Why the Local Church

Exhortation of the Saints

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

16 August 2015

Updated: 16 August 2015

By:

Boyce Belt

Exhortation of the Saints

Opening:

• Handouts:

• Love One Another
• Regulation of the Vocal Gifts in Public Worship

• Prayer

Text:

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 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.

1 Corinthians 14:1-25 KJV 1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.  3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?  8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.  10  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.  13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.  21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Introduction:

He’s All I Need

As Long as I’ve Got King Jesus

These make for great songs but bad doctrine.  All we need for salvation is Jesus.  Only by His blood are we saved.  After salvation we need each other.  God did not create or call anyone to be a hermit.  God created Adam in the Garden of Eden perfect and yet He declared, “It is not good for man to be alone.”

Title is somewhat misleading

1. Comfort

1. Definition of Exhort: The verb form of Comforter

1. parakalew – paraklete
2. We cannot properly comfort one another without the Comforter

2. Continue in Faith

1. Acts 14:22 KJV 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJV 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

3. Share the Load – Galatians 6:2 KJV 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
4. Talk about Jesus

1. John 15:26 KJV 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
2. A “Soulish ministry magnifies man, but the Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ.  When the Spirit is ministering through the Word, there is edification; but when the soul is merely manufacturing a ministry, there is entertainment or, at best only intellectual education.^[1]

2. Edify

1. Definition^[2] – Teach

1. To build, in a literal sense.

1. House builder - oikodomew^[3]

2. To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally, and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness.
3. To teach or persuade.

2. Love – Hebrews 10:24 KJV 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
3. Good Works
4. Consider Others – Philippians 2:3-4 KJV 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  The early church cared for each other in more than just spiritual things; they even cared for the material needs of one another.  Look at what Scripture says we should do for one another:

1. Pray
2. Build Up
3. Tarry (wait upon)
4. Serve - Galatians 5:13 KJV 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
5. Put Others First - Romans 12:10 KJV 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
6. Remove Stumbling Blocks
7. Admonish
8. Forebear

1. Ephesians 4:32 KJV 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
2. Colossians 3:13 KJV 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

9. Forgive

3. Admonish

1. Definition – Mild Rebuke

1. Hebrews 12:11-16 KJV 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
2. Proverbs 27:17 KJV 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

2. Avoid a Hard Heart – Hebrews 3:13 KJV 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3. Remove Stumbling Blocks – Romans 14:13 KJV 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Conclusion:

1 Corinthians 14:8 KJV 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?  This question applies not only to the use of tongues in the church but to its whole ministry.  If the prophets or teachers or pastors or evangelists do not proclaim God’s Word in its truth and fullness, without compromising, then the whole congregation will be unfit for service as good soldiers.^[4]

John 13:34 KJV 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12 KJV 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:17 KJV 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Romans 13:8 KJV 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 KJV 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Peter 1:22 KJV 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 John 3:11 KJV 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:23 KJV 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 4:7 KJV 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:11 KJV 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 John 4:12 KJV 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

2 John 1:5 KJV 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.