The kilcoy ecclesial fraternal Gathering was held the weekend of April 30 to May 2 on the theme, “The Ecclesia of the Living God.”
The Saturday was a bright, sunny day for brethren and sisters representing all the Guyana ecclesias to join with the Kilcoy Ecclesia to glorify the name of the true and living God. After the warm exchange of greetings, we got underway with welcoming remarks, hymn, prayer and reading. Following are some of the highlights of the points that were considered.
A lesson from Ephesians
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was brought alive for us as we were reminded of the ecclesia and the godly behavior that should characterize its members. We are in danger if we trust in our own thoughts but safe if we take our guidance from scripture.
We considered the composition of the one body built up together into one temple, the ecclesia, now existing with men and women of different races and of varied social standing. We are living stones in this building. We must heed the appeal for lowliness and meekness, for longsuffering and forbearance with one another in love. We must exercise earnest care to keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace.
A lesson from I Timothy
We were further enlightened about the pillar and ground of the Truth as Paul relates in I Timothy 3. As ministers of Christ, we must be sound in our
doctrine both in character and conduct. Working in the ecclesia of the living God, we need to be ever prayerful, submissive to the Truth and separate from evil.
An exhortation to be caring shepherds
The words of exhortation were a great source of spiritual uplift. As we all listened attentively, the pages were turned and the hidden meaning of words from the spiritual well of wisdom freely flowed out to us all. We are not all in the formal position of shepherds, but all of us have an appointed care of one another as we journey in the way.
As fellow brethren and sisters in Christ, let us be ever aware of the hope, love and grace that binds us in the body of Christ, who is our head.
The work of preaching
A consideration of the ecclesia in the work of preaching was based on I Timothy 1. We can all do the Lord’s work in whichever area we happen to find ourselves. We need no credentials to present to anyone; all we need is our Bible which is our badge of honor and the sure word of hope. Mark 16:15 encouraged us all as Jesus tells us, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The varied relationships of life
We do not live our lives in a vacuum but within a series of relationships — in the home, at work, in the ecclesia and in society. As we looked at those relationships, our faith is vitally concerned with each one of them.
We looked at the role of husband and wife as Paul writes in Ephesians 5. The duties of domestic life can be done in service to the Lord. The relationship of wife to husband is a miniature of that of the church to Christ. The husband is head as Christ is head; but Christ is much more, he is the savior of his bride, the ecclesia. Husbands, then, are to love their wives with an objective — that they might be saved. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.”
Emphasis is thus placed upon our duties and not on our rights. The husband is not told to exact submission but to “love.” The application of both husband and wife to their appointed roles helps the other to fulfill his or her part.
Adam and Eve were the first family unit and they embodied the principles of Christ and the ecclesia. The apostle takes us to Genesis and indicates that in the first marriage we have a parable of redemption. Adam was provided with a suitable helper in the special way recorded. He was caused to sleep, his side was pierced and in this way he was provided with a bride. Jesus was also pierced in his side; he also slept, but in his case it was the sleep of death. Through his death, a helper will be given to him who will be his bride.
The divine instruction is deep and as we ponder upon these scriptural lessons, we can only say how privileged we are to be a part of that living ecclesia of our Almighty Father.
Relating to our children
Our children, who bring us so much joy and happiness, are a vital part of the family unit. The instruction to them brings to mind our own duty to obedience to our Father: “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Obedience to parents is right — naturally and by divine appointment (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16).
Follow scripture, not the world
The ordered home life, with God’s law as our guide and beacon, provides the best foundation for a wholesome life. We may find, however, in these days that Biblical standards conflict with the standards accepted by contemporary society. Left to ourselves, we would degenerate as we see happening around us today. The ecclesia of the living God needs to take heed to Paul’s words in II Timothy 3:2.
May we all, parents, brethren, sisters, young people and children, seek to encourage one another in the ways of Yahweh as we all continue in the living ecclesia of God Almighty.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One