The Word of God and Peace

Temple Baptist Church - 2-11-2024

Psalm 119:49-56

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 119:49-56 is the 7^th stanza of the Psalm and begins with the Hebrew ZAIN means a sword or sharp weapon.  Much is said about warfare in the bible, both physical and spiritual.  Proverbs 3 declares that there is a time for war.  None of us like war in either the physical or spiritual realm but “it is what it is!” 

 

B.  Both the world and Satan will wear you down, and if they can wear you down, they will wear you out!

 

C.  The World hates God and through wicked surroundings and ungodly people, it will defile both mind and body.

 

D.  Satan is a God hater from eternity past.  He cannot take his ire out upon God, so he attacks God’s children.

 

1.  He will wear you down physically: physical burn out.

 

2.  He will wear you down psychologically: mental burn out.

 

3.  He will wear you down spiritually: spiritual burnout.

 

4.  All of the above and you ARE OUT!

 

6.  The Devil will try to disappoint you.

 

7.  If he can disappoint you, he will discourage you.

 

8  If he can disappoint you and discourage you, he will defile you.

 

9.  If he cannot do any of the above, he will distract you!

 

10.  If the devil can wear you down, he will wear you out

 

E.  In this 7^th stanza of the Psalm, we once again are introduced to the hardness of the life of the believer. 

 

1.  In verse 50, the Psalmist speaks of affliction.  Affliction can also be both physical and spiritual.

 

a)  Physical affliction.  The First Mention of “afflict” is found in Genesis 15 and is in the physical realm.

 

Genesis 15:13  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

 

James 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

 

b)  Spiritual affliction.

 

2 Corinthians 2:4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

 

1 Peter 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

2.  In verse 53, we find the word “horror.”  A fear that consumes someone.  We use the phrase “scared to death” when we would watch a Horror Movie. 

 

a)  Horror – the imaginative fear which is only a figment of our imagination.  These “horrors” are normally quickly over with.  This fear may consume us for a while but will soon be gone to the sane mind.  The mind is the “Devil’s Playground!”

 

Psalms 55:5  Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

 

b)  Horror – that which is real is another matter.  The horror of the direction of the world and our nation.  The horror of physical, psychological, and spiritual battles is often the worst kind because they are both real and often enduring. 

 

c)  Both are a sad state of mind to be in as they can destroy the strong as well as the weak.

 

1)  The Weak - 2 Timothy 2:24-26  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  (25)  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  (26)  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

2)  The Strong - Luke 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

 

F.  Peace of God is not an emotion!  If it were only an emotion, we as emotional people would constantly have a lack of peace.  We MUST understand that true peace MUST be found in God’s Word.  Our Relationship with the Word of God dictates our Peace of God.  Our peace of God comes through the Word of God, not some feeling as feelings change often from moment to moment.

 

Isaiah 26:3-7  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:  (5)  For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.  (6)  The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.  (7)  The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

 

1.  Verse 49 – The  peace of God through remembering.  “Remember the Word  ... upon which thou hast caused me to hope.”  YOU WILL NEVER REMEMBER THE WORD UNTIL YOU SPEND TIME IN THE WORD!  You cannot remember what you do not know!   If God is the God of peace, and He is, then His Word must be the Word of Peace and it is.

 

Job 35:10  But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

 

Psalms 42:8  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

 

Psalms 77:4-6  Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  (5)  I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  (6)  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

 

Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

Acts 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

 

a.  We find the peace of God in the Bible through God’s People.  Many before us have failed in like manner as we fail and survived and prospered. 

 

b.  We find the peace of God in the Bible through God’s Prophecy.  The Bible declares that God knows the end from the beginning and controls all things.  He is our refuge in the times of storm.

 

c.  We find the peace of God in the Bible through God’s Promises.  They are Personal as they apply to each of God’s children.  They are pertinent as they cover every aspect of life.  A promise for every person, for every problem, and for every period of time.  God delivered Adam and Eve through sacrifice.  God delivered Noah through the flood.  God delivered Abraham from the Pharaohs.  God delivered Isaac from Esau.  God delivered Joseph from his brethren.  God delivered Israel from Egypt. God delivered David from Saul.  God delivered the New Testament saints through trials and tribulations.  AND YOU DON’T THINK THAT GOD CAN DELIEVER YOU. 

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  (4)  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

 

"The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take  one step without treading upon one of them." ~ John Bunyan

 

Isaiah 55:8-12  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  (9)  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (10)  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  (11)  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  (12)  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

 

Hebrews 4:9-12  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  (11)  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  (12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

2.  Verse 50 – The peace of God in our Afflictions.  Grace and weakness turn into strength and power!  When you can’t, God can!  Can God?  Yes, He can!

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  (8)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  (9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 

3.  Verse 51 – The peace of God in our Persecutions.  God’s people in both Old and New Testaments were mal treated.  They hated God, they hated Christ, and they will hate you!

 

John 15:18-19  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  (19)  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

 

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

             

Romans 8:28-31  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  (29)  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  (30)  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  (31)  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

4.  Verse 52 – The peace of God in His Past Judgments.  Precedents!  A legal term for making decisions based upon past judgments made in similar circumstances.  God will always be righteous and His judgments on the wicked will prevail.  I read the last verse in the Bible and it all turned our right!

 

Revelation 22:21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

5.  Verse 53 – The peace of God in our Horror.  Horror that has taken hold upon us.  An unreasonable fear or dread.  When we are overwhelmed with fear, God fears not!  Run to your ABBA Father!  An endearing phase such as we call our earthly fathers, Daddy! 

 

Psalms 61:2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 

Isaiah 43:1-2  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  (2)  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 

6.  Verse 54 – The peace of God in His Statutes.  God’s Law is right, and He will honor it in our walk with God.  Walk that straight and narrow road guided by the parameters of God’s Law and He will Honor you!  Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “It is never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right.!”  Do right” was the name of a book of his sayings. 

 

Hebrews 11:13-16  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  (14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  (15)  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  (16)  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

 

7.  Verse 55-56 – The peace of God in His Name!  “I AM THAT I AM”  Do you need peace tonight?  Run to the Lord!

 

Proverbs 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

 

Conclusion:    Our Peace of God comes through our relationship with the Word of God!

The Word of God and A Walk In Confidence

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-4-2024

Psalm 119:41-48

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  VAU (Vah)  is the 6^th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.  VAU means a Hook: something used to hold something together.  Used to fasten things together. Here, it would be a noun but, in its general use, VAU is used as a conjunction: a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, but, if).

 

B.  When I think of holding something together in Israel at the time this Psalm was written, I think of their putting up the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.  Loops and taches were used to put things together in the construction of the Tabernacle. 

 

Exodus 26:5-6  Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.  (6)  And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

 

Notice the last 6 words of Exodus 26:6:  “and it shall be one tabernacle.”  Individual curtains became one. 

 

C.  One, if not the best examples of walking with God in confidence is found in Job. Everything going wrong yet walking with God in the midst of troubles.

 

Job 1:20-22  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  (21)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.  (22)  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

 

Job 23:10-12  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  (11)  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  (12)  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

 

There was a VAU, a hook, a tache that held Job to the steps of God’s choosing.  Something unseen and probably not felt, but an invisible trust that neither his wife not his friends understood.

 

D.  One, if not the greatest, enemies that we face is lack of confidence in the Lord.    I know that you and I would not admit to a lack of Confidence in a God who is all knowing, all powerful, everywhere present.  But our mental and spiritual state often proves otherwise. 

 

An unbiblical sense of being alone despite the promise of the Lord to never leave us nor forsake us.  This is why we are often disillusioned, disappointed, discouraged, and defeated. 

 

E.  This stanza expresses our walk of confidence in the Lord is found in our confidence in the Word of God.  Taches that hold us when we do not understand the why and His steps and way is in the sea which cannot be seen.

 

1.  Verse 41 – The Tache of Mercy – Through the Word of God, we see His mercy.  An acknowledgement that mercy and salvation come from the Lord.  Let your mercies come to me in each step that I take.  Not salvation as we are saved, but deliverance from both self and situations.  God is merciful in our faults and failures but also in our future: what are and will be facing.

 

Exodus 33:18-19  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  (19)  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

 

Ps alms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  (23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

 

2.  Verse 42 – The Tache of Trust.  Through the Word of God, we finds His trustworthiness.  Because of God’s Mercy all the days of our lives, we can have faith in the Lord to carry us through as we face this ungodly world, our enemies who hate us, and our situations—both present and future.  We are peculiar people and fewer in number which makes us stick out.

 

Psalms 56:2-4  Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.  (3)  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  (4)  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

 

Psalms 118:8-9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  (9)  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

3.  Verse 43 – The Tache of Hope.  Through the Word of God, we have seen the end of our race; we have read the last chapter and all ends well.  We see His Hope in this sense is not “I hope God will be there for me” but a blessed hope which is a secure knowledge that He is and will be there with us and for us.  Our race has a starting point and a finish line as we finish our course. 

 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

4.  Verse 44 – The Tache of Integrity.  Through the Word of God, we see His Law is right.  I will keep thy law continually, in every circumstance, for ever, as long as I live.  This is not perfection but constancy.  In this life and the life to come!

 

Psalms 26:1  A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

 

Integrity – uprightness, honesty, truth

 

5.  Verse 45 – The Tache of Liberty.  Through the Word of God, we see His freedom that He has given to us.  Thy liberty in law is part of the song “America, The Beautiful.”  Liberty is not a license to sin; it is freedom to serve.  Free from the condemnation of law should cause us to walk in freedom within the law.  Oh what joy to be free from the fear of walking contrary to the Lord.  Oh what joy to be free from the fear of those who enforce the laws of man. 

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

6.  Verse 46 – The Tache of Faith.  Through the Word of God, we see His personal will for our individual lives.  “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Living a life for the Lord is living a life of boldness before men.  We take no personal pride in our life lived for the Lord.  We do take pride in the Lord who changed our life.  Walking at a guilty distance from the Lord cause shame as we cannot open our mouths for the Lord.  Hand out tracts, invite people to church, live a consistent life in front of the people that you are around.

 

Matthew 5:13-16  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

7.  Verse 47 – The Tache of Delight.  Through the Word of God, we see His love.  A song says, “I’d rather be an old time Christian, Lord, than anything I know.”  Love God, love the Word of God, love the life in God that He has given to you.

 

Acts 11:26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 

8.  Verse 48 - The Tache of Confidence which ends in a Walk in Praise.  Praise, uplifted hands, for His commandments and Love for His statutes because they are Right.

The Landmark of the Sanctuary

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-4-2024

Hebrews 10:24-31

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Sanctuary – A sacred place.  The word sanctuary has religious roots as it referred to a consecrated place where sacred objects are kept.  It often refers to a temple or church, the holiest of holy places.    

 

1.  As early as Genesis 4, we find that Cain and Abel “brought” their sacrifices.  They did not offer just anywhere but there was a special place where they offered. 

 

2.  Abraham built an altar at Bethel (The House of God) and later came back to that same altar, naming it El-Bethel (God-The House of God) and found God there. 

 

3.  When God brought Israel out of Egypt (a beautiful type of salvation), He gave instructions to Moses for the building of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness; when Israel came into the land of Canaan—they brought the Tabernacle with them.

 

3.  Later build Solomon’s Temple.  This beautiful temple was the center of Jerusalem.  When the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon, the first order of business was the rebuild the walls and Temple. 

 

4.  When the New Testament Jews and Gentiles got saved, they had a local church to attend.  The Bible says much about the local church and works only through it.  It is around the local church that our lives are to be centered.

 

5.  The Local Church is a special place of:

 

a)  Refuge from the storms of life.

 

b)  Rest from the toils of life.

 

c)  Refreshment from the disappointments of life.

 

d)  Restoration from the failures of life.

 

e)  Revival from the lifelessness of life.

 

6.  The Bible calls the Local Church the pillar and ground of the truth:  1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

B.  Sometimes, when we go back to Hebrews 10:25, I wonder if I am not “beating a dead horse.”

 

1.  But the Holy Ghost emphasizes the importance of the local church when using the words “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  That day is HERE and the house of God forsaken.

 

2.  Preachers preach the important truth found in these verses, we quote these verses often, and yet—continually—we see a decrease in the faithfulness of God’s people to the church. 

 

C.  These verses are the most profound concerning faithfulness to church that you will find.  In them we find:

 

1.  The responsibility to each other – vs. 24

 

2.  The importance and purpose – vs. 25

 

3.  The callousness of the sin – vs. 26

 

4.  The promise of the judgment of God – vs. 27-29

 

5.  The seriousness of unfaithfulness – vs. 29

 

6.  The fearfulness of the Lord – vs. 30-31

 

D.  If God said and meant all of these things, you would think that His children would see the seriousness, repent of their sin, and get faithful but just the opposite is true.  “As the manner of some is” has become the norm for most professing believers. 

 

E.  In the last few years, we have seen a great “falling away” from the local church. 

 

1.  With the rising number of “home churches,” “TV churches,” “Radio Churches,” “golf, fishing, motorcycle, cowboy, etc.,” there has been a great forsaking of the house of the Lord. 

 

2.  I find no substitute in the bible for the local church. 

 

F.  The local church is a landmark of the Lord’s making and it needs not to be removed.  Churches all over the Bible Belt have gone from two services on Sunday and Wednesday night Prayer Meeting to just Sunday morning services.

 

1.  A Place Of Assembly – Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (The word “church” means a called-out assembly.  We are called out of this world to assemble together.  If the Lord did not think that we needed a place of gathering, He would have just let us stay at home.  “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” describes the modern day “Christian.”)

 

2.  A Place Of Exhortation - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (We need each other’s strength to continue on in this “present evil world.”  Bearing one another’s burdens can only come about when we are together to know what those burdens are.)

 

3.  A Place Of Fellowship - Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (We cannot love each other with a whole heart fervently if we are never together.  I love my family and spend much time with them.  I love my church family and spend much time with them!  We laugh, cry, eat, and share together.)

 

4.  A Place Of Bible Teaching - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (Most believers do not know how to behave in the house of God because they are not there often enough to be taught!   Teaching is a very important of our spiritual welfare!  The largest denomination in America is the “Church of the Ignorant Brethern!”)

 

1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

5.  A Place Of Powerful Preaching - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (The pastor is commanded to preach the Word, but many are never there to receive it.  So often I know that a particular message will be of help to someone, and they do not show up.  We need bible preaching and need it from the pastor!)

 

6.  A Place Of Prayer - Matthew 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  (We come, take prayer requests and pray!  We begin each service in prayer, we pray in the prayer rooms, we pray during the services, and we end each service in prayer.  We pray for each other, we pray for our families, we pray for our needs, we pray for the needs of others, we pray for our nation, we pray for Israel, we pray for those in authority over us, we pray for souls, and we pray for the coming of the Lord.  You have not because you ask not is an indictment against those who do not pray!)

 

7.  A Place Of Faithful Giving - Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 

1 Corinthians 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  (Some tithe and give regularly while some tithe and give irregularly.  The local church pays its bills regularly and missions support should be paid the same.  How would we like it if we got paid on an irregular basis?  We would probably be a little upset.  Missionaries do not get full support because of irregular giving!)

 

8.  A Place Of Divine Approval - Ephesians 5:25-26  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;    That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.  (It is a sanctifying place where we are cleansed through the water of the Word.)