 723 00:38:44,630 --> 00:38:46,270 husbands in everything. 724 00:38:47,150 --> 00:38:51,550 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also 725 00:38:51,550 --> 00:38:55,010 loved the church and gave himself for it. 726 00:38:55,770 --> 00:38:57,690 That he might sanctify and cleanse it by 727 00:38:57,690 --> 00:39:00,830 the washing of water by the word, that 728 00:39:00,830 --> 00:39:05,490 he might present it to himself a glorious 729 00:39:05,490 --> 00:39:06,130 church. 730 00:39:09,070 --> 00:39:11,230 Verse 32, This is a great mystery that 731 00:39:11,230 --> 00:39:13,250 I speak concerning Christ and the church. 732 00:39:13,870 --> 00:39:16,250 Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular 733 00:39:16,250 --> 00:39:19,610 so love his wife, even as himself and 734 00:39:19,610 --> 00:39:23,910 the wife see that she reverence her husband. 735 00:39:26,710 --> 00:39:30,350 Now, it's amazing that such a relationship as 736 00:39:30,350 --> 00:39:36,210 husband and wife, and as intimate as it 737 00:39:36,210 --> 00:39:40,090 is, is not regulated more in the Bible. 738 00:39:40,690 --> 00:39:43,550 Very little is said about their relationship together. 739 00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:48,660 Some is mentioned in the 7th chapter of 740 00:39:48,660 --> 00:39:49,320 1 Corinthians. 741 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:51,140 We may have occasion to look at that. 742 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:56,400 There are other references, but actually these all 743 00:39:56,400 --> 00:40:00,080 told together would hardly fill a good long 744 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:00,460 chapter. 745 00:40:02,140 --> 00:40:05,520 And here is a relationship that exists maybe 746 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:08,800 perhaps through 50 years of our lives, and 747 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:14,620 covers, I suppose, perhaps the greatest portion, greatest 748 00:40:14,620 --> 00:40:18,380 fraction of our lives. 749 00:40:18,380 --> 00:40:23,700 A relationship wherein you would think you'd have 750 00:40:23,700 --> 00:40:25,160 the most detailed instruction. 751 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:27,800 And there are very few. 752 00:40:28,820 --> 00:40:30,820 And one is wives obey your husband. 753 00:40:32,660 --> 00:40:35,780 The other is husbands love your wife. 754 00:40:36,460 --> 00:40:37,420 And that's all there is. 755 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:42,780 Is this enough? 756 00:40:42,900 --> 00:40:43,540 I think it is. 757 00:40:45,730 --> 00:40:47,670 I think love takes care of a lot 758 00:40:47,670 --> 00:40:48,350 of these things. 759 00:40:49,330 --> 00:40:51,830 I think that a bride will want to 760 00:40:51,830 --> 00:40:52,770 obey her husband. 761 00:40:53,630 --> 00:40:55,950 She respects him, and she should respect him. 762 00:40:56,330 --> 00:40:58,570 She doesn't respect him, she shouldn't marry him. 763 00:40:59,770 --> 00:41:01,810 She should respect him when she marries him, 764 00:41:01,850 --> 00:41:03,230 and then obey him. 765 00:41:04,650 --> 00:41:09,410 And a husband should love his wife, love 766 00:41:09,410 --> 00:41:10,190 her dearly. 767 00:41:10,810 --> 00:41:12,450 And he is given the hardest part. 768 00:41:13,990 --> 00:41:17,150 I know it's in these days of independence, 769 00:41:17,430 --> 00:41:20,670 when women have found their independence in the 770 00:41:20,670 --> 00:41:25,350 highest degree, it is hard for them to 771 00:41:25,350 --> 00:41:30,650 find themselves obeying their husbands, because of the 772 00:41:30,650 --> 00:41:32,650 unreasonableness sometimes of the husband. 773 00:41:36,330 --> 00:41:38,890 But I think that these things are illustrated 774 00:41:38,890 --> 00:41:41,210 in a little quarrel that a man and 775 00:41:41,210 --> 00:41:42,390 his wife are having. 776 00:41:43,350 --> 00:41:45,210 And he was complaining to her, and he 777 00:41:45,210 --> 00:41:47,230 said, you don't obey me like you should. 778 00:41:47,230 --> 00:41:49,510 The Bible says that you should obey me. 779 00:41:49,890 --> 00:41:51,790 And she said, well, you don't love me 780 00:41:51,790 --> 00:41:52,350 as you should. 781 00:41:52,830 --> 00:41:54,570 The Bible says that you should love me. 782 00:41:55,090 --> 00:41:56,850 Well, he said, if you would obey me 783 00:41:56,850 --> 00:41:58,130 more, I would love you more. 784 00:41:58,470 --> 00:42:00,030 She said, if you would love me more, 785 00:42:00,170 --> 00:42:01,170 I would obey you more. 786 00:42:04,010 --> 00:42:04,970 So they added up. 787 00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:13,580 Well, now wouldn't that have been better, if 788 00:42:13,580 --> 00:42:14,980 they would have both obeyed the word of 789 00:42:14,980 --> 00:42:18,320 God, and eliminated all the trouble? 790 00:42:18,740 --> 00:42:23,240 I say that 95% of marital trouble 791 00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:29,440 would be eliminated by the simple observation of 792 00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:34,420 one verse in the Bible, that every one 793 00:42:34,420 --> 00:42:36,820 of you in particular so love his wife, 794 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:38,120 he is as even as himself. 795 00:42:38,820 --> 00:42:41,480 And the wife sees that she reverence her 796 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:41,780 husband. 797 00:42:43,420 --> 00:42:44,320 That's all you need. 798 00:42:45,980 --> 00:42:49,500 The word of God is so, so very, 799 00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:51,380 very inclusive. 800 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:53,560 So all inclusive. 801 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:58,300 But I'll tell you, brethren, we've got the 802 00:42:58,300 --> 00:42:59,400 hardest job of all. 803 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:00,780 We're to love that wife. 804 00:43:02,540 --> 00:43:03,660 We're to love her. 805 00:43:05,860 --> 00:43:08,000 There isn't anything said here about her loving 806 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:08,320 him. 807 00:43:08,820 --> 00:43:10,680 Of course, the older women teach the younger 808 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:12,520 women to love their wives, and Titus. 809 00:43:14,380 --> 00:43:17,100 But not here, it's not mentioned. 810 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:20,420 But it's certainly mentioned that the husband should 811 00:43:20,420 --> 00:43:24,460 love the wife, even as Christ also loved 812 00:43:24,460 --> 00:43:27,120 the church, and gave himself forth. 813 00:43:27,180 --> 00:43:27,940 There's your standard. 814 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:33,100 You know, it's wonderful how these dear sisters 815 00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:34,120 respond to love. 816 00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:38,940 Well, it's wonderful how anybody responds to love. 817 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:42,580 But especially a wife. 818 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:48,080 Brethren, let's take a word of admonition. 819 00:43:48,720 --> 00:43:49,840 Let's love our wives. 820 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:50,980 Let them know it. 821 00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:52,240 Tell them once in a while. 822 00:43:53,320 --> 00:43:56,740 Even if it might shock them. 823 00:44:04,440 --> 00:44:06,300 I'm not going to talk too much about 824 00:44:06,300 --> 00:44:08,520 the other, because you sisters think sometimes that 825 00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:10,880 we brethren have it in for you, and 826 00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:11,860 it's a matter of obedience. 827 00:44:12,860 --> 00:44:15,700 But I'll tell you really, if we would 828 00:44:15,700 --> 00:44:17,200 just listen to the word of God and 829 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:22,660 obey it, instead of expecting the other to 830 00:44:22,660 --> 00:44:23,400 obey it. 831 00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:25,920 We have our work cut out for us, 832 00:44:25,980 --> 00:44:26,220 brethren. 833 00:44:27,260 --> 00:44:28,940 Let's love our wives and show it. 834 00:44:29,820 --> 00:44:31,180 I know this to be true. 835 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:35,100 I've been reminded of this before, in my 836 00:44:35,100 --> 00:44:35,620 own life. 837 00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:39,320 It works that way. 838 00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:47,260 Now, in this lovely relationship, we see the 839 00:44:47,260 --> 00:44:48,960 relationship of Christ with the church. 840 00:44:51,690 --> 00:44:53,890 Now, is there any question about his love 841 00:44:53,890 --> 00:44:54,490 for us? 842 00:45:00,440 --> 00:45:02,720 Is there any question about our obedience to 843 00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:02,920 him? 844 00:45:04,360 --> 00:45:05,420 I'm afraid so. 845 00:45:07,980 --> 00:45:09,740 He isn't falling down on the job, is 846 00:45:09,740 --> 00:45:09,900 he? 847 00:45:13,830 --> 00:45:15,270 Are you falling down on the job? 848 00:45:21,730 --> 00:45:23,180 Are you obeying him? 849 00:45:23,380 --> 00:45:24,380 Oh now, come on. 850 00:45:26,620 --> 00:45:29,680 Are you obeying your Lord to your divine 851 00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:30,340 bridegroom? 852 00:45:32,180 --> 00:45:33,740 We can talk about that, can't we? 853 00:45:38,070 --> 00:45:41,270 Shouldn't we, as much as he loves us, 854 00:45:42,790 --> 00:45:44,490 shouldn't we obey him? 855 00:45:45,690 --> 00:45:46,670 Out of love. 856 00:45:47,310 --> 00:45:48,990 Not out of compulsion. 857 00:45:50,090 --> 00:45:52,350 Out of love to the Lord Jesus. 858 00:45:52,350 --> 00:45:54,290 How much do we love the Lord? 859 00:45:54,730 --> 00:45:56,210 How much do you love the Lord? 860 00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:00,180 I'll just ask you another question. 861 00:46:00,300 --> 00:46:01,440 We'll just turn the coin over. 862 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:04,160 How many times do you say, I'm going 863 00:46:04,160 --> 00:46:05,100 to have it this way? 864 00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:09,160 When you know the Lord says differently. 865 00:46:11,750 --> 00:46:14,310 May God help us to fulfill our bargain 866 00:46:14,310 --> 00:46:17,850 in this matter of being the bride of 867 00:46:17,850 --> 00:46:19,730 Christ and obey him. 868 00:46:21,230 --> 00:46:23,650 Then there is the figure of the flock, 869 00:46:24,410 --> 00:46:26,810 and I think that the chief truth to 870 00:46:26,810 --> 00:46:31,070 be emphasized here is that Christ is the 871 00:46:31,070 --> 00:46:32,230 center of that flock. 872 00:46:32,370 --> 00:46:32,970 He's the shepherd. 873 00:46:33,450 --> 00:46:36,750 Shall we turn to the 10th chapter of 874 00:46:36,750 --> 00:46:37,590 John, please? 875 00:46:38,330 --> 00:46:40,050 John chapter 10. 876 00:46:51,690 --> 00:46:53,930 He says in verse 14 in the 10th 877 00:46:53,930 --> 00:46:56,730 chapter of John, I am the good shepherd 878 00:46:56,730 --> 00:46:59,170 and know my sheep and am known of 879 00:46:59,170 --> 00:46:59,490 mine. 880 00:47:00,590 --> 00:47:04,330 As the father knoweth me, even so know 881 00:47:04,330 --> 00:47:06,910 I the father, and I lay down my 882 00:47:06,910 --> 00:47:07,930 life for the sheep. 883 00:47:08,030 --> 00:47:10,810 Another sheep I have, which are not of 884 00:47:10,810 --> 00:47:11,490 this foal. 885 00:47:12,070 --> 00:47:15,270 Them also I must bring, and they shall 886 00:47:15,270 --> 00:47:18,370 hear my voice, and there shall be one 887 00:47:18,370 --> 00:47:21,430 foal and one shepherd. 888 00:47:22,750 --> 00:47:25,930 Now the word foal is used twice in 889 00:47:25,930 --> 00:47:29,310 this verse, but the second usage of it 890 00:47:29,310 --> 00:47:31,650 near the end of the verse is incorrect. 891 00:47:32,730 --> 00:47:35,390 Your margin of your Scofield Bible will tell 892 00:47:35,390 --> 00:47:38,190 you that, that the word should be translated 893 00:47:38,190 --> 00:47:38,690 flock. 894 00:47:39,870 --> 00:47:42,170 Now the Lord Jesus says, other sheep I 895 00:47:42,170 --> 00:47:44,670 have, which are not of this foal. 896 00:47:45,370 --> 00:47:47,890 Them also I must bring, and they shall 897 00:47:47,890 --> 00:47:50,770 hear my voice, and there shall be one 898 00:47:50,770 --> 00:47:53,950 flock and one shepherd. 899 00:47:54,910 --> 00:47:57,730 Now before the 16th verse of this 10th 900 00:47:57,730 --> 00:48:01,250 chapter of John, our Lord Jesus is talking 901 00:48:01,250 --> 00:48:03,370 about the foal entirely. 902 00:48:05,490 --> 00:48:07,790 He's talking about the foal when he talks 903 00:48:07,790 --> 00:48:08,610 about the porter. 904 00:48:09,670 --> 00:48:12,510 Now this porter is the person who keeps 905 00:48:12,510 --> 00:48:14,890 the communal flock overnight. 906 00:48:16,230 --> 00:48:19,790 The shepherds bring their sheep to this communal 907 00:48:19,790 --> 00:48:23,930 foal, and that foal was composed of a 908 00:48:23,930 --> 00:48:29,030 high row of stakes interwoven with thorns, and 909 00:48:29,030 --> 00:48:32,490 that was so tightly woven and so secure 910 00:48:32,490 --> 00:48:36,190 that no predatory animal could work its way 911 00:48:36,190 --> 00:48:37,990 through that fence, through that foal. 912 00:48:38,690 --> 00:48:41,490 Those sheep were safe inside the foal. 913 00:48:42,290 --> 00:48:44,850 The shepherds would bring their sheep together at 914 00:48:44,850 --> 00:48:48,190 night and put them in this foal, and 915 00:48:48,190 --> 00:48:51,610 there was a porter that was hired to 916 00:48:51,610 --> 00:48:54,330 stand by that door and keep the sheep 917 00:48:54,330 --> 00:48:56,650 safely during the night. 918 00:48:57,790 --> 00:49:00,490 Then in the morning, when the shepherd came 919 00:49:00,490 --> 00:49:03,010 to take out his sheep, you would say, 920 00:49:03,150 --> 00:49:05,530 how in the world is that shepherd going 921 00:49:05,530 --> 00:49:09,130 to separate his sheep from all that community 922 00:49:09,130 --> 00:49:09,690 flock? 923 00:49:09,690 --> 00:49:11,490 Well, it was very simple. 924 00:49:12,310 --> 00:49:14,890 The shepherd just called his sheep by name, 925 00:49:15,630 --> 00:49:17,890 and you would see them moving out of 926 00:49:17,890 --> 00:49:18,970 that communal flock. 927 00:49:19,570 --> 00:49:21,510 You'd see a sheep moving here and a 928 00:49:21,510 --> 00:49:22,470 sheep moving there. 929 00:49:23,150 --> 00:49:26,250 And those sheep would follow that shepherd, and 930 00:49:26,250 --> 00:49:29,050 he would take them out into the fields 931 00:49:29,050 --> 00:49:30,670 to graze during the day. 932 00:49:31,670 --> 00:49:33,110 They loved that shepherd. 933 00:49:33,750 --> 00:49:34,970 They knew his voice. 934 00:49:35,610 --> 00:49:38,710 And regardless of how large the flock was 935 00:49:38,710 --> 00:49:42,750 in that community flock, those sheep would go 936 00:49:42,750 --> 00:49:45,890 out following the shepherd, and he led them 937 00:49:45,890 --> 00:49:48,730 out to the pastures for the day. 938 00:49:50,110 --> 00:49:51,290 Now, they loved that shepherd. 939 00:49:51,410 --> 00:49:54,190 That's why he was the center of that 940 00:49:54,190 --> 00:49:54,590 flock. 941 00:49:54,750 --> 00:49:56,110 They were attracted to him. 942 00:49:57,170 --> 00:49:59,310 Now, our Lord Jesus says here, other sheep 943 00:49:59,310 --> 00:50:00,870 I have which are not of this foal. 944 00:50:00,950 --> 00:50:04,670 Now, the foal is Israel, and the flock 945 00:50:04,670 --> 00:50:05,730 is the church. 946 00:50:07,070 --> 00:50:09,630 Now, what is the difference between a foal 947 00:50:09,630 --> 00:50:10,390 and a flock? 948 00:50:11,910 --> 00:50:13,910 Well, some of you have heard this before, 949 00:50:14,450 --> 00:50:16,170 but I'm going to stir up your pure 950 00:50:16,170 --> 00:50:17,410 minds by way of remembrance. 951 00:50:17,970 --> 00:50:23,010 A foal is a circumference without a center. 952 00:50:24,810 --> 00:50:28,790 A flock is a center without a circumference. 953 00:50:31,180 --> 00:50:34,040 The foal holds the sheep together from the 954 00:50:34,040 --> 00:50:34,720 outside. 955 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:39,200 The flock holds the sheep together from the 956 00:50:39,200 --> 00:50:43,820 inside, and the Lord Jesus is that attraction 957 00:50:43,820 --> 00:50:46,200 that holds the sheep together. 958 00:50:48,220 --> 00:50:52,040 Now, that foal, or that fence, was represented 959 00:50:52,040 --> 00:50:57,480 by the law which separated every Jew from 960 00:50:57,480 --> 00:50:59,980 every Gentile in all the world. 961 00:51:00,120 --> 00:51:04,560 The Gentiles were outside of that foal, and 962 00:51:04,560 --> 00:51:09,600 that law kept the Jews an entity. 963 00:51:10,120 --> 00:51:13,240 That law kept the Jews a distinct people, 964 00:51:14,660 --> 00:51:16,880 and the only Gentiles that ever got inside 965 00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:20,060 of that foal were proselytes who became Jews. 966 00:51:20,900 --> 00:51:25,060 That foal, that fence, was the answer, and 967 00:51:25,060 --> 00:51:28,020 that fence, that middle wall of partition of 968 00:51:28,020 --> 00:51:30,800 which Paul speaks in Ephesians which has been 969 00:51:30,800 --> 00:51:34,820 broken down, kept the Jewish people intact. 970 00:51:36,940 --> 00:51:40,220 Strangely enough, in the case of the flock, 971 00:51:41,120 --> 00:51:42,680 there's no high wall. 972 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:45,060 Christ is the center. 973 00:51:45,060 --> 00:51:47,580 They're gathered together to him. 974 00:51:47,840 --> 00:51:50,140 That's the picture in the flock. 975 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:51,760 That's the picture of the church. 976 00:51:53,140 --> 00:51:57,120 Now, in Matthew chapter 18, we have a 977 00:51:57,120 --> 00:52:00,740 lovely, lovely verse that I think illustrates this. 978 00:52:01,740 --> 00:52:03,180 Then we're going to get practical. 979 00:52:08,230 --> 00:52:12,730 The 18th chapter of Matthew says, verse 20, 980 00:52:13,370 --> 00:52:15,650 for where two or three are gathered together 981 00:52:15,650 --> 00:52:17,810 in my name, that's the attraction. 982 00:52:18,690 --> 00:52:22,030 There am I in the midst of them. 983 00:52:22,270 --> 00:52:24,550 We have here the figure of the flock. 984 00:52:26,010 --> 00:52:28,310 There is an attraction to the Lord Jesus 985 00:52:28,310 --> 00:52:32,450 Christ, and this church, this local church right 986 00:52:32,450 --> 00:52:38,390 here, this assembly, should illustrate this at all 987 00:52:38,390 --> 00:52:41,450 times, and I think we've lost track of 988 00:52:41,450 --> 00:52:42,130 this truth. 989 00:52:43,230 --> 00:52:46,250 Because we have lost track of this truth, 990 00:52:47,210 --> 00:52:48,850 we have lost track of some of the 991 00:52:48,850 --> 00:52:49,650 people of God. 992 00:52:49,910 --> 00:52:50,770 They've strayed away. 993 00:52:52,210 --> 00:52:55,430 Now, why do you come here to this 994 00:52:55,430 --> 00:52:55,870 assembly? 995 00:52:58,040 --> 00:53:00,360 Do you come here because your folks do? 996 00:53:02,760 --> 00:53:03,940 Your relatives do? 997 00:53:04,880 --> 00:53:06,560 Your friends do? 998 00:53:08,320 --> 00:53:12,780 Now, there's nothing wrong with folks, and relatives, 999 00:53:13,360 --> 00:53:13,860 and friends. 1000 00:53:15,380 --> 00:53:17,500 But why are you attracted? 1001 00:53:18,180 --> 00:53:21,400 Are you attracted because of what you see 1002 00:53:21,400 --> 00:53:25,660 of Christ in others, or what you share 1003 00:53:25,660 --> 00:53:27,500 with him in fellowship with Christ? 1004 00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:30,800 That should be our motive for coming together. 1005 00:53:32,160 --> 00:53:34,700 The scriptures say, for where two or three 1006 00:53:34,700 --> 00:53:37,420 are gathered together in my name, because of 1007 00:53:37,420 --> 00:53:40,220 their mutual love and respect for the name 1008 00:53:40,220 --> 00:53:42,480 of the Lord Jesus Christ, they come together, 1009 00:53:43,240 --> 00:53:45,160 and they form a church. 1010 00:53:45,940 --> 00:53:49,240 We have the image of the flock, the 1011 00:53:49,240 --> 00:53:51,440 forest, Christ, the gathering center. 1012 00:53:52,880 --> 00:53:56,440 Now, it's so easy, it's so easy to 1013 00:53:56,440 --> 00:54:04,060 seek our fellowship because of other reasons. 1014 00:54:06,640 --> 00:54:09,160 Perhaps we go to one place or another 1015 00:54:09,160 --> 00:54:12,140 because there is a professional element in this 1016 00:54:12,140 --> 00:54:12,500 place. 1017 00:54:13,660 --> 00:54:15,340 Because there's a nice building. 1018 00:54:16,160 --> 00:54:17,620 I hope that wouldn't be the reason. 1019 00:54:18,580 --> 00:54:21,340 Or because there are more young people. 1020 00:54:21,680 --> 00:54:23,360 I know of a case where a family 1021 00:54:23,360 --> 00:54:27,120 changed their assembly affiliation because there were a 1022 00:54:27,120 --> 00:54:31,340 lot of young people over at another assembly. 1023 00:54:31,480 --> 00:54:34,000 This happens a thousand miles away. 1024 00:54:34,080 --> 00:54:36,580 You never, you'll never know who it is 1025 00:54:36,580 --> 00:54:37,420 that I'm talking about. 1026 00:54:37,420 --> 00:54:40,160 But they did, they changed their fellowship because 1027 00:54:40,160 --> 00:54:41,820 there was a lot of young people over 1028 00:54:41,820 --> 00:54:42,120 there. 1029 00:54:42,920 --> 00:54:45,580 So they removed their own two young people 1030 00:54:45,580 --> 00:54:47,640 out of the assembly where there were so 1031 00:54:47,640 --> 00:54:50,320 few young people and took them over where 1032 00:54:50,320 --> 00:54:53,260 there were a lot of other young people. 1033 00:54:54,760 --> 00:54:56,840 Well now, young people like to be with 1034 00:54:56,840 --> 00:54:57,420 young people. 1035 00:54:57,760 --> 00:54:59,260 But how are you going to get the 1036 00:54:59,260 --> 00:55:03,860 young people over in this assembly when you 1037 00:55:03,860 --> 00:55:05,580 take them all out because there's none there? 1038 00:55:06,320 --> 00:55:07,080 Where do we start? 1039 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:12,780 Well now, that's kind of like transplanting limbs, 1040 00:55:12,920 --> 00:55:13,320 isn't it? 1041 00:55:15,020 --> 00:55:16,820 Transplanting kidneys or something like that. 1042 00:55:17,260 --> 00:55:19,440 Taking one part out of the body and 1043 00:55:19,440 --> 00:55:21,080 putting it over here in this body. 1044 00:55:24,530 --> 00:55:27,850 Now, wouldn't it be better if perhaps we 1045 00:55:27,850 --> 00:55:31,930 would be absolutely unselfish, seeking the glory of 1046 00:55:31,930 --> 00:55:33,410 the Lord in these things and not our 1047 00:55:33,410 --> 00:55:34,530 own convenience? 1048 00:55:35,310 --> 00:55:38,110 No, I have nothing against young people being 1049 00:55:38,110 --> 00:55:38,390 pathetic. 1050 00:55:39,410 --> 00:55:40,790 I was young once myself. 1051 00:55:41,690 --> 00:55:43,090 I could tell you a story to prove 1052 00:55:43,090 --> 00:55:44,550 that I'm old, but I won't do it. 1053 00:55:49,230 --> 00:55:51,250 Why do we meet where we do? 1054 00:55:51,890 --> 00:55:55,470 Do we meet because of a mutual attraction 1055 00:55:55,470 --> 00:55:56,390 to the Lord Jesus? 1056 00:55:59,960 --> 00:56:02,000 Do we have fellowship with the people of 1057 00:56:02,000 --> 00:56:02,900 God where we meet? 1058 00:56:04,640 --> 00:56:07,120 If so, we're attracted to Christ and He's 1059 00:56:07,120 --> 00:56:07,460 the center. 1060 00:56:09,020 --> 00:56:11,400 I would like to have all of us 1061 00:56:11,400 --> 00:56:14,920 that meet here and remember the Lord in 1062 00:56:14,920 --> 00:56:17,360 this assembly and fellowship in this assembly to 1063 00:56:17,360 --> 00:56:19,100 be able to give a good reason why 1064 00:56:19,100 --> 00:56:19,500 you're here. 1065 00:56:21,100 --> 00:56:27,330 Of course, if you're not here by conviction, 1066 00:56:27,510 --> 00:56:29,090 it's easy for you to go elsewhere. 1067 00:56:31,610 --> 00:56:35,130 But if you're here by conviction, then that 1068 00:56:35,130 --> 00:56:35,710 won't happen. 1069 00:56:36,510 --> 00:56:38,570 Are we gathered to the people? 1070 00:56:39,590 --> 00:56:41,570 Certainly not gathered to the buildings. 1071 00:56:42,950 --> 00:56:45,010 Or are we gathered to the Lord Jesus? 1072 00:56:45,610 --> 00:56:47,870 He is the center of the flock. 1073 00:56:50,820 --> 00:56:52,420 Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could see 1074 00:56:52,420 --> 00:56:52,740 that? 1075 00:56:54,060 --> 00:56:56,120 Who did you think that you would see 1076 00:56:56,120 --> 00:56:58,940 tonight when you came to the assembly? 1077 00:57:00,360 --> 00:57:02,020 Did you think that you would see this 1078 00:57:02,020 --> 00:57:03,120 person or that person? 1079 00:57:06,490 --> 00:57:09,090 When you sit to remember the Lord, perhaps 1080 00:57:09,090 --> 00:57:10,630 you're sitting on this side or this side. 1081 00:57:10,710 --> 00:57:11,590 Now, I didn't notice this. 1082 00:57:11,710 --> 00:57:14,470 I'm not reminded of this by any particular 1083 00:57:14,470 --> 00:57:17,050 action that I noticed last Wednesday morning. 1084 00:57:17,790 --> 00:57:20,410 But are you interested in who's coming in 1085 00:57:20,410 --> 00:57:20,690 the door? 1086 00:57:23,170 --> 00:57:27,190 Or are you interested in whose divine presence 1087 00:57:27,190 --> 00:57:28,430 you're sitting at the time? 1088 00:57:29,050 --> 00:57:31,790 Christ says, for where two or three are 1089 00:57:31,790 --> 00:57:35,170 gathered together in my name, there am I 1090 00:57:35,170 --> 00:57:37,550 in the midst of them. 1091 00:57:37,630 --> 00:57:39,610 I wonder if you thought about the fact 1092 00:57:39,610 --> 00:57:42,850 the Lord was here last Lord's Day morning 1093 00:57:42,850 --> 00:57:44,810 in the midst of his people. 1094 00:57:45,970 --> 00:57:47,030 Did you think about that? 1095 00:57:49,620 --> 00:58:00,180 Say if the If 1096 00:58:00,180 --> 00:58:03,780 you'd had some celebrity, Christian celebrity here in 1097 00:58:03,780 --> 00:58:07,180 this assembly, you'd have talked about it to 1098 00:58:07,180 --> 00:58:07,820 all your friends. 1099 00:58:10,180 --> 00:58:11,840 Are we lacking in faith? 1100 00:58:12,560 --> 00:58:14,680 Have we lost this truth? 1101 00:58:18,810 --> 00:58:22,230 We should gather to Christ. 1102 00:58:25,810 --> 00:58:27,370 He should be the divine attraction. 1103 00:58:27,790 --> 00:58:28,790 He should be the center. 1104 00:58:31,850 --> 00:58:34,790 And if we have a mutual love together, 1105 00:58:34,990 --> 00:58:39,490 a mutual respect for him, we'll have a 1106 00:58:39,490 --> 00:58:41,950 mutual respect for each other because we see 1107 00:58:41,950 --> 00:58:45,150 something of Christ in each of our brethren. 1108 00:58:46,890 --> 00:58:50,610 Now, may the Lord take these few simple 1109 00:58:50,610 --> 00:58:55,540 thoughts and make them precious to our hearts. 1110 00:58:57,240 --> 00:58:58,480 Remember the Gathering Center. 1111 00:58:58,600 --> 00:58:59,660 I think we're just going to have to 1112 00:58:59,660 --> 00:59:01,800 talk a little more about this tomorrow night. 1113 00:59:01,880 --> 00:59:03,200 And then, by the will of the Lord, 1114 00:59:03,200 --> 00:59:05,260 we want to get into the practical aspects 1115 00:59:05,260 --> 00:59:08,600 of the Church as seen in the Corinthian 1116 00:59:08,600 --> 00:59:09,040 Apostles. 1117 00:59:10,420 --> 00:59:13,920 First Corinthians especially, we'll just make that as 1118 00:59:13,920 --> 00:59:17,020 a kind of an announcement in regard to 1119 00:59:17,020 --> 00:59:17,740 tomorrow night's meeting. 1120 00:59:18,040 --> 00:59:19,800 Brother Willard Rodgers, would you close with a 1121 00:59:19,800 --> 00:59:20,300 word of prayer?