The Bible Archive

William Burnett

In traveling among the assemblies of God?s people, one has noted
that there appears to be a growing loss of focus in many assembly worship meetings, with
many not being aware of just why they are there, and what is expected from them, so
perhaps it would be helpful to review what we find in Scripture regarding worship and
worshippers. Let us examine a few distinctives, that may help us to appreciate what
worship is, and what is expected from us when we come together to function as a Holy
Priesthood.

Samuel Ridout

The first four chapters of the first Gospel yield quite a complex view
of our Lord. In the first chapter, He is spoken of as the Son of David, the Messiah; also
as the Son of Abraham, the Seed in Whom all the nations of the world are to be blessed.
This term also suggests the family of faith. “They which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7). He is also the Son of the virgin,
suggesting the promised “Seed of the woman,” and declaring His miraculous birth,
His sinless nature, and the fact that He was not in Adam. He thus inherited no sin, nor
did death have any claim upon Him. This Son of the virgin is the One foretold by the
prophet as Immanuel, “God with us,” which declares His Godhead. The name
actually given to Him in fulfillment of this prophecy, is full of significance - Jesus,
“Jehovah the Savior.” Jehovah, the name of the covenant–God of Israel,
revealed in connection with the redemption out of Egypt, by its form seems to point
forward to the future — the letter yodh being a sign of the future. That name
therefore was the pledge that there should come the true covenant–Redeemer, who
should save His people from their sins.

George Cutting

THOSE who have much to do with the difficulties and exercises of the newly-converted, are constantly hearing some such expression as this: “I thought I was saved once, but I now begin to fear that after all I’ve only been deceiving myself. Not only do I feel no better in myself, but, if anything, even worse than before I professed to be converted.”

Now, in such cases, one generally finds that it is not so much their sins that trouble them, as the heart-sickening disappointment they feel, as more and more the truth is forced upon them, that their new birth has not only effected no improvement in their evil nature, but that that nature seems much worse than before their conversion. Then comes many a fruitless effort to improve it; but, alas! only to end in deeper wretchedness than ever. In such a state of soul Satan finds but too fitting an opportunity of hurling his terrible darts. He suggests that they are only miserable hypocrites, professing to be what they know they are not; that they had far better give up the whole thing, come out in their true colours, and own that they have never been converted at all!

Oh, what intense soul-agony do such assaults cause, when, as yet, true liberty is unknown! and only those who have really passed through such exercises can have any conception of their untold bitterness. It is with a desire to encourage and help such that this little book is sent forth.