The Significance of the Lord's Day by Mike Wilson
(http://www.focusmagazine.org)
Why do we gather together around the Lord's table on the Lord's day to partake of the Lord's Supper with the Lord's people? The answer is simple: out of reverence for the Lord in keeping with the Lord's Book.
Jesus arose from the dead "on the first day of the week" (Luke 24:1,13,21,46). It was exactly forty-nine days later, on a Sunday, that Peter and the other apostles preached the gospel of a crucified Lord who had risen from the dead and was now crowned as the Savior "for you and your children, and for all who are afar off" (Acts 2:39). On this day the church began. One may argue that all of this was happenstance, but the timing of the Lord is more exact than the time clocks of man. In fact, the Lord's calendar is loaded with much more significance.
A pattern begins to emerge in the pages of the New Testament. From Acts 20:7, we learn that Paul and his company assembled with the church at Troas "on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread" (Acts 20:7). Paul stayed an entire week beforehand in order to be able to meet with the church (20:6), which is all the more surprising since Passover had already passed and he would have to hurry to get to Jerusalem before Pentecost (20:16). Obviously, there was great significance to "the first day of the week" as the day the church assembled.
The church at Corinth "came together... to eat the Lord's Supper," though there were abuses (I Cor. 11:20 and context). When did they meet? The First Epistle to the Corinthians was written before the events of Acts 20:7. Even still, the apostle Paul writes, "On the first day of every week (kata mian sabbatou), each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income… so that when I come no collections will have to be made" (I Cor. 16:2, NIV). Once again, the "first day of every week" carried special meaning.
In Revelation 1:10, John says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day (te kuriake hemera)." Bauer's lexicon defines the relevant term, "the Lord's day... i.e. certainly Sunday (so in modern Greek)" (p. 458). This conclusion is verified in early church history. The Didache instructs, "And on the Lord's own day (kata kuriaken de kuriou) gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks... (14:1). In the early second century, Ignatius writes, "If therefore those who lived according to the old practices came to the new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath but living according to the Lord's day, in which also our life arose through him and his death..." (Magnesians 9). Justin Martyr added, "We all make our assembly in common on the day of the Sun, since it is the first day, on which God changed the darkness and matter and made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior arose from the dead on the same day. For they crucified him on the day before Saturn's day, and on the day after (which is the day of the Sun) he appeared to his apostles and taught his disciples these things" (Apology I, 67:7).
Do you honor the first day of the week as the "Lord's Day"? Can you say the same thing if recreational interests take precedence over the Lord's Supper?
The Superiority of Christ - (Heb. 1:4-14) By Randy Harshbarger
Reprinted from The Expository Files (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4051/)
The book of Hebrews argues that Christ is superior in all things. Christ as our Great High Priest is superior to the priest who officiated under the Levitical system. The covenant of Christ is superior to the Old Covenant given to the Jews at Sinai. Christ is greater than Moses and Aaron. These arguments are designed to lead to the conclusion that the salvation Christ provides (since it is predicated on His own precious blood and not on the blood of bulls and goats) is indeed great (Hebrews 2:1-4). We ignore or "neglect" this great salvation to our spiritual ruin. Christ is also superior to the angels, which is the theme of Hebrews 1:4-14.
Angels are featured throughout the OT. We generally think of angels of being messenger for God; they did serve that purpose (Genesis 19; 22). Daniel speaks of Michael (Daniel 12:1-2). Angels were a featured part of many Near Eastern religions. The Dead Sea Scrolls suggest that the ancients speculated about the role of angels in service to God. In NT times, the worship of angels has apparently become a problem, probably as a part of Gnosticism (Colossians 2:18). Angels had (have) something to do with Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 11. Today, the New Age Movement has again popularized angels; they are the focus of many books and some movies. What place do angels occupy in Hebrews?
First, Christ is said to be better than the angels "as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they" (1:4). Exaltation by the Father's right hand marks Christ as greater than the angels. Further, His name is greater. In context, this seems to be a reference, as verse five states, to the fact that Christ is identified as the Son (cf. Philippians 2:9-11; here Lord is used). While on earth Jesus was clearly the Son (Hebrews 5:9), but in this exalted position of honor, Jesus is demonstrated to be far above the angels; He is ranked or reputed to be above the angels. The Father never said to the angels: "Thou art my son, This day have I begotten thee" (1:5). This is a quotation from Psalm 2:7, which speaks of the triumph of the King over His enemies. Paul, in Acts 13:33, applies the Psalms passage to the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Not only is the name of Christ above that of the angels, but His very essence, His deity, was demonstrated by His resurrection from the grave (cf. Romans 1:4). No angel could make that claim.
Second, did the Father ever say to an angel: "I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?" No, but He said that to Christ (1:5). This OT quotation is from 2 Samuel 7:14. King David asked permission to build a suitable house for Jehovah. After telling David no, the Lord said that one from David's loins would come forth and his kingdom would be established forever. Yes, David's son, Solomon, would later build the temple in Jerusalem; God would be a Father to Him. But the ultimate fulfillment could not be possible apart from Christ, the Son, who sits on David's throne (cf. Acts 2:29-36). Could the angels make such a claim of superiority? No, but Christ makes that claim. Is He worthy? Should we listen to Him? The original recipients of Hebrews needed to reminded of Christ's superiority. We need that same reminder today.
PSALM 119 - Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
KOPH. (Ps 119:145-152)
[145-149. An intelligent devotion is led by divine promises and
is directed to an increase of gracious affections, arising from
a contemplation of revealed truth.]
145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep
thy statutes.
146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
147 I prevented [literally, "came before," anticipated
not only the dawn, but even the usual periods of the night; when
the night watches, which might be expected to find me asleep,
come, they find me awake (Ps 63:6; 77:4; La 2:19). Such is the
earnestness of the desire and love for God's truth.] the dawning
of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate
in thy word.
149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken
me [revive my heart according to those principles of justice,
founded on Thine own nature, and revealed in Thy law, which specially
set forth Thy mercy to the humble as well as justice to the wicked
(compare Ps 119:30).] according to thy judgment.
[150-152. Though the wicked are near to injure, because far from
God's law, He is near to help, and faithful to His word, which
abides for ever.]
150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from
thy law.
151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.
152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou
hast founded them for ever.
Modern Proverbs With A Scriptural Message - Author(s) Unknown
(Contributed by C. Nicks)
Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.
Words are windows to the heart.
A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall claims it's a forgery.
It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill - just add a little dirt.
A successful marriage isn't finding the right person - it's being the right person.
Too many people offer God prayers, with claw marks all over them.
The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.
To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.
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