{"id":519,"date":"2015-09-07T22:54:08","date_gmt":"2015-09-07T14:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/malaccagospelhall.com\/meetings\/?p=519"},"modified":"2015-09-07T23:26:09","modified_gmt":"2015-09-07T15:26:09","slug":"function-of-the-assembly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/malaccagospelhall.com\/meetings\/function-of-the-assembly\/","title":{"rendered":"Function of the Assembly by Dr AJ Higgins"},"content":{"rendered":"

FUNCTION OF THE ASSEMBLY by Dr Higgins.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Focus of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Foundation of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Figures of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Fragrance of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Fruitfulness of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Function of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Fellowship of the Assembly<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Before us is the subject of Shepherds \u2026 Servants \u2026 Saints<\/p>\n

    1Ti 3:1 This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
    \n1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
    \n1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
    \n1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
    \n1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
    \n1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
    \n1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
    \n1Ti 3:8 Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
    \n1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
    \n1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless.
    \n1Ti 3:11 Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
    \n1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
    \n1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
    \n1Ti 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
    \n1Ti 3:15 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. <\/p>\n

    As a young Christian reading this you may think this chapter has little relevance for you.
    \nHowever the relevance of this Chapter is to communicate the tremendous responsibility borne by the leaders and it should get you to want to pray for them in seeking for God\u2019s help and preservation of them.<\/p>\n

    We are considering here the authority and the functioning in the House of God.
    \nWe have already mentioned previously that one of the things that mark the house of God is \u2013 ORDER.
    \nOrder requires leadership.
    \nAnd so Paul is giving Timothy instruction as to the character of leaders.
    \nVerses 1-7 are for those who would lead or shepherd the assembly.
    \nDeacon work is not just about counting money and arranging chairs.
    \nDeacon work involves anyone who represents God publically for the assembly.
    \nDeacon work is teaching the Word of God, Preaching the gospel, teaching Sunday school \u2026
    \nAll this carries the idea of public service of God for His assembly.
    \nSo verses 1-8 describe deacon work.<\/p>\n

    Verses 14 and 15 broaden the topic: Paul speaks here on how one must behave or ought to behave in the house of God.
    \nSo consider verses 1-7 and consider the requirements of men who lead God\u2019s assembly.
    \nThe first and the most important qualification is found in verse 1.
    \nIt is a man in whose heart God has put the care of His people in the assembly.
    \nUnfortunately the Authorized Version has used the word \u2018office.\u2019
    \nThat word does not appear in the original.
    \nIt is not an office but a work that a man desires to do for God.
    \nIt is a hard work that he undertakes for God, and the Spirit of God says it is a good work to do.
    \nIt is going to be sacrifice; it is going to be criticism.
    \nWhen all is going well the saint s will praise God for His blessings.
    \nBut when things get bad, it will all be the fault of the overseer.
    \nIt is not a popularity contest. It is a difficult work done for God and love for His people.<\/p>\n

    In verse 2 a bishop must be blameless.
    \nSome young believers may sit back and say I am not going to recognize the overseer as he does not measure up to the standard as stated here.
    \nThis verse was not given to you to criticize the overseer.
    \nThis list was given to leaders as a standard that they should seek to keep.<\/p>\n

    Now there are times when there are men who want to care for the people of God and for one reason or another they may feel that they do not measure up in these areas.
    \nSo now we face the question \u2013 Does this disqualify them?
    \nThe word \u2018MUST\u2019 is used several times in this chapter.
    \nIt is used relative to the deacon and in verse 15 it is used relative to every believer.
    \nSo if you cannot lead because you are weak in one of these areas, then you cannot be a deacon, and then it also means that you cannot be in the assembly as you are weak in one of these areas as mentioned in the epistle.
    \nI am NOT lowering God\u2019s Standard.
    \nWhat I am saying is that what we have in this epistle is for each believer and deacon to strive to be holy to THIS Standard.
    \nWe cannot each just sit back and say no one is perfect.
    \nIn which case then no one can be a leader and then you are left with a:
    \nHouse with NO ORDER, a Flock with no Shepherd and a Company that has no leadership.
    \nAnd this is NEVER God\u2019s intention.<\/p>\n

    A bishop must be without reproach and all that follows is an explanation of what it means to be blameless.
    \nThere are many ways of dividing these qualifications.
    \nThere are traits of character.
    \nThere is the training you get in your home.
    \nThere is the test of time \u2013 he is not a novice.
    \nThere is the testimony that he bears before the world.<\/p>\n

    So taking just a few of these verses as there is not enough time \u2026
    \nA bishop must be the husband of one wife \u2013 literally a one woman man.
    \nHe must have a purity of affection for his wife.
    \nLikewise he is to have a purity of affection for the Lord he serves.
    \nHe does not need to be married and if married he must have the purity of affection for his wife.
    \nThere is no teaching in Scripture that if his wife passes away he cannot remarry.
    \nThat would be going beyond the Word of God.<\/p>\n

    The bishop is given to hospitality. Hospitality marks the people of God.
    \nThe man who seeks to lead keeps his home open.
    \nHospitality never depends on the size of your home, but the size of your heart.
    \nSo opening your home and your heart to the people of God is what hospitality is all about.
    \nNotice now that hospitality is linked with being apt to teach.
    \nMuch of the teaching done by leaders is not done formally like this but in their homes.
    \nIn their homes the Word of God is opened and it is discussed.
    \nThis \u2018apt to teach\u2019 does not mean he has the ability to stand and teach the Word of God publically, but it is speaking of a man who opens the Word of God with believers privately and individually.<\/p>\n

    Verse 4 reminds us of the need of order in his house:
    \n1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; <\/p>\n

    If he is unable to maintain order in his own house how can he maintain order in the house of God?
    \nAlso \u2013 it is NOT the thought that his children must be saved.
    \nTitus 1:6 speaks of having faithful children \u2013 children faithful to their parents.
    \nThis is NOT in terms of being saved.
    \nA person is never held responsible for saving their children.
    \nHowever, by maintaining a house in order, parents make it possible for their children to see their need of Christ and to come to Christ.<\/p>\n

    Note verse 5
    \n1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
    \nOlder brethren know that this expression \u2018take care\u2019 is found in only one other place.
    \nAnd the place where it is found, it has tremendous meaning of what it means to be a shepherd among the people of God.
    \nIt is found in Luke chapter 10. It is in the story of the Samaritan.
    \nWhen the Samaritan found the wounded man he cared for him, then took him to an inn and left him with the innkeeper giving him instructions to \u201ctake care of him\u2019.
    \nAnd so taking care of assembly is same as taking care of the man who was left half dead and taken to an inn to be taken care of.
    \nIt means meeting all the needs of the people of God.<\/p>\n

    Notice now verse 6 and the need for the test of time:
    \n1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
    \nThe bishop is not a novice newly saved. He has been proved over time.<\/p>\n

    His testimony before the world is important:
    \n1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
    \nNo one in society should be able to raise or substantiate a claim of wrong doing against him.<\/p>\n

    Now we look at requirements of overseers.
    \nThink now of recognizing this issue of overseers:
    \nFirst of all it is always in the plural.
    \nThe only time it appears in the singular is when it is talking of the requirements of an overseer.
    \nWhenever we see an assembly functioning, there is always a plurality of elders.
    \nWhen Paul went to Jerusalem, he went with the elders.
    \nPaul called for the elders at the church at Ephesus.
    \nPeter wrote to the elders who are among you.
    \nThis is the wisdom of God in giving the plurality of overseers.
    \nIt is for the purpose of balancing each other.
    \nSome men are very hesitant and slow.
    \nSome men are all heart and all feeling.
    \nSome men are all brain and thinking.
    \n(Many women now will be thinking \u2026 men don\u2019t think.)
    \nHowever there is a balance made here as many men seek to lead the assembly.
    \nNo one person can meet the needs and relate to all the believers in the assembly.
    \nScripture knows nothing of one elder. Not even of a leading elder.
    \nAnd so we have elders in the plural.<\/p>\n

    Now for young believers \u2026 there are 5 words used for describing the SAME person.
    \nWe read of elder, overseer or bishop, shepherds, your guides, rulers or leaders.
    \nLet me show you that they are all one and the SAME person.
    \nIn Acts 20, Paul called for the elders at the church at Ephesus.
    \nAnd then he said \u2013 feed or shepherd the church of God whom the Holy Spirit has made you overseer.
    \nSo elders were shepherds or overseers.
    \nTitus speaks of appointing elders in every city.
    \nAnd an overseer must be blameless.
    \nAnd Peter in chapter 5 speaks of the elders among you to feed or shepherds the flock of God taking the oversight.
    \nSo why does the Spirit use different words to describe the SAME man?<\/p>\n