The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1957-08-01
) G r nm o nellie
Essentials For A Happy and
Successful Church
/ TheSSaIonianS 5.14-22


result in a happy and successful
church. That which is stated here
is not only for the pastor or
other spiritual leaders of
church, but it is for every mem
Der. Therefore, every member
should make it his business to
practice these instructions.
Those who are out of line
should be warned and corrected.
Those who are weak in faith
or do not have. the courage to
undertake the difficult, or lose
heart under trials and afflictions,
should be encouraged and helped
to exercise faith and to face the
hardships of life. Those who are
weak morally should have
brother or sister in the Lord
who will help them to victory
rather than run them down"
Patience should be exercised
toward all men. Revenge is not
a Christian spirit, but rather
the doing of good to all men.
The Christian living on the high
est spiritual plane rejoices in
times of disappointment and
suffering as well as when every
thing seems to be going right.
He is in a constant attitude of
prayer, thanking God for every
thing.
Now as we continue our study
Of this passage, we find the
exhortation: "Quench not the
Spirit" The Holy Spirit abides
in each person who is born
again, who truly acknowledge
Jesus Christ as Lord, 1t is His
responsibility to lead the Chris
tian believer into a more per
sonal relationship with Jesus
Christ and into a fuller under
standing Of spiritual truths (John
l6:12-14). He will also give the
Christian victory over tempta-
ton and sin (Galations 5:16-25;
Romans 81. The Holy Spirit gives
gifts to each Christian to fit
him for service and to set him
apart for service in the work Of
the church q Corinthians 1913
1877. The Holy Spirit will work
in the heart and life of each
Christian to fulfill His response
bilities; therefore, the Christian
should not quench (smOther) the
Spirit, but should yield to Him.
The Spirit works as fire
en1ightening, enliVening, and
purifying the souls of men. He
should be given complete free
dom in the lives Of such so that
he might do that work.
The next point is closely re-
lated to the last one and to the
one that folIoWs-"d "despise not
prophesyings" (verse 20). II
| refers to the preaching Of the
Word Of God. It is intended for
edification of church members,
for increase in and knowledge
and grace. and holiness and
comfort. To despise the preach
ing Cor reading) of the Word
would be one means of quench-
ing the Spirit
While we should be ready to
hear and practice the Word Of
| God at all times, we, also, must
| be aware that not everyone who
breaches or teaches is necessarily
teaching or preaching the Word
| Sometimes false teachers, some
times teachers who are not
| grounded in the truths Of the
| Word, assume, seek and work
themselves into such a position
| in the church meetings, so we
have the eXhortation "Prove all
things; hold fast that which is
| good" This includes all pheno-
mena which claims to be super
natural as we'll as the preaching
of the Word. The Christian
| should learn to discern in spirit
| ual matters U Corinthians 1910:
| 1929; | John AID. Gods Word
alone is the rule (ACts l7:ll)
under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit Il Corinthians 2:l0-l4). In
applying the standard Of Chris
tian discernment, it must Sift,
not for the mere pleasure Of re-
jecting the erroneous but with
the object Of retaining what is
| genuine. We are to hold fast
that which is good.
| Finally, we are eXhorted to
abstain from all appearance of
| evil" These words are com
monty explained as to mean that
we are to "abStain from every
| thing that even looks like evil
| The word appearance signifies
form or kind that which
leads to and borders on evil. 1t
| never has the sense of Semblance.
Moreover, it is impossible to
abstain from everything that
looks like evil. We are to avoid
everything erroneous or sinful
| Avoiding every form or kind Of
| evil is a good way to prevent our
being deceived with false doc
trines, or unsettled in our faith
| John 17;17; Romans l2:l, y.
| Corrupt affections indulged in
the heart and evil practices al