Malachi 3:13-16; Romans 6:5; 8:17; 15:30; I Corinthians 1:10, 3:9, 12:24; Ephesians 2:5, 6, 21, 22; Philippians 1:27, 3:17; Colossians 2:2; I Thessalonians 4:17; 5:10, 11; II Thessalonians 2:1; Hebrews 10:25; I Peter 3:7; John 15:12, 17; [Romans 12:21]; Romans 12:20; Proverbs 25:22; Romans 12:10, 13:8, 15:7, 14, I Corinthians 16:20; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:2, 32; I Thessalonians 4:9, 18, 5:11; Hebrews 3:13, 10:24; I Peter 1:22, 5:14; I John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12, II John 1:5; Malachi 3:16, 17 The Old Testament scriptures contain many truths for our learning, to encourage us and to warn us how not to do something. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and contains truths regarding problems with the leaders who had lost the heart for God, specifically regarding the tithe. God had asked for tithes of the very best but instead they were giving tithes so sickly they would not have given them to pay their taxes. Yet there remained a remnant of God’s people who still feared and loved God. God recognized their pure hearts. Malachi is a stark, stinging reproof, but in the midst of it is God’s recognition of the remnant who loved Him and the truth that He was keeping track. Together In the church today, we understand that God has called out His people together, saved us together, given us heavenly citizenship together, tempered us together in the Body and builded us together as a dwelling place for Himself. Our God has appointed us to be like-minded in the Word of God together, to fellowship together in love and He will raise us up together, gathering us together with the return of His dear Son. God made us laborers together, not as “me and God” but “us and God.” How we go about doing this is by individually seeking the Lord’s will in our lives daily so God can tell us what we need to do. No person is disposable in the body of Christ. We all need each other. We all have eternal life together. We will be gathered together unto him. We are not to forsake assembling together, exhorting each other in the comfort of seeing the day when we will be gathered together. Love One Another In all our togetherness, loving one another is God’s way to live the more than abundant life. In this life we have love as a bond to hold us together. Love never fails and conquers all! It is the believers’ bond. Jesus Christ loved as God told him to love. He is our example and standard. God’s Word declares how much He loves us. His very nature is love and we receive His nature when we are born again. I John declares we are commanded to love. We are to consider one another and provoke unto love and good works. “Provoke” literally means to “tug on the heart-strings” in a good way. Let us, like believers of old time, speak often one to another of our great God and the truth of His Word. Let us live as the dear family of God by loving one another. We can love, stand together, and live with one-body mindedness.
#320
Living For Him Together -- September 7, 2003
©2003 / Faithful Word Ministries
69:58 minutes
"Living For Him Together" - Rev. Steven A. Michels