A Church in Action IV

Thus far we have seen the church in action in the book of Acts as being an example for us in that it was:
1. A Place of strong Gospel preaching.( vs. 22-28)
2. A place of Holy Spirit Conviction (vs. 37)
3. A Place with Biblical Leadership (vs. 38)
4. A Place to build and strengthen Families (vs. 39)
5. A place of Godly living (vs. 40)
6. A Place or growth (vs. 41)
7. A Place of Proper Doctrine (vs. 42)
8. A Place for Christian Fellowship (vs. 42)
We continue our look at the Acts church by seeing
9. It is a place of Prayer (v. 42) One cannot read the accounts of the early church without seeing a consistent practice of continual prayer. The early church spent more time praying together in one week than most churches today do in a year or more. It was this prayer time that unified the people (1:14) (maybe we would have less division if there was more prayer). It was this prayer time that brought power (2:2) (maybe we would see the power of God moving in more services if we spent more time praying.) It was this prayer time that brought miracles (12:5). It was this prayer time that gave boldness (4:29) and many were saved. One person said it this way, "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power." We at one time had a mid-week prayer service, but now it is a Bible study. Every great revival was birthed in prayer. I believe it would do all of us good not only to pray, but to bow the knee. I understand it is not necessary to be on one's knees in order to pray, but bowing the knee shows submission and reverence that is lacking in most churches today. We do not understand what it is to take the time to get on our knees and pray continually in faith. Truly it still 'availeth much.'
9. A Place of Discipline (vs. 43) The text reads that 'fear came upon every soul." There is a lack of reverence and recognizing of God as authority in most 'believers' lives. When the church lost this fear, it was discipline (5:11) that brought it back upon the church. I recently preached a sermon on proper church discipline (http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?keyword=cozaddalebaptist&keyworddesc=&currsection=sermonssource&SourceOnly=true&keywordwithin=church+discipline) Sadly, many of todays 'IFBaptist' churches no longer practice discipline. Discipline is greatly frowned upon by too many pastors and most members. Recently, a former IFB pastor called me after practicing church discipline upon a member of our church (that he was involved with) and threatened me to stay out of his business and to cease 'your unBiblical view and practice of discipline. God will discipline, not you!' Sadly, this view is shared by many IFB. The church has been instructed to practice discipline. This should be done as led by the Lord, consistently, and properly. I will not re-preach my sermon, but encourage the inquisitive to listen to it. I do not believe it is the duty of the pastor to discipline, but the entire church-a process everyone is involved in. A proper obedience to these instructions would again establish fear in the church, leading to a holiness and power too few churches enjoy today.
10. A Place of miracles (vs. 43) Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. I do not believe in the Benny Hinn gifts of healing (if that were true, I wish he would visit Cincinnati Children's Hospital), tongues speaking, visions, etc...but I do believe in a God who can still work miracles. And, I believe our churches do not see such workings of God enough because of our lack of faith. Oh that we had faith that moved mountains.
11. A Place of Unity (vs. 44) The church in Acts was an example to us in that it was a place of great unity where they were together and had all things common. There was a true, sincere desire to love one another, provide for one another, and bear one another's burdens. The gossip, divisions, fightings, criticisms, etc were absent from the early church (probably due to the previous 10 attributes discussed.) A few months ago I was reading a Sports Illustrated magazine article where the author compared a dividing front office of a franchise like 'nothing he had seen since his days in the Baptist church.' How sad....how true? Our churches should be a place of unity!

A Church in Action III

Brief report from Mexico:
The Lord truly blessed while we were in Mexico. Our missionary, Bro. Steve Harris and his wife, were truly gracious hosts. The Lord's hand was evident throughout the trip. We saw, at best count, 65 professions of faith while in Mexico. This is from door to door visitation, church services, and Pastor Ismael witnessing to his lost family. There were 8 first time visitors at the church's first service, and four of them were saved Sunday. The Lord truly blessed and we give Him the honor and glory. Most of this could not have been done without the sacrifice and time spent with us by Pastor Perez from Hermosillo and his group of Bible Institute young people. Praise the Lord!

Time to get back in the saddle though, so let us review:
The church in action in Acts 2 is an example for us today. We see that that church was a place:
1. Where Proper Gospel Preached (vs. 22-28)
2. Conviction was evident (37).
3. Proper Leadership (38)
4. Families were strengthened (39)
5. A place of Godly living (40) We continue our study now to the sixth example this church gives us:
6. A Place of Growth (vs. 41) People were being saved and baptized and added to the church. I do not believe that a church has to be large in number or buildings to be blessed of God. I do not believe that there is a magic number where when attendance reaches, the church has made it. Matter of the fact, I have met few, if any, churches that hold to strong Baptist doctrine (Salvation, church, closed communion, alien baptism, etc) that are "mega" in size. A preacher once stated, "Just because something is growing, doesn't mean it is alive and doing well. I pass many swelling opossums on the side of the road, but they aren't alive, they're quite dead." Having said all that, I do believe a church should be a soul winning church and should be seeing people saved. Should be seeing people baptized. Should be seeing people discipled. Should be seeing new faces and babes in Christ within the church. The church should be a place of growth.
7. Proper Doctrine (vs. 42) We read that the church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine. As just stated, there are certain doctrines that a true New Testament church must hold to to be a true New Testament church. This will be a constant battle to stand as such, thus we read that they continued "steadfastly." A church must hold to the doctrine of Scriptures. That our Bible is the perfect, preserved, inspired, Word of God. That God is the Author of the Bible and the Holy Spirit moved holy men of God to give us God's Word. We believe that the only correct translation is the King James Version. We reject the modern paraphrased versions, common versions, and others that delete the pure meaning of redemption and the Deity of Christ. Our Bible is the final Authority for all faith and practice. A church must hold to the doctrine salvation. That salvation is by God's grace and that it is free to all through the Gospel. That the individual must accept by faith that salvation, and that by rejecting it, they are condemning themselves to a Devil's Hell. It is God's will that all should come to repentance and have the gift of eternal life. Repentance and faith are solemn and inseparable prerequisites for salvation; that they are inseparable graces wrought in the heart by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, and as the sinner is deeply convicted of his guild and helplessness he turns in repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving Him as personal Saviour and Lord and is immediately born again! This salvation is eternal and cannot be lost!The church must hold to the doctrine of the church. That the church is a local, visible assembly of called out believers into a public place of worship. That service to our Lord is done through the church. The idea of a universal or invisible church is a false teaching and contrary to Scriptures. That our Lord began the church with His disciples and His Authority to fulfill the Great Commission is given to that church. Only that church has authority to baptize. The local church should observe the Lord's Supper (closed). That the church is not governed by an ecclesiastical hierarchy, and that the will of the local church is final. The church should hold to the doctrine of the second coming. That our Lord will rapture the saints before a tribulation period. That there will then be seven years of tribulation upon this earth. During that time, all saints raptured or having prior died will stand before God and experience what is called the Marriage supper of the Lamb. Here the churches (those that held to proper doctrine) will make up the Bride of Christ. The angels, O.T. saints, and saints of the present age who did not hold to New Testament doctrine will be guests at the marriage supper. Following these seven years, the Lord will return with His saints to rule and reign for 1,000 years on this earth. Satan will then be loosed and then a final judgement. We then shall forever enjoy a new Heaven and a New Earth for all of eternity.Time does not allow me to also write of other doctrines the church should uphold: virgin birth, creation, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Devil, Hell, Fall of man, giving, missions, separation, etc A church should uphold these doctrine to be a true New Testament church. A church should teach these doctrines faithfully, discipiling their members in a knowledge of God. It is a lack of knowledge of the Law of God that is destroying our churches today (Hos. 4:6). A church should be a place that upholds proper doctrine! (Scripture for above doctrines: John 3:15-16, 1 Pt. 1:5, John 1:12, Acts 3:19, Eph. 3:21, Acts 2:47, 1 Tim. 3:15, Acts 8:1, Matt. 3:13-17, 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-34, Rom. 6:34-35, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-55, John 20:27, Jude 14-15, Titus 2:13).
8. A church should be a place of Fellowship (vs. 42) The church should be a place where brothers and sisters in Christ can exhort, rebuke, strengthen, and encourage one another. A place where you enjoy your company. A place where the brethren can break bread (eat) with one another. Pray for one another. Sing with one another. Laugh with one another. A place of wonderful loving fellowship. For this is indeed what eternity will be, what a shame to avoid it now!?

Gone To Mexico

Please pray for myself and 13 others from our church that are gone to Mexico this week to aid our Missionary Harris. Please pray for Providence, Protection, Provision, Position, Promotion, Promise, and Praise to our God. We left Monday morning at 4:30 a.m. and should return next Monday (11/9) late. We truly covet your prayers as we are gone. What a privilege to go to the field!

A Church in Action II

We continue our study on the church. We have seen that our Lord began the church with His disciples. We have studied some promises our Lord made to the church, and we left off examining in Acts 2, a New Testament church in action. A model, in many ways, for our churches today. We read how that the church should be
1. A Place where the Gospel is Preached (vs. 22-36)
2. A Place of Holy Ghost Conviction (vs. 37)
3. A Place with proper leadership (vs. 37-38)
At this point we began to look at proper leadership, a place I believe many of our churches lack in today. We saw our Lord's qualifications for a pastor, and left off with qualification number 16 from 1 Timothy 3

16. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (vs. 4) Realizing the principles and severity of our Lord's qualifications, we must take this one serious. Thus far, we have covered 15 qualifications in 3 verses. This one qualification itself takes two verses to administer. God takes this serious. I know there are arguments from all sides, but isn't it sad that we can just take the previous 15 qualifications without discussion or argument, but this one cause so much division? I realize that my children are young and I have already been 'warned' that I may eat my words, but I like to think I can stand on God's promises. Here are the facts about this qualification:
a. Need to rule our own house well. We ought to be able to be a Biblical father, husband, laborer, steward, financier, home repair man...take care of the house and home.
b. Have our children in subjection with all gravity. A pastor's children should be in subjection (obedience) with all gravity (the word gravity is defined as 1) the characteristic of a thing or person which entitles to reverence and respect, dignity, majesty, sanctity
2) honour, purity)
A pastor's child, while not perfect, should be one that has learned obedience and subjection to our Lord and His Word and is saved, reverent, respectful to the things of God. Lives a life of honour and purity to our Lord Jesus Christ. Titus 1:6 states it this way, "having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." This indeed is a great responsibility. People will cry, "That's a high standard!" Shouldn't a pastor hold just that? The reality, I believe, is taught in the very next verse (vs. 5). If we as pastors cannot take care of our home, can not raise our own children whom we live with every day to serve God...how can we take care of the church and train others to do so? Then comes the arguments:
"Children have a free will!"Yes, and so does everyone in our churches. That is God's point. If we can't influence our own children who we live with to do right, how can we expect to influence others?
Eli "restrained not" his sons.I guess the argument is, if he would have tried to restrain them that God would not have removed Eli? Really? Is that the best we can do? The word restrain there means "to grow weak or to grow faint." Had Eli done his job as a father, he would have broken their sinful will. He would have weakened their rebellious spirit. In other words, Eli was removed because He didn't train them right. And, can we really use a Temple priest as a model for a New Testament pastor? Can we use the Temple as a model for a New Testament church? While I am sure there are principles, they are completely different entities."God was a Father to Adam and Eve and they didn't do right!" Really? The excuse we will use is justifying our self by a 'failure of God?' Doesn't it just seem wrong? For those who love justifying that, then lets be technical: Adam and Eve were grown adults and not children. Theirs was not a matter of a life of disobedience, but rather an act of it. No child, even a pastor's child will be perfect, it is the act of subjection and obedience and reverence to the Word of God that is expected. It is sad we even have to 'defend God' so that pastor's can justify their wrong. I just think that an honest examination of this passage in 1 Timothy reveals that pastors should be above reproach and an example in all areas to the church. Greater and wiser men than I will argue many points, and I believe we all should just stop and read the verse and follow it.
17. Not a Novice (vs.6) A pastor should be one who has matured in the things of God and not a babe in Christ. The danger, as our Lord puts it here, is that a novice will be lifted up with pride thinking himself to be something, and it is then the Devil has his way.
18. Must have a good report of them which are without. (vs. 7) The pastor should have a good testimony with the lost. Not that he is going to be loved and never offensive, but that he is known for being honest, have character, and a good man. The Word of God, which he should preach, is offensive and is sure to make the world upset at times, but the person is one that has lived a life demanding respect for the Lord.
Titus 1 gives us a few more qualifications which we will quickly list:
19. Steward of God.
20. Not self willed (vs. 7)
21. Not soon angry (vs. 7)
22. Holding fast the Word as he hath been taught...sound doctrine...convincing the gainsayers. (vs. 9) When a pastor leaves sound doctrine, he disqualifies himself from being a pastor. Every pastor should be able to use the Word of God effectively. Our Churches suffer from a lack of proper leadership!

The church in Acts 2 was also:
4. A Place for Families to be strengthened. (vs. 39) A church should be a harbor for the home. A place where each can be taught their Biblical role, exercise their Biblical duties, and build their faith. The Word taught in our churches should be promises and principles that are true for dad and mom, brother and sister, grandchildren, and generations to come. It is sad how many of our young people are lost to the world right from a church pew. It was not so with this church.
5. A place of Godly living (vs. 40) The world then and now was indeed an 'untoward' generation. The word there means 'crooked, perverse.' The church ought to be a place that saves people from that kind of life. Holiness seems today to be viewed as what is keeping folks from church; in Acts 2 it was seen as the reason to come to church. We've come along way?.....

A Church In Action

Thus far, we have seen what a church is not, where the church started, and some Biblical facts about the church. We will now direct our attention to an early New Testament Baptist church in action as found in Acts chapter 2. Here, the early church was being blessed and we see what was truly important to the church then, that should be important to a church today.
1.There was Preaching of the Gospel (vs. 22-36) Here Peter was preaching the Truth. Here Peter was not preaching wishy-washy sermons. He was not worried about not offending any lost person with the Truth, nor offending another brother. He preached the Truth as it is to sinners as they are. He says in verse 23, "Ye have taken..." Christ was crucified because of our sins. "Ye have crucified him (vs. 36)". He preached the death, burial, resurrection, and glory of Jesus Christ. He preached the Gospel. If we desire to be a true Biblical church, we need more preaching of the Gospel-the Truth. It may be offensive to a lost person, but it is what this once lost person needed to be saved, and it is what they need too.
2. There was Holy Ghost Conviction (vs. 37)The preaching of the Truth brought conviction. I remember days when my grandfather would preach when the conviction of the Holy Spirit was seen and experienced by all. When people were white knuckled as they held on to the pew. When people cried out in despair as they saw their sinful state. When preaching of the cross and its agonies brought shame and reproach. Hot tears would flow down cheeks. People had to go to an altar to get right with God. People dare not leave with their sin still active in their life. When was the last time we saw that conviction steadily displayed in our churches. Getting God's people to give a testimony seems like pulling teeth at times. Churches have not had people at the altar for weeks and months. People can hear the Word of God concerning their sin and leave unmoved. A church in action with God's hand moving will be a place of conviction.
3. It had proper leadership (vs. 37-38)Peter and the rest of the apostles were the ones the people looked to for counsel and wisdom. A church with God's hand upon it will have Biblical leadership. It is blasphemous to God at the amount of 'disqualified' men in the pastorate today. The Books of Timothy and Titus give us distinct qualifications that should be met if one is to pastor. Please let me preface that I know that there is no such thing as a perfect man, but God does not require a pastor to be perfect, but He does require the following things from a man to be a pastor: (1 Tim. 3)

1. Be a Man (1)A woman cannot be a pastor.
2. A God given desire to pastor (1)A desire not given by a parent, friend, or relative, but by God
3. Blameless (2) Again, not that he is perfect, but that he is not continual in a sin, unrepentant. That he not have ruined his testimony. I believe adultery permanently disqualifies a man, for that wound and reproach is not wiped away (Prov. 6:32-34).
4. The husband of one wife (2) Again, not a woman (for how can a woman be a husband?). A pastor cannot have been divorced. These qualifications may seem extreme, but it is because the role and office of a pastor is of great importance to the Lord's church. The testimony must be one that is above reproach. Because the husband and wife are one flesh, and due to the fact that it is the testimony that is to be protected, I also believe that the wife of a pastor should not have been divorced. One may argue that I am adding to Scripture, but taken in context with the purpose of the qualifications, I believe one can see the importance of testimony.
5. Vigilant (2) On guard against sin
6. Sober (2) Control of ones flesh
7. Of Good Behavior (2) Behaving Good
8. Given to hospitality (2) Accepting people into their homes, their lives, and their hearts.
9. Apt to teach (2) A God given ability and desire to teach the Truth
10. Not given to wine (3) Abstain from alcohol
11. No striker (3) Not a Quarrelsome person, looking to hurt others
12. Not greedy of filthy lucre (3) The pastor should not be pastoring for money. Consumed with making money and building earthly treasures, for he will be a most miserable person.
13. But patient (3) Fair gentle gracious
14. Not a brawler (3) Thinking himself to be a tough guy, invincible
15. Not covetous (3) Of others possessions, churches, abilities
16. One that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity (4)........to be continued, and this is a big one!!!!!

An object of God's Love

Ephesians 5:25 reads, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;". So what is a church? As stated in our last post, when one looks up a church in a dictionary, phonebook, or google search, one will find thousands of different answers to that question. We have already seen in Scripture that there is one faith and one baptism. So if there is only one faith and one baptism, then will the true one church please rise?
We can eliminate a vast majority because they do not stand for nor believe in the doctrines found in the Word of God. Jesus said in John 8:47, "He that is of God heareth Go's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." Those churches that are true churches are those that read, hear, and obey the Word of God. I have head many people say statements like, "Well, I don't agree with my church in this area, but..." If that church is wrong in accordance to God's Word, then it is not a church; or if you are wrong and the church is right, you need to get right.
In order to understand what is a true church, we then need to study and see when the church began. There are many philosophies as to when the church began, but we will look at it afresh in the Word of God.
As stated in our last post, Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church..." The Lord Jesus began the church Himself with His disciples. Thus, true churches, must have descended from that first church. The church has a Divine Founder, whose name is Jesus. That is why, as suggested in our letter to Adam Metzger and the Kingsway Fellowship, the church is not ours for "redesigning." Our Lord designed it nearly 2,000 years ago, and it is still perfect today!
The church was not founded upon a man, a pope, or a prophet; but our Lord, Jesus Christ.
When starting this church, Jesus gathered the disciples of a man, John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a man who preached the Gospel of repentance and faith, baptized his converts by immersion, and taught them that the Lord would soon appear. (Mark 1:1-8, John 1:29-37, John 3:25-30).
It is this "Baptist" preaching and "Baptist" baptism that set the standard from that time on. Sadly today, not every church with "Baptist" on the outside is true to New Testament doctrine. The Word of God is being pushed aside for flesh-friendly doctrine. Those churches have lost their first love, and as a result have had their candlestick removed.
A true, New Testament, church, the object of God's love, is therefore a descendant of that church which He began. Our Lord's church was therefore a Baptist church, the church at Jerusalem was therefore a Baptist church. Matter of the fact, there were not other kinds of churches. The Catholic church was begun years later. Baptist are not Protestant. The protestant movement began as a result of Catholic heresy and abuse. Men like Martin Luther, while seeing some of the errors of Catholicism, did not begin nor found true churches. They merely founded "less corrupt" churches. Nonetheless, they were still not churches, and taught a false salvation. Baptist should never make a hero out of men like Martin Luther. If we had lived in his time, we would have been persecuted, if not put to death, by Catholics AND MARTIN LUTHER. Thus Catholic churches, protestant churches, and all men originated churches are not true churches. There is ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM!
I am not saying that all those in churches other than Baptist are not going to Heaven, as long as they have been saved by grace through faith. Just as I am not also saying that every person in a Baptist church is going to Heaven, they too must be saved by grace through faith.
We live in a politically correct world where it is frowned upon to every offend anyone. It is not this author's desire to offend anyone, but to point towards the truth.
The true church is an object of God's love, and while going to church will not get you to Heaven, it is our Lord's desire that we serve Him "lawfully," that is, it does matter what you believe and what church you attend. Many will stand before God and will not receive the rewards that they could have, because they did not serve Him through the local church, the true church, a New Testament Baptist Church.
2 Tim. 2:5 reads, "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully."

What is a Church?

Opening a dictionary, you will read that a church is "a building for public Christian worship; the part of the whole Christian body." Is that what a church is? While growing up, I was taught by many men I respect and also in college that a church is a "a local, visible called out assembly of baptized believers." Is that a church? Can you use that definition and practice open/close communion? The catholics believe that a church is "all who, from the beginning of the world, have believed in the one true God, and have been made His children." (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03744a.htm) Now one can believe that definition and practice open/close communion. The very word 'catholic' means universal, in reference to its belief in a universal church. Then we open a phone book and look under "church." Here in our tiny Goshen, Ohio phone book, I find "Bridge Community Church, The Oasis Church, Knox Presbyterian, Whitewater Christian Church, Goshen Assembly of God, Abundant Life Fellowship, Grace Ministries, Adam Tracey, KingsWay, Adath Israel Congregation, All Saints Catholic, Agape Church, Cozaddale Baptist Temple..." Are they all churches? How can things so different be the same? Doesn't Eph. 4:5 read that their is

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

So, they all can't be churches right? So that begs us to answer, which one is a church? Are the others frauds, organizations, clubs, or worse?
The very first time we read the word church in our Bibles is in Matthew 16:16-19,

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We see here a few lessons about the church:
1. The church is built by Christ. This is one of the most important works He is presently doing.
2. The church is built upon Christ. Not on Peter (see 1 Cor. 3:11, 10:4, Eph. 2:20), but upon the fact that Jesus is the Son of the living God.
3. The church did not exist until Christ came. The Lord started the church when He "called out" his disciples (Matt. 10:1-5) and commissioned them. The church could not have begun at Pentecost because that day there were "added unto" the church, the church had already been given its commission, instructions for discipline, etc.
4. The church belongs to Christ. He is the head of the church, not a man. He is the law giver, legislator, and leader of the church.
5. The church will be preserved through all generations. Since the time of Christ, there has been the church and will continue to be a church.
6. The church has been given the promise of Authority by Christ.
7. The church is not to be on the defensive, but on the offensive. We read that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church. Gates are used for defense, not offense. Too many times, we as members of churches feel like it is our destiny to be persecuted and beaten down, but 'Praise God, in the end Hell can't prevail against us.' Problem is, that is false teaching. We as members of our churches are to go out and take the Gospel to a lost world, knowing that there is no power that can defeat or hold back the power of that Gospel!
So, what is a church? Is the Yellow Spruce Community Assembly of the Church of God with Latter Day Saints Adventist Ministries a church?
Let us solve this, by looking at the Bible!