The Candlestick
“…the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” “…I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 1:20b, 2:5b
Some proclaim “they” have concluded that the Baptist church is close to the New Testament Church of the Bible. But close isn’t good enough! A church has to be “it” = a “candlestick” by God’s definition and recognition. A church is not a candlestick if it is just close to being one. A church is either one of God’s candlesticks, or it isn’t.
I fail to see in the Bible where God said the day would come when all that would be left would be something close to what a New Testament Church once was. Nor do I find God saying He would authorize some insightful person to tell the rest of us what was close to what the original church was, and that we should follow this man’s insight.
Rather, the New Testament sets forth the New Testament Church that Jesus built and is the Head of. Jesus declared the gates of hell would never prevail against New Testament Churches, and that He would be with them always, which means they have to continue, as He made them for this to happen. The power that opened the door of the first church, is the power that will keep the door open of the last church, until they are removed with the Rapture.
The “candlestick”, i.e., the New Testament Churches started by God and kept by God, being true to God’s Word, are the covenant works of the Kingdom of God during this church age. Just as the gospel of God’s Kingdom has not faded away unto something that is just close to what Biblical salvation once was, neither has the New Testament Church of God’s Kingdom ceased to be the real body of Christ, joined together by God and empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.
To say there are no real New Testament Churches today, like in the days of the New Testament, is to say that God’s Word is no longer effective to produce on earth what God has spoken from heaven. It is to say that the Holy Spirit cannot regenerate and generate according to the will and purpose of God.
Anyone can paint the name Baptist on a church sign. But unless God opened the door, set the candlestick there, and set members in the church, it never was a New Testament Church. And unless that church follows the doctrine of the New Testament, God will withdraw the candlestick. So a church either is, or is not a church of the New Testament order.
SHARING
51st Anniversary of Faith Baptist Church: Jan. 1, 1968-2019
The Vision
The first part of November 1967, Bro. James Gardner, pastor of Moore’s Fork Baptist Church, in Clermont County, felt led to see if an interest existed in the Lynchburg area for a sound New Testament Baptist Church. Upon inquiry, interest was found.
God Opened The Door
An empty church building was found on Freiburg & High Streets in Lynchburg, which was leased with the option of buying at the end of the lease. The work opened with a two week meeting, January 2-14, 1968, with Bro. Gardner preaching each night, except Thursdays, with Bro. James Head of Wilmington filling in. Sunday, January 7, 1968, Bro. Robert Miller of Dayton, KY, preached, at which time there were 5 requests for membership, plus 2 confessions of faith. On January 14 & 28, Bro. Terry Parnell of Dayton, KY, preached. January 21, Bro. Alwin Pflueger of Moore’s Fork preached.
A Pastor Called
February 1, 1968, Moore’s Fork Baptist Church extended the call to Robert Miller to pastor the Lynchburg mission. He is to give full time to the work. He is to lead the people there in complete accord with the position of the sponsoring church in all matters of doctrine and practice. At such time that the mission and sponsoring church agree, the mission will be organized into a local Independent Baptist Church. Bro. Miller accepted the pastorate, and with his wife, Cinda, and son, Robby, moved to 301 S. Main St., Lynchburg, on February 24, 1968.
An Independent Baptist Church
January 9, 1971, the mission was organized into the Faith Baptist Church, with 32 charter members.
SHARINGThe Destiny Of The New Testament Church
Since the New Testament Church is the Body of Christ and not the denomination(s) of men, it’s installation on earth is broader than what a single calendar date defines.
THE ORIGIN: It was foreordained in God’s eternal plan and purpose – Ephesians 3:9-11. Thus, the New Testament Church existed in God’s eternal plan before the world began. It will also continue on into eternity future as the Bride of Christ (in the Rapture and from then on).
THE SUBSTANCE OF: God sent John the Baptist to prepare a people for Jesus – Luke 1:17. Jesus took these prepared people and set them in His Body (the local church) as its first members. The substance (prepared people) and Christ, were all identified together through the Baptist baptism of John, the New Testament covenant seal: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” – Ephesians 4:4-6
THE DEFINITION OF: Christ brought the substance (prepared people) together unto being members of His Body (the local church He built), and equipped it with its ordinances and practices during His earthly ministry.
THE HEAD: God only gave Christ to be the Head over all things to the church, His body, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 5:23-33.
THE INAUGURATION OF: At Jesus’ crucifixion, the Levitical order (Old Testament) was disannulled, and the New Testament was put in force by the death of the Testator (Jesus Christ), Hebrews 7-9, Luke 22:20.
THE GREAT COMMISSION: Matthew 28:18-20, after His resurrection and before His ascension.
THE EMPOWERMENT OF: With the coming of the Comforter, i.e., the new role for the Holy Ghost in the church capacity, Acts 1:8 (Acts 2), Christ personally gave spiritual gifts to the Apostles during His earthly ministry. All others after his ascension have them bestowed through the Comforter – 1 Corinthians 12.
THE PERPETUITY OF: Matthew 16:18, 28:20 – The Body of Christ (local New Testament Churches with Baptist baptism), descending from the One Jesus built, will continue on earth until they are all removed in the Rapture.
THE RAPTURE AND MARRIAGE OF THE CHURCH: At the Rapture, all the local New Testament Churches will become one as the Bride of Christ, for marriage to the Lamb of God, to eternally reign with Him in the New Jerusalem.
SHARINGJonah Had Issues
Jonah 4:1-22
His issue was his deep seated resentment toward the Assyrians. He had not left vengeance in the hands of the Lord.
The problem with his issues: Jonah didn’t control them – they controlled him.
God’s assignment for Jonah was an opportunity to be the Lord’s ambassador, to lay up treasures in heaven, be blessed, and be a blessing to others in this life. But Jonah’s issues got in his way. Jonah knew he wasn’t doing God’s will when he chose to go to Tarshish, rather than obey God and go to Nineveh.
Because of Jonah’s issues, when it came time to make the needed decision to do things God’s way, guess what showed up? Not Jonah’s belief of God’s Word; not his knowledge and understanding of God’s will; not his desire to serve and honor God; not his love for God and his neighbor; not his Christian convictions and faith, but his issues are what showed up and were in charge!
Issues are a leaven in the life of a Christian, often doing more damage to people’s lives, homes, churches, etc., than open sin. Issues are what divide and conquer God’s people.
Jonah’s issues quenched the work of the Holy Spirit. And at the same time, they fueled the fires of the unyielding spirit of his human nature.
Jonah found out it was impossible to resolve his issues to his own satisfaction. While Jonah hung onto his issues, seeking satisfaction for them, even God’s Word and God’s grace didn’t satisfy him.
The only answer for Jonah would have been for him to deny his issues and forsake them, as being a factor of his own sinful imperfection, that he needed God to forgive and cleanse him of. His disagreement with God’s will was the sure testimony that he needed to humble himself before God, with a broken and contrite spirit. Only Jonah could make that decision.
Because Jonah would not, of his own free will, forsake self and submit himself to do the Lord’s will, for the honor and glory of God, God had to subdue him. Jonah had to yield himself to the Lord’s will or face death in the whale’s digestive tract.
Issues arise due to our imperfect, sinful nature. The question is, what will we do with them?SHARING
Fear & Faith
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Psalm 56:3
Meteorologists say that a fog capable of covering half a square mile is made up of only one glass of water, divided into 60 million particles. But when it settles, it can obscure your entire vision.
A little fear can do the same thing.
Why do almost half of us suffer from stress-related disorders? Because instead of walking by faith, we think we are supposed to fly like jets on supercharged adrenaline – and we pay for it in terms of fear and anxiety.
It is so easy for fear to replace faith, because they have something in common: both challenge us to believe in what we cannot see. Fear tries to persuade us to run from something that’s not there. Faith persuades us to run to Someone who is there for us.
A well known preacher of the past once said, “Fear knocked at my door. Faith answered, to find no one was there.”
Fear is overcome by faith – and faith comes by hearing the Word of God, Romans 10:17. Feed your faith on the scriptures, and fear will starve to death! To eliminate room for worry, fill the mind with God’s Word. Commune with Him in prayer to gain assurance and comfort.
The antidote to fear is to do what David did: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” It all comes down to which we choose to put in control: fear, or faith.
“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Matthew 14:30-31SHARING
