The Lord has given
specific instruction in His precious Word as to how we can be saved and know we
are headed for heaven. Also He has given instruction as to the gatherings of
His people here on earth. We find in the Word that there are special meetings
that we will call “assembly meetings” where He promises His presence when
gathered as a local church or assembly. We find also that there are different
types of assembly meetings specially called for in the Word.

      It is important to
distinguish between “assembly meetings” and all other gatherings of God’s
people. Some meetings of God’s people are organized and led by one or a few
members of the local assembly. Usually these meetings are characterized by the
exercise of the gift of a particular brother or brothers. For example, when the
gospel is presented, the evangelist exercises his gift in individual dependence
on God. In the Bible study, the teacher’s gift is helpful and refreshing. Or
one gifted as a teacher or a pastor may hold a series of lectures in which he
is responsible, as before the Lord, to bring forth suited ministry to the
Lord’s people. The assembly may decide to have outreaches using gifts as the
Spirit leads. Sunday school work may be the exercise of individuals as led of
the Lord as well, and may or may not necessarily be sponsored by the assembly.

      Assembly meetings, on
the other hand, are gatherings that satisfy the following two criteria. First,
the believers must be gathered unto the Name of the Lord Jesus as members of
the “one body.” This we see from Matt. 18:20:“For where two or three are
gathered together unto My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (JND). The
object of each one at such a gathering is “unto” His Name. His “Name”
represents all He stands for as revealed in His Word. It is not merely “in” His
Name (as in the King James Version), but “unto” or in honor of Him. Also, it is
with a real sense in our souls that He is in the midst of His people and we are
gathering “unto” or around Himself. “Are gathered” is important too. The power
for gathering is doubtless the Holy Spirit who gathers by the Word, and the
Word owns no body of believers but the “one body” of which all believers are a
part. This expression “are gathered” is also found in other passages of
Scripture, especially in the epistles of Paul; such passages give us further
direction as to assembly meetings, as we soon shall see. So this verse in
Matthew 18 assures us of the presence of the Head of the Church when we are
thus gathered.

      The second criterion
for an assembly meeting is that those gathered together must own that the
Spirit, who has baptized us into one body (1 Cor. 12:13), must be free to lead
whomsoever He will to take part publicly. “I will pray with the spirit and I
will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will
sing with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15).

      Let us consider some verses
now that give directions for assembly meetings. In conjunction with Matt. 18:20
quoted above, we have verses 17 and 18:“If he [that is, the brother who has
sinned] shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
These verses give direction for an assembly meeting for discipline. In the
following verse (19) we read:“If two of you shall agree on earth as touching
any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is
in heaven.” This verse seems to give direction primarily for an assembly
meeting for prayer, for it links directly with verse 20, “For where two or
three are gathered together unto My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”

      We find the expressions
“gathered together” or “come together” in connection with the assembly and they
seem to define the assembly meeting in Scripture. “When you come together …
into one place” is direction regarding the meeting for the Lord’s supper (1
Cor. 11:20). In 1 Cor. 14:23-32 the same expression is found twice regarding a
meeting for the ministry of the Word through “prophets” who, in dependence upon
the Spirit, give a word from the Lord suited to the needs of the assembly for
the present time. In 1 Cor. 5:4 we read of the assembly “gathered together” to
administer discipline to a “wicked person.” And in Acts 4:31 we find the saints
“assembled together” for a prayer meeting. Thus, we find four kinds of
Christian gatherings in the New Testament that seem to fall under the heading
of “assembly meetings”:the remembrance meeting, 1 Cor. 11; open meeting for
ministry of the Word, 1 Cor. 14; prayer meeting, Matt. 18 and Acts 4; and
meeting for discipline, Matt. 18 and 1 Cor. 5.

      As mentioned earlier,
spiritual gifts of individual members of the assembly are prominent in the
first category of meetings considered (that is, evangelistic and teaching
meetings, Bible studies, Sunday schools, and the like). In fact, all believers
have different gifts through the Spirit who divides “to every man severally as
He will” (1 Cor. 12:11). The gifts are for the “perfecting [or equipping] of
the saints” in view of the work of the ministry, which “the whole body” is
doing as directed by the Head (Eph. 4:12-16). However, in the meetings
specifically designated “when you are gathered together” (or similar terms), we
do not find spiritual gifts emphasized.

      The remembrance meeting
is designed for the worship of Christ, and there is no gift for worship. All
the redeemed can do this. Similarly, there is no gift for prayer, for it is the
very breath of every believer. While the Lord may be pleased to use different
gifts in the ministry meeting, this is not necessarily the case. All brothers
in the assembly are free to prophesy if the Spirit gives them a word:“You may all
prophesy one by one” (1 Cor. 14:31). The guiding principle is, “If any man
speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it
as of the ability which God giveth” (1 Pet. 4:11). Often it is the “five words”
(1 Cor. 14:19) of exhortation or encouragement given by a brother with little
evident public gift that has the greatest, most lasting impact on the
listeners. And with regard to a meeting for discipline, although we value any
gifts of government and efforts of oversight and care of older brethren at such
a meeting, the final action is by all in the assembly “when … gathered
together” (1 Cor. 5:4,5).

      It should be noticed
that the women are to “keep silence” in the assembly meetings (1 Cor. 14:34).
The word for “keep silence” means “not to address publicly.” The women are,
however, privileged to audibly sing with the rest and say “amen.”

      In review, an assembly
meeting is one where we are gathered unto Christ’s Name alone by His Word and
dependent upon the Spirit alone to lead whomever He will to pray, announce a
hymn, minister the Word, and so forth, whatever may be appropriate for the
particular meeting. Each assembly meeting has a specific purpose:remembrance
meeting—worship; discipline meeting—order; ministry meeting—edification; prayer
meeting—dependence. Also, there can rightly be other gatherings besides
so-called assembly meetings. But the conduct of these is more the
responsibility of pre-designated individuals, generally those with appropriate
spiritual gifts.

      It should be evident by
now why we, along with others, have applied the term “assembly meetings” only
to the one class of gatherings. It is these meetings that particularly
exemplify the truth of the assembly or church, which is the body of Christ,
with all of the believers in the local assembly unitedly waiting upon the Holy
Spirit to lead in the order and conduct of the meeting. The other types of
gatherings, such as Bible studies and gospel meetings, are very proper and
helpful and needful as well. But since the order of these meetings, the
Scripture portion to be studied, etc., are decided in advance by those
responsible for the gatherings, they do not so much exemplify the truth of the
assembly, the one body of Christ.

      Finally, it seems in
keeping with the ministry of the Spirit of God on this subject to close with
the plea that is linked with our privilege “to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus”:“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another:and so much the more, as you see
the day approaching” (Heb. 10:19,25). The greatness of the privilege we have of
gathering in His very presence is, at best, little realized by us, I believe.
But it is so special to God and His Son and the Holy Spirit. The veil at the
entrance of the holiest of all has been rent at Calvary, and those whose sins
are remembered no more are graciously invited to “draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). There is responsibility linked with
this privilege to “hold fast the profession of our faith” and “consider one
another.” Such responsibility we may well count a great privilege too, in view
of His soon return and our presence there in the glory with Him eternally. “He
is faithful,” and so can we be through His strength and a sense of His grace.
Assembly meetings are indeed special. They are special to Christ as He is
there, and we should not “forsake” them, but be there with adoring hearts,
filled with gratefulness to Him “who loves us, and has washed us from our sins
in His blood” (Rev. 1:5 JND).

 

Introduction

      The definition and
description of so-called assembly meetings has been presented very clearly by
David Johnson in the preceding article. 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 about the
opposite problem of not enough silence?

      7. What if a particular
brother does not edify the assembly by his ministry?

      8. How long should a
message be?

      9. 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” or value 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 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, or teachings of His choice at each particular meeting.

      We should arrive at the
meeting in harmony and peace with one another if we expect to receive a
blessing from the Lord. “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there
remember that your brother has ought against you, leave there your gift before
the altar, and go your way:first be reconciled to your brother, and then come
and offer your 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 gathered 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 has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation,
has 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 also 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.

      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.

      A sister once 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. But is that up to us to
decide? I would 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.

      Nevertheless, Scripture
does give us a few rules for the assembly meetings:(1) No more than
three brothers should minister the Word or read the Scriptures at a particular
meeting (1 Cor. 14:29); (2) the brothers should speak one at a time, not more
than one in different parts of the room as may have happened in the assembly at
Corinth (verse 31); and, as mentioned earlier, (3) the women are to “keep
silence in the churches” (verse 34).

What About Periods of Silence?

      Assembly meetings can
be agonizing experiences for some people. 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 thus
is resisting the Holy Spirit or else 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 Corinthians 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.

What About the Absence of

Periods of Silence?

      The opposite problem of
not enough silence may also occur, particularly at Bible conferences. Let us
take care to leave time for meditation on the hymn just sung or the Word just
ministered before giving out another hymn or ministering on a different portion
of Scripture. Let us be sure to leave room for the Holy Spirit to do His
perfect work in leading whom He wishes in such meetings. Sometimes it
appears that brothers are afraid they might not have an opportunity to speak if
they don’t jump up as soon as there is an opening. But this is not giving room
for the Holy Spirit to lead.

      As stated earlier,
Scripture imposes a limit on the number of “prophets” (that is, those who read
or minister the Word), namely “two or three” (1 Cor. 14:29). So those who would
stand up to minister the Word without the clear leading of the Spirit create
two problems:(1) they are not giving out what the Spirit intended for that
audience at that time; and (2) they may well deny the opportunity for one who does
have a word from the Lord to speak. So let us take seriously our responsibility
to have the clear leading of the Holy Spirit when participating in an assembly
meeting.

What If There Is No Edification?

      As noted previously,
according to 1 Corinthians 14 the purpose of the assembly meeting is edification
of the saints. But suppose a particular brother who participates rather
frequently in the assembly meeting repeatedly fails to edify. Let me suggest a
few things to consider in this regard.

      First, the problem may
be in me and not in the speaker. I may be harboring some unjudged ill feelings
toward that brother that effectively blocks my spirit from receiving any
ministry that the brother may give.

      Second, it is well to
keep in mind that the people attending an assembly meeting often cover a wide
range of ages and of spiritual maturity. A brother’s ministry may be
unprofitable to me because it typically covers lessons I learned long ago; but
the lessons may be just what are needed by some of the younger ones present.
And rather than be bored by it all, I should be praying that those to whom the
message is directed will receive it and live it. Further, it will not do me any
harm to challenge myself whether the truths that are being presented are as
fresh, and real, and living in me as they once were. (If I find them boring,
perhaps they are not as real to me as they ought to be!) And finally, if I pay
close attention, I may get some pointers as to how better to present simple
truths to young believers.

      Third, it may be that
the person is acting in the flesh and not in the Spirit, and is truly edifying
nobody. If, after talking with several other brothers and sisters of all ages,
I find that all are agreed that they are not edified by the brother’s ministry,
it is Scriptural for other brothers to go to him, in a spirit of meekness (Gal.
6:1), and tell him the problem and seek to help him to become more attuned to
the leading of the Holy Spirit. “Let the prophets speak … and let the others
judge” (1 Cor. 14:29).

How Long Should a Message Be?

      The apostle Paul said,
“In the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my
voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue”
(1 Cor. 14:19). It is generally found that the shorter and more succinct a message
is, the higher the likelihood the main points will be remembered by the
hearers. The unknown tongue, while referring to a foreign, unintelligible
language in the case of the Corinthians, could apply to speakers who try to
cover Genesis to Revelation and all major (and some minor) doctrines in one
message. In general, the messages should have one or two key themes or points
to impress upon the audience, and care should be taken not to ramble all over
and get off on many different tangents while trying to make those main points.
Dependence on the Holy Spirit does not end with standing up to speak.
There should be equal—if not greater—dependence on the Spirit while giving the
message in order to stick to the main point the Spirit wants you to bring out
and in order to know when to stop and sit down. Verse 30 of 1 Cor. 14
seems relevant in this regard, though it is difficult to know exactly how to
carry it out in practice:“If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by,
let the first hold his peace.” I would suggest that if the brother who is
speaking continues to look to the Holy Spirit for guidance while he speaks, the
Spirit will make it plain to him when he should conclude and “hold his peace”
so that another brother can minister what the Spirit has given to him.

How Is an Assembly Meeting

Brought to a Close?

      This is perhaps the most difficult of our questions to
answer. I can easily tell you from personal experience how such meetings
traditionally are ended. The weekly remembrance and prayer meetings generally
are announced for a specific time period (say, one hour). At the appointed
time, Bibles and hymn books are put away and the Holy Spirit is dismissed, as
it were.

      No doubt it would be
more in keeping with the character of these meetings—that is, assembly meetings
with the Holy Spirit in full control—to allow more flexibility to go
over the appointed hour if the Spirit so leads. If another meeting, such as
Sunday school, is scheduled to start immediately after the remembrance meeting
is scheduled to end, this severely limits the flexibility of letting the
Spirit—rather than the clock— bring the meeting to a close. So it would be wise
to schedule a break between the two meetings if the remembrance meeting is
first.

      On the other hand, if
several families are missing (due to bad weather, vacations, etc.) and there
are only one or two brothers left, there is no reason a remembrance meeting
need necessarily last a whole hour. It need not be more than the giving of
thanks for the bread and wine and perhaps a hymn or two—of course, all
according to the Spirit’s leading. Even when several brothers are present,
allowance must be given to the Spirit to close the meeting early, perhaps to
allow the assembly the final few minutes to silently meditate upon the thoughts
already expressed.

      In the case of an
assembly meeting for ministry of the Word, the length of the meeting is defined
in part by the number of prophets—that is, those who read and/or expound the
Scriptures—who have spoken. “Let the prophets speak two or three” (1 Cor.
14:29). No doubt this restriction, imposed by the all-wise God, takes account
of man’s inability to take in and retain more than a few main ideas in a single
sitting. Even after the third speaker has sat down, allowance should still be
given to the Holy Spirit to lead in additional hymns, prayers, and worship.

Conclusion

      To conclude this topic,
I would say that the brothers have an awesome responsibility to carry out with
regard to the assembly meetings. It is not an easy thing to wait upon the Holy
Spirit to lead in an assembly meeting. It is often difficult to discern the
voice or prompting of the Spirit and to distinguish it from the prompting of
Satan or the flesh. It is difficult to sit through long silences without doing
something—anything! The sisters should not be envious of the public place given
to the brothers, and should gladly support the brothers with their prayers and
encouragement.

      On the other hand, let
us not allow the sense of this awesome responsibility, and the intense
spiritual exercise required by it, to hinder us from conducting assembly
meetings. A great deal of blessing and spiritual edification awaits those who
desire to gather together as an assembly to wait upon the Spirit alone, letting
Him draw out our prayers and praises and allowing the omniscient, all-wise God
to minister to current spiritual needs of the assembly as He sees them.

 

      One thing that always
marks ministry in the Spirit is the prompting of personal affection for Christ.
“Do you love Me?” was the thrice repeated question to Peter, connected with the
injunction to feed Christ’s flock (John 21:16). “For the love of Christ
constrains us” (2 Cor. 5:14), Paul says. How different is this from the many
motives that might influence us naturally. How important that we should be able
each time we minister to say with a good conscience, “My motive for speaking
was not a love of prominence, or force of habit, or a restless desire to break
the period of silence, but love to Christ and to His flock.”

      Further, ministry and
worship in the Spirit is always marked by a deep sense of responsibility to
Christ. Suppose we were questioned after the close of a meeting, “Why did you
give out such a hymn, or read such a chapter, or offer such a prayer, or speak
such a word?” Could we with a clear, good conscience reply, “My only reason for
doing so was the solemn conviction that it was my Master’s will”? My brethren,
is there not often the taking this part or that without any sense of
responsibility to Christ?

      “If any man speak, let
him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). This is not an exhortation for
one to speak according to the Scriptures, though all should, of course, do
this. It says rather that they who speak are to speak as God’s mouthpiece. If I
cannot say in speaking, “This is what I believe I have been taught of God, and
what God has given me to speak at this time,” I ought to be silent. Of course a
man may be mistaken in saying this; but nothing less ought to induce anyone to
take part in the meetings than the solemn conviction before God that God has
given him something to say. If our consciences were exercised to act under such
responsibility as this, it would doubtless prevent a great deal which does take
place; but at the same time it would make way for God to manifest His presence
as we are not accustomed to witness it.

      (From Five Letters
on Worship and Ministry in the Spirit.)

 

      “I believe in the
communion of saints,” many repeat from the Apostles’ Creed, who but little
enter into its Scriptural meaning. First, “communion” is what we have in common,
both to enjoy from God and to hold as a trust for Him in the midst of all
opposing forces. Then it is the “communion of saints,” and saints are
God’s saved ones, “holy brethren” (Heb. 3:1), called out of the world to
Himself. Further, it is “a communion of saints” we are said to “believe in,”
and so are not to treat it as a holiday matter, for now and then, but as an everyday
one of which we seriously assume the responsibilities, as we would enjoy the
privileges.

      There is, at present,
much talk about fellowship with all Christians. However, as a matter of
fact, none are in fellowship with all Christians, and as a matter of
obedience to Scripture, none certainly should be. Christians are found
walking in all sorts of unholy ways, holding all manner of heresies, and in all
kinds of evil associations. Hence, in the measure that we really “believe in
the communion of saints,” we shall endeavor, not only to be in fellowship with
saints (a first consideration), but also as saints who are “holy brethren,” and
are by that fact held responsible to maintain what is consistent with it, both
in themselves and in their fellowship. Some say that “a circle of fellowship”
is not of God; but perforce there can be no fellowship without it being
in a circle, or having its limits, whether they be true or false. We realize
that in the maintenance of such a circle, there is call for great watchfulness
against a sectarian spirit and ways. The apostle Paul teaches “a
circle of fellowship” in 1 Cor. 7:17; 11:16; 12:26; and 14:33; were he here
with us today, we believe he would help us to sacredly regard the Scriptural
lines he then laid down as the minister of the Church, amid the evils of our
own days. He would not be in fellowship with all Christians, we know,
from his attitude toward the brother put away at Corinth, and the assembly that
for the time being was defiled by his presence.

      We cannot go to
all, that is plain if we would obey 2 Tim. 2:19-22, which is not yet obsolete.
But neither can we receive all, for the simple rule of Scripture is two-fold:
“Receive one another … to the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7), and “let all things be done unto edifying” and “decently and in order” (1
Cor. 14:26,40). These terse words put the bars up against the ditches on the
sides of both extremes. We are to receive one another because we
are the Lord’s; but we are to receive to the glory of God, and this does
not mean receiving all Christians. Christ receives sinners as such, when
it is a question of salvation, but God receives His people as they walk in ways
of obedience and separation to Himself (2 Cor. 6:17). We would regard fully
the word, “Of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 22),
knowing that we are to “love mercy” as well as “do justly” (Mich.6:8). But to
hold the door of fellowship open to all Christians is to do worse by God’s
house than we do by our own. Likewise, to wink at the corruptions and evils of
an apostate Christendom will not help the beloved souls who are groaning in
bondage there. “A true witness delivers souls” (Prov. 14:25), and this calls
for both the maintenance of Scriptural fellowship and the teaching to others of
what this involves.

      (From Seed for the
Sower, No. 123.)