Matty Lawrence

April 24, 2019April 24, 2019

Speaking to the Air

Danby House

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
( 1 Corinthians 14:9 )

A brief review of the highlights of 1 Corinthians, once the hard part is over and things start to settle down.

9

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
( 1 Corinthians 9:7 )

I could have gotten by without working, but I didn’t.

10

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
( 1 Corinthians 10:31 )

The Bible is a warning to us if we pay attention.

11

Holy Communion

12

Many members, one body

13

Charity = selfless giving

ἀγάπην – love, benevolence, good will, esteem; plur: love-feasts.

14

Orderly worship

15

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
( 1 Corinthians 15:10 )
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
( 1 Corinthians 15:52 )

April 17, 2019June 28, 2020

Acts 5:24-32

Just read.

Acts 5:33-42

33

The threat of imminent death was very real. This is why the Angel of the Lord let them out of prison.

34

Gamaliel was well regarded as a scholar of the law.

Acts 22:1-5

Paul studied under Gamaliel. He uses the name to give himself authenticity when confronting the Jews in Jerusalem.

Gamaliel was clearly tender towards the Holy Spirit. He had not hardened his heart against the new Christianity and he was prepared to wait and see what would happen.

Gamaliel’s wisdom had apparently been instilled into Paul, and when he looked at the situation objectively he realized that …

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
( Acts 9:5 )

35

Gamaliel clearly has a Godly perspective on what Peter has been saying.

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
( Proverbs 1:23-25 )

36-37

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
( James 4:13-17 )

38

Proverbs 1:1-7

39

Fight against God?

40

41

42

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019

That Good Part

Danby House

Luke 10:38-42

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Can I really stop worrying about worldly things by wholeheartedly following the Lord?

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
( Matthew 6:33 )

Is this a license to abdicate all responsibility?

Perhaps it’s reminding us to be diligent in our responsibilities while not worrying?

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
( Proverbs 10:4 )

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
( Proverbs 12:24 )
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
( 2 Peter 3:14 )

Whether it is work or seeking the kingdom of God we have to put the effort in.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
( 2 Timothy 2:15 )

Let’s work at not worrying.

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
( Hebrews 4:11 )
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
( 2 Peter 1:10-11 )

April 10, 2019May 30, 2019

12

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
( Mark 16:20 )

13

None of the rest – No formalists or hypocrites, durst join themselves – In an outward show only, like Ananias and Sapphira.
Wesley

14

But so much the more were true believers added, because unbelievers kept at a distance.
Wesley

15

Try to imagine the scene and the reaction of the authorities. They must have realized that now things had gotten worse than when Jesus had been with them.

16

These are the signs which were given to confirm the authenticity of the apostles. This is not ongoing, and this power is not available today.

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
( 2 Timothy 4:20 )

Miraculous healing is possible but it is not a power that I can dispense. The power is within each of you.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
( mark 9:23 )

17

The word translated indignation can mean jealosy.

ζήλου – zelos to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be zealous or jealous

18

In Acts chapter 4 Peter and john were arrested, threatened and freed. Now things are escalating.

19

20

All the words of this life

Ζωῆς – zoe life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.

2222zōḗ – life (physical and spiritual). All life (2222/zōḗ), throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.

21

The apostles get out of prison and go directly to the temple to start teach and preaching. If you ever wondered if it is the Lord’s will for you to do something? Having an angel bust you out of prison is a strong indicator.

The priests and lawyers had no idea and assembled in the council chambers thinking that they were going to try, convict and sentence the apostles.

22

How embarassing… The apostles are missing

23

The prison was shut, but we couldn’t find the prisoners.

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019

My Holy Body Temple

Danby House

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.
( John 2:19-21 )

Jesus said something very interesting. He referred to his body as a temple. At the time no one understood what he was talking about.

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
( Mark 14:58 )

It was one of the accusations brought against him after his arrest.

Paul is the one who goes on to develop the idea that our bodies are Holy Temples. There 3 aspects to it.

1. The Temple of Our Works

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
( 1 Corinthians 3:16-18 )

The context of this passage is the warning Paul gives about being judged for the works we do as Christians. Is our work going to last like gold, silver and precious stones? Or is it going to be burned up like wood, hay and stubble?

2. The Temple of Our Purity

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
( 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 )

Our bodies have not been given to us so that we can enjoy carnal pleasure. In this passage we are told that are bodies are holy temples of God’s Spirit and they do not belong to us. We should not engage in fornication.

3. The Temple of Our Separation

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
( 2 Corinthians 6:16 )

Our temple is not supposed to be used to become part of the world around us. This is a well known passage about separation. We are to use our bodies to remain separate from the worldliness that we see around us.

April 7, 2019September 10, 2021

Independent Fundamental

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
(1 Corinthians 1:21) KJV

September 11, 2001 will live in infamy. Islamic extremists attacked the USA and destroyed the World Trade Center buildings, among other things. That was a Thursday. The following Sunday we decided to give church one last try and we walked into an Independent Fundamental Baptist church in Carrboro, North Carolina.

April 7, 2019August 18, 2020

My Salvation

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:9-10) KJV

In July 1997, all alone in an old farmhouse in the North Carolina countryside, we fell down on our knees and begged Jesus to save us, expecting a lightening bolt to blast through the ceiling and fry us on the spot. It was what we deserved. But it didn’t happen, and there we were, saved. You can be saved too.

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019

Here Am I

Open Door Baptist Church

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
( Romans 1:18-25 )

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
( 2 Timothy 1:8-9 )

n the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
( Isaiah 6:1-8 )

April 6, 2019March 14, 2021

Black Sky?

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
( Psalms 97:2 )

God covered the proof of his presence as part of the plan of redemption. God gave us free will so that believing in Him is a choice. If proof of God was in plain sight there is no free will.

Flat Earth is not Biblical

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
( Colossians 2:8 )

The Bible describes a spherical earth at the center of a spherical cosmos. The center of earth is an expanding hell. Flat earth is a Satanic deception.