Sunday, 10/23/16 am
“ONE ANOTHER” IN
SPIRITUAL MATTERS
We
have been addressing a number of “one another” passages.
These have dealt primarily with our relationship toward one
another as brethren – attitudes and actions that just need to have in
dealing with each other. In
our lesson today, I want to focus on several passages that describe our
interaction with God as it relates to each other as brethren.
These are passages dealing with our worship and private prayers
to God. So let’s get
started.
a.
This text comes at the
conclusion of a lengthy discourse on the proper way to partake of the
Lord’s Supper and how it was being abused (cf. 1 Cor. 11:17-34).
b.
The context shows that
the Lord’s supper is something to be done when we come together.
That is a lesson within itself.
c.
In this lesson, I want
to emphasize our need to assemble together.
Implied in our verse.
God has prescribed certain acts of worship we are to participate in
together. This necessitates
coming together. Also within
scripture we have certain limitations as to the time we participate in
certain activities - the
Lord’s Supper - Acts 20:7 – they came together to partake of the Lord’s
Supper
Giving – 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
d.
We also have the command
to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together - Hebrews 10:25.
AND when we do this, we are exhorting one another (as we have previously
studied).
a.
As we have frequently
noted, our acts of worship are designed to build us up.
Yes, we are reminded that our focus is in worshipping God, with
“reverence and godly fear.” We
worship God “In spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)
b.
But we come together to
do this and to build each other up.
c.
Much of our worship
involves gaining a better appreciation of God’s word -
We study together to learn what to do (2 Tim. 4:2, 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:6,
if you instruct the brethren in these things, 4:11 – these things
command and teach…; 1 Corinthians 14:15-19 – sing with the spirit and
understanding, emphasis on understanding – Paul would rather teach 5
words with understanding…)
d.
In our text we are
addressing singing – and in this we are to be “teaching and admonishing
one another.”
The word “teaching” is the typical word for instructing or imparting
knowledge. Used some 97
times in the New Testament in this form alone – 2 Thessalonians 2:15 –
hold the traditions which you were taught.
The word “admonishing”
means to warn and instruct, especially with a view toward avoiding or
ceasing from improper conduct. (see BDAG) – see 1 Corinthians 4:14, Paul
wrote to his “beloved children I warn you”; Colossians 1:28, “Him
we preach, warning every many and teaching every man in all wisdom…”
Both imply that our singing is to be instructive.
That is why we emphasize the truthfulness of the message of our
songs. We should not be
singing error anymore that we teach it from the pulpit.
But notice also as we teach one another it is “singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord” meaning that we are joyful.
Be reminded that we are COMMANDED to sing!
Which is more wrong? Adding to God’s command in instruments that
are unauthorized, or not participating in a command we are instructed to
do? NOTE: It is not about
the quality of our voices, but the “grace in your hearts”.
When we are all singing as we ought to, it WILL build us up!
e.
Ephesians 5:19 –
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
A parallel passage to Colossians 3:16. again it calls for us
TOGETHER to worship God in our singing.
This time we notice that speaking means we are audibly sounding
to one another. Again it
calls for participation.
a.
Prayer is the way that
God has prescribed for us to communicate to Him.
It is a privilege Christians enjoy and something that is dealt
with extensively in scripture, both in the Old and New testaments.
Its implementation in our lives is a “spiritual indicator.”
Without prayer, we will not be as strong as we ought to be.
That is why Paul said to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).
Our “armor” includes “praying always with all prayer and
supplication” (Eph. 6:18).
Jesus stressed how we ought to pray always and not loose heart in Luke
18:1. This was followed by a parable about persistence in prayer.
b.
When we pray, we not
only pray for ourselves (Phil. 4:6), but for others.
c.
As brethren we need to
be praying for one another.
This is continually emphasized in scripture – Romans 15:30, Ephesians
6:18-19 – supplications for all the saints, Hebrews 13:18 – “Pray for
us”, Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras, labored fervently for them in prayers,
etc.
d.
James 5:13-17 emphasizes
the importance of prayer and how we need to be praying for each other.
It is something that we all can do, no matter our circumstances
in life – our health, our wealth, our status, etc.
One of the things elders can, and are called upon to do, is pray for
those sick and suffering.
With ONE caveat:
We need to be in relationship with God so that our prayers can be
heard.
e.
Not limited to public
prayers. In fact, the
context is that we are praying for each other continually.
f.
There are many things we
can pray for concerning one another – sickness, safe travels, brethren
struggling with problems – both physical and spiritual, those laboring
for the Lord and their opportunities, pray for the body of Christ – that
we be united as God desires, for your elders, a brother with whom you
have a problem, etc.
g.
This is something that
if diligently and properly practiced WILL draw us closer to one another.
a.
In the same text where
we are to pray for one another, we are called upon to confess our
trespasses to one another.
b.
This is a difficult
command to fulfill for many reasons.
But it is something we are told to do.
c.
Confession means to
admit or acknowledge something.
d.
Confession of our sins
(trespasses – KJV, NKJV – different words in the different mss.), is a
part of receiving forgiveness.
It is a part of genuine repentance as one seeks to make right
that which he has wronged (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 – clearing of
yourselves).
i.
First, confession must
be directed toward God - 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins (in prayer
to God), He will forgive us our sins. Friends, most sins we commit are
of this nature and can be taken care of between us and God alone.
ii.
However, our text also
teaches that we as brethren need to confess to one another –
When there is sin involving a brother we need to confess it - Matthew
5:23-24 – to be able to approach God, you need to make things right with
one who has something against you.
Matthew 18:15-17, this is also part of the process when your
brother sins (against you) – you go to him so that it can be addressed.
NOTE: In these passages, there is confession to a brother, but not
necessarily a public confession.
It is taking care of your sin with those involved or who know
about it. This is a form of
confessing to one another – and perhaps what James actually has in mind.
iii.
A condition of our being
forgiven is our willingness to forgive one another – Matthew 6:14 – as
you forgive, you will be forgiven (this process involves confession).
iv.
Sometimes, a sin is
public knowledge and needs to be confessed that way – i.e. one who has
been withdrawn from to be restored needs to make it known to the
brethren he has repented.
One openly sinning – e.g. forsaking the assembly, sowing discord among
brethren, publicly known sins – should let his brethren know of his
sins.
v.
SOMETIMES, we are
struggling and want our brethren to pray with us and for us.
Thus we confess and ask them to help us.
This also could be the intent of our text.
vi.
One asks how public a
confession needs to be. We
do not have a direct answer to that in scripture – but in studying
scripture, we learn that confession of sins needs to be at least as
public as the sin. That is a
part of seeking to resolve it.
e.
What are we doing to
make this possible?
i.
Confessing sin is not an
easy thing to do. It takes
courage and humility to admit your faults to another.
But it has been proven to be a part of the process that leads to
healing – both spiritually and physically.
ii.
Confessing one’s sin is
the first step in acknowledging you have a problem.
Yet, many out of pride and shame (and perhaps consequences) will not do
this openly.
iii.
BUT, confession is often
avoided because of fear of the way they will be perceived.
Sometimes, we as brethren are not as forgiving as we ought to be.
Our demeanor shows that we are not really interested in truly
forgiving a brother (Which is in violation of another “one another”
passage – Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, cf.
Matthew 6:14-15, etc.).
iv.
Sometimes, we want to
exact harsh consequences or judgments that make it unbearable.
That is something Paul had to address in 2 Corinthians 2:1-11.
v.
Let us remember that
confession to one another is not about us exalting ourselves over our
“weaker” brethren, but about being a support system as one struggles
with sin and weaknesses.
vi.
We need to ACT in such a
way that brethren CAN with confidence know they can come to us with
their struggles. Do we.
Thus we can see, our concern for “one another” includes spiritual
matters. In reality, that is
at the foundation of our faith in God and our spiritual family.
The way we treat each other in all that we have discussed in this
series reflects this. Think
about it.
Two
more lessons and our “one another” study will be concluded.