1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,400 These men very highly in love for their 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:06,160 work states. 3 00:00:08,260 --> 00:00:10,120 Incidentally, what was the first hymn that we 4 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:10,860 sang today? 5 00:00:12,140 --> 00:00:13,260 How many remember? 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,660 This afternoon I would like to speak to 7 00:00:20,660 --> 00:00:24,940 you about seven principles of the New Testament 8 00:00:24,940 --> 00:00:25,700 church. 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,120 For many of you this will be nothing 10 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:30,780 new at all. 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,420 Perhaps for some of the younger people it 12 00:00:33,420 --> 00:00:34,980 might be helpful. 13 00:00:34,980 --> 00:00:38,700 Seven principles of the New Testament church, and 14 00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:41,780 these certainly don't exhaust the principles either. 15 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:44,620 I'll go over them first of all, and 16 00:00:44,620 --> 00:00:47,060 then we'll just, I'll list them first of 17 00:00:47,060 --> 00:00:48,440 all, and then we'll go over them step 18 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:49,080 by step. 19 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,000 Principle number one, the truth of the one 20 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,860 body, has been already alluded to in the 21 00:00:56,860 --> 00:00:57,260 ministry. 22 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,980 There is one body. 23 00:01:01,350 --> 00:01:07,370 Principle number two, all believers are members of 24 00:01:07,370 --> 00:01:08,230 that one body. 25 00:01:10,770 --> 00:01:12,070 That also has been alluded to. 26 00:01:13,210 --> 00:01:19,250 Principle number three, the plurality of elders in 27 00:01:19,250 --> 00:01:20,510 the local assembly. 28 00:01:21,670 --> 00:01:25,570 The plurality of elders in the local assembly. 29 00:01:28,470 --> 00:01:35,510 Number four, Christ, the gathering center of his 30 00:01:35,510 --> 00:01:35,930 people. 31 00:01:36,110 --> 00:01:37,650 Am I going too fast for you? 32 00:01:38,350 --> 00:01:39,470 Use your best shorthand. 33 00:01:40,310 --> 00:01:44,390 Christ, the gathering center of his people. 34 00:01:50,060 --> 00:01:53,940 Principle number five, the gifts were given for 35 00:01:55,310 --> 00:01:57,930 the perfecting of the saints unto the work 36 00:01:57,930 --> 00:01:58,870 of the ministry. 37 00:01:59,990 --> 00:02:02,890 A truly revolutionary insight. 38 00:02:02,890 --> 00:02:05,490 The gifts were given, as we'll see in 39 00:02:05,490 --> 00:02:07,750 Ephesians 4, for the perfecting of the saints 40 00:02:07,750 --> 00:02:09,669 unto the work of the ministry. 41 00:02:11,590 --> 00:02:17,530 Principle number six, every local church autonomous. 42 00:02:19,130 --> 00:02:21,110 Responsible directly to the Lord alone. 43 00:02:21,270 --> 00:02:24,330 Every local church autonomous. 44 00:02:26,050 --> 00:02:29,790 And principle number seven, the priesthood of all 45 00:02:29,790 --> 00:02:30,590 believers. 46 00:02:31,490 --> 00:02:34,490 The priesthood of all believers. 47 00:02:34,670 --> 00:02:38,550 It's good to have convictions about the truth 48 00:02:38,550 --> 00:02:39,870 of the word of God. 49 00:02:41,150 --> 00:02:45,850 A lot of us drift through life hanging 50 00:02:45,850 --> 00:02:47,690 on to our parents' convictions. 51 00:02:48,070 --> 00:02:50,610 We've never really made them our own. 52 00:02:50,730 --> 00:02:53,230 We've never hammered them out on our own 53 00:02:53,230 --> 00:02:53,810 anvil. 54 00:02:55,230 --> 00:02:57,090 I'd like to challenge you today. 55 00:02:57,230 --> 00:03:00,570 If you don't have convictions about the New 56 00:03:00,570 --> 00:03:03,450 Testament assembly, go to the word of God. 57 00:03:03,670 --> 00:03:07,210 Ask God to show you personally what the 58 00:03:07,210 --> 00:03:08,070 truth is. 59 00:03:08,150 --> 00:03:10,990 I'll never forget years ago, dear brother Nate 60 00:03:10,990 --> 00:03:15,430 took me aside and he said, Bill, when 61 00:03:15,430 --> 00:03:18,530 you get divine principles, stick to them. 62 00:03:19,730 --> 00:03:21,870 And you know that's a needed word for 63 00:03:21,870 --> 00:03:23,030 the day in which we live. 64 00:03:23,030 --> 00:03:27,030 When you get divine principles, stick to them. 65 00:03:27,750 --> 00:03:29,870 Well, here are some principles that I believe 66 00:03:29,870 --> 00:03:30,930 to be divine. 67 00:03:31,530 --> 00:03:34,490 First of all, the truth of the one 68 00:03:34,490 --> 00:03:34,890 body. 69 00:03:35,190 --> 00:03:37,350 There is one body. 70 00:03:37,510 --> 00:03:41,770 Ephesians chapter four and verse four. 71 00:03:42,210 --> 00:03:44,070 And this is really a marvelous truth. 72 00:03:44,450 --> 00:03:46,010 And it's a precious truth. 73 00:03:46,870 --> 00:03:50,750 Although everything in the religious world seems to 74 00:03:50,750 --> 00:03:52,050 deny it today. 75 00:03:52,850 --> 00:03:54,810 As you look about you in the world 76 00:03:54,810 --> 00:04:01,230 today, it seems that the body is decimated. 77 00:04:02,330 --> 00:04:04,170 But the truth is there just the same. 78 00:04:04,270 --> 00:04:06,290 The truth of God, there is one body 79 00:04:06,290 --> 00:04:08,050 and only one body. 80 00:04:09,050 --> 00:04:12,790 Lord, keep me from sectarianism. 81 00:04:13,930 --> 00:04:16,990 Keep me from a sectarian heart. 82 00:04:17,110 --> 00:04:19,910 You know, I believe sectarianism is native in 83 00:04:19,910 --> 00:04:21,110 the fallen human heart. 84 00:04:21,430 --> 00:04:22,010 I really do. 85 00:04:23,130 --> 00:04:25,210 And you and I have to battle it 86 00:04:25,210 --> 00:04:26,410 all the time. 87 00:04:27,230 --> 00:04:29,210 And we have to stand for this truth 88 00:04:29,210 --> 00:04:31,650 in our actions as well as in our 89 00:04:31,650 --> 00:04:32,150 hearts. 90 00:04:32,450 --> 00:04:35,170 The truth of the one body. 91 00:04:36,530 --> 00:04:37,410 What are you? 92 00:04:38,190 --> 00:04:39,830 People come to me all the time, what 93 00:04:39,830 --> 00:04:40,490 are you? 94 00:04:40,490 --> 00:04:42,130 And I say, I'm a Christian. 95 00:04:42,210 --> 00:04:43,530 They say, of course you're a Christian, you're 96 00:04:43,530 --> 00:04:43,770 saved. 97 00:04:43,810 --> 00:04:44,990 Everyone who's saved is a Christian. 98 00:04:45,070 --> 00:04:46,030 You've got to be something else. 99 00:04:46,690 --> 00:04:47,870 Well, I say, I'm a saint. 100 00:04:47,950 --> 00:04:49,850 Well, they say all true believers are saints. 101 00:04:50,010 --> 00:04:51,370 But what else are you? 102 00:04:51,430 --> 00:04:53,010 Well, I'm a disciple of the Lord. 103 00:04:53,170 --> 00:04:55,690 Well, they say, now quit emphasizing the obvious. 104 00:04:56,170 --> 00:04:57,630 You see, they're trying to get me in 105 00:04:57,630 --> 00:04:58,410 a pigeonhole. 106 00:04:58,870 --> 00:05:01,210 And when I refuse to be pigeonholed, they 107 00:05:01,210 --> 00:05:04,350 say to me, I know you're a brethren. 108 00:05:05,190 --> 00:05:08,290 And there's a look of triumph in their 109 00:05:08,290 --> 00:05:08,730 eyes. 110 00:05:09,730 --> 00:05:12,710 And I say, I'm a brethren in the 111 00:05:12,710 --> 00:05:14,890 same way you're a brethren if you're a 112 00:05:14,890 --> 00:05:15,710 born-again believer. 113 00:05:17,110 --> 00:05:20,330 I utterly and absolutely refuse such a name 114 00:05:20,330 --> 00:05:21,710 as Plymouth Brethren. 115 00:05:22,790 --> 00:05:24,430 In fact, I chuckle every time I hear 116 00:05:24,430 --> 00:05:24,650 it. 117 00:05:25,850 --> 00:05:26,590 Plymouth Brethren. 118 00:05:26,830 --> 00:05:29,610 It's a self-contradictory expression. 119 00:05:30,010 --> 00:05:31,310 It's like Roman Catholic. 120 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:34,490 Catholic means universal and Roman means not universal. 121 00:05:36,770 --> 00:05:38,130 Roman means Italian. 122 00:05:38,630 --> 00:05:53,140 You can 123 00:05:53,140 --> 00:06:00,190 be anything but a member of Christ today. 124 00:06:00,490 --> 00:06:01,130 It's thrilling. 125 00:06:04,260 --> 00:06:06,040 Now, having said that, let me say something. 126 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,760 You look around in the evangelical world, and 127 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,320 really there's an awful lot that makes my 128 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:14,940 heart heavy. 129 00:06:17,370 --> 00:06:19,470 I've met some of the promoters. 130 00:06:27,910 --> 00:06:29,250 I've met the gadgeteers. 131 00:06:29,650 --> 00:06:32,000 I've met the men. 132 00:07:00,100 --> 00:07:01,280 And the more you know about it, the 133 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:02,080 more disappointed. 134 00:07:34,020 --> 00:07:36,540 The sins of the nation, and he made 135 00:07:36,540 --> 00:07:37,080 them his own. 136 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,580 It is the body of Christ. 137 00:08:09,730 --> 00:08:10,210 Gadgeteering. 138 00:08:28,610 --> 00:08:31,429 People say, we had a lovely time on 139 00:08:31,429 --> 00:08:32,110 our vacation. 140 00:08:32,610 --> 00:08:34,570 There were some Baptist Christians there, but it's 141 00:08:34,570 --> 00:08:35,610 so nice to be back. 142 00:08:54,910 --> 00:08:58,150 We're all a part of that same bundle. 143 00:09:00,730 --> 00:09:08,180 To stand here in my everyday life. 144 00:09:08,420 --> 00:09:10,340 I have to give witness to it by 145 00:09:10,340 --> 00:09:14,860 all means that I belong to that body. 146 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:17,400 I take my place for that. 147 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:27,320 The second truth is that all true 148 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,840 believers are members of the body of Christ. 149 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,820 We had that this morning, didn't we, in 150 00:09:32,820 --> 00:09:35,780 1 Corinthians 12, verses 12 and 13. 151 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:40,970 Four by one spirit into one body. 152 00:09:41,030 --> 00:09:42,350 You know, it's a beautiful thing. 153 00:09:42,590 --> 00:09:45,490 I think we gloss over these truths sometimes, 154 00:09:45,610 --> 00:09:51,370 and we say, I think I can see 155 00:09:51,370 --> 00:10:09,210 in some people, 156 00:10:09,390 --> 00:10:14,010 and a Mary Magdalene, and a Charles Coulson, 157 00:10:14,770 --> 00:10:18,610 and an Eldridge Cleaver, and I believe a 158 00:10:18,610 --> 00:10:22,590 Jimmy Carter, and a Bill McDonald, and make 159 00:10:22,590 --> 00:10:24,070 them all members of the body. 160 00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:46,240 Pretty poor raw material. 161 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:07,420 I have never. 162 00:11:30,740 --> 00:12:04,750 I mean, I agree when they 163 00:12:04,750 --> 00:12:05,550 teach me something. 164 00:12:06,410 --> 00:12:07,470 Fervency in prayer. 165 00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:23,520 And in many of their fellowships, they 166 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:23,940 reach. 167 00:12:34,260 --> 00:12:36,480 And I think sometimes that we can react. 168 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:52,420 But all true believers are members of the 169 00:12:52,420 --> 00:12:53,320 body of Christ. 170 00:12:53,460 --> 00:12:54,120 And how wonderful. 171 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:55,980 We're going to spend eternity with them. 172 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,140 I guess the Lord really first brought this 173 00:12:58,140 --> 00:12:59,960 home to me in a very real and 174 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:01,580 practical way during the war years. 175 00:13:02,940 --> 00:13:04,420 I tell you, you get out to some 176 00:13:04,420 --> 00:13:09,080 of those places, and you meet somebody about 177 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:18,890 him, and my, the warm fellowship 178 00:13:18,890 --> 00:13:21,570 you can have just around the person of 179 00:13:21,570 --> 00:13:23,490 the Lord Jesus Christ. 180 00:13:23,570 --> 00:13:24,250 What a precious. 181 00:13:26,350 --> 00:13:28,590 Well, I see another great principle in the 182 00:13:28,590 --> 00:13:29,910 word of God, and to me a very 183 00:13:29,910 --> 00:13:30,430 important. 184 00:13:34,940 --> 00:13:36,780 In the word of God, that God has 185 00:13:36,780 --> 00:13:40,560 ordained that in the local fellowship, there should 186 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:42,260 be a group of elders. 187 00:13:42,260 --> 00:13:43,940 Now, there are many verses we could turn 188 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:44,740 to in this regard. 189 00:13:50,190 --> 00:13:55,120 It's interesting how the Lord used this. 190 00:13:55,180 --> 00:13:56,700 He used this one in my life. 191 00:13:56,780 --> 00:13:58,780 Philippians chapter 1, verse 1. 192 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:04,440 It says, Paul and Timotheus, the servants of 193 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,200 Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ 194 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,680 Jesus, which are at Philippi with the bishops 195 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:12,520 and the deacons. 196 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,260 Now, here's Paul, a Christian gentleman, and he's 197 00:14:16,260 --> 00:14:18,800 writing a letter to the fellowship, to the 198 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,240 assembly there in Philippi, and he addresses it 199 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:26,600 to the saints with the bishops, the elders, 200 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:28,180 and the deacons. 201 00:14:29,580 --> 00:14:31,260 Now, that's very significant to me. 202 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,020 I see three, I don't want to use 203 00:14:34,020 --> 00:14:35,880 the word classes, three groups there. 204 00:14:36,260 --> 00:14:40,920 The saints, the bishops or elders, and the 205 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:41,260 deacons. 206 00:14:42,620 --> 00:14:44,980 Now, if there had been a one-man 207 00:14:44,980 --> 00:14:48,880 minister in that church in Philippi, wouldn't you 208 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,600 think that Paul, a Christian gentleman, would have 209 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:52,320 acknowledged him? 210 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,400 Why didn't he mention him in this first 211 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:57,520 part of his epistle? 212 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,960 The reason he mentioned him is because such 213 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:00,880 a man didn't exist. 214 00:15:06,820 --> 00:15:08,460 But I don't have to labor the point 215 00:15:08,460 --> 00:15:10,360 because if you go to the Christian libraries 216 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:17,380 and say, we don't have to fight that, 217 00:15:19,570 --> 00:15:22,910 I could turn to common sense and say, 218 00:15:22,910 --> 00:15:31,270 look, this one-man ministry doesn't exist in 219 00:15:31,270 --> 00:15:32,370 the primitive church. 220 00:15:32,470 --> 00:15:33,290 They agree with that. 221 00:15:33,290 --> 00:15:43,280 It is an important point that all 222 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:58,700 over the world, in every land, be 223 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:10,490 there really in the ship, 224 00:16:10,590 --> 00:16:17,770 the elders, and they were carried today, and 225 00:16:17,770 --> 00:16:31,060 they didn't have a lot, and 226 00:16:31,060 --> 00:16:43,470 then you go, really 227 00:16:43,470 --> 00:16:44,230 work. 228 00:16:44,530 --> 00:16:47,950 And it's beautiful when you see them working. 229 00:16:48,350 --> 00:16:50,110 And this is a very important principle. 230 00:16:56,500 --> 00:17:08,890 When you think of the count, they 231 00:17:08,890 --> 00:17:58,540 share with you today that the 232 00:17:58,540 --> 00:18:11,380 early morning, in their difficulties, elders who, but 233 00:18:11,380 --> 00:18:12,080 that isn't all. 234 00:18:12,220 --> 00:18:14,020 There are other principles that we want to 235 00:18:14,020 --> 00:18:16,380 think of today, and I think one of 236 00:18:16,380 --> 00:18:18,020 the important ones that I'd like to mention 237 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:26,240 is that the gifts are given of his 238 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:26,680 people. 239 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,260 Where two or three are gathered together in 240 00:18:29,260 --> 00:18:32,020 my name, there am I in the midst 241 00:18:32,020 --> 00:18:32,840 of them. 242 00:18:33,060 --> 00:18:36,600 Christ, the gathering center of his people. 243 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:38,440 This means a lot to me, and I'll 244 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:39,820 tell you how it comes to me. 245 00:18:41,260 --> 00:18:43,240 We don't gather to a man. 246 00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:47,450 We gather to the Lord Jesus. 247 00:18:49,780 --> 00:18:52,560 Unto him shall the gathering of the people 248 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:52,860 be. 249 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,460 We see so much, especially out where I 250 00:18:55,460 --> 00:18:58,440 live, where you get a gifted man of 251 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,560 God, a good preacher, and he stands there. 252 00:19:02,820 --> 00:19:15,640 Sometimes he is, I 253 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:16,620 don't think it's exaggerated. 254 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:43,580 We come to the meetings of the local 255 00:19:43,580 --> 00:19:43,820 assembly. 256 00:19:43,860 --> 00:19:47,420 I'm just a, but I believe when we 257 00:19:47,420 --> 00:20:39,920 come to the meetings of the Lord, and 258 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,280 we wouldn't have missed it. 259 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:55,610 We meet in the presence in 260 00:20:55,610 --> 00:20:56,070 Illinois. 261 00:20:58,380 --> 00:21:00,060 And nobody who's ever at that meeting will 262 00:21:00,060 --> 00:21:00,820 ever forget it. 263 00:21:00,940 --> 00:21:04,340 If you were to go to Chicago, in 264 00:21:04,340 --> 00:21:18,770 your mind, when 265 00:21:18,770 --> 00:21:32,530 the Lord, special 266 00:21:32,530 --> 00:21:35,410 moving of the Holy Spirit. 267 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,300 A few months later, I got a letter 268 00:21:40,300 --> 00:21:43,120 from a dear young brother whom I had 269 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:44,140 known very well. 270 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:48,540 And he said to me, my life has 271 00:21:48,540 --> 00:21:49,520 never been the same. 272 00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:55,780 All the bitter, bitter regrets. 273 00:21:58,490 --> 00:22:01,410 But maybe the Lord can still salvage something 274 00:22:01,410 --> 00:22:02,230 from my life. 275 00:22:07,310 --> 00:22:08,250 He and his family packed. 276 00:22:14,420 --> 00:22:33,290 I say there are times worship 277 00:22:33,290 --> 00:22:40,680 meetings, and once again, the hearts of God, 278 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,300 and I really believe where you get a 279 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:48,360 group, and who act upon it, you'll have 280 00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:49,900 people who know why they're there. 281 00:24:01,660 --> 00:24:10,960 Chapter four, the fourth chapter of Ephesians, chapter 282 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:11,340 four. 283 00:24:14,500 --> 00:24:17,900 And I'll begin reading in verse seven. 284 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:19,600 Ephesians four and seven. 285 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,040 But unto every one of us is given 286 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,080 grace according to the measure of the gift 287 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:26,960 of Christ. 288 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:30,740 Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on 289 00:24:30,740 --> 00:24:33,320 high, he let captivity captive and gave gifts 290 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:34,000 unto men. 291 00:24:34,740 --> 00:24:36,740 Now that he ascended, what is it but 292 00:24:36,740 --> 00:24:39,800 that he also descended first into the lower 293 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:41,420 parts of the earth. 294 00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:44,360 He that descended is the same also that 295 00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:47,120 ascended up far above all heavens, that he 296 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:48,940 might fill all things. 297 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:53,660 And he gave some apostles and some prophets 298 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:58,340 and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers 299 00:24:58,860 --> 00:25:01,420 for the perfecting of the faith unto the 300 00:25:01,420 --> 00:25:02,720 work of the ministry. 301 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,180 Unto the edifying of the body of Christ 302 00:25:06,180 --> 00:25:07,740 till we all come in the unity of 303 00:25:07,740 --> 00:25:12,370 the faith of the perfect man unto the 304 00:25:12,370 --> 00:25:15,510 measure of the stature of the fullness of 305 00:25:15,510 --> 00:25:15,890 Christ. 306 00:25:16,270 --> 00:25:18,830 That we henceforth be no more children tossed 307 00:25:18,830 --> 00:25:21,710 to and fro, carried about with every wind 308 00:25:21,710 --> 00:25:23,530 of doctrine by the slight of men and 309 00:25:23,530 --> 00:25:23,790 cunning. 310 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,940 May grow up into him in all things 311 00:25:31,940 --> 00:25:34,780 which is the head, even Christ. 312 00:25:35,540 --> 00:25:38,620 How many years ago the Lord had dealings 313 00:25:38,620 --> 00:25:42,140 in my heart and I had to come 314 00:25:42,140 --> 00:26:38,840 to the place where I had evangelists, 315 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:50,970 pastors, and 316 00:26:50,970 --> 00:27:01,220 it says and our bill says 317 00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:11,310 to me that the apostles, they 318 00:27:11,310 --> 00:27:22,280 are not but 319 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:27,060 it is built on what they built upon 320 00:27:27,060 --> 00:27:27,680 the ministry. 321 00:28:28,930 --> 00:28:30,770 Once the foundation is laid you go and 322 00:28:30,770 --> 00:28:32,710 build upon it and Paul said that in 323 00:28:32,710 --> 00:28:33,870 1 Corinthians 3. 324 00:28:36,370 --> 00:28:39,470 So the foundation has been laid by the 325 00:28:39,470 --> 00:28:40,250 apostles and prophets. 326 00:28:40,570 --> 00:28:42,630 I don't believe the apostles and prophets are 327 00:28:42,630 --> 00:28:45,230 with us any longer although their ministry is 328 00:28:45,230 --> 00:28:46,590 with us in the pages of the New 329 00:28:46,590 --> 00:28:46,950 Testament. 330 00:28:47,750 --> 00:28:50,210 So we're not the poorer without the apostles 331 00:28:50,210 --> 00:28:53,070 and prophets because we have their ministry preserved 332 00:28:53,070 --> 00:28:55,350 for us in the sacred scriptures. 333 00:28:55,870 --> 00:28:57,050 But that leaves us with three. 334 00:28:57,570 --> 00:29:01,170 Evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 335 00:29:02,770 --> 00:29:04,590 My own personal view is that these men 336 00:29:04,590 --> 00:29:05,890 are itinerant men. 337 00:29:06,510 --> 00:29:07,670 Evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 338 00:29:07,790 --> 00:29:09,770 I don't equate the pastors here with the 339 00:29:09,770 --> 00:29:10,710 elders in an assembly. 340 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:14,650 I equate them with men like Paul Timothy 341 00:29:14,650 --> 00:29:19,070 and Titus who were sent by Paul to 342 00:29:19,070 --> 00:29:22,570 do temporary work in various assemblies. 343 00:29:22,690 --> 00:29:26,130 Timothy to Ephesus, Titus to Crete, etc. 344 00:29:26,670 --> 00:29:28,570 You have the evangelists first of all. 345 00:29:28,710 --> 00:29:31,570 These men, their sphere, their parish is the 346 00:29:33,900 --> 00:29:34,080 world. 347 00:29:34,140 --> 00:29:35,780 And they go out into the world and 348 00:29:35,780 --> 00:29:37,920 they preach the gospel of redeeming grace and 349 00:29:37,920 --> 00:30:13,110 a crucial 350 00:30:13,110 --> 00:30:14,010 key it says. 351 00:30:21,370 --> 00:30:50,860 Translation is which 352 00:30:50,860 --> 00:30:55,220 means that these gifts are extendable. 353 00:30:56,770 --> 00:30:59,470 These gifts which means that success in this 354 00:30:59,470 --> 00:31:02,750 Christian work is working yourself out of a 355 00:31:02,750 --> 00:31:06,130 job in the quickest possible time and moving 356 00:31:06,130 --> 00:31:07,530 on to new worlds to come. 357 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:13,860 Now, this isn't working today very well with 358 00:31:13,860 --> 00:31:14,640 the clerical system. 359 00:31:17,660 --> 00:31:21,200 As long as we have a clerical system 360 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,560 in the world, the body of Christ will 361 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,500 never be developed the way God intended it 362 00:31:27,500 --> 00:31:30,320 to be and the world will never be 363 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,600 evangelized the way God intended it to be. 364 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:35,680 As long as we have that system. 365 00:31:36,580 --> 00:31:38,840 God's way is best. 366 00:31:39,820 --> 00:31:42,260 God's way is for these gifts to seek 367 00:31:42,260 --> 00:31:44,360 to build up the strength for the work 368 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:46,440 of the ministry and to pass on. 369 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:50,000 The longest the Apostle Paul ever stayed in 370 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,360 one place was two years in Ephesus. 371 00:31:54,180 --> 00:31:57,300 During his lifetime he spent a total of 372 00:31:57,300 --> 00:31:59,540 three years in Ephesus. 373 00:31:59,540 --> 00:32:01,940 But at any one time the longest he 374 00:32:01,940 --> 00:32:03,080 ever stayed was two years. 375 00:32:04,740 --> 00:32:07,040 Mind you, he did better than that in 376 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:08,160 Thessalonica, didn't he? 377 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:09,460 He went in there and he preached to 378 00:32:09,460 --> 00:32:12,020 the Jews for three Sabbath days and left 379 00:32:12,020 --> 00:32:14,160 behind a functioning New Testament church. 380 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:15,820 I'm amazed every time I read it. 381 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:18,520 I think that probably was exceptional, don't you? 382 00:32:18,660 --> 00:32:21,540 Probably wasn't the norm, but it worked anyway. 383 00:32:22,660 --> 00:32:23,720 That was success. 384 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:26,400 That was really success in Christian work. 385 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:29,360 Paul didn't think that the saints should be 386 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:31,700 perpetually dependent upon him. 387 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,380 He was just thrilled to see them stand 388 00:32:35,380 --> 00:32:38,140 in their own seats and moving out for 389 00:32:38,140 --> 00:32:39,180 the Lord Jesus Christ. 390 00:32:39,220 --> 00:32:40,920 Some of you here today know T.B. 391 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:41,260 Gilbert. 392 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,360 Knew him before the Lord took him on. 393 00:32:43,620 --> 00:32:46,080 Really a valuable trooper for the Lord Jesus. 394 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,040 And use of God to see where it's 395 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:50,700 planted in different parts of the United States. 396 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,920 Some years ago he went to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 397 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:55,960 and he got on the radio and he 398 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,500 started blasting a word that saved him a 399 00:32:59,500 --> 00:32:59,680 little. 400 00:33:02,030 --> 00:33:07,090 And he let them know that the saints 401 00:33:07,090 --> 00:33:07,510 were there. 402 00:33:08,550 --> 00:33:09,930 One of these days they were going to 403 00:33:09,930 --> 00:33:11,150 be on their own. 404 00:33:11,650 --> 00:33:12,930 Well, do you know the day came when 405 00:33:12,930 --> 00:33:18,670 those dear brethren in Murfreesboro said, we certainly 406 00:33:18,670 --> 00:33:21,550 appreciate the work you've done here. 407 00:33:21,630 --> 00:33:23,310 We appreciate what you've meant to us. 408 00:33:23,350 --> 00:33:24,650 Now you've been willing to come down. 409 00:33:31,630 --> 00:33:34,610 And they said, now, they said, you know, 410 00:33:34,630 --> 00:33:37,910 there's a little group of exorcised believers in 411 00:33:37,910 --> 00:33:38,730 Huntsville, Alabama. 412 00:33:38,950 --> 00:33:41,710 And we wonder if you'd be interested to 413 00:33:41,710 --> 00:33:43,170 go over there and see if you could 414 00:33:43,170 --> 00:33:43,370 help. 415 00:33:43,790 --> 00:33:45,050 You know, a lot of people would be 416 00:33:45,050 --> 00:33:45,630 crestfallen. 417 00:33:46,090 --> 00:33:47,450 They'd really be hurt and go in the 418 00:33:47,450 --> 00:33:48,310 corner and sulk. 419 00:33:48,790 --> 00:33:49,610 He didn't sulk. 420 00:33:49,950 --> 00:33:51,150 He said, praise the Lord. 421 00:33:51,590 --> 00:33:53,650 And he moved down to Huntsville and there's 422 00:33:53,650 --> 00:33:55,190 a little group of believers there. 423 00:33:55,430 --> 00:33:57,590 And the Lord took him home from Huntsville. 424 00:33:57,690 --> 00:33:58,450 This is beautiful. 425 00:33:59,170 --> 00:34:01,430 And this is the way that God intends 426 00:34:01,430 --> 00:34:03,210 that the work should be spread. 427 00:34:03,410 --> 00:34:06,410 The gifts were given for the perfecting of 428 00:34:06,410 --> 00:34:09,530 the faith unto the work of the ministry, 429 00:34:10,050 --> 00:34:13,590 unto the edifying of the body of Christ. 430 00:34:13,710 --> 00:34:15,889 And this is to go on, this process 431 00:34:15,889 --> 00:34:18,350 is to go on, to spread by multiplication. 432 00:34:18,690 --> 00:34:20,250 You have, of course, the same principle in 433 00:34:20,250 --> 00:34:20,810 another way. 434 00:34:21,010 --> 00:34:22,889 In Paul writing to Timothy, he said, The 435 00:34:22,889 --> 00:34:24,690 things thou hast heard of me among many 436 00:34:24,690 --> 00:34:27,670 witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men 437 00:34:27,670 --> 00:34:31,090 who shall be able to teach others also. 438 00:34:32,350 --> 00:34:34,030 Well, the Lord showed me this from the 439 00:34:34,030 --> 00:34:36,070 word of God and it really had a 440 00:34:36,070 --> 00:34:37,590 tremendous influence in my life. 441 00:34:37,590 --> 00:34:38,730 And I said, Yes, this is ideal. 442 00:34:39,230 --> 00:34:40,830 And I look around and I see brethren 443 00:34:40,830 --> 00:34:45,070 who many churches, evangelical churches, would be thrilled 444 00:34:45,070 --> 00:34:46,830 to have them, thrilled to have them come. 445 00:34:47,190 --> 00:34:49,090 And they could go there and build a 446 00:34:49,090 --> 00:34:50,370 work around themselves. 447 00:34:50,550 --> 00:34:51,130 God forbid. 448 00:34:51,810 --> 00:34:52,510 God forbid. 449 00:34:53,250 --> 00:34:55,170 Far better to the use of God to 450 00:34:55,170 --> 00:34:57,450 build up saints that the saints can move 451 00:34:57,450 --> 00:35:00,050 out with the gospel of grace and with 452 00:35:00,050 --> 00:35:02,810 the teaching of the word of God. 453 00:35:03,850 --> 00:35:05,670 Now, we believe in addition to that, that 454 00:35:05,670 --> 00:35:07,030 every church should be autonomous. 455 00:35:07,190 --> 00:35:08,070 And I must go on so fast. 456 00:35:08,350 --> 00:35:11,270 Now, I believe every church, every local fellowship 457 00:35:11,270 --> 00:35:12,810 should be an autonomous fellowship. 458 00:35:13,010 --> 00:35:15,170 Just one verse to suggest it. 459 00:35:15,270 --> 00:35:17,170 And once again, it's interesting how we're repeating 460 00:35:17,170 --> 00:35:21,130 passages, but in Revelation chapter 1 and verses 461 00:35:21,130 --> 00:35:24,870 12 and 13, Revelation 1 verses 12 and 462 00:35:24,870 --> 00:35:28,170 13, John says, And I turned to see 463 00:35:28,170 --> 00:35:30,230 the voice that spake with me, and being 464 00:35:30,230 --> 00:35:33,870 turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 465 00:35:33,990 --> 00:35:35,690 And in the midst of the seven lampstands, 466 00:35:36,230 --> 00:35:37,790 one light came forth unto the Son of 467 00:35:37,790 --> 00:35:40,130 Man, clothed with a garment down to the 468 00:35:40,130 --> 00:35:42,550 foot, and girded about the paps with a 469 00:35:42,550 --> 00:35:43,170 golden girl. 470 00:35:43,430 --> 00:35:44,810 Now, we don't have to guess at the 471 00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:45,710 golden lampstands. 472 00:35:45,710 --> 00:35:48,850 The golden lampstands represent the seven churches of 473 00:35:48,850 --> 00:35:49,210 Asia. 474 00:35:49,670 --> 00:35:52,170 The Lord Jesus is standing in the midst 475 00:35:52,170 --> 00:35:53,410 of the seven churches. 476 00:35:53,790 --> 00:35:55,350 What's between him and the churches? 477 00:35:55,630 --> 00:35:56,810 Absolutely nothing. 478 00:35:57,190 --> 00:35:59,810 There's nothing in the way of a denominational 479 00:36:00,950 --> 00:36:02,150 headquarters there. 480 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:08,480 Those churches stand directly responsible to the Lord 481 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:10,040 Jesus himself. 482 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:14,320 Admire the wisdom of God. 483 00:36:14,900 --> 00:36:15,920 What a wonderful thing. 484 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,780 Think of countries today where the Christian church 485 00:36:18,780 --> 00:36:20,420 is being oppressed and persecuted. 486 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,620 If the government can seize a denominational headquarters, 487 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:26,940 why, it's very easy to control them. 488 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:31,580 It's not so easy. 489 00:36:31,860 --> 00:36:34,000 It's very easy for those assemblies to go 490 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,420 underground, as they have had to do in 491 00:36:36,420 --> 00:36:37,820 many nations of the world today. 492 00:36:38,340 --> 00:36:40,680 And then also, as we've already heard in 493 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:44,800 the conference, the autonomy of the local fellowship 494 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:49,240 hinders the spread of liberalism and modernism in 495 00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:49,620 the church. 496 00:36:49,940 --> 00:36:52,820 If the liberals and the modernists can seize 497 00:36:52,820 --> 00:36:58,360 the headquarters and seize the seminary, from then 498 00:36:58,360 --> 00:36:59,800 on it's just a timeless struggle. 499 00:37:00,060 --> 00:37:02,560 They can eventually control the whole system. 500 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:04,640 And frankly, they don't care whether there are 501 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,100 a few good gospel preaching evangelical disciples in 502 00:37:07,100 --> 00:37:08,380 some of the works in the meantime. 503 00:37:09,020 --> 00:37:10,020 It's like communism. 504 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:11,400 It is a timeless struggle. 505 00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:13,260 And they figure, well, in time we'll have 506 00:37:13,260 --> 00:37:22,510 the whole thing as a pathetic denomination. 507 00:37:22,750 --> 00:37:24,350 You've probably never heard of them out here 508 00:37:24,350 --> 00:37:25,730 in enlightened Colorado. 509 00:37:25,890 --> 00:37:27,710 But they're back there anyway, in the New 510 00:37:27,710 --> 00:37:28,330 England area. 511 00:37:28,870 --> 00:37:34,130 And their strategy has been to infiltrate, for 512 00:37:34,130 --> 00:37:37,350 instance, the divinity school at Harvard and the 513 00:37:37,350 --> 00:37:38,930 seminaries back there. 514 00:37:39,450 --> 00:37:42,310 To infiltrate them and to show their insidious 515 00:37:42,310 --> 00:37:44,510 doctrines in those seminaries. 516 00:37:44,990 --> 00:37:48,010 And so they have men today who are 517 00:37:48,010 --> 00:37:50,750 preaching in many different denominational purposes and the 518 00:37:50,750 --> 00:37:51,790 people don't know the difference. 519 00:37:52,590 --> 00:37:53,390 Don't know the difference. 520 00:37:53,590 --> 00:37:54,030 No, no. 521 00:37:54,550 --> 00:37:56,730 God's will is that the local fellowship be 522 00:37:56,730 --> 00:38:00,090 autonomous and be responsible to him alone. 523 00:38:00,570 --> 00:38:03,150 And then just finally, before I close, the 524 00:38:03,150 --> 00:38:05,050 last principle that I see in the word 525 00:38:05,050 --> 00:38:07,390 of God is the priesthood of all believers. 526 00:38:07,390 --> 00:38:09,950 And this, too, is very, very precious to 527 00:38:09,950 --> 00:38:10,150 me. 528 00:38:10,450 --> 00:38:14,050 1 Peter 2, familiar verses to us, 1 529 00:38:14,050 --> 00:38:22,990 Peter 2 verse 4, first of all, 1 530 00:38:22,990 --> 00:38:24,890 Peter 2, verse 4, To whom coming is 531 00:38:24,890 --> 00:38:28,050 unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, 532 00:38:28,110 --> 00:38:29,550 but chosen of God and precious. 533 00:38:29,710 --> 00:38:32,390 Ye also, as living stones are built up 534 00:38:32,390 --> 00:38:35,050 a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer 535 00:38:35,050 --> 00:38:38,950 up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus 536 00:38:38,950 --> 00:38:39,430 Christ. 537 00:38:39,550 --> 00:38:41,910 Verse 9, But ye are a chosen generation, 538 00:38:42,310 --> 00:38:44,890 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar 539 00:38:44,890 --> 00:38:47,330 people, that ye should show forth the praises 540 00:38:47,330 --> 00:38:49,530 of him who called you out of darkness 541 00:38:49,530 --> 00:38:52,470 into his marvelous light. 542 00:38:52,610 --> 00:38:54,810 We are holy priests. 543 00:38:55,210 --> 00:38:56,950 We are royal priests. 544 00:38:57,210 --> 00:38:58,370 All believers are. 545 00:38:58,630 --> 00:39:00,410 The Old Testament, in order to be a 546 00:39:00,410 --> 00:39:02,810 priest under the Mosaic system, you had to 547 00:39:02,810 --> 00:39:05,090 be of the tribe of Levi and of 548 00:39:05,090 --> 00:39:06,690 the family of Aaron. 549 00:39:07,090 --> 00:39:09,610 That was the way of approach to God. 550 00:39:10,030 --> 00:39:11,930 Praise God, God has changed it all in 551 00:39:11,930 --> 00:39:15,310 our dispensation, and we are all holy priests. 552 00:39:15,330 --> 00:39:17,250 What is our function as holy priests? 553 00:39:17,330 --> 00:39:19,830 Well, it says right here in this verse, 554 00:39:19,910 --> 00:39:22,830 verse 5, to offer up spiritual sacrifice, not 555 00:39:22,830 --> 00:39:27,050 dead animals, spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by 556 00:39:27,050 --> 00:39:27,770 Jesus Christ. 557 00:39:27,850 --> 00:39:30,450 What are our spiritual sacrifices? 558 00:39:30,570 --> 00:39:31,610 Well, there are quite a few of them. 559 00:39:31,830 --> 00:39:33,990 We offer up the sacrifice of our praise, 560 00:39:34,070 --> 00:39:36,510 the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to 561 00:39:36,510 --> 00:39:37,210 his name. 562 00:39:37,990 --> 00:39:42,210 Our highest privilege here on earth. 563 00:39:43,810 --> 00:39:44,890 Our highest privilege. 564 00:39:45,010 --> 00:39:46,970 I like that statement that somebody shared with 565 00:39:46,970 --> 00:39:48,230 me from a little book on prayer. 566 00:39:48,530 --> 00:39:56,410 It says, God is more interested in our 567 00:39:56,410 --> 00:39:58,990 worship than in our service. 568 00:39:59,650 --> 00:40:04,370 The heavenly bridegroom is wooing a bride, not 569 00:40:04,370 --> 00:40:05,550 hiring a servant. 570 00:40:06,190 --> 00:40:06,710 Isn't that nice? 571 00:40:07,750 --> 00:40:11,430 God is more interested in our worship, in 572 00:40:11,430 --> 00:40:13,790 our love, than in our service. 573 00:40:13,850 --> 00:40:18,270 The heavenly bridegroom is wooing a bride, not 574 00:40:18,270 --> 00:40:19,130 hiring a servant. 575 00:40:20,370 --> 00:40:21,770 And so we offer up the fruit of 576 00:40:21,770 --> 00:40:23,670 our lips, giving thanks to his name, the 577 00:40:23,670 --> 00:40:24,590 sacrifice of our praise. 578 00:40:24,650 --> 00:40:26,930 We offer the sacrifice of our persons to 579 00:40:26,930 --> 00:40:27,230 him. 580 00:40:29,170 --> 00:40:32,730 Once again, not dead bodies, living bodies, wholly 581 00:40:32,730 --> 00:40:36,010 acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 582 00:40:36,150 --> 00:40:38,410 We thank your bodies, a living sacrifice. 583 00:40:39,410 --> 00:40:41,390 And then we offer up the sacrifice of 584 00:40:41,390 --> 00:40:43,190 our pocketbooks too, don't we? 585 00:40:44,130 --> 00:40:46,710 To do good and communicate, forget not. 586 00:40:46,830 --> 00:40:49,710 With such sacrifices God is well praised. 587 00:40:50,250 --> 00:40:52,150 And we offer up the sacrifice of our 588 00:40:52,150 --> 00:40:53,790 service to the Lord as well. 589 00:40:53,910 --> 00:40:58,070 Paul spoke of his ministry among the Gentiles 590 00:40:58,070 --> 00:40:59,430 as being a sacrifice. 591 00:41:01,850 --> 00:41:03,770 And so as holy priests we offer up 592 00:41:03,770 --> 00:41:07,130 these spiritual sacrifices to God as it says, 593 00:41:07,930 --> 00:41:11,250 as a royal priest we go forth to 594 00:41:11,250 --> 00:41:14,330 the world to show forth the excellency of 595 00:41:14,330 --> 00:41:17,410 him who called us out of darkness into 596 00:41:17,410 --> 00:41:19,890 his marvelous light. 597 00:41:20,170 --> 00:41:20,950 We believe that. 598 00:41:21,050 --> 00:41:24,750 We believe in the priesthood of all believers, 599 00:41:25,230 --> 00:41:26,670 a truth that's precious to us. 600 00:41:26,670 --> 00:41:27,650 And so there we have it. 601 00:41:27,770 --> 00:41:29,170 You have the truth of the one body. 602 00:41:29,510 --> 00:41:30,210 Let's stick to it. 603 00:41:30,430 --> 00:41:34,270 Let's be delivered from sectarianism of any kind 604 00:41:34,270 --> 00:41:37,410 and realize the preciousness of the body of 605 00:41:37,410 --> 00:41:37,750 Christ. 606 00:41:38,450 --> 00:41:40,650 All believers are members of that body. 607 00:41:41,110 --> 00:41:45,450 Let's be careful to love all the people 608 00:41:45,450 --> 00:41:49,380 of God because they belong to Christ. 609 00:41:49,380 --> 00:41:51,600 It doesn't mean you can cooperate with them 610 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:51,860 in everything. 611 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:52,880 It doesn't mean you can do what they 612 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:53,120 do. 613 00:41:53,900 --> 00:41:55,380 It doesn't mean you believe all that they 614 00:41:55,380 --> 00:41:55,780 believe. 615 00:41:56,580 --> 00:42:00,060 But you're united with them in Christ, an 616 00:42:00,060 --> 00:42:01,020 indiscriminable link. 617 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,760 The plurality of elders in the assembly, through 618 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:06,940 the faith, with the bishops and the deacons. 619 00:42:07,020 --> 00:42:08,940 Pray for your elders more perhaps than we 620 00:42:08,940 --> 00:42:09,480 have been doing. 621 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:12,200 Christ, the gathering center, we go there because 622 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:12,840 he's there. 623 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:16,120 He is the attraction, the object of our 624 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:16,580 affection. 625 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:19,640 The gifts given for the person who is 626 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:21,040 a saint under the work of the ministry 627 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:24,080 under the edifying of the body of Christ. 628 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:25,400 The gifts are expendable. 629 00:42:25,980 --> 00:42:28,500 The saints are not to become perpetually dependent 630 00:42:28,500 --> 00:42:29,020 upon them. 631 00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:32,820 Every local church, autonomous, standing there, Christ in 632 00:42:32,820 --> 00:42:36,380 the midst, nothing between to control those local 633 00:42:36,380 --> 00:42:36,780 churches. 634 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:39,780 And finally, the priesthood of all believers, holy 635 00:42:39,780 --> 00:42:44,400 priests, royal priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices, going 636 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,320 forth to speak of his excellency to all 637 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:47,700 the world. 638 00:42:47,900 --> 00:42:50,020 May the Lord bless these principles to our 639 00:42:50,020 --> 00:42:50,600 hearts today.