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Our authority to meet on Sundays…a brief history of

Our authority to meet on Sundays…a brief history of collection for the affected saints by famine to meet upon the first day of the week…

 

Jerusalem Congregation origination…had all things in common…even on the first day of the week…

Act 2:42-47 ASV  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.  43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  45  and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.  46  And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,  47  praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved… Act 4:32-35 ASV  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  33  And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  34  For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  35  and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as anyone had need…

 

Circumstances change and Christian became in need…

Act 11:27-30 ASV  Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.  28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.  29  And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judaea:  30  which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul…

 

…People decided to send relief to the elders in Jerusalem before the famine affected Christians…

1Co 16:1-2 ASV  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.  2  Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come…

…Paul speaking to the Christians in Rome…Rom 15:25-26 ASV  but now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints.  26  For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem…

…Paul speaking to the Christians in Corinth…And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:  4  and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me. 1Co 16:3-4 ASV…

…Paul with inspiration of the Holy Spirit instructed these Christians and the churches or congregations to remember the brethren in need taking up a collection…it was during a time of prophesied famine and they were preparing to ward of the hunger yet to come…perhaps already affecting Christians…

 

The Congregations meet on Sunday and had what we would call church…

Act 20:7 ASV  And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight…Paul preached…the took bread the Lord’s Supper…they were assembled upon the first day of the week on Sunday having church as we commonly call it or a worship assembly.

Paul in his travels and in his instructions assembled on the first day of the week taking bread…being Sunday…which is also the day the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead…we celebrate the Lord’s death burial and resurrection each Sunday…while partaking of the Lord’s Supper…

1Co 11:23-29 ASV  For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;  24  and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  25  In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.  26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come.  27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  28  But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.  29  For he that eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body…

We eat the unleavened bread in remembrance Jesus never let sin or this world into His life…He remained sinless and unleavened…purity…holy…perfect…having never broken one of the Ten Commandments…Having never lived His life for anything other than reconciliation with the lesser sinners in His life for all time…never not accomplished His mission and became the Author of Salvation…The Mediator of a new agreement between God and creation working reconciliation and forgiveness…destroying the works of satan…destroying the power of his lie…of his murderous intentions to murder God’s Truth…Jesus gave His entire life to remain pure and undefiled by this world and sin…May The Bread of Life feed us till we want no more…

 

We drink the fruit of the vine…in remembrance that God became born of a virgin…God became a man and died for me so that He could reconcile me to Himself…showing there is nothing God will not do to reconcile with You even die for you…after being scourged…as long as you surrender your ways to His ways in truth and righteousness…remembering the agony of the pain and real blood shed for my evil deeds…so I could choose to never do a wrong thing again and be forgiven through His substitute and sacrifice for my pardon…He will teach me the truth and all I have to do is what is right by God first then fellow creation…He says…Mat 5:6 ASV  Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 

Summary of why we meet on Sunday each week…

So since there are instructions to multiple congregations to meet on the first day of the week…and since Sunday is the first day of the week…then we today must follow the same pattern and instructions given by the Holy Spirit to multiple congregations…to meet upon the First Day of the Week…and since there is a Sunday each week we therefore must abide by the Same Instruction and assemble on Sunday each week…as they were instructed…

 

Eternal rewards for earthly deeds any man can do…

Jesus said… Mat 25:31-40 ASV  But when the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit on the throne of His glory:  32  and before Him shall be gathered all the nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;  33  and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  34  Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  35  for I was hungry, and ye gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in;  36  naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.  37  Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee hungry, and fed Thee? or athirst, and gave Thee drink?  38  And when saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee?  39  And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?  40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto Me.

 

Example of complete trust and dependence in God’s provision…beyond the ability of most…

Luk 21:1-4 ASV  And He looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.  2  And He saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.  3  And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:  4  for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.

 

Father forgive us…show us mercy…and in love correct us to do better than we have in the past…so we will not sin against You and offend You…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend




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