1.22.23 AM Worship – Mark Day – 7 Warnings About Alcohol
The House of God
God gave the commands to Israel regarding Tabernacle construction (Exodus 25-40). This was the place where the ark of the covenant was housed; above the mercy seat, between the cherubim atop the ark is where God met with His people (Ex. 25:22; 30:6). Wherever they travelled in the wilderness, the tabernacle was erected at the camp and priests would enter it to perform the religious services to God. Many years later—when Israel had long dwelt in Canaan—David bemoaned the fact that he dwelt in a fine palace of cedar, but the ark of the Lord continued to dwell in a tent (2 Sam. 7:2). The Tabernacle’s existence suggested a people still not fully settled in the promised land. Yet, God would not allow David to build the permanent structure of the Temple, but instead commissioned David’s son to do so (2 Sam. 7:3-13).
The arrangement of Tabernacle (and later the Temple) had meaning (Heb. 9:1-7). Each piece of furniture was a shadow of heavenly things (Heb. 8:5). Jesus is the substance of those shadows by functioning now as our High Priest in heaven itself (Heb. 8:1, 2; 9:24). Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, rendering the temple in Jerusalem obsolete by the sacrifice He made with His own body (Mt. 5:17; Jn. 2:19-22; Heb. 10:8-10)
The church of Christ is God’s place of service and worship today. Yet, the church is not made of material things; instead, it is the people God has saved (Acts 2:47). God’s kingdom is in the hearts of those who follow Him (Lk. 17:20, 21). The Lord’s church must be arranged as He has directed (Col. 3:17). However, we should not confuse the church God has established with the building where His people meet. Jesus told the woman at the well that soon the geographical location of worship, which was so important under the Old Testament, would no longer be of consequence (John 4:21-24).
The New Testament does not command us to have a church building. It commands assembling (Heb. 10:24-25; cf. James 2:2; Acts 20:7); therefore, as an expedient, a building is often the best way for us to come together in one place to worship (1 Cor. 11:18, 33,34; 14:23). Some who have imbibed of the surrounding religious culture and are ignorant of the New Testament teaching on the church may regard the physical structure where Christians meet as holy. They may try to make a parallel between selling religious material on church property and the moneychangers at the temple (John 2:13-17). They may make a law forbidding eating on church property based on an erroneous application of 1 Corinthians 11:22.
Certainly, the assembly should be focused on worship and devotion to God, rather than distractions of business transactions or satisfying one’s hunger. I’m not advocating that just anything should be done in a church building or on church property; however, I am asking if the New Testament does not require (much less mention) the church having a building or owning property, then how important are rules people make regarding what activities may take place on that property? Remember, today it is God’s people, Christians, who are His holy temple, not a physical place or building (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; Eph. 2:21).
1.18.23 Wednesday Devo and Class – Devo by Mark Parks – Grief and Mourning
1.18.23 Wednesday Devo and Class – Devo by Mark Parks – Grief and Mourning
Bible Study by Mark Day – Review of the New Testament
Like a Shepherd, Lead Us
Sheepherding was a chief industry of the Hebrew people in ancient times. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all shepherds. When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the servant mentioned the fact that the Lord had given Abraham’s family flocks and herds as evidence of his honored status (Gen. 24:35). Isaac’s possession of many flocks and herds caused the Philistines to envy him (Gen. 26:14). Later, Jacob would manage Laban’s flocks (Gen. 30).
In the Ancient Near East, kings and other leaders were styled as shepherds of their people. When God sent Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel after Saul, he went to Jesse’s house, but the youngest son was not present. David was out keeping the sheep (1 Sam. 16:11). He knew that God would be with him in a battle against Goliath for the Lord had already delivered him from bears and lions in his defense of the flock (1 Sam. 17:34-36). Later, when the tribes of Israel gathered at Hebron to make David king, they said, “Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel’ ” (2 Sam. 5:2). It is no surprise that God is often referred to as a shepherd (Psa. 28:9; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:15). David famously wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psa. 23:1).
We might not like to think of people as sheep, but the figure is fitting. God’s children cannot be appropriately represented by the metaphor of dogs, lions, or tigers. Predators, who are dangerous to all other living things, are not characteristics of God’s people. The helplessness of the sheep is the chief characteristic that causes them to represent God’s people so well. A deer’s quickness can allow him to escape danger. An animal with fangs and powerful claws, like a lion, allow him to stand up against any beast of the jungle. However, a flock of sheep run together until they are killed. Such a defenseless type of animal is used to describe us. We are defenseless on our own and need the Lord to protect us. The shepherd stayed by the sheep day and night to protect them from predators or robbers. We need God to stay by our side, to guide us, protect us, and provide for us.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus shepherds our souls (1 Pet. 2:25). Elders in the church watch out for our souls (1 Pet. 5:1-3). They operate under Jesus, the chief shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). The Lord wants His flock fed and protected from spiritual harm (Jn. 21:15-17; Acts 20:28, 29). If a shepherd finds one sheep is missing, he leaves ninety-nine to go looking for the missing one (Mt. 18:12-14; Lk. 15:4-7). Stay close to the Lord our Shepherd and His flock. Spiritual dangers and death lurk if you should wander off alone.
1.15.23 PM Worship – Mark Day – The Lord Is My Shepherd
1.15.23 PM Worship – Mark Day – The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23:1-6
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- …
- 313
- Next Page »