375. Reverence for the Church

“But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15.

Respect for the church of God! May the spirit of fear be over everyone who speaks in the church of God. For each one who speaks must speak as the Word of God. He who speaks has responsibility to God and to people. No one should stand up and speak in the church of the living God before he feels the prompting of the Spirit to do so. Jesus says, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” The church expects to hear Spirit and life from each one who speaks. The Spirit wars against the flesh, and the flesh wars against the Spirit. This war must be clearly portrayed in the church. “And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.” The sword of the Spirit pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Thus the testimony of Jesus Christ: Spirit, water, and blood, became clear to the church, and each one must bow to it. All entertaining talk is simply wooing the flesh and should be banned from the church of God. Prolonging one’s message after the Spirit has stopped speaking is nothing more than a lust to preach, and this sort of disease must not contaminate the church of the living God.

To beg for money directly or indirectly is covetousness. It is also idolatry and is not fitting where the pillar and foundation of truth is to be represented. For man cannot serve God and mammon. The church should, by the preaching of God’s Word, know and be aware that each one who proclaims the Word of God among them is like an ox that is plowing. If he is able to give spiritual support, is it too much if he receives something of the temporal? If he does not receive anything without begging, either the preacher of the Word is in the wrong place, or the church is asleep, apathetic, and stingy. God has said, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 1 Tim. 5:18. God will honor the one who honors Him.

Everything from the church of the living God that could dishonor the holy name of God must be eliminated. The evil should be banished from the church of God. The elders in each church have to watch that everything is done correctly. Fellowship in the Spirit must knit us together in love, so that each member of the church not only gets nourishment, but also feels safe and at home. No one should speak beyond the light and grace they have been given at that moment. Long speeches and long prayers quench the Spirit. Everything that a person does in the church should be to edification, so anything that is not edifying must be removed.