Notes for 3 november 2024

morning service
“gospel postures”

With the bodily postures of prayer mentioned in the Bible, we shall mention key postures of the heart when a man is seekng God.

prostrate

Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

As Christ fell to the ground in a time of crisis, so must men know this crisis in prayer.

bowed down

Exo 34:8  And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

As Moses bowed down so must men come before God with great humility and a sense of shame, as they ask for mercy.

kneeling

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

As Daniel knelt before God so must we show our submission and follow Christ as Lord.

looking up

Jhn 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

As Christ looked up to the Father so we must look to Christ with saving faith.

sitting down

2Sa 7:18  Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

As David sat and prayed so will men who have repented and believed sit with Christ and sup with him. 

lifting hands

1Ti 2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

When a man is saved the heart is full of praise and thanksgiving, and will give him all the glory.

evening service
“the Lord’s house”

1Ti 3:14  These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

As we move on from the qualifications of bishops and elders, we see why we need godly men to lead the church with the mention of the elevated nature of the house of God. 

House of God

The expression house of God speaks of the saints. It does not speak of the church building. The church is always the people.

There is more than the saints in this description, as it is the house of God. It is called the house of God because God dwells in this house. 

What is more, the church is described as the church of the living God. In the first place this could be seen as a reference to the background of the saints at Ephesus, as Ephesus was known for the worship of Diana (Artemis). We see in Acts chapter nineteen how the people cried for two hours “Great is Diana of the Ephesians”. Outside of Ephesus was the temple and the statue of Diana. The statue was made of stone. In great contrast the church is the church of the living God.

The thought of the living God brings to mind the very life of the being of God and also the great reality of worshipping the living God.

Truth of God

The apostle adds the thought of the church being the pillar and ground of the truth. This might sound strange at first, as it is the church which is built upon the truth and Christ as the cornerstone. Yet we can the meaning of these words as it is the Church which upholds and displays the truth. In this lifting up of the truth, the truth is the thing. The church is some ways is unseen as she is the ground or foundation which holds up the truth. The pillars speak of the church lifting up the truth, and especially the Son of God and the gospel.

How important for the church to be in the main things, and especially the main things about Jesus Christ.

Son of God

The logic continues into the next verse, where the climax and greatness of this truth, is none other than Jesus Christ. The words seems to be a quotation from an early church hymn about Christ. We see a sense of chronology in the verse, where Christ leaves the glory and there are heavenly testimonies of him being the Son of God. We then see him preaching and men believing, until he is victorious in his work and ascends on high. 

The Church must lift up the truths of the Son of God, who is Jesus Christ.