April 16, 2006

Morning Meeting

• Hymn 51 append. – O what a gift the Father gave

• Scripture:

  • John 4:10
  • Ephesians 2:8
• Hymn 287, Book 2 – Father divine, in grateful love

• Scripture:

  • 1 John 4:8b to 10
  • Galatians 2:20
• Hymn 155 – What was it blessèd God
• Prayer
• Scripture – Luke 22:14 to 20
• Breaking of Bread
• Hymn 1 – Of all the gifts Thy love bestows
• Ministry – Hebrews 5:1

• Prayer

  Morning Meeting

Children’s Meeting – N.E.B.

Hymn 119 EG – When God’s judgment fell on Egypt

I want to speak on a word today that was in the hymn we just sang. It is the word “FIRSTBORN”. This hymn and this word remind us of the Passover night in Egypt (Exodus 12). This was a night of judgment when God was to kill all the firstborn of man and beast in the land of Egypt. God provided a way of safety to any who would take it. They must take a lamb and kill it, and by saving its blood in a basin they were to paint it on the door posts of their house. The firstborn in that house was safe from the judgment of God. In the next chapter we find that Lord says, “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn.” Sanctify means to set them apart for God’s holy use. It has been said, “Who God redeems, He claims.”

When we get to Numbers 3:40 to 45 we find out what God had in mind. The tabernacle had been built and God would need a great number of men to do the work of the tabernacle. Here is where God would use the firstborn set apart for His service. Yet in verse 45 we find that God replaced the firstborn with the people of the tribe of Levi. Therefore each man of Levi represented a firstborn in Israel, thus they were in a special way a redeemed company. Clearly, a person of Levi is typical of a Christian both as to redemption and the claim of God for service.

Reading Meeting

Hebrews 10:25 • From the beginning of the church it has been God’s purpose that His people gather in assembly. Where this is done, consistent with all His Name stands for, the Lord Jesus is in the midst. It is the duty of each child of God to be there if possible.

  • Assembly truths are not found in Hebrews.  We must refer to Paul’s
    epistles to the Corinthians or Timothy.  Here we are reminded to be
    faithful to our privileges.

  • Willful absenteeism is viewed here as forsaking our duty, and what
    is due to the Lord and each other.  It is an indicator of ones
    spiritual state.

  • We need each other in the meeting.  A single coal taken out of a
    fire soon goes out and turns cold.

  • Times alone with the Lord are important and profitable, but when
    meeting time comes “forsake not” being there.

  • We have a responsibility here to “exhort one another.”  The urgency
    increases—“so much the more.”

  • What is this approaching day?  We believe it is the Lord’s
    appearing.