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Gospel Meeting. Starts Next Sunday!. November 12-17, 2006. Larry Ray Hafley. Quiet Please. Prepare yourself for worship. Let others prepare to worship. Think about what worship is. Staying. Spiritually. Solid. 3 Basic Essentials. Prayer Bible Study Attendance. Lesson 1.
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Gospel Meeting Starts Next Sunday! November 12-17, 2006 Larry Ray Hafley
Quiet Please • Prepare yourself for worship. • Let others prepare to worship. • Think about what worship is.
Staying Spiritually Solid 3 Basic Essentials • Prayer • Bible Study • Attendance
Lesson 1 Pray Without Ceasing I. The Time For Prayer II. The Place For Prayer III. The Reasons For Prayer IV. The Manner Of Prayer V. The Content Of Prayer
Lesson 2 Bible Study I. Instruction to Study II. Need to Study III. Frequency of Study IV. Way to Study
Attendance 1. Those who are weak (or become weak) usually miss a lot of services a. Problem: do not think they miss so much b. In fact - think they do quite well! c. Most say: their absence is justified (sick, work, etc.)
Attendance 1. Those who are weak (or become weak) usually miss a lot of services 2. Common Problem: think nothing of missing a. Meetings – own number not there – missing 2- 3 of the nights b. Reasons for missing:
Varied Reasons • Working overtime – by choice • Working – because don’t try avoid / insist… • Least of sickness (headache, sniffle, etc.) • Tired • School related events (ball games, practice…) • Just not interested!
Attendance 1. Those who are weak (or become weak) usually miss a lot of services 2. Common Problem: think nothing of missing 3. Point is – that if a Christian: The Rest Will Come • Prays - Regularly • Studies - Diligently • Attends - Faithfully Will Be Spiritually Strong
Attendance I. Commanded
I. Commanded A. The Text: Heb. 10:25
Hebrews 10:25 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. NKJV not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. NAS
I. Commanded A. The Text: Heb. 10:25 B. Assembling 1. Not assembly (as one or AM service) 2. Act of assembling
I. Commanded A. The Text: Heb. 10:25 B. Assembling C. Forsake 1. Not permanent abandonment only 2. Includes occasional – one time a) Matt. 27:46 – “Why…forsaken me?” b) 2 Tim. 4:10, 16 – Demas & all forsook c) Heb. 13:5 – “I will never…forsake..”
I. Commanded A. The Text: Heb. 10:25 B. Assembling C. Forsake D. Context: Persecution
Persecutions • Heb. 12:4 - resistance • Heb. 12:1-6 - Chastening = Suffering • Heb. 12:12 - discouraged • Heb. 10:33 - made spectacles • Heb. 10:34 - loss of possessions / Prison
Robert Milligan: “The primary object of our author in writing this Epistle, was manifestly to persuade his Hebrew brethren in Christ to persevere to the end in their begun Christian course; and not fall back to Judaism….The same spirit of envy and malice which moved the unbelieving Jews to put to death the Lord of life and glory, still prompted and excited them to harass and annoy in every conceivable way his innocent and unoffending followers. The Scribes and rulers exercised all their powers of logic, rhetoric, and sophistry, against the disciples of the despised Nazarene, as they were wont to call our Immanuel; and when the force of argument was unavailing, they had recourse to persecution. Some of them they killed; some, they put into prison; and others, they despoiled of their goods: - and all this they did with the view of putting a stop to the progress of Christianity, and inducing all to follow Moses as their leader.” Commentary on Hebrews, 32
Robert Milligan: “The Apostle refers here, not to apostasy from the Church, as some allege, but simply to the neglect of public and social worship. The time when this letter was written was manifestly a time of persecution in Jerusalem and, perhaps, throughout Palestine (ch. xii. 4). Many of the Hebrew brethren were no doubt greatly discouraged; and some of them had fallen into the habit of neglecting their regular meetings of the church.” Commentary on Hebrews, 283
Authur W. Pink: “Following the persecution spoken of in Acts 8:1, the eminent scholar, Adoph Saphir – himself a converted Jew – tells us: ‘Then arose another persecution of the believers, especially directed against the apostle Paul. Festus died about the year 63, and under the high priest, Ananias, who favoured the Sadducees, the Christian Hebrews were persecuted as transgressors of the law. Some of them were stoned to death; and though this extreme punishment could not be frequently inflicted by the Sanhedrin, they were able to subject their brethren to sufferings and reproaches which they felt keenly. It was a small thing that they confiscated their goods; but they were banished from the holy places. Continued An Exposition of Hebrews, 12
Authur W. Pink: Hitherto they had enjoyed the privileges of devout Israelites: they could take part in the beautiful and God-appointed services of the sanctuary; but now they were treated as unclean and apostates. Unless they gave up faith in Jesus, and forsook the assembling of themselves together, they were not allowed to enter the Temple, they were banished from the alter, the sacrifice, the high priest, the house of Jehovah.’” An Exposition of Hebrews, 12
“As manner of some is” • Some had habit / practice of forsaking. • “Some may have been deterred by the fear of persecution, as those who were thus assembled would be more exposed to danger than others.” (Barnes). • Something - causing the problem: • Whatever it was - not a legitimate excuse. • Whatever it was - should have assembled. • Either not specifically address - or persecution implied
Forsake Because of Persecution Forsake Because of (Your Reason) How Do These Compare?
Attendance I. Commanded II. Priorities
II. Priorities A. Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters 1. Matt. 6:33 – seek first kingdom of God 2. 1 Pet. 3:15 – Sanctify God (set apart) 3. Matt. 10:37 – Above dearest relationships 4. Matt. 19:26 – Above dearest relationships
II. Priorities A. Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters B. Conflicts Cause Reshuffling 1. Luke 9:59-62 – “but first I need to…” 2. Luke 10:38-42 – Troubled about many things 3. 2 Tim. 4:10 – loved present world
II. Priorities A. Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters B. Conflicts Cause Reshuffling C. What is your priority? 1. With some – its never a question of whether they will miss or not. 2. With others – missing time & again is not uncommon. 3. When a conflict arises – which of the two takes priority?
Attendance I. Commanded II. Priorities III. Purpose – To Praise
III. Purpose – To Praise A. We Assemble to Worship 1. John 4:24 – Worship in spirit & truth 2. Rev. 22:6 – Worship God 3. Heb. 13:15 – sacrifice of praise
III. Purpose – To Praise A. We Assemble to Worship B. The God We Worship: 1. Gen. 1:1 – creator of all things 2. Rev. 4:8, 11 – Almighty 3. Neh. 1:5, 4:14 – great & awesome
III. Purpose – To Praise A. We Assemble to Worship B. The God We Worship: C. How Could You Over Do That? D. Not What You Get – But What You Put In… 1. Eph. 5:19 – singing…to the Lord 2. Heb. 2:12 – in midst of assembly I will praise you
Attendance I. Commanded II. Priorities III. Purpose – To Praise IV. Value System – Instill In Others
IV. Value System – Instill In Others A. All Instill “Value Systems” – Good or Bad 1. “Value System” = What Is Important 2. Particularly in our children 3. Not always done with word / instruction 4. What you emphasize & what you allow & tolerate – sets the value systems 5. Illustrations: Education / Healthy eating
IV. Value System – Instill In Others A. All Instill “Value Systems” – Good or Bad B. Any Passage on “Example” – Warns Us to Watch Our Value Systems 1. 1 Tim. 4:12 – be example of the believers 2. Ezek. 16:44 – like mother, like daughter
IV. Value System – Instill In Others A. All Instill “Value Systems” – Good or Bad B. Any Passage on “Example” – Warns Us to Watch Our Value Systems C. What “Value System” Are you instilling? 1. Attend – even though had a headache? 2. Miss ¼ of services because tired, felt bad? 3. Willing to lose money to be present? 4. Miss for school activities, overtime? 5. Whole family miss if one is sick?
Attendance I. Commanded II. Priorities III. Purpose – To Praise IV. Value System – Instill In Others V. What Miss When Not Present
V. What Miss When Not Present A. Thomas Was Not There(John 20:24-25) 1. Missed: blessing of peace (v. 21) 2. Missed: faith built up (v. 25) 3. Missed: seeing the Lord (v. 20) 4. Missed: proof given of resurrection (v. 20) 5. Missed: instructions Lord gave (v. 22)
V. What Miss When Not Present A. Thomas Was Not There(John 20:24-25) B. What You Miss Each Absence: 1. Edification (Eph. 4:12, 16; 5:19) 2. Giving Encouragement (Eph. 5:19; Heb. 10:24) 3. Praising God (Acts 2:42, 47) 4. Gaining knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18)
V. What Miss When Not Present A. Thomas Was Not There(John 20:24-25) B. What You Miss Each Absence: C. Made Weaker & Weaker 1. If attendance – makes me stronger… then missing makes me weaker 2. The more I miss – weaker I get. 3. True – whether absence is justified or not!
If One Does Not Attend Can’t Help It Sick, etc. By Choice Don’t Come Spiritually Weak Weaker & Weaker If One Does Not Eat Can’t Help It Can’t Eat By Choice Does Not Eat Physically Weak
Attendance I. Commanded II. Priorities III. Purpose – To Praise IV. Value System – Instill In Others V. What Miss When Not Present VI. How We Compare
VI. How We Compare A. Often Comparisons Condemn(Luke 11:31-32) B. How Do We Compare to:
How Do You Compare? Reasons You Miss: Sick (feel bad) Overtime (choice) School Activities Cold Outside Raining Tired Etc… 1. Hebrews – not let persecution cause them to miss (Heb. 10:25)? 2. Paul & companions – waited a week to attend (Acts 20:6-7)? 3. Archery Champions (MN) – would not miss wed. night to try out for Olympics? 4. Preacher whose wife died Sunday afternoon – yet he was at church that night? 5. Employee in AL converted his boss because refused to work on Sun? 6. Elders – go in 3 am to be off for worship – go back to work?
VI. How We Compare A. Often Comparisons Condemn(Luke 11:31-32) B. How Do We Compare to: C. Is My Absence Justified?
Justified or Not? • What reasons are given in the text? • Sickness? • How sick are you? • Miss work or school? • Can’t go to church – go all over town? • Difference in sick (can’t attend) & feeling bad
Justified or Not? • What reasons are given in the text? • Sickness? • Work? • Try to arrange schedule better? • Tell your boss – you wouldn’t work on Sunday? • Did you have a choice • Numbers 29 “besides”
Justified or Not? • What reasons are given in the text? • Sickness? • Work? • Difference in Ox falling into the ditch – and in pushing him into it!
Attendance I. Commanded II. Priorities III. Purpose – To Praise IV. Value System – Instill In Others V. What Miss When Not Present VI. How We Compare
Staying Spiritually Solid 3 Basic Essentials • Prayer • Bible Study • Attendance