Answer: We must notice that Timothy was not only gifted (chap. 4:14), he also had authority from the Apostle to appoint elders and deacons and to put things right in the assembly. No one has this authority now from God. The only authority given in the Word of God is vested in two or three gathered to the name of the Lord (Matt. 18:18-2018Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18‑20); 1 Cor. 5:4, 134In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4)
13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:13)).
What you call gossip and evil speaking is condemned in Scripture, therefore we need to watch our hearts to keep from it. (See Eph. 4:29, 3129Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ephesians 4:31); Titus 3:22To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. (Titus 3:2); James 3:22For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2) to 14; 4:11; 1 Peter 2:11Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)).
On the other hand when we know that we have been the subject of evil speaking, true or false, it matters not. Our pride and anger is stirred, and a feeling of resentment comes in. If we give place to it, we too are allowing the flesh, and the danger is that we will go farther wrong in standing up for ourselves. This would not be like the Lord “who when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:2323Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (1 Peter 2:23)).
Read Matthew 5:4343Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. (Matthew 5:43) to 48, specially verse 44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Luke 17:3, 43Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:3‑4); Matt. 18:2121Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (Matthew 18:21) to 35; Rom. 12:14, 18, 2114Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (Romans 12:14)
18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)
21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21); Eph. 4:22With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2)). It is hard to be evil spoken about, but we must think how the Lord was evil spoken about, and how He forgave His enemies, and told us to do the same. We sinned against Him ten thousand talents, and we will hardly forgive one hundred pence. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” We might make them happy, and our souls would be blest in doing so. This is the way the blessed Lord would have us do. We heartily sympathize with you, and pray that you will show your forgiving love to any who have hurt you, and if there is anything to confess, do it freely, then the Lord is with you at once.
Question: What do the three appearings in John 20 and 21st chapters signify? G. C.
Answer: The Lord appearing to Mary Magdalene, and the message she carried to the brethren down to verse 23, refer to the present time, the church period.
The Lord appearing with Thomas present, refers to Israel who will not believe till they see Him coming in glory. (See such passages as Zech. 12:1010And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10), and Psa. 73:2424Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:24) read “after the glory receive me”). “Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed” primarily refers to those who are saved in the tribulation period, that is, before Christ comes in glory.
The Lord appearing to the disciples when they take the great haul of fishes in the 21st chapter points to the millennial gathering, when the nets are not broken.
Question: How does the consecration of the priests in Israel apply to us? T. N.
Answer: Read Exodus 29 and Leviticus 8.
First, they were all washed with water—that answers to having a new life or being born again.
Aaron, when seen alone, clothed with the garments of glory and beauty is the type of Christ our great High Priest (verses 7,9). The oil poured upon his head without shedding of blood (Lev. 8:1212And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. (Leviticus 8:12)), points to Jesus sealed with the Holy Spirit as the only one who did not need redemption, Himself the Redeemer.
The blood put on the tip of their right ear, on their right thumb, and on the great toe of their right foot, tells us that our whole person is consecrated to this holy service of Christ—our minds, our works, our walk, are for Him and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10-22, alludes to our priestly consecration as born of God, and sprinkled or cleansed by the blood. Each of us, as Christians, is a consecrated priest, our hands filled with Christ to present to God. But notice, there is no hindrance on God’s part to our worshiping in the holiest of all, but there may be on ours—a cold, worldly or careless walk, will shut us out. It also says,