Hymn 381
John 20:19-24, maybe this was the first Sunday Meeting. It
probably was held in the late afternoon. It was the day of the resurrection. A little group was gathered in a
home, perhaps it was the same home Jesus had eaten the Passover with them, a
few days earlier. There was much they didn’t understand, but they felt a need
to be together. The disciples were
questioning a lot of things, but felt a need of gathering together. The Holy Spirit of God directed them
together.
In Ireland in the early 1900s, the servants of God came to a district
and had meetings every night. Then after several had made their choice to serve
God, the servants left. Sunday came — those who made their choice wondered what
to do. They wanted to be together so decided to gather in one home to sing
hymns. Then one said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we prayed together?” After they
prayed, someone said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we shared some of our thoughts
with each other?" The servants came back to establish a meeting, but the Holy
Ghost had already established it.
When
we gather on the first day of the week, we close the door to the
sanctuary. When we pray, we also need to
do this or the cares of the day come in, and you never know a close
relationship with God. Twice, Jesus found moneychangers and animals in the
courtyard of the temple. “You have made My Father’s house a den of thieves.”
It was not wrong to buy that little lamb in Jerusalem — but not in the courtyard.
Often in prayer it is not the wrong things, but things out of place that
hinder. When we sing the hymns, does our
mind wander? I have made it a habit to
keep my eyes glued to the words or my mind wanders. When people give their testimonies,
concentrate on what they’re saying. If
you’re thinking about what you will say instead, be the first to stand up and give
your testimony, then you’ll be free to listen to others. Get that door shut.
Your appetite determines how much you enjoy
your meal. As a boy, I got into a candy
bar. Mother checked my to see if I had a fever when I didn’t want supper. Then
she said, “What have you been eating?” Sweets aren’t bad in themselves, bur rob
you of an appetite for good food. When we come to a meeting, we can feed too
much on other things, and we won’t have an appetite for the royal dainties.
Jesus saw a weakness in
Peter that Peter didn’t see in himself. How do you think Peter felt when he came to this meeting? Maybe like the worst person on earth. Four
days earlier, he had said he would die for Christ, but now he had denied Jesus.
Mary Magdalene brought a message to the disciples and Peter. There was an empty
chair at that meeting.
Judas had been numbered
with the twelve, but had an obsession with money. The others didn’t know what
was working in his life. I don’t think Judas believed that Jesus would
die. Many times, he had seen Jesus slip
away when they wanted Him. He was just
obsessed with money and didn’t die to that obsession. I wonder if the other
disciples may have buried Judas. If they did, it would be a very sad funeral for
them.
Luke 22:26, “But ye shall not be so; but he that is
greatest among you, let him be as the younger and he that is chief, as he that
doth serve.” The way to be great in
God’s way is to be a servant to others. Mary Magdalene was at this
Meeting. She’s the one who had been
forgiven much and she loved much. She
stayed at the tomb till Jesus came to her.
He gave her a message to give the others in the Meeting
Luke 24:13-35, two others – Jesus walked with them. He showed them where he fit in the big
picture – the Christ. He made Himself
known to them. They returned to
Jerusalem and went to the Meeting and gave the message.
Verse 33-35, “And they
rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered
together, and them that were with them, saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and
hath appeared to Simon.' And they told what things were done in the way, and how
He was known of them in breaking of bread.” Imagine what they had to bring to this meeting! We appreciate those who have spent time in the
presence of Christ, and have a revelation for us. As a jigsaw puzzle starts to
come together, you begin to get the picture. As it becomes complete, there are no
parts missing and no parts left over. Jesus took every prophecy and put it into
its place. Imagine what they had to share in that meeting. After spending time
in the presence of Christ, they brought revelation to see the big picture.
John 20:19, “Then the same day at evening, being the
first day of the week,………….came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto
them, 'Peace be unto you.'” The one
who makes all the difference in a meeting is the presence of Jesus. Jesus must
be in the meeting. God speaks to us in the following various ways:
1.Through the hymns. Our hymns have such depth of meaning compared to hymns in other
churches. There are gospel hymns, some to start the meeting with, hymns for the
emblems and some hymns are prayers. They
can mean so much. We should all choose
hymns.
2.Through prayers – it should come from our hearts. Listen to the prayers of others and pray one prayer together. If someone has already mentioned the workers,
you don’t need to mention them again.
3.Through testimonies. I remember one
man’s short testimony after he had been watching in a blacksmith. A man was trying
to bend metal by using pressure, but it didn’t work — it always sprang back. However, after the heat was put to the metal,
it stayed in the new shape. The man said he felt he needed God to do that with
him.
4. Calvary. Luke
22:19-20, “And He took bread, and gave
thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, 'This is My body which is
given for you; this do in remembrance of Me.' Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new
testament in My blood, which is shed for you.'” The emblems are in the center of the
meeting — our whole meeting revolves around that sacrifice. It was in the mind of God before the
foundation of the world. This is of God.
Also I Corinthians 11:23-26, “For I have
received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus
the same night in which He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given
thanks, He brake it, and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for
you; this do in remembrance of Me.' After the same manner also, He took the cup,
when He had supped, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in My blood, this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this
bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.'” It
can become a form.
Verse 25 teaches to look-up.
We should also look back — are you really letting it affect your life as
you should? Gladys Porteous said she
wanted to take in the emblems with a deeper meaning, so she made it a practice
to read about the crucifixion in all the Gospels before the Sunday morning
meeting. You could also read Exodus 12,
Leviticus 16, or Psalm 22 (David’s account), or Isaiah 53 (Isaiah’s
account). These will help me have a
fresh appreciation of Jesus’ sacrifice.
We should look forward — verse 26 “...till
He comes.” He’ll come as a thief for
those not ready. He’ll come as a
bridegroom for those who are ready. Look
ahead. We don’t know what even the rest
of this day will bring out. Partake of
that bread and cup. It can give us
strength. Two examples of what there is to look forward to: one couple that had
left the truth was out on a trip in a plane and crashed in a canyon. Another
couple was faithful with a meeting in their home. Their plane engine failed and
they crashed. One couple living for the here and now and the other couple for
eternity. Same story, but very different endings.
Looking in is a very
important part of the emblems. We need to be ready to live for living what
Jesus taught — “walk in the light as He is in the light.” Looking out for
one another. Verse 33, 1 Corinthians, “Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together
to eat, tarry one for another.” Be
considerate of others in the meeting — if
you have a cold, pass the wine by — take it last.
John 20:21, “Then said
Jesus to them again, 'Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent Me, even so send
I you.” Nothing has changed. Receive ye the Holy Ghost — fresh anointing.
Thomas wasn’t in this meeting — he had a lot of doubt and questionings that would
have been answered had he been there. Richard Meek, an Irish worker, told about an experience when he was
growing up. He was helping empty the winter’s manure out of the barn and
spreading it on the land. It was clouding up — there were a few more loads to
make. He told his father maybe he’d better stay back from the Wednesday meeting
and finish up. His father said that he had made a vow that none of his
machinery would be out working on Wednesday night or Sunday. Just imagine this
could have been a child of God missing an appointment with God for an earthly task.
Aren’t we glad God doesn’t
wait till the Judgment Day? He examines
us weekly. Think of each other and look
out for each other. Look up. Look back. Look ahead. Look out. John
20:22, “And when He had said this, He
breathed on them, and saith unto them, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost.'” Every Sunday morning, we have a fresh
anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we
miss the opportunity God has made for us, we won’t get strength. We’ll answer for it in eternity.
Hymn 385