What Is The Dispensation And Economy Of God?

For every high priest taken from among

men is ordained for men in things

pertaining to God, that He may offer

both gifts and sacrifices for sins; who 

can have compassion on the ignorant, 

and on them that are out of the way;

for that He Himself also is compassed

with infirmity. And by reason hereof 

He ought, as for the people, so also

for Himself, to offer for sins. And 

no man taketh this honor unto 

Himself, but He that is called 

of God, as was Aaron. 

Hebrews 5:1-4

     In the economy and dispensation of God men (not women) were chosen to lead the Church (women have an important role but not as leaders of the Church): "And He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1Corinthians 12:28). For some Churches today the dispensation and economy of God for the building up of saints are not following God's words and commands. Is this dispensation really for men only? Yes! The Old Testament testifies to this doctrine: "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding," "As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before Thee" (Jeremiah 4:15; 17:16). There is warrant from the Old Testament for the doctrine in the New Testament. Women have a most important role, not lessor, but important in other ways: they teach their children, other women, do service in many other ways, but to lead the Church: NO! "But I suffer not a woman to teach, or to usurp authority the man, but to be in silence" (1Timothy 2:12). How this command is abused as to be disobedient, following after the culture of this world that attempts to empower women, to be equal with men, and they are but not in the dispensation of God for the Church. God called Aaron, not a woman, God calls men into this special service to lead the Church: This is God's way, not man's: "For Adam was first formed, the Eve" (1Timothy 2:13). To be called to lead the Church is not to be taken lightly for God set a man to lead well: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine" (1Timothy 5:17). 

     Whatever we do we do all to the glory of God: "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1Corinthians 10:31). Why will not men simply follow the word of God? Did not God take on flesh, to be found in the form of man to die for sin, our sins? Yes! So then why not simply follow His commands? Are they not of God, and are we not to follow them? Yes! Unfortunately there are some Theological school that are liberal, cultural Christians producing men to follow after this liberal Christianity and that liberal person brings to the Church that which is not Scriptural. They are not laboring in the word and doctrine, they are forming and teaching another gospel. Some so-called pastors, especially some of those who are televangelists, or preachers, living and teaching for their own self-righteousness, to be as a celebrity, rather than to be simply teaching and preaching the word of God: many follow after them getting their ears tickled. Leaders of the Church are worthy of double honor, but for some this means to be very wealthy and live in so much luxury and at the same time decry about poverty (this is called double-tongued, or speaking out both sides of the mouth at the same time), run from them, find a Church that teaches and preaches the word of God as it is written, who are following the economy and dispensation of God. Yes, this may mean that you leave behind friends, and even family Is it not better to follow God, to follow the words of Jesus that say that if we are not willing to do those things then we cannot be His friend? "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. and a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy for me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:35-38). "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21). 

      Jesus Christ has been set forth in Hebrews as our High Priest, our Savior, making it possible for all who believe and follow Him to have everlasting life, but, while we are here on this earth we will have trouble and persecution as we follow Him. We must choose: who will we follow? Man or God, this world's culture or Jesus Christ and the dispensation set forth for us to follow. Choose well!

The breath of our nostrils,

     that anointed of the LORD,

was taken in their pits, of whom

     we said, Under His shadow we 

shall live among the heathen.

                      Lamentations 5:20 

Jesus Christ: The joy of our heart

Richard L. Crumb

 

Seeking God In All The Right Places And Ways

There remaineth therefore a rest 

to the people of God. For He that

entered into His rest, He also hath

ceased from His own works, as 

God did from His. Let us labor

into that rest, lest any man fall

after the same example of unbelief.

For the word of God is quick, and 

powerful, and sharper than any 

two edged sword, piercing even

to dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow, and 

is a discerner of the thoughts of the

heart. Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in His sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of Him with whom

we have to do.

Hebrews 4:9-13

     Authentic Christians, those who have Authentic Christian Faith have a rest that all others do not have for Authentic Christians are people of God. The writer of Hebrews has with clarity given the example from the history of the Hebrews how then fell back to unbelief, fell back and desired the things of the past, the life of following God was much to hard for them and we can see how that worked out for them: they wandered for 40 years in the desert until those who came out of Egypt, not the children that were born during this wandering, but those who came out of Egypt died and only their offspring were allowed into the land prepared for them, the land of rest, the land given to Abraham as an inheritance. Moses was not even allowed to take the Hebrews into the promised land, not that he was unforgiven for his failures, no, but there are consequences for not being obedient and Moses underwent the consequence of his failure. Do we think that God will not allowed us to be recipients of our failures? I hope not for God has shown by many examples of the failures of the Hebrews how they were captured and made slaves of another nation, how they fell back to the ways of the world with all their idolatrous ways. Are you, or have you turned back to those old ways that seemed so much better than the trouble that comes by faithfulness to God? I hope not! It is disobedience, unbelief, that is blasphemy against God who has revealed this evidence for our safety, for our rest. It will take work, we have to labor, why? Because it is work for we stand against the wiles of the Devil, those ungodly things this world does and believes and they are angry about this and attack us in any way they can. 

     Here is a very often quoted verse: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword....." (Hebrews 4:12a). Really? Do you believe that? If so then are you allowing yourself to be obedient to the word of God? Is the word of God actually  quick and powerful, and sharper for you? It is for God! God sees all you do and hears all you say and is able to discern your thoughts, those intents of the heart. God has opened up all things for you, those things that should be leading you in all you say and do and think. He has not hidden from you His will. Will you do His will? Are you seeking God in "all the wrong places" those things that are not Scriptural but make a person feel godly, righteous, but are in actuality a contradiction to the life of an Authentic Christian? 

     "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16). There is it is in a nutshell: we have a high priest one who was tempted as we are and did not sin who sits in heaven at the right hand of God Who is making intercession for us by means of the vicarious offering He made upon the cross. Jesus died, first to satisfy the justice of God and then to make a way for salvation to you and all who will believe upon Him, not as some creature, some creation, no but as the Only Begotten Son of God, God Himself, the Second Person of the Godhead who emptied Himself to do this work until it was finished. Jesus did His work: are you willing to do yours? Do you want mercy and grace? If so then come boldly before the throne of God and that boldness is manifested in your life as you take the Gospel to the world, and by your obedience to His word that has been revealed to you by those God inspired to write His words. What have you to lose? The gain or loss is determined by your Authentic Christian Faith and that is a faith of obedience. God is willing to give you grace and mercy; are you making way for this? I pray that this is true for you.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

     And why art thou disquieted in me? 

Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise 

   Him for the help of His countenance.;

                    Psalm 42:5

Be a diligent worker for God

Richard L. Crumb

  

Entering Now Into The Rest Of God

For He spake in a certain place of 

the seventh(day) in this manner. 

And God did rest the seventh day

from all His works. And in this place

again, if they shall enter into My rest. 

Seeing therefore it remaineth that

some must enter therein, and they to 

whom it was first preached entered

not in because of unbelief; again,

He limiteth a certain day, saying

in David, Today, after so long a time;

as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, 

 harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had

giventhem rest, then would he not 

afterward have spoken of another day.

Hebrews 4:4-8

      God through His inspiration to the writer of Hebrews reveals a principle that must not be neglected and that principle is that only those who believe will enter into His rest. God worked, created for six days and on the seventh day rested as did Adam and Eve, this principle of doing the work was do be done six days and on the seventh to rest. This principle of keeping the seventh day as a day of rest was a requirement for the Hebrews, that principle still is in force today. Under the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ the seventh day according to the tradition of the Hebrews for a day of rest changed for the Christians to be the first day of the week and then work the next six days. Christians still rest on the seventh day albeit that day is the first day of the week. This change from Saturday to Sunday set the Christians apart from the Hebrews as to the time to assemble and hear the word of God preached. In time the separation of the day of rest became important as the Hebrews came to despise the Christians and the Christians knew that they did no longer believe in the coming of the Messiah, He had come and it was Him they worshiped. Sunday, the first day of the week came to be the time for Christians to meet: "And upon the first day of he week, came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7). Sunday, the first day of the week then became the traditional day for Christians to meet.

     Why meet at all? Why take this time to come together? Isn't belief enough? It is true that a person can read his Bible, study the Bible himself, pray himself, and live a moral life according to the Bible. The problem with isolation is that this is not Scriptural for we come together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to support them, to cheer them up when this world comes tumbling down upon them, to aid them in finances, to ensure that they have food, but most of all together hear the word of God and to remember that they, on this day, have entered into rest with God. There is strength in numbers and more important there is strength in those numbers whereby together they meet this world with its trials and troubles and to sing together, to pray together and to enjoy one another' company. If not for this then in isolation a person will soon wither and fret and become so solemn that God will fade away. It takes strength and that strength comes by means of our being together. 

     Authentic Christians have the inheritance promised by God, to be able to enter into His rest, to have peace with God and confidence in Him. Authentic Christians know His love and delight in service with Him to bring joy and hope as the Holy Spirit directs and aids, to share the Gospel of Salvation to others. This is our work now and when Jesus comes that work will be done and we will enter into His rest. We meet on Sunday, our Sabbath, our day of rest pointing to the rest to come. We never lose sight of our Redeemer who restores all things. This present day of rest points to that day of rest promised to all of those who believe and convert to Jesus Christ. 

     Do not make excuses for not meeting together as often as possible, especially on the first day of the week Sunday when together we glean strength to meet the next six days. Come to Church and be ready to listen, to sing, to laugh in enjoyment to be with like brothers and sisters. Do not make Sunday just a day to play, take time to speak about what was preached, to rest, to just take time to remember what God has done for you, this is hard when meeting those everyday problems to take this time, Sunday is a great day to do just that. Will you?

Now therefore arise, O LORD God,

     into thy resting place, thou 

and the ark of thy strength: let

    thy priests, O LORD God, be

clothed with salvation, and let

    thy saints rejoice in goodness.

                         II Chronicles 6:41

You are a priest of God

Richard L. Crumb