i.
In a broad sense
all Christians
ii.
In the local
sense a local congregation of Christians
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
"Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly
received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were
added to them. 42 And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many
wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were
together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to
the church daily those who were being saved.
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place
call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Eph 4:11-16
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the
saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness
of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head -- Christ --
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every
joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its
share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from
the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through
Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that
now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the
principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in
Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence
through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my
tribulations for you, which is your glory.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will
build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
17. Jesus tells us it is HIS church, HIS bride, and when
He returns I don’t want Him to find MY FINGERPRINTS on HIS BRIDE!
a.
Because it is
HIS church, Hell will not prevail against it – the moment we take over – we are
VULNERABLE!
b.
Because it is
His church, we are ruled – we are SUBJECT – we are to be SUBMITTED to Him in
everything!
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the
church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church
is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in
everything.
18. Will we do it perfectly? No, but if we have a
submissive heart, then when we err, we will immediately yield to Him and get
back on track
a.
And we can be
secure in this place – because He loves us…
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just
as the Lord does the church.
2 Shepherd the flock of God
which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest
gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the crown of glory that does not fade away.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood.
i.
Received by
leading of the Holy Spirit
ii.
Confirmed by
prophecy and By the Word of God?
iii.
Confirmed by
those who are in spiritual authority (laying on of hands)
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out
for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that
would be unprofitable for you.
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers,
knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered
together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
24 And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ps 84:4
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You.
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Acts 2:42
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Rom 10:14-15
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they
hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written:
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of
peace,Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
2 Tim 4:1-2
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the
word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching.
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1 Tim 4:13-16
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine. …16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
i.
Pergamos &
Thyatira both held to false doctrines
ii.
Jesus had STERN
WARNINGS – repent or I will for you!
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There
are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities
of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
35. You may have noted that there has been quite a lot of
teaching over the last year on the “gifts of the Holy Spirit”
a.
Not trying to
make you all “Pentecostals”
b.
But to reveal to you that God has given gifts to His
church for the edification (building up) of His church
c.
And we are minister to one another with these gifts
d.
Healing, words of wisdom & knowledge, prophecy
e.
Also helps, administrations, teachings
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be
for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
36. We are one body – with one God, one Lord, one
Spirit – WE NEED EACH OTHER
a. Are you rejoicing? Isn’t it a blessing to have someone to rejoice with?
b. Hurting – we are to comfort one another (2 Cor 1)
c. Fallen into sin?
Restore one another in gentleness (Gal 6:1)
d. Have a need? We are to share our goods (1 John
3:17)
37. It is a cold, harsh world – our church family
ought to be a refuge where we can find comfort – love – peace – support –
prayer – and above all LOVE
Heb 10:23-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to
stir up love and good works,
James 5:13-18
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him
sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise
him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your
trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly
that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six
months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth
produced its fruit.
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a
brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But
if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is
one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge
another?
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will
judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to
judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?
How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments
concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least
esteemed by the church to judge?
Matt 18:15-17
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his
fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother. 16 But if he will not hear,
take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.' 17
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses
even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax
collector.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted.
1 Cor 5:1-5
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles -- that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged
(krino!) (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with
my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to
Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that
one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been
made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member
but many.
15
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,"
is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I
am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were
hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all
one member, where would the body be?
20
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye
cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head
to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those
members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those
members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow
greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our
presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater
honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the
body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if
one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is
honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Part III
Rom 15:5 Now may the God of
patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according
to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
i.
His word –
worship – prayer – filled by Spirit
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so
loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 1:5-7
This
is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is
light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship
with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But
if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Col 3:9 since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put
on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who
created him,
Col 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the
bond of perfection.
31
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from
you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.