The Tabernacle Today

Tune in to our recording from our August 28, 2022 Sunday Service to listen to guest speaker Daniel Ritchie's sermon! We pray that it is a blessing for you!

Open Hearts and Ousted Demons Acts 16:11-24

Our Theme as we have gone through the Book of Acts has been – “God’s extraordinary power working through ordinary people!”

The conversion of an “_______ and Out” woman V. 11-15

Not only was she successful and not born again yet, she was _______________________ and not born again yet!

So whose the first person Paul leads to Christ in Macedonia?

A woman from _______ __________, where he had wanted to go!

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart!   -Psalm 37:4

The conversion of a “________ and Out” woman V. 16-24

If people are profiting off of your ____________________ condition, in a sense you are owned by them, and ultimately, Satan!

Love is our greatest motivation, but sometimes we have to simply _____________ God first, do what we’re called to do, and remember how much we love reaching out to others as we are ministering!

Perhaps because Paul had already experienced persecution, he may have been a little reluctant to go there. Oh wait, that’s too often how WE ARE! But when we worry about the ramifications of sharing the gospel in a secular context, we need to remember what’s at stake for those oppressed by Satan. Paul often took a ___________________ whipping to secure an eternal soul!

“Mrs. Turner, the wife of the Agent, and her sister Mrs. Hackley were half Indian and helped the McCoys greatly in contacting the local Miamis. It was not long before Mrs. Turner became convicted of her sin and professed faith in Christ. Apparently she had longed for the gospel to enter her heart and life but had thought that as she was an Indian, she was ineligible to be loved by God. Dr. Turner, however, had scruples about his wife being baptized but gave them up after several months. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hackley professed conversion and asked to be baptized. This was arranged for June 18th. At 10 AM on that day, McCoy gathered his family, workers, and pupils, besides the newly converted and their families, on the banks of the Maumee River and preached on the subject of baptism. A number of whites and Indians not directly connected with the missionary base attended the meeting. At the river side, all sung a hymn McCoy had written for the occasion.”   -Isaac McCoy, Apostle of the Western Trail, p 86-87

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Glad Tidings, so the angels sung, Until the heavens with gladness rung;

Glad tidings late my soul replied, for me my Lord was crucified.

“The news shall spread through all the earth.” So sang the host at Jesus’ birth.

Ye gentle waves, I call on you to say, is not the promise true?

This very stream was lately stained With blood from strangling soldiers drained;*

Now, strange to tell, the Prince of Peace in it displays His sovereign grace.

Ye oaks, which shook while cannons roar’d,

now bow your heads and praise the Lord;

Tell the wild man beneath your shade why Christ in Jordan’s stream was laid.

Those warlike towers on yonder wall,** like those of Jericho, must fall,

While deathful weapons dormant lie – shout, saints, the Ark is passing by.

Ye winds, which spread the news of death, no longer breathe offensive breath;

But the glad tidings loud proclaim, “Here saints rejoice in Jesus’ name.”

Sure all who hear will join and sing, Glory to God, our Christ is King.

Still let the Gospel spread abroad, Till all the world shall worship God.

-Isaac McCoy, 1820

*In a former battle near Fort Wayne, the corpses were so numerous that they damned the river; **The fortifications around Fort Wayne

Psalm 1 Sunday Night Study

Psalm 1 is not only the first of all 150 Psalms but also the first of Book ______ of the Psalms.

It is clear from their content many of them were also __________________, and we will be encouraged at the total honesty these men of God pray with.

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This Psalm is the first of many “_________________” psalms.

This Psalm is also the first of many in the Psalms that has chiastic ____________.

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Notice the progression – sin starts in the head, and then leads to definite steps of action ____________________ from what the godly would do.

Now one thing I like about Psalm one is that it does not just present being a godly person in negative terms, but goes on to present a beautiful picture that is _________________ in verses 2-3.

Three types of questions that help you meditate on the Word of God---

1. O_______________                       What does the text ___________?

2. I________________                       What does the text ___________?

3. A________________                      How does this ________________ to my life?

“I have no rest but in a nook, with the Book!”

Thomas A Kempis, Author of the Imitation of Christ!

The water that nourishes the tree is like the nourishment we receive from our ____________________ with our Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit.

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I love the phrase “the ______________________ of the righteous!”

I think the Psalmist is anticipating what David calls in Psalm 23, “_____________ in the house of the Lord forever!”

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What an encouragement in verse six to the righteous person who has ________________ the taunts of mockers…

Have you wondered lately if God is there?

Have you wondered if God cares?

These Psalms will be filled with ___________________ saints crying out to God asking where He is and if He cares!

But Psalm one ends with the promise that God is _____________________ over the way of the righteous!

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In verse 1 the blessed man chose not to stand or sit with sinners; ___________ God justly forbids the sinner to stand or sit with those who are His!  WOW!

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Great Helps:

Everyman’s Bible Commentary on Psalms, Bob Alden

The Treasury of David, CH Spurgeon

Expositors Bible Commentary

The Loving Disciple

“Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, ‘You will not take my friends. I will go in their stead.’”

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  -Jesus in John 15:13

Read 1 John 3:11-23 The Loving Disciple Let’s Pray!

True love is all about helping others experience abundant life V. 11-15

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see my glory that you have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” -John 17:24

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  -John 13:34-35

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly.  -John 10:10

True love must be tangibly expressed V. 16-18

Loving disciples first open their hearts to brothers in need, and then open their hands to help brothers in need.

True love reassures our hearts as believers V. 19-23

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life! -1 John 5:13

Heightening Your Spirit Senses

6 Examples of Paul’s Heightened Spirit Senses:

1. Paul was always on the lookout for Great Commission _____________________  V. 1

2. Paul was always open to the churches’ ______________________   V. 2

3. Paul was always sensitive about ________________________ standards   V. 3

4. Paul was careful to keep believers informed about the _________________ body  V. 4-5

5. Paul was _________________________ to God the Holy Spirit’s promptings!   V. 6-8

6. Paul listened to God in ___________________, including visions and dreams   V. 9-12

The Idle Disciple

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 The Idle Disciple Let’s Pray!

The Thessalonian Christians had been taught to be watchful workers while they awaited Jesus! But some of the disciples there had done some improper reasoning. They thought, “Since the rapture and the events that follow could occur at any time, there’s no need to work hard while we wait for Jesus.”

The word(s) for idle in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 7, 11 is the Greek word(s) atakteo (G812), ataktes (G813), and ataktos (G 814). At its core, it conveys what the military would call disorderly conduct, being out of rank, not doing what you were enlisted to do, being AWOL (absent without leave).

The basic challenge: Be a hard-working disciple and align yourself with hard-working disciples.

The industrious ant works hard and is prepared for what’s coming; The idle sluggard is lazy and is unprepared for what’s coming.

According to verse 11, the idle Thessalonians were committing a double “theft”: they were not generating positive work or volunteer service themselves, and they we’re distracting others from getting work or volunteer service done.

When Godly People Part Ways                        Acts 15:36-41

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”        -I Cor. 15:33 -Paul, quoting the poet Menander.

The P_____________________                                                      V. 36

The P_____________________                                                      V. 37-38

The P_____________________                                                      V. 39a

Ground Rules for when godly people part ways…

On the front end of parting ways from other believers, ask yourself whether you are willing to stand before God one day having parted ways for ______________________ reason.

On the back end of parting ways with other believers: don’t be _______________, don’t stop growing, don’t stop serving God (even if doing it in different places). Also seek forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration where appropriate.

The _______________________ of God                                        V. 39b-41

The Ongoing Perspective and Partnerships of the People Involved                                                        -Rest of the New Testament!

Philemon 23                         Colossians 4:10

Never stop believing in God! Never stop believing in people, in what God can do in their life if they will _______________ and let Jesus change what needs changing!

The Generous Disciple

She felt an earnest desire, renouncing every other hope, to cast herself wholly upon Christ for life and salvation. She instantly from her bed lifted up her head to Jesus the Savior in prayer; and immediately her distress and fears were removed.

O how do I lament the weakness of my hands, the feebleness of my knees and coolness of my heart! I want my heart to on fire always, not for self-delight, but to spread the gospel from pole to pole! -Selina, Countess of Huntingdon

“To God alone be the glory – the work is His – and He will carry it on in His own way…I thirst for an entire devotedness to Him, and His cause and interest in the world. O! That I had a thousand hands, a thousand hearts; all should be employed for Him – for He is worthy!” -Selina, Countess of Huntingdon

Read Luke 8:1-3 The Generous Disciple Let’s Pray!

The beautiful ministry of Jesus and His disciples V. 1

What the encounter at the end of Luke 7 was really was about was that she understood her need as a sinner, and the other man did not at all. Jesus forgave her, and she fell in love with Him, and began generously serving Him.

The generous people who made beautiful ministry happen V. 2-3

For to the one who pleases Him, God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to the one who pleases God. -Ecclesiastes 2:26

It all started with gratitude – Jesus had done a profound work in these ladies lives – and they had become generous disciples! That is still the core of Christian giving today – grateful converts become generous disciples who give their time, talents, and treasure to the Lord’s work!

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. -2 Cor. 9:6-8

The Hard-Headed Disciple

Many of the most serious Christians also have a problem with being hard-headed when Jesus starts speaking about making the necessary sacrifices in life it will take to be seriously involved in becoming fruit bearing Christians. 

Read Matthew 16:13-27 The Hard-headed disciple Let's Pray!  

The Importance of getting initial faith right V. 13-20

"Unless you believe that I Am, you will die in your sins." -John 8:24

Christ is the cornerstone, the foundation of our faith. We in the church are like Peter and those first Christians, living stones being joined together by the Holy Spirit and serving God in our generation. 

The keys represent spiritual authority based on what the Bible teaches. It certainly involves our prayer lives, but it also allows us to assure people that God will do for them what He has promised to in the Bible.

So when a person refuses to call sin what the Bible calls sin, they aren't confessing right or repenting right, and they are not right with God. You have the authority to say that with love and respect. 

The importance of getting ongoing sacrifice right V. 21-27

Let me give you some advice as a Christian - Never ever start your prayer time by saying "No, Lord!" 

Satan is opposed to God, and so are we when we set our mind on the things of men instead of God! 

Now I don't know what caused more shock among the disciples - hearing Jesus speak about suffering and dying or calling Peter Satan. Actually it doesn't matter - because what He says next should be what really shocks us into action! 

Jesus wasn't just saying that He would have to suffer so that God's will could be done; He was also calling us to be "living sacrifices" for Him.

You have to get ongoing sacrifice right to be a fruit-bearing disciple. Christ sacrificed His life to actualize salvation for all who will believe. We make sacrifices to get others access to that saving message.  

True Faith Works Acts 15:12-35

James and Paul (and Peter and Jesus) agree that works don’t ___________________  -James 2:10

James and Paul (and Peter and Jesus) agree about the new birth being ______________ by God the Holy Spirit    -Acts 15:14-18

James and Paul (and Peter and Jesus) agree that salvation comes by _________________ alone    -Acts 15:19

James and Paul (and Peter and Jesus) agree that the truly saved are ________________ from their sin  Acts 15:20, 28-29

Note well the care in which James wants true believers to give in turning from idolatry and _____________________. In some ways, this summarizes what the Old Testament law was about! It remains a key teaching of the New Testament!

James and Paul (and Jesus and Peter) agree that the truly saved do good ____________________  -James 1:26-27

James and Paul (and Jesus and Peter) agree that the truly saved are __________________ of going to Heaven  -Phil. 1:6

The Three Tenses of Salvation

But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification – and the end is eternal life. -Romans 6:22

1. Salvation in the _______________________ tense

2. Salvation in the _______________________ tense

3. Salvation in the _______________________ tense