1 00:00:00,260 --> 00:00:02,800 Now, let's go beyond that, because we run 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,560 into other situations as well, and sometimes believers 3 00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:08,400 ask the question, well, why should not we 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,920 have in a local assembly, why shouldn't we 5 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:11,880 have a faith pastor? 6 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,960 Why shouldn't we have one man that's really 7 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:17,020 able to preach? 8 00:00:17,180 --> 00:00:18,900 You know, I don't know, I get so 9 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:21,680 tired of hearing these brethren get up and 10 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,480 they stumble around like I do, and they 11 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,120 don't say things very well, and they don't 12 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,120 seem to have a good message, and you 13 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:30,320 can go on and on, can't you? 14 00:00:31,119 --> 00:00:34,740 I sympathize with that, because in a good 15 00:00:34,740 --> 00:00:38,140 measure, it's true, because we're not polished preachers, 16 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:38,580 are we? 17 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,760 I hear some of these men preaching on 18 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,120 the radio, or if you ever look at 19 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,360 a television now and then, you'll see men 20 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,680 that are really able to handle a message 21 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,640 and deliver it wonderfully, and, you know, we 22 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,160 look at our local brethren and we say, 23 00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:57,720 well, there's nothing like that. 24 00:00:58,780 --> 00:01:01,220 I don't know, maybe that thing is so, 25 00:01:01,380 --> 00:01:04,140 maybe better, to have one man that's really 26 00:01:04,140 --> 00:01:07,320 trained and a man that's really able to 27 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:10,660 devote his time entirely to the Word of 28 00:01:10,660 --> 00:01:12,240 God and to do all this work of 29 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,880 visiting the saints and to encourage the people 30 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,100 and do all these things that are necessary. 31 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:20,680 And I believe that there are younger believers 32 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,600 as well as maybe older ones as well, 33 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:25,860 that they look at that and they say, 34 00:01:25,940 --> 00:01:28,760 well, why, why, why don't we have, why 35 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:30,500 isn't it possible that we could have just 36 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:33,060 one man that would take that responsibility? 37 00:01:34,140 --> 00:01:36,200 Because after all, they would say, you know, 38 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,560 places that do that and they've got an 39 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,640 attractive speaker and he's able to preach real 40 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,000 well, you know, they see growth and they 41 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,140 see more people coming and they see numbers 42 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:46,880 added to them. 43 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,260 And that might be well and good, but 44 00:01:50,260 --> 00:01:51,960 the question is, is it right? 45 00:01:53,970 --> 00:01:55,550 I think that if you look at church 46 00:01:55,550 --> 00:01:58,270 history, and I think church history is interesting 47 00:01:58,270 --> 00:02:02,170 to read, sometimes it's discouraging, sometimes it's disheartening 48 00:02:02,170 --> 00:02:04,250 when you look at the pathway and the 49 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:07,009 development of practices that we have today, but 50 00:02:07,009 --> 00:02:08,970 if you look at church history, you'll recognize 51 00:02:08,970 --> 00:02:10,590 the fact that it was early on in 52 00:02:10,590 --> 00:02:12,270 the history of the church that this kind 53 00:02:12,270 --> 00:02:13,110 of thing came in. 54 00:02:14,130 --> 00:02:16,050 In fact, I take it that Paul was 55 00:02:16,050 --> 00:02:19,690 indicating to the elders in Ephesus, when he 56 00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:22,910 called them to Miletus, that he anticipated that 57 00:02:22,910 --> 00:02:26,070 very shortly after his departure, these things would 58 00:02:26,070 --> 00:02:29,050 happen with men arising that would seek to 59 00:02:29,050 --> 00:02:30,230 gather men unto themselves. 60 00:02:31,110 --> 00:02:33,130 So it's been a tendency, even from the 61 00:02:33,130 --> 00:02:35,890 first century, the second century, right into the 62 00:02:35,890 --> 00:02:37,850 third and fourth century, where it really began 63 00:02:37,850 --> 00:02:40,650 to blossom, and there was a hierarchy of 64 00:02:40,650 --> 00:02:44,710 authority that was developed in terms of local 65 00:02:44,710 --> 00:02:48,730 preachers and then bishops and then archbishops and 66 00:02:48,730 --> 00:02:50,770 all the rest that eventually developed from it. 67 00:02:52,010 --> 00:02:53,930 So why don't we believe that we ought 68 00:02:53,930 --> 00:02:55,050 to have a paid pastor? 69 00:02:55,450 --> 00:02:57,970 One man or two men that would be 70 00:02:57,970 --> 00:03:01,630 supported by the contributions of the assembly of 71 00:03:01,630 --> 00:03:03,670 the church and they would be able to 72 00:03:03,670 --> 00:03:05,630 carry on that work and do it in 73 00:03:05,630 --> 00:03:06,730 a very excellent way. 74 00:03:06,890 --> 00:03:09,270 Let me give you five reasons why, six 75 00:03:09,270 --> 00:03:11,850 reasons, actually I've got written down here, six 76 00:03:11,850 --> 00:03:13,890 reasons why I believe that that is not 77 00:03:13,890 --> 00:03:15,710 according to the word of God. 78 00:03:16,810 --> 00:03:19,010 I just read today, actually I just picked 79 00:03:19,010 --> 00:03:21,230 up Truth and Tidings magazine and found out 80 00:03:21,230 --> 00:03:23,390 that there's a series of articles in Truth 81 00:03:23,390 --> 00:03:24,950 and Tidings that has taken up the very 82 00:03:24,950 --> 00:03:26,250 subject that I'm speaking on here. 83 00:03:27,310 --> 00:03:29,110 So I guess I could just encourage you 84 00:03:29,110 --> 00:03:31,490 to go home and read the magazine and 85 00:03:31,490 --> 00:03:33,550 save you the trouble of coming to meeting. 86 00:03:34,690 --> 00:03:36,830 But nevertheless, I didn't read the article because 87 00:03:36,830 --> 00:03:39,710 I didn't want to just import that brother's 88 00:03:39,710 --> 00:03:41,670 ideas and thoughts into what I have in 89 00:03:41,670 --> 00:03:41,950 mind. 90 00:03:42,130 --> 00:03:44,230 So I left that aside, maybe I'll read 91 00:03:44,230 --> 00:03:44,670 it tomorrow. 92 00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:50,030 The first reason I believe that the practice 93 00:03:50,030 --> 00:03:52,330 of having a paid pastor is not right 94 00:03:52,330 --> 00:03:54,610 is of course it's contrary to the word 95 00:03:54,610 --> 00:03:55,170 of God. 96 00:03:56,910 --> 00:03:59,070 Let's look in 1 Corinthians chapter 14. 97 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:07,040 I have a tendency to get started speaking 98 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,720 here and forget to read the scriptures that 99 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:11,360 I'm referring to, but it's good to read 100 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:11,820 them together. 101 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,300 This entire section commencing with chapter 11 and 102 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:17,279 going to the end of chapter 14, I 103 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,880 believe, is a description of the order that 104 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,600 prevailed in a local assembly meeting, possibly one 105 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:25,080 meeting. 106 00:04:26,180 --> 00:04:28,960 But due to the conditions that existed in 107 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:30,860 that day, possibly they were only able to 108 00:04:30,860 --> 00:04:34,200 come together one time a week, possibly even 109 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:35,840 in the evening of the Lord's day. 110 00:04:36,620 --> 00:04:38,340 We don't know that, but we do know 111 00:04:38,340 --> 00:04:40,340 that this is a description of how a 112 00:04:40,340 --> 00:04:43,780 meeting of the assembly was carried out in 113 00:04:43,780 --> 00:04:44,920 the days of the New Testament. 114 00:04:45,140 --> 00:04:49,700 Paul, as an apostle, has seen this assembly 115 00:04:49,700 --> 00:04:52,000 planted and he has also given instruction for 116 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,120 how it should be continued in its practice. 117 00:04:55,940 --> 00:04:59,360 Now notice in chapter 14 and verse 26, 118 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,080 this is the chapter that deals with the 119 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,600 exercise of gift and its profitability. 120 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,820 How is it then, brethren, when ye come 121 00:05:07,820 --> 00:05:11,740 together, and that expression always indicates a gathering 122 00:05:11,740 --> 00:05:14,760 of the local assembly, when ye come together, 123 00:05:14,860 --> 00:05:17,800 every one of you hath a psalm, hath 124 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,360 a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, 125 00:05:22,020 --> 00:05:24,860 hath an interpretation, let all things be done 126 00:05:24,860 --> 00:05:26,020 unto edifying. 127 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:29,380 And then we find that there are those 128 00:05:29,380 --> 00:05:31,340 who would speak, one or two or three, 129 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,380 and in verse 29 we have the prophet 130 00:05:35,380 --> 00:05:36,620 speaking two or three. 131 00:05:36,980 --> 00:05:39,160 It seems it's possible that in one meeting 132 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:40,860 of the assembly there, there might have been 133 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:43,540 four or five different individuals that would have 134 00:05:43,540 --> 00:05:45,380 spoken, not just one. 135 00:05:45,980 --> 00:05:47,520 So the meeting might have gone for quite 136 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:47,880 a while. 137 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,720 So in this case, the apostle Paul, by 138 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,860 the Spirit of God, is telling these believers 139 00:05:54,860 --> 00:05:57,360 that they are responsible to come together with 140 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:02,780 the anticipation of participating and contributing something in 141 00:06:02,780 --> 00:06:04,120 one of these various forms. 142 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,110 Now, that indicates that there was the opportunity 143 00:06:10,110 --> 00:06:10,730 to do it. 144 00:06:12,150 --> 00:06:14,310 That indicates that there was not one man 145 00:06:14,310 --> 00:06:15,810 that was going to do all the speaking, 146 00:06:16,010 --> 00:06:21,670 but there was going to be, there were 147 00:06:21,670 --> 00:06:23,470 going to be contributions, there was going to 148 00:06:23,470 --> 00:06:26,370 be the participation of all these different individuals. 149 00:06:27,890 --> 00:06:29,610 And it's all going to be done unto 150 00:06:29,610 --> 00:06:30,090 edifying. 151 00:06:31,350 --> 00:06:32,710 I think that in the first part of 152 00:06:32,710 --> 00:06:34,890 the book of, in the first part of 153 00:06:34,890 --> 00:06:38,070 Acts chapter 13, if you look carefully there, 154 00:06:38,150 --> 00:06:39,930 you'll notice that I believe anyway, if I 155 00:06:39,930 --> 00:06:42,890 remember right, there are five brethren in that 156 00:06:42,890 --> 00:06:45,890 assembly in Antioch that took the primary responsibility 157 00:06:45,890 --> 00:06:47,490 for guiding that assembly. 158 00:06:48,370 --> 00:06:49,990 They might have been the elders of the 159 00:06:49,990 --> 00:06:53,090 assembly, but nevertheless there was a plurality of 160 00:06:53,090 --> 00:06:56,510 those that were ministering unto the Lord and 161 00:06:56,510 --> 00:06:58,150 engaged in the work of the Lord in 162 00:06:58,150 --> 00:06:59,350 that particular assembly. 163 00:07:00,670 --> 00:07:02,150 So that what we find in the New 164 00:07:02,150 --> 00:07:07,610 Testament is a teaching that indicates very clearly 165 00:07:07,610 --> 00:07:11,870 that God intends that a local assembly will 166 00:07:11,870 --> 00:07:15,510 be supported, it will be maintained by the 167 00:07:15,510 --> 00:07:18,950 ministry given by all of those that are 168 00:07:18,950 --> 00:07:22,310 qualified, all those that are exercised to take 169 00:07:22,310 --> 00:07:22,950 part in it. 170 00:07:23,330 --> 00:07:26,850 It's a matter of being open under the 171 00:07:26,850 --> 00:07:29,030 control of the Spirit of God, under the 172 00:07:29,030 --> 00:07:30,850 control of the elders of the assembly. 173 00:07:32,330 --> 00:07:34,350 So that if we look at this situation 174 00:07:34,350 --> 00:07:36,310 just in the New Testament, bring it into 175 00:07:36,310 --> 00:07:38,270 our day to day, we recognize that that's 176 00:07:38,270 --> 00:07:41,390 the way God intended an assembly to function. 177 00:07:42,130 --> 00:07:44,070 The second reason why I believe it is 178 00:07:44,070 --> 00:07:46,730 wrong to have a paid pastor is that, 179 00:07:47,730 --> 00:07:49,610 following on what I've already been saying, it 180 00:07:49,610 --> 00:07:50,990 quenches the Holy Spirit. 181 00:07:52,570 --> 00:07:55,370 Turn over to 1 Thessalonians 5 where we 182 00:07:55,370 --> 00:08:02,750 have that expression, 1 Thessalonians 5, and he's 183 00:08:02,750 --> 00:08:07,850 giving very brief, succinct instructions to the believers 184 00:08:07,850 --> 00:08:08,330 here. 185 00:08:10,030 --> 00:08:13,330 It seems to go in groups, but starting 186 00:08:13,330 --> 00:08:15,190 in verse 19 we have a group that 187 00:08:15,190 --> 00:08:18,650 has to do with the exercise of spiritual 188 00:08:18,650 --> 00:08:20,790 gift or spiritual exercise. 189 00:08:21,650 --> 00:08:24,530 Chapter 5 and verse 19, quench not the 190 00:08:24,530 --> 00:08:31,789 Spirit, despise not prophesying, but prove all things, 191 00:08:31,929 --> 00:08:34,010 hold fast that which is good. 192 00:08:36,530 --> 00:08:38,450 So that you put these three verses together 193 00:08:38,450 --> 00:08:40,929 because they do seem to indicate a sequence 194 00:08:41,549 --> 00:08:43,730 that first of all, the Spirit of God 195 00:08:43,730 --> 00:08:44,990 is not to be quenched. 196 00:08:44,990 --> 00:08:49,010 That means the purpose that he has and 197 00:08:49,010 --> 00:08:50,850 the work that he would accomplish is not 198 00:08:50,850 --> 00:08:54,490 to be suppressed, is not to be hindered 199 00:08:54,490 --> 00:08:55,170 in any way. 200 00:08:56,110 --> 00:08:58,070 And that's in the context, he says, of 201 00:08:58,070 --> 00:09:00,370 despising not prophesying. 202 00:09:01,290 --> 00:09:02,970 I take that in two ways. 203 00:09:03,070 --> 00:09:06,230 We could quench the Spirit by refusing or 204 00:09:06,230 --> 00:09:09,770 not allowing the exercise of the Spirit of 205 00:09:09,770 --> 00:09:11,830 God in a brother, in a form of 206 00:09:11,830 --> 00:09:14,990 public participation, or we could also quench the 207 00:09:14,990 --> 00:09:16,970 Spirit and not be willing to listen to 208 00:09:16,970 --> 00:09:19,290 what the Spirit of God has given him 209 00:09:19,290 --> 00:09:20,490 to deliver to the saints. 210 00:09:20,990 --> 00:09:23,090 But he says there's a necessity that we 211 00:09:23,090 --> 00:09:25,870 do not quench the Spirit, we do not 212 00:09:25,870 --> 00:09:30,230 despise prophesying, but he says we prove all 213 00:09:30,230 --> 00:09:32,610 things, we put them to the test, and 214 00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:34,390 we hold fast that which is good. 215 00:09:35,390 --> 00:09:37,830 So of course it indicates that there must 216 00:09:37,830 --> 00:09:40,910 be intelligent listeners and there must be the 217 00:09:40,910 --> 00:09:43,610 ability to understand what is being said and 218 00:09:43,610 --> 00:09:45,510 tested in light of the word of God. 219 00:09:46,630 --> 00:09:48,410 Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 5 220 00:09:48,410 --> 00:09:53,210 for another development on that same theme, chapter 221 00:09:53,210 --> 00:09:53,890 4 rather. 222 00:09:54,470 --> 00:10:00,080 1 Peter chapter 4 and we'll read from 223 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:00,620 verse 10. 224 00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:05,220 As every man hath received the gift, even 225 00:10:05,220 --> 00:10:07,720 so minister the same one to another as 226 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,320 good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 227 00:10:11,660 --> 00:10:14,940 If any man speak, let him speak as 228 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:17,240 the oracles of God, that is, as one 229 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,220 who has a message from God himself as 230 00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:22,460 being delivered to the saints. 231 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,320 If any man minister or serve, let him 232 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,160 do it as of the ability which God 233 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,060 supplieth, that God in all things may be 234 00:10:31,060 --> 00:10:34,640 glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory 235 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,760 or praise and dominion for ever and ever. 236 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,040 So Peter again is saying basically the same 237 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,340 thing, that there was to be the liberty 238 00:10:44,340 --> 00:10:47,840 afforded the Spirit of God that he might 239 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:53,360 direct, he might use instruments that are qualified 240 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,640 to take part in that public way. 241 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:57,980 So quench the Spirit. 242 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:02,200 One has said, I believe accurately, that the 243 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,820 one-man ministry in our religious world today 244 00:11:06,820 --> 00:11:10,200 is perhaps the sin against the Holy Spirit 245 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,860 of God, contrary to the mind of God 246 00:11:12,860 --> 00:11:13,360 entirely. 247 00:11:13,660 --> 00:11:17,420 Very quickly, because time is going, but one 248 00:11:17,420 --> 00:11:20,660 -man ministry also assumes that one man has 249 00:11:20,660 --> 00:11:21,960 all the needed gift. 250 00:11:23,380 --> 00:11:25,320 It assumes that he has all the gifts 251 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,060 that are needed to be able to minister 252 00:11:27,060 --> 00:11:28,740 to the Lord's people adequately. 253 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,960 There's a need for certain kinds of gifts, 254 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,760 and God has given diversity, and he's given 255 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:36,860 them to different individuals. 256 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:38,700 That's not to say that one person might 257 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:40,020 not have more than one gift. 258 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,800 They might have the gift of an evangelist, 259 00:11:42,820 --> 00:11:44,240 they might also have the gift of a 260 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,820 teacher, and they might have other gifts as 261 00:11:46,820 --> 00:11:50,680 well, but when we assume that one man 262 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:52,780 is going to have all the gift that 263 00:11:52,780 --> 00:11:55,440 is needed, we're denying the fact that 1 264 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,300 Corinthians chapter 12 indicates that the Spirit of 265 00:11:59,300 --> 00:12:03,300 God gives gift to every man individually, dividing 266 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:07,020 it severally or individually as he will. 267 00:12:07,620 --> 00:12:09,480 So he is the one that determines that, 268 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,980 and he knows the need in any particular 269 00:12:11,980 --> 00:12:12,400 company. 270 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:14,820 And so he is the one who would 271 00:12:14,820 --> 00:12:17,900 direct and he would enable us that we 272 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:19,980 might use that in a proper way. 273 00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:23,400 So we recognize the fact that if there 274 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,800 are different brethren and they have different gifts 275 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,540 and different abilities, different ways of presenting truth, 276 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:33,180 different manners in which they can be used 277 00:12:33,180 --> 00:12:36,140 of God in a local assembly capacity, then 278 00:12:36,140 --> 00:12:40,360 those all working together are more effective and 279 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,860 more helpful if it's being carried out in 280 00:12:42,860 --> 00:12:43,600 a proper way. 281 00:12:44,740 --> 00:12:46,920 So that's the third reason I believe that 282 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:48,640 that would be a mistake. 283 00:12:48,780 --> 00:12:51,800 The fourth reason is that one man ministry 284 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:57,460 prevents spiritual exercise and development in the brethren 285 00:12:57,460 --> 00:12:58,180 of an assembly. 286 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,740 I never forget when I was not very 287 00:13:01,740 --> 00:13:03,660 long married, I don't know how long ago 288 00:13:03,660 --> 00:13:05,920 that was, I know that I was married, 289 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:08,420 sorry, 41 years ago if you want to 290 00:13:08,420 --> 00:13:11,040 know, but I don't know exactly when this 291 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,380 particular event took place, but I remember the 292 00:13:14,380 --> 00:13:16,160 brethren of our assembly, I was in Seattle, 293 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,140 Washington at the time, in Woodland Gospel Hall, 294 00:13:19,020 --> 00:13:22,440 and the brethren encouraged me to take a 295 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,860 part in the ministry of the Word of 296 00:13:24,860 --> 00:13:26,500 God which we had on Wednesday night. 297 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,300 We had the Bible reading on the Lord's 298 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:32,720 Day during the Sunday school, and on Wednesday 299 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,720 night we had prayer meeting first, and there 300 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,040 was 30 minutes for ministry at the end. 301 00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:40,460 I'll never forget what I first spoke on 302 00:13:40,460 --> 00:13:42,160 either, still sticks in my mind. 303 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,320 And what I spoke on then is what 304 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,400 I'm still trying to learn now in relation 305 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:48,200 to what it was. 306 00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:51,120 But nevertheless, that was the beginning in a 307 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:51,440 sense. 308 00:13:51,700 --> 00:13:54,000 They not only recognized some measure of ability, 309 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,800 I hope they did anyway for some reason, 310 00:13:56,300 --> 00:13:58,300 but they encouraged us to take part and 311 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:00,820 they encouraged us to participate, and they were 312 00:14:00,820 --> 00:14:02,060 a great help to us. 313 00:14:02,860 --> 00:14:08,020 Brother McNichol and Brother Hale and Brother, what 314 00:14:08,020 --> 00:14:09,720 was his name, I can't remember now, but 315 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,520 anyway, Brother Hostinick, the three brethren that were 316 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,340 responsible in the assembly, they joined together to 317 00:14:15,340 --> 00:14:18,620 encourage younger brethren to participate and to develop 318 00:14:18,620 --> 00:14:19,160 their gift. 319 00:14:21,650 --> 00:14:23,310 I've said this before here in Blue River, 320 00:14:23,430 --> 00:14:24,810 I don't mind saying it again, that I 321 00:14:24,810 --> 00:14:27,250 really believe every assembly needs to have a 322 00:14:27,250 --> 00:14:27,870 ministry meeting. 323 00:14:28,750 --> 00:14:30,890 And that's one of the reasons, because it 324 00:14:30,890 --> 00:14:33,350 allows brethren to develop the gift that God 325 00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:35,810 has given them, and there is a necessity 326 00:14:35,810 --> 00:14:36,910 to put it into practice. 327 00:14:37,090 --> 00:14:39,370 So that if you have a one-man 328 00:14:39,370 --> 00:14:42,750 ministry or a paid pastor, that prevents individuals 329 00:14:42,750 --> 00:14:44,850 from developing that gift, because how are they 330 00:14:44,850 --> 00:14:45,590 ever going to use it? 331 00:14:46,350 --> 00:14:47,790 They have to put it into practice. 332 00:14:50,220 --> 00:14:53,380 You know, I remember as I grew up, 333 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,080 I was one who was so timid that, 334 00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:57,780 you wouldn't believe this now, would you? 335 00:14:58,140 --> 00:15:00,360 I was so timid that I was afraid 336 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:01,280 of my own voice. 337 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,140 It was terrifying for me to hear my 338 00:15:04,140 --> 00:15:04,900 voice publicly. 339 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,480 It's not terrifying, it just sort of bothers 340 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,600 me now and then, but nevertheless, I remember 341 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,020 when I was a 15-year-old boy 342 00:15:14,020 --> 00:15:15,920 and I'd asked to be baptized, and there's 343 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,080 a little assembly, only about 12 in fellowship 344 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:22,880 down there in McComb, Mississippi, and Brother Crawford, 345 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,740 dear Brother Crawford, he said, as they announced 346 00:15:26,740 --> 00:15:28,160 that I was going to be baptized the 347 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,860 next Lord's Day, if all goes well, he 348 00:15:31,860 --> 00:15:33,940 said, it would sure be nice to hear 349 00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:35,220 him tell how he got saved. 350 00:15:36,740 --> 00:15:38,840 And so there, after the Lord's Supper, I 351 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,740 was expected to tell how I got saved, 352 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,760 and I only remember the fact that I 353 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,540 was shaking in my shoes, you know, because 354 00:15:48,540 --> 00:15:49,360 it was so difficult. 355 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,100 But, you know, God gives help, and the 356 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:54,180 more we exercise ourselves in the things of 357 00:15:54,180 --> 00:15:56,880 God, the more we're accustomed and to be 358 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,080 able to communicate, we hope anyway, we try 359 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:00,640 to do that. 360 00:16:01,260 --> 00:16:03,100 And it needs to be developed and it 361 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:04,300 needs to have the opportunity. 362 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:06,840 And along with that, I would say that 363 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,640 if there's going to be public participation by 364 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,100 brethren, we need to make sure, dear brethren, 365 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:15,480 that we do everything we can to prepare 366 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,640 a message that is profitable and suitable for 367 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:20,620 the saints of God. 368 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:25,720 We have no excuse for giving poor ministry 369 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,040 to God's people within the limits of what 370 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:30,000 the people were doing. 371 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:32,620 So it prevents that. 372 00:16:32,740 --> 00:16:34,240 Two more things and I'll sit down. 373 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:36,880 The fifth thing is that it removes the 374 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,760 safeguards against failure in a man. 375 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,280 You know, there are sad results when a 376 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,740 brother or even a sister, as well, in 377 00:16:45,740 --> 00:16:49,620 an assembly fails because of either sin or 378 00:16:49,620 --> 00:16:51,780 wrong doctrine or whatever it might be in 379 00:16:51,780 --> 00:16:53,080 a local assembly capacity. 380 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:54,920 It's a moment of sadness. 381 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:55,720 It ought to be. 382 00:16:56,340 --> 00:16:58,440 And great distress to God's people. 383 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,640 But you'll understand how severe the results can 384 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:01,940 be. 385 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:04,460 If there's one man that is leading the 386 00:17:04,460 --> 00:17:08,599 gathering of saints, doing all the preaching, they 387 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:11,160 all look to him for leadership and guidance 388 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:12,700 and he falls. 389 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:15,140 And you know the results that have been 390 00:17:15,140 --> 00:17:17,220 seen in many different places when that has 391 00:17:17,220 --> 00:17:17,900 taken place. 392 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:22,640 So it's a safeguard against that by preventing 393 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,880 an individual from teaching wrong doctrine or from 394 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:31,040 leading the saints astray or even against the 395 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:35,200 effect of an individual falling morally into sin. 396 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:36,780 It's a preservative. 397 00:17:38,860 --> 00:17:43,960 I'll just say last of all that a 398 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:50,120 multiplicity of ministry in a local assembly is 399 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:52,100 a preservative in times of persecution. 400 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,640 It's interesting that in countries where Christians are 401 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:02,840 persecuted and when their gatherings are more difficult 402 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,720 to carry on, in different countries they almost 403 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,340 always revert back to the New Testament pattern. 404 00:18:08,340 --> 00:18:12,300 They go back to a principle which the 405 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:15,420 brethren in the local gathering carry on the 406 00:18:15,420 --> 00:18:16,020 responsibility. 407 00:18:16,340 --> 00:18:16,540 Why? 408 00:18:16,660 --> 00:18:19,400 Because you know the government can attack and 409 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,700 take away the one man that has the 410 00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:22,320 responsibility. 411 00:18:23,700 --> 00:18:26,240 But if there's a participation by all the 412 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:30,380 brethren, it's more difficult and there's more preservative 413 00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:32,580 preservation for God's people. 414 00:18:33,180 --> 00:18:34,500 So these are two things. 415 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:38,980 The issue of participating in interdenominational activities, whether 416 00:18:38,980 --> 00:18:41,400 it's right or not, I trust that I've 417 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,820 given you sufficient reasons why I believe that 418 00:18:45,820 --> 00:18:46,800 it is not. 419 00:18:47,540 --> 00:18:48,880 And I don't want to be negative about 420 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,600 that, but just simply to show what we 421 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,740 ought to be doing as well as why 422 00:18:52,740 --> 00:18:54,740 we do not have a paid pastor. 423 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,240 And God willing we'll look on another subject 424 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,260 tomorrow night in relation to local assembly. 425 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,820 I want to teach something having to do 426 00:19:03,820 --> 00:19:07,500 with why we believe in the head covering 427 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:12,300 in relation to our sisters and different aspects 428 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:14,320 in relation to the gathering of God's people. 429 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,200 I trust God will bless His Word and 430 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,020 help us in our practice for Him.