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Instructions For A Young Preacher
By Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

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Things You Cannot Do Outside The Church
December 2, 2007 (AM) - Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Eph 3:21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

    More and more people today think that they can worship God just as well outside the local church as they can in the church, but I disagree with that statement. There are many things that a person cannot do outside the church, things that are very important to our worship to God.

    Now, I am not in the mood to hurt anyone= s feelings, but I believe that we need to get to the point where we give God glory in the church. To do this, let= s consider some things that we cannot do outside the church. You may want to add to this list.

  1. BAPTISM CANNOT BE DONE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
    1. This Is The First Command After Salvation
      1. Notice I said, A after salvation.@ No one should be baptized until he is saved by the grace of God through faith (Eph. 2:8-10).
      2. John was the first to baptize, and baptism was a new ordeal: no one had ever done this before John.
        1. John 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
        2. John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
    2. The Great Commission Commands Baptism
      1. The Great Commission directs the churches of the Lord to baptize every believer that we make.
        1. Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
        2. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
          1. We see in this verse how closely salvation and baptism are linked, although we understand by the scriptures that baptism does not save, nor does it help in salvation; because those who believe are saved, but those who believe not are damned, the verse says.
          2. But baptism is included here, because the idea in those days was that, if you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you had repented of your dependence on the Law and were going to manifest or show that repentance through baptism.
          3. Eph 4:5 tells us that there is A One Lord, one faith, one baptism.@ This one baptism is water baptism, and the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ have been given this Commission to carry on this ordinance.

    3. Baptism Is In Relationship To The Church
      1. 1 Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
      2. When a person is baptized, he is brought into a spiritual relationship with a local church, and he is committing himself to serve the Lord in and through that church.
      3. We do not baptize people here and then send them on their way; we baptize people to become active members of this church.
      4. Also, baptism connects a person with a certain doctrinal position.
        1. If you are baptized in a church where it is taught that baptism saves you, then you are agreeing with that doctrine.
        2. If you are baptized in a church where it is taught that you can lose your salvation, then you are agreeing with that doctrine.
        3. If you are baptized in a church where it is taught that you are saved by grace through faith, then you are agreeing with that doctrine.
        4. So, not only is your baptism to be done by a local church, but you need to understand that your baptism will associate you with a certain doctrinal position.
    4. Where Else Can You Be Baptized?
      1. There are those whom we know as A Sebaptists,@ who baptize themselves. Is that the way to go? I think that is so absurd that most people could see that is not the scriptural way of baptism.
      2. What about getting a friend to baptize you? I don= t think that would work. If that were the case, I have been baptized many, many times; because my brothers and I used to baptize one another in the creek when I was a boy. Baptism is a once-for-all act upon those who are genuinely born again by the grace of God.
      3. Most everyone who desires baptism will call on a church to do it. Why? It is because this ordinance was given to a local church, not to individuals or just the apostles.
      4. So, in the local church is the only place where a person who is saved can be baptized.

       

  2. THE LORD= S SUPPER CANNOT BE OBSERVED OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
    1. It Was Instituted In The Church
      1. Just as in the Great Commission, when the Lord instituted The Lord= s Supper, he had there only those who were the nucleus of his church B the apostles.
      2. When the Lord= s Supper was instituted, all the apostles, except for Judas, were already saved; so we know that this supper had nothing to do with salvation.
      3. The supper is a memorial looking back to the blood of Christ and his broken body, his suffering on the cross for our sins.
    2. It Was Observed Only In The Church
      1. This supper, then was instituted in the church, and in the entire New Testament you will not find this supper being observed except in the church.
      2. When Paul gave instructions concerning this supper, he was talking to the church at Corinth.
      3. So you cannot observe the Lord= s Supper except in the church.

       

  3. YOU CANNOT BE A MEMBER IN PARTICULAR WITHOUT THE CHURCH
    1. Each Believer Should Be A Member Of A Church
      1. I have calls here at the church all the time from people who need help with money, food, rent, utility bills, etc.
      2. I ask them where they go to church, and almost always they say they do not go to church.
      3. 1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
      4. This statement was made to one body of Christ, the Corinth church. That same statement can be made to the First Baptist Church of Harrison, Ohio.
      5. You may say, A Why should I be a member of a church?@
      6. The answer is in: 1 Cor 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

       

  4. YOU CANNOT EXHORT ONE ANOTHER OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
    1. Hebrews 10:25
      1. Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
        1. The word A assembling@ means to A synagogue,@ or to get together A ourselves@ in the churches.
        2. The word is PARAKALEO in the Greek and means A to call with@ or A to preach with.@ The idea is to get believers together and preach, teach, exhorting one another as members in particular in the A synagogue@ or assembly.
        3. And we are to do this more and more as we see the day (of the coming of Christ) approaching or drawing near.
      2. 1 Tim. 6:2
        1. 1 Tim 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise [them], because they are brethren; but rather do [them] service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
        2. Here Timothy, a young preacher, is told to do two things as a preacher: teach and exhort.
        3. This is to be done in a church and under the church= s authority and care.

         

  5. YOU CANNOT GET THOSE WONDERFUL HANDSHAKES
    1. 1 Cor. 16:20
      1. 1 Cor 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
      2. While we do not greet with a holy kiss, we do greet with a hearty handshake.
      3. Notice the encyclopedia= s definition of a handshake.
      4. In computing, an exchange of signals between two devices that establishes the communications channels and protocols necessary for the devices to send and receive data.
      5. Just as in computing, a handshake is somewhat the same thing between people.
        1. It is an exchange of signals between two devices (people) - A handshake is a signal of good intentions and a signal of no hostility.
        2. It establishes communications channels - Once the handshake has been done, a conversation usually ensues.
        3. It establishes protocol necessary for the two devices (people) to send and receive data. It sets a pattern of communication. One can usually tell by the handshake what kind of communication will continue after the handshake.
        4. There is nothing warmer and more encouraging than a healthy handshake when the people of God get together in the church to worship the Lord.
        5. Yes, you can shake hands with the lost world, but it just is not the same as that wonderful feeling of closeness that comes when you are in the Lord= s church.

         

  6. YOU CANNOT GIVE GOD COMPLETE GLORY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
    1. Eph. 3:21
      1. Eph 3:21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
      2. One thing I want to do in this life is bring glory to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
      3. Paul tells the Ephesian church that the way to do this is A in the church.@
    2. Glory In Being a Witness
      1. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
    3. Glory In Sending Out Missionaries
      1. Acts 13:1-3 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
      2. It as the church at Antioch which sent out Barnabas and Saul for a work on a mission trip to many parts of the known world.
      3. All missionaries should be sent out by a local church. That is God= s way.
    4. Glory In Seeing The Blessings Of God
      1. While you are home trying to worship God in your own little way, we at the church are enjoying the work of God among us.
      2. One Sunday, while you are at home trying to worship, we are here enjoying seeing some lost soul trust the Lord and step before the church to confess sins and submit to scriptural baptismB that is a glory of God.
      3. One Wednesday, while you are trying to worship at home, we are sitting here studying God= s word and growing in his grace and knowledge. We hear the singing of God= s people and special singing by some of the members along with the wonderful specials by the church choir. You cannot get this at home.
      4. While you are worshiping at home, we are planning to do upkeep on the building, pay the electric bill, telephone bill, and put in an elevator to make it easier for you if you ever get the unction to step into the building; and when you do, you will expect the building to be in good order, the electric operational, the sound system good, the air just right, and everything comfortable just the way you like it.
      5. Who do you think does all of this while you are worshiping at home? I= ll tell you who-the church.
      6. That= s why you need to be a part of a church. That= s why you need to attend as often as you can.
      7. Remember: Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

Conclusion

    I cannot make you become a member of this church, and I would not want to do that, and neither would God want me to do that; but you need to consider that the days are growing closer and closer to the coming of Jesus Christ.

    We are all going to stand in judgment before God, and I would not want to stand before him unless I knew I had scriptural baptism and was bringing glory to him through the church.

  A So much the more, as ye see the day approaching.@

 

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