The Ark of God - Taken and Returned

 

The Ark of God – Taken and Returned

What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? 1 Samuel 5:8

Hymn 105: Enter Into God’s Presence

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalm 61 –– Lead me to The  Rock …  

 

Bible Readings:

·       The Ark Taken to Battle: 1 Samuel 4:1-18

·       The Enemies’ gods Worship Jehovah: 1 Samuel 5:1-8; 6:1-3

·       The Ark Returned and Sanctified: 1 Samuel 7:1-6

·       God’s Blessings are Boundless: 1 Cor 5:17-21

·          A Peculiar People: Romans 9:1-5, 26-28

 

Summary of Readings

§   The Tabernacle was a place where God met with His People – a figure of His Spirit for us to dwell in as we travel through the “wilderness” of life in this world

§   The Ark of the Covenant signified God’s Presence, and He appeared as a Cloud in the daytime and a Pillar of Fire by night over the Tabernacle

§   Although God had emphasised the Holiness of the The Ark, and only certain of the Priests or carers were to touch it, the people thought that having God’s Presence close would help them in battle

§   We can imagine Eli’s deep concern when The Ark was taken from the Holy of Holies to the battlefield; when the news of its capture was heard Eli was mortified!

§   God continued to show His authority over other gods in such a way that even unbelievers were forced to believe

§   When The Ark was returned to its rightful place, and treated in the way commanded, the custodians were blessed

§   The evil in us causes us to reject God’s Presence in our lives, but He will receive us back if we personally turn our lives and follow His commandments

§   God is Holy and wants us to be wholly holy - in spirit and soul and body - as we await the outpouring of His Spirit in the Latter Days, and the return of Jesus Christ to this earth to establish the Kingdom promised to Israel.

 Hymn 100:  Nourished by Living Bread

Message

 Hymn 96:  Return to God’s Favour

Doxology

Dwelling In the Tabernacle

 

Upcoming Events:

A Personal Performance Review – Sydney Church, 1.30-4pm Sunday 13^th October 2024, a Seminar to review how we steward our lives in the world today

Musical Variety Concert – Singleton Church Hall – 7.30pm Saturday 19^th October 2024

Also - You might like to have a look at the new Sydney Web Page – www.cichurchsydney.org.au    - or the Sydney Church Facebook Page

Outline of Service 29 September 2024

   Dwelling In The Tabernacle   

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?… Psalm 15:1

 Singing with the Terrigal Singers

 Hymn 127: Praise the Lord

Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm 15:1-5 - Abiding in God’s Tabernacle

 

Extract from Sermon 4

 

Bible Readings:

·       The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies: Exodus 39:32-43, 40:34-38

·       Moving towards Holiness: Isaiah 58:1-11

·          New Heaven and a New Earth: Revelation 21:1-8

·       Stages in Growing Closer to God: 1 John 2:24 – 3:3

 Summary of Readings

§   The Tabernacle was constructed as a place where God could meet with His people; the levels of relationship were exampled in the graded way that the structure led from the Outer Court, through the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies 

§   God first draws our spirits to be able to believe in Him, then as we grow closer to Him we are able to dwell in His Spirit, and finally, after our physical body has been purified, His Spirit can enter into our bodies

§   Because of the evil in our physical bodies in our current condition, whilst we can approach God in spirit, we cannot approach God with our physical bodies or we would be destroyed by the greatness of His Glory

§   Whilst a part of holiness involves following God’s Laws and Commandments, our treatment of others and relationship with God is also an important part of it

§   The Tabernacle is a figure of The New Jerusalem which will come down from Heaven and if we are to dwell in It, we must seek to be holy – to present our whole being in spirit and soul and body - to be prepared for Jesus Christ’s return. 

 

Hymn 57:  New Heavens and Earth are Coming!

Message

 Hymn 20:  Listen for the Voice

 

Doxology

The Tabernacle - Duties for Everyone

 

CHRISTIAN ISRAELITE CHURCH

Web: www.cichurch.com  Contact: cichurch@cichurch.asn.au 1300 135 299

Outline of Service 22 September 2024

Maintaining The Tabernacle - Duties for Everyone

… everyone according to his service… Numbers 4:49

 

Hymn 102: Trust in God

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalm 27:1-7, 14 –– Sacrifices of joy …  

 

Bible Readings:

·       Duties in Running the Tabernacle: Numbers 3:1-10, 4:5-6, 15-20, 24-27, 31-33

·       Mandatory Qualification of Workers – Holiness: Lev 19:1-2; 20:7-8, 26

·       A Serious Occupation - No Second Chances: Leviticus 10:1-3, 16-20

·          An Holy Priesthood: 2 Peter :16, 2:4-12

·       Unity of the Church: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31:

·       A Personal Calling from God: Romans 14:1-4, 12-13

 

Summary of Readings

§   The Tabernacle was completed, and God gave extremely detailed instructions and division of responsibilities  for maintaining it

§   However, there was a great responsibility on those who served – a mandatory qualification being Holiness to the Lord 

§   The example of two of Aaron’s sons being destroyed by God for not obeying His instructions shows the level of holiness and obedience required

§   God’s Israel today will comprise people who seek to be Priests in His service in living a life following His laws and Commandments

§   The Tabernacle is a figure of God’s Spirit and if we wish to enter into His Spirit in these Latter Days we must also seek to be holy and present our whole being in spirit and soul and body to serve Him until Jesus Christ’s return. 

 

Hymn 91 – Tune 92:  A Holy God

Message

 

Hymn 47:  A Holy People

 

Doxology

Bible Heroes - DAVID

 

Outline of Service 25 August 2024

Bible Heroes - David

… therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. Psalm 27:6

 

Hymn 118 – Tune 117: God Is Our Refuge

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalm 27:1-9 – A Psalm of David – I will sing praises unto the Lord

 

Bible Readings:

·       Selected and Anointed: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

·       A Friend to All in Need: 1 Samuel 22:1-5

·          A Request Refused: 2 Samuel 7:1-21

·       David Speaks of Jesus Christ: Acts 2:22-36

·       A Testimony to David: Acts 13:21-23

 

Summary of Readings

§   David is considered a Bible Hero for many reasons including:

-        He showed a personal relationship with God, based on life experiences, which all would do well to follow

-        He established Israel as a United Kingdom under God, and laid the foundations for Jesus Christ to Reign over all the Earth

-        He always showed compassion towards others, and encouraged them to trust in God

§   God promised that there would always be someone to sit on the Throne of David – and Jesus Christ has now taken up this role

§   Whilst David believed God, his actions were not always in line with God’s ways, and God would not let him build the Temple 

§   Like David, we all have hope of the resurrection, but if we want our bodies to become Temples of God we must live a life of true Holiness and fully follow God’s commandments.

 

Hymn 24 – Tune 13:  Gathering Together

Message

 

Hymn 3:  The Appointed Time

 

Doxology

Bible Heroes - Dorcas

 

Web: www.cichurch.com  Contact: cichurch@cichurch.asn.au 1300 135 299

Outline of Service 28 July 2024

Bible Heroes - Dorcas

… thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18

 

Hymn 104: God Is Our Refuge

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalms 146:1-10 – Joy In The Lord

 

Bible Readings:

·       Always Think of Others: Leviticus 19:1-18

·       Love is the Fulfilling of the Law: Romans 13:8-14

·          Peter Raises Dorcas: Acts 9:36-43

·       Passing from Death to Life: John 5:19-30, 17:14-17

 Summary of Readings

§     The Old Testament exhorts us to be aware of other’s needs, and to do what we can to help them’

§     Dorcas helped others, and when she passed away people paid tribute to the love she had shown to them

§     God’s Spirit, through Peter, raised her back to life in response to the love she had shown to others

§     Jesus asked His Father to take the evil out of His disciples – they would die to earthly sinful pleasures, but be kept physically alive in the world

§  God has promised those who awake and show their love to Him, through truly obeying His Laws and Commandments, will receive new life and will pass from death to life without going through the grave, preserved wholly – in spirit and soul and body – their mortal bodies being made immortal on the Day of the Resurrection of the dead.

 

 

Hymn 125:  From Evil Make Them Ever Free

Message

 Hymn 90:  Following The Master

 

Doxology

Paul's Nephew

CHRISTIAN ISRAELITE CHURCH

Web: www.cichurch.com  Contact: cichurch@cichurch.asn.au 1300 135 299

Outline of Service 23 June 2024

            Paul’s Nephew                              

 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  Psalm 139:10

 

Hymn 106: Sing Praises Together

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalms 139:1-10, 23-4 – Confidence in God

 

Bible Readings:

·       A Mighty Hand:  Deuteronomy 5:12-15

·       God’s Hand Held Out:  Ezekiel 20:15-17, 23-24, 33-4, 41-2

·          Paul’s Nephew Delivers a Message:  Acts 23:1, 6-22

·          A Helping Hand:  Mark 9:14-27

 

Summary of Readings

§     God held out His hand, with an outstretched arm, to Israel to bring them out from Egypt (a figure of the evil), but because their hearts were not pure towards God, Satan turned them away from following Him

§     The disciples were confronted with a “difficult demon”, and needed Jesus Christ to exercise power over it; He rebuked it, and lifted the man up by the hand

§     Paul’s life was saved when his nephew reported a plot against Paul to the Chief Captain, who “took him by the hand” to listen to him, and intervened

§     If we ask, The Promised Comforter will take our hand today and respond to our call for power from God to overcome Satan’s forces

§     Let us seek to God to deliver us from both spiritual and physical death, and overcome the power of Satan determined against us, so that we may be preserved alive, wholly, in spirit and soul and body.

 

Hymn 125: Bid God’s Spirit Stay

Message

 

Hymn 117: God is in Control

 

Doxology