Behaving Right in the house of God I Tim. 3:14-15 Doing all things decently and in Order! I Cor. 14:40

1 Timothy 3:14-15 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:14-15 (DARBY) 14 These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly; 15 but if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's house, which is [the] assembly of [the] living God, [the] pillar and base of the truth.

NKJV 14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

He hoped to come to him shortly Paul wrote some things to Timothy He hoped to come to him shortly However, in case he had to tarry longer than he had wanted to He was writing to Timothy so that Timothy would know how to behave himself (and all others) In the House of God..The family of God is the church of the living God The church is the pillar and ground of the truth…It supports the truth of God.

I Cor. 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Church What is the purpose of the Lord’s church? Upon this rock, I will build my church Matt.16:13-20

Matthew 16:13-20  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

We need instructions, as did Timothy. I Cor. 14:40 New Living Translation NLT Be sure that everything is done properly and in order I Cor. 14:40 NIV “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. I Cor. 14:40 (Darby) But let all things be done comelily and with order

Consider Was the ‘church’ important to Jesus? Why did He say that He would ‘build my church’? He was willing to die to bring It into existence!

Is the church really important? 1. It cost Jesus Christ, the Son of God, his life. Acts 20:28 Why would he give his life for something that wasn’t important? 2. God planned it. He purposed it. It was His will that the church exist. a) He adds those who are obedient to Christ to it. Acts 2:47 b) Paul was delivered out of darkness and translated into it. Col. 1:13

Why does the church exist? Problems in the church often exist because of a lack Of understanding from the Bible about the reason Why the church exist.

This sermon is to help us to understand how God wants us to behave in the church!

First: Jesus Christ is the head of the church! Matt. 28:18-20 Col. 1:18 Eph.1:22,23

Second: Jesus has ordained that there be men who serve as Elders in His church. Acts 20:28 Acts 14:23 THESE MEN ARE ORDAINED OF GOD. ( I Tim.3:1ff) THEY ARE MEN WHO HAVE THE CHARGE TO ‘OVERSEE THE CHURCH” (Acts 20:28)

Third: We have God’s directive to submit to our Bishops; Elders; Shepherds;Pastors 1. Elders are over every work of the church. 2. Elders are to carry out God’s orders. . Feed the church. . Do all things decently and in order. I Cor. 14:40 . Behave in God’s house. I Tim. 3:14-15 3. We have the responsibility of obeying them That have the “rule over us”

Heb. 13:7 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation Heb. 13:76 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you

Elders are over the work of God… Eph. 4:11, 12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: l. Preach the Gospel. Support men who preach the Gospel. II. Edify the Saints. Build them up by teaching God’s Word. III. Help Needy Saints. They cannot write a check for all the Needy of the world…but God has designed the church to Assist those who are needy saints. I Tim. 5:16 Elders are to determine by God’s word whom they feel are Needy Saints in keeping with what God’s says.

Elders are over the Assemblies: 1. God determined what day of the week He chose for us to assemble together. (Acts 20:7) 2. Elders determine what time we meet. a) Elders determine who is going to preach. b) Elders determine who will lead the singing. c) Elders will determine who will lead prayer and all acts Of worship. 1. When you are asked to lead one song before a service, , you lead one song. 2. When you are asked to officiate at the Lord’s Supper, Do that…

4. Elders determine what kind of building we have, what needs repairing, etc. You may disagree with some of the decisions Elders make about material things, they will listen to you, but that does not mean they are going to do what every one comes to them with suggestions, or different ideas that they will change . They are “overseers—bishops, shepherds, pastors and God holds us responsible to “submit to them”

Elders are not deacons Deacons are not Elders. God has placed ELDERS over each local congregation…. They are there to ‘help us to behave in the house of God” as God wants. They are servants of Jesus Christ with His authority to Do HIS work! If they violate this God-given authority, If they shirk their responsibility, they answer to God! (Acts 20:28-31)

Are you in the church? A faithful member? A member that can be depended upon by the Lord? Are you submitting to the oversight Of the church? It is time for us all to wake up, walk up, and serve Up in the church for which Jesus died!

We have ‘eyes’ to see. We have ‘ears’ to hear. We have ‘hearts’ to move us. We have ‘hands’ to work with We have ‘feet ‘ to carry us where the Master wants us We have ‘minds’ to center on truth We have ‘mouths’ to speak the word of God We have the essentials in getting the work done that God wants done By us…. What will we do with what we have?

What will we do with what we have? Rom. 6:16-18 Be a slave for Jesus Master, dear Master, let me, Guy Philip McDaniel Serve Jesus. Give what time I have left to faithfully Serving Jesus. Be filled with thanksgiving for all That God has granted me. For, “God be merciful To me, the sinner!” Luke 18:13 You can’t do anything better than to serve Jesus Christ Faithfully.

Let us behave ourselves in the house of God, and do all things decently and in order! Let us clean out the closets where our sins have been…sweep them clean. Let us reach up to Heaven for pardon ,forgiveness for a ‘wretched past’. Let us now be about the Now. Not yesterday…gone… Not tomorrow, it isn’t here. But today, let us serve King Jesus Praise God for the PRIVILEDGE of being a ‘slave for Jesus’!!! Gal. 6:14; Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 4:5; I Cor. 2:2