Category: local church assembly

The Good Shepherd

Friday, June 17, 2016

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14,15 KJV).

Jesus came to do what Israel’s shepherds failed to do!

Four primary Bible chapters feature lengthy, stinging rebukes to Israel’s corrupt religious leadership—Jeremiah chapter 23 (they pervert the Lord’s words), Ezekiel chapter 34 (they mislead the Lord’s people), Matthew chapter 23 (they feign to be the Lord’s people), and John chapter 8 (they are Satan’s children).

Jeremiah 50:6 says: “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.” In Ezekiel 34:1-31, God sharply disapproves of the way Israel’s religious leaders are guiding the whole nation into error. He promises to come personally and deliver His people from these evil leaders, and to cause His people to return to Him (Millennial Kingdom). This is the context of Christ’s earthly ministry: He is the Good Shepherd come to lead the wayward sheep of Israel back into His ways (today’s Scripture). In the Four Gospels, we read about “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24) and Israel being a flock of sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34).

Peter wrote of Israel’s believing remnant who responded to Jesus Christ by faith: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25). Hebrews 13:20 says: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will….”

Ancient Israel’s shepherds were focused more on themselves than leading God’s people. Then, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, came. He selflessly gave for Israel instead of selfishly taking from her. He laid down His life for His sheep, to save them from their sins and the ravening wolves of Satan, and to make them His people able to do His will!

Please see our related archived Bible Q&A article for additional insight: https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.wordpress.com/2016/01/25/is-john-10-16-the-body-of-christ/.

Shepherds Feeding Themselves

Thursday, June 16, 2016

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? …Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them” (Ezekiel 34:2,10 KJV).

Friend, do you know any “self-feeding shepherds?”

Many years ago, a deacon asked an incoming pastor, “Will you let the Holy Spirit lead you in guiding our assembly?” The pastor replied, “I came here to retire!” He was uninterested in God’s will (as they later painfully discovered when he introduced false teaching and collapsed the assembly!).

Our English word “pastor” in its original Latin meant “shepherd” or “feeder,” related to “put to pasture.” Jesus commanded the Apostle Peter, “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesian church leaders: “[28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. [29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [31] Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts chapter 20).

The Greek word rendered “overseers” (episkopos) is elsewhere translated “bishop(s)” (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 2:25). Poimen is often rendered “shepherd” but translated “pastors” in Ephesians 4:11. These men should be “guiding” (supervising) and “feeding” (nourishing) local churches, keeping them in sound Bible doctrine, and guarding them against false teaching. Alas, many bishops and pastors—whether today or in ancient Israel (today’s Scripture)—are self-feeding! While they enjoy thousand-dollar handmade suits and multimillion-dollar mansions, their people spiritually starve!

How You Finish, Not How You Start

Monday, June 6, 2016

“Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:9-11 KJV).

In these verses, we see two saints—profitable and unfaithful, and unfaithful and profitable.

Today’s Scripture is Paul beginning to conclude his farewell epistle. Guilty of preaching an “illegal religion,” the aged Apostle awaits his beheading. Sitting in a cruel dungeon in Rome, he writes to Timothy one last time, urging the young man to come to the prison as quickly as possible. Why? Paul explains that “only Luke” remains with him. His other ministry companions are travelling, possibly visiting local grace assemblies on his behalf. In today’s Scripture, two contrasting names are set in bold relief.

First appearing in Paul and Barnabas’ apostolic ministry at the very end of Acts chapter 12, John Mark is Barnabas’ nephew (Colossians 4:10). He travels with Paul and Barnabas during their first apostolic journey (Acts chapters 13-14). By the start of their second apostolic journey, Barnabas wants to take John Mark with them but Paul refuses because John Mark had previously abandoned them around Acts 14:24. Barnabas and Paul, due to this momentous disagreement, go their separate ways at Acts 15:36-41.

Just over 10 years later, in Acts chapter 28, Demas appears in Paul’s ministry. Paul greets the Colossian believers on behalf of Demas (4:14). In Philemon 24, the companion epistle, Paul calls Demas a “fellow-labourer.” Most definitely, Demas was very useful to Paul’s ministry. Oh, but what a tragedy! A few years later, Paul writes today’s Scripture: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world….” Demas’ precise motives are unknown.

Friends, just think! The actions of John Mark and Demas are written down forever in God’s Word! John Mark, once unfaithful, returned to Paul’s ministry at the very end. Demas, once faithful, abandoned Paul’s ministry at the very end. Brethren, just think! Those you expect to stay with the truth, they may not! Those you expect to never embrace the truth, they just may!

Five Assets for Christians

Saturday, June 4, 2016

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 KJV).

What are the five assets that God has given us for our Christian life to function as He intended?

As today’s Scripture says, God desires to have mature Christians, people who understand, delight in, and are willing to work with Him by faith to do what He wants accomplished. He has given us five assets so that we can achieve His will with Him:

  1. The Holy Bible (2 Timothy 3:16,17) – This is God’s inspired Word, preserved for us in English as the King James Bible. It is God’s mind, the way He thinks about various life matters. If we want His wisdom in life, rather than pray for wisdom, we need to read His Word! We consult especially Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, God’s Word to and about us.
  2. Indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-14) – The Holy Spirit will take the verses that we study and believe, and He will work in us to have our lives reflect the truths presented in those verses. We can have victorious Christian lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  3. Prayer (Philippians 4:6,7) – Prayer is not getting God to give us things but us talking to Him in light of His Word to us. It is a way of reinforcing the verses we read in the Bible, and then applying them to all of life’s situations.
  4. Local Church (1 Timothy 4:13-16) – Other Christians encourage us. When we hear other believers talk about how God’s Word is working in their lives, they are instructing us how to use specific verses in our own similar circumstances. The local church should be a haven for sound Bible doctrine.
  5. Pastors and Teachers (Ephesians 4:11) – These men lead the local assembly of believers. They have the responsibility of teaching us what they have learned from the Scriptures. We can turn to them for help, but, as time passes, we should not need them as much as we first did. Rather, eventually, we will be able to stand with them and teach God’s Word to others. We will have matured enough to help others mature.

Friend, without all five, your Christian life will be ruined!

Put the Brethren in Remembrance

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained” (1 Timothy 4:6 KJV).

Never forget to remind the brethren!

Father God has much to say. He was so generous to give us a written record of what He wanted to tell us. May we be so thankful to Him that, when we have a King James Bible, we hold His inspired words preserved in English. No need for us to get lost in a maze of Hebrew and Greek, looking for hidden “nuggets” in a mine abounding with fools’ gold. It is unnecessary to enter a “prayer closet” and beg God to reveal His will to us. Rather, we need to get into His Bible and read it for ourselves!

Since the creation of Adam and Eve some 6,000 years ago, human life has become increasingly complicated and busier. In this age of entertainment, it is extremely easy for Christians to become sidetracked. They sit in front of their televisions, computers, and personal devices (including smartphones), and often go hours, days, weeks, months… even years!… without giving God’s Word even the slightest consideration. May they wake up!

Paul the Apostle exhorted young Pastor Timothy to remind his Christian brethren of the instructions laid out in the first epistle that bears his name. He was to especially bring to their attention Satan’s schemes and scams. In the verses preceding today’s Scripture, the Holy Spirit warned of Christians who would abandon sound Bible doctrine. They would embrace religion—“forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (verses 1-5).

However, Timothy could reduce Satan’s work by reminding his brethren of sound Bible doctrine (today’s Scripture). Those grace doctrines, constantly affirmed, would encourage the members of the Body of Christ to hold fast to God’s truth. As long as they held on to God’s Word rightly divided, being daily reminded of it, they would survive the apostasy.

Brethren, we trust we have fulfilled today’s Scripture here on a daily basis. Now, to our Lord Jesus Christ’s glory, we close five full years of “333 Words of Grace!” 🙂

Wealthy of Goods But Destitute of Truth

Sunday, May 29, 2016

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:5 KJV).

Their pockets are full—their teachings are vain.

Recently flipping through a religious magazine, the following tidbit caught my attention: “When he requested early retirement due to reasons of health in late [year], Bishop [name] gratefully acknowledged that, despite difficult times, the last five years of his service to the people of [location] was marked by a 35 percent increase in offertory collections throughout the diocese.”

Friend, the above paragraph justifies people’s claims that religion is all about money. This bishop, who had served his parishioners for many years, “gratefully acknowledged” one accomplishment in particular. Notice it was not that he ensured that the Gospel of the Grace of God was clearly preached throughout the hundreds of churches that he oversaw. Notice it was not that he guided his people into the truths of God’s Word, the Holy Bible. Notice that it was not that his diocese had glorified Jesus Christ. Nay! He was most proud of the fact that the diocese’s income increased 35 percent with him as leader!

When instructing young Timothy how to operate a local grace church, Paul reminded him not to let materialism corrupt his ministry (today’s Scripture). God’s ministry needs funding, no doubt, and we should give to sound Bible ministries. But, ministers should exercise great caution that they not worship wealth (see 1 Timothy 3:3,8; Titus 1:7).

Remember, Israel’s religious leaders had made God’s religion of Judaism into a “lucrative business.” They were cheating people in the name of “JEHOVAH” and—adding insult to injury—they were doing it in His house, the Temple (Matthew 21:12,13)! Jesus fittingly called them “thieves.” He could easily say this about so many professing “Christian” churches and ministers today (go back to the “bishop’s” noteworthy accomplishment!). They focus on installing ornate woodwork, fine paintings, stained-glass windows, and “state-of-the-art” electronics. Meanwhile, they are less concerned about teaching sound Bible doctrine and handling God’s Word God’s way. Their church buildings appear nice and godly, but are full of unsaved, spiritually ignorant people. May we have enough Spiritual grounding to avoid them!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “‘Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated?’”

Teach, Not Take

Friday, April 1, 2016

“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:30,31 KJV).

Teach the Scriptures to others; do not take them!

Recently, a dear sister in Christ received a phone call from a man she had not heard from in many years. Of course, she was quite eager to talk when “religion” was brought up. The man has been in a certain “Christian” cult all of his life—still a faithful churchgoer. At this point, someone would say, “Oh, well, it may be a cult, but at least he hears the Bible there!” Really? What was most appalling was when he said he had recently approached his minister about reading the Bible. The minister told the man, “Do not read the Bible! Here, read this!” And, the minister handed him some “religious” book! (The dear lady in Christ, upon hearing this, reassured him it was okay to read the Bible.)

For some so-called “minister of Jesus Christ” to outright forbid someone from reading the Bible is a most dastardly thing. To yank the precious words of God from a man’s hand, and replace it with a worthless book of men’s traditions, is the epitome of Satan’s policy of evil. When the angel of the Lord saw that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Isaiah scroll with much difficulty, He instructed Philip to meet him (verses 26-28). “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot” (verse 29). Philip was so excited to share God’s Word with a lost person that he literally “ran” to the prospective convert (today’s Scripture)!

If you continue reading in Acts chapter 8, specifically verses 32-35, you will learn that Philip did not rip the Isaiah scroll out of the eunuch’s hand saying, “No, oh no, do not read that!” In fact, Philip read the Bible passage with the eunuch, and Philip taught him all about “Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (verse 37). May we do the same!

Nearly a year in the making, we release special-edition Bible Q&A #250: “Can you explain Peter and the 11’s ministry from Acts 7-15?”

Tychicus

Thursday, March 31, 2016

“All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here” (Colossians 4:7-9 KJV).

Exactly who was “Tychicus?”

Tychicus (“fortunate”) was a Christian man from “Asia” (“Asia Minor,” present-day Turkey) who accompanied Paul into that region on his third apostolic journey (Acts 20:4—Tychicus’ first appearance in Scripture). While we do not know very much about Tychicus’ origin, we understand that he was a very helpful brother in Christ during the latter half of Paul’s ministry.

Paul called Tychicus “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:21) and “a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord” (today’s Scripture). Ephesians 6:21,22 say of Tychicus, “[he] shall make known to you all things, Whom I have sent for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts” (cf. today’s Scripture).

According to the Bible, Tychicus, with Onesimus, was a courier by whom Paul sent his epistle to the Colossians. Tychicus personally carried Paul’s epistle of Ephesians to Ephesus. While Paul was in prison in Rome, Tychicus was his messenger to the Colossians and Ephesians, and he relayed information to and from the Apostle. Just as good news cheers our hearts, so any good news from Paul to his Gentile converts or good news to the Apostle from his Gentile converts, would have certainly been a source of comfort. Indeed, Tychicus’ ministry was vital to Paul’s—especially in a day when long-distance communication was so limited and slow.

It is unknown if Paul sent Tychicus to commune with Titus on the island of Crete (Titus 3:12 was a possibility, not a fact). The last we hear of Tychicus is in Paul’s farewell epistle, where the Apostle, before being executed, had sent him to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12). Whatever became of our brother, Tychicus, we know not!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?”

Remember, the Lord Never Forgets!

Friday, March 11, 2016

“For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:4,5 KJV).

Rest assured, Christ will reward faithful Christian service!

Not long ago, a former deacon of a local church told me how, when they were without a pastor, he was one of the few faithful members who held the assembly together. He left the church once it became apostate with its new pastor, but I asked him to tell me what happened some 25 years ago.

The poor brother showed me a wrinkled, stained, typed paper… his “to-do” list from decades ago. On it were 53 (!) items/tasks he had to fulfill—print church bulletins, cut the lawn, see the church’s utilities were paid, duplicate cassette tapes of sermons, and dozens of other chores! The five other deacons evidently did nothing to help him. Only a handful of other church members assisted in maintaining the church building and grounds… they were all outcasts when the assembly later collapsed under false teaching. The people who did nothing remained in the church! I reminded the disheartened brother to remember that the Lord never forgets our service to Him (today’s Scripture).

Yes, it is often true. Twenty percent of the people in a local church do 80 percent of the work in the local church. The rest of the “members” just sit in the air-conditioning and nod their heads in agreement, raise their hands, and shout, “Praise Jesus!” Yet, they would not dare vacuum the auditorium, lift one finger to change a burnt light bulb, or even stand at the door to greet visitors! Beloved, what a horrible testimony… lost people are often more dedicated to their false religions than Christians are to Jesus Christ’s ministry!

Saints, the Lord sees and remembers what we do in His name, and why we do it. No boasting or acknowledgement by others is needed. In His own time, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, “shall every man have praise of God!” 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Do people become angels when they die?”

Appreciative, Not Angry

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Be appreciative to Father God that He gave you the privilege of avoiding spiritual error!

Some time ago, a woman was explaining how her local church had experienced a very difficult split. The pastor had become a dictator and much of the assembly had broken off to form a new group where sound doctrine would be upheld. (My family, having been through four church splits, knows all about the tremendous spiritual and emotional damage that results.) The dear lady explained that one member of the church refused to return to either assembly. He was “mad at God.” What a sad predicament that describes so many countless souls all around the world!

Could I say some words to you, friend? If you have ever been “burned” by a local church breaking up, please do not treat God like He had anything to do with it. Why punish the Person who loves you unconditionally forever? Why mistreat the Person who sent His Son to die for your sins so you would not have to spend eternity in the lake of fire? What did God ever do to you to make you angry? (Did He not give the “church-splitter” the same free will He gave you?) If people do not have sound Bible doctrine operating in them, what do we expect but problems?

It is important not to hold a grudge. Forgive that “church splitter” as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you, lest Satan use that bitterness to get the advantage over you and other believers (2 Corinthians 2:10,11). Leave the apostate church and praise God that He gave you enough doctrinal discernment to do so! (What God could have done is never given you a Bible, and let you be completely clueless as to what His local church looks like and what His local church teaches!)