I'd like you please to open your Bible there in Matthew chapter 16. The passages of scripture that we read this morning set before us the true dignity and the glory of the church and how much that is lost sight of today. Of course, for many, the term church conjures up the image of a distinctive building, probably with a steeple, with glass-stained windows. And yet that is a concept that is foreign to Scripture. And hence our Presbyterian forefathers used that simple term, the meeting house. The doctrine of the church is sadly neglected today. And again, how many of God's people have a very low view of the church? How many various works have mushroomed up in Ulster? They attract many. Everything is casual. And all the music programming is so entertaining. Gets the feet tapping. Indeed, it gets the body swaying. Oh, there is no deep doctrine there. Doctrine is so divisive. There's nothing negative. It's all positive. These services that we have, let me say they have the feel-good factor, one of the buzzwords today. I was listening quite recently, I'm talking about in the last few weeks, to a minister being interviewed. minister of an evangelical church, and he was saying in the interview how glad he was to see new faces in his church. And immediately he went on to say this, I want them to realize that church can be such fun. Church can be such fun. How fatal the doctrine of the Church. Do these works, their ministry, their message conform to the biblical pattern and purpose with reference to the Church? Now in these various verses this morning, We see some very deeply significant and very precious designations of the church, and I'm going to quickly draw your attention to them. We'll not turn up every place, perhaps, but you feel free to do that if you're good at the sword drill. Here in Matthew 16, 18, the Lord Jesus says, I will build my church. It's peculiarly his. This is the church that he loved and gave himself for, as we read in Ephesians. This is the church that he has purchased with his own blood, as you read in Acts 20, 28. Then we think of John 18 and the first 36, and for those who rejoice in the Protestant Reformation. That's a very key text. When the Lord Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. My kingdom. Church is his kingdom. It's that spiritual kingdom. It's composed. all those in the words of Colossians 1.13 who have been delivered from the power of darkness and they have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. It's His kingdom. Just notice in passing in that text, His kingdom is not to be advanced by the sword. It is not to be advanced by the temporal power. May I just simply say to you, this utterly condemns the bloody history of the Roman Church. They've often asserted, oh no, we didn't put anyone to death. Why would they say that? Because they delivered the heretics up to the temporal power to be executed. This is a text that utterly condemns the arrogant pretensions of Rome and its cruel history, drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And if you turn to Ephesians chapter five, And you'll notice in the first 30, a very plain statement is made in this chapter. First 30 of Ephesians 5, we are members of his body. Now the church is his body. And in this letter, You'll see if you turn to chapter 1, one of the most amazing statements about that. Look at chapter 1 in the concluding verses of chapter 1 of Ephesians, and have put all things under his feet, gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. What an astounding statement that is. The church is His body. And that's a reminder to us that the church is more than an organization. Now, of course, as we shall see, there is organization in the church, but fundamentally and essentially, the church is an organism. It's living. It's His body. It's the product of the creative activity of Almighty God. You know, there's some wonderful paradoxes in the Bible. I often meant to do a series on, never got around to it. Let me illustrate quickly. Seeing Him, He isn't visible. There's a paradox. Seeing Him, Who is invisible? Well, there's one here. Look at Ephesians chapter 2 and the concluding verses. Ephesians chapter 2 and the concluding verses. And you read in verse 21, in whom all the building. Now, building, just underline the term, fitly framed together growth. There's a building growing. How is that? Well, of course, Peter tells us quite simply in 1 Peter chapter 2, this is the church. It's living. It's an organism. It's composed. What does Peter say? Living stones. Living stones. Those who are quickened to spiritual life in Christ. Oh, tell me, have you had that experience? Are you one of those living stones? As I say, significant and precious designations, and I haven't even looked at them all. This is just a few to draw your attention to. Now here in Ephesians chapter 5, we also see the glorious destiny of the church. Look at verse 27 of Ephesians 5. that he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." Now, the thought here, of course, in this same context now is the church is the bride of Christ. And here is the ultimate purpose, for which the Savior gave Himself, for which He nourisheth and cherisheth the church, we read it this morning, verse 29, for which He sanctifies it and cleanseth it, verse 26, it's to present the church. in all of the perfection of its beauty and of its glory, and to do that in the presence of all of the principalities and powers of heaven. And we read that in Ephesians 3 and 10. You can say, I haven't the time to really go to some of these places. to present His bride before the presence of His glory with great exceeding joy. There's the glorious destiny of the church. Why should that affect our hearts today? I'm a stranger to this congregation, so I can't say if there is such a young lady present. But if there's a young lady present who's engaged to be married, oh, the day is set. The flowers have all been arranged. The dress has been bought with great care. The reception has been planned. And oh, how that young lady is anticipating that day. Oh, there's a longing for that day to dawn. That's how it ought to affect us. Are we looking and longing for the marriage supper of the Lamb? For that glorious destiny I've set before you in just a few words, what a day that will be. Now, of course, when we think of the Church as the Church that Christ loved and gave himself for, as his body, his bride, his kingdom, we are thinking of the Church as composed of all saints throughout the whole of time, the whole family of God. The Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And again, a searching question for you. Maybe you're here in this building or out there in the car park. Here you are, meeting in the church today. But oh, can I ask you, is your name written there? Can you read with the eye of faith your title clear to a mansion in the skies? Is your name there? Do you remember when the disciples came back to the master? You read of it in Luke's gospel chapter 10, and they were rejoicing. Why? Evil spirits had been subject to them. Oh, they had gone out, they had been victorious in their ministries and dealing with the power of hell, and they came back rejoicing, and the master said to them, don't be rejoicing in that. What did he say? Rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Oh, is your name there today? Let me pause for a moment. I have heard some foolish Christians assert that that is the only membership book they are concerned to have their name in. And just simply say to you, that's unscriptural nonsense. Unscriptural nonsense. But I have heard saints of God saying that. And hence, they have no spiritual roots in any congregation. Oh, I met a host of spiritual gypsies in Australia. It's one of the major problems in God's work in Australia, and it affects our congregations as well. But I must not go on with that for a moment. We have been thinking of the church to this point as comprising the whole body of God's elect. Now, in Reformed theology, With reference to this, theologians have been wont to use this term, the invisible church. And of course, it is used in that precise way in our Westminster Confession of Faith. But we must always be careful, very careful, not to lose sight of this fact. How frequently in the New Testament the church denotes that which is visible and localized, an assembly of believers with its own government and discipline. Visible and localized, an assembly of believers with its own government and discipline. And again, just for a moment, let me pause. That in itself argues for the requirement for and the rightfulness of church membership. I can't explore that. I spent at least one whole sermon just on that one point back in Australia. That's what it argues. the requirement for, and the rightfulness of church membership. And yet, how many professed believers do not think it is really necessary? And indeed, at the very least, it's really of little importance. You'll see at Spurgeon, I brought along a quote, but I'm looking at the time. I'm not going to read it all to you. This is a tremendous quote. You know, when I read this in Australia, I had applications for church membership come in within weeks for people who'd been sitting in our meetings for years. But I can't read it this morning. Time is going away for me. But let me just say to you, Spurgeon said, it is your duty as a Christian to be united to the church. Now, the responsibilities of church membership. That's to say, I'm not dealing with all of these things. When I preached on that in Australia over a number of weeks, can you remember? Was it four or five weeks? I summed it up in four words. And I really can't do much more than give you the words with maybe one or two comments at most, attend. Well, that speaks for itself, doesn't it? And the tragedy is, I can't speak about Portland alone. I certainly can speak about Lisbon. We have people we've never seen back. never seen back, even young couples never seen back, well-established believers. My wife is shocked about it so much. Every time we drive past their house, she mentions it. She mentioned it yesterday. She mentioned it on Friday. I don't understand it, she'll say. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is. Now, I'm more than conscious, especially the elderly. Am I not among them? No, I can't say. But some of the elderly are very apprehensive. I appreciate that, not denying that. Some are very vulnerable. My brother John Douglas with, what, half a lung left? I'm not talking about the elderly and the vulnerable. First duty, to attend. Second, to extend the church. And I rejoice in the evangelistic passion that your minister demonstrates. And I thank God for it on more than one occasion in prayer. defend and command." Those were the four words I gave for those messages. Now, let me simply say, every office bearer should be an example to the flock of God in all of those. Their evident consecration to the Savior and their zealous commitment to His service. Let me come back to words I used a moment or two ago with reference to the church as an assembly of believers with its own government and discipline. The establishment of that in the apostolic church was a focal point of concern to the apostles, a focal point of concern. Now, if you turn to Acts, that's back a few pages in your Bible. If you turn to Ephesians and just turn to chapter 14. Now, of course, some of these references will be to the elders in the church, but I'm not dealing with that context. I'm just dealing with the context that government and discipline was ever the focal point of concern to the apostles of Christ in the apostolic church. Chapter 14 and verse 22, confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must, through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God. This was a mission that Paul and Barnabas undertook, going back over ground they had to visit the churches they had seen established, and to encourage them and to comfort them. And verse 23, and when they had ordained them elders in every church. Just notice it. It was a focal point of concern. Turn to Titus chapter one, Titus chapter one and the first five. Paul is writing to Titus, his own son in the faith. And what's his concern? He's left him in Crete. Why? Verse 5, for this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order. Notice it. Important words. God is a God of order. Set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee. I can only give you those two places. It's just to illustrate the point I'm making. This was a focal point of concern in the apostolic church, that those assembly of believers would have their own government and discipline. Now, the question I asked just now, why? Why was that such a focal point of concern? So many believers don't really see it as a matter of concern hardly at all. And how many have left churches where there was government and discipline, and they're now found in some of these works that have mushroomed up where there's no such thing? Why was this so important? Well, did you not notice I haven't turned you back to 1 Timothy chapter 3 yet? I want you to turn and just look at this with me. Now, 1 Timothy chapter 3, remember what I said? The first I'm drawing your attention to now one of the greatest texts in the New Testament. I talked about very significant and precious designations of the church. I never even drew your attention to the ones that are here. But you see, we have to really notice the context here, because you'll notice in first What's the significance of those words? That's not personal. No, this is a matter of putting things in order in the church. That's what this is about. context is so significant here. Remember I said to you, here in this chapter, you just have to glance at it, you have the qualifications for elders and deacons, and then immediately Paul goes on to say to Timothy, I want you to put things in order there, to use the words of Titus, Why is it so important? Well, just read on. To behave thyself in the house of God, thou should conduct the affairs of the house of God, which is the church of the living God. That's a precious designation. And here's What to me is one of the most important phrases in all of our Bible, the church is what? The pillar and ground of the truth. I'm sure I spent 10 Sundays on that back in the street. I can just tell you how I dealt with it. How is the church the pillar and ground of the truth? Do you know there is the supreme function of the church, the supreme function of the church in this world. It's the ground and the pillar of the truth. I dealt with the fact of defining the truth, hence our great confessions and creeds of the past. Then I went on to speak about declaring the truth, preaching the word. Preaching the word. How we need to pray for the Whitefield College of the Bible, do you? If you know anything of the history of apostasy, it began in colleges. We need to pray for our college. You need to pray for those who lecture. And perhaps year in and year out they have to go over the same ground. And that's not easy in a sense. What do I mean by that? They need to have unction from God in their teaching. That truth will have so evidently gripped them that the students, it will begin to grip them. And you need to pray for those students. Pray for the Word of God that even in our college they'll be experiencing its quickening power, and then pray as they come out that the Lord Jesus will have made them able ministers of the New Testament, and our college has always had this reputation of sending out preachers. Preachers. Those who will preach the word, proclaim the gospel of saving grace, preachers. All pray for the college, then defending the truth. That was the three vital things that I set before them in Australia when I was preaching on that. Now maybe you're not just getting the point yet that I'm making here. Because you see, the argument here is, Timothy, this is how you need to conduct the affairs of the church. There has to be elders in the place. There has to be deacons. There has to be office bearers in the church. Why? Because proper government and right administration in the church is necessary to the functioning of the church as the pillar and ground of the truth. That's the context. That's the argument here. And do I tell you, although I can't go on to say any more than this, this has been so illustrated for us in the last 50 to 100 years. So this is no little matter, having an election of office bearers. Rather, indeed, we might say, the very truth of God is at stake. You remember how we noted that the church is his kingdom. Of course, every kingdom has its king, and our king is the Lord Jesus. Now, I'm sure in Portland alone, I don't have to say anything about the struggle unto death of the Covenanters in regard to that. But I will say one thing, I hope you don't misunderstand me. During this pandemic, our churches were closed. I'll just make this simple statement, the government has no authority to close churches. Now our presbytery, because of the pandemic, and because of other considerations, for example, public health decided to shut our churches, but it's the office bearers of Christ's church that summon us to worship, and only they have the authority and right to close churches. It's the doctrine of the two kingdoms and of all men, the Covenanters, in all of their they stood on to death for that. I hadn't meant to say that. It's not in the notes. We the king and every kingdom has its subjects, those who are brought to the king to submit to his scepter over them. And then, of course, every kingdom has its officers to administer the affairs of the kingdom. And Hebrews 13, 17, and time has gone, I cannot turn it up, it just simply makes us point. There are those in the church who rule and exercise authority. And there are those who are subject to that rule and to that authority. There's government and there's discipline in the church. And it is plain and clear as a noonday sun that the Lord Jesus has appointed two categories of office bearers in His church, the elder and the deacon, and hence the qualifications for them. Let me just underline one word. If you're open in 1 Timothy 3, verse 8, notice it, the word likewise. I hope I'm not going to be trampling on points yet to be made, but I'll just pass this comment. The only difference is one of gifts, not grace. The same spirituality of character is needed both for the elder and for the deacon. Now, it's one of the privileges and indeed, of course, responsibilities of church membership to participate in the election of the office bearers, hence the qualifications. And again, here's a simple lesson. It's not a matter of our personal inclinations. but rather what is to guide us in any election, for elder or for deacon, are the spiritual qualifications. Now that privilege and responsibility is clearly seen in Acts chapter 6, and I don't want to get into that chapter because I suspect maybe someone is coming along to do more with it. But the striking thing there is there was a problem in the church, there was division in the church, as you know that chapter about the widows. The striking thing is that's where deacons have their origin. Committee men have their origin. But the elders did not exercise their apostolic authority to nominate and appoint those deacons. That's the striking thing. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you. And then some qualifications follow. It is the privilege and responsibility of church members to participate in the election of office bearers, and so much more could be said. But in relation to this, there is a vital point to make. And certainly in my time in the ministry and in the free church, I have known people who didn't grasp this. at all. The authority of office bearers is not derived from the people. It comes from Him who is the great Head and King of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is not a democracy, but a theocracy. It is not a democracy, but a theocracy. And why is that so important to grasp? Well, there's many reasons. I'm not going to be giving many reasons, but I will make this point. Simply and solemnly, The ultimate responsibility of office-bearers is not to the congregation, but to their defined monarch, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And I want to tell you, that's a solemn thing, isn't it? And does not that argue powerfully how much office-bearers need our prayers? We're living in such a critical age. It's in our church. I've heard it, seen it, things that I never heard and seen before I went to Australia. You know Jonathan Edwards, and I will read this quote, you all know the name. Jonathan Edwards was speaking one time about how in the congregations there's such an amount of complaining about the office bearers. That's the context. So I'll read it to you. I always said, no Christian has a right to be critical of any office bearer if they're not praying for them. And yet you hear such criticism today all over the place. So tell me, are you faithfully, fervently praying every week, at least, if not every day, for the office bearers of Port Lanone? The office bearers will always be the focal point of hell's attack. They need to be upheld. They need to be upheld. Now, in the light of all this, for time has gone, surely we have to immediately recognize what is our duty above all duties when we come to the election of office bearers? Simply, prayer. And more prayer. How fatal to have God's men. As I sought to set before you in an election, what about the King's business? Now, we have the example of the Savior Himself in this. You turn over to Luke's gospel just for a moment, Luke's gospel. In the chapter 6, Luke's gospel in the chapter 6. You see, before the choice and the calling of the Twelve to be laborers together with Him, before what has been called the first recorded ordination service, someone has said that about this little sacred history within the Gospels. Look at Luke 6. Verse 12, and it came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called on to him his disciples, and of them he chose 12, whom also he named apostles. This was a pivotal moment in the gospel history. And may I say, this was a pivotal moment in the history of the world. if you just stop to consider all that has sprang from those so-called injunctions. And yet you notice there that the Savior spent a night in prayer. Of course, it's so suitable, isn't it? It's in Luke's gospel. It's the gospel of the Son of Man. If you want to study the prayers of Christ, you must concentrate on Luke's gospel. Here he is, fervently praying all night. John Calvin said, how much greater need have we to do so, to pray, to pray. So if this message causes you to engage in real fervent prayer for the guidance of God in this congregation as you come to this election, or indeed any other election in the future, will have achieved its end. And again, after the election, If it makes you to continue in such fervent prayer for those who are now going into office, it will have achieved its end. What's needed? Prayer and more prayer. I trust that the Lord will help you to pray fervently, unitedly, personally, And whenever the election is held, that you will know unmistakably the clear guidance of Almighty God. I trust the Lord will bless His word to your hearts this morning. Maybe we will sing just a few verses of that hymn. I don't think I'm going to sing all of the verses. 615. We'll just sing the opening verse and the verses 3 and 4. The opening verse and the verses 3 and 4. 615. I want to end on that note, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest. 615 verses 1, 3, and 4. you you. Oh, oh, oh... Let us bow together in prayer. Our God and our Father, we do rejoice in that triumphant note. Our Lord Jesus has promised, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He shall see of the travail of a soul, and he shall be satisfied. His kingdom shall be established, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. We do rejoice in spite of all that is happening all around us. We rejoice in the sheer triumph of the crucified one. And our God and our Father, we just pray that thou wouldst visit thy church, that thou wouldst pour out from on high thy Holy Spirit, that we might see days of awakening, days of revival, Days when men and women again will press in to hear the Word of God. Days, O God, when thou wilt make bare thy saving hour. Remember this flock. May your hand be upon them. Bless your servant. We ask, O God, that he'll see the burden of his heart, a moving of God around Portland and a saving of many. Bless the office bearers. Remember the election. And we pray for the clear guidance of God. And so remember us in parting. Part us in thy fear and fever. Grant us all journeying mercies. And may we be longing for that glorious day, the marriage supper of the Lamb. Even so come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Amen.