Friends, in this message tonight, I want to follow up from what we left off the last time. The last time we were thinking about the gathered church under the doctrine, under this new series of the doctrine of the Church of Christ. What is the church about? Why do we do the things that we do? What's our responsibility as God's people? And I hope that you took home some of the important lessons from there. And I don't want to simply go through those things of the past, but let me just very briefly recap. What did we think about? Our text has been, the overarching text has been verse 15 of 1st Timothy chapter 3, 1st Timothy chapter 3 and verse 15. We read here the words of the apostle Paul, So he's speaking and says, this is so that you might know how to behave yourself, Conduct yourself in the gathered assembly, that's what the house of God is, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of the truth. And that's been our theme. What is the Lord's will for us? And we have seen that the church of Jesus Christ is one that he has built himself. It is described as the house of God. It is described as the pillar and the ground of the truth. It is where the Lord Jesus Christ stands. What a privileged people we are to have the Lord Jesus Christ with us. But we saw all kinds of things last time about this matter. But we saw how we ought to be faithful to the church of the Lord Jesus, to be steadfast, to be involved in the fellowship, to be taking up our responsibilities, to realize that this is the place for safety. The gathering of the saints and our involvement, our being part of the local churches, part of the evidences of what it is in terms of salvation. All of these things we saw that it's a place of training. It's a place where Christians are to set godly examples before one another. It's a place of oversight and protection and the place of also judgment too. And also we saw lessons from the Revelation chapters 1 through to 3 as well. A number of things. I won't go over those things because They have been recorded and you can listen to them again. And part of the reason I'm doing the second sermon is because I ran out of time. So we don't want to do the same again. But we encourage you that these evening sermons, you would listen to them. prayerfully. And I appreciate that especially tonight's message possibly is going to be more practical. And you might need to think carefully and you might need to see to yourself and say, is this what the pastor says? Or with all honesty, it is what the word of God says. If it is something that you think it is of me, put it to one side. But if it is of the Lord and it has the savor of Jesus Christ in it, then you ought to take it to heart, dear friends. But I want to speak about two or three other matters concerning this, the subject of the doctrine of the gathered church, but especially practical instructions. Now, one of the things that we might think about is this whole matter of the church services. We are here in a service. What is a service? The children of Israel, when we have studied the book of Exodus, we have seen how that the children of Israel, Moses said that they might go out to serve the Lord, and it is to do with the worship of God. Service means a time of serving. That's what it is. We are here as participants in serving God. We are not merely recipients, we are participants. Why is it we don't have a choir? Why? Because the congregation is the choir. That's why. and so many other things you think about. But let's think about this, the services of God. The Bible speaks on what must be included in the worship of God. Many don't think that there is any set order or ways God has guided and people treat things as sort of free to all. It's really people's personal preferences, some people think, to do what seems good to them. And it becomes a pragmatic thing. The way we do it, it's what suits us. It's a British way to do. It's a reformed way to do. It's really a cultural thing, some people would say. Is it? Is it? This is the thing that we want to think about. Because we don't want to just follow the traditions of men. We want to make sure what we are doing has a biblical basis for it. There is to be, dear friends, in the services, an order and careful thought and planning according to the Scriptures about these things, the times that we gather. Yes, there are no rigid patterns given in the Scriptures, but there are some basic matters that we ought to take to heart. We are given some basic information about how the early churches conducted their meetings and we don't know that they had organized meetings. It wasn't just a haphazard meetings that they thought, oh well, don't you think we should have a meeting today? It was an organized meeting. Why do I say that? And I'm going to quote a number of passages this evening, and I know it is going to be recorded, so you can listen to them again if you can't get them all down. But let me point to a number of these things, that they were organized meetings. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 22, for example, the Apostle Paul puts this question. He says, what? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despised ye the church of God, and shamed them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." There was a disorder there. People were treating the gatherings of the saints for their own benefit. to eat and drink, treating their gatherings as if they were just going to their own house, doing whatever they wanted to. Or in chapter 14 and verse 23 of 1 Corinthians we read, If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Here was in those days as God gave the gift of tongues to the people, The apostle Paul said, this needs to be organized. This is not a free for all service. And then he says, if there are people who come unlearned, uninstructed, unbelievers come in, don't they think that there's a hubbub, that you've become mad, that there's disorder in this place? And another point is this, another text is a famous text, you know it all, in Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 25, specifically it speaks about the assembling of the saints, and it must have been, by inference, it must have been times that people knew of their gatherings. He says in Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 25, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. So it's nothing new under the sun. but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching. The Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians for treating the church, the services, like a common activity at home. And thus, even though the church services were typically conducted in homes, in the early days. The services themselves were set apart for common Christian activities by orderliness and godly respect, benefiting an occasion in which the Church of God assembled Before who? Before who are we coming? Before the head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what our business is. We are coming before the Lord. That's why I read from Isaiah chapter 6. That's the way we must approach. It's a serious matter. It's an orderly matter. We're coming before the King. So the things that I will be speaking here this evening, which are of practical nature, I want you to always have this in mind. These things are said with the view that we are coming before the Lord. It's the most serious thing, important thing that we can do as human beings to worship God. And so we take it seriously. We ought to. There was a pattern. which they followed from the synagogue pattern of worship, the early church did. And Paul speaks that they were to do everything decently and in order. That's in reference to their gatherings and what happens. For example, in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 34, it says, and if any man hunger, let him eat at home, even though they were meeting in homes oftentimes. It's differentiating from what was happening in that home during the service of worship and what would normally happen. There's nothing wrong with eating. The time of it is different. That ye come not together unto condemnation, unto God's judgment, he's saying. And then he says, and the rest will I set in order when I come. Other things that were happening. When I come, I'm going to set things in order for your gathering and your conduct in the worship of God. And in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 40, he says, let all things be done decently and in order. Now someone says, well, you know, there are certain things that we do and there is no instruction in the word of God. For example, when are the services held? These times of our service, when are they to be held? Is there any kind of pattern in the Word of God? Well friends, the only, let me say this in general, the only specific occasion for regular church services mentioned in Scripture is the first day of the week, which is the Lord's Day. which was wholly given to the spiritual exercise and service of God. Let me give you some proof text for that. For example, in Acts chapter 20 and verse 7, we read this. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread. So that's the time they came together to break bread. That's a reference to their communion. Paul preached unto them. This is what happened. So in that context, Paul also preached, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight. And then in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 2, again we read this, upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." So again, there's this reference made that when they gather together, so already there's reference that there is this gathering on the first day of the week, and this is what they ought to do. And this is the day that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. That's what we remember. Every time we gather together, 52 times a year, that's what we are doing. Remembering the one who rose from the dead for us. So for example, in Mark 16 and verse 9, this is reference to that the Lord Jesus Christ did rise from the dead on that first day. Now when Jesus was risen early, the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. So again, he rose from the dead on that first day. And it is the day that Christ first appeared to the disciples. And all of these things makes it important. Why not the second day? Why not the third day as emphasized in the Bible? But the first day of the week, God is highlighting, is saying underline these points. John 20 and verse 19, we read this, then the same day at evening being the first day of the week. So at the evening they met. On the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said unto them, peace be unto you. That's what the Lord Jesus Christ did appear to them on that first day. And we have already said that the churches met on that first day of the week for communion and for worship. And we said that from Acts 20 and verse seven. Some people argue about the times of our services on the Lord's Day that, well, Psalm 92 speaks about the Jewish sacrifices of morning and evening. I'm personally not so sure that can be used for our practice of the two services as it was part of the temple worship and ceremony. But we do believe in the keeping of the Lord's Day. It is a day that belongs to the Lord for distinct resting in Him and worshipping Him. Then we have to ask, how should the day be used? And it ought to be used, yes, of course, in rest, physical rest, yes, but Christian fellowship and service, but also for worship of God, the most important thing. That's what the disciples did. And if it is to be used in worship, then we have to ask ourselves, how much worship is good for us? How much worship is it going to be good for you? Can you answer that question? Is this too much or too little? I don't see how any good thing can come out of abandoning the Lord's services or simply saying, well, I'll just be a Sunday morning Christian or Sunday evening Christian. What are you doing with the rest of the day? Is it the Lord's day? Or the Lord's hour? Or the Lord's morning? I'm setting these things before you just for you to think about it. I know it is a challenge, but I want you to think about it. Are you, when you are at home, are you sitting at home really watching some service online? And that's a very serious question. If Sunday is the day of the Lord and for the Lord, what are we doing with our Sundays, with our time? And how are we using our Sundays to draw closer to the Lord? It is a very distracting day. It can be. And so I put these questions to you about this. Give the whole day to God. Do as much as you can because your whole week is spent on all sorts of other things. And we all feel, I wish I read my Bible more. I wish I worshiped God more. I wish I prayed more. I wish I spent more time with Christians. I believe that most people who are not going to church, both services, when they could, are not doing really spiritual things with that time. Now, you may challenge me on that. I'm happy to hear you on this. But I feel that when we get into a certain pattern, we can get into some sort of a rut. And I know my own heart. I know my own failures. And so one minister said when people ask me, should we meet twice on the Lord's Day? And his response is, what about three times? Three worship services or four? And so on. You know, in church history, it's nothing new under the sun. The scriptures speak about it. That's why the apostle says in Hebrews chapter 10. But church history isn't useful for much other than illustrations. But it's very interesting that the great Synod of Dort, which was held in Holland, which was an international gathering of godly reformed theologians and ministers in the early 17th century, They were asked this question. What should we do if nobody wants to attend the second service? Now that really comforted me. I'll tell you why. Because they had the same issues that we have today. They had the same kind of challenges. And the answer of the Synod of Dort was that the second service must be held, it says, even if only the preacher's family is in attendance. And that advice was taken, and the Dutch Reformed churches in the 17th century and so on, and the early 20th century became a very Sabbath-keeping, worshipful, and Bible-knowing people because of that advice, in part at least, when they took it to heart. Now, we don't want to be legalistic and putting heavy burdens on the Lord's people, but I'm asking these things to just challenge you, to ask you to think about it honestly yourself, and ask yourself this, am I being honest with God? Am I really keeping this whole day? Am I rejoicing in the Lord? Am I viewing Him as these seraphims and these angels did? beholding the glory of God, and thinking that this Savior who gave himself for me is worthy of my praise and honor, and in my gathering with my brothers and sisters in the gathered assembly, The Lord's Day, as I said, is a holy day of God. There is no other holy day throughout the week. We have got 52 holy days through the week and through the year. Dear friends, think on these things. And this doesn't mean, of course, that Sunday is the only day that churches can have services. Oftentimes people feel that they need to meet together more often through the week. times of prayer, times of Bible study, and so on. And that's something that the churches think about it. And we have instructions of different people who met together in the Scriptures. But the Lord's Day is a special day. But in other times that the church assigns and says, with the help of the Lord's help and with the As we think about it, and as we consider we need to gather together, and the time is set, for example, on a Wednesday night for a Bible study and prayer meeting, think about that, that we all need one another, and the fellowship. Again, the apostle says, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. So again, I encourage you to think seriously about all of these things. Why do we have certain services? It's because of these things. And then another question, what activities are done during the church services? What activities? And I want to tell you of a few things which is part of the worship of God and the building up of the church as well. Number one, the early church had teaching and fellowship, Lord's Supper and prayers. Those things were done in the services. Teaching, preaching, fellowship. Lord's Supper, prayers. In Acts chapter 2, we read about this in verses 41 and 42. It says, And that was the Lord's day. It was a day of Pentecost, the Lord's day, first day of the week. So we get that pattern from there. Then another thing to be done is that, again emphasizing, they preached the word of God. The part of the worship of God, the height of the worship of God is the preaching of the word of God. This is where God is speaking. And again, we read those words in Acts 20 and verse seven. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them and continued his speech until midnight. And in the context of the gathered worship, the Apostle Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 2, he says, it is in this context that you preach the word. Be instant, in season, out of season. Meaning, if people receive it or not receive it, in whatever condition, in that situation of the gathering of the church, you preach the Word of God to them. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. So the preaching of the Word of God is part of that. That's what happens here. Then thirdly, They set aside offerings for the support of the ministry and for the support of Christians in need. And we could refer to a number of passages, but let me just quote one verse. In 1 Corinthians 16, verse 2, this is what they did. They were instructed, upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. So he's speaking and says there was a need in the church and that they would be gathering the things that the Lord had blessed them with for the support of the needy. So that when Paul would come, he would then take of them and distribute them to others, which he did. So there is this setting aside offerings for the support of the ministry. And that's why these things are announced again and again, and to encourage you and to remind you about these things. The fourth thing is this, the singing. They sang psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And we have a number of verses for that. And we have examples in the Word of God, of course, but The Apostle Paul instructs the churches, and this was supposed to be read in the congregations in Ephesians 5 and verse 19, for example, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. And so that's why we sing psalms. That's why we sing hymns and such things. They are spiritual songs. What does it mean? We're not singing secular songs. That's the intention there. They are spiritual unto the Lord. And so we don't want to just sing hymns and spiritual songs, we include psalms with them. So that's where I leave it. But again, Colossians 3 and verse 16 is another word. The word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. So they sang, they sang unto God. Another one is this. They exhorted one another. Exhorted one another. Part of the singing together, we are singing the same things. We are speaking as well to one another. That's what the scripture says. Teach and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. So that's what we are doing. There's something that is happening vertically, we would say, and there's something happening horizontally as well. That's why we need to see each other. We need to hear each other. You are not teaching or exhorting if your lips move but nothing comes out. So let us be singing to the Lord, exhorting and encouraging one another too. But they exhorted one another as well. Again, those words of Hebrews 10 verse 25, they're apt for this. It says, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but he says, but exhorting one another, exhorting one another. And so much the more as you see the day approaching. So friends, I've mentioned now some things about what takes place in the worship of God. And I've been giving you a summary of it. But I think it is helpful for us to think about that. But the order of service, what's the order of services like? And again, the Bible gives us a few very general instructions about the order of church services. As I said to you, everything is to be done decently and in order, as we have in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 40. All who are qualified and they are set aside to be speaking are the ones who are to take turn and to be preaching the Word of God. And we have scripture for this. In 1 Corinthians chapter 14 and verse 31, For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be confident. And these were people who had been assigned and who had the gift of preaching of the Word of God. And they are the ones who are set aside for that. It's not just, again, a free for all. It's an order in all of these things. And in some services there may be, and in some churches there are certain services that they're preaching more than one preacher that has been assigned to preach the Word of God. There are times that we go to certain conferences and we have one preacher after other to be preaching the Word of God. That is not a bad thing. We have instruction in the Word of God for these things. But they must be those who are recognized by the churches. But also there needs to be no confusion. There is to be no confusion. There must be peace that reigns. For God is not the author of confusion. The scripture says in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints. And that's why we must have an order that people can follow. Every time we had our services, it was all different. You would be all confused. You wouldn't know where we are going, where we are heading. God is a God of order and we need to worship Him in an orderly fashion. Something that people can recognize, something that people can know what will happen. We don't want things to be done haphazardly and surprising people and disturbing the worship of God. But to follow the pattern that is set in the scripture. Also, we could say, in reference to this, that yes, the scripture says women are restricted from speaking. Men who are assigned ought to be speaking. And in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 34 we read, This is to do with the preaching of the Word of God and the teaching of the Word of God having authority over men. There are other passages, of course, concerning this. I'm highlighting these things. I know I'm going very quickly through these things, but I'm just outlining these to help you to have a right understanding of why we do certain things. Now, nothing is to be done contrary to the apostolic instruction. We are not here to do what the pastor thinks is the right thing to do. You know, somebody wrote to me, thankfully not from here, but you need to be telling them what to do about this matter, which I thought, well, no, that's not right. That's not the right way to go about it. It's the word of God that directs us. It's not the free for all for the pastor to do what he likes to do. No. But this is your responsibility to be listening with the Word of God. We'll be touching that later on. But in 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 2, you have now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you. Not just your own things, but the things that I delivered under the inspiration to you. Or he says in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 37, if any man think himself to be a prophet or a spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. So he says this is the thing. What I'm writing are the commandments of God and so you have to abide by the word of God. Now let me move on now to further practical points. And I find this a challenge myself. So please bear with me and ask the Lord to help as I go through. Now I want to speak on how to conduct ourselves during preaching of the Word of God. How to conduct ourselves during the preaching of the Word of God. Now, here again, think on these things. We want these messages to be practical, and some things need to be spelled out at times. We get into a rut, and we sometimes do think pragmatically. Sometimes, also I'm speaking of myself, I don't have common sense. Someone needs to tell me about things, and I need to be guided and helped and instructed. So I hope we are all walking in the same way together, and I hope you appreciate My spirit in this. But how should we conduct ourselves during the preaching of the word of God? I think so much of the preaching can be lost. by us not really thinking about what we are doing. Why am I here today? And so one of the things I would say, as we think about the fact that we are in the presence of God, in the presence of God, we ought to first of all, I would just touch on these things, sit respectfully and alertly. Sit respectfully and alertly. So you think about how you are sat and how we can easily slouch on the chairs and fold our hands and wait, look at our time and see how long is it going to preach for? And when will it finish? And so on. Remember that you are in the presence of God. Is this how you would be in presence of important people of this world? Remember that also others are watching you and you are influencing them as well by your attitude. Your bodily posture speaks volumes. It affects the preacher as well. If a person, I remember somebody who used to regularly look at their watch, and I used to then look at the watch myself. How long have I been? And so on. Thankfully, we don't have these kinds of problems. But I'm saying these things for posterity as well, for future. Someone listening to these messages, I think it is helpful for us to be reminded. Think about how you're affecting others, how you're affecting the preacher as well. Young people, make sure you don't distract one another as well as others by talking, whispering, and being funny. Encourage each other to listen for your soul's good. It is nothing shameful for young people to hear the Word of God and to take it to heart. Encourage one another to listen carefully and to take notes from the preaching if that helps you to focus and helps you to remember. Don't have your phones with their sound on. Don't be playing and fiddling with these things. Focus on what is being preached, dear friends. Parents, help your children. those with very young children, train them, train them at home to listen to you and to sit for a while in your family worship times. And if the toddler plays up, and babies do that, babies are noisy, and we should be so thankful and so mindful of those parents who are doing their best, but we need some instruction too. Yes, at times you will need to go out just to explain what we are doing here. It's a point of training for the children too and then to bring them back in and don't give them toys and so on when they have been disobeying and so on. And for them to think, oh, they'll be rewarded if they make noise and if they play up. But you're saying to yourself, I'm not here, I'm not a childminder here. I'm a trainer of my children. I'm training them to have a high view of God and to sit together, to hear the word of God together. And so you might have to take them, you calm them, you teach them, you pray with them, lovingly disciplining them, and you bring them back in. And this kind of a thing needs to be repeated. But my friends, teach them while they're young and constantly, and you think about the level of noise as well. Because how distracting it could be to others around, not being able to hear, and the unconverted around us, and believers who are there to listen to the word of God. And let me say a word to fathers too. Fathers, take responsibility. Don't leave these things just to your wives as well. Help each other. And to set these tones and examples. It's a training session. for all of us. Don't follow what Eli did. You know what Eli did? He honored his sons more than God and God's word. We read these words in the scriptures. Wherefore, he says in 1 Samuel 2 and verse 29, the Lord says, wherefore, kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me. to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel, my people." And Eli ignored the fact that his sons were doing wrong. Or in chapter three of 1 Samuel verse 13 we read, for I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his sons made themselves vile. And then it says, and he restrained them not. So I'm saying that there is a certain sense of responsibility for all of us. And I know that there are some who would argue that wouldn't it be best, and if children make noise, wouldn't it be best then to leave the children at home and or to separate them. And my response would be that where do we get that from the word of God? The scriptures are sufficient for all things. Where do we get such instruction from the word of God? What we do have as examples are some of the following verses and commands. Let me just give you some examples. In Deuteronomy chapter 31, verses 12 and 13, we read these words. Gather the people together, men and women and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God. And observe to do all the words of this law. and that their children which have not known anything may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. Or you have these words in Joshua chapter 8 and verse 34 and 35. Joshua 8, 34. And afterwards, he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women and the little ones and the strangers that were conversant among them. So again, there are all kinds of people there, all kinds of ages. They're gathered hearing the word of God. And then in Ephesians chapter 6 and verses 1 through 3, let me read these words to you. And here it implies that those who were hearing, listening to this letter being read out in the church service, included children, because they are commanded in the Word, they are being instructed and there's a message for them from God. and as well as their parents. This is what we read in Ephesians 6. Children, obey your parents in the Lord. So you think this congregation were there and was it without children? No, there were children there and they were instructed. Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth. So So friends, be alert and respectful while the Word of God is being preached. It is part of the worship of God. Don't distract others. You think about that, the distraction that happens. And some of our ears are more tolerant than others. But you think about how you might tap on something, some sort of a habit that we form. And we might kick the front chair. I knew of a person who used to always kick my chair. And it used to be distracting. I'm saying these things just so that we might think on these things. And you think about it, this is not a picnic session or a drinking session and a time that that we would quench our thirst every five minutes? Can we not sit for five minutes and you think about all the other things that can happen? I am asking you these things. I'm putting these things forward to you. And you might say, well, this is pastor's views. But I am reasoning and I'm saying that you think on these things and you take it and see, is it right? Come, come in good time. to sort yourself out, to settle. And if you need to use the bathroom, do that. And remember again, all the way through, remember why are we doing these things? Why? Remember the reasons why we are saying these things. We are in the middle of the worship of the Most Holy God. before whom the angels cover their faces. He is worthy of our all. We must respect and honor and fear him. Of course, my friends, there are exceptional times and things that are necessary, and if a baby is involved, and if there is an individual which has medical or health problems and age issues, I fully understand all of these things, but I'm just mentioning to people how well and healthy And when things happen repeatedly, you think on these things. Listen well, and that's another thing, listen well. How do we listen well to the Word of God? Listen with respect toward God. Listen with respect toward God. The preacher is preaching God's Word. He is to speak as the oracles of God, it says in 1 Peter 4 verse 11. God's people need to listen to the preaching with the understanding and attitude that they are hearing from God Himself. What a privileged position! So listen with respect toward God. Listen with compassion toward the preacher. God uses all kinds of men, and not all are powerful, not all are eloquent, and they are weak sinners. And you think about that as well. Listen with compassion towards the preachers. me or anyone else who fills the pulpit. It appears that the apostle Paul, he wasn't so strong in his preaching. It says in 2 Corinthians 10 and verse 10, his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible, it says. Jonathan Edwards preached one of the most famous sermons that the Lord blessed in revivals in America, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. But Edwards was not a great speaker, a great preacher. In fact, he simply read his sermons with a lamp in one hand because he couldn't see, and his sermon notes were right in his face. So actually people couldn't see his face at all, and he was reading his sermon notes. And yet God blessed it. The preacher who was instrumental in the conversion of Charles Haddon Spurgeon was not a mighty preacher. Spurgeon described him as a very simple, uninteresting speaker. Yet how greatly God used him. Remember that God can use weak men. An example is Solomon. He had some serious issues, but God used him to write three important books of the Bible, including the book of Proverbs. which is the book of wisdom. Friends, our eyes must be upon God and not upon the preacher. We should be looking beyond the preacher. Listen to the preacher as you would want people to listen to you. Avoid a critical attitude. Remember, he is a sinner as well. Listen to prayerfully. Nothing significant is accomplished apart from prayer. And so the scripture says it again and again, continue, continuing instant in prayer in Romans 12, verse 12, or 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 17, pray without ceasing. Pray for yourself. Pray for the preacher. Pray for others who are in attendance. Pray for conversion of souls. Pray for the building up of the saints. Listen to attentively. Listen attentively. Listen as if Jesus Christ were speaking. The preacher is to preach as the oracles of God, as the mouthpiece of God. And the people should listen to him as the oracles of God. So if you listen carefully and seek something from the Lord, you can be edified even from a seemingly boring or long or complicated message. Listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ said in Luke 8 and verse 18. Take heed. Be careful, dear friends, he says. Therefore, how ye hear? How do you hear? Be careful about that. For whosoever hath to him shall be given, and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken, even that which he seemeth to have. In the book of Revelation, there are so many passages that says these words. He that hear hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And the Lord is saying, be attentive, don't be lazy. Lazy minds don't learn and grow. Don't let your mind wander to other things. And all of these things that I'm talking about, we all fall into these things. You begin to wander, you begin to think on a million things. Isn't it true when you begin to pray, your mind is full of all kinds of things, and so oftentimes I have to write down what I'm going to pray for. But it is the same. Don't do something else when you should be listening to the preaching. And you won't get anything from the preaching if you don't listen attentively. So don't blame the preacher for everything, but think about your own listening too. Listen with an open and submissive heart. God's calls and invitations and promises and challenges is extended throughout the message. So be listening to all of those things and take it to your heart. Listen as well with faith, with faith, believing those things that you are hearing from the Scriptures. In Hebrews chapter 4 and verses 1 and 2 it says, Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it, he says. But in verse 2 it says, For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them. Why was that? Not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. So as you listen, listen with faith, trusting in the Word of God. And don't be critical of the Word of God. Take it to your heart. The Word is ineffective unless it is mixed with faith. Some listen to preaching as a form of entertainment. It's an exciting thing. I always find it, when I go and hear somebody else, I find it exciting. What will the Lord have to say to me today? And so there is that sense of excitement that comes with it. But let us not just enjoy it for the sake of it, but let us believe it enough to change how I live and how we live. This was how at one point the Jews were listening to the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel had this experience of people really not listening to him. In Ezekiel chapter 33 and verses 31 and 32 we read, And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them. for with their mouth they show much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness and lo thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument for they hear thy words but they do them not so listen to this dear friends another thing is listen discerningly listen discerningly The Bible warns that there are days that will come that there will be false prophets that will come, false teachers that will come amongst us. And it warns that we must not put our trust in men. In Jeremiah 17 and verse 5 we read, Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. We must carefully test all preaching by the word of God. That's why we need Bibles to check these things out. In Acts chapter 17 and verse 11 we read, these were, these Bereans who listened to the Apostle Paul, these were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. So not just there when they heard it, As daily they were thinking about what was preached, they were checking it all out. And Paul says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 21, prove all things. You test it. Hold fast that which is good. And with all of these things we are saying, study, test, remember who you are before. who you are serving, who you are worshipping, who you are living for. It is the Lord, the Lord of glory. So dear friends, much of what has been said has been of practical nature and I know that it's not an easy thing to hear. And it is not an easy thing to preach, I assure you that. But we are living in a day that this kind of teaching needs to be given at some point. And I was wondering, in what situation can I give this kind of teaching? Sometimes it is not so easy to give people a pamphlet to read or something like that, but sometimes the Word of God needs to come to us in a context like this. And I want to encourage you. I want to exhort you. I want to lead you in this right way. And I want you to weigh all of these things up and ask with all honesty from the Word of God, are these things of the Lord or of the pastor? If it is of me, as I said to you, put it to one side. But if it is of the Lord, take it to heart and pray fully consider, may Christ that we Honor, be honored in our gatherings and He to be among us and go with us when we go out into this world. Every time that we leave this place, may we go with the savor of the Lord Jesus Christ, the joy of the Lord being our strength. May unconverted souls come in and see life and vitality and true vibrant Christianity and worship among us. For who? Not for the glory of the church, but for the glory of our holy God and Savior. Amen.