Revelation 2:2 - Ephesians Were Faithfully Pure

Revelation 2:2 - I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

NOTE: Paul gave the Ephesian church biblical boundaries, Ephesians 5:1-12. Decades later, Jesus commends them for still keeping these. See also Acts 20:28-30.

What a blessing to see a church remaining faithfully pure for decades. It can be done. Unlike the Ephesians, it can even be done without losing our first love.

VM

Hebrews 10:25 - Not Forsaking the Assembling

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

"Assembling" is unique here and in II Thessalonians 2:1 ("gathering"), where it speaks of the Rapture. So the word picture is clear of which "day" we see "approaching." - VM

The emphasis is not on what you GET from the assembly, but on what you CONTRIBUTE to it. - VM

"The body is not weakened by the absence of the lost. The body is weakened by the forsaking of the saved. It is handicapped." - Pastor Edward R. Mast

"Those forsaking the assembling will soon forsake the God of the assembling. They will stop walking with the Lord; they will lose their love for the brethren; and their compassion for the lost will dry up." - Pastor Edward R. Mast (paraphrased)

Verse 25: Cross ref Malachi 3:16-18

"Love and good works" (v. 23) should be performed while "not forsaking" (v. 25). In other words, don't skip scheduled church services for the purpose of other good works or charity or love. - VM

The preparation for verse 25 is verse 22. - VM

VM

Notes on Church Discipline from Matthew Chapter 18

Notes at Matthew 18:15-18

Verse 15 - "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee...."

This is a personal offense, not a publicly known sin, for which see I Corinthians 5, or a private sin of which you are aware, for which see Galatians 6.

Verse 15 - "Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone."

GO AND GO ALONE!  This cannot be stressed enough!  Not wait for him to come to you; not start a telephone campaign to justify yourself; not ask others for advice on what to do; etc.

One other valid and wise option: Let love cover it, I Peter 4:8.

Verse 15 - "If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

This the sole aim!  Same in Galatians 6; I Corinthians 5.  Not to make yourself feel better.  Not to put him in his place.  Not to be justified before others.  The aim is restoration.  Any manner of dealing with it that does not have that goal is wrong.

Verse 16 - But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

"A just & sensible O.T. law established for the benefit of the N.T. church."  - quoted, source presently unknown.

"Witnesses" are brought in view of testifying of the meeting at the potential full church hearing later.  For "every word" to be "established" requires no advance talk to the witnesses.  Do not lay out your case to them first.  Proverbs 18:17 - "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him."

Verse 17 - And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

"Tell it unto the church", not to denominational headquarters, private deacon board meeting, elder tribunal, etc.  Compare I Corinthians 5:4, where power of Christ is present when full church assembled together in His name.

Verse 18 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

"Heaven ratifies what the church does on earth in compliance with Christ's law and in the spirit of it."  - B. H. Carroll, in his sermon "Little Christians."

VM

Acts 6:1-6

Acts 6:1-6 - "...then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said...."

Example of mutual submission, Ephesians 5:21; I Peter 5:5.  This by the leadership:
(a) Acknowledge the problem, not ignore it.
(b) Address the problem, not lay it aside or kick it back to the complainants.
(c) Lead in the adoption of a solution - including in this case taking on a new and necessary duty.

VM

Psalm 27:4b

Psalm 27:4b - ...to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

"We must not enter the assemblies of the saints in order to see and be seen, or merely to hear the minister; [but] intent upon the gracious object of learning more of the loving Father, more of the glorified Jesus, more of the mysterious Spirit, in order that we may the more lovingly admire, and the more reverently adore our glorious God." - Spurgeon

From "The Treasury of David" by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, exposition of Psalm 27.

Philippians 2:2

Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

V. 2 - "Loving Unity."
Same love: Jn. 21:15 ff. vs. Rev. 2:4

VM

Philippians 1:27

Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

a) What "becometh the gospel of Christ" is a united church; the fit vessel to carry the message is a united member.  See note at Psalm 133.

SERMON OUTLINE: CONDUCT WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL
a) "ONLY" - One thing is needful, matters most, primary
b) "CONVERSATION" - conduct as a member of a group; "citizen."  Compare 3:20 for noun form. Gr. POLITEUOMAI, compare Eng. "POLITICS".  The conduct of the entire church body in view here.
c) "STAND FAST IN ONE SPIRIT" - a church committed to taking a stand together, united in the Spirit.
d) "WITH ONE MIND" - Gr. PSYCHE, compare 2:5ff. for the right mind.
e) "STRIVING" - Gr. ATHLOUNTES, compare Eng. "ATHLETIC".
f) "STRIVING TOGETHER" - Team sport!  Compare notes at Psalm 133.