| Salvation by Grace Alone | |
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| Salvation by Grace Alone | |
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By Elder Bernard Gowens FEEDING LAMBS AND SHEEP ... CONCLUDED What can preachers do? The quality of preaching the Word of God with depth sufficient to reach the "cases" and "needs" of each individual member as well as the entire church body, collectively, is an unqualified necessity for church stability and growth. With several exceptions, it is evident that some ministers have not qualified themselves in the study and with the understanding of God's word sufficient to meet the spiritual needs of both lambs and sheep. Some, like me, are mere "water surfers", skimmers, skiers, or surface snorkelers rather than deep-sea divers in the word of God. Each minister is to devote ample time to reading, studying, searching, meditating, and praying constantly to attain the highest mark possible within the scope of his gift, else, he will not achieve much more than to take the path of least resistance and be satisfied with the status quo. The continued path of pastor/preacher complacency, over time will, as he functions in the office as the church's teacher and overseer, be instrumental in molding the personality of the church body, as a whole, to be satisfied with indifference and luke warmness. [See Rev. 3:16]. Left in this condition past the period of God's long-suffering will. He removes His candlestick, the church dies, and becomes, at the most, a mere monument with nothing left but memories and tombstones. In the midst of His disciples, Jesus took up a little child in His arms, blessed him, and said, "suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." [Luke 18:15 -17]. Some say that little children will be the church of "tomorrow," but Jesus said they are "of the church today." He didn't say, "..of such will be, but "..of such IS" It has been my observation that a church today without little lambs in it, and continuing so, will cease to exist in the tomorrows when the last sheep dies. 
Little children are as necessary and important to the church today, as are their parents. The pastor/teacher must be instructing and encouraging every member-parent, both "to teach" and "how to teach" their children at home while yet in their youth. This teaching concerns the word of God and each child's responsibility to live a godly life, to keep God's commandments, to grasp an early understanding of the principles of God's sovereign grace to be baptized in His established kingdom on earth, to be humble and faithful in the church and the cause of Christ, and to commune with the saints of the Lord's table.
Consistent family worship-time in the home with each family member in earnest attendance, praying, reading, studying the word of God, and singing psalms of praise and honor to God sets the stage for encouragement to attend the Church of God when the saints are assembled together for to worship in spirit and truth. Also, in this home setting, godly principles should be established by which all of life is to be guided, nourished, and lived. This is God's design and purpose for the home. Churches are no stronger than the members of the homes, but make up the body of the church.. Children should be instructed and guided by parents to commit Scripture to memory. In this manner and while in their youth, they hide the word of God in their heart that they might not sin against Him. [Psalms 119:11]. The word of God, then becomes a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path for their lifetime and for all of life's endeavors. [Psalms 119:105]. When proper and adequate spiritual interest is created in the home, the child's desire to be found in the house of God will be manifest by their physical presence and attentive listening. So often, we, as adults, underestimate the ability of children to understand God-given and God-directed sermons. God is as able to open the ears of small children as He is able to enlighten the understanding of adults. A few years back, I was preaching on the four chapters of Jonah one Sunday morning. During the lunch hour, four year old, Trevor Norton had the other small children of the congregation sitting on the front pews, and he was on the bottom step of the pulpit energetically and emphatically repeating some of the very things he had heard spoken in the morning service. This was a delight to all the adult observers. A child's interest must be created before active, attentive listening will be their reception to God's word. When the interest is not stirred in the home, preaching at the house of God becomes not much more than mere mental discontent, listlessness, boredom, and drudgery. People respond according to the nourished interest underlying a given subject. Sitting in a college calculus class would be boring and exhausting to me, because I haven't been instructed in the basics necessary to understand the principles of that advanced math. Likewise, children who are not instructed in the basics of God's word in the home will have little or no interest and certainly a diminimus of understanding from the pulpit preaching although they occupy the pew. As an example, a child's interest is formulated in baseball's major leagues by previously involving him in its little and minor leagues. The formulation of interest in the principles of God's word and its teachings to our youth is no different. Just as a plane's passengers are told to buckle their seat belts for a safer landing, parents and pastors must exercise a cooperative effort and responsibility in the teaching of their children for the perseverance of their sanctified godly and church-consecrated life. Primary responsibility rests with the parents of children. The pastor/teachers have their responsibilities to take heed therefore unto themselves, and in all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. [Acts 20:28]. It seems appropriate to close this dissertation with Psalms 27:4-6, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secrets of His tabernacle shall He hide me; he shall set me up on a rock. And now shall mine head he lifted up above mine enemies round about me; therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. "May God grant grace that this will be our continued prayer and our perpetual activity. May God bless us all in His Holy service. 
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| Salvation by Grace Alone |
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