THE FOURTH SERIES:
THE PATHWAY OF THE LORD’S RECOVERY
Crucial Principles in the Administration of the Church
Message Ten—The Principle of Discussing Matters in the Elders’ Meeting
Scripture Reading: Exo. 28:29-30; Acts 15:6-22, 28-29
I. The principle of discussing matters in the elders’ meetings is to let the Holy Spirit be the presiding One—Acts 15:6-12, 22, 28; Matt. 18:20: (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
A. Whenever the elders come together, they need to pray themselves into the spirit; they need to pray their different understandings into the oneness. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
B. In the elders’ meeting we should not elect someone to preside over the meeting; if we elect someone, we annul the authority of the Holy Spirit, and the meeting is offensive to the Holy Spirit. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
C. When the elders come together, if someone senses the leading within to mention a certain matter that needs a decision, he may mention it; then all may speak forth their feeling so that everyone may seek the Lord’s leading together, according to the example of Acts 15. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
II. Learning to follow the Holy Spirit in discussing matters—Col. 1:18; Acts 15:28: (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
A. The elders should be real priests who have direct contact with God and seek God; their relationship with God should be so intimate that He can tell them His intention at any time—Acts 15:6-7a; James 2:23; Exo. 33:11a. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
B. When the elders follow the Holy Spirit in discussing matters, there is neither democracy nor autocracy but a theocracy, that is, the rule of God; God desires that we seek His instruction—Col. 1:18b; Dan. 4:26. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
C. In order to be infused with the instruction of God to care for the church, the elders must enter into the reality of “reading the saints,” just as the high priest in the Old Testament read the stones on the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim in the presence of God—Exo. 28:29-30: (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
1. When the elders come together, they must bear the brothers and sisters on their shoulders, representing strength, and hold them in their heart, representing love—vv. 9-12, 29-30; S.S. 8:6. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
2. If the church has a problem and the elders need to see how the church should go on, they should go to God with much prayer; God’s speaking will come to them, telling them what to do and how to do it. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
3. The elders need not only the Bible and the Holy Spirit but also the brothers and sisters as the alphabet; they need to read the condition of every brother and sister before God, and know what God wants them to do and what God’s present will is in the church life. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
D. Using facts and experiences as references—Acts 15:6-12: (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 2: Leading the Saints to Practice the New Way Ordained by the Lord, msg. 15)
1. The testimony of Peter—vv. 7-11. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 2: Leading the Saints to Practice the New Way Ordained by the Lord, msg. 15)
2. The testimonies of Barnabas and Paul—v. 12. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 2: Leading the Saints to Practice the New Way Ordained by the Lord, msg. 15)
E. Making decisions according to the truth in God’s word—vv. 13-22, 28-29: (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 2: Leading the Saints to Practice the New Way Ordained by the Lord, msg. 15)
1. James’s views based upon the truth—vv. 13-21. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 2: Leading the Saints to Practice the New Way Ordained by the Lord, msg. 15)
2. The decision of the Holy Spirit and the apostles with the elders—vv. 22, 28-29. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 2: Leading the Saints to Practice the New Way Ordained by the Lord, msg. 15)