For I have not shunned to declare unto you all
the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. therefore watch, and remember,
that by the space of three years I ceased not
to warn every one night and day with tears.
And now brethren, I commend you to God,
and to the word of His grace, which is able
to build you up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified. I have
coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have
ministered unto my necessities, and to them that
were with me. I have shewed you all things.
how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how He said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:27-35
It may seem strange that I am writing from the book of Acts and not from Revelation. It is not! For as I began yesterday I must continue to address what I said when I spoke about the fact that Jesus did not mention, baptism, or the Lord's Supper, or apostolic succession of ministers, and about Churches that hold far hard on liturgy, and sacraments and hold them as the first business for the minister as they minister to their Church. It would seem that I have a problems with them but that is far from the truth. Paul, as in the opening verses shows his feeling, and mine that important, and they are important if their observances, ceremonies, and forms are built upon faith, repentance and holiness. Paul definitely spoke about Church being administered by him and the importance of this ministry. Notice this, Paul did not say one word about the sacraments, and Church government and is not a time to do so, yet he did not.
Why not hold those things above as a first importance? I do not preach the bishops, and the Prayer Book, or ordinances more that I do is not that I do not hold that they do not have value, they do. I value them, and am thankful for them, as you so should do. But, I and others, believe that repentance towards God, faith towards our Saviour Jesus Christ and holy conversation are more important as subjects for without them no man can be saved. These things are the most important, the weighty matters and on these we should spend our time, thoughts, and meditation. I am urging you to not rest on Church membership and Church privileges and be satisfied because you showed up and Church on Sunday, or that you participated in the Lord's Supper. You are not an Authentic Christian due to outward appearances or works, you must be "born again," and have faith that works in you to love, and you must demonstrate by your life that you are a "new creation: all this by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must have the mind of Jesus Christ. This Jesus did when John wrote to those seven Churches in Revelation and if we hold to those things we will not err.
Some Churches rely on feelings, emotions, but it matters little what you feel and about your view on the sacraments, ordinances, baptism, and Church government. What matters is you do not try yourself by your feelings. You must belong to the true visible ecclesiastical Church. No matter, though, how ecclesiastical your Church is and sound it may be, the final truth is whether or not you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, this personal faith in Jesus Christ and your repentance between you and God and your communion with the Holy Spirit in your soul. No Church, that is you, all members of your Church, those who attend your Church will flourish unless there is repentance, faith, conversion, and that the work of the Holy Spirit are the main subjects of those ministering. Too many Churches are more of an emotional release station, one in which a person loses themselves in euphoric emotion and the Gospel is lost on them and no matter what good work they do, it has as it motives themselves and not to God. Ministers must preach the Gospel, not what the Church has as its Constitution.
The next blog I will return to Revelation and those seven Churches and examine them to see what Jesus has for us in His inspiration to John.
Every day Iwill bless thee;
and I will praise thy name
for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:2
Examine your motives for your worship
Richard L. Crumb
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