Wednesday Night Bible Study

Praise the Lord everyone. >> We greet you tonight in that wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That high and holy name, that name that is above every name. Praise the Lord. It's so good to see you in the house of the Lord tonight. I realize we're at that time of year. Everybody's getting their last little opportunity for a getaway for a summer break. But I'm glad to see you folks here tonight as we are here to study the word of the Lord together. You're going to get something tonight. It cannot be bought, bequipped, bartered, stolen, granted, or given. It may be shared but not conveyed. It cannot be transmitted or transferred. There is no one on earth regardless of wealth, power or political influence who can grant or purchase it. However, it can be shared. It cannot be attained by luck or lottery. It can be achieved only one way. Participating is the only way of gaining it. The most avid spectator will never savor it nectar, its nectar, but it's available and will eventually come to one and all. There are no prerequisites in getting it. There is no gender, social, religious or educational requirements for attaining it. While it cannot be bought, borrowed, given or taken away, neither can it be avoided. It cannot be bought by the wealthy, but it may be shared by all, rich or poor, like riding a bicycle or learning to swim. There are no correspondence courses in it. The it of which I speak is life's greatest teacher, experience. Only one way you can get it, and that is experience it. And no one that's not here tonight will be able to experience what you're experiencing on Wednesday night, August the 6, 2025. And I pray that you will get something tonight that will be a blessing to you. And I want to say a happy birthday to brother Eddie Bernard. He is today is his birthday. He is 80 years old today. Let's give him a great big hand. Brother Eddie and I have something in common. We are both just barely in our 80s. He's on one end of it and I'm on the other. The 26th day of this month, I'll be 89. And what a journey it is. And I'm not saying that complaining. I'm just saying that life is great knowing the Lord. It's been a wonderful joy having found the Lord when I was seven years old. Started preaching. Got the Holy Ghost when I was 11. And and that's been a lot of years ago. And my my what a joy it is. I have no hard look sad stories to tell. It's been a joyous journey. I have a subject on my heart tonight and um I pray that you will get something from this and we're going to be studying this subject and my scriptures found in the book of Luke the 14th chapter and we'll be reading verse 15 through 24. And my topic tonight is that my house may be full. Now, I'm not using that subject because of a good crowd or bad crowd. There's no bad crowd. All of them are good crowds whether they're large or not. But uh that my house may be filled. And starting in the book of Luke chapter 14 verse 15. And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, this is Jesus talking. He said unto them, him Jesus is giving a parable now. And he said, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, a certain man made a great supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, "Come, for all things are now ready." And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground and I must needs go and see it. I pray thee, have me excused. Now Jesus is giving this this parable some examples of folks who had excuses for not attending the supper that was prepared for them. And and of course this fella, the first one Jesus gives as a as an example. I bought a piece of ground and I must go and see it. Now, who's going to buy a piece of ground before you see it? Buy it and then go look at it. Well, that that don't make sense, does it? Um, I've I've invited people to church before and I've had them tell me a week away. I I I feel like I'm coming down with a cold and maybe we'd be standing right in the middle of Walmart, but they they can tell the cold's coming on a week ahead of time if it means keeping them out of church. And they all with one accord began to make excuse. The first said, "I bought a piece of ground. I must need to go and see it. I pray they have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yolk of oxen and I go to prove them. I pray they have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife. And I just can't come. I don't know what his excuse was other than he he he married a wife. So that servant came and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and the lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, and the halt, and the blind." And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou has commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said to the servant, "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be full. Go out and compel them." You've invited them. You've asked them to. Now then, compel them to come that my house may be filled. For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. And then here is another version is this one is not the King James version. So he sent another servant and bid others to come to his house and one said I have several good preachers on TV which I love to hear and I don't have to get dressed and even leave the house. I'd rather stay home and watch it on TV. Another servant went to another and was told, "I have internet and I can watch and listen online. What can be wrong with that?" Let's see just what's wrong with that. Psalms 133 starting at verse one said, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together." Everybody say, "Together." >> Together. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is from everybody to stay home and watch it on the internet. Didn't say that. It didn't say, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is to watch your favorite preacher on TV." But it says, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." There is something about gathering together with the family of God that is strengthening. You need it and I need it. We all need that togetherness. It said it is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even of Aaron's beard that went down to the skirts of his garments and the dew of Herman that as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing even life forever more. Oh, how precious it is when you get to understanding the joy of gathering together with the people of God. I was in a revival down in Portadale, Georgia several years ago and and one sister had really gotten a blessing out of the revival and she testified. She said, "I I praise the Lord for this revival." She said, "I feel like a little pond that's just been rained in." Well, I don't know how the little pond feels, but it looks mighty good and to her, it meant something that her soul had been refreshed. She had been blessed by the gathering together with the other saints of God. and and it is good and it is pleasant to dwell together. I love being together with the people of God. Hebrews chapter 10 starting at verse 23 says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promise." Let us hold fast. There's something about assembling together with God's people that gives you strength to hold on just a little bit longer. I am inspired by others experience and others testimony. Uh there there's times that um I need it. I need I need that word that somebody tells me they they went through this or they went through that or they've been blessed by this or been blessed by that. There's something very strengthening and a and a blessing to me. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. Now the responsibility and blessing that each one of us have that word provoke means to urge to encourage someone to do something. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. That's why we need each other. Now, uh it's not very encouraging if if you and I get together and I ride off and start telling you all the problems that we're facing. I'd like to tell you of all the answers to prayer. I'd like to tell you all the miracles that we've seen God do. We got to talking around here a few weeks ago about uh the the miracles that God God performed. We went back to the old uh church at 123 West Columbia and we tell about the the uh brother Robert Perry wanted wanted to he said he and I just the two of us working. He said let's build forms and for some concrete steps because you had to go down into the basement. And I I said brother Perry we don't have the money to buy the concrete. Well, he said, "Where's your faith?" And he challenged me and and I gathered up rusty nails, bent nails, straightened them out, gathered up scrap lumber, and he was a good carpenter. And he built the the forms for concrete to go in there. And I told brother Perry, now they can't even get in because the of the the steps forms you got. But way late in the afternoon, you've heard this a hundred times, but one more time is not going to hurt. But way late in the evening, a concrete truck come driving up North Central and we got to Colia Avenue. He turned left and went in there and and drove up to the Jenkins dry cleaners. I'll never forget the name. And they poured a a slab of concrete to put a printing a man's not a printing press but a clothing press. And they poured the the concrete out. And then when they got done they looked around and brother prayer went across said what are you looking for? Said we that they have ordered too much concrete. And now now you stop and think about this for just a minute. Um, I'm not a statistician, but there are folks that study these things about what are the odds that such and such and such is is is liable to happen. And I don't know what in the world they would come to if you had a statistician or the expert that figures those things out. What would be the chances of of us not knowing it, us not realizing it, us not? But that that concrete truck had enough concrete left over. And brother Perry led him across the alley there, Warren Avenue. And when he filled those steps up, it was right up to the very stop top. Wasn't a shovel full too much and wasn't enough left over. But you see that was God doing things when Pastor Mcool and I was s right out front here when they was pouring the foundation for this building and we got to look at it and we hadn't looked into it but we he and I got to talking are we going to be able to find brick that will match the brick in the old building and well we don't know and while we were sitting out there watching. A fell walked up with three or four brick in his hand and they looked like they were the dead ringer for the other and he said, "Would you all need some brick?" "Yes, sir." He said, "Well, we furnished the brick for the Blue Cross Blue Shield building in Chattanooga and we've got was it 50 uh 55,000 and the brick left over and if you want them, we paid two and a half or two and a quarter for them." and a piece. He said you can have them for 25 cents a piece. Well, now the these these great things that happened, they really did happen. That's not a madeup story. Uh and when we see what God has done, that in that encourages my faith and encourages your faith. Let us consider one another to provoke to provoke to love and good works. I'm encouraged to hear what God is doing today. What it did last week, what he did last year, what he did in the building of this building, and what he's going to do in revival of how God healed this one, how God raised this up and that. Listen, I I I am thrilled what with what God has done, not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together. Now, notice this. and not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together. Now, it's a forsaking thing. It's a sad thing when we fail together with the people of God. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. Well, this was a a a condition in the Bible times and it says as the manner of some is. There was something going on then that that people needed to be advised about, but exalting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching. Oh, listen folks. I want to be with folks that love to go to the house of God. I love to be inspired by people that that that are inspiring. And when you folks get in here and get to worshiping God and the music starts and you start gathering around this altar and the next thing I see little bitty children just right off start popping up and down and then next thing you know all around folks are dancing and and rejoicing in the Lord. Well, that does something for me that I couldn't get by watching television. I couldn't get by reading it in a book. I get it by seeing it with my own eyes. And and I can't keep my seat back there. I've got to get up there and get among them. I've got to be put Now, notice this next verse because this is a this is a pretty startling statement. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remainth no more sacrifice for sin. Now, what what is that scripture meaning? Is that scripture meaning that that by by forsaking the house of God, I'm committing a a a sin? Or does it mean by staying out of the house of God, I am being more subject to committing that sin? Either way, it's a very unhealthy situation. And I am encouraged. My strength is strengthened more by getting together with the saints of God. A many a time I've come to the house of God and and I really didn't feel all excited and feel good to preach, but I get in the house of God and the next thing you know they begin to sing and worship and and begin to shout and praise God and the next thing you know I forget about a tired body. I forget about a dizzy head. I I begin to think about the joy of the Lord. For the Bible said, "The joy of the Lord is our strength." I am strengthened by the joy of the Lord. Give a little hand clap. And as I was studying this subject, I noticed on on several occasions that it normally would not be u uh applied to this subject. But notice Acts 2:37-42. Now when they heard this, they were pricricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there was added unto them about 3,000 sold. And they notice this now. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship. I found this. I was studying this. I found so many occasions where the word fellowship was used and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship. One of the things that keeps us steadfast in the in the doctrine is fellowshipping with others that are of the same precious faith that we are as we continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers. Now you hang around doubters very long and you're going to get some doubt in you yourself. what you listen to, you are going to be influenced by it. Uh, faith cometh by hearing, but I might say also, doubt cometh by hearing also. Faith cometh, when you hear the faith preached, when you hear faith testified about, when you hear other folks tell about what God has done for them, it does something to your own soul and your spirit and your your attitude. But if you stay out of the house of God, if you stay with folks that are not spiritual, it's not going to be long that it's going to be dragging on you. But they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayer. That meant there was a communion between them. They were not taking bread for communion. It was just the saints of God enjoying being together, enjoying each other's company. Matthew 18, starting at verse 19. Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. Now notice that. Not And again I say if two of you it didn't say if any one of you said s was asked something if two of you now then if there's if there's advantage of two of you agreeing on earth touching anything what is it like when three of us or four of us or a house full of us the more of us this is why in my opinion that we see a lots more receive the Holy Ghost during camp meeting because everybody together is there in unity. Everybody is worshiping and everybody is inspiring somebody and the next thing you know one's getting the Holy Ghost over here and one's getting the Holy Ghost over here and one's getting the Holy Ghost over there and and it inspires the faith in our own hearts and and we lose our inhibition. Sometimes we're too worried about what somebody else thinks about. But when we see others obeying God and being blessed, it gives us courage to believe God and receive of the Lord. And it's the same thing about healing. You know, I say unto you that if two of you agree on earth as touching, anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Now, what what what is the meaning of that that scripture? Stop thinking about that for just a minute. I I love to look at these scriptures and and walk in like I'm examining a a new room and I like to look and see what is how it's made. Notice as you look around in this scripture, if two of you agree on earth as touching any one thing they shall ask, it shall be done of them of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. My my I want you to know there is great advantage of gathering together with one another in the house of God and worshiping the Lord together. Acts two starting at verse one. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord. They were all with one accord. They were all with one accord. and in one place. Notice on the day of Pentecost, there was 120 that gathered together in the upper room and they were all together and they were in one place. There is something important about God's people gathering together and being together and receiving strength and encouragement from one another. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. There was a large crowd there. There was 120. They were all sitting and there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it fill all the house where they were sitting. And notice what it says. The rushing mighty wind filled all the house where they were sitting. And the Bible said, "There appeared unto them clothed in tongues like as a fire, and it set upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with tongues, as the spirit of God gave afterwards." I'm telling you folks, there is great advantage of being together with the people of God. I thought about the scripture so many times. I've preached about it. Uh when Jonathan and his armor bearer, they were hiding in caves and and cracks in the rocks and because hiding from the the Philistines and and there was a garrison the Philistines and Jonathan said to his armor bearer said, "Let's discover ourselves to them." And it may be that God will work for us. And I've thought about that a lot of times. what God may not do for me, he may do for us. And he said it, let's discover ourselves. And said, if if if they say, "Come on up here, we we know that that's God telling us that he's going to help us and defend us." And when they stuck their head up out of the holes in the rock, they said, "Look that look at the Hebrews and said, "Come up and we'll show you a thing." and and Jonathan said, "There's America. That's our Q." And they went up and when they finished it, it was like a the Bible. I love the the the the scriptural uh description. It was like a half a acre of ground that had been plowed by a yoke of oxen. Sounds to me like there was quite a fight that went on and those two together defeated the garrison of the Philistines. Come, let us go up. It may be that God will work for us. I want to tell you something, folks. Come on, let's go together. It may be that God's going to work for us at First Apostolic Church. Come on, let's go and let's let's stay together and let's see what Let's see what God's going to do. It may be that God's going to work for us in a way that we've never seen before in our life. Oh, hallelujah. Well, excuse me. I I I get excited. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 starting at at verse 17. Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not that you come together not for the better but for the worse. Now uh that scripture got my attention in a different way. Of course I've read it many times through the years. Uh now in this I declare unto you I praise you not. He wasn't saying, "I'm not praising you because you come together." But he said, "I'm praising you. I'm I'm not praising you because you come together, but you're not coming for the right reasons." Being together can be a great advantage and it can be a great hazard if you're not coming together for the right reason. For first of all, when you come together in the church, now get the picture. This is this is what uh I I was impressed with. Now notice first of all when you come together in the church they were coming together in the church. I have scriptural proof scriptural corroboration that the church was the best place to get. I I believe in in uh cutting prayer meeting if you don't have a church house to go to. But if you have a church house to go to, you need to go to the church house. You need to go to the house of God and gather with the other saints of God. It's a very dangerous thing when folks find a reason to go to church in their living room when they've got a church to go to. Because one of the things you're doing, you're inviting devils into your home. and and I've seen this happen many strange and and disorderly things uh get to taking place when they don't have a spiritual leader and someone to guide them. So, but so when you come together, you're not coming for the right reasons. You need to be coming together for the good and not for the bad. He wasn't telling them not to come to the church, but he was telling them to come to the church, but come to the church for the right reasons. We're here not to gossip. We're not here to to trade uh uh recipes. We're not here to trade addresses. We may do that sometime, but that's not the purpose. The purpose we're coming to the house of God is what we're doing right now. Studying the word of God, hearing the word of God preached it, hearing someone tell about the goodness of God and watching the worship of God as our people begin to worship God and praise him. It gives us courage and strength to go one more day. All right. 1 Corinthians chapter 14 starting at verse 23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place. Now again I'm taking a negative thing and looking for and finding something positive about it. Number one, I find out from this scripture that they were coming together in one place, not in cottage prayer meeting, but they were coming together in one place. And then he said, if you do that and all speak with tongues and they're coming in those that are unlearned or unbelievers, they will will they not say that you're mad. Now uh the the good part of this scripture is that they were all coming together but there was a flaw in them coming together because they were speaking in tongues out of order. when you come together everybody. Now the old old time I remember years ago had to uh testimony meeting and somebody be testified over here and sometime two or three be testified at the same time and you couldn't understand what any of them were saying. Well, that's not orderly. The Bible said let everything be done decently and in order. So that they were they they were not being condemned for coming together, but he was teaching them how they were to worship God. Coming together. Say, that's a good reason to come to the house of God, isn't it? To be taught how to worship God. To be taught how to be there scripture said, "How thou mightest behave thyself in the house of God." It's a wonderful thing to be able to come to the to the house of God and be taught and and learn some things that's orderly and acceptable and things that are not orderly and not acceptable. If the unbeliever comes in, will then say you're mad if everybody's talking in tongues at the same time. Now then, missing out on seeing the greatest event in history. John chapter 20, starting uh at verse one. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark into the suppler, and seeth the stone taken away from the supplr. Then she run and cometh to Simon Peter, to the other disciples, whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the septic, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple that came to the supplr. So they ran both together. And the other disciples did outrun Peter and came first to the suppler. And he stooping down and looking in saw the linen clothes line. Yet went he not in. Now again we've got some people that are interacting with one another at the uh death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus. They were coming to the tomb and finding an empty tomb and this is causing quite a stir. Then cometh Simon Peter following him and went into the suppler and seeing the linen clothes lie and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself. Um the the the the thought that that burns in my heart and mind is the interaction of God's people as they're as they interact concerning some very important events in the Bible. And it's important that they be there and experience it. And it was vital enough that God saw fit to have it put in his book in the Bible that we would hear it and understand it and read it and profit thereby. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the separate and seeing the linen clothes live, and the napkin that was about his head, not not laying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the supplr, and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead to and then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the suppler weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the supplr and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. And they and they say unto her, why weepest thou? She said unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Oh, I I'm needing somebody to help me know how to handle this experience. She was weeping. She was heartbroken. She was looking at an empty tomb. And she needed somebody else that had the knowledge, the experience to explain something to her. And she said, "Because they've taken away my Lord, and I know not where they've laid him." And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus. Oh my. Just suppose she had found a dead Jesus laying there. Aren't you glad that she found an empty tomb, but she found a live Jesus, but she didn't know who he was? Jesus said unto her,"Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou laid him, and I'll take him away." Oh my. I if I could somehow verbalize and paint a word picture as to what we're really reading right now. Oh, what a thrilling thing it is. She thought he was the gardener. Said, "Sir, if you borne him hence, tell me where thou laid him, and I'll take him away." Jesus saith unto her, "Mary." She turned herself and said unto him, "Raboni," which is to say, "Master." Oh, hallelujah. Sometimes we see Jesus, but we don't know who he is. There's times that Jesus is working in our lives. He's doing things in our lives and we don't know it's him. He's there all the time. He's there. Remember this. He He said, "I'll never leave you." That means never. I'll never leave. Never. Now, if I'll He's going to be with you when you're sick. He's going to be with you when you need money to pay the bills. Here Peter was one time and he came to the Lord said, "Lord, we're in we're in bad trouble. It's time to pay our taxes and and I don't have the money. Jesus said, "Go jump in the No, that isn't what he said. He said, go cast a hook in the water and the first fish you catch, look in his mouth." So Peter ran. I don't know where he got the fish hook and the line, but he took a line and dropped it in the water and right off he got a fish. And when he pulled it out, he looked in his mouth and there was enough money in that fish's mouth. And Jesus said, "Go pay your taxes and mine. Let me tell you something. You better you better hub knob with Jesus. You better stay on good terms with Jesus. I'll never leave you." He said, "When you need money to pay your taxes, when you need something to help out with a problem that you're going, you remember he said, "I'll never leave you." You may not see him with the visible eye. You may not know, but he is there all the time. And you can say, "Thank God I can believe that he is here and is never going to leave me." Jesus saith unto her, "Mary." She turned herself and said unto him, "Reboni," which is to say, "Master." Jesus saith unto her, "Don't touch me. Touch me not, for I've not yet ascended to my father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascended unto my father, and your father, my God, and your God." Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that she had spoken these things unto her. Now, what are we what are we learning right now? We're seeing the interaction that Mary is having with the other disciples. Jesus said, "Go tell them you and I have the responsibility of the Bible said to to to encourage one another. We are to to do our very best to help someone else that needs to know about the Lord. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at Eden being the first day of the week when the doors were shut. Now watch this. Now this is quite an event. The same day at the evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews. Now we got another thought here comes where the disciples were assembled. We got them back together again. They they needed each other. They assembled together for fear of the Jews. The fear put them. They needed the strength. They needed the encouragement they were getting from one another. Then the same day and evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst of them and said unto them, "Peace be unto you." And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, "Peace be unto you, as my Father has sent me, even so send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosoever sins you remit, they remitted unto them, and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained. Now, we're getting somewhere now. Verse 24 says, "But Thomas, one of the 12 codamus was not with them." Now Jesus had just appeared through a wall. Jesus had said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." They had this great experience of seeing the risen Lord. But I wonder where Thomas was. The Bible said Thomas wasn't there. Thomas wasn't there. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We've seen the Lord." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Folks who don't regularly attend the house of God are prone to doubt what God is doing. Did you know some of the greatest things happen on a Wednesday night? Some of the greatest things happen when you're not there. I want to be there when God heals. I want to be there. I want when that one gets the Holy Ghost. I want to see it. But Thomas wasn't there. And when they told him Jesus has been there, he said, "I don't believe it. God help us not to be those that stay away from the household." I'm not just preaching this because it's Wednesday night. I fully understand that uh this time of year folks are working. I understand this time of year folks are vacationing and all that. Now Jesus one time told his disciples, "Come ye apart and rest a while, for they had no leisure, not even so much as time to eat." Jesus himself told them to come apart and and and and rest a while because they didn't have time even to eat. After eight days again his disciples were within eight days, Thomas was hanging around saying, "I don't believe you. What do you mean Jesus appeared through a wall? What do you mean you saw? I don't believe it. After eight days again his disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, "Peace be unto you." looking right at old. This is where Thomas got his title, doubting Thomas. Then said he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands. Reach hither my hand and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing." Let me tell you something. If you hang around with just yourself, you're going to develop a doubting attitude. If you're not there when things happen, you know this or that happened while I was out of church. Oh, I don't believe it. Unless I see it with my eyes, let me tell you the old song said, "I was there when it happened." And I guess I ought to know. I want you to know I was there that night in Pascola, Missouri, Little Trinity Pentecostal Church. When I went to that altar and Chuck Gray got down beside me and praying for me. And the next thing I heard somebody say, "He's got the stammering lips." When they said that, that put more faith in my heart. And the next thing I knew, my tongue was going like it was tied in the middle and loose on both ends. I was talking in a language I didn't know what I was saying. I couldn't help myself and I got loose out from under that altar and those bare feet of that sharecropper son's boy I was dancing didn't know how but I was dancing and the first thing I thought oh I wish my twin brother had this I wish he knew about this and I opened my eyes and and about five six feet away he was wishing I had it he had got the Holy Ghost the first time he had ever gone to the altar and he I'd been seeking the Holy Ghost for four years and then the first time he went to the altar he got the Holy Ghost. Let me tell you said there's something about faith. It creates faith. All right. Jesus said, "Be not faithless but believing." And Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my God." Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou seen me, thouast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet had believed. Would you just stand to your feet with us please? And many other sons truly Jesus truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in the book. Hey, do you get something out of that? Many other things truly did Jesus in the presence of the disciples which are not written in the book. Oh, I wish I could have been that. There's a lot of things they did that the book don't even tell about because he was with them. They saw it and they experienced it. Oh, I'd like to I'd like to see that. Well, let me tell you something. I'd like to see what's going on at First Apostolic Church on Sunday morning. I want to see what's going on on Sunday night. I want to see what's going on on Wednesday night. They It may not be written in the book, but Jesus was with them. But these are written, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name. Jesus, we do thank you for the precious word of God. Lord, I thank you for what I personally feel in my heart tonight concerning being together with the people of God, whether it's two or three or a house full. Lord, I thank you for that uh encouragement and the strength that I receive by getting to be with the saints of God and feel their uncction and their love and their anointing. Father, dismiss us from this place but not from your presence. bring us back at our next appointed time. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.