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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | "and so much the more" Heb. 10:25 Part 1 | Heb 10:25 | PastorPaul | 75450 | ||
Part 2: Usually we would look at the first part of this section first, but I’ve decided that we are going to do it a little differently and actually focus in on the end and then on the beginning section. So let’s look at the last section of this phrase, “as ye see the day approaching.” According to Willmington’s Bible Handbook, the Book of Hebrews was written approximately around 68 A.D. For those of you who know a little of 1st. Century History, especially Bible related, you will realize that this is exactly two years before the fall of Jerusalem, which Christ prophecies in Luke 21:20-24. Often times when these two words are together, “the day”, it is speaking of the second coming of Christ. I think this is the same in this passage, although I think this verse has a double, and maybe even a triple meaning. As I mentioned above the Book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish believers. My dad reminded me that at the time of Christ when the Jews became believers they were often rejected, and persecuted. They were even persecuted to the point that if they had a business it was destroyed, all their possessions were lost, and they had to join together with other believers, and even live with them. We also know that around this time that Hebrews was written Rome, like so many nations and rulers over Israel before, was ready to destroy Jerusalem, and to persecute not only the believers, but the Jewish non-believers as well. Now lets look at the modern day application, and what I consider is the double meaning of this as well. Most times in the New Testament when the phrase “the day” is used it is often times referring to the Second Coming of Christ. Throughout the scriptures we, as believers, are told what signs to look for so that we may know when the end is nigh. Matthew 24 is a good reference for some of the signs that shall be seen when the end is nigh. I Thessalonians 5, and II Thessalonians 2 are also some good references for this. As we look at all that is happening, many people are predicting the return of Christ much more fervently, especially as we, in America, face war with Iraq, possible war with North Korea, and as we continue to wage war against Terrorism. All focus has returned to the Middle East, and especially to Israel. I, of course, believe that the Jews are still the chosen people of God, although they have rejected Christ. The time is coming, rather soon I believe, in which the age of the Gentiles shall end, and the Lord will once again work through His chosen people. |
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2 | "and so much the more" Heb. 10:25 Part 1 | Heb 10:25 | PastorPaul | 75452 | ||
Part 3: As we look at the Church in America we see many things. Our pastor, at the church that Jen and I attend, mentioned a statistic that was brought up in a Promise Keepers meeting. “Throughout the last 15 years, 500 Billion Dollars has been poured into domestic missions, and yet we are not seeing any increase in adults being born-again.” Is this totally accurate? This I’m not sure of, although I feel there is reason to believe this is the case. Back in the 1st. Century Christian Church, believers were constantly meeting, and constantly entering into fellowship with each other. Today in America, Sunday evening services are rare, and a vast minority of the Church attends weekly Bible Studies. I would even venture to say that some weekly Bible Studies may only have 1 to maybe 15 percent of the regular church attendees on a Sunday Morning. (Please do not quote me on that statistic; it is just how it seems.) Alter calls are also very rarely done, although there are still a few churches that have these. This leads us into the first section of this phrase: “and so much the more…” This is of course the part I desire to focus in on. In the 1st. Century Church believers were joining together not just in study of the scriptures, but in prayer and in worship. They were joining together to speak against the evils, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There was boldness like is rarely seen in this day and age. People were willing to suffer and die, to fellowship with each other, exhort each other, and to lead others to the truth of God’s Holy Word. These believers did not let the persecution they faced hold them back from serving the Lord Jesus Christ. As we look at the Church of America we see that believers are not gathering together “so much the more.” We again look at today, and I don’t even know where to start. Instead of joining together in fellowship the majority of Churches, here in America, have pulled away. Many people have gone to the belief that all that matters is what we believe. We don’t have to keep the commandment to: “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” I will often hear people, as I’m sure others of you do as well, say: “The best way to worship God in my opinion is to go up to a mountain all alone. Pastor Scot, the pastor of the church Jen and I attend, has been informing us for the last couple of weeks, that a church, which Magnolia Bible Church considers a sister church over in Kassadar, Russia, (forgive the spelling) is in the process of planting another church. I don’t know how many people are attending this church, but they are on fire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s true that you see many small churches pop up throughout our country, but more often then not, it is caused due to a church split, because a pastor says or does something that the congregation either disagrees with, is wrong, or the people simply do not like to be convicted on by the Holy Spirit. As I watch all that is happening in our country, especially within the Church, my heart is in great distress. Many prominent denominations have decided instead of preaching the true, infallible Word of God that they will change some of the things they disagree with. Even here in Magnolia, there is a pastor of a local church who does not believe that the Bible is infallible. There are churches/denominations that have decided that Homosexuality is okay, and not a sin. There are as many supporters in the church of abortion as there are of people who are against it. Some of the values that our country were founded on are being challenged left and right. School Boards, States, and even representatives of the Federal Government desire to change to rules in regards to Freedom of Religion, instead they want to make it Freedom from Religion. If a person expresses faith in Jesus Christ they are shunned, and rejected, called religious fanatics, or bigots. So many people will remain silent when they are asked whether or not they believe in Christ. Are we exhorting one another, are we assembling together to speak against the evils that are so predominant in society? NO! Instead we hide, and cower. Instead of voting, many religious individuals decide, “Since God is in control I don’t need to vote.” |
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3 | "and so much the more" Heb. 10:25 Part 1 | Heb 10:25 | PastorPaul | 75453 | ||
Part 4: The same is true, for those of us who profess faith in Christ, when we are at work. A co-worker will tell a dirty joke, and we will laugh with them instead of speaking to them through the love of Christ. I’m as guilty of this as any one else, and I constantly call out to the Lord asking for strength to stand for the truth, and not to hide from it. I see professing believers who will go to the strip clubs with their buddies, Christian women who will gossip. I see Christian teenagers fall into sexual temptation because they don’t know how to stand up for purity. All of this is partly due to the falling away of fellowshipping with other believers. All of this is because we fail to go to our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer, and praise. We are afraid that we will be rejected by those of a like mind because of the sins we have fallen tempted to. God knows even I have struggled with that. Not only are there times we fail to go to fellow believers, but also there are times, when we push each other away. We get so tied up in what we are doing, that we don’t see our bothers and sisters in need. We as believers are not asking the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” Today Pastor Scot was speaking on Gen. 5 as I mentioned at the very beginning of this message. It was a wonderful sermon, especially when he got to the part where it speaks about Enoch, who walked with God. Back about eight years ago I also preached on Enoch. Fortunately I still have this sermon, as I was wise enough to save it. Mind you it is not near as good as it sounded eight years ago, nor as good as the message I heard today, but it gave me some information I had come across when I wrote it. “Who was Enoch?” The Enoch I’m speaking of was the great-great-great-great grandson of Adam, through the line of Seth. (There is another Enoch in the line of Cain; this is not the Enoch who walked with God). The name Enoch means “consecrated”. It appears that Enoch’s father, Jared, had wanted Enoch set aside for a particular purpose. As Enoch grew he began to walk with God, in fact Gen. 5:22 says Enoch walked with God 300 years after he begat Methuselah. Now the name Methuselah can be translated “at his death, judgment” which could possibly, and most likely mean that Enoch walked with God even before he begat Methuselah. (If one adds up the dates, the year of the flood would have been the year of the death of Methuselah because Methuselah was born exactly 969 years before the flood.) There is some background information on Enoch, now let’s move on to some of the points of applications that Pastor Scot made, that I believe falls in line with our joining in fellowship, and in exhorting one another. He first asked the question; “What does it mean to walk with God?” The two points he made with this are as follows. 1. We need to move in the same direction as God. 2. We need to be in agreement with God. As I look at these two points I wonder how this is done. Very simply, as we join together in fellowship and in exhortation we encourage and strengthen each other in following the plan that Christ has for us. Prov. 27:17 states: “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Pastor Scot then went on to ask another question. “What are non-believers looking for in the life of a Christian? He gave three answers to this one, and they are as follows. 1. They are looking for evidence of a changed life. 2. They are looking for consistency. 3. They are looking for people who show the compassion of Jesus. This also goes into the context of joining together in fellowship with each other. As we join together we can encourage our brothers and sisters through prayer. James 5:16 states: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Fellowship with others of a like mind has been God’s intention all along. When God created Adam and Eve, they were of a like mind, and they walked together in the cool of the day. Enoch walked with God all of the days of his life, and because of this he did not see death. Noah and his family, alone, were found righteous in the days of the flood. In Gen. 6:9 the phrase walked with God is again used in regards to Noah. In the Old Testament fellowship was stressed as well. They had a tabernacle so that they could gather together and worship God, then they had a temple. All throughout scripture we see how important fellowship is to God. As one reads the Book of Acts one again sees how important it was to the 1st. century believers to gather together continuously for fellowship and worship. |
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4 | "and so much the more" Heb. 10:25 Part 1 | Heb 10:25 | PastorPaul | 75455 | ||
Part 5: Once again I stress. What has become of America? Why do the believers not gather together in all things with a like mind? I’ve visited several Christian Chat rooms since I’ve been blessed with access to the Internet, and instead of sharing our faith we argue. Instead of praying for those who come in to the chat rooms to cause division, we argue with them. Instead of encouraging one another we will talk about the weather, or what our personal views of the scriptures are. So many people will twist the Holy Scriptures so that they will fit into their idea of God, not truly who God is. My dear brothers and sisters I cannot stress enough how close the end times are. Can I give a date or a time? No! However, I do know that our time is short. It is time that we, who are in the Church, rise up and speak out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be in regular fellowship with each other, but not just on Sunday mornings. It is time that we joined together every way that we can. The Internet has been used by many as a great evil, and now is the time that we turn it around and use for good. Through the Internet we do not have to fellowship face to face, in the same building, or in the same town. We can pass emails along which include prayer requests, praises, and thoughts or revelations we have received through the scriptures. We can exhort one another even from thousands of miles away, half across the globe, etc. Through the Blue Bonnet Ministries Web Site, the Lord has blessed me in getting in contact with professing believers in India, Africa, Pakistan, and so many other places. More then that, many of you have struggles and trials. Through email or the phone, or even snail mail we can spread those along, and encourage one another. I started my group in Yahoo with the simple desire to share, and spread the Word of God, and I’m sure that many of you in the other groups online, which I partake in, had the same purpose when you founded your group or message board. We are not bond anymore to just meet on Sunday. We are no longer bond to be in contact on rare occasion with each other. Let us join together in fellowship so much the more, as we see the day (The second coming of Christ) approaching. Let us as believers not just here in the USA, but throughout the World join together to preach and spread the Glorious, Gospel of Jesus Christ! As I’m typing this letter/message I’m listening to some praise/worship music, and as I’m near the finish of this I’m listening to the song “Yes, We All Agree”. There is a line I’m going to share in this song, and this is what I’m hoping is shouting in your heart as you read this. “Oh Lord, we agree, in the power and strength, of unity.” God bless, and may the Lord be with you in all that you do! In Christ, Pastor Paul Is. 6:8 PastorPaul79@hotmail.com Pastorpaul79@yahoo.com http://www.bluebonnetministries.50megs.com “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.” -Hale |
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5 | "and so much the more" Heb. 10:25 Part 1 | Heb 10:25 | EdB | 75462 | ||
PastorPaul Good preaching, but your preaching to the choir! This is a Christian Forum therefore we are already aware of what your saying. You need to preach this message to non Christians! Also I think you may have been a little self serving with all the plugs for you website and chat groups. EdB |
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6 | "and so much the more" Heb. 10:25 Part 1 | Heb 10:25 | PastorPaul | 75777 | ||
Thank you very much for your input on my posts I do appreciate it. I always put plugs in for my website only as an option for people to see my personal testimony which is on the site, no other reason. I don't get any money for people going to my site, nor do I ask for money, and Lord willing, I never will. I will disagree with you to a point however. Even Christians need to hear the Word of God. This may be a Christian group for the most part, but I'm sure, like so many churches, there are people who are not saved, or people who need encouragement from the Lord. Never did I hear Christ say not to "preach to the Choir" in fact if anything, He taught them more then he did the multitude. God bless, and may the Lord be with you. In Christ, Pastor Paul Is. 6:8 "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something." -Hale |
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