Category: Authority

We must know God’s will to prosper in this life, and in the one to come. How privileged we are to have access to the mind of God, revealed in His holy Scriptures!

Most people are familiar with the GPS which we can use to help us get to our destination. In this article, we will make comparisons between the man made GPS and our spiritual GPS which guides us to eternal life.

Does God have a pattern for carrying out His commands to care for the needy? Yes, indeed He does, and let us never forget what happens to those who ignore or reject His pattern and go about doing things in their own way. It will always bring the wrath of God upon them.

There is no pattern for gaining spiritual growth through recreational or social means. When works defined as “edifying” are related in scripture, they invariably are spiritual works. We are edified through worship to God, prayer, singing, the preaching of the gospel of Christ. As we are admonished to, “…see that you make all things according to the pattern…” (cf. Hebrews 8:5), such silence precludes our participating in such social activities as the church.

May we get back to respecting and observing God’s order or pattern in all things. If you are a preacher, does your support come to you direct from a contributing church? Or does it come from a church that has been used to collect funds from other churches and then send those funds on to you? Are you worshiping with a church that is involved in such a sponsoring church arrangement? If so, that church is not following the divine pattern. Think about it.

I am sure that Nadab and Abihu thought that fire is fire, and that it should not make any difference where they got it. But, in thinking and acting so, it cost them their lives. The lesson for us is this: We must follow the Lord exactly as He directs, whether we understand it or not, if we are to be pleasing to Him.

We must have the authorization of our Lord before doing anything as his servants. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Proposition 2: The Scriptures teach that the elders of a local church are authorized to assemble privately to make decisions in matters of judgment for the local church before and without calling together the whole congregation.

Proposition 2: The Scriptures teach that the elders of a local church are authorized to assemble privately to make decisions in matters of judgment for the local church before and without calling together the whole congregation.

Proposition 2: The Scriptures teach that the elders of a local church are authorized to assemble privately to make decisions in matters of judgment for the local church before and without calling together the whole congregation.

Proposition 2: The Scriptures teach that the elders of a local church are authorized to assemble privately to make decisions in matters of judgment for the local church before and without calling together the whole congregation.

Proposition 2: The Scriptures teach that the elders of a local church are authorized to assemble privately to make decisions in matters of judgment for the local church before and without calling together the whole congregation.

Proposition 2: The Scriptures teach that the elders of a local church are authorized to assemble privately to make decisions in matters of judgment for the local church before and without calling together the whole congregation.

Proposition 1: The Scriptures teach that the pattern of decision-making in matters of congregational judgment must always include the whole church (including women) under male leadership in all local churches (both with and without elders).

Proposition 1: The Scriptures teach that the pattern of decision-making in matters of congregational judgment must always include the whole church (including women) under male leadership in all local churches (both with and without elders).

Proposition 1: The Scriptures teach that the pattern of decision-making in matters of congregational judgment must always include the whole church (including women) under male leadership in all local churches (both with and without elders).

Proposition 1: The Scriptures teach that the pattern of decision-making in matters of congregational judgment must always include the whole church (including women) under male leadership in all local churches (both with and without elders).

Proposition 1: The Scriptures teach that the pattern of decision-making in matters of congregational judgment must always include the whole church (including women) under male leadership in all local churches (both with and without elders).

May the Lord help us all to “approve things that are excellent” that we may be “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” and never bind on others that which the Lord has not bound (Phil. 1:10).

I do not argue for the “King James only”. The American Standard Version translated in 1901 is another reputable English version of the Bible. However, the 2nd person pronouns thee, thou, thy and thine are retained in the American Standard Version for accuracy of the word of God and directness of translation. English versions that pervert these pronouns with the common “you” are not reputable versions of the Bible.