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The Responsibility of Church Relationship
by H. Frank Fort

Lesson Six

"Being Helped In Order To Help"

In this help we shall consider some things essential to maintaining the fellowship which we must have if, as a church, we would have fellowship with God. In Rev. 3:20 we have a promise made to the individual in the church after the church itself has closed the door to the presence of the Lord. "If any man hear my voice, and open unto me, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me."

1) The church as the Temple of God. The church is called "the temple of the living God." (II Cor. 6:16) It is the Holy place corresponding to the first section of the earthly tabernacle "wherein was the candlestick, and the table and the shewbread which is called the sanctuary." (Heb. 9:1-2) Now into this sanctuary went the Levites who typify the worshippers in the New Testament church called "a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (I Pet. 2:5) Now Paul said "the holiest of all" was "after the second veil." (Heb. 9:3)

a) "The priests (Levites) went always into the first tabernacle accomplishing the service of God." (Heb. 9:6)

b) "But into the second went the High Priest alone." (Heb. 9:7)

2) The Levites in the first tabernacle represent the worshippers in the church. While "high priest alone" in "the holiest of all," represents Jesus Christ our great high priest "who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God," (I Pet. 3:22) "now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Heb. 9:24)

a) The tabernacle of the type is called "patterns of things in the heavens...figures of the true," (Heb. 9:23,24) "a figure for the time then present...but being come an high priest of good things to come...by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Heb. 9:8,11,12)

b) Now in the first compartment of the tabernacle, where the Levites worshipped, there were three items of furniture:

1) The candlestick. This was the only light therein. It represents "the word" (Ps. 119:130) as revealing...Him who was to be worshipped and served. Notice three things about the candlestick.

a) It was of "pure gold." (Ex. 25:31);

b) It had "seven lamps" on the stem and six branches coming out of the stem. (Ex. 25:32)

c) The light was fed by "pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always." (Ex. 27:20)

Putting these three things together, we have "pure gold" representing Deity as the support of the light; we have "seven lamps" testifying as to its completeness or perfection, and we have "oil" typical of the Holy Spirit as the person through whom Deity reveals himself as "lighteth every man." (John 1:9)

2) The second item in the holy place was "the table of shewbread." The table was a combination of shittim wood and "pure gold" setting forth the fact of "God manifest in the flesh," (I Tim. 3:16) or the "word was made flesh," (John 1:14) "that a man may eat thereof and not die." (John 6:50) The table supported what was thereon, which were "twelve cakes...made of fine flour, with the addition of oil and frankincense." No leaven is mentioned, thus the shew bread pictures Christ and our communion with God through him.

3) The third item was "the altar of incense." (Ex. 30:1-10) It, too, was made of shittim wood and overlaid with pure gold. It, too, is a picture of Christ, and represents our approach unto God through Him. Fire from the brazen altar was used on the altar of incense to cause the smoke of the incense to ascend. Thus only such as have come by means of the brazen altar may come to God in worship through the altar of incense, and that according to the light of the candlestick. So it is now. Thus we read in Heb. 10:19-25.

3) Thus the worshippers in the "house of God" (Heb. 10:21) have "an high priest" through whom we "draw near." (Heb. 10:22)

Now let us who worship in the "holy place" consider some things if we would approach the God of the Temple through Him who has entered into the "most holy place," namely the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote the Ephesians to endeavor to "keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3) Again, "be at peace among yourselves," (I Thess. 5:13) for "he hath called us to peace;" (I Cor. 7:15) "follow peace with all men;" (II Tim. 2:22) "let the peace of God rule in your hearts;" (Col. 3:15) "blessed are the peacemakers." (Matt. 5:9) This is not easy and it is not always possible, but it is to be sought and pursued and followed, (Ps. 34:14, I Pet. 3:11, Heb. 12:14) and Paul said "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (Rom. 12:18) God is not "the author of confusion, but of peace." (I Cor. 14:33) If the only light men would have was that from the candlestick, they would be at peace doctrinally, and doctrinal peace will produce a common interest, and war does not originate among men united in the interest of a common cause. There are two kinds of wisdom:

1) "The wisdom of God," (I Cor. 2:7) and

2) "The wisdom of this world." (I Cor. 2:6)

These two wisdoms, in governing the attitudes and actions of men, produce two opposing results. James sets them forth as follows:

"This wisdom (of the flesh) descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:15-17)

No wonder James said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." (James 1:5) We can tell whether or not we lack wisdom if we will judge the fruit of our lives by James 3:15-17. "If we would judge ourselves we would not be judged." (I Cor. 11:31)

We know that God is not honored nor pleased with His Son standing at the door knocking, to be admitted by one of the body. It is the will of God that the body carry out the will of the "Head of the Church." The commission was given to the church. (Matt. 28:19-20) Glory is to be God's "in the church." (Eph. 3:21) It is the responsibility of every member to see to this. Notice the responsibility of each member of the church in the following items.

1) "let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." (I Cor. 16:2) "It is accepted according to that a man hath...an equality; (I Cor. 8:12,14) "every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give." (II Cor. 9:7) The adverb "so" does not refer to the amount that one gives, but the spirit in which he gives it. "God loveth a cheerful giver." (II Cor.9:7)

The financial responsibilities of the church rest upon every member of it, whether they assume it or not. Paul said, "I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened but by an equality." (II Cor. 8:13-14) An equality is effected when "every one...as God hath prospered him" assumes his share of the burden. This is right. Think of what this would mean if every member, by profession, of this church, did this. One cannot be a "cheerful giver" who is not a faithful prayer, or attender or in the other acts of Christian responsibility.

Faithfulness takes cognizance of all the will of God. It omits no distasteful things, but nothing in God's will is distasteful to him in whose heart there is a desire "both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13) The finance committee would probably faint if the members of this church who do not come, would send a check to share in the financial load of the work. Why do they not do it? Because in their hearts they are not conscious of being prospered by the Lord, for one must walk in fellowship with God, in order to be grateful to God.

2) "Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works...exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:24-25) Think of this. Instead of provoking to wrath and strife, we are to "consider one another," not looking for things for which to criticize and condemn, hoping to find something that will make us look better by comparison, but provoking "to love and to good works." Now how can we do this?

a) We can provoke "to love" by loving others. Love begets love. Kindness begets kindness. This is true between brethren. If we love "the children of God" impartially we provoke others to follow our example. But we are also to love them who do not love us. Christ said, "love your enemies...for if ye love them which love you (that is, them only) what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?" (Matt. 5:44, 46) We read that "God so loved the world...," (John 3:16) therefore, we are to love the world as the object of God's redeeming love, but God also loves "his own," (John 13:1) and we are to love "the children of God" (I John 5:2-3) as one with them in the "family of God."

b) "provoke...to good works." How do we do this? By being "an example of the believers." (I Tim. 4:12) Faithfulness on the part of one child of God will have its affect on others. The power of example is more potent than many sermons unsupported by a life of faithfulness. Let us not only thank God for the light that directs our step, but let us ask for strength to take those steps to God's glory and the encouragement of others.

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let us rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." (Heb. 12:12-15)

Let us avail ourselves of the help our God delights to give and we will be able to help others on the road that leads to glory.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"