"MARK YE WELL HER BULWARKS"
Ps. 48:9-14
Introduction:
1. "Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may
tell it to the generation following." Ps. 48:13.
2. The Psalmist is praising and magnifying God for the greatness
of Zion (Jerusalem).
3. The church is the spiritual Zion (Heb. 12:22). The plea of
David is certainly needed in Zion today.
4. A BULWARK is a defensive wall or rampart, a strong support, a
fortification; a defense. There is always the necessity of
"considering the ramparts" of the church.
5. We need to point out the great strengths of the church, and
draw a sharp line that the members might know the bulwarks.
6. While the pioneer preachers kept these bulwarks before the
people, the church grew in power of divine strength.
7. When some ceased to "mark them well," the innovations of the
missionary society and instrumental music came and tore down
portions of the bulwarks of spiritual Zion.'
8. David's reason for marking well was that "ye may tell it to
the generation following." The Bible clearly teaches us the
identity of the church, and we are duty bound to declare it to
all mankind, especially to our CHILDREN.
10. The church is today what it is because sound gospel preachers
in the past had the courage to draw the line between truth and
error.
11. Do our children know the bulwarks of the faith? Deut. 4:9,10;
6:4-9.
12. Let us consider some of these great elements of strength, and
seek to tell our children, that the army of God may advance in
His power and not in the schemes of human wisdom.
I. NO CREED BUT THE BIBLE:
1. Through the first part of the Restoration Movement, the cry
was, "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is
silent, we are silent." This BULWARK needs marking.
2. The Scriptures are an all sufficient rule of faith and
practice.
2 Pet. 1:3 -- "all things that pertain unto life and godli..
2 Tim. 3:16-17 -- "given by inspiration, profitable for....
1 Pet. 4:11 -- "speak as the oracles of god..."
This means the scriptures set forth God's Will, and we
have no choice but to accept and obey them.
3. But, we must Respect the Silence of the Scriptures as well.
1 Cor. 4:6 -- "not to go beyond the things written..."
2 John 9 -- "whosoever goeth onward...hath not the Father...
Wrong and sinful to add to God's Word, either in written
or in oral creeds of man's opinions.
4. Thus, an appeal to any other authority in things religious
is out of harmony with this plea.
5. Brethren, MARK IT WELL!!! There is great controversy over
what uninspired men have written or said. We are prone to
ask, What did Lipscomb, Campbell, McGarvey, brother blank,
etc., have to say. Surely we can learn from other men, but
the final analyses must be, "What does God's Word say?"
We should appreciate the work of gospel preachers and we
need to study their works, but when it come to a doctrinal
subject, What does the Bible say?
6. THE BIBLE, AND IT ALONE, IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY.
MARK YE WELL THIS BULWARK
II. NO ORGANIZATION, BUT THE CHURCH.
1. God planned and purposed the church for a definite task (Eph
3:10), that through it might be made known the manifold
wisdom of God.
It came in perfection and purity. Fully equipped to do
all that was planned for it to do.
2. The church was--and is-- sufficient to do the work God gave
for it to do. We have no authority for establishing other
institutions.
3. Let the church be the church, and do the work of the church.
Surprising how little many members know of the work of the
church. Some seem to think that just any good work is all
right, secular education, recreation, fighting disease,
caring for just anybody that asks, etc., etc.
We need to emphasize the WORK OF THE CHURCH, Mark well!!
4. WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH??? Paul tells us it is to
glorify God, not a means of glorying men or building up some
man-made scheme or institution.
THREE-FOLD RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH:
(1) Preaching to the lost. 1 Tim. 3:15.
(2) Edify the Saints. Eph 4:12-14.
(3) Helping needy Saints. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rom. 15:26.
This is the WORK of the church. There is no authority for
the church to enter any other works.
5. THE LOCAL CONGREGATION IS THE ONLY UNIT OF ORGANIZATION:
There is simply no arrangement for any organization larger
than the local church.
No organization through which the church universal can act.
Any arrangement wherein many congregations can function
through one (organization or church) is unscriptural.
6. EACH LOCAL CONGREGATION IS AUTONOMOUS AND WORKS UNDER THE
OVERSIGHT OF ITS OWN ELDERS:
1 Pet. 5:2 -- The only thing that elders can oversee is the
"flock which is among you."
In N.T. there was no combination of congregations into a
"diocese." No extending or authority of one eldership
over any other group of elders, or other organization.
Some few years back, The eldership in Pecos oversaw not only
their congregation, but the Spanish congregation also.
Brethren, MARK THIS BULWARK WELL!!!
7. AUTONOMY CONSISTS OF THREE IMPORTANT PHASES:
(1) Independent organization the local congregation.
Phil. 1:1
(2) Independent government -- elders in each local church.
Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5.
(3) Independent function --there could be no other purpose
for independent organization and independent government
than this.
8. Autonomy is violated when any one of these is violated.
Autonomy can be violated through function as well as
organization. If a congregation functions through another
organization or through another church, its autonomy is
violated.
The church must function directly to the object of its
work. If the object is preaching, it sends directly to
the preacher. If it is the relief of a congregation in
want, it sends directly to the church in need.
9. THE CHURCH IS SUFFICIENT TO DO HER OWN WORK:
(1) It is sufficient in preaching the gospel:
The Jerusalem church is a good example of this. Acts 6:7
There is no need for a society through which the church
can preach.
There is no need of a centralizing of power under the
name of a sponsoring church.
When Philippi aided Paul, it went direct. Phil 4:15;2:25
There can be no question when following N.T. examples.
(2) The church is sufficient in edification:
Not necessary to build up Bible colleges, Sunday school
organizations to do the work of teaching.
Local congregation can do this work in Bible classes or
through home teaching. No need to start a separate
institution to do this work for the church.
(3) The church is sufficient in giving benevolent help to
the needy Saints.
In Acts 6, we see this demonstrated. There was no
need to send these to some institutional home, the
church was sufficient then, and it is now.
If individual Christians would do their work, and
each local congregation would do her own work, there
would be no need for any type of institutions through
which church would seek to operate.
10. The church is sufficient to do every good work that god
expects it to do. It was not designed to do some of the good
works that man might dream up. May God help is mark this
bulwark--NO ORGANIZATION BUT THE CHURCH.
NOTE: When churches function through organizations, it will
not be long before the organization controls the church.
III. NO WORSHIP BUT THAT WHICH THE NEW TESTAMENT AUTHORIZES:
1. Worship is not for worldly entertainment, nor can it be
accomplished through worldly wisdom. Worship is directed to
God, and its primary purpose is to please him. MARK THIS!!
2. God is the object of proper worship. Man should not seek to
elevate self to high places of esteem and honor.
3. Worship must be in TRUTH -- the right way.
John 4:24, 17:17.
Everything we do must be in accordance to His word, or it is
not acceptable.
4. The proper motive is to prevail in worship -- IN SPIRIT.
Not enough to go through a form of worship -- 2 Tim. 3:5.
Must be from the heart.
Cannot be for entertainment or fleshly pleasure. Worship is
not to make us feel better, but to praise God. Obviously,
we will feel better when we please God, but that is not
the prime reason for our worship.
5. Proper acts of worship must be engaged in.
(1) Lord's Supper, the simplicity of this.
(2) Prayers, (not counting beads, etc.)
(3) Giving, (Not bingo, Not Law Vegas nights, No begging,)
(4) Singing, (No instruments found in N.T.)
(5) Teaching, (Not socials, suppers, etc.)
6. MARK YE WELL HER BULWARKS!!!
IV. NO SAVING POWER BUT THE GOSPEL:
1. When the apostles went forth, theirs was not some
philosophical teaching, not just some moral code.
2. They preached Christ, the Son of God, the crucifixion, the
resurrection-- They preached the gospel.
3. The only thing that will save souls today.
4. Rom. 1:16 -- MARK YE WELL THIS BULWARK.
5. Faith in Christ, change of life (repentance), the New birth
(baptism), faithful living (Rom 12:1-2).
6. Never, never, at any time, can we cease to preach this
gospel plan of salvation. This is all that we have to offer
the world. Yet, it is enough to save the world, if they
would but obey. No ball teams, no kitchens, no socials, etc.
Conclusion:
1. Ours is a great heritage.
2. Many have been those who have fought so gallantly for the
cross and its message.
3. But the battles won by those before us is not enough, we, too,
must ever carry the battle forth, mark the bulwarks.
4. If we cease, the enemy will slip in an take the fortress.
5. Hence the words of David: "Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider
her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generations
following."
6. There is a great battle, prepare for it today.
Return to Index
Home