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Houston, Texas 77037
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10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
KEEPING HOUSE FOR
THE LORD
Written by H. Frank Fort
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.
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House for the Lord,
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Our lesson today treats of the first of the five
things the New Testament tells us the Church did when assembled on the first day
of the week to break bread, namely, the preaching of the word. Keep in mind that
these epistles to Timothy were designed to acquaint him with the will of God as
to behavior in "the house of God, which is the church of the living
God" 1 Tim. 3:15. The five
things referred to constitute the formal worship of the assembly, that is the
form or pattern directing the conduct of the worshippers in assembly. If the
will of God be not observed in this respect, then, "ye come together not
for the better, but for the worse 1 Cor.
11:17.
The scriptural behavior in God's house required
conformity to "the form of sound words" 2 Tim. 1:13. The word "form" means "pattern or
outline" (margin), thus, the information necessary to "behave" in
the house of God is conveyed in "the form", pattern, or outline of
"sound words" 2 Tim. 1:13.
The Church being the "pillar and ground if the truth" 1
Tim. 3:15 is to "earnestly contend for the faith" Jude
3. In order that it may do so, preachers of righteousness must "rightly
divide the word of truth" 2 Tim.
2:15, and commit…to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others
also" 2 Tim. 2:2.
To be instructed in "sound words" 2
Tim. 1:13, is to be acquainted with "the things which become found
doctrine" Titus 2:1; and thus
fortified, teachers can express themselves by the medium of "sound
speech" Titus 2:8. And those
thus instructed will manifest the value of such teaching, if saved, and in
fellowship with God, by being "sound in faith, in charity, in
patience" Titus 2:2.
Thus we have today, the first thing, Because the
basis of knowledge as to God's will for worship, the preaching of the word.
·
"Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine" 2 Tim.
4:2. This aspect of worship demands three things:
·
The
preaching of the truth
·
The
hearing of the truth
·
"obeying
the truth”.
Keep
in mind that we are now considering the truth related to the worship of God's
people, in the church, and not the salvation of alien sinners.
·
"The
preaching of the truth". Paul could say to "the Church of God" at
Ephesus, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of
God" Acts 20:27. Christ, in the
commission evolving subjects who had been discipled and baptized, commanded,
"teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" Matt.
28:20. The word of God is designed by the omniscient "author and
finisher of our faith" Heb. 12:2
to meet every circumstance of the believers experience. Notice the mutable state
of God's people requires different things from God's word. It may. Be necessary
to
·
"reprove,
rebuke, exhort" 2 Tim. 4:2
·
or
declare "the milk of the word" for the growth of "babes in
Christ" 1 Pet. 2:2. These are
"unskilled in the word" Heb.
5:13, or as the margin reads, "hath no experience" in the word.
·
But
"strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" Heb.
5:14.
Those who "ought to be teachers" and yet
are "dull of hearing" are not to be commended, but reproved, for it is
a shame that such need to be taught "again which be the first principles of
the oracles of God" Heb. 5:11,12.
These are to be exhorted to leave "the principles (first) of the doctrine
of Christ" and "go on unto perfection" and "be not slothful,
but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" Heb.
6:1,12
·
The preacher
of the word is to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" 2
Tim. 2:3, and is not to form any alliances "with the affairs of this
life" that would prevent his pleasing "him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier" 2 Tim. 2:4. This would
include:
·
Ministerial
alliances, where in order to be at peace, one would have to remain silent in the
face of rankest error
·
Fraternal
organizations, all of which are contrary to the principle of salvation, "by
grace through faith…not of works". I do not see how a preacher can preach
the truth according to this principle, and then agree to the terms of
membership, in an organization, which are contrary to it
In rightly dividing the word of truth, one is enabled
to see it's harmonious structure. It stands a monument to the truth that it's
author was able to "show the things that are to come hereafter" Isa.
41:23, or "shew us what shall happen…that we may…know the latter
end of them" Isa. 41:22, a thing
which God challenged the false prophets to do. Our God "declaring the end
from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet
done" Isa. 46:10, have
demonstrated for all reasonable minds the fact of his omniscience, and in the
knowledge the child of God has unbounded confidence. The truth, when declared
according to God's purpose, will be seen as "the wisdom of God" 1 Cor. 2:7, and this truth heard, believed, and practiced, will
present the Church as "the epistle of Christ" 2 Cor. 3:3, "Holding forth the word of life" Phil.
2:16. This, of course, cannot be done, unless the truth is
faithfully preached. Men may do the following with the word of truth:
·
"hold
down (margin) the truth in unrightousness" Rom. 1:18
·
"Corrupt
the word of God" 2 Cor. 2:17.
The word 'corrupt' means to "make a trade of" it, and "thus make
merchandise of you" 2 Pet. 2:3, Jude
16
·
"Wrest…the
scriptures" 2 Pet. 3:16
·
"Pervert
the gospel of Christ" Gal. 1:7
·
"Frustrate
the grace of God" Gal. 2:21
·
"Lie
(not) against the truth" James 3:14
Since these things may be done with the truth, then
all God's people are commanded to
·
"Prove
all things" 1 Thess 5:21
·
"Prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" Rom
12:2
·
"Proving
what is acceptable onto the Lord" Eph
5:10.
Then
God's people are required to do. Paul taught them "not to go beyond the things which are written" 1
Cor. 4:6 A.S.V. He also wrote
that "all scripture
(things
written) is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" 2 Tim. 3:16,17 . "All scripture" is sufficient for
"all good works". All the believer needs, therefore, in order to
"maintain good works" Titus 3:8
is to be taught what Christ authorized when he commissioned the Church to
"teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" Matt.
28:20.
In the preaching of God's word there is, as the
occasion may demand, a message for every need. The Psalmist said, Ps.
19: 7-14, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord
are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are
they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there
is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret
faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. " The
truth of God is called "words of eternal life" Jn.
6:68 as related to salvation. It is written "The
word of God is living" Heb. 4:12
A.S.V. Such a word is needed for men are said to be dead in a threefold
sense.
·
"Dead
in trespasses and sins" Eph. 2:1,
the condition of alien sinners
·
"Arise
from the dead" Eph. 5:14,
addressed to Christians who sleep spiritually, thus exhorted to awake
·
"The
dead in Christ" 1 Thess. 4:16.
Those who are dead as to body, upon the departure of the spirit
The
Psalmist said as to the life giving power of the word in connection with this
threefold view of death,
·
"Thy
word hath quickened me" Ps. 119:50,
looking back to the time of being made alive unto God
·
"Quicken
thou me according to thy word" Ps.
119:25, looking to his way of life. This sense of quickening was to the end,
as he said, "I will run the way of thy commandments,. when thou shalt
enlarge my heart" Ps. 119:32.
Concerning this, David said, "quicken thou me in thy way" Ps.
119:37
·
Looking
ahead beyond the dead, ending "Old age", David said, "Thou…shalt
quicken me again, and shalt bring m e up from the depths of the earth" Ps.
71:20
The
threefold word essential to life in this threefold way is:
·
"Come
unto me" Matt. 11:28,
in order to be "alive unto God" Rom.
6:11,13
·
"Come
after me" Matt. 16:24, in order
to live for the Lord during one's life and,
·
"Come
up hither" Rev. 11:12, in order
that the redeemed be with the Lord in a body like unto his own.
·
The will
of God as to the first aspect of life is Jn. 6:39,40. Study the whole chapter as to why these words are
called "the words of eternal life" Jn. 6:68. Compare Jn. 6:47),
with Jn. 6:54.
·
The will
of God as to the conduct of His children is "in Christ Jesus"
1 Thess. 5:18, Notice 1 Thess. 4:1‑3.
·
The will
of God as to the third aspect of life "in the world to come" Mk.
10:30, is seen in Jn. 6:39, and
is that all he gives the Son shall be raised up again at the last day.
The word of God rightly divided will give to each aspect of life that portion which belongs to it, and the scriptural. attention to this threefold division, will furnish God's people all the information they need as related to each aspect of life. Therefore:
·
"preach
the word" 2 Tim. 4:2, is God's
command to preachers; "be thou an example of the believers, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith. in purity…give attendance to
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine…meditate upon these things, give thyself
wholly to them…take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine " 1
Tim. 4:12‑16. For thus: "Thy profiting may appear to all…in
doing this thou shalt save thyself and them hear thee" 1
Tim. 4:15,16. This aspect of ministry is related to the behavior of God's
people in God's house, thus;
·
"Take
heed, therefore, how ye hear" Luke
8:18 is God's commandment to those to whom the word is preached. Let us
worship God as he has required it Jn.
4:23,24.
Prepared
by:
H.
Frank Fort, Minister, Berean Baptist Church
Houston, Texas.
Aug. 22, 1956
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"