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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">January 25, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br></p>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>APR
18 - ACTS 15:1-35 - CHURCH PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>1.
15:1 (15:1-2) CIRCUMCISION: PROBLEM TO GENTILES. “And certain <i>men</i><span style="font-style:normal">
coming down from :Judea were teaching the brethren [that], Except you
be circumcised after the custom :of Moses, you cannot be saved”
(NNT). </span></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style>Isn't
this just like Satan: he holds over us old traditions, old wineskins,
that can </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style>never</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
hold the new wine of the Spirit and be preserved! We need </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style>renewed</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>,
</span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style>reconstituted</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
wineskins! Father, </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style>this</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
is what we need in both individuals and churches. </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name!</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">2. 15:4 (15:3-5) JERUSALEM:
PLACE OF SOLUTION FOR ANTIOCH. “And when they came to Jerusalem,
they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and
they rehearsed what </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
:God had done with them.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Only
at Jerusalem could the problems of Antioch with Gentiles be solved.
Each city church was sovereign, and justice had to be sought there
concerning their troublesome members. We accept Your wisdom here,
Father! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come!</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">3. 15:8-9 (15:6-12) PETER,
BARNABAS AND PAUL SPEAK ON THE PROBLEM. “And :God, who knows </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
heart, bore witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as to us; </span><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">9</span></font><span style="text-decoration:none">
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their
:hearts by :faith.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>If
God baptized Gentiles in the Spirit apart from circumcision, surely
</span></span><u><span style>He</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
is saying something here to which we should listen! You meet us where
we </span></span><u><span style>are</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>,
Father! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">4. 15:14-15a (15:13-21)
JAMES SUMMARIZES AND CONFIRMS SCRIPTURE. “Simon has rehearsed how
first :God visited the nations, to take out a people for his :name.
</span><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">15a</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
And to this agree the words of the prophets.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Hear
the wisdom of City Church Pastor James, half brother of our Lord: Old
Covenant Scriptures agree with the reasoning of Peter from the light
of experience. O forgive us Father, that we so often stubbornly cling
to old ways when You are moving on! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
15:28-29 (15:22-29) THE EPISTLE: FORMED BY HOLY SPIRIT AND LEADERS.
“For it seemed good to the Holy :Spirit, and to us, to lay upon
you no greater burden than these :necessary </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">:
</span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">29</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
to abstain from </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
sacrificed to idols and from blood, and from </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
strangled, and from fornication; from which if you keep yourselves,
you shall do well. Fare well.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>How
You protect us Father, by not laying upon us burdens we cannot bear!
</span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
15:30-31 (15:30-34) THE EPISTLE: ITS EFFECT. “They therefore
</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">when</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude,
delivered the epistle. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">31</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
And when they had read </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">it,
</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">they
rejoiced for the consolation.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>This
Jerusalem church conference was a great blessing for Gentile
believers. No wonder the saints of Antioch rejoiced! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
15:35 PAUL AND BARNABAS AT ANTIOCH. “But Paul and Barnabas
tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the gospel of the word of
the Lord, with many others also.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>We
bless You Father, that Silas was part of this also. What a victory
this renewed message was for the church! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<u><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOTE</font></b></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
15:11 (15:6-12) THE BASIS OF DELIVERANCE. “But we believe we
shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as
they.” </b></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>This</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
is the heart of the Good News of the Kingdom of God! It is by the
</span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>grace
of Jesus</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>,
not liturgy or works of the law whereby we are saved. It is </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>New
Covenant!</span></font></u></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Acts
13:1-3 and Acts 15 - are perhaps the two major NT passages that lay
out for us illustrations of the working of a City Eldership or
Presbytery in the Gates of Antioch and Jerusalem.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Boaz
called for an Eldership to meet in the City Gate of Bethlehem to
decide an inheritance problem that revolved around Ruth.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Timothy
in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 illustrates how a city Eldership sets
apart for ministry - by impartation through the laying on of hands
and prophecy.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>God
visited Northern Canada in 1948 to restore this latter practice among
11 others. It brought controversy among hearers - and even temporary
doubt upon those commissioned for this restoration process.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>In
Acts 13:1-3 the Holy Spirit led in a commissioning service for the
first missionary sending-forth - and in Acts 15 we see how God used
the Eldership in the City Gate of Jerusalem to solve one of the most
difficult and controversial problems that arose in the early church.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Because
of denomination separations, it is today very difficult to bring
together the key elders of local churches in a city for similar
purposes - as functioned in the early church.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Again
- we see Paul raising up 14 city churches and Elderships where others
had not labored. It is obviously easier to build a house from scratch
- rather than remodel a house. So it was easier in the beginning to
establish city churches in functioning unity - with operating
Elderships - than in our fragmented City Churches today, separated by
denomination and fellowship divisions. </span></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>But
can it be done today? Yes - but through a “Remnant” in the
beginning - not on a complete city basis. Perhaps even through
smaller churches in the home rather than through large and super
local churches. But - we can confidently expect to see such happen
before the return of our Lord. In Hezekiah's day, when he led Israel
to revival and restoration of God's original desire through Moses for
Israel - the priests were so far away from such a pattern, that
Levites had to do their work for them. But when the priests observed
that Hezekiah was truly following the leading of the Lord - then with
shame they sanctified themselves and took their place in the Temple.
A similar change of outlook could take place with pastors today, once
God starts to work with a remnant!</span></font></p>
<h1 class="western" style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Our
Psalm for the day: </span></font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">108:12-13
(108:1-13) WITH GOD WE SHALL DO VALIANTLY. “Oh grant us help
against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! </font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">13</font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">
With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our
foes” (ESV). </font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>From
our point of view, it sometimes seems that You have forsaken us,
Father. But no, You are only sifting and maturing us, that You might
reveal Yourself unto us in a </span></font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>deeper</span></u></font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
way! Then You can remove the scaffolding of our enemies! </span></span></font></font><font face="Nimbus Roman No9 L, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Hallowed
be your :name!</b></span></i></font></font></h1>
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