Ibis booklet is the message preached by Bro. H. Elvin Crocker at the South Texas Missionary Baptist Association's yearly local association meeting.

Transcription

1 - NOT ~ REHO BOA CHURCH I

2 Ibis booklet is the message preached by Bro. H. Elvin Crocker at the South Texas Missionary Baptist Association's yearly local association meeting. In it, Bro. Crocker presents evidence of Satan's efforts to lead God's people away from worshiping God in truth and Spirit as seen by the events associated with the Old Testament worship of God by Israel. Bro. Crocker shows that Satan's efforts then to detour people away from the true worship of God has not changed through the centuries. As we are made aware of these efforts, we then can be ever watchful today that they not be used against our attempts to truly worship God... as God intended and directed. May the evidence presented here of Satan's attempts to mislead God's people in the Old Testament be used to help us today in preventing a similar success by Satan.

3 Nor A FIRST REBOBOAM CHURCH I Kings 11:43; 12: 1-14 In1roduction: Recently I heard a song with. the following lines in i~ ''The First Jeroboam, the original, come as you are, drive through church, - where you sign a prayer request card as you drive in and leave your tithes as you drive out" This set my mind to thinking about how, when and for what purpose churches are to be established. What a New Testament Church is on the negative side and much more importantly, what she is on the positive side. There had been three kings over the whole house of Israel, which came as a request of the people to be like the other nations around them; their request was granted, but it resulted in many heartaches to them. The Kingdom of Israel was divided into the Northern tribes and the Southern Tribe of 1

4 Judah, which had Jerusalem as its place of worship. After the Kingdom divided, the first King over Israel, (the northern tribes), was Jeroboam; the first King over Judah was Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. TIlE CHURCH, WHICH I PASTOR is not TIIE FIRST JEROBOAM TYPE CHURCH as described in the previous lines from the song: the original, come as you are, drive through church - where you sign a prayer request card as you drive in and leave your tithes as you drive out." But, it is not "A FIRST REHOBOAM TYPE CHuRCH" either. MAY WE OBSERVE WHY THE CHURCH OF OUR MEMBERSHIP OUGHT NOT TO BE "A FIRST REHOBOAM TYPE CHURCH". A division had taken place, in order for Rehoboam to become king over Judah; TIIE 2

5 LORD'S TRUE CHURCHES OUGHfNOT begin out of a division, but begin Scripturally as a Mission out of the sponsoring church. A division had taken place in order for Rehoboam to be king-but - NO DIVISION IS NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SCRIPTURAL CHURCHES TO BE STARTED. Each LOCAL New Testament Church is a group of Baptized believers, who are in covenant agreement to carry out the commands of our Lord. TIle Lord's churches are always local, while the family of God is universal. FOUR ERRORS. TO WHICH THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH IDEA LEADS: 1. Error number one - that it is alright to worship anywhere, just as long as you worship. This removes (in the minds of the ones who are misled) some of the responsibility that one has, to the church of his membership. God has 3

6 always had a specified place as well as a specified way to worship. It is not worship. until God accepts it as such. Just because man devises a plan that sounds good and attracts a certain kind of people, it does not mean that it has God's approval. 2. Error number two - that it is alright to put your tithes into anything or place that you desire, just as long as you are faithful to tithe. If the universal church idea had never been accepted, this idea would not have ever arisen. Tithes are for the support of the church of our membership. The local church then has the right to authorize the distribution of these tithes. The tithe is the Lord's and He is the Head of His Church. 3. Error number three - the universal church idea leads to the idea that the 4

7 ordinances are not limited to a local church; it has been the universal church theory and its error that has led to the accepting of baptism that do not meet the five requirements in order for it to be scriptural baptism and has also led to the idea of open communion. 4. Error number four -- the universal church idea is the primary thing which has led to the idea that corrective and punitive church discipline are not to be practiced Unless a faithful stand is taken against the universal church theory, it shall certainly lead to other gross errors. Rehoboam had failed to listen to the "old men": but teachings, counsel and advice has been given to those of us who have led in the establishment of missions and churches, by 5

8 men who had been there, Vs 8a. "But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had' given him,..." Rehoboam listened to the contemporaries (young men). Vs 8b "... and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him and which stood before him": but, a New Testament Church ought not to be a contemporary church. (Especially in the sense that this idea is currently being promoted). CONTE"MPORARY comes :from two words: CON, which means fraud (deceit), racket, trick (hoax); TEMPORARY, which means fleeting., momentary (brief, transitory), transient. The church, which IPastor, has been in business for the Lord for twenty-three years. It is the sincere desire of this pastor that it will remain faithful to the Master until He conies for the saved. This pastor is truly glad that he was taught by and listened to older men of God, such as: Bro. AJ. Findley; Bro. T.P. Lee; Bro. Hull Horton; 6

9 Bro. AJ. Kirkland; Bro. L. Chester Guinn; Bro. C.H. McBryde and others ~ they had already been there and had words of encouragement, caution and advice. It would have been great to have had the privilege of listening to my grandfather, a Baptist Minister in East Texas for over 40 years; however, he went home to be with the Lord before I was old enough to have that opportunity. The words of Jesus are recorded in Luke 18:9, "... Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" I truly hope that He will find the church which I pastor and each church of this association as one of His faithful groups of people when He does come. While some worship that which was called worship of God was maintained under his leadership, Rehoboam did not check the introduction of heathen abominations into his capital and the lascivious worship of Astoreth was allowed to exist; "images" were set up and 7

10 other things which were offensive to God were allowed. (I Kings 14:21-24). II Chronicles 12:1, states "And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he FORSOOK THE LAW OF THE LORD AND ALL ISRAEL WITH lith'l" Tme worship of the Lord cannot be forsaken without adverse consequences. "Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak." (II Chronicles 12:5b). "And there were wars between REHOBOAM and Jeroboam continually. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David:" en Chronicles 12:1Sb,16a). A recent advertisement from a church that wears the name Baptist included some of the following statements: "A CHURCH FOR THOSE WHO HAVE 'GNEN UP ON 8

11 TRADmONAL CHURCH SERVICES!"... "ENJOY EXCITING MUSIC WIlli A CONTEMPORARY FLAVOR"... "HEAR POSmvE, PRACTICAL MESSAGES WIDCHUPLIFTYOUEACHWEEK". It brings joy to my heart to know that MBBC and others like her are here to lift Christ up as we worship God, both in sermons and in songs, which are based on the truths of God's Word. Another article received from a friend by e- mail states some things which are worthy of due consideration, it contains some quotes, which state in part: "We dare not let worship be just another consumer item for which people shop... Only those who believe in God can worship God. That is why the misunderstanding concerning the difference between worship and evangelism that is so prevalent in present-day conflicts concerning worship is so dangerous. WORSHIP IS FOR GOD.0. IN CONTRAST TO 9

12 EVANGELISM, WIDCH IS FOR THE UNBELIEVER. The article goes on to state, "I worry about congregations that focus on have 'EXCITING' worship because this merely fosters our society's self-gratification and does not welcome believers into the discipline of the alternative life style of Church being. We might attract lots of consumers if our worship services are merely entertaining, but unless we continually increase the emotional hype, we cannot expect consumers not to turn away to other diversions when the difficulties of being a Christian surface - or else we merely continue contributing to their shallowness." (This was a quote from , which was sent to this pastor by Bro. Elmer Crosby). I LIKE IT! Both. Jeroboam and Rehoboam devised their own plans, which led to heartache; His true churches are here to help people recover from heartaches through the Lord Jesus Christ and a 10

13 surrender to the will of God for their lives. "A c::hurch THAT IS 'IHJE 'IO THE LORD IS NOT A FIRST REHOBOAM TYPE CHURCH". A TRUE CHURCH IS THE LORD'S CHURCH. ESTABLISHED TO HONOR HIM. TO TEACH AND PREACH GOD'S WORD AND HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES. (Some need to grow in the Lord and many others need to be saved; then, they will learn to appreciate God, His Word and the work of His church in the world). JESUS is her only HEAD. Who is to be honored in all that she does. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF TIlE CHURCH: and he is the Saviour of the body." (Ephesians 5:23). "And he is the head of the body, 11

14 the church:" (Colossians 1:18). "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end A-men." It said A-men; it did not say clap your hands, which is done to honor man. We are here to honor Him who deserves all honor. The BffiLE is her instruction Book, which is to be taught, respected and followed. "... it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3). Paul wrote to Timothy, "I charge thee therefore before God. and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word... For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine... Arid they 12

15 shall turn away their ears from the 1Iuth..."(II Timothy 4:1-4). The GREAT COMMISSION is her working orders and challenge. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU:..." (Matthew 28:19-20). That which He has commanded is that which we are to teach and do our best to follow. The field of her assignment is the WORLD. "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the 13

16 world; and the reapers are the angels." (Matthew 13:38,39). The tares, the children of the wicked one, are ones with just enough religion to make them miserable. Many times they make it harder for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and her devoted workers to do His work and honor His name. This is no wonder because the devil desires to hinder the Lord's work in any way that He possibly can. He even has ministers who are transformed to appear as angels of light The eternal destiny of SOULS is her concern. "The Lord is... longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." en Peter 3:9). Since He is not willing for souls to perish without the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, 14

17 neither ought we to be. We must be busy doing all that we possibly can to bring the lost face to face with Jesus, now, so that they too can repent, receive Him and be saved. The hour is coming when all must meet Him and answer to Him. ''Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28,29). God desires that all be saved, have fellowship with Him and live with Him, eternally; for these reasons, He wants all to be reached with the message of salvation. "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between 15

18 God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (I Timothy 2:4-6). The DEVELOPMENT of the saved is her goal. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans 14:19). Selfish living ought to be put aside by every member of one of the Lord's Churches. We ought to desire that every brother and sister in Christ come to know the Lord better and be developed into a full grown Christian and thereby know the real joy that comes from serving the Master and living for Him. Our Lord has set different people in His local church with different abilities to serve Him and to help others grow in 16

19 the Lord. This type of people is his gift to the church, ''For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (full grown) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,... may grow up into him in all things..." (Ephesians 4: 11-16). The socood COMING OF CHRISf is her anticipation. Jesus assured His disciples that His return for the saved is as certain as His going away to represent us in heaven. He died for us, now He lives for us; and, as the words of the song states, "I shall go to be with Jesus when its 17

20 time." "And if (since) I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that where Iam, there ye may be also." (John 14:3). Some are anticipating the return of the Savior, some are not because they are too much in love with this world and the things of it. "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28). We. who are saved are already God's children because of His love, mercy and grace and the Father has bestowed great love upon us. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:... and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we 18

21 shall be like Him; for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3:1,2). The preparation of people to enjoy the ETERNAL PRESENCE of our great God is her privilege. What a great day that will be when we come into the eternal presence of our wonderful Lord, in that wonderful place which has been prepared for the ones who have been made ready for it, through the blood of Jesus and the grace of God. The time will come today, when we must depart and go our separate ways; but, for His children. "There will be no more parting over there." Revelation 22: H. Elvin Crocker 9/16/99 19

22 Grace Missionary Baptist Church Sounding Out The Word Ministry 1823 AJdin Route Houston, TX (281 )