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WEBVTT
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now brethren and sisters for our second

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class of the day

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these that have turned the world upside

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down

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and the subject for today

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the struggle for unity

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brother david

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good morning brothers and sisters

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that's wonderful to hear thank you

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this morning we're going to be looking

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at the topic or the subject we should

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say of the struggle for unity in the

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first century ecclesia and i would like

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to begin by making a few disclaimers

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this is not in any way attempting to

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have an agenda here today

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to talk about how a particular issue

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that's going on in the brotherhood is

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inappropriate or that there is a a need

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to resolve a particular thing that is

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not the intention

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the intention is to go back to the acts

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of the apostles and to be able to see

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some standards that come from that

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and then for us as individuals and

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sometimes as a clegias to be able to

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take that standard and to apply it to

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our behavior

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if there are struggles that are going on

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between ecclesias

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if there are larger struggles that we

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see that are happening across the

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brotherhood

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or more importantly if there's a

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struggle that's going on between a

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brother and sister or a brother and a

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brother in this ecclesia or in that

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ecclesia

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it is not an attempt to try to address

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those and yet in a way i guess it is

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because what we're going to be doing is

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looking at the standard

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and trying to apply that to our own

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lives

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i find that this is

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this is the challenge isn't it of

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reading the bible the bible is is is

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filled with so many wonderful things the

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prophecies that that really give us

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light in these last days we can see the

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future we can see things unfolding

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before our eyes

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and the wonderful exposition which gives

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us instruction the way we should live

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our lives but the real power of that is

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being able to find the standard

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and to take it down to the point where

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it me it means something for me in the

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way that i behave

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and certainly when we talk about the

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subject of unity many of us might go to

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the larger issues that have gone across

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the brotherhood ones that have caused

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the clegias to separate who have which

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have caused long-standing issues between

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one occlesia or a number of ecclesias

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and others

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but the reality is it's a more

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day-to-day issue also and that is that

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we have in most occlusions difficulties

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that arise between brethren

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times where things just aren't

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comfortable where there's unresolved

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issues that are going on between people

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and the interesting thing is to see this

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when it doesn't affect you you know when

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it affects you you never see it right

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it's it's less clear because uh

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obviously we see our point of view but

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when you see it happening between

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brethren and anachresia and it's not

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necessarily your conflict

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it's more clear to see how that has an

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impact in your college isn't it

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it has an impact in the kinds of things

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that the ecclesia does and how the

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ecclesia interacts and it seems they

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have sometimes if it goes on long enough

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it seems to have webs of influence that

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begin to develop almost like schisms or

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divisions that can happen within the

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ecclesia

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brothers and sisters i believe what

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we're going to see in this first century

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ecclesia is very sound counsel

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that that is not the standard that we

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need to live by we're going to look at

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the words of the lord jesus and we're

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going to look at the examples in the

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first century and you're going to see i

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think as we go through this that the

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apostles when they were writing letters

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and epistles one of the very first

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things that they dealt with was the

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issue of unity

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get that right and then we'll start

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dealing with some of the other problems

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you know little insignificant problems

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like uh uh the incestuous man that we

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read about in corinthians and issues

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like the rich and the poor and what was

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going on at the marriage uh i mean at

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the uh at the the the

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the love feast um and issues regarding

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marriage and issues that continue to go

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on and on and on but the very first

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thing that was dealt with is the need

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for unity

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that's a standard that we all need to

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work for so today what we hope to do is

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to take a look at this subject and

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particularly how it impacted the first

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century ecclesia

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now

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you might remember that this quote was

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uh used on uh sunday evening when we

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talked about uh kind of the heritage of

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christadelphians over the years

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and i want to go back to what was

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written when it talked about 1901 that

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was being upon us and this is a hundred

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years ago

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a hundred years ago and it says this the

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fact provokes reflection a new year is

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an appropriate time for fresh and better

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resolves is there room for improvement

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among us

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there is in one direction especially at

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present an ugly blot disfigures the page

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of our collegial life

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profitless contention prevails on the

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judgment question a contention

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wrangling to the hurt of the brethren

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and the stranger

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it is time that unity and peace were

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established and that was the call of the

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editor of the chris adelphian in 1901

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when he talked about a conflict that was

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going on

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and what was happening is he was

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beginning to see changes that were

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happening in the brotherhood and we

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talked a little bit about this that in

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the christiadelphian magazine when you

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read through the intelligence articles

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what you found was you found a primary

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focus on very positive proactive kind of

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things being able to take the gospel

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into the community in fact that was by

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far and large the the main uh focus

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for collegial intelligence was lectures

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that were being given debates that were

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being given baptisms and really being

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able to see the hand of god working in

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their community and of course there was

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the normal kinds of communications

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regarding baptisms and marriages and

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deaths but by and large if you had to

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characterize what intelligence was

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before that time it had been about

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outreach in the community

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but once we got to the early 1900s that

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began to change what we began to see is

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as much less emphasis

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on

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things such as uh what was happening for

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preaching in the community and some of

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the debates that were going on before

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that being replaced largely with a

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collegial stands on the issue of

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renunciation and you remember our

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brother banta

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in texas and i think the proper

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pronunciation is burnett is what i was

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told

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burnett texas

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what we hear from him for about a period

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of 10 years is the position of his

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eclegia on the issue of renunciation now

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i'm not trying to address the importance

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or the issue of renunciation i'm just

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trying to make a point that whenever we

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get involved in a collegial conflict

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when we have a situation where there's

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lack of unity between brethren or

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between uh in a larger capacity the the

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brotherhood

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what it automatically gives up it seems

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is sometimes the most positive things

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about our brotherhood

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which is such things as being able to

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take the gospel into the community

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and uh it's really interesting to see

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the impact that can have i'm sure you

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know on uh on sunday evening when we

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talked about voices from sleeping

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brethren and we had the opportunity to

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talk about some of the these wonderful

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stories that come up in the 1860s and

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70s and 80s

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we were also able to hear from many of

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you

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stories about how you came into the

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truth and i want to thank all of you

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that have shared those with me because

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they're wonderful stories

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and you can see

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very plainly how the hand of god has

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worked in the lives of so many here

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today

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to be able to call them sometimes by

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very chance kinds of ways

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and i suppose also brothers and sisters

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that all of us have stories that we

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could relate with regard to this issue

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these aren't the ones that we want to

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share

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oftentimes there are divisions and

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there's hard feelings that exist what we

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need to be able to do is be able to get

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those resolved as soon as possible so

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that we can go on to the more important

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work of the gospel and being able to

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preach and to edify our brothers and

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sisters

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now i want to share with you

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what i call the tale of two minds

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one of these

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what you're going to be seeing is two

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people who are living

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relatively close to one another in the

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chicago area back in the 1800s

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one who lived on the west side of

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chicago

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and the other one who lives south in

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chicago one you've already met before

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and

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the first one is a brother who is living

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in burit illinois

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and this is in uh winnebago county and

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it would be due east uh kind of a little

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bit northeast of chicago and i want you

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to read what this brother writes

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he says i feel great interest in the

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progress of the truth in britain being

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myself a british subject though resident

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in the states for 26 years

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i rejoice in the active exertions and

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that

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that appear to be made to further its

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progress in this country in america

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little or no effort is made except among

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the parties who mix the truth with air

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it may be and likely is the case that

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not many americans are called i have

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done all that i can to spread the

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knowledge of the truth for several years

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past and feel persuaded the soil must be

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very barren else there would be more

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fruit

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now that was the

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the thinking of this individual i

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haven't given his name and i don't think

274
00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:07.910
that was appropriate to give it but his

275
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thinking was he looked around he wasn't

276
00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:13.350
seeing the gospel taking hold very much

277
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and his attitude about this is it must

278
00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.750
be that there's not really very many

279
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here to be called it's a barren area

280
00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.110
now contrast that with the brother who

281
00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:26.069
was in the south at kankakee illinois

282
00:10:26.079 --> 00:10:30.069
and this is at the same time march 1969

283
00:10:30.079 --> 00:10:32.389
he writes and he says that brother

284
00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.990
bingley writes he reports that he made

285
00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.230
another visit to kankakee remember from

286
00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.430
sunday night what happened the first

287
00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:39.670
time he went to kankakee he lost his two

288
00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:41.509
and a half year old daughter in between

289
00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:43.910
his first and his second lectures

290
00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:45.590
and in this particular case he reports

291
00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.590
that he made another visit to kankakee

292
00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:49.750
where he had spent one week lecturing on

293
00:10:49.760 --> 00:10:51.190
behalf of the truth

294
00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.710
he says he lectured in the same

295
00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.190
schoolhouse as on the last occasion

296
00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.030
notwithstanding the opposition of one of

297
00:10:57.040 --> 00:10:59.030
its of the directors by the way it was

298
00:10:59.040 --> 00:11:01.750
his father-in-law we learned

299
00:11:01.760 --> 00:11:03.750
he is sanguine

300
00:11:03.760 --> 00:11:05.110
sanguine that's a wonderful word he's

301
00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.710
saying one in the belief

302
00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.190
that the word of the kingdom will take

303
00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.590
root in the place as quite a few are

304
00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:12.630
interested

305
00:11:12.640 --> 00:11:14.310
and he goes on and he quotes him he says

306
00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:16.790
on sunday evening i spoke two hours to a

307
00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:18.870
full house some of the audience came a

308
00:11:18.880 --> 00:11:20.870
distance by their teams

309
00:11:20.880 --> 00:11:22.949
i find i'm getting more confidence every

310
00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:25.030
time i make a bold attempt to lecture i

311
00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:28.389
begin to overcome my usual timidity now

312
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.310
here you have two brothers

313
00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:32.949
one living on the west kind of northwest

314
00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:35.269
side of chicago the other one living

315
00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.230
pretty much

316
00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:38.870
towards the south of chicago very

317
00:11:38.880 --> 00:11:40.949
different perceptions about what the

318
00:11:40.959 --> 00:11:43.110
possibilities were in their area

319
00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:44.389
and some of the key points we want to

320
00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.750
look at about that

321
00:11:45.760 --> 00:11:47.990
i believe fundamentally that the lord

322
00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.069
wants to work with those who put their

323
00:11:50.079 --> 00:11:51.430
trust in him

324
00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.829
and therefore because of this

325
00:11:53.839 --> 00:11:57.670
we must have a great sense of optimism

326
00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:59.990
in our view of the truth

327
00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.110
some people say well you know when

328
00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.030
you're young you're optimistic you know

329
00:12:03.040 --> 00:12:04.150
you don't know the difference you don't

330
00:12:04.160 --> 00:12:05.190
know better

331
00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.790
but the fact is

332
00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:09.910
all of us at all ages need to share a

333
00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:12.790
wonderful great optimism for the truth

334
00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:16.310
we have every reason to be optimistic

335
00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.310
and also

336
00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.389
i also believe that when we're not right

337
00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.550
with the lord and again here's a problem

338
00:12:22.560 --> 00:12:25.430
with my computer he is far less likely

339
00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:27.829
to bless our efforts and to accept our

340
00:12:27.839 --> 00:12:29.190
service

341
00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.030
in our ecclesias our lord has

342
00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:32.470
expectations about how we should

343
00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:34.230
interact and how we should worship

344
00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.910
together

345
00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:38.230
it's interesting isn't it how many times

346
00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.389
have you seen inclesia that was in full

347
00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.670
conflict

348
00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:43.430
who was having schisms and divisions

349
00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.829
going on that had an active and

350
00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:48.389
successful preaching program

351
00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:51.190
how many times have you seen that

352
00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:53.509
it just doesn't happen very often

353
00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:56.150
and the point is is that what we need to

354
00:12:56.160 --> 00:12:57.590
focus on

355
00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.670
first is getting ourselves right with

356
00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:02.310
the lord taking care of the fundamentals

357
00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:03.670
of our worship

358
00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:05.110
one of which is

359
00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:07.829
being of one accord and being one in

360
00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:09.110
unity

361
00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:10.870
so let's take a look now at some of the

362
00:13:10.880 --> 00:13:13.110
unique features of that first century

363
00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.509
church as we look at the first century

364
00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:17.829
ecclesias we will be able to see some

365
00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:19.509
very interesting things first of all

366
00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.590
let's talk about the diversity in some

367
00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.670
of the ecclesiastic in the first century

368
00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:26.389
let's take a look at romans and i think

369
00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.150
this is incredible think about the

370
00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:29.590
people that we're trying to be brought

371
00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:32.949
together as being of one mind and being

372
00:13:32.959 --> 00:13:34.710
one in accord

373
00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:37.190
uh paul has a number of salutations at

374
00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:39.430
the end of romans he says

375
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.790
to salute

376
00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:43.829
andre nicus and junia my kinsmen

377
00:13:43.839 --> 00:13:46.069
and my fellow prisoners who are of note

378
00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:47.910
among the apostles so there are some

379
00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:50.310
people who are pretty well known

380
00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.790
and are of note among the apostles

381
00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:55.269
and he goes on who also were in christ

382
00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:58.150
before me greed amplius my brother my

383
00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:02.069
beloved in the lord salute urbain our

384
00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.670
helper in christ

385
00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:07.110
and status my beloved sluda palace

386
00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:09.990
approved in christ salute them which are

387
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.230
of aristobalus i'm sure i didn't

388
00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.629
pronounce that right household and

389
00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:17.030
salute herodian my kinsmen and greet

390
00:14:17.040 --> 00:14:18.389
them that be of the household of

391
00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:20.949
narcissus which are in the lord that's

392
00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:23.269
quite a it's quite a collection isn't it

393
00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.509
you have some people who are of very

394
00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.350
wealthy households

395
00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.590
and you have some that are very well

396
00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.670
known uh repute with them with the

397
00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:33.910
apostles who have been baptized even

398
00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.670
before the apostle paul

399
00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:37.990
and then you have some who are known as

400
00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.829
helpers in christ

401
00:14:39.839 --> 00:14:42.310
some who are known as my beloved

402
00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.790
in that same chapter in verse 20 verse

403
00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:48.550
22 through 23 he says i tertius who

404
00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:50.470
wrote this epistle salute you in the

405
00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.350
lord

406
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.509
gayest my host

407
00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.990
and of the whole church saluted you

408
00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.389
erastus the chamberlain of the city

409
00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.590
saluted you

410
00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.509
and quartus a brother

411
00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:04.470
now look at this you've got gaius who is

412
00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.750
probably the one who is known as justice

413
00:15:07.760 --> 00:15:11.350
in corinth who was the one that hosted

414
00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.750
paul when he was there in corinth

415
00:15:13.760 --> 00:15:17.430
so here was a man of some renown you had

416
00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:20.069
erastus who was the treasurer of the

417
00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:22.710
city of corinth

418
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.750
and by juxtaposition the apostle paul

419
00:15:25.760 --> 00:15:26.550
says

420
00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:29.110
and also salute quartus

421
00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.990
he's a brother

422
00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:34.310
and that's what made up the ecclesia

423
00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.790
and even though they came from greatly

424
00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:39.269
different walks of life they were to be

425
00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.550
one to put aside all this business about

426
00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:44.629
uh you know i'm from a rich household or

427
00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.110
i was uh i'm known of the apostles i was

428
00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.670
baptized before the lord jesus excuse me

429
00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:51.829
before the apostle paul

430
00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:53.749
or i'm a chamberlain or the treasurer of

431
00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.269
the city

432
00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.749
that doesn't matter in christ does it

433
00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.910
what made up this ecclesia

434
00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:01.030
was

435
00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:02.870
that they were all in need of the lord

436
00:16:02.880 --> 00:16:05.749
jesus christ they were all brethren and

437
00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.030
i just love this the way that the

438
00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:09.910
apostle says he says you know gaius who

439
00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:11.189
of course we all know is a very

440
00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:13.030
prominent person in corinth and of

441
00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:15.350
course erastus who is the treasurer for

442
00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.870
the city of corinth

443
00:16:16.880 --> 00:16:19.110
oh and don't forget quartus who's a

444
00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.389
brother

445
00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.790
and it really even draws uh uh to our

446
00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:25.269
attention even more the incredible quote

447
00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.949
that the apostle has in first

448
00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:29.030
corinthians uh when he talks in first

449
00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:31.350
corinthians chapter six uh verses eight

450
00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.550
and nine when he talks about the

451
00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:35.110
composition of the corinthian ecclesia

452
00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:37.350
take the time to go there and if if you

453
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.350
really want to get a good close look get

454
00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.670
an niv and look at what it says about

455
00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:44.629
the composition of that occlesia

456
00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.550
you would never have believed that those

457
00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:48.230
people could be the ones that make up an

458
00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.269
ecclesia

459
00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:52.069
and we certainly would would be shocked

460
00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:53.590
if some of those people were to make up

461
00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.430
our collegiate today

462
00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.670
they were from some of the worst moral

463
00:16:57.680 --> 00:17:00.150
offenses that were going on at that time

464
00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:01.269
and yet

465
00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.590
they were washed they were sanctified by

466
00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.710
the lord

467
00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.510
so

468
00:17:05.520 --> 00:17:07.829
let's not think that you have to all be

469
00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:10.710
the same and you all have to be alike

470
00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.350
from the same kind of

471
00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:15.110
socioeconomic background the same kind

472
00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:17.669
of religious background in order to be

473
00:17:17.679 --> 00:17:18.470
one

474
00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.549
the lord was able to put together a

475
00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.110
collegiates and expect them to be in one

476
00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:25.669
accord even though they had vastly

477
00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:27.189
different backgrounds

478
00:17:27.199 --> 00:17:29.110
so that certainly is one that we can

479
00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:31.029
write off and here is the example in

480
00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:33.270
first corinthians six look at the people

481
00:17:33.280 --> 00:17:35.669
who were involved in the niv do not be

482
00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:37.990
deceived neither the sexually immoral or

483
00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.549
idolaters or adulterers nor male

484
00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.190
prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor

485
00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.669
thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor

486
00:17:45.679 --> 00:17:48.310
slanders nor swindlers shall inherit the

487
00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:49.669
kingdom of god and that's what some of

488
00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:52.470
you worry says

489
00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:54.630
but they were to be one

490
00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.710
and that could only happen

491
00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:00.470
through the lord jesus christ

492
00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.669
so what's the standard well the

493
00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:03.669
standards been around for a long time i

494
00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:05.270
mean this standard was there with adam

495
00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:06.789
and eve wasn't it that they too should

496
00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.390
be one flesh

497
00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.190
and the standard is is given to us many

498
00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.350
different times in scripture however in

499
00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:16.630
psalm 133 it talks about the beauty of

500
00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:20.150
being one it says behold how good and

501
00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:23.350
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell

502
00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:25.750
together in unity it is pleasant isn't

503
00:18:25.760 --> 00:18:28.230
it isn't it wonderful to walk into an

504
00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:31.590
ecclesia that's in harmony or to sit

505
00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:33.590
down and speak with a brother where

506
00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:34.549
there is

507
00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.510
there's no separation no division

508
00:18:37.520 --> 00:18:39.430
behold how good and how pleasant it is

509
00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:41.350
for brethren to dwell together in unity

510
00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:43.190
it is like the precious oimen upon the

511
00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.110
head that ran down the beard even

512
00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:47.029
aaron's beard that went down to the

513
00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.350
skirts of skirts of his garments as the

514
00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:51.669
dew of herman as the dew that descended

515
00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:54.070
upon the mountains of zion for there the

516
00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:56.470
lord commanded the blessing even life

517
00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.110
evermore it is one of the views it is

518
00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:01.510
one of the visions that we get of what

519
00:19:01.520 --> 00:19:03.510
the beauty of the kingdom will be like

520
00:19:03.520 --> 00:19:05.830
is when we see brethren who are in one

521
00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:07.110
accord

522
00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:09.029
this is a wonderful vision that we can

523
00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.830
have now of course the idea of two

524
00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:13.909
brethren being in one accord

525
00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:15.669
we had one which was given in first

526
00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:16.870
samuel

527
00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.750
and this was about david and jonathan it

528
00:19:19.760 --> 00:19:20.549
says

529
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:22.549
speaking about these two it says it came

530
00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:24.470
to pass that when he had made an end of

531
00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:26.710
speaking unto saul that the soul of

532
00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.510
jonathan was knit

533
00:19:29.520 --> 00:19:32.470
with the soul of david and jonathan

534
00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:36.390
loved him as his own soul

535
00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.710
now that first of all is one of the

536
00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.190
finest examples of friendship that we

537
00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.710
could ever want to see

538
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.789
but it's more than friendship in fact

539
00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:47.350
that same word knit is also found when

540
00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:49.750
we get to ephesians it talks about the

541
00:19:49.760 --> 00:19:52.549
whole body being joined together and the

542
00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:55.270
rsv uses the word knit

543
00:19:55.280 --> 00:19:57.909
it's knit together held together by

544
00:19:57.919 --> 00:20:00.470
every supporting ligament it grows and

545
00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.110
builds itself up in love as each part

546
00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:04.470
does its work

547
00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:06.470
so if you are one

548
00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.549
if you are held together and joined

549
00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:11.430
together then the body works it works

550
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.470
best

551
00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.390
the ligaments work right and the muscles

552
00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.710
work right and the bones work right

553
00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.110
but if you're not joined together the

554
00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:20.950
way that you should if you're not in

555
00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:23.830
full accord the body won't work quite

556
00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:26.070
quite right and that's what happens when

557
00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:29.029
our bodies are out of in misalignment

558
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.630
things don't operate the way they ought

559
00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.590
to

560
00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:34.630
and so two brethren one accord

561
00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.310
we see that their souls were knit

562
00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:37.990
together and that's how we are to be as

563
00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.070
eclesias

564
00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:41.909
now in the book of acts

565
00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:44.230
luke gives us a number of what you might

566
00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:46.789
call status reports in other words how's

567
00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:48.390
the collegiate doing

568
00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.630
and he was talking particularly about

569
00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.669
the ecclesia in jerusalem

570
00:20:53.679 --> 00:20:56.549
in acts 1 and 14 we we get an account

571
00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:58.070
where he talks about them all being in

572
00:20:58.080 --> 00:21:01.029
one accord in prayer and supplication

573
00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.789
he goes on to further describe it in

574
00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.950
chapter two after they've had the three

575
00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:07.270
thousand baptisms he talks about them

576
00:21:07.280 --> 00:21:09.350
continuing together in the apostles

577
00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:11.669
doctrine and fellowship breaking a bread

578
00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:14.470
prayers having all things common one

579
00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.350
accord having favor with the people

580
00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:19.750
we get to chapter six right after they

581
00:21:19.760 --> 00:21:21.990
have had the incident uh where they've

582
00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.230
had um the grecian and the hebraic

583
00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.510
widows

584
00:21:25.520 --> 00:21:27.750
and the controversy about that it says

585
00:21:27.760 --> 00:21:29.830
that god continued to number in jerus

586
00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:32.149
that the number in jerusalem multiplied

587
00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:35.430
greatly and a great number of priests

588
00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:37.510
became obedient and i want to ask you to

589
00:21:37.520 --> 00:21:39.510
think about this we're not told exactly

590
00:21:39.520 --> 00:21:42.870
why why do you suppose that the priests

591
00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:45.669
were the were some of the first ones to

592
00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:48.630
understand and to come to the gospel why

593
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.990
is it it was almost like a throwaway

594
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:52.630
line there in uh in acts chapter six

595
00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.310
verse seven it says and a great number

596
00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:56.789
of the priests remain um became obedient

597
00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.669
to the truth now why is it what was it

598
00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:01.909
that they saw well i suppose that they

599
00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:04.470
saw doctrinally the right things

600
00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.390
but i also believe they saw something

601
00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.870
very special in the way that this body

602
00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.350
was acting together that there were they

603
00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:14.070
saw and they had evidence before them of

604
00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:16.230
great things that were happening

605
00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:18.390
acts chapter 9 talks about how they had

606
00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.110
rest through judea galilee samaria and

607
00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:24.310
they were edified chapter 12 right after

608
00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:26.390
the death of james

609
00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.630
how he's been beheaded we read that

610
00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.110
after herod had been moved out of the

611
00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.470
way by the way that's a wonderful

612
00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.070
chapter we're not going to have time to

613
00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:36.470
talk about that but acts chapter 12 is

614
00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.149
one of my favorite chapters in the bible

615
00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:41.110
because it starts off with the arm of

616
00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:42.070
man

617
00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:43.350
taking

618
00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:45.669
violence against the believers it starts

619
00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:49.590
off with herod for some unknown reason

620
00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:52.070
taking james and beheading him at the

621
00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:54.310
beginning of that chapter the arm of the

622
00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:57.110
flesh is strong and has a terrible

623
00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:59.430
powerful impact on the believers

624
00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:01.510
but where does that arm of the of the

625
00:23:01.520 --> 00:23:04.230
flesh end up at the end of that chapter

626
00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.110
it's eaten with worms

627
00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:09.029
and that really is a lesson for us isn't

628
00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.430
it about how sometimes it seems that the

629
00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:13.909
power of the flesh can be strong but

630
00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:16.070
where does it end up it ends up in

631
00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:18.549
corruption it's only the lord and his

632
00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.549
strength that continues

633
00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.310
chapter 16 we hear about they grew a

634
00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:25.190
number daily and chapter 19 we hear that

635
00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:27.590
they mightily grew the word of god and

636
00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:29.430
prevailed so these are little status

637
00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:32.149
reports that luke gives to us but he

638
00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:34.549
does more than that for us he talks

639
00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:36.950
about what was involved when they were

640
00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:39.590
in one accord it's as if what he does

641
00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:43.029
for us is he does a social analysis he

642
00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.510
says let me tell you yes everything's

643
00:23:45.520 --> 00:23:47.590
going well they're adding 3000 to their

644
00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:49.269
number but let me tell you more than

645
00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:52.149
that let me tell you what is like inside

646
00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.990
let me tell you both the good and the

647
00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.350
bad

648
00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:56.549
some of the things are involved in being

649
00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.870
on one accord first of all chapter 1

650
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.909
verse 14 that first 120 that were

651
00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:04.230
involved what they were involved in was

652
00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.510
was prayer

653
00:24:05.520 --> 00:24:07.830
and with supplication prayer and

654
00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:09.909
supplication

655
00:24:09.919 --> 00:24:12.630
we hear about in chapter two that they

656
00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:15.110
were all together in one place

657
00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:17.669
celebrating pentecost and they were

658
00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.590
there in one accord

659
00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:21.669
chapter two after we've had the three

660
00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:23.430
thousand added we hear that they were

661
00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.669
steadfast in the apostles doctrine

662
00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:27.990
fellowship prayer breaking bread from

663
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.470
house to house sharing possessions

664
00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.149
having a daily worship in the temple

665
00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:35.110
with gladness of heart and praising god

666
00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:37.990
chapter four we hear that the one of the

667
00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.990
conditions or the things that was most

668
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.630
noted about them being in one accord was

669
00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.549
their praise to god

670
00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.070
a very important thing that we like to

671
00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:48.149
deal with in a moment

672
00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:50.149
again chapter four talks about them

673
00:24:50.159 --> 00:24:51.669
being one accord

674
00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:53.669
through prayer and in sharing of

675
00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:55.909
possessions and finally chapter five

676
00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.269
where it talks about them being one

677
00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.990
accord in prayer in the temple so i ask

678
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.669
you brothers and sisters i've helped you

679
00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:03.669
out with the yellow ear what's one of

680
00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:05.190
the things that you see

681
00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.549
over and over

682
00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.230
with regard to

683
00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:10.470
the being in one accord

684
00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:12.789
it's prayer thank you that was very good

685
00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.669
it's prayer

686
00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:17.430
it's prayer

687
00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:19.830
and one of the best ways for us to be

688
00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:21.269
able to

689
00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:24.630
enjoy the beauty of fellowship together

690
00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.669
the fellowship of unity together is in

691
00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:29.909
fact in prayer

692
00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.870
so

693
00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:33.029
that was something that was really a

694
00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:35.029
critical element in the first century

695
00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:37.430
ecclesia it's what drew them together

696
00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:39.190
now one of the questions is okay but who

697
00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.390
was involved

698
00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.789
who was in one accord well first of all

699
00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.950
in chapter 14 it was 120 different

700
00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.510
people we have the apostles we have the

701
00:25:47.520 --> 00:25:49.669
women we have mary and the brothers of

702
00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:53.750
jesus and that chapter 1 verse 14 is the

703
00:25:53.760 --> 00:25:56.630
last occurrence of the mention of mary

704
00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:58.630
the mother of jesus she may have lived

705
00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:00.470
for a number of years after that but we

706
00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:02.630
don't hear about her again but here you

707
00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.669
had women you had the brothers of jesus

708
00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:08.230
who had been unbelievers recently and

709
00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:10.870
you had the apostles a group of about

710
00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.350
120 and they were all in one accord

711
00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:16.070
together but it continues beyond that in

712
00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:18.630
chapter 2 verse 1 it appears that the

713
00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.750
apostles plus up to 70 more were

714
00:26:21.760 --> 00:26:25.269
involved chapter 2 verse 46

715
00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:28.390
it appears that as many as 3 000 were

716
00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:30.950
bound together in unity

717
00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.950
we hear about the church worshiping in

718
00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:35.350
the temple in chapter five

719
00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:37.750
oops

720
00:26:37.760 --> 00:26:40.310
so we can see that it wasn't intended

721
00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:42.390
only to be a handful of people that

722
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:44.390
could be in one accord wherever

723
00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.230
believers are brought together whether

724
00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:48.549
it be at a bible school or back in our

725
00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:51.750
homoclesias or between one brother and

726
00:26:51.760 --> 00:26:54.789
another we are to be in one accord it's

727
00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:57.669
expected for all of those occasions

728
00:26:57.679 --> 00:26:59.750
now i'd like to talk about this very

729
00:26:59.760 --> 00:27:01.669
interesting kind of uh

730
00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:04.630
way that luke lets us know about when

731
00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:07.029
they were in one accord

732
00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:09.430
the first example is at the ascension

733
00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.789
right after the ascension of the lord

734
00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:12.789
we're told almost immediately in that

735
00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:15.909
chapter 1 verse 14 verse 14 that they

736
00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:17.990
were all a one accord

737
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.669
together

738
00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:21.430
we hear about it again

739
00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.870
right after at the appointment of

740
00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:25.510
matthias we hear about them being in one

741
00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:27.590
accord

742
00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:29.830
when the pentecost gifts are given

743
00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:31.510
before they're given we're told they're

744
00:27:31.520 --> 00:27:33.990
in one accord

745
00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:36.389
when the three thousand were baptized

746
00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:38.070
right after that we're told that they're

747
00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:40.149
in one accord

748
00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:42.310
with the healing of the lame man

749
00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:44.149
we hear again that they were in one

750
00:27:44.159 --> 00:27:45.190
accord

751
00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.950
peter and john were imprisoned the

752
00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.789
ecclesia got together they were praying

753
00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:50.789
in a house and peter and john were

754
00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:52.950
released and the ecclesial house was

755
00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:55.269
shaken what was the condition they were

756
00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.710
in all one accord

757
00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:59.990
now this is not expected anyway to be

758
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.669
just kind of some kind of uh coincidence

759
00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:06.549
i really believe that what this says is

760
00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:09.830
the lord was able to easily move with

761
00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:12.549
this ecclesia because they were able to

762
00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:15.269
find a way to be one

763
00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:17.110
and i think sometimes brothers and

764
00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:19.430
sisters in our colleges when we find

765
00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:21.990
things that seem such struggles

766
00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.430
one of the things we might want to start

767
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:25.510
to do is to ask ourselves how well we're

768
00:28:25.520 --> 00:28:27.269
doing in this area

769
00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:30.149
have we gotten this fundamental right if

770
00:28:30.159 --> 00:28:32.549
we get this fundamental right perhaps

771
00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.710
we'll see changes in some of the

772
00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.230
activities that we're involved with as

773
00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.590
an ecclesia

774
00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:39.590
the first century collegiate every time

775
00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:41.830
something major was about to happen

776
00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:43.750
at least in the beginning we see that

777
00:28:43.760 --> 00:28:46.789
they were all in one accord

778
00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:48.470
and they had a lot of fleshly barriers

779
00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:50.389
to be on one chord just like we have

780
00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:52.870
they had language and dialect problems

781
00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.710
they had social customs i mean look at

782
00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:56.310
incredible problems that they had to

783
00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:57.190
face

784
00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.470
soon we're going to hear that they

785
00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:00.630
certainly weren't one accord were they

786
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:03.269
they were having major problems between

787
00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.510
the party of the circumcision and those

788
00:29:05.520 --> 00:29:07.909
who were talking in gentile areas or

789
00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:09.909
preaching in gentile areas

790
00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:12.310
there were racial tensions varied levels

791
00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:14.230
of bible knowledge

792
00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:16.389
there was a big issue that we saw

793
00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:18.710
between the social standing between some

794
00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:20.149
of the members

795
00:29:20.159 --> 00:29:23.110
there were definite roman male female

796
00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:24.630
distinctions

797
00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:26.710
very definite distinctions between male

798
00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:29.590
and female there was relative wealth

799
00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:31.990
versus poverty and we see that raising

800
00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.149
its head in corinth

801
00:29:34.159 --> 00:29:37.350
um connection to judaism many who really

802
00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:40.470
did not intend to ever leave judaism

803
00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.590
who saw

804
00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:43.990
this movement of christianity to be

805
00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.990
something that was wholly compatible

806
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.510
with judaism

807
00:29:47.520 --> 00:29:49.190
and of course that was something that

808
00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:51.350
would have led to a lot of conflict and

809
00:29:51.360 --> 00:29:52.710
did

810
00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.830
developing versus a developing versus a

811
00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:58.149
clear organization structure it wasn't

812
00:29:58.159 --> 00:30:00.549
always clear who is going to be resp at

813
00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.750
the beginning it seems like the

814
00:30:01.760 --> 00:30:04.630
disciples the apostles were developed or

815
00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:06.230
were the ones who were responsible for

816
00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.990
everything so there were a lot of

817
00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.070
fleshly barriers

818
00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.870
now

819
00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:13.190
let's talk about james uh there is some

820
00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:15.190
controversy whether james who wrote the

821
00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:17.669
epistle of james is the brother of the

822
00:30:17.679 --> 00:30:21.269
lord jesus christ or if he was james the

823
00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:23.430
son of zebedee

824
00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:25.110
my personal belief is it was james

825
00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.470
brother the lord

826
00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.669
however

827
00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:29.590
we can go with either of those scenarios

828
00:30:29.600 --> 00:30:31.669
because what they were writing about

829
00:30:31.679 --> 00:30:33.110
would have been

830
00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:35.990
probably some of the earliest days of

831
00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.909
the 1st century ecclesia in jerusalem

832
00:30:39.919 --> 00:30:42.710
remember james the son of zebedee was

833
00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.830
killed

834
00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:46.470
in chapter 12 of acts in the early days

835
00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.909
of the first century of collegiate in

836
00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:51.669
jerusalem and james stays in jerusalem

837
00:30:51.679 --> 00:30:54.230
his almost full experience would have

838
00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:56.389
been in jerusalem and most people

839
00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:58.950
believe that the epistle of james may

840
00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:01.190
have been the very first letter or the

841
00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:03.590
first writing of the or the new

842
00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:04.950
testament

843
00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.230
so

844
00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:08.470
if we either one of those people were to

845
00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:12.549
be the writers we have to ask ourselves

846
00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.070
what kinds of conditions were they

847
00:31:14.080 --> 00:31:15.830
writing about what were some of the

848
00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:17.110
problems they were writing about you

849
00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:18.789
know sometimes we say things like well

850
00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:20.470
you know the first century ecclesia they

851
00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.230
had the holy spirit gifts around them

852
00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.909
they had so many advantages they were

853
00:31:23.919 --> 00:31:24.789
only

854
00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.950
a matter of at this point a couple of

855
00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.950
years away from the days that the lord

856
00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:31.669
jesus was was amongst them

857
00:31:31.679 --> 00:31:32.630
how

858
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.990
how could it be that they wouldn't be in

859
00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.590
for and one accord well we all know

860
00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:37.269
better than that don't we we know our

861
00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:39.269
own human nature but i want you to look

862
00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:41.029
at the kind of problems that james talks

863
00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:43.430
about that must have been existing right

864
00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:46.230
there in jerusalem

865
00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:48.549
he talks about men falling into diver's

866
00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:51.669
temptations in his epistle

867
00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.549
men

868
00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.630
lacking wisdom

869
00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:56.950
men of low degree in the rich yeah was a

870
00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:59.590
real problem that he was finding

871
00:31:59.600 --> 00:32:01.830
he talked about the controversy over

872
00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:02.870
works

873
00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:04.470
not just faith and knowledge being

874
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:07.909
required there were some in jerusalem

875
00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:10.389
that were seeing the need to work but

876
00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:12.950
were not acting

877
00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:15.830
he talked quite a bit didn't he about

878
00:32:15.840 --> 00:32:17.110
untamed

879
00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:19.029
unbridled tongues

880
00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.870
that would have been right there in

881
00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:23.430
jerusalem he talks about wars and

882
00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:25.190
fightings if you look at the margin in

883
00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:27.509
chapter four it talks about brawlings

884
00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:30.070
that were happening

885
00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:33.029
friendship with the world

886
00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:35.269
judging one another

887
00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:37.590
corruption of riches

888
00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:39.350
and groaning against one another you

889
00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:40.149
know

890
00:32:40.159 --> 00:32:41.750
brothers and sisters i want to point out

891
00:32:41.760 --> 00:32:42.950
these were some of the problems that

892
00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:45.669
they were experiencing in jerusalem in

893
00:32:45.679 --> 00:32:48.149
these early days

894
00:32:48.159 --> 00:32:50.470
and still they found a way to be of one

895
00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:53.350
accord

896
00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:55.190
so there's no excuse for us today is

897
00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.470
there

898
00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:58.470
there's no excuse for us not to be able

899
00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:00.630
to move toward that standard now i don't

900
00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:02.149
think you ever get to the standard of

901
00:33:02.159 --> 00:33:04.070
being in one accord in a collegiate and

902
00:33:04.080 --> 00:33:06.310
you say there we have it we're there

903
00:33:06.320 --> 00:33:07.750
and it's going to be this way from now

904
00:33:07.760 --> 00:33:08.789
on

905
00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:11.029
it's something to constantly be striving

906
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.789
after because

907
00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:15.509
human nature itself does not generally

908
00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.830
lead to people being in harmony in one

909
00:33:17.840 --> 00:33:19.350
accord together

910
00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:22.310
but this is what james identified as

911
00:33:22.320 --> 00:33:24.789
being some of the real issues in in

912
00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:27.830
in jerusalem and yet despite this they

913
00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:29.669
found a way to come together through

914
00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:31.750
prayer through supplication through the

915
00:33:31.760 --> 00:33:33.830
breaking of bread and through the very

916
00:33:33.840 --> 00:33:36.710
basics of their fellowship

917
00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:38.230
now what was some of the counsel to the

918
00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:40.630
ecclesias

919
00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:42.389
peter deals with this when he talks to

920
00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:45.269
the scattered believers he says finally

921
00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:48.630
all of you live in harmony

922
00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:50.389
be all of one mind it says in the king

923
00:33:50.399 --> 00:33:51.509
james

924
00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:54.710
with one another be sympathetic

925
00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.230
love his brothers

926
00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:59.110
be compassionate and humble

927
00:33:59.120 --> 00:34:01.509
do not repay evil with evil or insult

928
00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.789
with insult

929
00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:04.389
but with blessing

930
00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:07.509
because to this you were called

931
00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:10.149
so that you might inherit a blessing

932
00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.909
brothers and sisters those words we were

933
00:34:11.919 --> 00:34:13.829
familiar with those words

934
00:34:13.839 --> 00:34:16.069
we understand those words

935
00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:17.990
how difficult they are

936
00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:19.430
to do

937
00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:22.149
to the natural thing i got to tell you

938
00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:24.389
the natural thing for me is if somebody

939
00:34:24.399 --> 00:34:26.629
hits me with evil

940
00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:28.149
and i guess maybe i did this a little

941
00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:30.389
bit with the little um

942
00:34:30.399 --> 00:34:33.270
uh thing with peter yesterday with the

943
00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:35.909
with my little slide but uh

944
00:34:35.919 --> 00:34:37.909
that was all in jest of course and he

945
00:34:37.919 --> 00:34:39.430
knew about it in advance i want to tell

946
00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.149
you

947
00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:43.190
um but i do want to say that it's the

948
00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:46.230
natural man that wants to repay when

949
00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:48.869
somebody does evil against us or insults

950
00:34:48.879 --> 00:34:49.589
us

951
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:51.109
and if we don't want to repay it by

952
00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:53.589
taking vengeance back what we do is we

953
00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.589
hold it within us don't we

954
00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:58.150
and it festers over time

955
00:34:58.160 --> 00:35:00.550
this is what paul's admonition is be

956
00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:03.589
sympathetic be in harmony love his

957
00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:05.910
brother and be compassionate

958
00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:08.470
and be humble

959
00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:10.069
what was paul's counsel to the roman

960
00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.990
ecclesia you see this all the way

961
00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.750
through the letters i'm sure they had

962
00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:15.109
seen these wonderful conditions in

963
00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:17.109
jerusalem and they try to get that

964
00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:19.190
message to the brothers and sisters in

965
00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:21.109
these other ecclesias paul says to the

966
00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:23.190
romans now the god of patience and

967
00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:26.710
consolation grant you to be like-minded

968
00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:28.230
one toward another

969
00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:30.870
according or after the example of christ

970
00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:34.310
jesus that ye may with one mind

971
00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:37.750
and one mouth glorify god even the

972
00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:40.470
father of our lord jesus christ

973
00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:43.109
wherefore accept one another or receive

974
00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:45.349
what ye one another as christ also

975
00:35:45.359 --> 00:35:47.589
received us to the glory of god now i

976
00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:49.750
want to stop there for a minute

977
00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:51.990
one of the purposes for us to be in one

978
00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:52.950
accord

979
00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:55.829
isn't just so it feels more comfortable

980
00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:57.910
it's not just for that oh it is more

981
00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:00.230
comfortable no doubt about it but one of

982
00:36:00.240 --> 00:36:02.470
the real reasons that we want to be in

983
00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:06.150
one accord is so that with one mind and

984
00:36:06.160 --> 00:36:07.510
one mouth

985
00:36:07.520 --> 00:36:10.630
we can glorify god together

986
00:36:10.640 --> 00:36:13.190
and by the way that is the reason that

987
00:36:13.200 --> 00:36:15.430
we're on this earth isn't it

988
00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:17.829
and so the highest standard of worship

989
00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:19.670
is for people to come together in one

990
00:36:19.680 --> 00:36:22.870
accord and to worship god as one

991
00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:24.790
that's the standard that's what jesus

992
00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:27.670
said father even as you and i are one

993
00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:29.750
my prayer is that these may be one with

994
00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.950
us

995
00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.990
and so

996
00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:34.230
that we might have with one mind and one

997
00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:36.550
mouth glorify god

998
00:36:36.560 --> 00:36:38.950
now paul's message to philip i to the

999
00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:41.750
brethren in philippi was that he said

1000
00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:43.510
that's spelled wrong should be

1001
00:36:43.520 --> 00:36:44.550
one l

1002
00:36:44.560 --> 00:36:45.589
um

1003
00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:47.510
fulfill ye my joy that she be

1004
00:36:47.520 --> 00:36:50.230
like-minded having the same love being

1005
00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:52.790
of one accord you see how the how these

1006
00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.470
are hammered from a collegiate to a

1007
00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:57.109
collegiate be in one accord

1008
00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:59.430
of one mind let nothing be done through

1009
00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:02.550
strife or vain glory but in lowliness of

1010
00:37:02.560 --> 00:37:05.349
mind let each esteem other better than

1011
00:37:05.359 --> 00:37:07.430
themselves now that doesn't mean i

1012
00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:09.109
remember brother uh russ pointing this

1013
00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:11.270
out in exhortation one time it doesn't

1014
00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:12.790
mean you have to go around with your

1015
00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:15.349
head down thinking i'm worth nothing

1016
00:37:15.359 --> 00:37:17.589
it doesn't mean that what it means is is

1017
00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:19.990
that the needs of your brother the needs

1018
00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:23.270
of your sister they come first

1019
00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:26.550
if we could only learn to live that way

1020
00:37:26.560 --> 00:37:28.470
imagine what our ecclesias would be like

1021
00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:30.550
a steam mother better than themselves

1022
00:37:30.560 --> 00:37:32.790
look not every man on his own things but

1023
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:37.589
every man also on the things of others

1024
00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:39.109
his message to corinth and i want to

1025
00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.150
point out

1026
00:37:40.160 --> 00:37:41.829
look at the problems that the apostle

1027
00:37:41.839 --> 00:37:44.150
paul had to deal with in corinth he had

1028
00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:46.790
to deal with all kinds of really serious

1029
00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:48.550
issues but what's the first thing he

1030
00:37:48.560 --> 00:37:50.710
dealt with it was the division that was

1031
00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:52.390
happening where some were saying they

1032
00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:54.310
were of apollos some were saying they

1033
00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:56.870
were of cephas some were of paul and

1034
00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:59.270
some were of christ and of course he he

1035
00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:01.349
just absolutely makes it clear he says

1036
00:38:01.359 --> 00:38:03.030
look there shouldn't be any division

1037
00:38:03.040 --> 00:38:05.589
about this did paul die for you

1038
00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:07.510
he said there is only one that we're

1039
00:38:07.520 --> 00:38:10.069
baptized into and that's christ and so

1040
00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:12.230
he says in chapter 1 verse 10 before he

1041
00:38:12.240 --> 00:38:14.470
deals with all the other problems and i

1042
00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.910
beseech you

1043
00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:18.230
brethren by the name of our lord jesus

1044
00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:21.910
christ that ye all speak the same thing

1045
00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:24.150
and that there be no divisions or

1046
00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:26.710
schisms among you but that ye be

1047
00:38:26.720 --> 00:38:28.069
perfectly

1048
00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:31.510
joined together in the same mind and in

1049
00:38:31.520 --> 00:38:33.190
the same judgment

1050
00:38:33.200 --> 00:38:35.270
so before he goes on to all the other

1051
00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:37.510
problems that had to be solved he says

1052
00:38:37.520 --> 00:38:40.630
brothers and sisters get this right

1053
00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:42.870
be of one mind be perfectly joined

1054
00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:45.510
together get rid of these divisions

1055
00:38:45.520 --> 00:38:47.510
and then we'll start taking taking care

1056
00:38:47.520 --> 00:38:50.390
of these other problems

1057
00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:52.310
in first corinthians chapter 12 when we

1058
00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:54.870
have the the wonderful beautiful speech

1059
00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:57.670
the doctrine of the unity of the body

1060
00:38:57.680 --> 00:38:58.790
he says

1061
00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:00.630
those members of the body which seem to

1062
00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:03.270
be less honorable upon these we bestow

1063
00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:06.310
more abundant honor and our comely

1064
00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:09.349
parts have more abundant comeliness

1065
00:39:09.359 --> 00:39:11.270
for our comely parts have no need you

1066
00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:13.190
know the beautiful parts they have no

1067
00:39:13.200 --> 00:39:15.829
need but god hath tempered the body

1068
00:39:15.839 --> 00:39:17.030
together

1069
00:39:17.040 --> 00:39:19.270
having given more abundant honor to that

1070
00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:21.349
part which lacked that there should be

1071
00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:23.510
no schism in the body

1072
00:39:23.520 --> 00:39:25.910
that's why we have an interchangeability

1073
00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:28.310
and an interdependency amongst the

1074
00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:30.150
members of our body

1075
00:39:30.160 --> 00:39:32.230
is that we would not have a schism in

1076
00:39:32.240 --> 00:39:34.710
the body but that the members should

1077
00:39:34.720 --> 00:39:37.670
have the same care one for another and

1078
00:39:37.680 --> 00:39:39.750
whether one members suffer all the

1079
00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:41.910
members suffer with it or one member be

1080
00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:44.470
honored all the members rejoice with it

1081
00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:46.790
and he says now ye are the body of

1082
00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:49.670
christ and members in particular that

1083
00:39:49.680 --> 00:39:52.470
you're all tempered together in this one

1084
00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:54.550
body you're all participants in that one

1085
00:39:54.560 --> 00:39:56.390
body

1086
00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.990
peter also says

1087
00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:01.990
in his first epistle he says finally be

1088
00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:05.109
all of one mind having compassion one of

1089
00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:08.550
another love is brethren be pitiful be

1090
00:40:08.560 --> 00:40:10.950
courteous not rendering evil for evil or

1091
00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:13.670
railing for railing but contrary wise

1092
00:40:13.680 --> 00:40:14.710
blessing

1093
00:40:14.720 --> 00:40:16.790
knowing that you are there and too

1094
00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:18.390
called that you should receive a

1095
00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:20.710
blessing that's part of our calling is

1096
00:40:20.720 --> 00:40:22.950
that we would be one together

1097
00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:25.270
and finally paul in philippians says

1098
00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:27.190
only let your conversation be as it

1099
00:40:27.200 --> 00:40:29.589
becometh the gospel of christ your

1100
00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:32.390
behavior needs to be as it becomes the

1101
00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:34.309
becometh the gospel of christ that

1102
00:40:34.319 --> 00:40:36.230
whether i come and see you or else be

1103
00:40:36.240 --> 00:40:39.030
absent i may hear of your affairs and

1104
00:40:39.040 --> 00:40:40.710
what was he looking for

1105
00:40:40.720 --> 00:40:43.910
that you stand in one mind striving

1106
00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:46.550
together for faith of the gospel

1107
00:40:46.560 --> 00:40:49.750
and this is why mary quoted psalm 34 in

1108
00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:52.230
the song of mary when she's heard that

1109
00:40:52.240 --> 00:40:54.710
she is to have the lord jesus christ

1110
00:40:54.720 --> 00:40:58.550
part of her song is taken from psalm 34

1111
00:40:58.560 --> 00:41:01.190
and psalm 34 reads i will bless the lord

1112
00:41:01.200 --> 00:41:03.589
at all times his praise shall

1113
00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:05.670
continually be in my mouth

1114
00:41:05.680 --> 00:41:08.470
my soul shall make her boast in the lord

1115
00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:10.309
the humble shall hear thereof and be

1116
00:41:10.319 --> 00:41:11.670
glad

1117
00:41:11.680 --> 00:41:14.630
o magnify the lord with me and let us

1118
00:41:14.640 --> 00:41:17.270
exalt his name together

1119
00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:18.790
i sought the lord and he heard me and

1120
00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:21.109
delivered me from all my fears what was

1121
00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:23.349
it that mary was asking people to join

1122
00:41:23.359 --> 00:41:26.550
in it was to magnify the lord

1123
00:41:26.560 --> 00:41:27.589
with her

1124
00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:30.550
and to exalt his name together and

1125
00:41:30.560 --> 00:41:32.309
brothers and sisters that's what we do

1126
00:41:32.319 --> 00:41:33.750
isn't it when we come together in

1127
00:41:33.760 --> 00:41:34.790
worship

1128
00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:37.750
we come together as one body with an

1129
00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:40.870
attempt to magnify the lord and to exalt

1130
00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:43.270
his name together

1131
00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:45.270
that's the highest form of worship isn't

1132
00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:47.510
it for us that we might be able to reach

1133
00:41:47.520 --> 00:41:49.349
that

1134
00:41:49.359 --> 00:41:51.589
so being of one accord first of all it's

1135
00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:54.069
not just for the good times and it's not

1136
00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.230
just the sanctity of the collegial halls

1137
00:41:56.240 --> 00:41:58.069
it needs to be something as part of our

1138
00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:59.270
daily life

1139
00:41:59.280 --> 00:42:01.030
and it seems to be a condition that was

1140
00:42:01.040 --> 00:42:03.589
reached just before a major event

1141
00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:05.190
or had occurred

1142
00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:07.990
on and it was all or perhaps right after

1143
00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:09.510
and it always seems to be under the

1144
00:42:09.520 --> 00:42:10.950
lord's guidance

1145
00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:12.950
and it involved all or most of the

1146
00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:15.910
ecclesia not just the leading few and

1147
00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:18.309
finally it expressed itself in preaching

1148
00:42:18.319 --> 00:42:21.030
in worship in prayer and the solving of

1149
00:42:21.040 --> 00:42:22.710
disputes

1150
00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:25.670
may it be in our colleges that we can

1151
00:42:25.680 --> 00:42:27.270
stop for a while

1152
00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:30.309
examine ourselves and see if we have

1153
00:42:30.319 --> 00:42:32.550
issues that are causing division or

1154
00:42:32.560 --> 00:42:35.349
schism whether it be between brothers or

1155
00:42:35.359 --> 00:42:37.910
whether it be within the ecclesia let's

1156
00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:39.990
get that right from the beginning and

1157
00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:42.230
then move on to the other things because

1158
00:42:42.240 --> 00:42:44.230
this is something that really is the

1159
00:42:44.240 --> 00:42:47.030
standard of our worship together

1160
00:42:47.040 --> 00:42:48.950
some of the modern challenges the

1161
00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:50.950
fundamentals of prayer and praise and

1162
00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.910
love

1163
00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:53.589
are those things that make up the

1164
00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:56.069
foundation of being in one accord

1165
00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:58.150
being in one accord is the best

1166
00:42:58.160 --> 00:43:00.309
preventative medicine i can think of

1167
00:43:00.319 --> 00:43:02.550
against schisms and divisions it

1168
00:43:02.560 --> 00:43:04.630
involves hard work and patience if you

1169
00:43:04.640 --> 00:43:06.710
know that's the standard it probably

1170
00:43:06.720 --> 00:43:07.829
will be

1171
00:43:07.839 --> 00:43:09.910
come before other issues can be

1172
00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:12.630
effectively resolved we also might ask

1173
00:43:12.640 --> 00:43:14.309
is there enough personal sharing in our

1174
00:43:14.319 --> 00:43:16.950
collegiates today are we too isolated uh

1175
00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:18.710
during a given week where we can really

1176
00:43:18.720 --> 00:43:21.910
share in common our real daily lives and

1177
00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:23.510
i'm afraid that some brothers and

1178
00:43:23.520 --> 00:43:24.950
sisters feel

1179
00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:27.670
very much alone in this area that they

1180
00:43:27.680 --> 00:43:29.349
feel a sense of fellowship when they go

1181
00:43:29.359 --> 00:43:31.430
to meeting together but generally

1182
00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:33.910
throughout the week oftentimes they feel

1183
00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:36.950
very much alone there is i believe great

1184
00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:39.510
opportunity for us there

1185
00:43:39.520 --> 00:43:41.030
and of course the other issue is are

1186
00:43:41.040 --> 00:43:43.510
there lingering issues some may be long

1187
00:43:43.520 --> 00:43:45.670
standing between brethren and how they

1188
00:43:45.680 --> 00:43:47.349
affecting the ecclesia you might

1189
00:43:47.359 --> 00:43:49.510
remember what what the lord jesus said

1190
00:43:49.520 --> 00:43:51.349
about this when he and when he was

1191
00:43:51.359 --> 00:43:54.069
talking about the man who is to bring

1192
00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:55.990
his gift to the altar

1193
00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:58.069
and he says therefore if thou bring thy

1194
00:43:58.079 --> 00:44:00.630
gift to the altar and their remembrance

1195
00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:02.470
that thou brother that thy brother hath

1196
00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:04.150
ought against thee

1197
00:44:04.160 --> 00:44:06.710
leave there thy gift before the altar

1198
00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:09.990
and go thy way first be reconciled to

1199
00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:11.109
thy brother

1200
00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:15.109
and then come and offer your gift

1201
00:44:15.119 --> 00:44:17.510
if we want ourselves

1202
00:44:17.520 --> 00:44:20.950
to provide a service to our collegiate

1203
00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:23.109
if we want to provide a service to our

1204
00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:24.150
brother

1205
00:44:24.160 --> 00:44:25.430
if we want to provide a service to

1206
00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:26.950
ourself

1207
00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:28.309
let's do this

1208
00:44:28.319 --> 00:44:31.670
if we have difficulties with our brother

1209
00:44:31.680 --> 00:44:35.349
be reconciled to them put this first and

1210
00:44:35.359 --> 00:44:38.230
then come and offer your gift

1211
00:44:38.240 --> 00:44:40.069
now very briefly i want to just go

1212
00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:42.870
through how the poverty that was in the

1213
00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:46.069
first century allowed for brothers and

1214
00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:48.870
sisters to participate in a fellowship

1215
00:44:48.880 --> 00:44:51.270
how it allowed for an opportunity for

1216
00:44:51.280 --> 00:44:55.270
unity across gentile and jewish uh

1217
00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:57.270
backgrounds and of course if you looked

1218
00:44:57.280 --> 00:44:59.510
across europe and you looked at how

1219
00:44:59.520 --> 00:45:01.589
ecclesias were beginning to spring up

1220
00:45:01.599 --> 00:45:04.230
throughout the the empire we also know

1221
00:45:04.240 --> 00:45:06.550
that there was a great time of famine

1222
00:45:06.560 --> 00:45:08.790
that was occurring particularly to the

1223
00:45:08.800 --> 00:45:11.270
brothers and sisters in the uh the

1224
00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:13.430
palestine area and it was hitting very

1225
00:45:13.440 --> 00:45:16.710
hard in jerusalem and so we began to see

1226
00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:18.390
that first in antioch there is a

1227
00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:20.309
collection that's taken up and we're

1228
00:45:20.319 --> 00:45:23.349
told in chapter 11 of acts in these days

1229
00:45:23.359 --> 00:45:25.349
came prophets from jerusalem and unto

1230
00:45:25.359 --> 00:45:27.589
antioch and there stood up one of them

1231
00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:30.630
named agavis and signified by the spirit

1232
00:45:30.640 --> 00:45:32.470
that there should be a great dearth

1233
00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:34.710
throughout all the world which came to

1234
00:45:34.720 --> 00:45:37.030
pass in the days of claudius caesar

1235
00:45:37.040 --> 00:45:38.870
then the disciples every man according

1236
00:45:38.880 --> 00:45:41.349
to his ability determined to send relief

1237
00:45:41.359 --> 00:45:44.710
unto the brethren which dwelt in judea

1238
00:45:44.720 --> 00:45:47.109
which also they did and sent it to the

1239
00:45:47.119 --> 00:45:49.670
elders by the hands of barnabas and paul

1240
00:45:49.680 --> 00:45:51.829
and so this jerusalem poor fund that was

1241
00:45:51.839 --> 00:45:54.870
being collected allowed for gentiles to

1242
00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:57.589
be able to contribute to those who were

1243
00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:59.750
back in

1244
00:45:59.760 --> 00:46:01.510
in jerusalem

1245
00:46:01.520 --> 00:46:03.990
then it goes on to asia and also into

1246
00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:07.109
acca and we read about this in uh first

1247
00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:09.109
corinthians 16. now concerning the

1248
00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:11.109
collection for the saints as i've given

1249
00:46:11.119 --> 00:46:13.750
order to the churches of galatia even so

1250
00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:16.069
do ye upon the first day of the week let

1251
00:46:16.079 --> 00:46:18.950
every one of you lay by him in store as

1252
00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:21.190
god hath prospered him that there be no

1253
00:46:21.200 --> 00:46:23.750
gatherings when i come and when i come

1254
00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:26.390
whomsoever you approve by your letters

1255
00:46:26.400 --> 00:46:28.710
them will i send to you

1256
00:46:28.720 --> 00:46:30.630
will i send to bring your liberality

1257
00:46:30.640 --> 00:46:32.870
into jerusalem again a way to

1258
00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:35.270
participate in one accord and in

1259
00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:38.230
fellowship in romans 15 it goes all the

1260
00:46:38.240 --> 00:46:40.390
way to rome and it says bind but now i

1261
00:46:40.400 --> 00:46:42.550
go to jerusalem to minister to the

1262
00:46:42.560 --> 00:46:44.470
saints ford hath pleased them of

1263
00:46:44.480 --> 00:46:48.150
macedonia and acaia to make a certain

1264
00:46:48.160 --> 00:46:50.230
contribution for the poor saints which

1265
00:46:50.240 --> 00:46:52.309
are at jerusalem and have pleased them

1266
00:46:52.319 --> 00:46:53.589
verily

1267
00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:56.390
and their debtors they are for if the

1268
00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:58.870
gentiles have been made partakers of

1269
00:46:58.880 --> 00:47:01.349
their spiritual things their duty is

1270
00:47:01.359 --> 00:47:03.750
also to minister to them in carnal

1271
00:47:03.760 --> 00:47:05.670
things here is an opportunity for them

1272
00:47:05.680 --> 00:47:07.190
to give back

1273
00:47:07.200 --> 00:47:09.589
so the lord's hand in unity was to use a

1274
00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:11.990
natural occurrence to allow greek

1275
00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:15.109
believers and grecian jews to be able to

1276
00:47:15.119 --> 00:47:18.550
support and to participate in this

1277
00:47:18.560 --> 00:47:21.589
emerging worldwide body in assistance of

1278
00:47:21.599 --> 00:47:23.829
these brethren in jerusalem and it

1279
00:47:23.839 --> 00:47:27.670
taught a unity in fellowship and need

1280
00:47:27.680 --> 00:47:29.910
and it demonstrated the benefit of

1281
00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:32.549
gentile expansion to those who were back

1282
00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:35.109
in jerusalem this is why this is it can

1283
00:47:35.119 --> 00:47:35.829
be

1284
00:47:35.839 --> 00:47:38.150
beneficial for us to have those who are

1285
00:47:38.160 --> 00:47:39.990
living in other areas

1286
00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:42.230
and when willingly done ecclesias can

1287
00:47:42.240 --> 00:47:44.950
live in unity and support one another

1288
00:47:44.960 --> 00:47:47.910
even over long distances

1289
00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:50.790
so in summary

1290
00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:54.630
the lord moves best in the hearts of us

1291
00:47:54.640 --> 00:47:57.349
as well as our ecclesias when we are of

1292
00:47:57.359 --> 00:48:01.030
one accord and of one mind

1293
00:48:01.040 --> 00:48:03.990
it is possible i believe that discord

1294
00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:06.790
may stunt growth in activity

1295
00:48:06.800 --> 00:48:09.589
and we should be most careful for that

1296
00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:12.470
being in one accord can be accomplished

1297
00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:14.790
even in the face of all the kinds of

1298
00:48:14.800 --> 00:48:17.750
fleshly problems and failings of sin

1299
00:48:17.760 --> 00:48:21.109
that we see amongst us it represents the

1300
00:48:21.119 --> 00:48:24.230
highest level the standard of fellowship

1301
00:48:24.240 --> 00:48:26.950
and worship and ecclesiastes today

1302
00:48:26.960 --> 00:48:30.069
individuals today should not rest until

1303
00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:32.630
discord can be put aside

1304
00:48:32.640 --> 00:48:35.349
and the lord only can be our focus

1305
00:48:35.359 --> 00:48:37.670
brothers and sisters that is the prayer

1306
00:48:37.680 --> 00:48:39.990
that we have in our hearts as we

1307
00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:41.990
consider the fellowship that we have

1308
00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:44.870
here today and our worldwide fellowship

1309
00:48:44.880 --> 00:48:46.870
that in these last days

1310
00:48:46.880 --> 00:48:49.030
people might be able to look at the

1311
00:48:49.040 --> 00:48:51.670
christadelphians and be able to see

1312
00:48:51.680 --> 00:48:53.750
brothers and sisters who are of one

1313
00:48:53.760 --> 00:48:56.309
accord that when they praise the lord

1314
00:48:56.319 --> 00:48:58.069
they're able to praise him with one

1315
00:48:58.079 --> 00:49:00.710
heart and one mouth and glorify him

1316
00:49:00.720 --> 00:49:04.069
together that is the standard and let us

1317
00:49:04.079 --> 00:49:06.549
work fervently that we might be able to

1318
00:49:06.559 --> 00:49:09.880
achieve it