VERY BRIEFLY IN THE WORDS OF THE LATE REVEREND DR LEROY BULLOCK ON MY WAY TO MY SEAT
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOUR ATTENTION THE 5TH DIVISION OF PSALMS THE 133 # FOR YOUR READING I WILL LIFT UP VERSES 1-3
Psalm 133:1-3 (KJV)
1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD AND THE GUIDIANCE OF OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS
I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT
(UNITY IN THE CHURCH )
THE 133 # OF PSALMS IS A SHORT BEAUTIFUL GEM WITHIN TREASURY OF GOD`S ETERNAL WORD
IT WAS ONE OF SONGS THAT WERE SUNG EN ROUTE TO OR AT THE GREAT FESTIVALS IN JERUSALEM
BECAUSE THEY WOULD TRAVEL TO THE FEAST WITH COMMON PURPOSE
AND THAT WAS TO WORSHIP THE LORD AT JERUSALEM
AND AS WE EXAMINE THE TEXT BEFORE US
IT GIVES US SOME BIBICAL INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT UNITY IN THE CHURCH
WELL THE FRIST THING THE PSALMIST LETS US KNOW ABOUT IS
THE GOODNESS OF UNITY IN THE CHURCH
NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 1
HOW GOOD AND PLEASANT IT IS WHEN BRETHENS DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY
BECAUSE THE WORD GOOD MEANS
EXCELLENT --AGREEABLE AND BENEFICAL
IN OTHER WORDS IT`S SOMETHING THATS GOOD IN GOD SIGHT
AND GOD HAS PUT HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON IT
THE WORD PLEASANT IS A WORD THAT MEANS
BEAUTIFUL --SWEET AND LOVELY
AND ALL THE PSALMIST IS TELLING US IS
THAT NOT ONLY IS IT GOOD IN GOD SIGHT BUT IT`S GOOD FOR THE BLOOD BOUGHT SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD
EVEN WHEN YOU GO TO ACTS 2ND CHAPTER 42 - 47
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
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WELL NOT ONLY DOES THE PSALMIST TELLS ABOUT UNITY IN THE CHURCH
BUT HE ALS O REVEALS TO US WHERE THE UNITY IN THE CHURCH COMES FROM
HE LETS US KNOW THAT UNITY IN THE CHURCH IS LIKE OIL POURED ON AARON`S HEAD
NOTICE WHAT VERSE 2 SAYS
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
IN OTHER WORDS HE GIVE US A BIBLICAL IMAGE THAT GROWS AND EXPANDS IN MEANING
BECAUSE OIL WAS A VAUED COMMODITY IN ANCIENT ISRAEL
NOT FOR MAKING GAS OR FUEL LIKE WE DO IN THIS DAY AND TIME
BUT IT WAS USED FOR COOKING AS WELL MOISTURIZING AND REFRESHING
AND THE UNITY THAT COMES FROM GOD IS NOT JUST OIL
BUT IT`S A PRECIOUS OIL
AND THE WORD PRECIOUS IS THE SAME WORD AS GOOD IN VERSE 1
IT`S EXCELLENT ---AGREEABLE AS WELL BENEFICIAL
IN OTHER WORDS THE PSALMIST PAINTS US A PICTURE OF HOSPITALITY AND REFRESHING
BUT NOT ONLY IS THE OIL POURED ON THE HEAD
BUT IT`S ALSO RUNNING DOWN THE BEARD
WHICH LETS US KNOW THAT GOD IS GENEROUS --GRACIOUS AND NOT STINGY
AND THE WORD RUNNING DOWN APPEARS TWICE IN VERSE 2
THEN APPEARS A 3RD TIME IN VERSE 3 WHERE IT`S TRANSLATED FALLING
IN OTHER WORDS GOD BLESSINGS FLOWS DOWN ON US FROM HEAVEN
THAT`S WHY BISHOP PAUL MORTON TOOK A PEN AND PUT IT TO PAPER AND WROTE
OPEN THE FLOOD GATES OF HEAVEN AND LET IT RAIN
I THINK THE OLD CHURCH USED TO SING IT LIKE THIS
EVERYTIME I TURN AROUND HE KEEPS MAKING AWAY SOMEHOW OVER AND OVER AGAIN HE KEEPS ON BLESSING ME
BUT THE RECIPE FOR THIS PRECIOUS OIL POURED ON AARONS BEARD CAN BE FOUND IN EXODUS 30 : 22 - 33
IT WAS A SPECIFIC FORMULA WITH SPECIFIC INGREDIENTS THAT WAS USED FOR ANOINTING THE PRIEST AND SACARED OBJECTS IN THE TEMPLE
AND THAT TEACHES US THAT UNITY IN THE CHURCH IS SACARED
BECAUSE IT IS CENTERED AROUND CHRIST WHO IS OUR HIGH PRIEST AND THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
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WELL NOT ONLY DOES THE PSALMIST TELLS US ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF UNITY IN THE CHURCH
AND WHERE UNITY IN CHURCH COMES FROM
BUT HE ALSO REVEALS TO US THE BLESSING OF UNITY IN THE CHURCH
YOU SEE MOUNT HERMON WAS COOL AND REFRESHING
MT ZION HOT AND DRY
AND THE FACT HERMON AND ZION ARE UNITED BY THE DEW
WHICH IS SYMBOLIC OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
LETS US KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
AND SINCE DEW IS REFRESHING
UNITY IN THE CHURCH SHOULD BE REFRESHING
THAT WHY WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PLACE TONIGHT
WE ALL SHOULD LEAVE
ENERGIZED
ENCOURAGED
AND RENEWED
WE OUGHT TO LEAVE
CHARGED UP
REVVED UP
AND READY TO GO TELL A DYING WORLD
THAT JESUS IS STILL IN THE SAVING BUSSINESS
TELL THEM
CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE ATONING PRICE FOR THE CHURCH
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CHURCH
LOVE IS THE MOTIVE AND POWER OF THE CHURCH
WORSHIP IS THE PRIVILEGE OF THE CHURCH
EDIFICATION IS THE RULE OF THE CHURCH
AND UNITY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH
TELL THEM HOW HE DIED ON AND OLD RUGGED CROSS
PLACE IN A BORROWED TOMB
BUT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING GOT UP STEP OUT ON RESSURECTION GROUND AND DECLARED THAT ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH IN HIS HANDS
