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Let Us Have Grace That We May Serve God Acceptably
Because we have truly tasted the goodness of the Lord and the power of his deliverance, we are indebted to praise and worship him. God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Upon the first day of the week, God's people (Christians) assemble together for worship. This worship is taken from New Testament scriptures for the bible tells us that Christ is the mediator of the new testament (Heb 9:15). Likewise, in 2 Cor 3:5-6 the apostle Paul says, "Our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament." From this, we understand that in order for our worship to be acceptable unto God, it has to be done the New Testament way.
Acts Of Worship
Singing
There are multiple reasons why we praise God through song.
David wrote, “I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.” (Psa. 13:6)
The kindness of God is worthy of exultation.
Singing also provides a medium through which Christians instruct and counsel one another as a conscious expression of appreciation.
Col 3:16 says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The sacred scriptures not only provide for us the proper motives for singing but also the chosen form:
Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…
In this passage the phrase “making melody” comes from the Greek word “psallo”; the original root meaning of this word meant “to touch sharply, to move by touching, to pull, twitch”.
The context in which the word “psallo” was used determined the object that received the action. If you notice, in Ephesians 5:19, the phrase says “making melody in your heart to the Lord;” the object in the context of this passage refers to the human mind as the instrument that is utilized to make the melody.
As you can see through the word of God regarding singing, he has given us the basis, provisions, outcome, teaching and counsel.
Lastly, He supplied the method. Hebrews 13:15 – By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Prayer
The early Christians "were continually devoting themselves . . .to prayer" (Acts 2:42). For that reason, we too, engage in prayer to the
Father. Prayer is powerful. It enables us to enter the very throne of God (Hebrews 4:16). There we can find "grace to help us in time of need."
We pray for one another, for the sick, for those who proclaim the gospel, and for our governmental leaders.
Lord's Supper
The Lord’s Supper is something that Christianity has which is different from any other religion. All religions include prayer, singing,
giving, and teaching. Some also include ritual meals, but only Christianity has a memorial meal observed at a weekly meeting in the memory
of its founder Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ Instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-30).
It was on the first day of every week when the disciples came together to break bread.(Acts 2:42; 20:7)
The first day of the week is also called the Lord’s Day. (Rev.1:10)
The Lord’s Supper consists of unleavened bread representing, The Lord’s Body, and the fruit of the vine, which represents His Blood.
Giving
The Apostle Paul told the Elders, “to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, it is more blessed to give, then to receive,” (Acts 20:35).
The Lord commanded us to give. Failing to give is as sinful as failing to commune. We can give without loving, but cannot love without giving.
Everyone is eligible to give. This includes, the rich and poor, the young and old, the educated and uneducated, every child of God is to give as God prospered him.
The Bible provides for us a manner in which we are to give for it says, “He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purpose in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor.9:6-7).
We give upon the first day of the week. This is taken from (1 Cor. 16:1-2), "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given
orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."
Preaching
The early Christians "were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching . . ." (Acts 2:42).
"The apostles' teaching" is now our New Testament. Preaching is a powerful medium of communication. Our "evangelist" or "preacher" seeks
to speak only "the utterances of God" ( 1 Peter 4:11). The gospel of Jesus Christ is "the power of God for salvation" (Romans 1:16);
therefore, that will be his main message.
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