Week of November 10, 2024
- WEEKLY MEETINGS AND SERVICE
Lord’s Day 12:20 p.m. Love feast and blending with Sarasota saints
Lord’s Day 1:30 p.m. Hall cleaning by saints with the last names of R – Z
Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Prayer meetings in person and on Zoom by area
Lord’s Day 10:00 a.m. Lord’s table and prophesying meeting
Lord’s Day 12:30 p.m. Hall cleaning by all the saints
- OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, CONFERENCES, AND TRAININGS
HWMR: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1), Week 7, $5.00 each Nov. 11 – 17
Read Life-Study of Matthew, Messages 25 & 26 Nov. 11 – 17
Read The Economy of God, Chapter 16, $14.00 each Nov. 11 – 17
Thanksgiving Blending Conference, Atlanta, GA Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
Florida Young People’s Conference, Lake Placid, $135 each due by Nov. 17 Dec. 13 – 15
December 2024 Semiannual Training, Anaheim Dec. 23-28
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“This constitution firstly reveals the nature of the kingdom people, as unfolded in the nine blessings in 5:3-12. Those items of the constitution that describe what the kingdom people should do and how they should act all correspond to the nature of the kingdom people. Whatever the kingdom people do is an expression of their nature. Their actions, behavior, speech, and outward deeds are the expression of their divine life and nature. What is within them is manifested in their outward behavior. The first section of the constitution, the section concerning the nature of the kingdom people, is therefore very basic. The second section covers the influence of the kingdom people upon the world, and the third deals with the law of the kingdom of the heavens. As we have seen, all the complemented and changed laws expose our anger and lust. Beginning in chapter six, the constitution of the heavenly kingdom proceeds to deal with the way the kingdom people perform their righteous deeds. This portion of the constitution digs out the self and the flesh. Following this, the next section tells us that the kingdom people should live on earth without any anxiety. We are not here for anxiety, but for the fulfillment of our duty under the care of our heavenly Father. He will feed us, clothe us, and supply all our needs. Nevertheless, we must fulfill our responsibility for the accomplishment of God’s purpose, yet without anxiety. In 7:1-12 the constitution reveals the attitude we should have toward others, how we should deal with them, and how we should take care of them.
The conclusion of the constitution of the heavenly kingdom ushers us through the narrow gate and to the constricted way; thus we may do the will of the heavenly Father and we may build a house…upon the rock, which is the wise word of the heavenly King. If we are not the people described in the nine blessings and if we are not those fulfilling the complemented and changed laws, we cannot enter through the narrow gate, walk on the constricted way, do the will of the heavenly Father, or build a house on the rock. Thus, this last section is the consummation of the constitution.
We all are happy to be in the Lord’s recovery and appreciate the recovery very much. But let me ask you this question: As one in the Lord’s recovery, are you walking on the constricted way? We all must be able to say that we are not taking the way of Christianity, but the way of constriction. We are constricted on every side. Those in Christianity can use rock music or other worldly methods in their services, but we cannot, because our way is constricted. All young people desire to be free, that is, to put off all restriction.
The basic concept of the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens is that the kingdom people should be righteously strict with themselves, mercifully kind toward others, and secretly pure toward God.” (Life-Study of Matthew, Message 24)