Find fault or find fulfillment — Murray McCandless

Mark's Gospel chapter 7 please, Mark's Gospel chapter 7, Mark chapter 7 and verse 2, Mark 7 and verse 2, and when they, now I should read verse 1 ready for the context for sake of young believers, then came together unto him the Pharisees and certain of the scribes which came from Jerusalem and when they saw some of the disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say with unwashing hands, unwashing hands, they found fault, they found fault.

Luke please. Chapter 22, Luke chapter 22 and verse number, verse number 9, verse 8 and he sent Peter and John saying go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat. And they said unto him where wilt thou that we prepare.

And he said unto them behold when ye are entered into the city there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the house where he enterth in as ye shall say unto the good man of the house the master saith unto thee where is the guest chamber where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples.

And he shall show you a large upper room furnished there. Make ready. Now notice what says in verse 13. And they went and found as he had said unto them and they made ready the Passover. Verse 24 just while we're there.

And there was also a strife among them. Which of them should be accounted the greatest for every question you have where there is a corresponding there except for verse number 24 there's no there for strife.

I may touch on that. Finally please turn over to the acts. The acts chapter 28 x 28 and verse number. Verse number 14 x 28. Verse 14 Luke is writing here. It's after the shipwreck. It's after the Viper and all the things that happened with the Apostle in the earlier part of the chapter it must have been quite a consolation because first 14 uses where we found brethren a sweet where we found brethren and were desired to tear with them seven days.

So we went toward Rome. And from this when the brethren heard of us they came to meet us as far as Epiphorum and the three taverns whom when Paul saw he thanked God and took courage. Want to notice with you three things.

And really I have to confess you have never put these together before. So if it comes a little disjointed you please please forgive me. Okay. Three things that they found. Three things they found. Generally speaking I think nobody disputes or argues the fact we find invariably what we're looking for.

I see a man and he is courting a young girl and get married. It's very obviously. He has found what he's looking for in her. It's obviously. And in life generally speaking we find what we are looking for.

Finding Fault in Mark 7

I want to notice three things that were found here. First of all what we have here in Mark chapter 7 is they found fault. That doesn't take a lot of energy or effort to find fault. When last did you find fault.

Is that all you ever find come in all fairness. God bless them. But there are some people and it doesn't matter what what we have in with the disciples of Luke chapter 22 they found fulfillment. You know what they found as he said unto them they found what they were looking for.

They had instructions from the Lord to find this upper room and they find the man burying the picture of water and they were to follow him and so on. We'll come back to that. But they found fulfillment.

Finding Fulfillment in the Gathered Assembly

Now listen let's get it straight. You as a genuine believer in Christ if you read your New Testament it isn't that you're gonna find fulfillment in the gospel hall. But you will find fulfillment among those that gather solely to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and take no denominational tag on them at all because they have the Word of God to support it.

I have been in the assembly fellowship for over 50 years and I'm not perfect. I really haven't found a perfect company. If they're perfect when I arrived they weren't perfect anymore. Okay I have never looked for anything else.

How come I haven't offers. A man said to me not too long ago. Did you not get offers. I said I've had offers I had. I don't think I tell us I wouldn't tell. Don't eat too much because there's people that know them.

But that the storm the rock church in Halifax called me up one time. There's a motel for you got a vehicle for you. This got that. Then we were wondering if you'd come down and would preach for a week for us in stone church likely three times the size of any of our gospel halls didn't go.

How come I didn't go. Well I couldn't find what I was supporting being so what I would be supporting supported by the Word of God. Here are disciples and they found fulfillment. We know what they found in Acts chapter 28.

I miss after a shipwreck after a viper coming out fasting on his hand and all the things going kind of against the Apostle Paul. You already found he found fellowship. Fellowships a wonderful thing. A friendship's fine.

But there's nothing like fellowship. No we have neighbors that I think brother Chuck was referring to that the other day. And I go. I'm good with my neighbors. Honestly I do for the most part. Okay. Sometimes you've had to have a little understanding.

But other than that we have. I had one neighbor he's a superintendent at the potash mine and surely was out the yard and we I'm just hooking up a trailer and their lab came over friendly little dog and I was patting the dog.

They were calling the dog back. She said to me. Did they think you were going to steal the dog. No I said. They were afraid. I was gonna ask him if you saved. I never do. I do not notice more why they're calling him back.

I'm gonna steal her dog. But they were calling him. But he wasn't bothering me. I was still hooking up my trailer. Now I with Kevin I find some friendship go across the street to mark. He works in the mine too.

There's other people. But that friendship only comes so far. You see we can only talk so far that it has to as soon as I turn to Kevin or to mark and say you're thinking about getting saved. There's a big quietness.

But you know when you meet fellow believers you know. And that's the hard part. I really commend those at a conference like this that go back and have to go out into the workplace per se where men are cursing and swearing and nobody gives this nobody gets that they want you to do this.

The one point you look at that kind of environment you know what I'm talking about. Isn't it something you just kind of wish this fellowship that you could enjoy right here we just kind of continue on.

Well that's what the Apostle found here in Acts chapter 28. He found brother. What a cheer. What a cheer it must have been. So just look at these with me this afternoon. First of all the finding fault says when they were when they saw some of the disciples eat bread with defiled that is to say unwashing hands.

They found fault. Really really were they that hard-pressed to find fault. Sometimes brethren and sisters we can find fault the plank even though I may not let it out I have to plead guilty raise my hand under the guilt charge.

Because sometimes as far as you're to find fault that it is to give a little praise. And it can be over the silliest thing just because they don't do it your way. And of course you know your ways the right way but to have that patience.

But at times I do not have and kind of bear with them and you want to find fault. Imagine here's the disciples and they didn't wash their hands. And it says that they found fault. See what made it so sad is as we read there mark chapter 7 when they found fault you know who they're really finding fault with the Lord the Lord it wasn't so much the disciples they found fault with him.

And that's why he cautioned them as he spoke to them about those that would be critical of them. And those that would cast them into prison. They cast you out. Really he says they have not rejected you.

They have rejected me. So as a believer the unbeliever here today please cheer up. Do not be surprised when at your very best they're gonna find fault. But you know what's the hardest to take. So what it comes from your fellow brethren you expect it from that world out there they will falsely accuse you.

They'll make up stories that aren't even true. That's one thing. The sadder thing is when it comes from this source when they saw that some of his disciples eat bread just some of them defiled that is to say unwashing hands they found fault.

I mean here was one who could walk upon the raging deep and they would find fault. Here's one who could feed them with nothing. One who would come on a sorrowing widow that had lost her only means of support in the Sun.

And they'll find fault. And and a man they would heal because it was the Sabbath day. They would find fault. Didn't care about the Sabbath day north. They're doing. Put it off another day. It's the same in the world today.

Put it off another day. There are times I wish I could recall those things. I think you know next time I'm going to speak to that man. There's no next time. No next time. I've even gone back to that place.

Whatever. And I've asked him quite a buzzer. Oh sorry you didn't hear. No no he died. Oh all it meant to them is he died. You know what it meant to me. I started to find fault with myself because I had an opportunity that I didn't realize that I didn't take up.

But they would find fault with the Savior for that you know they found fault over a trifle. Okay. A failure of a few of his disciples to wash hands. And they would find fault something that literally had transgressed their own law their own law.

It was a lot they had made. And you're very subconsciously we can make laws and put legal bindings on people that are not binding by the Word of God. And because they don't bow to that or accept that very quickly we'll find fault.

Let's just slow this up a bit. Let's just stop it. Let's just search our hearts. Maybe you didn't say it to anybody. When last did you find fault. Oh no this weekend you're sitting in the car waiting for her to come.

He thought what's taking her all day. What. You're going to help bring the kids out. You're ready to find fault. When y 'all you need his patience. It's a little bit like the man that was in the supermarket that he had.

The screaming kid could have been a grandchild cuz they're all angels of course. But he had a screaming kid in a cart and he's pushing like the kid along. Kids are screaming the man's leader. He says it's okay Albert.

It's okay. It's alright Albert calm down. Albert kept going like this you know and going along with the cart and there was a lady watching him. She said that man's doing well. That kid was uncontrollable.

He wouldn't in the cart. He'd been thrashing all over the floor and she kept saying. He kept saying calm down Albert. So she she walked up to the man. Counters go through the checkout. She says sir I admire your patience with baby Albert.

You did really well. Well he says pardon me madam. But I'm Albert. So sometimes you know the one we got to calm down is the one that we see when we look at the mirror. You know are we like that. No sure as I say this I'm gonna get caught and I'm afraid to say it but just encourage you if you haven't started maybe you can now.

I've been married a few years. I've got two in their 40s. I made mistakes in my life and made mistakes with my wife done things maybe I should have and I should have consult her on and I did. Okay. I'm sorry I did made some mistakes.

Was that one of the first ones was going to meet him just after we're married. We're driving old 40 conline van. Somebody's remember what they were like. Just a dust rust bucket swally wear making her way along.

I don't know what went on this morning. She was wearing a white skirt. I remember that and I remember in all my intelligence at 24 years of age or 23 I remember hitting the dash and said well listen for any sake or whatever it was.

I didn't raise my voice but the dust came all down on her white skirt. We're on a way to meeting and she's trying to get out. How is she gonna explain that that she rubbed it on the van getting out or she would tell the truth.

Well we're kind of got excited to hit the dash. And this is the result. I made mistakes. I can say. I think she would admit there's one thing I've never done. I hope I never have to do it. I should never have to do.

I've never raised my voice at my wife. I've done it now. I those who know her know she is a pretty easygoing individual. And the Christians here and out in Vancouver all over keep saying you know you know bring your wife.

You don't bring your wife. She's a very home person but her daughters have her terrified because they simply tell her mom the only reason these people want to see you is they want to see what kind of a woman actually lives with a man like that.

So you can understand. But she does. She's been to Iowa with me to a conference. He doesn't travel a lot. It isn't that she minds flying. She doesn't. But we all make mistakes. We can all find fault. Wouldn't be wonderful.

We made up our mind that we're gonna actually check this from this conference that we're gonna go from here now. Listen. There's times when you've got to speak plainly to somebody be honest with somebody.

Please don't go and speak to everybody else. Speak to them. But wouldn't be something. Wouldn't be just a revival in our hearts if we could go from the conference here in Waukesha with this determined.

So help me the Lord before it takes place whether I got a counter check it in my mind or before it gets on my lips. No finding fault. They found thought when you when you hate that as an epitaph on your headstone.

He found fault. She found fault. Hey listen. I mean I grew up on it. You gotta be careful. What I'm saying is. And these are recorded. But and there's a sister god bless her. But she could find fault with everybody and the whole assembly.

She only thought there two that should be breaking bread to that should be in the assembly at the time she wasn't in it. She was in and out of it a couple times but happened to be an uncle of mine that's likely the quietest McCandless I know.

And another lady by the name of Mabel Brooks and she was 98 pounds. She didn't say anything either. That's the only two she thought should be in the assembly. The rest route no matter what you do you could please her.

Okay. And sometimes we do have those they're hard to work around. But I believe in my own heart and I'm letting you speak to me as I'm very I'm quick enough to tell you that very quick to get back and fire something off.

Very quick at times to find fault. They found fault. You think of a governor like pilot. I think it was recorded of a man like him with all the mistakes he made and a fatal one. What does he say. I find no fault in this man.

Brother and sisters remember we are members of a body when I go from the Walker shot converts with just asking God to give us a little help and maybe being just a little less critical and a little slower at sizing situations up that we don't nothing about circumstances that we have never gone through things that happened.

Mr. Steers has been down in Blue River and I always remember a statement made right off of a conference platform and mr. Steers was a overseer in the Lansing Assembly in Toronto for a number of years.

He said you know I had all the answers for the oversight until I was asked to be part of it then I didn't have any answers. That's very true. Don't smite a shepherd with your tongue or the sheep will be scattered.

You be careful. Don't smite a shepherd. Smite the shepherd. I'm applying it and the sheep will be scattered. You smite a shepherd amongst God's people. You'll scatter the sheep found fault. Secondly let's go to those that found fulfillment.

Okay what found fulfillment. Let me just say before leaving finding fault you'll notice that it already has been referred to our brother Eric was reading to us this morning from John and relative the ointment.

And when you go down there to verse number five and six it you remember they say well why was not this soul for 300 pence and given to the poor. Not that they cared about the poor. What were they doing.

They were finding fault. That's all. It's just finding fault. This he said. Not that he cared for the poor that was Judas. But follow through in the Gospels that spreads that spreads and priesthood. All the disciples are saying it.

You start finding fault with some believer. Somebody. Don't jump on the band wagon with you. There's something in the flesh. Something in the flesh that finds. It's such an easy ally to find fault. But coming here to I'd like to speak of better findings.

Finding Fulfillment in the Word of God

Okay they found fulfillment. Now verse 13 we read these words. They went and found as he said unto them. I made all the difference. What were they looking for. What they were not looking for a place that suited their needs.

That necessarily although it did that they weren't looking for a company that everybody agreed with what they said. But you were there looking for what he had said unto them. Why I am gathered where I am gathered while you are gathered.

Where you are gathered must be because you have found it in the Word of God. They found it as he had said unto them. Remember what it says it in chapter one of John's Gospel Philip findeth Nathanael and saith unto him.

We have found him of whom Moses and the law and the prophets did. Right. It wasn't just a man. We thought this man looks like Jesus. No. He fit the pattern of the scriptures. He fit the description given in the Word of God.

There's only one description for a local church given in the Word of God. Matthew 18 and 20 where two or three are in heaven being gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them. Matthew chapter 18 and verse number 20 where two or three.

That's the principle. Go to 1st Corinthians chapter 5 when you're gathered together. That is the practice. Ok the principle in the practice these people had found as he had said unto them that settled that settled it.

You see to be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus taking on no other name. I mean you know as well as I do in the Bible there's only one name by which you could be saved with the name of the Lord Jesus acts 4 and 12.

Neither is there salvation in any other name. For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. There's one name in which you're saved. There's one name the authority of one name in which you are baptized.

Okay we are baptized in the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus baptized and accordance with the Word of God in that name. So if there's one way to be saved and if there's one way to be baptized then are there more than one way to gather.

No. No. Oh you say I thought you'd come to this to tell us that only the people here that meet in the Waukesha Gospel Hall are gathering the right way. I don't know Waukesha. I don't know who all gathers in this city or in Milwaukee.

I know a number of companies have come to know them recently. Only in recent years in Wisconsin and Iowa. And out these parts. I don't know them all. But I have found people I'd gather according to the pattern given us to us in the Word of God.

In other words they are spiritually gathered. Spiritually gathered. This is a spiritual company even though it is represented physically. It is a spiritual company are in heaven being gathered together.

Spiritual and Scriptural Gathering

The distinctiveness of assembly testimony. No place like it. I mean and I agree with our brethren that said somebody said about our our worship meeting this morning the breaking of bread. It was sweet.

My heaven must have to receive the bounty of praise and thanksgiving that went with nobody directing that but the Spirit of God. No one said okay brother you pray now. Okay you pray here. And then somebody stand up here.

So when I'm the pastor I got a few words then so-and-so is gonna give a song out. That didn't happen. That did not happen. If anybody walked in those back doors and saw that gathered company this morning they would not necessarily know who the full-time preachers were that are here.

They don't need to you know more than that. They wouldn't even know who the elders of this assembly are. They don't need to know that either. Mind you. If they had some questions they maybe would find out who the overseers are.

Because they would deal with those questions if they started to ask. Well wait a minute. I'm saved. I I kind of want to break bread. Well they would just very kindly. And they would kind. I know that I know these brethren here.

No brethren in the other assemblies to show them for the Word of God. You'd like to become part of this. Well then from 1st Corinthians chapter 14 you come and observe it first. That's only a fairness to you.

And see if like the man in 1st Corinthians chapter 14 you can report that God is among them of the truth. Because if he isn't you don't want to be here. You want to come with your Bible and say okay what I see here is this really fitting the pattern.

Are these people scripturally gathered. I mean we physically gather down in the dining room to have our meal. We're not necessarily spiritually gathered but the local church the local company right here in Waukesha that meet in this hall.

And by the way it is called a gospel hall because it's a hall where the gospel is preached. I'm sorry I part company with some that aren't satisfied with that name because usually when they want something different like assembly Christians or whatever there's other things they want in there a little different too.

I've been around a long enough to witness that right close to where I live. People that were saved in meetings we had. I'm not gonna go. There'd be a big sidetrack. I'm going off that that just didn't like the order of things.

In fact let me just say it a man that had gotten saved sorry he was saved already. His wife had gotten saved in the meeting the daughter was going to come from Toronto and he did not want the daughter to be interviewed to come into the fellowship of the assembly.

He said listen I can tell you what you need to know. What. And I was really trying to help the brethren in the assembly was very small in Sussex. Then I said he said I can tell you what you need to know.

I said well I said George. I said the brethren would like to talk to Janice herself if she is old enough and she was to be part of an assembly she she'd be able to meet with them. He said what did they want to know.

I said that all they want to know is what what the early disciples want to know about the Apostle Paul before that he joined them. Where you been. What's happened in your life. That's all she never ever came.

And it was hard it was hard. George is a good fella. He's an older man now I remember I was leaving to go to the sagas conference and the phone rang. He's Murray. We won't be coming back. I said I'm sorry to hear that.

He just hit your his hit your where it hurts. Because he was a help he left. And pretty soon there was a company and they called themselves assembly Christians. He found somebody else that was discontent and they gathered out there.

And they were the best of buds everything together. In two years they couldn't stand the sight of each other. And the one man George right now I don't know if he goes anywhere that said isn't that sad.

Let me used to worship God used to be in the assembly. But there's what made the difference. People they are spiritually gathered. But more than that they are scripturally gathered because they can go to the Word of God and support the way that they gather.

And if we can't and if we can't we shouldn't be doing it now. I do not meet with Christians that gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because it's I think it's a good place although it is. And because I think it's the best place and I believe it is.

But that's not why or it's the most convenient. I meet there for one reason. Are you with me. It's the only place. It's the only place I do not find anything else brethren and sisters is supported by the Word of God as a New Testament church as we have them given to us in the New Testament except what we have based on Matthew 18 and 20.

So we are spiritually gathered. We are scripturally gathered. We're sacrificially gathered. I like Psalm 50 in this gather my saints together with me and those that have made a covenant by sacrifice. We're all linked with the same sacrifice was the sacrifice of the Son of God himself at Calvary.

Everyone that's going to have it everyone that gathers to his name is linked with that sacrifice. They are sacrificially gathered. You see I would meet people and I'm not questioned so much whether they're saved or not.

Some among them would not be saved would even profess to be saved. They're all mixed in together. They're not sacrificially gathered. You see I have a man and I know him lives not too far from where I live.

And really and I want to say it plainly not critically. He's really he is a musician. He could play in an instrument that you put in his hand more than that. You came along. He said that's good to have you do you have anything you can play.

You see. Well I got a guitar. Oh bring it along. We got three more but we'll work it in. And you say well you know I'm on the accordion. Bring your accordion. So not really a minister. He's a magician musician.

I went to a funeral in the place where they gather and listen. There are some genuine believers there. I know them. I know a doctor in his life that go there that are saved people. I went to a funeral there.

And the man that was speaking at the funeral he was a man owned the store. The small town where we used to live was a saved man. But he could hardly wedge. And it was a massive platform. There was drums and there was everything on that platform.

There was a sound system second to none. I said to a young fellow that works with our boys that goes with his grandmother there. I said did they ever tell you there you had to be saved to go to heaven he said.

Then we don't have time mr. McCandless to talk about that. Really really she that's what the early churches did. That's what this church does here in Waukesha. And they're commencing a special series of gospel meetings to reach out if they it's not the first time they've done this.

They do it every Sunday night to reach out with the gospel because they find that in the Word of God. So they are spiritually gathered scripturally gathered. And they are sacrificially gathered. But you something else they're sacredly gathered.

Sacred Fellowship and Spiritual Satisfaction

Sacredly gathered. What do I mean by say sacred. Well there's something very sacred about what belongs to God. That's why there has to be among us reverence. That's why there is among amongst us a dignity that is associated with his presence.

And we seek to honor that we seek to uphold it by our dress by our department by our language because we're conscious of the fact that we are sacredly gathered. Now when they when the early disciples found that place you know it satisfies all their desires.

They didn't have to look any further. They're quite satisfied. And I can say not just because I preach the gospel and move amongst those that gather to the name of the Lord Jesus. I'm very happy. I haven't looked for anywhere else.

I really haven't. You say have you met. Had times when you've been discouraged. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe didn't last too long. But I can honestly say I have what I have found. I found it the Word of God that is satisfying.

And that's where you'll find it. Listen. Let's get it straight. If it came to a sales job I'm talking you into becoming part of this local church. I feel as capable as anybody is doing it. I can do it because I've been involved in sales.

So is mr. shut. But you know how long you would be there. Tell a better salesman came along then you're gone. We're not trying to sell you exactly. We're not trying to sell you on the idea of the assembly.

We're speaking to you the Word of God. It may be a tremendous encouragement for you those that seek to. I'm speaking to some here today. And you come from a very little company. Just before I left home I met with them in Madison Maine.

I think there were seven of us that broke bread and I included my wife Shirley and myself. Seven. There's something they were happy. Oh they'd love to have more. They'd love to see more. There was days when there was more.

Some have moved away whatever. But it satisfied their desires their souls were fed and so on. But very quickly coming to Acts chapter 28 after all that had taken place. You'd have to read chapter 27. I love it verse 14 where we found brethren and were desired to tarry with them seven days.

So we went toward Rome. Stay seven days. That's a net. That's how thoroughly was to find the company that he had. He decided this is where we could stay. But wait a minute. I like what the Apostle says in 2nd Timothy chapter 1 he says the Lord give mercy under the house of Onesiphorus.

For he oft refreshed me. I was not ashamed of my chain. That's when he was in prison. That's what he says. He says. But when he was in Rome he sought me out diligently. Doesn't say that says. He sought me out very diligently.

And found me and found me. Here's somebody traveling. Here's a man in prison. Here's a man that you may not necessarily want to be identified with. Paul says this man here. Hi. This is gold stock. This is blue chip stuff.

He just did not say. Well you know if I bump into him I'm gonna bump into a fellow in prison gonna die. Identify yourself with him. Yes. Why. Because he's one of ours. He's one of the brethren. And what a joy that must have been to the heart of the Apostle to have a man like that in his experience that sought about different diligently.

Sometimes you know I don't be too hard. I don't know where you go on your vacations or where you don't go. But sometimes I know believers that go away and they'd be my own relatives. And they need a good spank and be honest with you.

But anyhow they go on vacations you know they're hoping don't bump into any Christians. Yeah. Let's only are two weeks off. You are scored a meeting every night. Oh you poor soul. And then you wonder why something happens in the vacation.

The Sun never shines. You're promised it in that country. No wonder. Really kind of flying under the radar. And of all things you see one of the believers in the mall. You go. Oh no. Now I gotta go to meet Norman town.

Oh poor soul. That terrible must kill you. Not at all. That's that's not the spirit of this man. Oh God give us. But I'll tell you something brothers and sisters we got them or we wouldn't be here today.

We've got brethren that'll seek out diligently. Maybe not even well not even healthy and strong. Because and they will seek them out. Here's a man that found fellowship. Found fellowship with someone in prison with someone that had the whole of them.

Not everybody was identifying themselves with the Apostle at this time. Just as our brother Brandon was speaking yesterday. Not everybody wanted to be identified with David. I was risky business. It was risky business.

Hey it wasn't like today. Oh you're with him. Crap. You'll throw you into. There's always that risk. I says he sought me out. And I just enjoyed read that just recently very diligently. God help us all of us today as we move amongst God's people.

It's rewarding. Maybe some old saint that hasn't had a visit for whatever days. And you've sought them out diligently. And you've gone there just to see them. Yes. Yes. So what are we gonna find when we leave this conference.