Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. In the Old Testament, a certain
people were ordained and appointed to carry out the acts of public
worship among the Jews. This is seen most clearly in
the fact that only one tribe of the children of Israel were
appointed to be priests and bearers of the Ark. That same basic notion
still exists today as it is very common to find a certain class
or tribe, if you will, who alone are appointed and qualified to
be leaders of New Testament worship. Most often this class or segment
of leaders are designated as the clergy in order to distinguish
them from the rank-and-file Christians who they refer to as the laity,
which simply means the people. This is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which doctrine the Lord said that he hated. Most denominations
promote the same idea by their insistence that elders, pastors,
and deacons occupy some sort of special status among the sons
of God who are gathered together in local assemblies. There is
no doubt that these offices exist in the New Testament Church,
but it is also clear that these are callings of servitude and
not lordship. The worship of the New Testament
is not that which is hedged about by prescribed outlines, nor led
and dictated by particular individuals. The children of God have no head
but Christ, since he has made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father. But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should
show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light. Now the Lord is that Spirit,
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we
all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even
as by the Spirit of the Lord. Some are of the opinion that
the office of pastor is one which allows them to basically dictate
what is and is not to be done when the church assembles. In
most cases, these pastors even prevent anyone other than themselves
from addressing the congregation, or at least would not allow it
without their permission. This is done under the guise
of protecting the flock, but quite often is but a stifling
of the gifts which the Lord has richly bestowed on His church.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man
to profit withal. The role of pastors is primarily
to serve the Church by being an example to the flock. They
are charged with being diligent to teach and to warn as those
who must give an account of those souls put in their charge. They
are not in any wise to do so as lords over God's heritage,
nor priests of her practice. The church of Jesus Christ is
His property. He has not left it in the hands
of any except the Holy Ghost, whom He has left to be our guide
into all truth. But this shall be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith
the Lord. I will put my law in their inward parts and write
it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall
be my people. And they shall teach no more
every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, Know
the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them
unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord. For I will forgive
their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." True New
Testament worship is that which is led by the Spirit of God and
is that which centers in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
As Paul told the Corinthians, Wherefore, I give you to understand
that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed,
and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the
Holy Ghost. And then he testified of the
place of all of our glory. But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. True New Testament
worship is according to the order which is established by the Spirit
of God, not the whims of men who claim to be prophets, nor
those with itching ears who desire to exalt men with oratorical
skills. For ye may all prophesy one by
one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. and the
spirits of the prophets were subject to the prophets. For
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches
of the saints. True New Testament worship is
that which delights in the liberty which we have been given by Christ,
and is directed by him of whom the Lord said, howbeit when he,
the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.
For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall
glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto
you. All things that the Father hath are mine. Therefore said
I that he shall take of mine and shall show it unto you. Do
you desire to worship Christ alone? If you would like a free
transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.