CHURCH STANDARDS


A. "GO THROUGH, GO THROUGH THE GATES; PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE PEOPLE; CAST UP, CAST UP THE HIGH WAY; GATHER OUT THE STONES; LIFT UP A STANDARD FOR THE PEOPLE." - Isa. 62:10
  1. This admonition, to lift up the standard for the people, indicates plainly:
    1. That the standard has been lowered, or cast down.
    2. There would be no need to set up a standard, if it were still in its place.
  2. This text indicates further:
    1. That the church of God must raise up the standard for the people to rally to in time of danger.
    2. The flag or banner of an army is a must to hold up in time of battle.
    3. To keep the enemy from taking the flag, strong men are given charge to protect it by all means.
    4. The absence of the banner creates chaos and confusion.
B. OUR TEXT MAKES IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE CHURCH MUST HOLD HIGH THE STANDARD IT PROFESSES TO BELIEVE
  1. "Lift up a standard for the people":
    1. A standard is a rule to guide the believers in thought, word, and action.
    2. Paul indicates his concept of the standards of the church in his Epistle to the Philippians - Phil. 4:8
    3. It is a rule of faith which is the common denominator for our conduct.
  2. The Bible and the Bible only is the God provided standard to guide our lives:
    1. That includes the sixty-six books of the Bible - 2 Tim. 3:15-17
    2. It includes the Ten Commandments - Ex. 20:3-17; Matt. 19:16- 20; Eccl. 12:13, 14
    3. Our Lord appealed to the scriptures and the Ten Commandments for the affirmation of his doctrine - John 5:39, 46, 47; Luke 12:25, 26; Matt. 19:16-24; 22:34-38
    4. That is the standard of the Seventh-day Adventists - Isa. 8:20; Rev. 12:17; 14:12
    5. This Bible standard has been set aside by the nominal Christian world; it was substituted with the doctrines and commandments of men - 2 Tim. 4:1-6; Mark 7:7-13; Isa. 29:13
    6. The very object of the Reformation is -
      1. To restore the old landmarks of truths to God's people - Acts 3:19-21; 15:17, 18
      2. The Sabbath is one of these old landmarks to be restored to God's people - Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1, 12-14
C. "LIFT UP THE STANDARD"
  1. This is a call for prayerful self-examination by God's people, the church:
    1. To search our hearts and lives to determine whether we are standing in the faith once delivered to the saints - 2 Cor. 13:5
    2. Have we lowered the standard in our every day life, at home, and in our business transactions? Does the world still recognize us as a peculiar people? Tit. 2:9-14
    3. Do we still hold to the distinctive truths that have made us a peculiar people in this world? Ex. 19:5; Tit. 2:11-14
  2. "Lift up the standard": That invites us to search our hearts with much prayer and sincerity.
    1. That begins in my own heart and in my own home - Job. 1:1-3; Josh. 24:15
    2. It has its roots in family worship - Jer. 10:25; Josh. 24:15
    3. It finds the source of its strength in the daily study of the Bible - Acts 17:11-14; John 5:39; Matt. 22:29
    4. It expresses itself in Christian modesty - Phil. 4:5
    5. Holding up the standard of truth does not mean that one must be fanatical or an extremist, no! But rather to live the truths we preach to others.
    6. Let our light shine so that men may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.


Design © John Bryant 2011