The House of God…
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD (Psa 122:1). 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 (Heb 10:25).
These verses from the Old and New Testament are just what we need today in a busy world. King David was glad when someone reminded him to go to the House of the Lord. Paul reminded his readers that they need to be careful to assemble themselves together, to encourage one another. They were getting beat up all the time. No one was glad they were Christians; poked fun at them; and some government officials put them in prison and robbed them of everything they had. It was easy to get discouraged. Of course, they needed to pray alone and as a family, but it was important for them to meet together, to sing, to pray, to share what Bible verses they knew (nobody had a Bible).
Church-going was built into my life even before I was born. My mother carried me to church in her womb to Falling Springs Baptist Church in Overton County, Tennessee. My mother was saved there as a teenager under the preaching of an itinerate woman evangelist who got permission to hold a week-long meeting in the church.
At Falling Springs, most of the people walked to church or rode a mule or horse. Only 2 or 3 people in the community had a car or truck. Sometimes a farmer would hitch his mules to a wagon, padded with hay and invite people who lived along the road to ride to church. It was a simple but sturdy wood-frame church painted white. There was no electricity and no inside rest rooms. People walked down the hill and drank water out of a mountain stream. In July of each year, after the corn was “laid by,” a visiting preacher would conduct a two-week revival meeting. Sometimes it would last three weeks.
When I was seven or so I attended the Christmas program at the Alpine Presbyterian Church, above and for the first time heard Joy to the World! It was too complicated for me to remember and sing at home, but I never forgot it. I knew I had heard a great piece of music. I will never forget it!
The building was finished in the late thirties and some oily rags in a closet caught fire and burned the building before it was ever used. The stone structure remained, so the building was rebuilt in a couple of years. The church is located about 200 yards above the Alpine school I showed yesterday. I took this picture in July 2007.
Alpine, TN was a poor community. Some Christians in New York commissioned the building and a nearby stone high school building; All of this during the great depression. The high school had an auditorium with a stage and was heated with a steam boiler. A stone gymnasium and teaching wood working shop were added. It was a great encouragement to people of the area.
So, the Presbyterian Church in New York invested heavily to build church and school buildings for poor Alpine. They believed that the best way to help a poor, isolated rural area was to encourage the assembling together of God’s people for worship and education. The schools closed many years ago but the church building remains in use after 80 years. I hope you are glad to go into the house of the Lord and that you are fellowshipping with people of like faith to encourage you to live for the Lord in these troubled days.
Psa 122:1 - I was glad - It was a subject; of joy to me. The return of the happy season when we were to go up to worship filled me with joy. The language is expressive of the, happiness which is felt by those who love God and his sanctuary, when the stated season of worship returns. The heart is drawn to the house of prayer; the soul is filled with peace at the prospect of being again permitted to worship God. Who the speaker here is, is not known. It may have been David himself; more probably, however, it was designed by him to be used by those who should go up to worship, as expressive of their individual joy (Barnes).
Heb 10:25 - If there ever was a time - when believers needed to come together, it is today. Instead of chopping down each other, we need to draw together in love around the person of Christ.
"Exhorting one another." We need to study the Word of God together. God has something for a group that He will not give to any one individual. One of the reasons I like to teach the Word of God is selfish. It is because God won't let me grow in the knowledge of His Word unless I share it. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. If you have a Bible study at your church, be sure to go because there is a blessing for you there that you can't get when you study the Bible by yourself. So these are the three "let us" verses:
Let us: Draw near in faith (toward God)
Let us: Draw near in hope (for ourselves)
Let us: Draw near in love (for others) (McGee). Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 24, 2017 – FRIDAY
A.M. Josh 11-13 P.M. Luke: 4:1-32
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
Let the words of my mouth, and meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psa 19:14)
Song for Today:
To God Be the Glory (3:25) – (Congregational) (Royal Albert Hall - London)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU
You may have to wait a few seconds or delete an ad.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD (Psa 122:1). 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 (Heb 10:25).
These verses from the Old and New Testament are just what we need today in a busy world. King David was glad when someone reminded him to go to the House of the Lord. Paul reminded his readers that they need to be careful to assemble themselves together, to encourage one another. They were getting beat up all the time. No one was glad they were Christians; poked fun at them; and some government officials put them in prison and robbed them of everything they had. It was easy to get discouraged. Of course, they needed to pray alone and as a family, but it was important for them to meet together, to sing, to pray, to share what Bible verses they knew (nobody had a Bible).
Church-going was built into my life even before I was born. My mother carried me to church in her womb to Falling Springs Baptist Church in Overton County, Tennessee. My mother was saved there as a teenager under the preaching of an itinerate woman evangelist who got permission to hold a week-long meeting in the church.
At Falling Springs, most of the people walked to church or rode a mule or horse. Only 2 or 3 people in the community had a car or truck. Sometimes a farmer would hitch his mules to a wagon, padded with hay and invite people who lived along the road to ride to church. It was a simple but sturdy wood-frame church painted white. There was no electricity and no inside rest rooms. People walked down the hill and drank water out of a mountain stream. In July of each year, after the corn was “laid by,” a visiting preacher would conduct a two-week revival meeting. Sometimes it would last three weeks.
When I was seven or so I attended the Christmas program at the Alpine Presbyterian Church, above and for the first time heard Joy to the World! It was too complicated for me to remember and sing at home, but I never forgot it. I knew I had heard a great piece of music. I will never forget it!
The building was finished in the late thirties and some oily rags in a closet caught fire and burned the building before it was ever used. The stone structure remained, so the building was rebuilt in a couple of years. The church is located about 200 yards above the Alpine school I showed yesterday. I took this picture in July 2007.
Alpine, TN was a poor community. Some Christians in New York commissioned the building and a nearby stone high school building; All of this during the great depression. The high school had an auditorium with a stage and was heated with a steam boiler. A stone gymnasium and teaching wood working shop were added. It was a great encouragement to people of the area.
So, the Presbyterian Church in New York invested heavily to build church and school buildings for poor Alpine. They believed that the best way to help a poor, isolated rural area was to encourage the assembling together of God’s people for worship and education. The schools closed many years ago but the church building remains in use after 80 years. I hope you are glad to go into the house of the Lord and that you are fellowshipping with people of like faith to encourage you to live for the Lord in these troubled days.
Psa 122:1 - I was glad - It was a subject; of joy to me. The return of the happy season when we were to go up to worship filled me with joy. The language is expressive of the, happiness which is felt by those who love God and his sanctuary, when the stated season of worship returns. The heart is drawn to the house of prayer; the soul is filled with peace at the prospect of being again permitted to worship God. Who the speaker here is, is not known. It may have been David himself; more probably, however, it was designed by him to be used by those who should go up to worship, as expressive of their individual joy (Barnes).
Heb 10:25 - If there ever was a time - when believers needed to come together, it is today. Instead of chopping down each other, we need to draw together in love around the person of Christ.
"Exhorting one another." We need to study the Word of God together. God has something for a group that He will not give to any one individual. One of the reasons I like to teach the Word of God is selfish. It is because God won't let me grow in the knowledge of His Word unless I share it. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. If you have a Bible study at your church, be sure to go because there is a blessing for you there that you can't get when you study the Bible by yourself. So these are the three "let us" verses:
Let us: Draw near in faith (toward God)
Let us: Draw near in hope (for ourselves)
Let us: Draw near in love (for others) (McGee). Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MARCH 24, 2017 – FRIDAY
A.M. Josh 11-13 P.M. Luke: 4:1-32
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
Let the words of my mouth, and meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psa 19:14)
Song for Today:
To God Be the Glory (3:25) – (Congregational) (Royal Albert Hall - London)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU
You may have to wait a few seconds or delete an ad.
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