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Shall we open our Bibles, please, to the

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11th chapter of 1st Corinthians?

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We had two very sincere questions, really three

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questions, in the question box.

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And I think tonight we'll consider two of

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them because they are relevant to the subject

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which we closed with last night, that is,

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the women's head covering.

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And there is another question, too, in regard

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to Scripture and Timothy, 1st Timothy, that I

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think we'll not take up tonight, but rather

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tomorrow night.

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And we'll be able to give our attention

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more to the subject matter we have tonight.

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But since this question is related to the

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subject of what we considered last night, I

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think perhaps we should consider it first.

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The first question, what makes up a meeting

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of the church?

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Some have said that it is when all

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parts of the church are represented, elders, brethren,

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sisters, and so forth.

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Others say that it is simply when two

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or three are gathered together in his name.

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If it is the latter, does that mean

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that women have to keep their heads covered

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whenever two or three are gathered together in

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his name?

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How far should this practice be carried?

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Now, I have a very quick answer for

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that, but I'm not going to pass it

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off with this quick answer.

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But I'm going to say, if you can

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be assured that no angels are present, forget

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the head covering.

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It doesn't seem to be whether or not

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it's a meeting of the church.

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It's whether or not the angels are looking

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on.

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Now, I tell you, I've not read all

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the question yet.

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Let's read it all.

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Since the church is not the building, is

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it logical to assume that women must cover

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their heads at camp meetings, informal Bible discussions,

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chapels at a Christian college, and so forth?

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This is a real sincere question, and a

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real problem, I may say.

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If girls are to wear their hats in

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the presence of the Lord, would that mean

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that they would be required to wear them

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at every meeting gathered in his name, no

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matter the place?

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Now, this is sincere.

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I wish I could answer in a positive

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way.

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There are, I think, probably differences of opinion

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on this, but I would say this, that

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we have excused these things.

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We have begged the question, we have bicepped

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the question by saying that it's not necessary

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for sisters to wear their hats, except at

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a meeting of the church.

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And that, of course, permits the camp.

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That permits, because that is a designated age

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level, and therefore is not a meeting of

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the church.

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Now, for instance, if everybody there is in

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his team, very obviously that's not a meeting

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of the church.

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And they have excused it in Bible colleges,

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that's not a meeting of the church.

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Well, it's not a meeting of the church.

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That's true.

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But there is a situation in verse 5

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of the 11th chapter of 1 Corinthians that

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we must consider.

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It says there, But every woman that prayeth

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or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her

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head, for that is all one, as if

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she were shaven.

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Now, when does a woman pray, and when

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does she prophesy?

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When the men are present?

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Definitely not.

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Now, we read that in the 14th chapter

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of 1 Corinthians.

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We might notice that in connection with this.

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We get to it sooner or later, but

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it is in connection with this.

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Verse 34 of the 14th chapter of 1

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Corinthians.

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Let your women keep silence in the churches,

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for it is not permitted unto them to

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speak.

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But they are commanded to be under obedience,

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as also saith the law.

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And if they will learn anything, let them

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ask their husbands at home.

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And if they don't have a husband, then

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let them ask some other woman's husband.

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Well, that's my italics.

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For it is a shame for women to

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speak in the church.

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What, came the word of God out from

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you, or came it unto you?

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Now, it seems that the apostle anticipated that

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this was going to be a moot question.

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So he said, what, came the word of

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God out from you, or came it unto

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you only?

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Did you write it?

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Well, I didn't write it, you know.

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And I don't have to apologize for it

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either.

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I just have to teach it that's all.

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The spirit of God is the writer, not

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me.

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And so the apostle anticipates an objection right

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here.

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And he's had it, hasn't he, throughout probably

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the most of Christendom today.

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This has been questioned.

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I've heard an explanation that in those days

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the women sat on one side and the

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men sat on the other side.

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And the women would ask questions and answer

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them and cause a disturbance in the meeting.

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Now, where all this information comes from is

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more than I can tell.

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I'm not that good a historian.

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And I think that perhaps they're, well, I'm

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not going to cast reflections on anybody's veracity,

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but I wonder if they've ever read it

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either.

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But nevertheless, we have a condition here where

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the women are not permitted to speak.

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And I don't think that you have any

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difficulty here in this connection at all.

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But very obviously, it says, let your women

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keep silent in the churches.

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Now, that is very obviously a church meeting.

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And here in the 11th chapter of 1

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Corinthians, it does say in verse 5, but

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every woman that prayeth or prophethieth with her

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head uncovered dishonoreth her head.

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Now, she isn't doing it in a church

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meeting.

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You can be sure of that, because that's

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forbidden.

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She's doing it undoubtedly among a group of

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sisters.

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And even under these conditions, she's to keep

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her head covered.

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That's what the word of God says.

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Now, that's all I can tell you is

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what the word of God says.

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So there it is.

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If every woman that prayeth or prophethieth with

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her head uncovered dishonoreth her head, for that

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is even all one as if she were

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shaven.

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Well, certainly here is a condition where there

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are no men present.

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And the sister is still expected to keep

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her head covered.

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Now, some have said, well, do the other

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sisters need to keep their heads covered?

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I wish I had access to the Urim

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and the Thummim.

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But since I don't have the access to

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the Urim and the Thummim, about all I

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can do is take the the Urim and

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the Thummim, this one here, and that's all

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I can do is just rely on the

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word of God.

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Well, this is what the scriptures say.

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I'd not be legal about these things.

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I'm glad that I don't have to decide

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these things.

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But I do say this, that if there's

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any doubt in a sister's mind as to

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whether her head should be covered or not,

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give the Lord the benefit of the doubt.

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And not those that are around you.

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Now, I know that you sisters are very

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gregarious in your natures.

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You don't like to be different.

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And I know that in many instances, in

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many Christian circles, a head covering is not

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worn.

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And you don't like to be an oddball,

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do you?

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Who wants to be an oddball?

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And who wants to be a person of

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that nature?

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Well, now, who are you going to please?

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Men don't have any trouble.

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I'm so glad they don't.

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Wherever a man is in his prance, off

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comes his hat.

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And I don't care where he is.

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I don't have any trouble that way at

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all.

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Well, I say, don't I?

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It depends on how fast the situation arises.

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If I'm driving the car, there are times

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that I've prayed with my hat on.

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But, ordinarily the men don't have any trouble

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with the head being uncovered at all.

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I'm glad for that.

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I'm glad I don't have you sisters' problems

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in this respect.

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My hat comes off and that's all there

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is to it.

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A man wouldn't think of praying with his

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hat on.

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Well, he wouldn't think of it.

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Certainly not in public.

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I don't know whether I've answered this or

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not.

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I think that we are ruled by principles

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and it takes faith to apply principles.

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Wouldn't it be nice if we were just

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simply ruled by legal dictates, victims, and

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just say, have it specified for every situation.

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Have every situation covered.

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Now, that can't, off or on, either way.

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And at this situation, this situation, this situation,

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wouldn't it be fine if we had something

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like that?

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We don't have it at all.

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But I'll tell you, you do have a

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sphere in which you can exercise your conscience

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and you have a sphere in which you

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can obey the Lord, to please him.

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Now, there's something that disturbs me a little

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bit in here.

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If it is the latter, does that mean

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that women have to keep their heads covered?

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Now, isn't it a matter of having to

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keep our heads covered against perhaps our desires

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or our will?

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I don't know that that's even implied in

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this question at all.

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Must we do it?

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That seems to be the thought.

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Must we do it?

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Must we do things to please the Lord?

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Now, that is the question.

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I'm not going to dictate.

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I'm not going to say, in this connection,

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I'm going to leave the Scriptures with you

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and I'm going to let you apply them.

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That's certainly easy, isn't it, for me.

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But it isn't easy for you, I'll tell

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you that.

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But I'm indicating to you that it's because

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of the angels.

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And of course, that's the easy way out.

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If you can be sure there aren't any

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angels present, your problem is solved.

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If they are present, isn't it nice to

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show the sign of authority on your head?

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I can't say that I'm in agreement with

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everything that is done in our circles, but

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I'm not going to disrupt, as far as

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I'm concerned, the word of God or the

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work of God because of my own convictions

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about these matters.

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I'm not going to be a troublemaker about

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it.

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I grieve at times, I'll grant you that.

274
00:13:26,860 --> 00:13:29,180
But I could wish that we could just

275
00:13:29,180 --> 00:13:31,700
read these Scriptures just as plainly as we

276
00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:34,480
can and do what we do to please

277
00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:34,960
the Lord.

278
00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:36,820
I was at a conference once.

279
00:13:37,660 --> 00:13:39,400
They asked me the question, or I got

280
00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:39,920
the question.

281
00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,020
There was a panel up there and they

282
00:13:42,020 --> 00:13:43,820
just passed the question on to me and

283
00:13:43,820 --> 00:13:45,360
I was the last one on the line.

284
00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,300
How big should a woman's hat be?

285
00:13:53,340 --> 00:13:55,640
And also, how long should her hair be?

286
00:13:58,260 --> 00:14:00,300
I said, I refuse to be a judge

287
00:14:00,300 --> 00:14:01,220
of such matters.

288
00:14:02,980 --> 00:14:06,320
But I said, you don't want to be

289
00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:07,880
big enough for an angel to see.

290
00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:12,200
Sometimes it takes the angels to see them,

291
00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:12,540
I think.

292
00:14:17,220 --> 00:14:19,260
This was the way we answered the question.

293
00:14:19,980 --> 00:14:24,940
If you're wearing your head covering to please

294
00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:29,720
the Lord, that head covering is bigger regardless

295
00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,020
of its geographical area that it covers.

296
00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,440
That head covering is bigger in my estimation

297
00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,560
than the sister who may be wearing one

298
00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:42,120
of these, you know, despising the very hat

299
00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,140
she's got on her head and despising the

300
00:14:44,140 --> 00:14:46,480
very act and doing it in redundancy because

301
00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,060
she's not doing it to please the Lord.

302
00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:51,800
The main thing is to please the Lord.

303
00:14:53,140 --> 00:14:55,980
That should solve the question so easily.

304
00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:57,600
Please the Lord.

305
00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,080
How long should the hair be?

306
00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:02,720
That's the question.

307
00:15:03,980 --> 00:15:06,100
Now that could be relative, you know.

308
00:15:08,340 --> 00:15:10,420
But I would say this in that connection,

309
00:15:10,580 --> 00:15:12,380
and here I'm answering questions I don't even

310
00:15:12,380 --> 00:15:13,220
have to answer.

311
00:15:16,150 --> 00:15:18,670
I say this, it would be nice if

312
00:15:18,670 --> 00:15:22,550
you had the opportunity of washing the Lord's

313
00:15:22,550 --> 00:15:25,930
feet with your tears and drying them with

314
00:15:25,930 --> 00:15:27,870
the hairs of your head that you'd have

315
00:15:27,870 --> 00:15:29,850
enough hair to dry his feet.

316
00:15:31,150 --> 00:15:32,350
Not too sure.

317
00:15:33,950 --> 00:15:36,090
I think that'd be nice, don't you?

318
00:15:36,130 --> 00:15:37,910
If you had that opportunity to lay your

319
00:15:37,910 --> 00:15:40,490
glory at his feet.

320
00:15:40,910 --> 00:15:44,590
I'm not going to set down any number

321
00:15:44,590 --> 00:15:45,170
of inches.

322
00:15:46,470 --> 00:15:48,210
I know better than that.

323
00:15:50,730 --> 00:15:52,650
And I'm not going to be the judge

324
00:15:52,650 --> 00:15:53,470
of these matters.

325
00:15:56,130 --> 00:15:58,310
But do what you do to please the

326
00:15:58,310 --> 00:15:58,710
Lord.

327
00:16:00,050 --> 00:16:02,250
Do it with a single eye to his

328
00:16:02,250 --> 00:16:02,810
glory.

329
00:16:03,290 --> 00:16:07,390
And don't chafe under the clear commands of

330
00:16:07,390 --> 00:16:07,790
scripture.

331
00:16:08,550 --> 00:16:09,910
Don't chafe under them.

332
00:16:11,050 --> 00:16:13,590
Do what you do to please the Lord.

333
00:16:13,870 --> 00:16:15,310
He'll be pleased, I'm sure.

334
00:16:15,970 --> 00:16:19,110
He so appreciates anything that we do do

335
00:16:19,110 --> 00:16:19,810
for him.

336
00:16:19,810 --> 00:16:21,450
Now I don't know whether I've answered this

337
00:16:21,450 --> 00:16:21,850
or not.

338
00:16:23,710 --> 00:16:25,930
I probably haven't given you the answer.

339
00:16:26,050 --> 00:16:27,770
You probably wanted me to give you an

340
00:16:27,770 --> 00:16:29,970
answer so you could dismiss it like that.

341
00:16:30,270 --> 00:16:31,570
Say, Ken Baird said it.

342
00:16:32,070 --> 00:16:33,130
That settles it.

343
00:16:34,390 --> 00:16:35,750
And that doesn't settle it.

344
00:16:38,510 --> 00:16:41,170
You be sure to please the Lord.

345
00:16:42,550 --> 00:16:45,150
There's a second question on here, a very

346
00:16:45,150 --> 00:16:46,190
sincere question.

347
00:16:46,830 --> 00:16:49,070
And don't think that we have dismissed this

348
00:16:49,070 --> 00:16:50,870
first question lightly either.

349
00:16:51,910 --> 00:16:53,810
I've answered it advisedly.

350
00:16:53,870 --> 00:16:55,710
I've gone just about as far as I

351
00:16:55,710 --> 00:16:58,090
can in answering the question.

352
00:16:58,410 --> 00:17:00,770
And I trust that this will help the

353
00:17:00,770 --> 00:17:05,050
questioner to really settle the matter in his

354
00:17:05,050 --> 00:17:06,130
own mind.

355
00:17:10,170 --> 00:17:12,050
The second question on this sheet.

356
00:17:12,050 --> 00:17:15,190
If a stranger enters the chapel on Sunday

357
00:17:15,190 --> 00:17:18,730
morning without a letter but professes to be

358
00:17:18,730 --> 00:17:23,810
saved, should he be allowed to participate in

359
00:17:23,810 --> 00:17:25,230
the Lord's Supper?

360
00:17:26,589 --> 00:17:28,670
Now this is a question that has been

361
00:17:28,670 --> 00:17:29,870
a great trial.

362
00:17:30,710 --> 00:17:33,150
It has been a great question, it's a

363
00:17:33,150 --> 00:17:33,850
moot question.

364
00:17:34,470 --> 00:17:37,890
It's been a great question to even to

365
00:17:37,890 --> 00:17:39,790
the point of dividing the people of God

366
00:17:39,790 --> 00:17:40,690
in certain places.

367
00:17:42,850 --> 00:17:46,270
Now I would say this, that we cannot

368
00:17:46,270 --> 00:17:50,710
be legal in any answer in this area,

369
00:17:50,750 --> 00:17:54,050
because there are times when you might be

370
00:17:54,050 --> 00:17:58,610
disposed to receive a stranger something about his

371
00:17:58,610 --> 00:18:00,790
testimony that really rings true.

372
00:18:02,650 --> 00:18:05,350
His church background might have something to do

373
00:18:05,350 --> 00:18:08,910
with that, because you could tell by his

374
00:18:08,910 --> 00:18:12,290
church background as to how much teaching he

375
00:18:12,290 --> 00:18:14,090
had and what he stood for.

376
00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:20,960
There might be something to, for instance, if

377
00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,760
he came in late, came in the door

378
00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,980
late, and he just said, I'm a Christian,

379
00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:33,800
and we'll say now he doesn't ask to

380
00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:34,560
remember the Lord.

381
00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,920
Are you going to say, well just come

382
00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,820
right on and remember the Lord with us,

383
00:18:41,940 --> 00:18:44,380
and act on behalf of the whole oversight?

384
00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,100
I don't want that responsibility myself.

385
00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,580
It's the meeting that receives to the Lord's

386
00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:52,720
table, not a brother.

387
00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,800
Perhaps time won't be given for the oversight

388
00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,560
to come together on the matter.

389
00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,800
I would say, if it could be done

390
00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,680
without a fan, that you ask them, tell

391
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,520
them now we're going to remember the Lord.

392
00:19:09,660 --> 00:19:10,840
Would you like to observe?

393
00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:13,500
Would you like to watch us?

394
00:19:13,580 --> 00:19:15,360
Have you ever observed a meeting like this?

395
00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:16,540
Would you like to watch us?

396
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,060
Now, the way that the person comes in,

397
00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:23,420
if he's coming in expecting to remember the

398
00:19:23,420 --> 00:19:26,620
Lord, if he knows something about the history

399
00:19:26,620 --> 00:19:29,740
of the meeting, then that would have a

400
00:19:29,740 --> 00:19:30,580
bearing on it.

401
00:19:31,140 --> 00:19:33,580
But we just can't build a chute and

402
00:19:33,580 --> 00:19:35,980
then just shove everybody through that chute.

403
00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:39,760
Even here we must be dependent upon the

404
00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,780
Lord for his leading and guidance.

405
00:19:43,580 --> 00:19:45,480
We should act in faith.

406
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,280
Now, I will say, I will add this,

407
00:19:49,340 --> 00:19:52,080
that that scripture that says lay hands on

408
00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,160
no man suddenly is not a verse for

409
00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:55,760
reception.

410
00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,640
That is a verse for commendation to the

411
00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:00,700
work of the Lord.

412
00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,160
Now, it does say, as we noticed in

413
00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,940
Romans chapter 14, let's look at that, please.

414
00:20:19,410 --> 00:20:23,270
Him that is weak in the faith receive

415
00:20:23,270 --> 00:20:28,570
you, but not to doubtful disputation.

416
00:20:31,550 --> 00:20:34,370
See, if he's weak in the faith and

417
00:20:34,370 --> 00:20:36,210
it seems to be a matter of reception,

418
00:20:37,770 --> 00:20:42,470
receive you, but not to doubtful disputation.

419
00:20:45,930 --> 00:20:47,690
Now, there are other verses.

420
00:20:56,930 --> 00:21:00,350
I thought I could look right at it,

421
00:21:00,430 --> 00:21:01,710
but I don't seem to see it at

422
00:21:01,710 --> 00:21:02,050
the moment.

423
00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,140
Verse 7 of chapter 15.

424
00:21:09,420 --> 00:21:13,680
Wherefore, receive ye one another, as Christ also

425
00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,540
received us for the glory of God.

426
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:21,140
Receive ye one another.

427
00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:27,880
Now, I have not answered the question.

428
00:21:35,380 --> 00:21:36,380
I will say this.

429
00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,160
Offense has been given, and I think the

430
00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,720
Christians have been stumbled because they were not

431
00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:43,220
received.

432
00:21:46,970 --> 00:21:52,130
Some fear that if he is received, you

433
00:21:52,130 --> 00:21:55,410
may be importing false doctrine into your assembly.

434
00:21:58,130 --> 00:21:59,350
Well, I say this.

435
00:21:59,610 --> 00:22:02,450
If he is received, and you find out

436
00:22:02,450 --> 00:22:07,030
he has false doctrine, straighten him out on

437
00:22:07,030 --> 00:22:07,330
it.

438
00:22:08,830 --> 00:22:11,710
And if he isn't, won't be straightened out

439
00:22:11,710 --> 00:22:14,470
on it, then treat him just like anybody

440
00:22:14,470 --> 00:22:15,930
else of those false doctrines.

441
00:22:16,770 --> 00:22:18,810
He must be denied fellowship.

442
00:22:21,060 --> 00:22:24,020
It's not irrevocable to receive a person into

443
00:22:24,020 --> 00:22:26,120
your meeting and find out you haven't got

444
00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:27,240
what you thought you had.

445
00:22:28,340 --> 00:22:29,440
This happened in Boulder.

446
00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:31,980
A man and his wife came in, and

447
00:22:31,980 --> 00:22:34,780
we found out that they were ultra-dispensationalists

448
00:22:34,780 --> 00:22:37,440
after they were received into the assembly.

449
00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,360
We had some discussions about it, and they

450
00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:44,120
decided that they could not propagate their doctrine

451
00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:46,220
there, and they left quite voluntarily.

452
00:22:47,790 --> 00:22:51,530
And our problem was solved.

453
00:22:52,190 --> 00:22:54,130
But it's not irrevocable.

454
00:22:54,290 --> 00:22:55,590
It's not irreversible.

455
00:22:58,420 --> 00:23:01,560
And these scriptures to me would indicate him

456
00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,860
that is weak in the faith, receive ye,

457
00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,480
but not with doubtful disputation.

458
00:23:09,860 --> 00:23:12,400
Not with reservations either.

459
00:23:13,580 --> 00:23:14,980
Extend your love to him.

460
00:23:16,020 --> 00:23:19,680
I would say that if he came to

461
00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:25,240
you knowing what you held and wanted fellowship,

462
00:23:26,860 --> 00:23:29,420
I don't see him, and he says he

463
00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:33,340
saved and gives a good, clear testimony from

464
00:23:33,340 --> 00:23:35,320
what you were able to talk with him,

465
00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,380
and you find that he has no false

466
00:23:39,380 --> 00:23:42,500
doctrine, how can you do anything else but

467
00:23:42,500 --> 00:23:43,040
receive him?

468
00:23:44,460 --> 00:23:48,850
If he belongs to Christ, how can you

469
00:23:48,850 --> 00:23:50,130
do anything else?

470
00:23:52,510 --> 00:23:56,410
Must you tell him, no, you can't come

471
00:23:56,410 --> 00:23:56,710
here.

472
00:23:59,210 --> 00:24:02,230
And yet at the same time, this is

473
00:24:02,230 --> 00:24:04,470
not a matter, this is not a matter

474
00:24:04,470 --> 00:24:07,770
that can be settled the same way for

475
00:24:07,770 --> 00:24:09,270
everybody that comes in the door.

476
00:24:09,690 --> 00:24:11,750
It's a matter of faith, it's a matter

477
00:24:11,750 --> 00:24:14,210
of prayer, it's a matter of wisdom, and

478
00:24:14,210 --> 00:24:15,650
I think that God will guide.

479
00:24:16,670 --> 00:24:18,710
You know, God has an interest in his

480
00:24:18,710 --> 00:24:25,250
assembly, and if we look to him, surely

481
00:24:25,250 --> 00:24:29,270
he will have something to do in shaking

482
00:24:29,270 --> 00:24:32,890
the certain stances of those who do come

483
00:24:32,890 --> 00:24:34,110
into fellowship, pardon me.

484
00:24:38,180 --> 00:24:41,460
Now I'm not trying to hedge on this

485
00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:44,980
question, I say receive him if you have

486
00:24:44,980 --> 00:24:48,980
a reasonable assurance that he belongs to the

487
00:24:48,980 --> 00:24:50,960
Lord and that he doesn't hold false doctrine.

488
00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,560
A few questions can help in this matter.

489
00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,060
Turns out that he has false doctrine, turns

490
00:25:00,060 --> 00:25:01,980
out that he's morally wrong, you can correct

491
00:25:01,980 --> 00:25:02,280
that.

492
00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:04,520
You can correct it in a hurry, the

493
00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:06,340
Oversight Brethren can take care of that matter

494
00:25:06,340 --> 00:25:06,740
in a hurry.

495
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,440
Not irreversible at all.

496
00:25:10,950 --> 00:25:15,610
Now I trust that I have not cast

497
00:25:15,610 --> 00:25:18,750
a snare on anybody, and I've not given

498
00:25:18,750 --> 00:25:20,810
you, well I have given you my opinion,

499
00:25:20,910 --> 00:25:24,010
very obviously, but I hope that those opinions

500
00:25:24,010 --> 00:25:25,390
are based on the word of God.

501
00:25:26,770 --> 00:25:30,230
May God help us ever and always to

502
00:25:30,230 --> 00:25:33,950
help a weak Christian, especially a young Christian.

503
00:25:40,230 --> 00:25:42,150
Now, tonight, with the help of the Lord,

504
00:25:42,330 --> 00:25:44,830
in the 11th chapter of 1 Corinthians, we

505
00:25:44,830 --> 00:25:47,190
want to consider that lovely meeting of the

506
00:25:47,190 --> 00:25:48,630
church, the worship meeting.

507
00:25:50,010 --> 00:25:52,050
We read in the 11th chapter of 1

508
00:25:52,050 --> 00:25:56,170
Corinthians, verse 17, now in this I declare

509
00:25:56,170 --> 00:25:58,650
unto you, I praise you not, that ye

510
00:25:58,650 --> 00:26:00,670
come together, not for the better, but for

511
00:26:00,670 --> 00:26:01,150
the worse.

512
00:26:02,330 --> 00:26:04,910
For first of all, when ye come together

513
00:26:04,910 --> 00:26:06,870
in the church, I hear that there be

514
00:26:06,870 --> 00:26:10,610
divisions among you, and I partly believe it.

515
00:26:12,010 --> 00:26:15,050
For there must be also heresies among you,

516
00:26:15,130 --> 00:26:17,510
that they which are approved may be made

517
00:26:17,510 --> 00:26:19,050
manifest among you.

518
00:26:20,530 --> 00:26:23,250
When ye come together, therefore, into one place,

519
00:26:23,670 --> 00:26:25,890
this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

520
00:26:26,850 --> 00:26:29,330
For in eating, every one taketh before his

521
00:26:29,330 --> 00:26:31,390
own supper, and one is hungry, and another

522
00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:32,090
is drunken.

523
00:26:34,010 --> 00:26:35,970
What have ye not houses to eat and

524
00:26:35,970 --> 00:26:36,470
drink in?

525
00:26:36,530 --> 00:26:39,290
Or despise ye the church of God, and

526
00:26:39,290 --> 00:26:40,630
shame them that have not?

527
00:26:41,610 --> 00:26:43,210
What shall I say to you?

528
00:26:44,290 --> 00:26:45,750
Shall I praise you in this?

529
00:26:45,870 --> 00:26:46,910
I praise you not.

530
00:26:47,270 --> 00:26:49,150
For I have received of the Lord that

531
00:26:49,150 --> 00:26:52,790
which also I delivered unto you, that the

532
00:26:52,790 --> 00:26:54,690
Lord Jesus, the same night in which he

533
00:26:54,690 --> 00:26:55,890
was betrayed, took bread.

534
00:26:56,650 --> 00:26:58,610
When he had given thanks, he breaketh and

535
00:26:58,610 --> 00:27:01,550
said, Take, eat, this is my body, which

536
00:27:01,550 --> 00:27:03,990
is broken for you, this do in remembrance

537
00:27:03,990 --> 00:27:04,610
of me.

538
00:27:05,510 --> 00:27:07,830
After the same manner also he took the

539
00:27:07,830 --> 00:27:08,030
cup.

540
00:27:08,510 --> 00:27:12,190
When he had supped, saying, This cup is

541
00:27:12,190 --> 00:27:14,230
the new testament in my blood, this do

542
00:27:14,230 --> 00:27:16,590
ye, as often as ye drink it in

543
00:27:16,590 --> 00:27:17,710
remembrance of me.

544
00:27:18,390 --> 00:27:20,270
For as often as ye eat this bread,

545
00:27:20,330 --> 00:27:22,050
and drink this cup, ye do show the

546
00:27:22,050 --> 00:27:23,330
Lord's depth till ye come.

547
00:27:25,210 --> 00:27:28,190
Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink

548
00:27:28,190 --> 00:27:30,890
this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be

549
00:27:30,890 --> 00:27:33,230
guilty of the body and blood of the

550
00:27:33,230 --> 00:27:33,550
Lord.

551
00:27:35,250 --> 00:27:37,510
But let a man examine himself, and so

552
00:27:37,510 --> 00:27:39,150
let him eat of that bread, and drink

553
00:27:39,150 --> 00:27:39,850
of that cup.

554
00:27:40,490 --> 00:27:43,550
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth

555
00:27:43,550 --> 00:27:46,230
and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the

556
00:27:46,230 --> 00:27:46,930
Lord's body.

557
00:27:47,910 --> 00:27:49,850
To this cause many are weak and sickly

558
00:27:49,850 --> 00:27:51,030
among you, and many sleep.

559
00:27:51,890 --> 00:27:54,210
For if we would judge ourselves, we should

560
00:27:54,210 --> 00:27:55,070
not be judged.

561
00:27:55,170 --> 00:27:58,150
But when we are judged, we are chastened

562
00:27:58,150 --> 00:28:00,170
of the Lord, that we should not be

563
00:28:00,170 --> 00:28:01,430
condemned with the world.

564
00:28:01,570 --> 00:28:04,330
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to

565
00:28:04,330 --> 00:28:06,450
eat, tarry one for another.

566
00:28:07,390 --> 00:28:09,650
And if any man hunger, let him eat

567
00:28:09,650 --> 00:28:12,670
it whole, that ye come not together under

568
00:28:12,670 --> 00:28:13,430
condemnation.

569
00:28:14,150 --> 00:28:16,270
And the rest will I set in order

570
00:28:16,270 --> 00:28:18,650
when I come."

571
00:28:20,410 --> 00:28:25,230
This meaning that the Lord's Supper is brought

572
00:28:25,230 --> 00:28:29,690
before us because of certain irregularities at Corinth.

573
00:28:29,810 --> 00:28:32,770
They were making a love feast out of

574
00:28:32,770 --> 00:28:33,750
the Lord's Supper.

575
00:28:35,150 --> 00:28:38,850
And they were making a literal feast out

576
00:28:38,850 --> 00:28:39,090
of it.

577
00:28:39,710 --> 00:28:42,630
And it's not to be a literal feast

578
00:28:42,630 --> 00:28:43,990
at all.

579
00:28:45,550 --> 00:28:48,790
It's all celebrated in the presence of the

580
00:28:48,790 --> 00:28:49,050
Lord.

581
00:28:52,110 --> 00:28:55,210
He says in verse 34, If any man

582
00:28:55,210 --> 00:28:57,170
hunger, let him eat it whole.

583
00:28:57,570 --> 00:29:00,250
Now very obviously when we come together for

584
00:29:00,250 --> 00:29:03,530
the Lord's Supper, we don't come to take

585
00:29:03,530 --> 00:29:07,970
sizable portions of the bread or sizable drinks

586
00:29:07,970 --> 00:29:08,830
of the cup.

587
00:29:09,370 --> 00:29:11,550
If a man hunger, let him eat it

588
00:29:11,550 --> 00:29:11,910
whole.

589
00:29:12,950 --> 00:29:16,130
That ye come not together under condemnation.

590
00:29:16,290 --> 00:29:17,450
And the rest will I set in order

591
00:29:17,450 --> 00:29:18,030
when I come.

592
00:29:18,430 --> 00:29:19,610
It's a token feast.

593
00:29:21,330 --> 00:29:23,230
Therefore, we just take a pinch of the

594
00:29:23,230 --> 00:29:25,950
bread and a sip of the cup.

595
00:29:26,310 --> 00:29:29,650
If you're hungry, well, eat it whole.

596
00:29:30,790 --> 00:29:32,070
But they weren't doing that.

597
00:29:32,150 --> 00:29:34,930
They were making a love feast out of

598
00:29:34,930 --> 00:29:35,110
it.

599
00:29:35,110 --> 00:29:37,330
Which meant, of course, that some of the

600
00:29:37,330 --> 00:29:39,510
Christians didn't have anything to eat and others

601
00:29:39,510 --> 00:29:41,410
were gorging.

602
00:29:41,750 --> 00:29:44,150
Even to the point of getting drunk.

603
00:29:44,290 --> 00:29:46,410
They were drinking to the point of getting

604
00:29:46,410 --> 00:29:46,850
drunk.

605
00:29:49,850 --> 00:29:55,530
This makes it difficult for those people who

606
00:29:55,530 --> 00:29:59,730
hold that the contents must be unfermented grape

607
00:29:59,730 --> 00:30:00,010
juice.

608
00:30:00,170 --> 00:30:01,870
It's a difficult portion for them.

609
00:30:01,870 --> 00:30:04,730
Because these people were getting drunk on it.

610
00:30:07,410 --> 00:30:12,010
Now, the Lord speaks of the, the Apostle

611
00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:14,030
speaks of this as having been given to

612
00:30:14,030 --> 00:30:14,690
him of the Lord.

613
00:30:15,330 --> 00:30:19,530
I have received of the Lord that which

614
00:30:19,530 --> 00:30:21,350
I also delivered unto you, that the Lord

615
00:30:21,350 --> 00:30:23,450
Jesus, the same night in which he was

616
00:30:23,450 --> 00:30:24,350
betrayed, took bread.

617
00:30:24,450 --> 00:30:27,470
Isn't it lovely that our Lord Jesus gave

618
00:30:27,470 --> 00:30:31,590
this to the Apostle Paul by a very

619
00:30:31,590 --> 00:30:32,930
special revelation?

620
00:30:33,410 --> 00:30:35,210
Because I think it's a very special meeting.

621
00:30:37,770 --> 00:30:40,090
It's a meeting where we're just gathered together

622
00:30:40,090 --> 00:30:42,170
to remember the Lord only.

623
00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,820
And to pour out our hearts in worship.

624
00:30:48,180 --> 00:30:50,160
Now, he doesn't say, worship me.

625
00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:52,700
He says, just do this in remembrance of

626
00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:52,920
me.

627
00:30:53,460 --> 00:30:56,840
But how can we call to mind the

628
00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:58,940
death of our Lord Jesus for us?

629
00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:00,620
The love that led him to that death.

630
00:31:01,940 --> 00:31:04,760
How can we call to mind those precious

631
00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,580
scenes and not worship?

632
00:31:09,260 --> 00:31:11,380
To me, it's so lovely that the Lord

633
00:31:11,380 --> 00:31:12,680
doesn't demand our worship.

634
00:31:12,820 --> 00:31:14,820
He just says, do this in remembrance of

635
00:31:14,820 --> 00:31:15,160
me.

636
00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:18,420
Just do it in remembrance.

637
00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,180
And is that asking too much?

638
00:31:21,900 --> 00:31:23,480
To just remember him?

639
00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,640
But of course, when we remember him, the

640
00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,220
worship comes forth.

641
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,840
Now, this certainly is a gathering in the

642
00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:35,360
name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

643
00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:40,380
I think it's our most holy spot on

644
00:31:40,380 --> 00:31:43,960
earth when the saints are gathered together around

645
00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:47,340
the Lord Jesus, the emblems reminding us of

646
00:31:47,340 --> 00:31:51,660
his love, of his broken body and his

647
00:31:51,660 --> 00:31:52,560
outpoured blood.

648
00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,220
It's the nearest spot to heaven.

649
00:31:56,540 --> 00:31:58,360
We're gathered around heaven's center.

650
00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:04,580
We are heaven's people engaged in heaven's occupation.

651
00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:05,500
Worship.

652
00:32:06,660 --> 00:32:08,660
Now, only the thin veil of time and

653
00:32:08,660 --> 00:32:11,020
sense separates us from heaven.

654
00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,240
And that thin veil of time and sense

655
00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,580
means nothing to our Lord Jesus as far

656
00:32:16,580 --> 00:32:18,600
as he's concerned we're there.

657
00:32:19,940 --> 00:32:22,120
And I think sometimes as far as we're

658
00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:23,060
concerned we're there.

659
00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:26,180
I don't think it's going to be too

660
00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:28,100
much difference when we are in heaven than

661
00:32:28,100 --> 00:32:31,040
when we meet around the blessed feet of

662
00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:33,900
our Lord Jesus in the remembrance feast.

663
00:32:34,420 --> 00:32:37,200
It's the most precious meeting of all.

664
00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:41,020
I have said, and I'll say it again,

665
00:32:42,020 --> 00:32:45,240
that if everything else and fundamental Christianity were

666
00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:48,640
equal, which I'm afraid it is not, but

667
00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:53,800
if everything else and fundamental Christianity were equal,

668
00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:58,900
I'd still be where I am, ecclesiastically speaking.

669
00:32:59,380 --> 00:33:02,800
If it were for nothing else than the

670
00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:09,580
remembrance feast, that alone would keep me where

671
00:33:09,580 --> 00:33:10,140
I am.

672
00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:13,980
It's a precious, precious time.

673
00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:15,600
It's a misunderstood time.

674
00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,560
Sometimes the accent in fundamental Christianity many times

675
00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:21,420
is on service.

676
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:23,280
God bless their service.

677
00:33:23,780 --> 00:33:25,160
It's on evangelization.

678
00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:27,420
God bless their evangelization.

679
00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,340
But you know, God puts emphasis in his

680
00:33:31,340 --> 00:33:32,400
word on worship.

681
00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:35,320
God's portion must come first.

682
00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:41,040
I can't quite understand why, in fundamental circles

683
00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:45,080
today, that that feast doesn't hold the place

684
00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,060
that it does in the assembly.

685
00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:50,240
Now, I trust I'm not being sectarian by

686
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:51,720
employing language like that.

687
00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:52,600
I don't mean to be.

688
00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:56,080
But would the God that it were such!

689
00:33:57,380 --> 00:33:59,620
I wish they knew the pleasure of sitting

690
00:33:59,620 --> 00:34:01,520
down in the presence of the Lord Jesus

691
00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:05,940
and pouring out one's heart just to be

692
00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:07,820
occupied with what he has done.

693
00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:13,699
Just to be occupied with his sweetness, the

694
00:34:13,699 --> 00:34:16,980
sweetness of his love, and to fellowship with

695
00:34:16,980 --> 00:34:18,100
the saints of God.

696
00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:20,400
To me, it's heaven on earth.

697
00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:25,139
I don't think that that feast can be

698
00:34:25,139 --> 00:34:25,659
duplicated.

699
00:34:25,780 --> 00:34:27,920
Now, there is a special significance to this

700
00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,060
feast, and the Corinthians were finding that out.

701
00:34:31,060 --> 00:34:33,679
And this is the significance, the special significance

702
00:34:33,679 --> 00:34:34,440
of this feast.

703
00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,260
Many of them were coming into the presence

704
00:34:37,260 --> 00:34:38,139
of the Lord Jesus.

705
00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:39,699
Now, he says, where two or three are

706
00:34:39,699 --> 00:34:42,239
gathered together in my name, there am I

707
00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:43,260
in the midst of them.

708
00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:50,840
Now, the Lord Jesus is certainly keeping that

709
00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,580
promise at the feast of the Lord's Supper.

710
00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:57,540
These Corinthians were seeming to forget that, and

711
00:34:57,540 --> 00:35:00,060
they were bringing unconfessed sin into the presence

712
00:35:00,060 --> 00:35:00,740
of the Lord.

713
00:35:01,540 --> 00:35:04,260
And the judgment of God was visited upon

714
00:35:04,260 --> 00:35:04,380
them.

715
00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:06,360
Now, all sin is done in the presence

716
00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,420
of the Lord for his omniscience.

717
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,560
But bringing that sin to the Lord's table,

718
00:35:14,020 --> 00:35:18,720
it seems that God sets that table apart

719
00:35:18,720 --> 00:35:22,580
in his own precious thoughts to the extent

720
00:35:22,580 --> 00:35:25,760
that to do it, to bring unconfessed sin,

721
00:35:25,780 --> 00:35:27,440
and you know what happens if you bring

722
00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,740
unconfessed sin into the presence of the Lord,

723
00:35:30,900 --> 00:35:32,620
there's only one thing you can do with

724
00:35:32,620 --> 00:35:33,700
it, and that's judge it.

725
00:35:36,340 --> 00:35:39,720
God can't do anything else with unconfessed sin

726
00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:40,740
that's brought into his presence.

727
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:42,080
He's got to judge it.

728
00:35:43,740 --> 00:35:46,820
These Corinthians were not judging themselves before they

729
00:35:46,820 --> 00:35:48,240
came to remember the Lord, and the Lord

730
00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:49,040
had to do it.

731
00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:52,000
Now, he says very, very plainly, for this

732
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,740
cause many are weakly and sickly among you,

733
00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:56,500
and many sleep.

734
00:35:56,500 --> 00:35:59,700
For if we would judge ourselves, we should

735
00:35:59,700 --> 00:36:00,920
not be judged.

736
00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:03,960
I remember of a servant of the Lord,

737
00:36:04,020 --> 00:36:05,080
and I think it was right here in

738
00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:06,760
Omaha, the city of Omaha, that I heard

739
00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:09,460
him say this many, many years ago.

740
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:11,280
Thirty years ago at least.

741
00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:16,700
And he said, he said, my mother used

742
00:36:16,700 --> 00:36:20,420
to tell me, now Charlie, C.W. Ross,

743
00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:24,280
I want you to wash and mind behind

744
00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:24,840
the ears.

745
00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,300
Because she said, if you don't get clean,

746
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:29,900
I'll have to do the job.

747
00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:32,280
He said, I knew what that meant.

748
00:36:33,020 --> 00:36:35,600
I meant that was a mess.

749
00:36:35,820 --> 00:36:38,580
In her left hand a great big soapy

750
00:36:38,580 --> 00:36:41,580
rag, and she'd get me behind the nap

751
00:36:41,580 --> 00:36:43,860
of the neck, and when she got through

752
00:36:43,860 --> 00:36:45,320
with me, I'd be clean.

753
00:36:46,940 --> 00:36:49,620
But she gave me the opportunity to do

754
00:36:49,620 --> 00:36:50,220
it first.

755
00:36:52,570 --> 00:36:55,370
And God gives us the opportunity of judging

756
00:36:55,370 --> 00:36:57,750
sin.

757
00:36:59,070 --> 00:37:00,390
We won't do it.

758
00:37:01,410 --> 00:37:02,430
He will do it.

759
00:37:04,270 --> 00:37:08,290
And those Corinthians were finding out that it

760
00:37:08,290 --> 00:37:12,730
was very, very dangerous, shall I say, to

761
00:37:12,730 --> 00:37:15,210
bring unconfessed sin into the presence of the

762
00:37:15,210 --> 00:37:15,530
Lord.

763
00:37:15,530 --> 00:37:17,570
At this meeting especially.

764
00:37:17,730 --> 00:37:20,010
This is the only time that it's mentioned.

765
00:37:20,150 --> 00:37:21,790
Now I'm not inferring by this.

766
00:37:22,210 --> 00:37:24,370
Don't, please don't put two and two together

767
00:37:24,370 --> 00:37:27,670
and say that I said, or infer that

768
00:37:27,670 --> 00:37:30,090
I said, that this is the only meeting

769
00:37:30,090 --> 00:37:31,590
where the Lord is in the midst of

770
00:37:31,590 --> 00:37:32,030
his people.

771
00:37:32,150 --> 00:37:33,630
He says, where two or three are gathered

772
00:37:33,630 --> 00:37:34,930
together in my name, there am I in

773
00:37:34,930 --> 00:37:35,550
the midst of them.

774
00:37:35,990 --> 00:37:38,330
But I do say it is mentioned in

775
00:37:38,330 --> 00:37:40,190
connection with this meeting, and we better take

776
00:37:40,190 --> 00:37:40,550
notice.

777
00:37:41,430 --> 00:37:43,550
That when we come into the presence of

778
00:37:43,550 --> 00:37:47,430
the Lord, on this special holy occasion, it

779
00:37:47,430 --> 00:37:49,970
seems to me that it sets apart the

780
00:37:49,970 --> 00:37:53,170
remembrance of the Lord Jesus in that simple

781
00:37:53,170 --> 00:37:54,130
manner of his.

782
00:37:54,910 --> 00:37:57,290
It sets it apart in a very, very

783
00:37:57,290 --> 00:37:58,150
special way.

784
00:37:59,030 --> 00:38:00,770
Because this is the only time that I

785
00:38:00,770 --> 00:38:03,270
can recall that this truth is brought before

786
00:38:03,270 --> 00:38:05,850
us in connection with a remembrance feast.

787
00:38:06,570 --> 00:38:09,030
Now, I want to talk more about this,

788
00:38:09,690 --> 00:38:12,390
perhaps tomorrow evening, when we talk about the

789
00:38:12,390 --> 00:38:13,470
functions of the church.

790
00:38:13,870 --> 00:38:17,050
That is, the worship, and the witness, and

791
00:38:17,050 --> 00:38:18,710
the government of the church.

792
00:38:20,350 --> 00:38:22,250
So I think that, in the mind of,

793
00:38:22,390 --> 00:38:23,550
I think in the will of the Lord,

794
00:38:23,630 --> 00:38:24,770
we'll just pass on now.

795
00:38:25,970 --> 00:38:32,370
Now, in the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians,

796
00:38:32,510 --> 00:38:33,790
we have the gift mentioned.

797
00:38:35,430 --> 00:38:39,070
He says, in the first verse of that

798
00:38:39,070 --> 00:38:41,630
chapter, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would

799
00:38:41,630 --> 00:38:42,770
not have you ignorant.

800
00:38:45,050 --> 00:38:46,910
Then he goes on to say, in verse

801
00:38:46,910 --> 00:38:50,150
4, Now there are diversities of gifts, but

802
00:38:50,150 --> 00:38:51,110
the same Spirit.

803
00:38:51,630 --> 00:38:54,850
There are differences of administration, but the same

804
00:38:54,850 --> 00:38:55,650
Lord.

805
00:38:56,350 --> 00:38:59,210
There are diversities of operations, but it is

806
00:38:59,210 --> 00:39:01,450
the same God which worketh all in all.

807
00:39:02,270 --> 00:39:04,710
But the ministration of the Spirit is given

808
00:39:04,710 --> 00:39:06,670
to every man to profit withal.

809
00:39:07,750 --> 00:39:09,550
For to one is given by the Spirit

810
00:39:09,550 --> 00:39:11,910
the word of wisdom, to another the word

811
00:39:11,910 --> 00:39:12,550
of knowledge.

812
00:39:13,310 --> 00:39:15,790
By the same Spirit to another faith by

813
00:39:15,790 --> 00:39:16,650
the same Spirit.

814
00:39:16,770 --> 00:39:18,450
To another the gifts of healing by the

815
00:39:18,450 --> 00:39:19,110
same Spirit.

816
00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:21,550
To another the working of miracles.

817
00:39:21,850 --> 00:39:22,850
To another prophecy.

818
00:39:23,110 --> 00:39:24,630
To another discerning of spirits.

819
00:39:25,070 --> 00:39:27,270
To another diverse kinds of tongues.

820
00:39:27,870 --> 00:39:30,150
To another the interpretation of tongues.

821
00:39:30,150 --> 00:39:34,250
But all these worketh that one and selfsame

822
00:39:34,250 --> 00:39:37,910
Spirit dividing to every man severally as he

823
00:39:37,910 --> 00:39:38,250
will.

824
00:39:38,430 --> 00:39:39,810
That is, as the Spirit will.

825
00:39:40,010 --> 00:39:43,010
The Spirit is absolutely sovereign in these gifts.

826
00:39:43,790 --> 00:39:45,910
Now notice, please, Romans chapter 12.

827
00:40:03,710 --> 00:40:04,430
Verse 6.

828
00:40:04,990 --> 00:40:08,370
Having been gifts differing according to the grace

829
00:40:08,370 --> 00:40:09,790
that is given to us, and the Spirit

830
00:40:09,790 --> 00:40:12,870
of God gives that grace, whether prophecy let

831
00:40:12,870 --> 00:40:15,410
us prophesy according to the proportion of faith,

832
00:40:15,410 --> 00:40:18,830
or ministry let us wait on our ministering,

833
00:40:19,070 --> 00:40:21,950
or he that teacheth on teaching, or he

834
00:40:21,950 --> 00:40:24,650
that exhorteth on exhortation, or he that giveth

835
00:40:24,650 --> 00:40:27,750
let him do it with simplicity, or he

836
00:40:27,750 --> 00:40:31,770
that ruleth with diligence, he that showeth mercy

837
00:40:31,770 --> 00:40:33,670
with cheerfulness.

838
00:40:34,830 --> 00:40:38,450
Now God wants us to keep within our

839
00:40:38,450 --> 00:40:39,390
sphere of gifts.

840
00:40:40,070 --> 00:40:42,570
He has given each of us individually.

841
00:40:42,570 --> 00:40:48,010
He has given us generously gifts to be

842
00:40:48,010 --> 00:40:48,830
used for Him.

843
00:40:49,570 --> 00:40:51,570
Now there's no Christian that does not have

844
00:40:51,570 --> 00:40:51,990
gifts.

845
00:40:52,590 --> 00:40:55,650
I don't know what it is in many

846
00:40:55,650 --> 00:40:56,110
instances.

847
00:40:56,390 --> 00:40:59,530
But every Christian has been given a gift

848
00:40:59,530 --> 00:41:01,830
by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

849
00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:07,800
Now perhaps He gives some more of the

850
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:12,320
gift of, well, the ostentatious, the showy.

851
00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:14,360
The gift that we can see.

852
00:41:15,020 --> 00:41:16,660
And we think of that as being superior

853
00:41:16,660 --> 00:41:22,400
to the gift perhaps of faith, or the

854
00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:23,140
gift of giving.

855
00:41:25,620 --> 00:41:28,080
No, God's gifts I don't think can be

856
00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:28,400
greater.

857
00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,180
They're all from His gracious hands.

858
00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:36,140
And I don't distinguish in any order of

859
00:41:36,140 --> 00:41:36,860
them whatsoever.

860
00:41:37,240 --> 00:41:40,140
God has given to His people liberally.

861
00:41:40,140 --> 00:41:41,460
What is our gift?

862
00:41:42,460 --> 00:41:45,660
What does He want us to do in

863
00:41:45,660 --> 00:41:46,440
the Church of God?

864
00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:47,820
We do have something to do.

865
00:41:49,120 --> 00:41:52,300
Now we have some special gifts there in

866
00:41:52,300 --> 00:41:54,120
the 10th verse of the 12th chapter of

867
00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:57,600
1 Corinthians that I don't want you to

868
00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:02,500
think that I'm going to ignore the diverse

869
00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:04,860
kinds of tongues and to another the interpretation

870
00:42:04,860 --> 00:42:05,260
of tongues.

871
00:42:05,380 --> 00:42:07,520
We'll get to it in due course of

872
00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:07,880
time.

873
00:42:08,980 --> 00:42:12,760
We're not going to ignore it.

874
00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:16,120
It is not faith to be afraid of

875
00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:16,860
the Word of God.

876
00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:20,240
And it isn't faith to take your Bible

877
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:22,480
and turn fast past a certain portion either.

878
00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:24,880
You don't have to do it.

879
00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:27,160
You don't have to just get past that

880
00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:28,440
portion as soon as you can.

881
00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:30,660
Understand it.

882
00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:33,400
And seek the knowledge from the Lord.

883
00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:36,740
And it isn't faith to get through the

884
00:42:36,740 --> 00:42:38,880
12th and the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians

885
00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:40,220
as fast as you can either.

886
00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,140
We don't have to, we don't have to

887
00:42:43,140 --> 00:42:43,620
skip them.

888
00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:45,140
We don't need to be afraid of them

889
00:42:45,140 --> 00:42:45,380
either.

890
00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:48,620
Now God gives these gifts.

891
00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:52,840
And they are for the purpose of the

892
00:42:52,840 --> 00:42:55,280
edification of the assembly.

893
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:58,760
Now we've mentioned them and that's all we've

894
00:42:58,760 --> 00:42:59,960
done is just mention them.

895
00:42:59,960 --> 00:43:02,640
But I do encourage us in each and

896
00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:05,600
every instance to think of what our gift

897
00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:06,160
is.

898
00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:09,740
Now it's not what we choose to excel

899
00:43:09,740 --> 00:43:10,000
in.

900
00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:12,760
It's what the Spirit of God has given

901
00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:13,100
us.

902
00:43:13,180 --> 00:43:16,360
And it's our business to get before the

903
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,820
Lord and find out what that gift is.

904
00:43:19,500 --> 00:43:21,320
You say, I don't know what it is.

905
00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:23,880
Well many times I think the people of

906
00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:27,460
God sometimes will recognize gifts that are within

907
00:43:27,460 --> 00:43:31,300
us that perhaps we don't even see ourselves.

908
00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:36,660
Now they're not spiritually ignorant, the people of

909
00:43:36,660 --> 00:43:37,400
God are not.

910
00:43:37,460 --> 00:43:40,860
And often times they can see what is

911
00:43:40,860 --> 00:43:44,260
our gift better than perhaps we can ourselves.

912
00:43:45,540 --> 00:43:47,740
I do think that gifts should be encouraged

913
00:43:47,740 --> 00:43:48,720
where we find it.

914
00:43:49,900 --> 00:43:52,480
But I think that with a little introspection

915
00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:55,460
and a little prayer we can see what

916
00:43:55,460 --> 00:43:56,580
our own gift is.

917
00:43:56,580 --> 00:44:00,160
But I say this, don't ever say that

918
00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:01,780
God hasn't given you a gift.

919
00:44:02,020 --> 00:44:02,840
He has.

920
00:44:03,620 --> 00:44:05,040
That's for you to determine.

921
00:44:05,780 --> 00:44:08,240
If I see it, perhaps I'll even mention

922
00:44:08,240 --> 00:44:08,560
it.

923
00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:12,500
But be sure that you get before the

924
00:44:12,500 --> 00:44:14,080
Lord in the matter of gifts.

925
00:44:14,180 --> 00:44:16,780
Because he has given gifts to all of

926
00:44:16,780 --> 00:44:19,220
those that are in the church.

927
00:44:19,340 --> 00:44:23,440
There is another verse that I may want

928
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:25,520
to, let me check on it just a

929
00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:25,760
moment.

930
00:44:26,700 --> 00:44:29,260
I don't know whether it fits at this

931
00:44:29,260 --> 00:44:30,780
particular moment or not.

932
00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:35,960
I think perhaps it would.

933
00:44:37,160 --> 00:44:38,480
Ephesians 4, 7.

934
00:44:38,780 --> 00:44:40,180
I'll just refer to it and then we'll

935
00:44:40,180 --> 00:44:40,980
pass on quickly.

936
00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:52,380
Ephesians 4 and 7.

937
00:44:56,900 --> 00:44:58,880
But unto every one of us is given

938
00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:03,500
grace according to the measure of the gift

939
00:45:03,500 --> 00:45:04,180
of Christ.

940
00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,420
It's unto every one of us.

941
00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:11,980
Now, there are some specialized gifts in verse

942
00:45:11,980 --> 00:45:12,620
11.

943
00:45:13,820 --> 00:45:15,100
And they are persons.

944
00:45:16,820 --> 00:45:19,240
But unto every one of us is given

945
00:45:19,240 --> 00:45:21,420
grace according to the measure of the gift

946
00:45:21,420 --> 00:45:22,040
of Christ.

947
00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:24,820
And, of course, the Spirit himself is the

948
00:45:24,820 --> 00:45:25,980
giver of those gifts.

949
00:45:26,660 --> 00:45:29,040
Christ working through the Spirit.

950
00:45:31,140 --> 00:45:33,800
Now, in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians

951
00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:35,220
we have the love chapter.

952
00:45:36,040 --> 00:45:38,240
It's to be the very atmosphere of the

953
00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:38,580
church.

954
00:45:40,240 --> 00:45:42,120
We have the gifts of the church.

955
00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:45,900
In chapter 12 we have the body of

956
00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:47,880
the church, which we've already considered in the

957
00:45:47,880 --> 00:45:48,880
latter part of the chapter.

958
00:45:50,360 --> 00:45:52,880
But in verse 13 we have the very

959
00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:55,020
atmosphere of the church itself.

960
00:45:55,720 --> 00:45:57,700
And he says, Though I speak with the

961
00:45:57,700 --> 00:46:00,600
tongues of men and of angels, and have

962
00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:03,880
not love, I am become as a sounding

963
00:46:03,880 --> 00:46:05,600
brass or a tinkling cymbal.

964
00:46:07,420 --> 00:46:09,820
And I'm sure that we could do without

965
00:46:09,820 --> 00:46:10,820
that, couldn't we?

966
00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:13,440
To have somebody in here with a couple

967
00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:16,480
of great big cymbals slamming them together.

968
00:46:17,820 --> 00:46:20,280
Well, one might as well do that as

969
00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:24,840
to speak in the most gifted way without

970
00:46:24,840 --> 00:46:27,300
his motive being love.

971
00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:30,380
And though I have the gift of prophecy,

972
00:46:30,560 --> 00:46:33,340
certainly exercised within the framework of the church,

973
00:46:34,060 --> 00:46:36,580
and understood all mysteries and all knowledge, and

974
00:46:36,580 --> 00:46:39,020
though I have all faith so that I

975
00:46:39,020 --> 00:46:41,000
can remove mountains and have not love, I

976
00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:41,500
am nothing.

977
00:46:41,500 --> 00:46:43,420
And though I bestow all my goods to

978
00:46:43,420 --> 00:46:45,560
feed the poor, and though I give my

979
00:46:45,560 --> 00:46:47,620
body to be burned and have not love,

980
00:46:48,340 --> 00:46:49,780
it prompts me nothing.

981
00:46:51,140 --> 00:46:53,400
Love suffereth long in its kind.

982
00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:55,040
Love envieth not.

983
00:46:55,420 --> 00:46:57,920
Love vomit not itself is not up.

984
00:46:59,680 --> 00:47:02,080
We have this lovely, lovely chapter.

985
00:47:02,380 --> 00:47:04,660
The very atmosphere of the church is to

986
00:47:04,660 --> 00:47:05,300
be love.

987
00:47:06,100 --> 00:47:08,200
And when love is the atmosphere of the

988
00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:11,460
church, everything will be in order.

989
00:47:11,820 --> 00:47:13,240
Everything will be peaceable.

990
00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:16,840
Because love does not behave itself unseemly.

991
00:47:16,980 --> 00:47:17,840
It won't give offense.

992
00:47:18,780 --> 00:47:20,200
It is not self-seeking.

993
00:47:20,380 --> 00:47:21,700
It's not easily provoked.

994
00:47:22,420 --> 00:47:25,620
It doesn't put the worst construction upon things.

995
00:47:25,740 --> 00:47:28,680
It puts the best construction upon things.

996
00:47:29,780 --> 00:47:32,960
And it rejoices when the truth is spoken.

997
00:47:33,120 --> 00:47:34,200
It bears all things.

998
00:47:34,300 --> 00:47:35,340
It believes all things.

999
00:47:36,340 --> 00:47:40,500
Certainly, this is to be the atmosphere of

1000
00:47:40,500 --> 00:47:41,060
the church.

1001
00:47:41,940 --> 00:47:44,120
And now the 14th chapter of Corinthians.

1002
00:47:44,580 --> 00:47:52,180
Those gifts of speaking in tongues, which have

1003
00:47:52,180 --> 00:47:58,880
been such a trouble to some Christian circles

1004
00:47:58,880 --> 00:47:59,860
in this day and age.

1005
00:48:03,040 --> 00:48:06,830
Now, in this matter of speaking in tongues

1006
00:48:06,830 --> 00:48:09,050
in our day and age, I think if

1007
00:48:09,050 --> 00:48:11,210
we read the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians,

1008
00:48:11,350 --> 00:48:14,430
it would settle the whole matter within the

1009
00:48:14,430 --> 00:48:16,030
limits of the chapter itself.

1010
00:48:17,330 --> 00:48:20,990
But certainly, we can bring other verses to

1011
00:48:20,990 --> 00:48:22,590
bear on it later.

1012
00:48:22,810 --> 00:48:24,590
Why was the gift of tongues given?

1013
00:48:24,690 --> 00:48:25,890
It was given as Pentecost.

1014
00:48:27,050 --> 00:48:30,290
And the Jews heard in the language of

1015
00:48:30,290 --> 00:48:32,630
the nations where they were born from whence

1016
00:48:32,630 --> 00:48:33,210
they came.

1017
00:48:33,830 --> 00:48:37,510
They heard the wonderful story of the gospel

1018
00:48:37,510 --> 00:48:40,470
at Pentecost told out in their own language.

1019
00:48:41,410 --> 00:48:43,310
I couldn't think of a thing that would

1020
00:48:43,310 --> 00:48:47,770
be more definitely miraculous than for me to

1021
00:48:47,770 --> 00:48:48,950
start out right now.

1022
00:48:49,430 --> 00:48:50,230
And we're going to do it.

1023
00:48:50,870 --> 00:48:53,190
Start right now talking in German.

1024
00:48:56,350 --> 00:48:58,770
If I could just start reeling off German

1025
00:48:58,770 --> 00:49:02,570
right at this moment, I'd say it was

1026
00:49:02,570 --> 00:49:03,010
a miracle.

1027
00:49:05,230 --> 00:49:06,890
And I think you'd say it was a

1028
00:49:06,890 --> 00:49:07,550
miracle, too.

1029
00:49:08,970 --> 00:49:11,050
Think of what happened there at Pentecost.

1030
00:49:12,470 --> 00:49:18,070
Galileans, speaking in all the various languages of

1031
00:49:18,070 --> 00:49:20,790
all those people that had come up to

1032
00:49:20,790 --> 00:49:22,090
Jerusalem at that time.

1033
00:49:22,290 --> 00:49:23,050
It was a miracle.

1034
00:49:23,990 --> 00:49:26,690
And they recognized it as a miracle.

1035
00:49:27,770 --> 00:49:30,530
And I don't think anything would be easier

1036
00:49:30,530 --> 00:49:33,690
to recognize than a miracle as a miracle

1037
00:49:33,690 --> 00:49:36,350
than this very thing that took place.

1038
00:49:37,810 --> 00:49:40,610
But it had a very definite purpose.

1039
00:49:41,910 --> 00:49:43,570
It connoted to these people.

1040
00:49:44,130 --> 00:49:48,930
It brought the message of the gospel to

1041
00:49:48,930 --> 00:49:49,390
these people.

1042
00:49:50,190 --> 00:49:51,250
In their own language.

1043
00:49:51,850 --> 00:49:52,930
Better understood.

1044
00:49:53,650 --> 00:49:56,250
Now, God tells us in the 14th chapter

1045
00:49:56,250 --> 00:49:59,390
of 1 Corinthians why the gift of tongues

1046
00:49:59,390 --> 00:49:59,870
was given.

1047
00:50:01,410 --> 00:50:08,710
It says, well, let's read verse 18 of

1048
00:50:08,710 --> 00:50:10,510
the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

1049
00:50:10,590 --> 00:50:13,410
We're going to skip a lot of ground

1050
00:50:13,410 --> 00:50:13,770
here.

1051
00:50:13,890 --> 00:50:16,350
I thank my God I speak with tongues

1052
00:50:16,350 --> 00:50:17,430
more than ye all.

1053
00:50:18,430 --> 00:50:20,510
Now, if it weren't for this verse of

1054
00:50:20,510 --> 00:50:22,850
the New Testament, you'd never know that the

1055
00:50:22,850 --> 00:50:24,230
Apostle Paul spoke in tongues.

1056
00:50:25,790 --> 00:50:27,650
He certainly didn't make much of it.

1057
00:50:27,930 --> 00:50:29,570
But he says, I thank my God I

1058
00:50:29,570 --> 00:50:31,490
speak with tongues more than ye all.

1059
00:50:32,370 --> 00:50:34,870
Yet in the church I had rather speak

1060
00:50:34,870 --> 00:50:38,350
five words with my understanding that by my

1061
00:50:38,350 --> 00:50:40,490
voice I might teach others also.

1062
00:50:41,450 --> 00:50:43,450
And the thought of ministry in the church

1063
00:50:43,450 --> 00:50:45,910
of God is edification ever and always.

1064
00:50:46,310 --> 00:50:47,950
And it was not to be done unless

1065
00:50:47,950 --> 00:50:49,930
edification was the result.

1066
00:50:49,930 --> 00:50:53,910
He said, yet in the church I'd rather

1067
00:50:53,910 --> 00:50:56,790
speak five words with my understanding that by

1068
00:50:56,790 --> 00:50:59,430
my voice I might teach others also than

1069
00:50:59,430 --> 00:51:02,910
ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

1070
00:51:05,420 --> 00:51:08,180
Well, I fancy that some people would rather

1071
00:51:08,180 --> 00:51:11,320
speak ten thousand words in an unknown tongue

1072
00:51:11,320 --> 00:51:13,480
than five words with their own understanding.

1073
00:51:14,620 --> 00:51:17,660
That's just turning around the word of God.

1074
00:51:17,660 --> 00:51:21,440
Now, I can speak five words with my

1075
00:51:21,440 --> 00:51:23,380
own understanding, thank God.

1076
00:51:25,000 --> 00:51:29,200
Now, he says, brethren, be not children in

1077
00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:29,860
understanding.

1078
00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:33,940
Howbeit in malice be ye children, but in

1079
00:51:33,940 --> 00:51:35,040
understanding be men.

1080
00:51:35,620 --> 00:51:37,340
I think the reason he says this was

1081
00:51:37,340 --> 00:51:42,000
because they were taking a childish delight in

1082
00:51:42,000 --> 00:51:42,560
this gift.

1083
00:51:43,800 --> 00:51:45,680
And Paul says, don't be children.

1084
00:51:46,940 --> 00:51:49,160
If you want to be children, be children

1085
00:51:49,160 --> 00:51:51,280
in the matter of malice, because children don't

1086
00:51:51,280 --> 00:51:51,880
hold malice.

1087
00:51:52,520 --> 00:51:53,720
You can be children that way.

1088
00:51:54,780 --> 00:51:56,820
But don't be children in this respect.

1089
00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:00,620
And then he goes on to say, In

1090
00:52:00,620 --> 00:52:02,920
the law it is written, with men of

1091
00:52:02,920 --> 00:52:05,540
other tongues and other lips will I speak

1092
00:52:05,540 --> 00:52:06,360
unto this people.

1093
00:52:07,240 --> 00:52:09,540
And yet for all that they will not

1094
00:52:09,540 --> 00:52:10,900
hear me, saith the Lord.

1095
00:52:11,860 --> 00:52:14,280
Why, tongues have been prophesied in the Old

1096
00:52:14,280 --> 00:52:14,620
Testament.

1097
00:52:16,020 --> 00:52:18,440
It's an actual fact.

1098
00:52:18,680 --> 00:52:21,420
In the Old Testament, God prophesied that people

1099
00:52:21,420 --> 00:52:22,560
would be speaking with tongues.

1100
00:52:25,700 --> 00:52:27,800
And then he goes on to say, Wherefore

1101
00:52:27,800 --> 00:52:31,180
tongues are for a sign, not to them

1102
00:52:31,180 --> 00:52:34,420
that believe, but to them that believe not.

1103
00:52:35,720 --> 00:52:40,220
But prophesying serveth not for them that believe

1104
00:52:40,220 --> 00:52:43,140
not, but for them which believe.

1105
00:52:43,980 --> 00:52:45,980
Now this is to be a sign to

1106
00:52:45,980 --> 00:52:46,340
whom?

1107
00:52:47,720 --> 00:52:48,600
To Israel.

1108
00:52:49,580 --> 00:52:51,880
Because it says, with men of other tongues

1109
00:52:51,880 --> 00:52:53,900
and other lips will I speak unto this

1110
00:52:53,900 --> 00:52:54,320
people.

1111
00:52:54,360 --> 00:52:55,980
And the prophecy was made to Israel.

1112
00:52:57,460 --> 00:53:00,400
So tongues was a sign, and the Jews

1113
00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:01,440
require a sign.

1114
00:53:02,880 --> 00:53:05,020
They require it, and God says, I'm going

1115
00:53:05,020 --> 00:53:05,820
to give it to you.

1116
00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:10,200
And he gave them a sign in these

1117
00:53:10,200 --> 00:53:10,620
tongues.

1118
00:53:10,620 --> 00:53:13,160
And this was prophesied in the Old Testament.

1119
00:53:14,000 --> 00:53:16,560
That God would speak to them in this

1120
00:53:16,560 --> 00:53:16,900
matter.

1121
00:53:17,620 --> 00:53:20,580
All right, are tongues for today?

1122
00:53:21,720 --> 00:53:23,400
Are they for our day and age?

1123
00:53:24,040 --> 00:53:28,320
I heard of a man saying, Now these

1124
00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:29,500
are the gifts of the Spirit.

1125
00:53:29,620 --> 00:53:31,860
So the one is given by the Spirit

1126
00:53:31,860 --> 00:53:33,800
a word of wisdom, to another the word

1127
00:53:33,800 --> 00:53:35,740
of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another

1128
00:53:35,740 --> 00:53:37,520
faith by the same Spirit, to another the

1129
00:53:37,520 --> 00:53:39,880
gift of healing by the same Spirit, to

1130
00:53:39,880 --> 00:53:42,540
another the working of miracles, to another prophecy,

1131
00:53:42,960 --> 00:53:46,780
to another discerning of spirits, to another diverse

1132
00:53:46,780 --> 00:53:49,300
kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.

1133
00:53:49,660 --> 00:53:51,080
Now these are the gifts of the Spirit.

1134
00:53:51,180 --> 00:53:53,020
Now which shall we arbitrarily rule out?

1135
00:53:55,120 --> 00:53:57,080
Shall we say, well, let's rule out the

1136
00:53:57,080 --> 00:53:57,280
tongues.

1137
00:53:57,660 --> 00:53:58,200
Throw them out.

1138
00:54:00,100 --> 00:54:02,920
Well, that's quite an argument, isn't it?

1139
00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:04,960
Which are you going to arbitrarily dismiss?

1140
00:54:05,400 --> 00:54:06,120
The tongues?

1141
00:54:09,380 --> 00:54:11,480
Well, that might give you a little trouble

1142
00:54:11,480 --> 00:54:13,860
if you thought very long on it.

1143
00:54:14,720 --> 00:54:18,040
But I would counter by referring them to

1144
00:54:18,040 --> 00:54:20,040
the 16th chapter of Mark.

1145
00:54:20,500 --> 00:54:22,540
Notice it with me, please.

1146
00:54:23,340 --> 00:54:24,960
Mark chapter 16.

1147
00:54:29,300 --> 00:54:30,780
And verse 17.

1148
00:54:32,600 --> 00:54:39,710
These signs shall follow them that believe.

1149
00:54:39,710 --> 00:54:43,280
Mark 16, 17.

1150
00:54:43,460 --> 00:54:47,020
In my name shall they cast out devils.

1151
00:54:48,020 --> 00:54:49,980
They shall speak with new tongues.

1152
00:54:51,320 --> 00:54:52,780
They shall take up serpents.

1153
00:54:55,340 --> 00:54:58,160
And if they drink any deadly thing, it

1154
00:54:58,160 --> 00:54:59,000
shall not hurt them.

1155
00:55:00,180 --> 00:55:01,900
They shall lay hands on the sick.

1156
00:55:03,260 --> 00:55:04,200
They shall recover.

1157
00:55:06,260 --> 00:55:08,840
These signs shall follow them that believe.

1158
00:55:10,680 --> 00:55:13,160
Now, if they insist that I keep the

1159
00:55:13,160 --> 00:55:18,060
category in the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians

1160
00:55:18,060 --> 00:55:20,900
intact without throwing anything out, I'm going to

1161
00:55:20,900 --> 00:55:24,840
insist that they keep the list in Mark

1162
00:55:24,840 --> 00:55:28,200
16 without throwing anything out.

1163
00:55:28,220 --> 00:55:29,320
And they're going to have trouble with those

1164
00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:30,620
snakes and with that poison.

1165
00:55:34,300 --> 00:55:35,560
That's going to give them a little bit

1166
00:55:35,560 --> 00:55:35,920
of trouble.

1167
00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:38,940
I'm not picking up any cobras.

1168
00:55:41,730 --> 00:55:43,470
And I don't think they are either.

1169
00:55:45,410 --> 00:55:48,990
But God did act in a wonderful way

1170
00:55:48,990 --> 00:55:50,730
at the beginning of this dispensation.

1171
00:55:52,190 --> 00:55:54,270
And Paul was bitten by one of these

1172
00:55:54,270 --> 00:55:54,850
vipers.

1173
00:55:56,090 --> 00:55:57,730
And it had no effect on him.

1174
00:55:59,650 --> 00:56:00,930
I don't know about the poison.

1175
00:56:01,050 --> 00:56:03,450
I don't know if there's any historical instances

1176
00:56:03,450 --> 00:56:05,030
in it or not.

1177
00:56:07,410 --> 00:56:09,130
Are tongues for today?

1178
00:56:11,150 --> 00:56:12,190
Tongues were given.

1179
00:56:12,190 --> 00:56:13,650
Tongues were given as a special sign to

1180
00:56:13,650 --> 00:56:14,430
the Jews.

1181
00:56:19,360 --> 00:56:22,180
And in the early days of the church,

1182
00:56:22,340 --> 00:56:24,400
it was composed of Jew and Gentile, but

1183
00:56:24,400 --> 00:56:26,120
it's largely Gentile today.

1184
00:56:29,840 --> 00:56:35,240
And even if it were for our day

1185
00:56:35,240 --> 00:56:37,200
and age, I still wouldn't be interested.

1186
00:56:38,560 --> 00:56:39,740
I say if.

1187
00:56:40,320 --> 00:56:41,480
Don't misunderstand me.

1188
00:56:41,980 --> 00:56:44,000
If it were for this day and age,

1189
00:56:44,040 --> 00:56:46,600
I still would not be interested because I

1190
00:56:46,600 --> 00:56:50,100
still can speak the English language and I

1191
00:56:50,100 --> 00:56:53,240
can still make myself understood through the Lord.

1192
00:56:54,520 --> 00:56:57,180
I can praise Him with the one language

1193
00:56:57,180 --> 00:56:58,700
that I do know and I can communicate

1194
00:56:58,700 --> 00:56:59,300
with you.

1195
00:57:00,940 --> 00:57:04,520
Now those that really believe that they have

1196
00:57:04,520 --> 00:57:07,680
the gift of tongues, I suppose that this

1197
00:57:07,680 --> 00:57:09,360
means that if they go to the mission

1198
00:57:09,360 --> 00:57:11,540
field, they don't have to go to language

1199
00:57:11,540 --> 00:57:12,000
school.

1200
00:57:12,420 --> 00:57:13,880
Oh, let's not bring that up.

1201
00:57:16,490 --> 00:57:17,690
Let's not bring that up.

1202
00:57:19,900 --> 00:57:21,180
As a matter of fact, they do.

1203
00:57:21,180 --> 00:57:22,980
They have to go to language school.

1204
00:57:24,060 --> 00:57:25,980
Whether they've got the gift of tongues or

1205
00:57:25,980 --> 00:57:31,730
not, I don't believe it.

1206
00:57:33,930 --> 00:57:38,470
I'm not interested in it, in the gift

1207
00:57:38,470 --> 00:57:40,990
of tongues, because I can still speak those

1208
00:57:40,990 --> 00:57:42,830
five words with my own understanding.

1209
00:57:43,670 --> 00:57:45,830
And Paul says I'd rather speak five words

1210
00:57:45,830 --> 00:57:49,850
with my own understanding than 10,000 words

1211
00:57:49,850 --> 00:57:51,690
in an unknown tongue.

1212
00:57:51,850 --> 00:57:56,430
I could talk on them indefinitely, but I'll

1213
00:57:56,430 --> 00:57:59,850
say this, that those people that I have

1214
00:57:59,850 --> 00:58:05,610
seen take up this practice are highly subjective

1215
00:58:05,610 --> 00:58:09,950
in character and in the end, if you

1216
00:58:09,950 --> 00:58:13,010
really will analyze the thing, they are occupied

1217
00:58:14,510 --> 00:58:18,170
with their own experience rather than with the

1218
00:58:18,170 --> 00:58:18,510
Lord.

1219
00:58:20,630 --> 00:58:23,070
They take a childish delight in something that

1220
00:58:23,070 --> 00:58:26,170
the Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about.

1221
00:58:26,410 --> 00:58:29,210
Now don't be like children in understanding.

1222
00:58:29,630 --> 00:58:30,890
Be like children in battle.

1223
00:58:31,930 --> 00:58:35,870
But don't take a childish delight in something

1224
00:58:35,870 --> 00:58:36,410
like that.

1225
00:58:38,010 --> 00:58:43,270
Now, we could possibly say more, but our

1226
00:58:43,270 --> 00:58:46,850
time is up and we want to observe

1227
00:58:46,850 --> 00:58:49,670
the time for the sake of those who

1228
00:58:49,670 --> 00:58:54,770
are, have young people here tonight.

1229
00:58:54,990 --> 00:59:00,050
So may God bless these few considerations for

1230
00:59:00,050 --> 00:59:00,510
His glory.

1231
00:59:00,870 --> 00:59:03,950
Mr. Raymond Rogers, would you please close the

1232
00:59:03,950 --> 00:59:04,670
work session?