Address—G.H. Hayhoe
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I'd like to speak a little bit tonight in connection with the truth of the church in a very simple way.
And if we could turn first of all to the second chapter of Acts, the 2nd chapter of Acts.
And the last part of the last verse.
And the Lord added to the Church daily, such as should be saved.
And then one other portion in First Corinthians chapter 12.
And verse 13.
For by 1 Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one spirit.
Well, I just read these a couple of verses because they bring before us what the church really is.
In the Old Testament, God had a people, a special nation that he was dealing with, the nation of Israel.
And he blessed them. There were 12 tribes, and they were represented by 12 loaves that were placed upon the table of shell bread in the in the Tabernacle and again in the temple. But we know that since the death of the Lord Jesus as something new has taken place. And just as the Lord said in the 16th chapter of Matthew, that was.
To us yesterday it says the Lord Jesus speaking to Peter.
I will build my church, not I have been building, but I will build. In other words, the church did not begin in the Old Testament. It was still future when the Lord Jesus spoke on earth, but it was something that was going to take place. And if we were to carefully read in the 1St chapter of Acts, the Lord said that they would be baptized.
With the Holy Ghost not many days handsome. And so when the day of Pentecost.
Came Then something wonderful took place There were about 120 believers in an upper room and the Spirit of God came down, indwelled the body of each believer and filled the house where they were sitting and they were, as we're told, baptized by 1 Spirit into one body. Previous to that there were.
About 120 individuals, just as if I had on this table 120 beads, and there they're lying. And then we put a string and put them through each one, and then we have one necklace. And so on the day of Pentecost, the coming down of the Holy Spirit.
Now what gathered those 120 and they were baptized by 1 Spirit into one body, and that was the beginning of the Church of God on earth. Previous to that, God had been saving individuals about. There had never been that which could be called the Church, the body of Christ on earth, and that was the beginning. I might also just add that the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Scripture is never spoken of in an individual way.
It's always spoken of collectively now, that is. It's only mentioned on two different occasions in the second of acts where the.
Was the baptism of the Holy Spirit that was the forming of the body of Christ? And then again for those were all Jews or Jewish proselytes.
In the 10th chapter of Acts, when the Gentiles were brought in, it is rehearsed in the 11TH chapter and.
Peter speaks like this. He.
And that this was the baptism of the Spirit as on us at the beginning. So not only Jews as in the second of Acts, but Gentiles in the 10th of Acts, were now baptized by 1 Spirit into one body. Something wonderful existed on earth as a church, as a body of Christ, now as individuals were saved.
As the Lord added them to the church, it says the Lord added to the church daily.
Such as should be saved, and so that everyone who has believed the gospel unbelieving is indwelled by the Spirit of God and is united to every other believer on earth and to Christ the head in heaven. For that's what the church really is, and that is it's the body of Christ and the head is in heaven. So let us not.
Confuse that which is the true church with what man has done.
Man has formed various groups. He has called things by different names. He often calls a building a church, or he might speak of an organization as a church. The Bible doesn't speak that way. The Bible, if it's Speaking of a spiritual building and then it's the church composed of living stones. If it's Speaking of, shall I say, the body of Christ, it's not an organization.
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It's an Organism now that is my body's not an organization, but it is an Organism and there is a head. And so the Bible speaks in that way. And as each individual is saved, he's added to that church.
Well now, if this is a blessed truth, and it is, then everyone in this room and everyone in the whole world who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as His Savior is part of the true Church of God.
But now in the Acts we find that there were local expressions of this precious truth. That is, if you had visited Thessalonica or if you had visited Colossi, you would have found a few believers who were gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus. And this was a local expression of the one body of Christ. It was all very simple at the beginning.
Because the Spirit of God was very careful.
To maintain that oneness, and as our brother remarked yesterday, lest there should be a Church of the Samaritans, lest there should be a Church of the Gentiles, unless there should be a Church of Jews only. Why, we see how careful God was, that the Spirit of God was given on the day of Pentecost. Then when the Samaritans believed, they didn't receive the Holy Spirit until Peter came down from Jerusalem and laid hands.
And this was the way God maintained that oneness so that there would be 1 Church, even though there were now Samaritans being brought in. And then when the Gentiles were brought in last, the Gentiles would be a separate body. Why? We see that God uses Peter and he goes down from Jerusalem.
And we are rather. Is sent there, I believe, from.
Joppa. And he goes down and proclaims the gospel, and, as our brother mentioned, used the keys, and now the Gentiles are brought in. It was 1 spirit, 1 Church, and each little assembly that was formed was intended to be a local expression of that one body which was composed of every believer on the face of the earth.
Well, now we know that man has brought in a great deal of ruin. He has set up these different bodies and even Christians who recognize that it's only we should only be gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus how often there have been differences and divisions take place.
For us, in such a day as this is, is there a path for faith? Is there a way, in the midst of all the confusion, that we can still give expression to this precious truth that there is one body? For if I were asked what is the most wonderful thing in this whole Christian dispensation, I would say that the Spirit of God is here on earth as a divine person, gathering out a bride for Christ not too.
Bride, one bride dear to him and going to be presented someday as the church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. How dear it is to his heart, and how it must breathe his heart, that there should be all these different names and companies.
Well, is there a ground marked out in the precious Word of God by which we can meet according to the revealed mind of God? Well, I believe there is. I believe that God is faithful, and in spite of all the failure, that it is His delight that there should be a testimony, for He has asked us to remember Him until He comes.
So I'd just like to give a few thoughts in connection with the manner in which we meet. Let us turn first to Matthew chapter 18.
And verse 18.
Perhaps we should read the 17th verse also. And if he shall neglect to hear thee, tell it unto the church. But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man. And the publican. 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. Again I say unto you, that if 2 of you shall agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall ask.
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It shall be done for them of my Father, which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, or as our brother remarked unto my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Well, the Lord Jesus, as we said, had announced in the 16th chapter. I will build my church. Now when we come to the 18th chapter, we find something of the functioning of that which He had established and that which gives authority and blessing.
I won't speak of the details that are given here. It was a matter of problems between 2:00 and it couldn't be settled by those individuals or by two or three others. So here we find the truth of the Church is brought in.
And the reason I'm mentioning this is because I believe very often there is a misunderstanding about this 20th verse, or where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them. That is, I've seen a few Christians just voluntarily come together and say, well, here are two or three gathered.
And we claim the Lord's presence.
Now, I believe it's very important that the use of the name of the Lord Jesus. I'm sure if a group of people in this country were to gather together and say that they were gathering in the name of the President of the United States, it would be very wrong for them to do it unless they had his sanction and authority. I would say that it would be independence for them to attempt to do such a thing. But if he gave his sanction and his authority.
Then they could use His name. And the Lord Jesus is the Lord of glory. And so we cannot just use His name to support any thought or idea or group of our own. It must be that which He established. It must be with His authority. And the reason I have read these verses before is because when long ago God established a center in Israel.
We know that there was a city where the.
Chose to put his name and there were two particular things that our mansion connected with that place. There was, of course, I won't speak of it here, the offering of sacrifice because and now the one sacrifice is complete. Why there isn't the thought of offering a sacrifice. There is the remembrance of the Lord, of course, but there were two other things that were connected with it. If you will turn with me to Deuteronomy.
Chapter 17.
And when you read this in connection with Matthew chapter 18, I'm sure you can see the connection.
Deuteronomy 17 and 8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke being matters of controversy within thy gates, then shalt thou arise and get thee up unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose.
The 10th verse. And thou shalt do according to the sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall show thee. And thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee, according to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee. And according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, Thou shalt do. Thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee to the right hand, nor to the left.
Now I'm sure you can see a definite connection between this and what we have in the 18th of Matthew. And shall I put it this way?
God was about to set aside Israel as His specially favored people for a time. Was there going to be such a thing as a place where the Lord would meet with His people when Jerusalem was set aside? You remember that when the Lord Jesus left that place, He said, Your house is left unto you desolate. The grand building meant nothing if the Lord was not there.
And brethren, we as a group of Christians.
Are nothing unless the Lord is there. That is what gives authority. That's which is the ground of blessing. And the reason I have read this in the 17th of Deuteronomy is to show that just as we read in the 18th of Matthew and the authority for binding and losing, can't you see in the 17th of Deuteronomy there was once that same authority associated with what God established in Israel.
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And I wanted to call your attention to two things there in Deuteronomy 17, and that is the 11TH verse according to the sentence of the law, and that is, it must be according to the word of God. That was the first thing. And then and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee now that is.
There was first, that it must be according to the word of God, and then when the matter was enacted, why there was to be submission to it. Now, of course, there could not be any authority to set aside the word of God. The only authority we have is the Word of God, and God could never give us authority in His Word to set aside His word.
So an action must be founded upon the word of God.
But then of course, there is wisdom and connection with situations that arise. And so we find the two things, the authority of the word and the wisdom that God gives in the place where he has established to put his name there. And those two things are brought together in the in the 17th of Deuteronomy, and they're brought before us here in the 18th chapter of Matthew.
And now the second thing, if you'll turn to 1St Kings, I think it's the 8th chapter.
First Kings chapter 8.
And verse 38.
What prayer and supplication so ever be made by any man, or by all thy people, Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this place. Then hear thou in heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest, for thou even thou only.
Knowest the hearts of all the children of men.
Well, here the second thing then is mentioned in the 19th verse is a special blessing in connection with prayer. And you remember the Lord Jesus said my house shall be called of all nations the House of prayer. And so I just like to say that I believe that when God was about to set aside Jerusalem and to establish something new, we find the two things that were associated with that place in Israel.
Now associated with.
That which is to be established in Christianity isn't this lovely authority and blessing. I think this is sweet. God delights to bless his people. About all must be according to his mind and His will. And that's why it follows for where two or three are gathered together in my name. Now that is, it isn't just using His name, but it must be with His authority. It must be something.
Thing that is according to his mind. And so the thought in his name is his authority. As I've often said, you could connect the name of Christ with anything. Alas, that's what we see in Christendom. We see the name of Christ connected with all kinds of careless practice, with all kinds of evil doctrine and still.
It's called as being in the name of Christ, but.
But it must be, I say, with his authority. So I I would say that when Christians come together to have a little gathering in a home, why we can enjoy His presence individually, but His presence collectively is associated with that which He has established on earth. What could be called as in this portion.
His assembly, I believe there's a difference. And if you were to turn to the.
Last chapter of Matthew would you would see those two things brought together and that is there was a mountain that Jesus appointed, and that mountain was a place where the disciples could gather. And the Lord appointed a mountain. And in the energy of faith the disciples came to this mountain where Jesus appointed and there the Lord met them. There they enjoyed His presence collectively.
Then afterwards.
When they were about to leave, the Lord said to them upon departing, Lo, I am with you always. That was His presence individually. Now you'll see the same thing in Israel. God established a center in Jerusalem, and then afterwards we find out that 10 of the tribes separated and left that place. Would you say that none in the 10 tribes ever enjoyed the Lord's presence individually?
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Oh, I believe many were true people of faith in the 10 tribes and enjoyed the Lord's presence individually. And there were prophets even in the 10 tribes who enjoyed the Lord's presence and a measure of blessing from him. But God didn't own them collectively. Turn to a verse in I think it's in First Chronicles.
Chapter 25 I think.
Second Chronicles, 25.
And verse 5.
Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together and made them captains over thousands and so on. Now the sixth verse. He hired also an 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel. Those of the 10 tribes who had left God centered.
Out of Israel for 100 towns of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee. Now notice these words, for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. Now that didn't mean that the Lord wasn't with many of them individually, but it's showing us clearly that God did not own them collectively.
And I believe we should.
This distinction in the Word of God, if we don't see it, how could we discern the path of faith in a day like that in which we're living? Well, I just mentioned this in the 18th chapter of Matthew. Because the secret of all blessings is the Lord Jesus Himself. And to be in his presence we often sing. What can full joy and blessing be? But being where thou art, we find.
Even in the day of Israel's ruin, there were those who still valued the place. And when the Lord Jesus was born, Anon Simeon valued it in spite of all the failure that had come in.
We find, too, that.
God has always.
Given direction in His precious words, so that we might enjoy His presence. And I like to think of that a description that is given of the beautiful temple that will be built in a future day in Jerusalem. And after giving us all a wonderful description, it ends in the last verse of the last chapter of Ezekiel. The name of the city shall be called.
What brand your beauty? No, the Lord is there. The Lord is there, And when it describes the heavenly city, it says the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it. And the Lamb is the light thereof. All. Let me say to my own soul, and to each one here, the sweetest portion that we can have in heaven, and the sweetest portion we can enjoy on earth.
Is to have the sense of his presence and I believe we can have it individually and I believe he has marked out a path where we can enjoy it collectively. And it's with that thought in mind that I just like to speak of a few other passages let us turn to.
Acts Chapter 20.
Acts Chapter 20.
And verse 7.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.
I just intended to read the first part of this verse because it shows here that the custom of the early disciples was to come together to break bread, not once a month apparently, but it says on the first day of the week. Now I know that we might say, well, the Bible doesn't say definitely that we're to do it every first day of the week.
Nor does it say definitely that we're only to do it on the first day of the week.
Yes, I fully recognize this, because the privilege of remembering the Lord is not laid down as an ordinance, but as that which is intended to create a response in our hearts.
And so when it says in First Corinthians 11, which we'll look at later.
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As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, the thought would naturally arise in the heart of every Christian who has affection for the Lord Jesus. Why does it say as often? I wonder, How often should I do it? Or can I do it? And so God gives us an example because he wants us to do what we do.
Out of the response of love. And so he isn't saying, well, just do it every so often, but as often. And then he shows us that the custom of the early believers was to meet on the first day of the week. I've heard Christians say, oh, but if we did it every week, it would become commonplace. But you know, if there's someone you love, you don't talk about it being commonplace if you think of them too often.
And you know your delight in thinking of them just because you love them. And when a person talks about the remembrance of the Lord being commonplace, oh, I think there's something wrong with our heart's affections. Surely when we get to glory and every hindrance is removed and we won't have to work for a living up there, we won't have the responsibilities that we have down here.
Then I believe, shall we say, we'll be just occupied with him and he himself.
His love all the time. There shall be no night there. That is, it will be our delight and joy, not just once a week, but forever to be occupied with Him and sing His praises. But in His mercy and goodness, I believe we can say He has given us this pattern.
Now I'd like to turn to 1St Corinthians chapter 10.
And.
I'll just read a little of the first part of the chapter here.
Moreover, brethren, I would not that she should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized, and the Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and it all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well.
Pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, or the margin, says our figures, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be idolaters, as were some of them. As it is written. The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed and fell in one day three and 20,000.
Now the 15th verse. I speak as to wise men. Judge ye what I say, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ, The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many, are one bread and one body, For we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh. Are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers?
Of the altar. What say I then, that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything but? I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice the devils, and not to God. And I would not that she should have fellowship with devils. He cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. He cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we?
Stronger than he.
Now perhaps you might wonder why I read these few verses in the beginning of the chapter. Well, the reason I read them is this because it isn't just a form that God wants us to go through. Israel had a form and that is they passed through the Red Sea. They ate the same spiritual food. They drank the same spiritual drink. Now that is as they went on with that which God had given to them, but their hearts were not.
And it isn't just to go on with an ordinance. It isn't just to submit to certain doctrines. But oh brethren, it's our hearts He wants. It's our hearts He wants. And so unless our hearts are right now, there is no value in what we do. When He died for us and won our hearts and asked us that we might remember Him, was it because He just wanted us to go through?
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Form No, he wanted the response of our affections. And more than this, I would like to add that I believe there's a state of soul in connection with the reception of the truth of God. It says the meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way.
Another verse says, Whom shall he teach knowledge? Now they are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Now that is, God would have us to be in that state of soul, in that simplicity of faith that would listen to his voice, not the thought of reasoning, but rather that we would have willing heart. I've often said the Bible has been written for a willing heart. God hasn't written things in such a way that if a person wants to get around it, he can get around it, as people say. But.
If we want to please Him, He's given us this promise. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine. So I mention these two things. It isn't the form that God wants, and in order to lay hold of the truth, there needs to be a submissive state of soul, a childish looking to Him. And I would suggest too, that when it says they are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breast, it brings in this thought.
We naturally, like a newborn child, depend on nature, but the time comes when we have to be weaned from that to dependence upon the Lord. And this experience comes in the lives of young people brought up in the meeting. It came in my life. I thank God for many dear things that I learned from my dear parents, but I say the time comes when we have to learn truth from God Himself.
And unless what we know has really been received.
From the Lord himself, when the testing time comes, we won't be able to stand.
The Lord, Speaking of a future day, said to the people when He was here, they shall be all taught of God. He was referring to the millennial time. But I say to you, dear young people, I say to each one here, that we only have that truth that we have really received from the Lord. We have to be weaned from nature to be dependent upon a new source of strength.
And that is dependence upon the Lord.
Learning of him.
Sitting as it were like Mary at Jesus feet to hear his words.
Now in this uh.
15th verse he says I speak as to wise men, and judge ye what I say, He's not talking here about human wisdom. What is it that will make us wise? Well, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding. If you and I would be wise, we can never in God's account be wise above what's written. No, we can only be wise as we listen to His voice through His words.
Now.
We notice here something quite remarkable.
The subject in the 10th chapter is the Lord's Table. In the 11TH chapter, the subject is the Lord's Supper, and I'd like to call attention to a few thoughts. No doubt many here have laid hold of them before, but there may be some who have never just considered these thoughts before.
It is remarkable, isn't it, that the cup comes first here in the 10th chapter, whereas in the 11TH chapter the loaf comes first and then the cup. Now we can be quite sure that it's not by chance that this comes before us in this way. And God always has a purpose in everything, in his precious word, when the Lord Jesus himself.
First established the remembrance of himself.
In death, why we know that he first broke the bread and then passed the cup to them. And so there is a reason why the cup comes first instead of the loaf. Well, I believe it's because of the truth that is being brought before us now, the Lord's Table.
When I come to some person's table, the first thing that comes into my mind is, well, I wonder if I'm fit to be here.
Are my clothes acceptable? Have I really been invited here? Do I really have a place here? I wouldn't come up and sit at someone's table unless I was conscious that I had been invited, and I would also want to be conscious that I was accepted at that table. Well, isn't this very lovely?
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What is it that gives us title to be in the presence of the Lord of glory? Well, I like to connect this with Hebrews 10. It says, having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. So what is it that gives me title to be there? Well, I say, it's His precious blood that gives me title. Now there is no other title to be there but his precious blood.
Now I might just mention in past.
Nothing that there might be of those who are excluded because of their careless walk. When Paul wrote these words in 1St Corinthians 10, he had already said in the 5th chapter that there was a man in the assembly who was to be denied that privilege. And yet that man was really a child of God. He was really a member of the body of Christ, and yet he was excluded. And why?
Because he hadn't been made 5th for the Lord's presence.
No, but because the Lord's Table has a certain testimony on earth, the title to be there definitely is the precious blood of Christ. But when we speak about the Lord's Table, there is a certain testimony and that's why I began by bringing before you how that in.
In the truth of God there is one body, and there is only one Church, and every saved person who is indwelled with the Spirit of God is part of that one body. And yet he may not be associated with that which gives expression to it for two reasons, either because of carelessness of his walk, by which it has been necessary that he should be excluded, or it might be through.
Carelessness on his own part in not being there. And so I just mentioned this in passing because I have heard it remark, Well, if the Lord's to, if the Lord's table, we have no right to exclude anyone. This very epistle that tells us about it. And it lays down the very authority by which a person who was a real believer and who was restored in the second epistle had to be excluded from this wonderful privilege.
Well, I just mentioned this last.
Shall I say go to some extreme? It's often been said error is often one sided truth. We need both sides of the truth, brethren, in order to keep in the middle of the road.
Well, let me say again, isn't it blessed to know that that the blood of Christ has given us title to be in His holy presence, and we couldn't have a better title than we already have through His blood. Now the second thing, the loaf here in the 10th chapter is brought before us as a symbol of the mystical body of Christ, the Mystical Body.
Now when I say the mystical body, I mean that which.
Is spoken of as being the Church, which is his body.
That is, it's a great mystery of that every believer forms part of the body of Christ.
Now I say that there are many dear Christians.
Who partake of the Lord's Supper, who have never laid hold of that which is truly expressed at the Lord's table. There are two thoughts in the loaf. There is the thought that it is the expression of the one body of Christ, and there is also, as we have in the 11TH chapter, that it symbolizes.
The physical body of Christ given in death for us, who his own self bear our sins.
In His own body on the tree, this is my body, which is given for you. That's His physical body. It was in His own body on the cross that he bore our sins. But when it speaks of the Lord's table, why, it says we being many are one bread. Or it could be translated one loaf, for we're all partakers of that one loaf.
And that's why to be gathered according to the scripture.
There must be just one loaf on the table because that one loaf represents the one body of Christ. It doesn't just represent the little company that's there. It represents every member of the body of Christ. I've sometimes gone to a very small little company and they had a large loaf. Why did they put a large loaf? Well, they realized that that loaf didn't just speak of the little company that were there. Now that.
Was an expression of the one body.
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Sometimes I've used an illustration because I think sometimes.
It's not understood as to how we give expression to the truth of the one body if all the members of the body are not there. Let me just suggest this. Is that an illustration? Supposing a father was dying and he said to his ten children, now I want you.
To come together each week and I want you to take one loaf and put it on the table. And I want you to express the fact that your one family and to Remember Me. I just use this as an illustration. Pardon me for for this illustration, but I want you to see the thought. Well, they go on happily and the whole 10 children gather and what a happy occasion it is as they recognize that.
One family and they think of their father. Well, brethren, when we come together, when the early church came together, that's what they did. And there were no divisions among them. There were no divisions at the beginning. And So what an occasion it was as they gathered, to give expression to the wonderful fact that there is one body, and in Ephesus and in Colossae and in Philippi that they gathered and they placed the one loaf and.
They didn't have to come to the city and say, well, where do the Christians meet here? Because they all met together, and the one loaf on the table was a happy symbol of that oneness.
But now something sad happens.
Five of the families say we're not going to come, we're not going to come anymore. We're going to meet and think of our father in another place and we're going to call ourselves by some name that we have chosen for ourselves.
Well, the other five feel very, very sad about this.
But now they're faced with a challenge. Are they going to give up doing what their father asked them to do? Or are they going to continue at fulfilling what they believe to be his desire even though the other five are absent?
If they gave it up, it seems to me that they would be giving up something their father wanted them to do. But supposing they came together just as their father asked them, and they put the one loaf on the table and said, that loaf doesn't just represent the five of us, it represents the ten of us. It represents our whole family. We're sorry the other five are not here, but we're going to fulfill our father's request.
Just the same, I say. I believe those 5.
In in brokenness could fulfill what their father asked them to do. I say if they got down so there was only two of them that wanted to do it, that they could fulfill what their father asked them to do, even though there were only two there.
And if I could use that as a simple illustration, I trust I use it reverently to explain what it is to me to gather with the one loaf on the table. I mourn the fact that I know that there are hundreds of true believers and dwell by the Spirit of God who are represented in that one loaf who are not there. But I don't think the Lord would have me to give it up.
Just because they're not there. Because he's asked us to remember.
Until he comes. That's why, brethren, we speak of being gathered on the ground of the one body. And I believe that if, if two or three companies met in division pretending to express the unity of the body, you'd say, well, there's something wrong. There's something wrong if you came up to Ottawa, Canada.
And you inquired where is the American Embassy? And I said?
Well, I'm sorry to tell you that there are three different groups that that represent themselves in Ottawa as the American embassy. They don't have anything to do with one another, but they all claim to represent the unity of the American nation. Would you believe that?
I'm sure you'd just laugh in my face. What you say, unity, It couldn't be. I'm sure you'd say the United States only recognizes one of them. And can it be that in a day of confusion, the Lord of glory is gathering some of his people one place and some another? True, He loves all his people. True, their own members of the one body, if they've been saved and indwelled with the Spirit of God.
But I say God and His faithfulness, I believe will preserve a testimony. I don't say it, brethren, I trust. I say it with all humility, or to boast, or to tell you where you'll find it. You have to be before the Lord as to where to find it. But I do say that I believe the Scripture gives us assurance that we can gather according to His mind. We can fulfill His request.
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So the one loaf then is a symbol.
Of the one body, and may I add this to some will say, well it should be unleavened, it should be unleavened. May I just mention this too, that on the day of Pentecost, if you read in the 23rd of Leviticus.
When they kept the feast on the day of Pentecost, they didn't keep it with unleavened bread. The 23rd of Leviticus shows us very distinctly as that on the feast of Pentecost, which was the feast of 50 days, they kept it with leavened bread.
Why? Well, because if that one loaf represents believers, I still have the old nature in me. True, it was to be bacon, it was to be in the place of death. But still, that one loaf represents the body of Christ. And the old nature isn't gone yet, but we're told to keep it in the place of death.
Well, I just mentioned that in passing. Then I just like to also bring in one other thing. And there is that many Christians in remembering the Lord, they don't think anymore of the wonderful and blessed truth of being forgiven sinners.
But you know, there's more than remembering the Lord is a forgiven Sinner. There's something very precious about remembering Him as a member of the body of Christ. And I have often used this illustration. Pardon if some have heard it before.
But in the Old Testament we read about Rahab the harlot, and that dear woman, although she was a Sinner, she turned to the Lord, and she put the scarlet line in her window. And when the judgment fell upon Jericho, her home and all in it were safe, preserved from the judgment, sheltered, if we might speak in figure, by the precious blood.
But there's more to the story than that.
This woman, Rahab, married into the royal line of Israel.
Your name is given in the 1St chapter of Matthew in the lineage of Christ. The time came when she sat down at the table with her husband, and as she looked across the table to him. Supposing she looked at the table across the table to him and said, It's a wonderful thing to be a forgiven harlot.
That was true, she was that. But what do you think he would reply, I believe he would look back across the table and say, Oh, you're more than that to me. You're more than that to me. You're dear to me. You're the bride of my choice. I don't see you with a spot on you. And isn't that what the Lord says? Thou art all fear, my love, there is no spot in thee. And brethren, you'll never enjoy the Lord's remembrance as.
You should, unless you break bread, not only as a forgiven Sinner, but as a member of his body. Could there be a more near place? And thou can't you see why This comes in in the 10th chapter?
First of all, our fitness through the blood and our place there in association with the Lord Himself as part of His bride.
If I came to your table, I first think that I'm accepted, but it makes me a great deal happier if you're looking on me with affection and I feel that I'm really wanted there and somebody that's dear to you. Oh, isn't it lovely that you and I can sit at the Lord's table and know that we're not just forgiven sinners? He's finding his joy in having us there. The joy of the Lord. His joy is what gives us the strength to go on.
In days of ruin and weakness, the joy that He has in having us there. And may I say again, next time, if you're remembering Him and you sit there, just think of Him looking upon you, not only accepted through the blood, but dear to Him because you are part of His bride, members of His body. Well, can't you see then why the thought of fellowship comes in so remarkably in this chapter?
The thought of fellowship.
People talk about taking communion. Communion means common thoughts. You can't take common thoughts. You can have common thoughts. I can have common thoughts with you. And do you know what the Lord wants you and I to do? He wants us to have common thoughts with Him. If I consider your table and have common thoughts with you, surely it's a happy occasion. And isn't it wonderful that we can sit there and have common thoughts?
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Know that we're accepted, know our place of acceptance, and remember him in his death. Well, when we get hold of this now, then, the reason it mentions these other things here is because of this.
We cannot call other groups of Christians tables of devils. It's not talking about that here, it's talking about heathen them. But the point that is being brought out is very important, and that is wherever I break bread, I have fellowship with that which the table stands for. If a Jew partook of the sacrifices, he had fellowship. He became a partaker with the altar if a heathen went into his.
He had fellowship with the idol. And so when you and I have learned what it is to be gathered as members of the body of Christ, that's enough for us. We can say that we have been gathered in fellowship as members of His body.
So the the separation is a very simple thing. It's when we've learned that and that's why perhaps some Christian has said, well, why won't you come over with our group?
Well, once we have learned what it is to be gathered as members of his body, why that's that satisfies our souls. What did you think of Rahab wanting to go back into the old company again? Oh, you'd say no, I would never do. And when we have learned this.
It isn't, it isn't that we lay down some rule, but it's a question of the heart. Brethren, do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? He loves us. He's jealous for our affections. He died to win our affections and he wants us for himself. He said to Israel, I'm a jealous God. I want you, I want your affections, He wants ours. May the Lord make it precious to our thoughts and hearts.
Now let us turn over. Pardon me for.
Spending a few extra minutes on this 11TH chapter.
23rd verse.
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 and said, Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you, let's do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also He took the cup when he had sucked, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye as often she drink it in remembrance of me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till He comes. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily.
Shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation, or the margin says judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned.
With the world.
Now there are some practical things that come between the 10th and 11TH chapter, and it ought to be so that when we have learned the truth, it does produce a practical change in our lives. But now when we come to this 11TH chapter, in the 23rd verse, we have the actual Lord's Supper, the remembrance of what He has done for us.
And there is a reason why the loaf comes first here. And again I call attention to the fact that it's the physical body of Christ. And that is, as I partake of the loaf, I think of the Lord Jesus.
Bearing the wrath and judgment of God for my sins, I see those awful billows of judgment rolling over His blessed head, and He bore it all in my place.
And then we partake of the cup, and the cup speaks to us of his precious blood that was shed for us.
Now there is an important reason why the loaf comes first and then the cup, when it's the actual remembrance.
I say again, in the 10th chapter, it's the thought of what it is that brings us there and our place there. But when it's the 11TH chapter, it's what it cost him to bring us there. It's the gracious provision he's made for us.
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Now why does the loaf come first, and why is it important that it should be first? Well, for this reason, now that in all the sacrifices of Judaism, the blood of the animal was shed before the sacrifice was made. And as you looked at the blood of the animal, you couldn't say, well, that blood tells of something that's finished.
As you looked at that blood, you had to say, well, that blood was shed before the sacrifice was made.
But when the Lord Jesus had exhausted the judgment and cried, it is finished, The soldier with a spear pierced his side after he had died. And so it told of something that was finished. Yes, how wonderful as you as that. As John looked at that blood and that water, he saw that precious blood, and he could say.
Now that tells me of something that's finished and so we partake of the.
Love and we partake of the cup and in this way, in our in our simple way, we remember his sufferings, his death, what it cost him. Now we know that there is a communion in Christendom that has the loaf and the cup. Shall I say in one, they speak of it that when you partake of the wafer that you are actually partaking of the body and blood of the Lord.
The scripture always speaks of the blood separated from the.
Body as the sign of death. The blood in the body is not the sign of death in scriptural terms, it's the blood separated from the body that is the sign of death. So when you have the body and blood together, you don't have that which speaks of redemption. My blood which is shed for you. So we partake of them, the loaf and the cup.
And I as I say, we remember what it cost the Lord Jesus to put.
Away our sins, We're occupied with the suffering He endured with His precious blood and that glorious finished work.
Now you can easily see why these verses follow in connection with eating and drinking unworthily.
If you and I had been writing it, we might have placed these in the 10th chapter, and we might have said, Well, they should come in the 10th chapter, because how are we worthy to be at His table? Well, the worthiness is through His blood. Our place there is in perfect acceptance as members of His body. But if I could put it in this way, the thought in the verse is in an unworthy manner.
And remember, he's not talking.
About unbelievers here he's talking about real Christians. You'll see this by noticing the 32nd verse. When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. A true believer will not be condemned with the world, but he may be chastened in his life here. Well then, what does it mean about eating and drinking in an unworthy manner?
Well, pardon me for using another illustration. Suppose.
I had a great debt of $10,000.
And I have been a very, very careless person and that I had incurred this great debt.
And in the kindness and goodness of your heart.
You sell your house and pay my debt and come over and hand me the receipt and there I look on it and it's marked paid in full. Well, I certainly owe you a debt of gratitude for what you've done. So I decide that I'm going to make a special trip over to your house about a month later and thank you again for what you did for me.
But in that month between, I have been going on in the same careless way that I did, incurring that debt in the first place.
And so when I come over to thank you, I thank you very profusely and say how much I appreciate you paying your debt. And you look at me and you say, Gordon, I don't understand you. I don't understand you. Do you realize what it costs me to do then?
And here I understand you're doing the very things that caused that great debt in the first place.
Oh now I believe this helps us to understand what it is. If I come to remember the Lord with those things in my life unjudged that cause the Lord all that suffering. The Lord speaks of that as eating and drinking in an unworthy manner. There is no reality in the heart. I'm just doing it as a form and shall I put it this way. It's as though he looked down upon me and said well, Gordon, if the thoughts of.
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My love and what I suffered for you don't make you want to please me. I'll have to put my hand upon you in discipline to win your heart back. And that's just what he's telling us here. And I've really enjoyed that. The simplest verse in connection with self judgment is associated with remembering the Lord.
Why? Well, because we never truly judge ourselves except in the light of what he had to suffer for our sin. If I say, if I tell a lie and then say that I'm sorry, and then I sort of have the thought, well, everybody makes a slip sometime. There'll be no real self judgment in that. But as a little hymn puts it, in his spotless soul's distress, I have learned my guiltiness. And when?
I come into His presence to own before Him as His child that I have grieved His heart, even though I know He paid the debt for me already at the Cross. But I come to tell Him that I have grieved His blessed heart. I see Him suffering for me. I see what it cost him. And it makes me really judge the thing in His presence in its proper way and in its proper light. And we'll never truly judge sin unless we judge it in the light of the Cross.
This is typically brought before us in the 19th of numbers in the red heifer. But I just mentioned this because isn't it lovely that these verses about self judgment should be brought in in connection with the Lord's Supper? And you know many dear Christians who are remembering the Lord because they're going on in their lives with careless things that are unjudged.
The Lord has to deal with them. He says. Many are weak among you and many.
Sleep. The Lord has to deal. He loves us too much, brethren, to let us go our own way. But isn't it blessed that He has provided for us a place and a manner in which we can remember Him until He comes? And I just say in closing, that although the testimony may be very weak, and although there may be much failure, I do believe that in spite of it all, there is a privilege, and will be a privilege as.
The Lord has asked us here to remember Him until He comes. I believe that He'll provide a place, a manner in which we can do it, pleasing to Him. And I believe if we're before Him and looking up to Him, He'll show us. We will not expect perfection. There isn't one of the assemblies that are addressed in the New Testament where there was perfection.
But there was that gathering, according to the truth of His word, on the ground of the one body.
And gathering too, in separation from moral evil and in separation from doctrinal evil. And what a privilege this is. Oh, may we value it. The Lord is coming soon, but He has given us this privilege. And I'm sure that to those of us who are looking for His coming soon, how our hearts rejoice as we think that each Lord's day may be the last but he gives us.
One more privilege.
May we value it, may He keep us, for we cannot keep ourselves.