THE FOURTH SERIES:
THE PATHWAY OF THE LORD’S RECOVERY
Crucial Principles in the Administration of the Church
Message One—The Church’s Administration in the Divine Economy
Scripture Reading: Acts 14:23; 20:17; Titus 1:5; Acts 13:1-2; Eph. 2:20; 1 Chron. 29:10-11
I. The economy of God has two aspects: an inward aspect as it relates to life and an outward aspect as it relates to administration; the church also reflects the inward aspect of life and the outward aspect of administration; God’s New Testament economy comprises both life and administration—Eph. 1:10; 3:9; 1 Tim. 1:3-4. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 4: The Increase and Spread of the Church, msg. 9)
II. We must see that in God’s economy for His administration, He desires to keep the kingship uniquely for Himself—1 Sam. 8:7: (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
A. The Bible clearly reveals that God does not want to have a human king in His administration, because He does not want anyone to replace Him by usurping His headship and kingship—Matt. 28:18. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
B. God wants to have only the apostles, prophets, and elders as His sent ones, His spokesmen, and the leading ones among His people, for these do not usurp His headship; the headship and kingship must be left to God alone—Acts 13:1-2; 14:23; Eph. 2:20; 1 Chron. 29:10-11. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
C. We need to honor the headship of Christ in the fellowship of the apostles, elders, and churches—Acts 15:1-31: (2010 ITEROF, msg. 3)
1. All the apostles and elders honored the headship of Christ, with each one conducting himself not as a leader or head but as a brother; there was no human headship, leadership, or presumption—vv. 7-13. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 3)
2. Among the saints and the churches, there was only one Head; if we keep this principle and honor the Lord’s headship, we can have the assurance that blessing will be transmitted from the Head to the Body—Col. 2:19. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 3)
III. Because God desires to keep the headship and kingship absolutely and uniquely for Himself, He needs a group of elders in each locality who participate in His administration without offending His headship—Acts 14:23; 20:17; Titus 1:5: (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
A. The eldership does not offend God’s headship, but if anyone becomes a king, this offends God’s headship—Matt. 20:25-26. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
B. The elders in the local churches may be capable and strong, but they must be careful not to become kings—1 Pet. 5:1, 3. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
C. The plurality in the eldership is crucial because it helps to prevent anyone from becoming a king—Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5: (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
1. If there is one elder above the others, that one is a king, which is an insult to Christ’s headship and kingship—Matt. 20:21, 25-26. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
2. Among His people today, God desires to have a plurality of elders; this will allow God’s economy to be carried out yet avoid offending God’s headship. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
D. The elders in every local church should be diligent in directly seeking the Lord for everything; for every need they should pray, fellowship, and wait on the Lord to receive direction, guidance, and leading directly from Him—1 Tim. 2:8. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
E. The elders in a locality should not allow one elder to become a king—Matt. 23:8-10: (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
1. Every elder must exercise discernment and pray to seek the Lord’s leading while respecting the Lord’s leading in the other elders—Eph. 5:21. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
2. If all the elders are exercised in taking the lead, there will be no opening for anyone to become a king, which is contrary to God’s administration—Heb. 13:7, 17. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)
F. In order to receive God’s blessing, we must not open the door for a king to come in, nor should we desire to be a king—Matt. 20:26; Rom. 15:29; Eph. 1:3. (2010 ITEROF, msg. 1)