September 1, 2013
Morning Service

From the book of first John, we received a warning of encouragement, to try the spirits to see if they are from God.  As we related in the last couple weeks, there are several Scriptures that warns us to be on guard for false teachers, and preachers. This is something you will do if you are searching for the will of God in your life. 

            It was nine years of studying the Scriptures to the time we felt we had the will of God on what His preachers were to be preaching. 

            In our study of the gospel of Luke, we find some really good examples of friends helping friends to find Jesus.  Well this is basically what happened for me when I was converted.  A friend invited me to a revival, and God took over.  Just as Paul met the Lord on the road to Damascus, I met Him on Fern Valley Rd. in Louisville, Ky.

            Upon returning home we started fellowshipping with the a local congregation.  A fellowship I grew up in, and one that Peggy was attending.  As I kept studying the Scriptures, I found things they were teaching that made me uncomfortable.  I would ask questions, and the answers I would get were not satisfying my hunger for the truth.  So I began searching for the truth, and people that wanted to be as close to the original church that Jesus built.  All the time using the Bible as the guideline for truth.

            As we discovered last week, Jesus said: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18.  At this same time Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to the Apostle Peter.  Then we saw Peter using this authority ( or keys ) to open the door of salvation to the Jews, in chapter two of Acts.  Then he uses them again in Acts chapter 10 for the gentiles.  We also saw in chapter nine of Acts the conversion of one who was persecuting the church, Saul of Tarsus.  God is going to use this man, Saul of Tarsus, to write letters to the churches.  This Saul becomes the Apostle Paul.  Jesus told him that he was going to use him in a mighty way.  Paul establishes churches from Jerusalem through Turkey, and Greece.  Then God allows Paul to write letters to most of these churches, and these letters make up 2/3 of our New Testament.  It is in these letters that we find the instructions on how the church should be set up.

            Anytime you are searching for the truth, you will find a lot of different practices in the different denominations.  So what you have to do is find the true teaching on each subject from the Bible.  So, we mentioned last Sunday that we were going to review the things that we teach.  You must understand that after much Bible study, and prayer, we feel we have the mind of Christ on these matters.

 

WHAT WE TEACH:

1.      The Bible is our rule of faith and sets forth our standard of living.

We will find in our searching for truth that there are books used by different groups, to define their beliefs.  These are called church manuals.  We were given one of these when we started our walk with God.  What we give new converts is a Bible.  Because it is our rule of faith, and sets forth our standard of living.  There are no man made doctrines in the Bible.  No man’s interpretations.  It is the unadulterated Word of God.

The Bible tells us this:

·         Joh 20:30-31  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  (31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

·         2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

·         Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

·         Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Then the Apostle Paul tells us:

·         2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:    Paul  says all Scripture, and all they had at the time he said this was the Old Testament. 

·         1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

So because we believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, we use it as our source of finding the truth on each church doctrine.  Next topic is:

2.       The Church is the pillar, and ground of truth.(I Timothy 3:14-15)

·         1Ti 3:14-15  These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:  (15)  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

This is the church that Jesus said He would build, and the gates of hell should not prevail against it.

Now let’s see what is revealed in the Bible concerning this church.  This church is localized, and self sustaining.

·         ....A. All authority is given to the leadership of the local fellowship by God.
....(Acts 14:23), (I Peter 5:1-3),
Act 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

·         1Pe 5:1-3  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  (2)  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

....B. The leadership of the church consists of qualified elders(I Timothy 3)
....filling the offices of Bishop, Presbytery, and Deacons.
Here in this chapter we see the structure of authority that God wants in His church.

....C. We also believe that the five fold ministry of the church given in (Ephesians 4:11-13)
....is still very much needed today, and for the same reasons.
....D. We also believe that God still gives the spiritual gifts to the church as we have need of them.
(I Corinthians 12), (Romans 12)  These chapters are where you will find what is taught concerning spiritual gifts.
....E. We find also the Altar of God in the church. In which a man must not separate himself from this Altar, nor should he do anything that would cause the leadership of the church to bring forth disciplinary action to cause his separation from the Altar of God. (Hebrews 13:10)

·         Heb 13:8-10  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  (9)  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.  (10)  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

·         Look at the warning;  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.  This was the reason for the ministry to the church. 

·         Eph 4:11-14  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

·         WE HAVE AN ALTAR. 

WE WILL CONTINUE THIS THOUGHT, LORD WILLING, NEXT SUNDAY.  EVERY TOPIC IS IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT.

FATHER, HELP US TO BE GROUNDED AND SETTLED IN THE TRUTH OF YOUR WORD.  AMEN.