EVERY SUNDAY?
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  • "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them…" (Acts 20:7) 
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    HERE WE HAVE an example and pattern authority for the weekly observance of the Lord's supper. If it were left entirely up to the account of Jesus instituting the Lord's supper (Matthew 26:26-29), we would be at a loss as to knowing the frequency we should partake of this supper. However, Jesus promised the apostles that not only would the Holy Spirit bring all things to their remembrance (John 14:16), He would guide them into all unrevealed religious truth (John 16:13). Now in Acts 20:7 the church at Troas, operating under the very sight of an inspired apostle, came together on the first day of the week "to break bread." It is incidental that the apostle Paul was there and preached; the purpose of their coming together was to have the Lord's supper. Every week has a first day, and it is implied that this was their customary practice. Under the Old Testament the Jews were commanded to, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." They didn't ask, "Which sabbath (seventh) day?" Every week had a seventh day and they understood this to mean they should keep every sabbath unto God. The same is true as we read Acts 20:7 of the Lord's supper on the first day of the week. 
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    We are not left to this Scripture only for evidence of the practice of weekly communion; it is evident in I Corinthians. The church at Corinth was a problem church rent asunder by partyism, immorality, and the abuse of divine worship. It seems that had reduced the Lord's supper to a drunken feast. Notice: "When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry and another drunken" (I Cor. 11:20,21). The Amplified New Testament's application of verse 20 is a little plainer, "So when you gather for your meetings, it is not the supper instituted by the Lord that you eat." In other words, they were supposedly observing the Lord's supper, but had reduced it to a common meal and a drunken feast. What we wish to emphasize is that they were doing this "WHEN" they came together; in other words, every time they were regularly assembled. They were keeping the Lord's supper, although in a greatly degenerated fashion, every time that the church met. When was the regular meeting time? If we can establish this, we can know the frequency of the Lord's supper observance. I Corinthians 16:2 gives the answer: "upon the first day of the week." 
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    It is also of interest to note, and not without significance, that the Lord's supper was observed on the day the church was established, the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). On what day of the week was this Jewish holy day celebrated? Check Leviticus 23:15,16. Seven sabbaths followed the Passover, and the next day after the seventh sabbath was Pentecost (50th). Thus, it was celebrated on the first day of the week. The church had its beginning on this day, and the church first observed the Lord's supper on this day. Having reference to their worship on this day, the record reads, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). 
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    Furthermore, it is a fact from outside history that the early church observed the Lord's supper every Lord's day, and competent scholarship (even denominational scholarship) is agreed to this. The following, as examples, will illustrate the latter. These are comments made by denominational scholars (in their well-known commentaries) on Acts 20:7, explaining why the church at Troas came together on the first day of the week. 
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    ALBERT BARNES (Presbyterian): "Evidently to celebrate the Lord's supper…It is probable that the apostles and early Christians celebrated the Lord's supper every Lord's day." 
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    ADAM CLARKE (Methodist): "To break the Eucharist, as the Syriac has it: intimating by this that they were accustomed to receive the Holy Sacrament on each Lord's day." 
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    Kind Reader, in the light of this array of information, we are made to ask why modern churches are not having the Lord's supper every Lord's day. Yes, why not? Obviously this is a neglected Scriptural teaching which has been replaced by tradition. But, as we are seeking unreservedly to return to the divine patter to be simply the Lord's "New Testament" church, we will have this supper each Lord's day as the very center of our worship. (The church at Troas did). Faithful Christians will be there to remember the supreme sacrifice made for their salvation…to worship the Lord in the way He would have them to worship. Will you? 
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    ARE YOU A GODLY 
    OR AN UNGODLY PERSON?
    (From A Different Viewpoint)
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    IF GODLINESS is being like God, the industrious and working person is to that extent a godly person. The person who doesn't work, and has an aversion to it, is ungodly. God is presented in the Bible as Omnipotent Power and Energy at work, creating everything and bringing it into being, and now upholding it by the word of His Power. In reference to His work of creation, rest (or pause) came only after work had taken place. 
    God created man in His own image and likeness. Then "the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress and keep it" (Genesis 2:15), not to idly pass the time of day doing nothing. Man having to work is not part of the curse of sin; the curse involves the aggravating conditions surrounding work. The person who works is to that degree like God. Thus, he is godly. Pause or rest is in order only after work has taken place. And the purpose of rest, humanly speaking, is to be revitalized for more work.
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    Yes, work within itself is honorable. The work ethic is of God. Man was originally placed in the Garden of Eden, paradise on earth, and the name means pleasure garden. As stated, he was placed there to work and to take care of it. That was the source of his pleasure. There is much personal satisfaction and enjoyment to be found in employment. In this day of the deification of leisure and of non-productive slackers let us not forget this. In working we are being like the God who made us, godly. And while being like the God who made us, let us not forget the God who made us: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). Even that which is right becomes wrong when God is left out.
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    CAN LOVE BE COMMANDED?M
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    WE HEAR people say that love can’t be commanded. Is this true? Can love be commanded? The answer is yes. The answer is no. It is just according to what kind of love you are talking about.

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    In the New Testament we find two words for love, agapao and phileo (both verbs). Agapao becomes a noun in the well-known word, AGAPÉ. On the other hand, we find no noun for phileo love (interestingly, noun spin offs are seen in words translated "friend" and "kiss"). Agapao (AGAPÉ) love involves the intellect and the will; it involves esteem and purpose; it involves choice. However, phileo love is the love of natural inclination; it is instinctive; it is the love of emotion. It is spontaneous, involuntary; it just happens.

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    Therefore, agapeo love (involving the intellect and the will) can be commanded, and it is commanded (as in the great commandment, loving our enemies, and elsewhere throughout the New Testament). But phileo love, in its basic inherent meaning, is not commanded (except indirectly). It is more of a natural and spontaneous response; it just happens. We are to love (agapeo) our enemies, but it is hard to be emotional about it (phileo). We can have high esteem (agapeo) for them (in the sense of respecting God’s image in them and wishing them well) and not even (like) phileo them (it would be hard to be emotional about it).

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    Can love be commanded? Yes, and no. These are our conclusions from a word study. 
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    GUIDELINES ON HOW TO 
    DRESS MODESTLY 
    FROM A PRISON HANDBOOK
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     THERE ARE some religious people who are reluctant to take the Bible seriously when it speaks of modest apparel (I Timothy 2:8,9). And if you suggest that the Christian’s body be decently covered, they tend to look upon you as a prude. They disregard the fact that immodest dress is a contributing factor in producing immodest and improper thoughts (and actions). Jesus warned, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-30). Even in times more ancient, Job mused the same question, "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1). King David was less fortunate. The lust of the eyes led him into the overt act of adultery (II Samuel 11:2-4). His story is tragic history.
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     It seems at times some people of the world are wiser than the supposed children of light. The following comes from a handbook for visitors to the prison system of the state of Florida. Read it and realize the truthfulness of this article. God will hold you accountable if you are a stumbling block to others. This is a serious matter.
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     From the handbook:
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    WHAT TO WEAR WHEN YOU VISIT
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     It is not our purpose to pass judgment of any kind in limiting the kinds of clothing that may be allowed in the visitation area. These limits are designed to prevent harassment, discomfort and embarrassing incidents that may spoil your visit. Some examples of clothing that are not appropriate for the visitation area are:
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     1. Mini or micro skirts
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     2. Shorts or cutoffs
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     3. Halter tops and tank tops
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     4. Fishnet jerseys
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     5. Excessively tight fitting pants or jeans
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     6. Any clothing with suggestive slogans or illustrations
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     We also ask that men wear shirts at all times and that ladies wear bras or other suitable garments. If for comforts sake you find it necessary to travel to the center in clothing mentioned above as not appropriate, we invite you to bring a change of clothing and use the restroom in the waiting area to change before entering visitation.                           (32-2-94)
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    TheSwordANDStaff