Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Paul writes to Timothy
with loving instruction and stern exhortation to recognize the
glory and necessity of walking in obedience to the precepts
of Christ in the midst of the local assembly where he presently
abides, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself
in the house of God. He does so by reminding him of
the mystery of godliness, which he is called to declare in the
midst of the gathering of God's people. Declaring the truth as
it is in Jesus is not an option for those who were sent with
his message. To preach any other message is
to prove oneself to be a false prophet, and to embrace any message
other than that which centers in the all-sufficiency of Christ
as priest and king is to deny the very foundation upon which
the church of the Lord Jesus Christ firmly rests. Christ will
build his church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. Many have mistakenly thought that the rock upon which Christ
would build his church was Peter. Yet Peter is not the rock, but
merely a stone or pebble in the construction of the Lord's church.
Ye also, as lively stones, will build up a spiritual house and
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained
in the scripture, Behold, I lay inside a chief cornerstone, elect,
precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
The local church does not exist for the purpose of preaching
and teaching the word, but a local assembly cannot be rightly called
the church where there is an absence of that exercise. Sound
doctrine, which exalts only Christ, is the very basis upon which
it must stand. No member of that body is more
important than another, and Christ is the only head. The love of
the brethren for Christ and one another is the tie that binds
the true assembly of Jesus Christ together. Be kindly affection
one to another with brotherly love in honor of preferring one
another. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him
in all things, which is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole
body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love. A gathered assembly with the
absence of that love cannot be a manifestation of the Church
of Christ, regardless of what else it may practice, its past
history, or its dusty confessions of faith. By this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Paul describes the local church as the house of God, yet the
Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands. We can be certain
that Paul has no reference to any structure constructed by
mortal men, nor even in some organization which they have
put together in the vain attempt at perpetuating the same. Rather,
this house is merely a reference to the assembly itself. It is
that place where the Lord is. For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then
he describes this edifice as the pillar and ground of the
truth. Since this is true, we must recognize the folly of those
who profess to follow Christ, who have a complete disregard
to the gathering together of the saints. There are many who
make a profession of following Christ, who see this assembly
as an inconvenience in their busy lives, and are not compelled
to seek out this fellowship. That is quite an odd combination,
since John said we know that we have passed from death unto
life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death. A man cannot be walking in the
truth if he has no regard for the assembly of the saints. Such
a man cannot manifest a great esteem for the brethren of Christ
if he has no desire to minister to them by his presence, fellowship,
and encouragement. Some are indeed providentially
hindered from such gatherings. Yet any man who is capable of
assembling with the Lord's people and chooses not to is completely
disobedient to the heavenly vision. If we say that we have fellowship
with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.
How sweet, how heavenly is the sight when those that love the
Lord in one another's peace delight and so fulfill his word. When
each can feel his brother's sigh and with him bear apart, when
sorrow flows from eye to eye and joy from heart to heart.
When free from envy, scorn, and pride, our wishes all above,
each can his brother's failings hide and show a brother's love. when love in one delightful stream
through every bosom flows, when union, sweet and dear esteem
in every action glows. Love is the golden chain that
binds the happy souls above, and he's an air of heaven that
finds his bosom glow with love. Do you love the brethren? For
a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net.