Praise the Lord - PART 97

With regard to overseeing elders in Acts 20:17-20, Paul noted that he kept nothing that was profitable "but I have showed you and taught you publicly and from house to house" how administering the gospel message was intended to occur.  Further, in Acts 20:27, the scriptures state "for I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God." Acts 20:28 continues by warning believers to "take heed to ourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." In other words, the gospel was saying, "Let all things be done decently and in order."

Scriptural references from Psalm 150 confirm a similar message. Praise the Lord -- Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet -- Praise Him with the harp -- Praise Him with the tambourines, drums and dancing --  Praise Him with the stringed instruments and pipes -- and Praise Him with the loud clashing cymbals. The Psalm continues with the verse, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord." Whatever we do in word, thought or deed, we do and offer it all in the name of Jesus.

In Luke 15: 22, the Father said to His servants, "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it. And then let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again. He was lost and is found. And he began to be merry and there was heard coming from the house a sound of music and dancing."

Now we need singing voices. The instrumentals sound wonderful, but it is the Word that strings the heart. A good comparison is the coating around the medicine that tastes good. In actuality, the coating is not the medicine. It is the same message in the gospel. It is written that God sent His Word and healed them. We sing hymns and psalms coated with the instrumentals. Both are united as one making melody in our hearts to our Lord. The atmosphere of praise fills the house. The elders encourage believers to worship in the beauty of holiness. The Elders allowing ample and adequate opportunity for testimonies to be presented one by one. Indeed, the scriptures state that all may testify one by one, so that all who hear the testimonies may learn and be comforted by the words of others.

The overseeing elders then gracefully step into the manifestation of the gifts of prophesy, revelation, tongues and interpretation, healing miracles and testimonies. The Elder emphases that the spirit of the gifted believer is subject to the gifted believer. Recall that no prophesy of the scripture remains a private interpretation. Therefore, allowance must be made for input from others if perchance something is revealed to another. The scriptures state to limit the prophets who speak to two or three, and let the believers weigh or judge what is said. 

Other believers may need refreshing as to the first principles of the teachings and doctrine of the Christian faith. Still, we will continue on in our next presentation to the other gifts of the Holy Spirit so that those who have pushed the gifts of the Holy Spirit aside have to confront their actions in view of the scriptures.  This reference here is to those unbelieving assemblies that have a preference to establishing their agenda -- the deeds of the Nicolaitians which thing the Lord hates.

Lord have your own way in your own body (Church) that we believers may drink of your pure Word. May the Holy Spirit of God which indwelt the man Jesus the Christ who is/was none other than the only begotten Son of God’s Spirit bless you all! Stand in the offering plate.