HOW TO BEHAVE YOURSELF IN THE HOUSE OF God!

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Introduction: There is no other organization like the local church.  If you want to know truth, it should be taught, preached and practiced at church. I plan to be a preacher who doesn't compromise, preach truth, hate sin and love this Book.  Church has been my life for the most of my life.  I got saved in 1972.  Later that year God called me to preach.  I was sixteen years old at the time.  Since my teens, I have been involved with one part of church or another.  As a young man, I led singing, took up offerings, and went on visitation and whatever I could do.  My pastor allowed me to preach.  As I look back on those early days of preaching, I see how I stumbled along preaching what sounded pretty good to me.  I had plenty of zeal but had a real lack of knowledge. 

      Even when I went to Bible Institute, I did not pick a lot of Bible knowledge so to speak.  In my final year in Bible Institute, I quit.  I disgraced my Lord, family and church by quitting.  During that time, I went through a rebellious period trying to substitute law enforcement for the ministry.  There is nothing really sinful about law enforcement unless you are on the outside of God’s will as I was.

      Some of the positives of those days were my marriage and the birth of my oldest son.  His birth started me back down the path of God’s will.  Six months after his birth, I got right with God.  We moved back to West Virginia to work as youth director.

      Later on I worked in several other churches in different functions.  This included working as an assistant pastor in South Boston, Virginia (no title just the work).  It was in South Boston that the Lord directed me to get nursing training and later to come to Johnston County to pastor where we have been since 1990.  Having pastor two churches since that day, I plan to stay here as the Lord allows spending the rest of my life in this church.

      Why did Paul write these words “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God”.  There are several factors that we must remember.  First of all, this was written in the first century.  This is the church that Jesus will reveal to John on the Isle of Patmos was the church that had left its first love.  I believe the first love is the love for the Lord Jesus who is the one whom verse sixteen speaks.

      Secondly, we know that there were problems in this church.  In chapter one, Paul talks of doctrinal problems.  In chapter two, we find prayer and Biblical subjection problems.  In chapter three, we found Paul making sure Timothy understood the qualifications of leadership in the church.  This is just the first three chapters.

      Paul most likely was not singling Timothy out with that statement.  You know Timothy would read Paul’s letter to the church.  This letter to be a warning to any who had it read it and/or had it read to them.

      Many things happen at church that ought to never occur at church.  Most problems come from hearts that are cold and carnal.  What causes cold hearts and carnal living?  The answer is found in those first three chapters.  Wrong doctrine causes cold hearts, which leads to carnal living.  A corporate prayer life that is dead causes cold hearts and leads to carnal living.  Improper or no subjection is a cause.  Problems with the qualifications of the leaders will cause cold hearts and carnal living.

      I want to share with you four lines of thought on this subject of “How to Behave in the House Of God.” 

I.  WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING WHEN YOU COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD?

                  A. Yourself Heb. 10:25

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

                     Nothing and no one should be more important as your church.  People put some many good things in front of church attendance.  They will put ballgames, family reunions and even voluntary overtime in front of church attendance.  Some people will use any excuse for not being in church.  I realize that people take time off and leave out of town for a break.  But I do not see any reason why people miss church just because they are on vacation.  This week, we had a young man who visited on Wednesday night who was working in the area.  He told me that he just had to be in church. 

                     Some people try to tell me that the only reason I feel this way is because I am the preacher.  Let me say two more things before moving on.

1. What account will you give to Christ in regards to your church attendance?
2. I practiced what I am preaching before I became a pastor.

                  B. Your children Pro. 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

                                                Eph. 6:4

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

                        1. A soul bound for hell or a scratch on your new car?

             2. You missing the worship services or missing a day's work?

             3. Sermons that are ten minutes too long or lunch a half-hour late?

             4. Our church is not growing or the garden not growing?

             5. Your Bible is unopened or your newspaper not being read?

             6. Your children will be late for school or being late for Sunday School?

             7. The offerings are down or your income being down?

                        8. Your church work is being neglected or your       housework being neglected?

9. Missing a good Bible lesson or missing a   football game or TV program?

      Children are a mirror of us.  Children will reveal what parents think of the House of God.  If it is not important to you, rest assured that it will not be important to them either especially in their teen years.  Husbands and wives must be in one accord on this subject too or their children will usually side with the one that is the least spiritual.

3. Your Bible

            If you do not have your Bible, how would you know if I was preaching the Book?  What does the Bible say on this? Acts 17:11

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

                              John 5:39

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

                  D. Your tithes 1 Cor. 16:1, 2

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

      God’s plan has been that God’s people to give to their church.  In the Old Testament, tithes and offerings were given for the Tabernacle and the Temple.  The tithes and freewill offerings of its people only support this church.  No other plan really works.   Tithing is fair to all that are involved. 

II.  WHAT YOU SHOULD LEAVE AT HOME WHEN YOU COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD?

                  A. A Bitter Spirit Psa. 64:3

“Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words”

                                                James 3:10,11

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”

      A bitter spirit spreads like fire and separates friends.  Bitterness will rot all the way to the bone marrow.  Bitterness reveals a heart that is not right with God.

                  B. A Complaining Spirit John 6:43

This spirit complains about others; about organization; about obedience; and/or offenses.  Some people really enjoy complaining.  They know it will stir up trouble.  They forget Jesus’ teachings on the subject and invent one of their own.

                        Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

      In their minds they have put these words in their lives: “Blessed are the troublemakers.”  If you used the opposite of Jesus’ teaching it would read like this:

Blessed are not the troublemakers for they will not be called the children of God.”

      Show me someone who has caused trouble in every church they have been members and I will show you a troubled soul who needs to rent of that wickedness.  They need to get right with God and the churches they have caused trouble.  You can usually find the root of troublemaking is a complaining spirit.

                  C. A Tired Spirit

      I realize that you may come to church occasionally and will be tired.  But to be tired all the time is a sign of laziness or doing too much.

      Coming to two services on Sunday takes preparation.  Let me give a few suggestions along this line of thought.

1. Being prepared physically

            You cannot stay up half of the night and watch

television and expect to be alert on Sunday.  This is especially true with the younger children and us older folks.  Get a good night’s sleep and eat properly.

2. Being prepared emotionally

      Most of your emotionally preparations can be linked with proper physical preparation.  If you come to church, you will not be ready emotionally or physically.

3. Being prepared spiritually

      If you rush to get to church, it is rare for you to be focused spiritually either for services.  Come a few minutes early and pray. Ask the Lord to rid your mind of problems, concerns of the day and failures.  Ask the Lord to cleanse your heart and life of sin so you can be ready to receive what God has for you.

                  D. An unforgiving Spirit Mark 11:25,26

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

                                                Eph. 4:32

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

      I have been wronged and offended many times throughout the years.  But I am learning to forgive.  I have forgiven those that have offended and wronged me.  But I do not go and pal around with them.  This keeps the Tempter from reminding me of their offenses that could open them old wounds. 

III. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN YOU ARE AT     THE HOUSE OF GOD? Eph. 5:18-20

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

                  A. Praising the Lord with our singing and praise

      When we sing, do it with all your heart.  Do it as if you are in audience with the One who died for you and saved you by His grace. 

      I remember a young man in the church in S. Boston by the name of Brian.  Brian could not carry a tune in a wash bucket.  But he had volume.  He sang in our choir.  He caused our choir to be a better choir because we would sing louder to our sing him and he could not be heard.

                  B. Practicing the Word

      We practice with our lives; our love and our learning.  This ought to be the goal of every church member.

3. Praying to the Lord

Here is a prayer list.  Pray for power, protection, purity, provisions, pastor, peace, perseverance, preparations, and purpose.    

                  D. Preparing for the Lord

      We should be preparing for winning the Lost; for worshipping the Lord; for the will of the Lord; for watching for the Lord; for the work of the Lord.  What is the key to this preparation?  The activity that we most of the time in the pew is listen.  But most people hear but don’t listen.  Let me give you some keys to getting the most out of listening to a sermon.

             1. Come to hear them, not out of curiosity, but from a sincere desire to know and do your duty. To enter His house merely to have our ears entertained, and not our hearts reformed, must certainly be highly displeasing to the Most High God, as well as unprofitable to us.

             2.  Give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the Word of God. If an earthly king were to issue a royal proclamation, and the life or death of his subjects entirely depended on performing or not performing its conditions, how eager would they be to hear what those conditions were! And shall we not pay the same respect to the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and lend an attentive ear to His ministers, when they are declaring, in His name, how our pardon, peace, and happiness may be secured?

             3.  Do not entertain even the least prejudice against the minister. That was the reason Jesus Christ Himself could not do many mighty works, nor preach to any great effect among those of His own country; for they were offended at Him. Take heed therefore, and beware of entertaining any dislike against those whom the Holy Ghost has made overseers over you. Consider that the clergy are men of like passions with yourselves. And though we should even hear a person teaching others to do what he has not learned himself, yet that is no reason for rejecting his doctrine. For ministers speak not in their own, but in Christ’s name. And we know who commanded the people to do whatever the scribes and Pharisees should say unto them, even though they did not do themselves what they said.

             4.  Be careful not to depend too much on a preacher, or think more highly of him than you ought to think. Preferring one teacher over another has often been of ill consequence to the church of God. It was a fault which the great Apostle of the Gentiles condemned in the Corinthians: "For whereas one said, I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos: are you not carnal, says he? For who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but instruments in God’s hands by whom you believed?"

            Are not all ministers sent forth to be ministering ambassadors to those who shall be heirs of salvation? And are they not all therefore greatly to be esteemed for their work’s sake?

             5.  Make particular application to your own hearts of everything that is delivered. When our Savior was discoursing at the last supper with His beloved disciples and foretold that one of them should betray Him, each of them immediately applied it to his own heart and said, "Lord, is it I?”

            Oh, that persons, in like manner, when preachers are discouraging from any sin or persuading to any duty, instead of crying, "This was intended for such and such a one!" instead would turn their thoughts inwardly, and say, "Lord, is it I?" How far more beneficial should we find discourses to be than now they generally are!

             6.  Pray to the Lord, before, during, and after every sermon, to endue the minister with power to speak and to grant you a will and ability to put into practice what he shall show from the Book of God to be your duty.

            No doubt it was this consideration that made St. Paul so earnestly entreat his beloved Ephesians to intercede with God for him: "Praying always, with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and for me also, that I may open my mouth with boldness, to make known the mysteries of the gospel" (Eph. 6:18-19). And if so great an apostle as St. Paul needed the prayers of his people, much more do those ministers who have only the ordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.

            If only all those hear me this day would seriously apply their hearts to practice what has now been told them! How ministers would see Satan, like lightning, fall from heaven, and people find the Word preached sharper than a two-edged sword and mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds!

            I think those are pretty good keys.  Especially when I know the source of this material.  George Whitefield preached that in the 1700’s.  But it relates to our subject today. 

IV. HOW LONG SHOULD WE STAY WHEN WE ARE AT THE HOUSE OF GOD? 

      Until all sins have been confessed. When God speaks to our heart, it is time to get right with Him. When you leave before we do that, you will probably:

                  A. Delay in confessing them. Proverbs 28:13

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

         B. Justify your sins.  You could tell yourself that it is not so bad.  Our sin is what put Christ on the cross.

                  C. Forget about your sin.

Conclusion:  We should be ready at all times to behave at the House of God.  May we this message to heart!