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labors---fruits which could be performed ONLY by one in and thru
whom GOD was working. Thus He pointed to GOD'S selection, not
man's. That is the sole standard by which we should determine,
today, who is called of God to raise up churches, ordain elders
and deacons, etc. But, "Jesus went about all the cities and
villages ... PREACHING the Gospel of the Kingdom." Jesus was,
first of all, an EVANGELIST.
How about those He called to His ministry? DURING His
ministry they acted as His assistant-evangelists: "These twelve
Jesus SENT FORTH, and commanded them, saying ... As ye go, PREACH,
saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Mat. 10:5,7). Seventy
other disciples were sent as advance emissaries into every city and
place He was to come later. After His resurrection, just before
ascending to heaven, Jesus' final COMMISSION to His ministers was:
"GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL." True, Jesus had
said to Peter, "Feed my sheep." The minister is to preach to,
minister to the FLOCK---the BRETHREN in our local churches. That
is PART of the divine commission, given to the SAME ministers who
are commissioned "GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL."
But the evangelistic mission of CARRYING THE GOSPEL is FIRST, and
was always stressed MOST by our Saviour! Peter and all the
apostles did the same. Paul charged the elders "FEED THE FLOCK,"
meaning the local congregations. This is most important. But it
is SECONDARY to the FIRST mission of SPREADING THE TRUE GOSPEL---
especially in these LAST DAYS when Jesus said the GOSPEL OF THE
KINGDOM must now be preached and published over the world, BEFORE
THE END OF THE AGE.
Now the divine PURPOSE of the CONGREGATION. The
individual Christian is called to a CALLING. He is to become, in
the Kingdom a king (civil ruler) or priest (spiritual teacher).
There is a DUAL purpose in the Christian life. One is to prepare,
train, and fit him to assume the responsibilities to be given him
then. But ALSO he is to have HIS PART in PRESENT EVANGELISM---
before the end of this age! Notice just two converts: One, whom
Jesus called, wanted to first go and bury his dead father. "Let
the dead bury the dead," answered Jesus, "but go thou and preach
the KINGDOM OF GOD. And another also said, Lord I will follow
thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." These were just
converts---not ministers. The FIRST duty, function, purpose, and
commission of the CHURCH is to PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE! Each of you
brethren has put his hand to the plough. You have YOUR part in it.
LET US NOT TURN BACK!
How thankful we are that we have this light---that God has
revealed to us His divine purpose---that our churches are not
social clubs---our purpose not to GET but to GIVE---we do not have
churches just to ENJOY ourselves and be ministered to, but to
MINISTER. And out of our LITTLE FLOCK---our few little church
groups, has grown a work of evangelism that is SHOUTING THE
MESSAGE all over the North-American continent---a truly great