Hello, my beloved brother and sisters! Today is another lovely day, and we are blessed to keep growing in our understanding of the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ, thanks to the guidance of Brother Eli Soriano. I want to seize this moment to express my thoughts and insights on todays teachings.
Our dear Brother in the Lord Opened up today's discussion by reading to us from:
Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We discovered that the original Greek translation of the word "consider" means to "observe." Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a directive to watch over each other. This means when we come together, we should pay attention and see if any of our fellow brothers or sisters require assistance. It's about keeping an eye on one another and offering help when needed.
Matthew 26:41 KJV
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Similarly, what this scripture signifies is that we should pay attention to our fellow brothers and sisters when we come together as a church. Our gatherings have a specific purpose – to have the chance to truly see one another and provide support to our fellow believers. Through the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can uplift and encourage one another, fostering a sense of unity and care among our members. Also, brother Eli Soriano made us to understand that as christians our maintenance is by exalting one another.
1 Corinthians 11:21-22 KJV
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. [22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
We read about how Apostle Paul encouraged those who had less and criticized those who were wealthy but not helping the less fortunate. In the church of God, there are brethren who are in need and we are given clear guidance to provide assistance to them. Coming together as a group of believers is crucial for all these acts of kindness and support to take place. Moreover, there's a profound sense of joy when we gather as John mentioned. In the assembly of our fellow believers, we find happiness and fulfillment through our shared faith and collective efforts to support one another.
2 John 1:12 KJV
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
Our ultimate joy, as the scriptures remind us, reaches its peak when we come together in fellowship. The primary goal of every service is to lift one another up. We've come to understand that the central focus should be on exalting each other through the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's about nurturing a spirit of encouragement and support among our fellow members, creating a bond that brings us all closer to God and each other.
Acts 20:7 KJV
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
The example of Paul preaching and teaching until midnight serves as a valuable lesson for us. It illustrates that a significant portion of our time when we gather with our fellow believers should be dedicated to exalting each other and studying the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, it emphasizes the importance of spending quality time together for the purpose of mutual encouragement and deepening our understanding of the principles and beliefs that guide our faith. This shared time is essential for our spiritual growth and the strengthening of our bonds as a community of believers.
Brother Eli Soriano shared a valuable insight with us today, highlighting that every time we gather, there are important activities that should take place. In today's teaching , we particularly focused on the significance of singing. We witnessed the remarkable power of music in our spiritual gatherings. Music has the ability to touch our hearts and souls deeply. It can bring us closer to our faith and create a sense of unity among us as we raise our voices in praise. This emphasizes the importance of the role of singing in our gatherings and how it can enhance our spiritual experiences.
Job 38:4-7 KJV
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. [5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? [6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; [7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
We saw from this scripture that the Angels who are the morning stars sang when the world was being created
Revelation 1:20 KJV
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Revelation 7:11 KJV
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 5:8-9 KJV
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. [9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Do you see how special singing is in the heavenly places? When Jesus Christ was born there was singing.
Luke 2:7-14 KJV
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
To whom do we sing:
We realized also that our singing is not an entertainment to ourselves but our singing must be unto God
Colossians 3:16 KJV
Let 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.
Hebrews 13:15 KJV
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
We also realized the power of God through singing, that deliverance happens whiles we sing unto gather. This is called songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7 KJV
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
1 Samuel 16:23 KJV
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
This is what singing and music can do.
1 Corinthians 14:27 KJV
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
Furthermore, we learned that during every gathering, there should be a moment when the preacher shares a revelation, and there might be occurrences of speaking in different languages (other tongues) followed by the interpretation of those tongues. These aspects play a significant role in our gatherings, enhancing our understanding and connection with our faith.
Lastly, we explored the scriptures and discovered that the belief held by some denominations, which suggests that those who worship on Sunday will receive the mark of the beast, is not accurate. The scriptures provided us with a different perspective, dispelling this misconception and providing us with a more comprehensive understanding of our worship practices.
Acts 2:46 KJV
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
The first church met everyday.
To wrap it up, Brother Eli Soriano conveyed an essential message to us. We should lift each other up, offer support to our fellow brethren in times of need, and when we sing, it should be a heartfelt expression of our devotion to God. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to reuniting with you tomorrow for Day 10. Stay safe, and may the peace of God be with you.
