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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.” (Psalm 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.
Colossians 3:16 - "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 of this word means “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, 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, "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. (Hebrews 13:15)
Prayer
Praying with the Spirit is an awesome privilege given to us by the Lord to have access to him. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph 2:18)
As repentant believers, after being baptized (water immersion) for the remission of sins, the Lord blesses us with his Spirit (Acts 2:38) “to help our weaknesses: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us…” (Romans 8:26)
If we want God to listen to us, we must first listen to him. (Acts 5:32, 1 John 4:13, John 9:31) Truthfully, anybody can pray,
but not everybody can get through. God requires His children to:
- Be RIGHTEOUS – 1 Peter 3:12
- Pray in FAITH – James 1:6, 7
- Pray in JESUS’ NAME – John 14:13
- Pray in HIS WILL – 1 John 5:14
Lord's Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial for every New Testament Christian instituted by Jesus Christ to remember his life, death, and resurrection until his return. (1 Cor. 11:26)
It is commemorated upon the first day of each week. “And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7)
Christ’s church in Corinth assembled upon the first day of the week and was rebuked by the Apostle Paul for not properly observing the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:20)
The unleavened bread symbolizes his body, and the fruit of the vine, his blood. (Matt 26:17, 26-29)
Jesus said “Truly, truly I say unto you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:53, 54 NAS)
Giving
The Apostle Paul told the church elders in Ephesus, “to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
2 Cor 9:6-7 – “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.”
As Saints of God, on the first day of each week, we give joyously as he has prospered us. (1 Cor 16:1-2)
Teaching
We look to Jesus’ wonderful teaching ministry, who is the author and finisher of our faith, for
our example. (Luke 5:32, John 7:14-18) He commanded his disciples to teach and baptize.
(Matt 28:18-20)
Teaching the doctrine of Christ results in baptism and salvation.
(Acts 8:5-12, Acts 16:30-33) Teaching the truth and saving souls pleases God.
(1 Tim 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9)
We cannot believe that which we have not heard.
(Rom 10:14, 17)
The Lord’s New Testament church follows his doctrine and the examples of the
Apostles who were chosen to lay the foundation. (Eph 2:20, 1 Cor 3:10-11, 1 Cor 11:1)
We follow the practice of the church in the bible by continuing in the doctrine.
(Acts 2:42, 2 John 9-11)
The CREED of Christ’s church is the BIBLE.
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