Introduction
The definition and description of so-called assembly meetings has been presented very clearly by Bro. David Johnson in his article, "Assembly Meetings," appearing elsewhere in this issue. These are very special meetings in that there is to be total dependence upon the leading of the Holy Spirit as to the order and conduct of the meetings. In the present article I wish to address a number of aspects of the conduct of such meetings, including the following questions:(1) Who is permitted to participate in such a meeting? (2) How can each brother and sister prepare for such a meeting? (3) Is there to be a specific theme for the meeting? (4) Is a particular order to be followed? (5) What can be done about long periods of silence that may occur during such a meeting? (6) What if a particular brother does not edify the assembly by his ministry? (7) How long should a message be? (8) How is such a meeting to be concluded? Reference will be made in this article to three types of assembly meetings_the remembrance meeting (or Lord’s supper), prayer meeting, and meeting for ministry of the Word of God.
Who Is Permitted to Participate?
It is clear from 1 Cor. 14:34,35 that the sisters are not permitted to participate verbally in such meetings:"Let your women keep silence in the churches:for it is not permitted unto them to speak; … it is a shame for women to speak in the church." 1 Tim. 2:11,12 goes along with this:"Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." The reason for this prohibition seems to have to do with the God-ordained headship of the man over the woman, and is not intended to imply that women are less spiritual, less gifted, or less able to participate.
It also seems clear from 1 Cor. 14 that neither are men to participate verbally, unless they are led by the Holy Spirit to do so, and unless they have something to give that will edify the assembly (verses 12,15,26). The assembly meeting is not a place for man to show off his intellect, skills in oratory, spiritual gift, knowledge of the Word of God, or himself in any way. The Holy Spirit is to be in charge; the brothers are to be instruments through whom the Spirit either ministers the Word to the assembly or expresses the assembly’s prayers and praises to the Lord. For this reason, a brother who has a so-called "public" gift, such as teacher or evangelist, needs to be especially careful that it is the Holy Spirit Himself and not his spiritual gift per se that motivates him to participate in the assembly meeting.
How Can We Prepare?
It may be thought that since only the brothers are permitted to speak, only they have to be concerned about preparing for an assembly meeting. This is not at all the case. The "success" of an assembly meeting depends as much on the sisters coming properly prepared as the brothers. One aspect of this preparation is prayer and communion with the Father. We must pray that we will all_brothers and sisters alike_be in a proper spirit to receive what the Lord has to give us (if it is a ministry meeting) or to give what is worthy of the Lord (if it is a prayer or worship meeting). We must pray also that the Spirit will have liberty to use whomever He wants to minister the Word, pray, give out a hymn, or worship. This means that those who are naturally timid and reluctant will be encouraged to speak if the Holy Spirit leads, and that those who are naturally bold and forward and gifted will be restrained from speaking unless the Spirit moves them.
Another way we can prepare is to be often engaged in individual meetings_just ourselves and the Lord_of the same character. What do I mean by this? We best prepare for the assembly prayer meeting by being often alone with the Lord in prayer (Matt. 6:6); for the remembrance meeting by thinking of the Lord and His death often during the week; and for the ministry meeting by regular personal reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. (The Spirit is not likely to lead a brother to expound the 24th chapter of Jeremiah if he has never read and meditated on it before.)
In my judgment, it is not amiss for the brothers to ask the Lord in advance of the meeting to give them specific Scripture portions or topics to meditate on and organize in their mind. However, one should never go into a meeting with the thought that "I am going to give out hymn such and such or read chapter such and such from the Bible." We must seek to be totally yielded to the guidance of the Spirit that He might use the brothers of His choice to give the hymns, prayers, readings, meditations, and/or teachings of His choice.
We should arrive at the meeting in harmony and peace with one another if we expect to receive a blessing from the Lord. "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way:first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matt. 5:23,24).
And finally, we should make every attempt to arrive at the meeting early so we can get settled in our seats and have a few minutes of silent prayer before the meeting begins. In these meetings we are acting upon the truth of Matt. 18:20:"Where two or three are gathered together in [unto] My name, there am I in the midst of them." Just think of it- we are gathering together to meet with the Lord, with Himself in our midst! Should this not lead us to gather in a spirit of eager, but sober anticipation? All too often, especially at Bible conferences, people come into the building talking and laughing with one another and this continues right up to the appointed hour for beginning the assembly meeting. These things ought not to be, dear brothers and sisters!!
Is There to Be a Specific Theme?
In 1 Cor. 14:23,26,29 we read:"If therefore the whole church be come together into one place . . . every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. . . . Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge." The assembly meeting described here seems to have been of a rather general character, including both worship and ministry. In addition to this, there seems to be scriptural warrant for more specialized assembly meetings, particularly those for prayer (Matt. 18:19,20; Acts 4:31) and for remembering the Lord in His death (1 Cor. 11:17-29). I have heard of assembly meetings being held in times past for the purpose of public confession concerning the low spiritual state of the local assembly and the Church in general. No doubt as the last times come more and more upon us we will see less and less of this type of meeting because of our increasing pride, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness.
In the assembly meeting described in 1 Cor. 14 prophesying plays an important role. Prophesying does not primarily refer to prediction of future events but means literally "speaking on behalf of another"_in this case on behalf of God, or "as the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11). The one who prophesies gives a message from God based on the Holy Scriptures. This may be a development of a scriptural doctrine or teaching (1 Cor. 14:26), or a word of comfort, encouragement, or exhortation (verses 3,31). It may even, on occasion, be a gospel message suited to an unsaved person present (verses 24,25)_a message used by the Holy Spirit to convict him and manifest to himself the "secrets of his heart," leading him to fall "down on his face" and "worship God."
Is a Particular Order to Be Followed?
An observer who regularly attends the remembrance meeting at a particular assembly may get the impression that there are certain rules to be followed as to the order of the service. For example, the meeting may always open with a hymn and close with a prayer, and the giving of thanks for the bread and the wine invariably takes place during the latter half of the meeting. The reading of scripture, if done at all, usually occurs just before or just after the passing of the bread and the wine. Such regularity of order may well indicate that the assembly has fallen into a rut of tradition rather than maintaining the freshness of waiting on the Holy Spirit to lead and direct. One has remarked to me, "I think it is so nice when the remembrance meeting closes with a prayer." And I have heard of assemblies where it was held that the remembrance meeting had to conclude with a prayer. May I appeal to all such that we try not to put God in a box. Let us not limit the Spirit’s control by imposing our own rules and order on such a meeting. If the Holy Spirit so leads, a remembrance meeting may open equally with a hymn, a prayer, a reading of scripture, or with the giving thanks for the loaf and the cup; and it might close in any of these ways. Similarly, let us guard against traditions such as always opening a prayer meeting with a hymn (or two hymns), and opening a ministry meeting with a hymn and a prayer.
What About Periods of Silence?
For some people, assembly meetings can be agonizing experiences. This is because they cannot tolerate the quiet periods that may occur between hymns, prayers, scripture readings, etc. If one has brought a neighbor to the meeting, it may be a particular embarrassment to have a long period of silence. Worse yet, the longer the period of silence becomes, the more likely it is that one of the brothers will act in the flesh_for example, giving out a hymn just to do something_ rather than continue waiting to be led by the Holy Spirit. What are the causes of long periods of silence and what can be done about them?
I would suggest four possible reasons for long periods of silence during an assembly meeting; no doubt there are others besides. First, the believers_brothers and sisters alike_may not have come prepared in spirit. One family may still be upset from an argument during the drive in; others may have difficulty getting their minds off the ball game they were listening to just before the meeting; and others may have been so occupied with their job or home responsibilities that they had not given a bit of thought to the meeting before sitting down.
Second, a brother may have been led by the Holy Spirit to speak on a certain topic, but needs time to locate the appropriate scriptures and organize his thoughts.
Third, the Holy Spirit may have given a word to a brother who is naturally timid and reserved and who may be waiting for more definite assurance that the Spirit really wants him to get up and speak.
Fourth, if the period of silence follows a scripture reading or meditation already given, the Holy Spirit may want to give the entire assembly an extended period of quietness simply to meditate upon and assimilate the Word that has just been given to them.
How should we behave during such periods of silence? First, brothers, do not panic and go ahead of the Holy Spirit. Second, sisters, do not sigh, clear your throats, look disgusted, look at the clock, or in any other way try to convey to your brothers that things would be a lot better if you were in charge. Such behavior only deepens the sense of panic (see above) and further distracts the brothers from seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit. It will be far more profitable to continue the period of silence than to have it interrupted by one speaking from himself and not from the Holy Spirit.
Third, in accordance with Matt. 5:24 and 1 Cor. 11:28, all should take this time to examine themselves as to whether there is anything in their own behavior or relationships with others in the assembly that may be hindering the Holy Spirit in this meeting.
Fourth, put this quiet time to good use, just as you would a period of quiet at home. Use it to pray (first of all that the Holy Spirit will maintain control of the present meeting), read the Word, or meditate on a portion you have read recently. You might even (I speak now to the sisters) ask the Lord to impress a portion from His Word on your heart as if you were free to participate in the meeting. Who knows? Perhaps the Lord is at the same moment preparing a brother to expound on this very portion of Scripture. And if not, you will still be blessed with what the Lord has given you personally.
A brother once told me of a time when he was in an assembly with only one other brother besides himself, but still they had periodic assembly meetings for ministry of the Word and worship as described in 1 Cor. 14. On at least one occasion, he related, neither he nor the other brother spoke throughout the entire meeting (though perhaps there was a hymn or a prayer). "What a waste of time," some might exclaim if this were to happen in their assembly. However, others who come in the proper spirit might very well exclaim that it was one of the most precious hours they have ever spent.
Further questions concerning the conduct of assembly meetings will be taken up in the next issue, Lord willing.