This is the tenth in a series called, A Word in a Hurry. These are purposely brief biblical topics on texts which are often misunderstood, designed with the Christian commuter in mind. Today's topic is a very simple one, and I think it can be a blessing to the Lord's people. It's entitled, The Term, Fruit of the Vine. I only want to talk about the drink element in the Lord's Supper. There's a lot more to consider in the Lord's Supper, but this issue comes to the forefront so many times, and I'd like to address it to help settle the saints about this. Did you know that the churches may use juice wine or vinegar in the Lord's Supper? Well, it's true, and I want you to consider it. You need to look at the Word of God objectively, in spite of what we've ever heard or thought, give the Word of God the preeminence in our concluding this matter. Have you ever noticed that the Word of God does not reveal what our Lord Jesus used in the first Lord's Supper observance? Or that it is never revealed what the Israelites used to drink in their Passover observances? You know, the two were closely related. They're not the same. But that is missing in the Scriptures. It's not revealed what they drank. But what do we know? We know that the Lord referred to the drink with the phrase, fruit of the vine. That phrase means the produce of the grape. So does scripture tell us what the fruit of the vine is? And I'm gonna say it does. In the vow of a Nazarite, The fruit of the vine is defined for us in Numbers chapter 6 verse 3. Here, and we're going to read it, there are three drinks which are shown to be the produce of the grape, that which the grape yields for drink. Each one is shown, and I've shown this in bold in the printed media I have before me, but let's read that scripture number six three referring to the nazarite this one who would take this vow he shall separate himself from wine there's the first element and strong drink and shall drink no vinegar of wine that's the second element or vinegar of strong drink neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, and there's the third element, nor eat moist grapes or dried." Now, liquor, so that we're clear, is an archaic word in the King James Version Bible, and it simply means liquid, and in the context means for us, juice. So there's wine, there's vinegar of wine, and liquor or juice of grapes, the liquid of grapes. The Greek version of the Old Testament, which is called the Septuagint, adds this concerning these three drinks that we just read about in Numbers chapter 6 verse 3. It says this, and whatsoever is made of the grape he shall not drink. The verb is made is translated from the Greek katergazemai, meaning that which is worked of the vine tree. Even without the Septuagint, it should be obvious that wine, vinegar of wine, and liquor of grapes are that which the grape yields or produces. So, the churches have the freedom to use any of these products of the grape in the Lord's Supper. At the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus said that this cup represented the New Testament in His blood. The fruit of the vine is called in Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 14 the blood of the grape. So we have every reason to believe based upon the Word of God that we may use these elements in the Lord's Supper with confidence. There should be no arguing in the churches about this point. And that's the thought for today. Thank you. This is the 11th in a series called A Word in a Hurry. These are purposely brief biblical topics on texts which are often misunderstood, designed with the Christian commuter in mind. Today's thought is entitled, Who Gave Thee This Authority? We ask this question. It is a question that has a context of the Lord's churches. The scripture reads in Matthew 28, 19, this little statement in here, it says, all power is given unto me. Jesus spoke those words. Power speaks of right or authority. Jesus said, all power is given to him. We might look at 1 Corinthians 15, verses 24 and 25. He spoke these words to 11 disciples one day. They were individual baptized believers, Matthew 28, 16. taught by Jesus Christ. They formed a part of the First Church, but they were not the whole church gathered that day. These disciples would obey Christ because they understood His commandment was given to them as a disciple. They had no authority of their own to do this work. Jesus didn't say, all power is given unto me and now I give it to you to give to whom you will go. But that's how many read it. What these disciples did was because of the authority of Christ. Having no authority of their own They had none to pass along to another." Again, was the Word of God called these 11 men at this place? He calls them disciples. A disciple is a baptized believer in the truest sense of the word. Look at the Great Commission again. It says, "...go ye therefore and make disciples, baptizing them." It is these disciples which may carry out the Great Commission by virtue of their relation to Christ, not because of their relation to an office or to a church. And if these should come into places where there is no church, they may as soon as two or three other baptized believers agree to come together, form a church there, by the authority of Jesus Christ, not because of some authority supposedly derived from another person or another church, but because their Lord Jesus said they could. Any other authority which would come between a baptized believer and their purpose to constitute a church is a usurpation of the authority of Jesus Christ. That's pure and simple. Furthermore, that authority which opposes such a work, which operates under the direct authority of Christ, finds itself in opposition to Christ's own authority. When you have time, read Luke chapter 9 verse 50. So one more time, I want to read this simple statement out of the Great Commission, an All power is given unto me. Go ye therefore. Those are the words of Christ. So I ask the question, who gave thee this authority? Thank you.