well good evening everybody we'll start this evenings worship by turning to Psalm 95 so if you'll turn with me in your Bibles for our call to worship to Psalm 95 Psalm 95 begin reading at verse 1 o come let us sing to the Lord but a show joyfully to the rock of our salvation let us come before his presence with Thanksgiving let us show joyfully to him with Psalms and for the Lord is the great God the great King above all gods in his hand are the deep places of the earth the heights of the hills are his also the sea is his for he made it and his hands form the dry land o come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our maker for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the Sheep of his hand today if you will hear his voice do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion as in the day of trial in the wilderness when your fathers tested me they tried me though they saw my work for 40 years I was grieved with that generation and said it is a people who go astray in their hearts and they do not know my ways so I swore in my wrath they shall not enter my rest amen well our first team will come from our Red Trinity Psalter that's the smaller altar you can turn with me to Psalm 93 well sing Psalm 93 to a familiar tune if you're able we'll stand and sing together [Music] let's go to our God in prayer Oh Lord God Almighty you are great over all things you're the King above all gods you are the one who created the heavens and the earth and you are the one who deserves our praise and honor for you are the lord of heaven and earth and not only are you the Creator but you are the Redeemer as well many here you have called out of darkness into marvelous light how it is that we should praise you O God for you have saved us you've called us out of darkness you have sent your son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law the one who crushed the head of the serpent the one who stood and faced shame on our behalf the one who bore our sins bore the curse of the law and he was the one who died as that perfect sacrifice we give you praise and honor for our Lord and Savior we give you praise and honor for the great plan of redemption we give you praise and honor for the great mystery of the Incarnation we thank you that Christ is the one who took on human flesh show God we thank you that he is the one who became obedient even to the point of death even the death of the cross we thank you for this we thank you for our Lord we pray that we would learn more concerning him O God we pray that your world would go forth concerning the great mysteries of the gospel and we pray that you would come and dwell with us by your Holy Spirit for you've promised to give your Holy Spirit to us that we might learn more and more concerning our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ turn our eyes to our Savior O God may we look may we learn they understand who our Lord is all the more and be in awe of him we pray that again that you dwell with us by your Holy Spirit we pray that you would be glorified this night in the name of Christ amen well our second hem comes from the larger Trinity hymnal you can turn with me to him to 71 that's him to 71 if you're able we'll stand and sing together [Music] well you can turn with me in your Bibles to hosea chapter 5 for our consecutive scripture reading that's hosea chapter 5 Hosea CH Hosea chapter 5 begin reading at verse 1 here this Oh priest s-- take heed o house of israel give ear o house of the king for yours is the judgment because you have been a snare to Mizpah and that spread on table the revolt errs are deeply involved in slaughter though I rebuke them all I know Ephraim and Israel is not hidden from me I know Ephriam you commit harlotry Israel is defiled they do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst and they do not and they do not know the Lord the pride of Israel testifies to his face therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their Inupiat iniquity Judah also stumbles with them with their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord but they shall not find him he has withdrawn himself from them they adult treacherously with the Lord for they have begotten pagan children now a new moon shall devour them and their heritage blow the ram's horn and Gibeah the trumpet in Ramah cry aloud at Beth Aven look behind you Oh Benjamin Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure the princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark I will pour out my wrath on them like water Ephraim is a oppressed and broken in judgment because he willingly willingly walked by human precept therefore I will be to ephraim like a moth and to the house of Judah like rottenness when ephraim saw his sickness and judah saw his wound then Ephraim Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jarrah yet he cannot cure you nor heal you of your wound for I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah I even I will tear them and go away I will take them away and no one shall rescue I will return again to my place till they acknowledge their offence then they will seek my face in their affliction they will earnestly seek me amen well let us go to our God in prayer once again Oh Lord our God you are a holy God we know that you're the one who is light and how can darkness dwell with the light Oh God yet we know O God that you have your holy standard your holy law blessed is the man who delights in the law of Lord we thank you God it is our Lord and Savior who delighted in your law who lived that law imperfection and died as that sacrifice o God we pray o now that as your people who have been saved as you sanctify us O God we pray that we would seek to live in a manner consistent with your word we would seek to love your precepts O God for transgression against you O God without the Lord and Savior brings eternal damnation may this cause us to ponder and think of your great salvation for your people for those who know you made that we think of you the great work of the cross for those who do not know Christ O God we pray that as they read your law as they see it that you would teach them concerning their weakness concerning their feebleness that they cannot do it o God but they might look to the Lord and Savior and find everlasting life for there is a day of judgment coming O God for there is that time for those that know Christ may we take hope and courage knowing that we go to the the final judgment with resurrected bodies we go to the final judgment clothed in Christ's righteousness made this give us hope in our daily battles may this give us courage in our struggles O God may you help us by your spirit to live in a manner consistent with your word O God but may we always look to that and O God as you guide us and lead us home we pray that you would work in us by your Holy Spirit conform us more and more to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we would love your law we pray that you would help us physically especially those who struggle with chronic illnesses help our dear brothers and sisters strengthen them this day but they might know a sense of your spirit with them and they might find comfort and hope and courage in the resurrection as these self same bodies we will have these self same bodies when we are resurrected O God may this give us all hope make it this give us all comfort may you forgive us of our sins O God wash us in the blood of Christ we thank you for our advocate Jesus Christ the righteous but when we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we confess our sins to you O God we have not loved you as we are we have not loved our neighbor as we are forgive us now O God we pray that any temptations we might face we pray that you lead us not in tempting to temptation O God but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever we pray these in the name of Christ amen well our final him before the preaching is also in the larger Trinity hymnal you can turn with me to him 484 that's him 484 in the larger Trinity hymnal if you're able we'll stand and sing together [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to first Timothy chapter 3 first Timothy 3 as we look at the qualifications for elders in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ specifically verses 1 to 7 I'll begin reading in chapter 3 at verse 1 and read the whole chapter and then we'll look specifically at the verses 1 to 7 this is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop and he desires a good work a bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wife temperate sober-minded of good behavior hospitable able to teach not given to wine not violent not greedy for money but gentle not quarrelsome not covetous one who rules his own house well having his children in submission with all reverence for if a man does not know how to rule his own house how will he take care of the Church of God not a novice lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil likewise deacons must be reverent not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy for money holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience but let these also first be tested then let them serve as deacons being found blameless likewise their wives must be reverent not slanderers temperate faithful in all things let Deacons be the husbands of one wife ruling their children in their own house as well for those who have served well as deacons obtained for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus these things I write to you though I hope to come to you shortly but if I am delayed I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God which is the Church of the Living God the pillar and ground of the truth and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit seen by angels preached among the Gentiles believed on in the world received up in glory amen let us pray father we thank you for the written word we thank you that it gives us all things necessary for life in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray now for the ministry of the holy spirit that we would take seriously these qualifications that we would seek to apply them in the context of our local church we pray God that you would guide us and lead us and direct us as a church and we pray father that all of these things would be done for your glory for your honor for your praise and Lord with a view to planting other churches for God we know that the harvest is plentiful but laborers are few so we pray that you'd raise up men that are qualified as the Scriptures declare men with a burden for souls and a desire to proclaim your truth we would pray God in heaven that you would be pleased to plant new churches confessional churches churches that make much of Jesus Christ and him crucified do forgive us now for our sins in our transgressions and grant us grace and help and strength and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well we're going to look at this particular section the qualifications for elders under six particular considerations or there are six categories that the man must have in order the first is his desire for the eldership secondly his personal holiness thirdly his domestic faithfulness fourthly his experience in the faith sixth that his test the man's testimony toward outsiders sorry that was five the man's testimony toward outsiders and then finally the man's ability to teach but before we actually jump into the text a word about terminology the New Testament uses the words elder overseer and pastor synonymously they don't refer to separate or differing offices but these three terms are applied to the one office that has has its primary responsibility teaching and preaching which in turn means oversight or leadership within the context of the church so the office that Paul is describing in first Timothy 3:1 2:7 he calls it a bishop if you look over at chapter 5 in verse 17 he says let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor again the terminology or the separate terms apply to the same office you can see this as well in the book of Acts you can turn there Acts chapter 20 because I think at times there's some confusion about the various words that are used perhaps suggesting that there are various offices there are two abiding offices in the church the elder and the Deacon and those things are described in first Timothy three but if you notice in acts 20 at verse 17 it says from my Letus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church and then in verse 28 he says therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers or bishops so the elders are bishops or overseers and then the functional term describing how they they labor in the word and in doctrine is then the word pastor so Shepherd the flock has made you overseers to shepherd or to pasture the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood so the three terms elder overseer and pastor all referred to the same office so going back to first Timothy chapter 3 let's look at these specific categories first his desire for the eldership his desire for the eldership notice in verse 1 this is a faithful saying if a man desires the position of a bishop or overseer he desires a good work now I know that word bishop connotes several abuses in the history of the church we think of Roman Catholic Bishops with their big hats and their ungodly Authority and their tier tyranny and all that sort of thing but Bishop is a good word it simply means over seer but the man must desire the office we don't put unwilling men in it's not a popularity contest it's not you know let's just vote whoever gets the most votes has to serve whether they want to or not no he must desire it it's a calling it's a vocation it is something that God commands or demands of a man who enters into this that he enters into it willingly Peter says the same thing in 1st Peter chapter 5 willingness is part and parcel of a call to the ministry but as we look at this desire it's good for us to flesh it out in a little bit more detail a loved pastor Albert and Martin sermon series on a call to the ministry and he suggests four things that ought to play with reference to a man's call to the ministry the first he suggests is a desire born of right motives and you see that here it must be a desire born of right motives it's not a desire born of wrong motives bad motives the man wants to be a cult leader he wants to build a kingdom he wants to have you know his sort of sway over the minds of man he wants to be a cult leader no that's not good motivation the desire must be born of right motives pastor Martin suggests secondly that great there must be graces indicating genuine Christian experience in other words he not only has a desire but he's a born again man he's a Christian man he has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ he exercises repentance by the grace of God he is walking faithfully with his Lord and he has those graces indicating genuine Christian experience thirdly we would suggest gifts indicating divine provision other words the man has the ability to do what elders do without that ability he is not spit for the ministry he is not called to be an elder if he can't teach or preach the word as we look at the various categories of qualification what Paul writes is not thing more than every Christian man ought to be lords everything described in first Timothy chapter 3 1 2 7 is something that should be true of every Christian man in terms of his personal holiness in terms of his domestic faithfulness in terms of his testimony towards outsiders the one thing that differentiates the elder is that these things are proven their demonstrable persons have seen that persons have tested them persons have validated them to make sure they are in gay or are in fact the case for this man but another thing is the at ness to teach verse 2 he must be able to teach I always love to quote this Spurgeon quote because I think it's so fitting with reference to gifts indicating divine provision Spurgeon said God certainly has not created behemoth to fly and should Leviathan have a strong desire to ascend with the Lord it would evidently be an unwise aspiration since he is not furnished with wings if a man be called to preach he will be endowed with a degree of speaking ability which he will cultivate and increase if the gift of utterance be not there in a measure at the first it is not likely that it ever will be developed Spurgeon was pretty hardcore when it came to these particular things he used to be the man that would authorize whether or not a man would enter into the pastor's College and he says at one point this fellow came in and he had a jaw that clicked in such a way that for all the golden Ofer Spurgeon couldn't keep himself from laughing and he suspected that none of the other persons that would hear this man preach would be able to stop from laughing either so he suggested this man with the clicking jaw to go pursue another profession there are several instances like that in his call a call to the ministry but it highlights the point if God call a man to preach that man will be endowed with a degree of speaking ability elsewhere in the essay Spurgeon says two men with chests he says that is why we have dumbbells in the basement of the college you need to expand the chest so that you can draw in wind and preach the Word of the Living God that is absolutely crucial gifts indicating divine provision a man may be everything Paul describes here in verses 1 to 7 but if the man cannot teach or preach he shouldn't be an elder that doesn't mean he's a bad guy there's no sin in not being an elder there's no sin in not being a deacon there's no sin in not being recognized by the church it is perfectly acceptable to be a faithful church man it is perfectly acceptable to live your life as a godly man serving the church without title without recognition without any sort of special things involved but just to be a faithful brother there's no sin in not being an elder and so when I highlight this at nest to teach this necessity to be able to preach and open up the truth of Scripture that is not to say that persons who can't do that are somehow defective or they're somehow inoperative or they're somehow not as full of Christian as an elder is so desire born of right motives grace is indicating genuine Christian experience gifts indicating divine provision and fourthly opportunity indicating providential opening opportunity indicating providential opening proverbs 18 16 says that a man's gift makes room for him the man does not make room for his gift the man does not come the first time he visits the church pull the elders aside and say you really need to use me to teach a Bible study you really need to have me come on Wednesday night or on Sunday morning or you ought to give me the pulpit on a Lord's Day morning or evening no you don't make room for your gift your gift makes room for you and that brings us to a very necessary consideration the place of the church in the process you see a man's calling to the ministry this desire that he has these other elements that are involved is somewhat subjective just because a man wants to be an astronaut doesn't necessarily mean he'll be an astronaut just because a man wants to be a cowboy doesn't necessarily mean he should be a cowboy just because a man desires the office of eldership doesn't mean he should necessarily be an elder so the subjective desire that is manifested in the man must be checked by objective criteria and this is where the church is most helpful the church is absolutely requisite so that she can examine the qualifications of the man to make sure that the desire that he has is legitimate that the desire that he has is right that the desire that he has is consistent with all that Paul says our confession says the way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person fitted and gifted by the holy spirit on to the office of bishop or elder in a church is that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself see just because you desire it doesn't mean you should have it the church must authorize the church is crucial in the process goes on to say and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church if there be any before constituted their end and a deacon that he should be that he be chosen by the like suffrage and set apart by prayer and the light imposition of hands now the presence of these qualifications here in 1st Timothy 3 and then again in Titus chapter 1 argue as much it is the church that is told that the man that she chooses for elders must be these kinds of men so it's not just the subjective criteria that a man has a desire for the eldership objectively he must be checked by the Word of God and by the Church of Jesus Christ it isn't the case that a desire alone me that a man will be an elder it doesn't mean that a man who has a desire will necessary be fit and qualified for service notice as well the church must test those men that are being considered look at verse 8 in chapter 3 likewise the likewise points back to what has preceded elders must be and then all of the virtues are given the specific gift is treated and then in verse 8 where it says likewise that means that likewise deacons must be the must be is supplied there I think it is legitimately supply because we're considering the qualifications for deacons but notice in verse 10 let these also first be test it so Paul is saying that the Deacons need to be tested prior to entrance into the diagonal ministry but the also there indicates or intimates that elders are tested prior to entering into the eldership let these also like the elders before them first be tested once they are tested once the church has approved of this desire has seen its qualification then they are brought into that sphere of service in Christ Church so the man's desire for the eldership must be present but it must as well be checked by biblical objective qualifications imposed by or examined by the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ you see the church is intimately involved in everything concerning ministry it's intriguing as well in Acts chapter 13 where does the holy spirit go when he wants missionaries he goes to the church and Antioch he didn't go to some Missionary Society he didn't go to some you know parachurch ministry he goes to the Church of Jesus Christ and the Spirit says give me Paul and Barnabas very mature very gifted very qualified men I think at times we undo this specific thing when we send unqualified men into difficult situations Paul and Barnabas were the real deal they had been converted for some time they had exhibited faithfulness in many ways we would say they were the best that the church had to offer there in Antioch and so the Spirit comes and says separate these men I want them to go out and preach the gospel in other lands you don't use the worst man to serve as missionaries or elders you seek by the grace of God qualified men and that are what the Lord envisages for his church so that's the desire for eldership notice secondly the man's personal holiness we're not going to spend a lot of time on each of these particulars but just to get a feel for and an overview of what is involved in the man's personal holiness notice again he must be verse to a bishop then must be again we could say every Christian man must be these things every Christian man should be faithful in these areas every Christian man should aspire to this level of godliness but with reference to the elders it's demonstrable it is obvious it is evident it has been tested it has been seen it is something that is definitely true so the man must be this isn't suggestive it would be nice if the elders would be these sort so they know they must be Lords we don't vote for a man or we don't raise the hand for a man if he's not these things if he is not what Paul says to the church in Ephesus to Timothy we are not to install a man notice he must be blameless this is the overarching or all-embracing qualification it literally means not to be taken hold of it means to be irreproachable or unimpeachable Paul does not have sinless perfection in mind but an external reputation that is a benefit to the church that is a credit to the church again it's not sinless perfection it doesn't you know Paul doesn't say you know a bishop then must be perfect because we'd have no bishops we'd have no overseers we'd have no elders in the Church of Jesus Christ if the standard was perfection we need to understand that on the one hand we don't want to lower the qualifications and put unfit men in but at the same time brethren we can't look for angelic beings we can't look for heart stroking wing having floating men in our society that we will install into the eldership because they don't exist so on the one hand we don't want to lower the qualifications but on the other hand we don't want to prosecute them in such a way that no man is fit no man is qualified and no man could ever enter in to the eldership it's not sinless perfection rather it is a blamelessness the man is a credit to the church notice the husband of one wife now there are several options as to the interpretation here some suggest that the elder must be married in other words you can't have unmarried or single men that are serving in gospel ministry I don't think that's what it means I certainly think it's beneficial for an elder to be married I think it's the typical the norm I think in this context first century Judaism I mean piety was seen oftentimes in the fact that a man was married I don't think it's necessary in other words you got to get married before you can join the eldership I don't think that's what's in view at this particular point the second option is the elder must only have had one wife for his entire life the Lord's if she dies he can't remarry again if he wants to be an elder I don't think the rest of the New Testament supports that view option 3 the text forbids polygamy a man can't have a plurality of wives now certainly I don't believe a man should have a plurality of wives and I think that the Scriptures prohibit that but I think that's what's in view in this particular instance I think option 4 is right the elder is to be faithful in marriage and sexual matters the language literally is he is a one-woman man we might say he's faithful and true to one woman fact look at 1st Timothy chapter 5 with reference to the one women are widows that are put on the list first Timothy chapter 5 verse nine do not let a widow under 60-year old years old be taken into the number and not unless she has been the wife of one man again I think that means her first husband died and she remarried so therefore she can't get any assistance from the church no she's a one-man woman Lord she's faithful when it comes to sexual things she's faithful with reference to her covenant of marriage the same is true here in 1st Timothy 3:2 the husband of one wife he must be demonstrably pure when it comes to his own marriage he is not engaged in extracurricular activities he's not looking at porn he is not flirting with others he is not engaged in that sort of wickedness no he is the husband of one wife I love that instance in the prophet Ezekiel when God is going to teach a lesson to Israel with reference to the destruction of their temple and God uses Ezekiel's wife as the lesson and God says to Ezekiel son of man I'm going to take away from you the desire of your eyes his wife died interesting way that he would describe Ezekiel's wife now typically I have Ezekiel as an older man I don't know why well actually I do know why zekiel is very dated not him being ancient the ancient one but the date or the book I mean he gives the dates over and over again and what's happening and when it's happening even into his older age there was one desire of his eyes he never retinue he didn't have a stable he didn't have a whole lot of different women he had one desire of his eyes and that's the kind of man that paul says are to be in the gospel ministry you see it with reference to politics when the president of the united states cannot maintain sexual fidelity how in the world could he possibly govern a nation when men are unable to operate within that most basic covenantal confine why should we trust them for a moment to operate outside of that you cannot be faithful in that most basic commitment to the wife of your youth then you are not going to be faithful when it comes to other matters sexually faithful men are necessary for the gospel ministry notice thirdly he must be temperate this can be used with reference to sobriety in the use of wine here it has to do with mental sobriety the word denotes self-control balanced judgment and the avoidance of rash behavior he can't be a ready fire aim guy ready fire aim guys typically don't make good elders see when you fire a gun you aim first and then you fire it already a a ready fire aim guy just shoots and and then he looks for where he's gonna you know shoot it at no you cannot be that kind of a man there has to be a careful nets there has to be a willingness to hear both sides to hear five sides and make judicious pronouncements on a particular situation temperance is necessary when it comes to gospel ministry notice fourth he must be sober minded again similar to temperate and has to do with self-control especially as it relates to exercising good judgment discretion and common sense you see what Paul is saying here you don't want the sword of man in the office in the church that can't reason in a stable manner you don't want rash men you don't want unchecked men you don't want reckless men because what they are seeking to do is to take care of the Church of God in other words you want good man that are sober that are temperate those who who use the the heads that God gave them in order to comb through Scripture and make decisions upon things based on Scripture notice fifth he must engage in good behavior in chapter two verse nine the word there is translated modest and this good behavior has the idea of respectable yes orderliness and well-behaved yeah none of this should I can't believe it we want our others to be well-behaved of course we want our helpers to be well-behaved shouldn't all men be well-behaved shouldn't all Christian men be well-behaved I'm not saying ladies you have to be any of these things we're just kind of focusing on on the mend tonight we should be well-behaved this is something absolutely crucial in the context in the conduct of the law of the church notice 60 must be hospitable again every Christian is to be hospitable it must be demonstrable in the case of elders he must be hospitable he must be kind-hearted he must show love to the Brethren he must demonstrate that kind of giving and that kind of preference for others we're gonna skip he must be able to teach and make it its own category toward the end then notice seventhly he must not be given to wine now the Bible doesn't forbid the use of wine fact in this epistle Paul is going to tell Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach persons come to that passage and I think it's a bit of a conundrum what possible physical malady would wine be remedial for I'm not sure I don't know what gastrointestinal situation wine would be the answer for I I don't know what the medicinal value is in that particular instance but certainly there Paul advocates a use for medicine but as well God gave why Augustine said it's proof he loves us what was that beer I'm not sure why nerdy I think was wine with reference to agustin probably one of the Reformers said beer alcohols not condemned in the Bible Psalm 104 makes the the face of man glad it's the abuse of alcohol it's the misuse of alcohol it is drunkenness that is everywhere condemned and certainly we don't want elders or deacons to be the kinds of men that are given to wine he must not be preoccupied with it he must not be over indulgent with it the Bible doesn't forbid it the Bible does prohibit it but the Bible demands moderation the Bible demands carefulness the Bible demands precision when it comes to this particular issue notice day 8 he must not be violent the old King James had striker that's a great way to describe it he's not just he's not supposed to hit people again this is something I think should be self-evident we don't want a pastor that smacks us if we get out of line that's legit isn't it he mustn't be violent as I was thinking through this I thought we need to get a hidden camera and put it in Mike's car proof positive of where a man has violent tendencies is when he's driving especially it's all that can't do that to me don't put a hidden camera on my car you're not supposed to be a violent man no striker no giver of blows not pugnacious not one who is willing to to use physical violence to coerce people in the life and Ministry of the church he must not be greedy for money this is a textual variant it's in the majority text and TR it's not in the ubs but certainly it's everywhere in Scripture he's not supposed to be greedy for money next he must be gentle so that tells us what he must not be but he must also be gentle and even gentle there shouldn't be misunderstood I think we you know we think of Jesus words blessed of the meek for they shall inherit you know the kingdom and meekness is oftentimes understood as doormat Ness you know a meek man never raises his voice a meat man never ever elevates the the tone of his voice a meek man is what liberals are craving in our day and age somebody who just shuts off it and never triggers anyone else that's not what meekness is the same Jesus who said blessed are the are the meek the on the poor in spirit that same Jesus flipped over tables when it came time to cleanse the temple so meekness I think a good description of it there is power under control the same thing here with gentleness gentleness doesn't mean a feminist see gentle the gentleness doesn't mean that he's a girl gentleness doesn't mean that he likes to you know carry purses and go antiquing that's not what gentleness means gentleness means gentle it's not abusive he's not coercive he doesn't take captives within the context of the church he's a gentle man and he does what he does for the glory of God notice he must not be quarrelsome he must not be quarrelsome turn over to 2nd Timothy 2:24 and 25 for good illustration of this and if you're so inclined I've got other verses sort of in my notes here if you're interested in doing a bit more research and looking at some parallel passages just email me and I will send you the notes so that you can trace out these various lines of thought in a more detailed basis as I said this is a bit of an overview but notice the quarrelsome nests in 2nd Timothy 2:24 and a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all able to teach patient in humility correcting those who are in opposition if God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be there as gentle to all I think pastors in our own day and age with social media need to exercise great caution it's not just physically in person that a man can demonstrate a quarrelsome attitude but his Facebook posts the way he mixes it up online I mean if he's obnoxious and pugnacious and a giver of blows on the internet certainly that does not look well in terms of his overall fitness for gospel ministry I'm not suggesting a pastor can't use social media I'm not suggesting he can't mix it up and some you know comment section or blog comments or whatever it is he wants to do but he cannot be a quarrelsome man you know there's guys I've seen or witnessed on the Internet and they just go from blog to blog and Facebook photos to Facebook post and they're just obnoxious now I'm so foolish and naive to think that if they're that obnoxious online well then they might just be that obnoxious in person I know there's a bit of you know courage that sitting behind a an internet keyboard seems to instill in men they may not say in person what they'll say through the keyboard but it does reveal or demonstrate something of a quarrelsome heart when that seems to be their mo and then finally he must not be covetous covetous false teachers are in it for the money notice in first Timothy chapter six at verse five useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth who supposed that godliness is a means of gain from such withdraw yourself you see in the context of the first century it was not uncommon to pay with reference to teaching philosophers got paid men who taught got paid the same thing was carried into the church that's why Paul says in first Timothy 5:17 let the elders who rule well be what counted worthy of what double honor the honor there isn't oh right Reverend sir the honor there is doremi it is money and we know that because you honor widows who are widows indeed that doesn't mean you give them the best parking spot it means you give them a check to keep them eating because their husbands are dead and they have been faithful in the life in the context of the church so the same word is used honor those elders who rule well with double honor especially those who labor in the word and doctrine so there was money to be made so to speak in religion and an ungodly man would see that godliness is a means I'm sorry would see that this is a yeah means of gain and then notice in first Peter chapter 5 first Peter chapter 5 same idea first Peter 5:1 the elders who are among you I exhort I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed Shepherd the flock of God which is among you serving as overseers not by compulsion but willingly not for dishonest what gain but eagerly you see there were men that were attracted to the church in order to make a buck and so Paul tells Timothy that elders aspiring for eldership are not to be men who are looking to make a buck now that doesn't mean we let them starve that doesn't mean they live in huts that doesn't mean we treat them like they're you know just John Deere tractors and we just make them work and we never give them any no but at the same time we discourage men who are looking for a place where they can make money so in summary we ought to say that the the elder should avoid glory girls gold and gap and buy girls I don't mean his wife and his daughters I mean other girls George night summarizes in short the bishops life is not to be dominated or controlled by wine or money nor may it be one of strife but rather it must be one of peace and gentleness we've seen his desire for eldership secondly his personal holiness note third is domestic faithfulness verses 4 and 5 verse 4 it says one who rules his own house well not that he rules it but he rules it well now I believe that a lazy man should never be an elder I believe that a slothful man should never be an elder I believe that many men occupy the office that are not worthy of occupying the office having said that a man who works himself to the bone and dies prematurely isn't necessarily the wisest man either and also a man who works for the church to the neglect of his family has disqualified himself from working for the church did you get that he must rule his own house well not just rule it but it must be well in order to rule a house well the man must be invested in his family he must be there for them he must interrelate with that he's always out fixing the kingdom to the neglect of his castle he is not fit to go out and fix the kingdom it's an amazing thing that men will neglect their wives and children for the ministry in my estimation if a man is neglecting his wife and children he should have no business in the ministry whatsoever get out because you're unqualified you're disqualified you are not doing what God has said you need you need to be doing he must rule his own house well and this argument is an argument from the lesser to the greater if he doesn't know how to rule his own house well how is he going to take care of the Church of God if he can't do the smaller thing we certainly don't want to entrust him with the larger thing if he messes up his wife and his kids why would we want him to mess up our wives and our kids they're full of logic I mean that's what Paul says verse 4 one who rules his own house well having his children in submission with all reverence for here's the argument the man does not know how to rule his own house how will he take care of the Church of God two different words that elders aren't rulers in the Church of God elders are stewards elders are takers care of it's not Magisterial its ministerial it's not lordly its workers with you for your joy it's not exercising Dominion it's not cult leader it is what I've suggested a worker with you for your joy two different words are used if a man does not know how to rule his own out as well how will he take care of the Church of God how we steward how will he facilitate how will he administrate how will we engage in that ministerial function with reference to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ if he doesn't rule his own household that means he properly relates to his wife he is a one-woman man she's the woman for him and he relates well to her he loves her she is indeed the desire of his eyes he wants to be with her with reference to his children some have taught that his children need to be born again and some have suggested that if a man does not have converted children then the man is not supposed to be in the eldership titus 1 6 tells us that he has faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination the NIV translates a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient now you can see where that translation would lend credence to the idea that a man's children must be converted I don't think that is legit I think the idea is is that his children are under control long as they are under his roof they are under his control they're not mismanage they're not unmanageable now that doesn't mean they wear halos it doesn't mean they glide it doesn't mean they strum harps it doesn't mean they're absolute perfection but it means they're under control he disciplines them he cares for them he loves them he throws the ball with them he he tends to them in such a way that they are the sorts of children that are described herein one who rules his own house well having his children in submission with all reverence doesn't demand that they are converted I don't even think the Titus 1:6 demands that they are converted having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination fact we might say the latter half qualifies or explains what a faithful child looks like he is not accused of dissipation he is not accused of insubordination again George Knight says what must not characterize the children of an elder is immorality and undisciplined rebellious Ness notice that undisciplined rebellious Ness heard men say before while my son has done this or my child has done this well are you working on it are you discipline yeah when praise God that's what you're supposed to do the text does not demand perfection on the part of your children it demands faithfulness on your part to discipline them and seek to bring them to that place of submission he goes on to say Paul is not asking any more of the elder and his children that is expected of every Christian father and his children however only if a man exercises such proper control over his children may he be an elder so you get the idea personal holiness domestic faithfulness he must rule his own household well his wife is well adjusted his children are not you know the worst running around unchecked on discipline no the elder functions properly in his home notice fourthly the man's experience in the faith verse 6 not a novice lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil not a novice not one newly planted not a new convert not a neophyte now we need to be careful as we tread here because Paul does not set a mandatory age length with reference to being a question a new convert and Ephesus would have looked different than a new convert in Crete see in Crete Titus chapter 1 there is no qualifications given for deacons it's only for elders and I believe the reason for that is because the church and Ephesus where Timothy was was a more mature Church it had been around for a while they had need for elders and deacons but Paul sets Timothy Titus in Crete to set things in order by appointing elders now brethren if you do the math with reference to the book of Acts and you look at the historical situation those converted on Crete had not been 10 15 20 years as a Christian they were newly converted with reference or had they been in in in Ephesus in the first missionary journey in Acts chapter 14 it's intriguing Paul and Barnabas go out they go to the various places on the map and then they returned the same way visiting the churches strengthening the Brethren and appointing elders in every Church now the time just wasn't there for those men to have been Christians for 10 15 20 30 years so we need to operate with wisdom when it comes to this whole idea of being a neophyte what is in view is spiritual maturity William demount says the application of this rule would depend upon the relative age of the local church its speed of growth and many other factors that would vary from place to place and from time to time a similar injunction does not incur occur in Titus chapter 1 all Paul has to deal with with reference to Titus and the people in Crete are relatively new converts so Paul says nevertheless they must be these kinds of men Titus 1 5 to 9 and when they are these kinds of men install them into the eldership so there's no particular age requirement in terms of well he's only been saved for five years or or 10 years now it's spiritual maturity that is in view notice in the fifth place the man's testimony toward outsiders verse seven moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil now this good testimony among those who are outside I don't think that Paul means he has to be at every civic event you know there's a parade downtown so he needs to have a truck with a float and you know I'm the pastor from so-and-so in fact I would suggest that's exactly what Paul wouldn't want you to do I I'm pastor whoever from wherever no no no they don't do that there's good testimony with those who are outside it might be as basic as cut your grass clean your yard pay your taxes adorn the gospel you preach don't be the one guy on your street whose house looks like it should be condemned maintain a good testimony with those who are outside you notice Fortis or hydro dread the day that they ever send you a bill cuz it's not going to get there on time are they constantly having to send guys out to cut you off that's not a good witness you know why I think Christianity was ultimately recognized by the Roman Empire because somewhere high up said you know these people are decent human beings they pay their taxes they cut their lawns and they clean their day today they clean their houses we like that that's a good contribution to the Empire let's sanction them you got to have a good testimony with those on the outside now I think the qualification is in order here because beware if all men everywhere speak well of a church older now they shouldn't speak evil of him because you know this that and the other but brethren if all men everywhere think that every elder is the greatest guy on the face of the earth then I would wonder if he's preaching the offense of the Cross because typically men don't like that do they they don't like to hear they're deceitful above all things and desperately wicked they don't like to hear that they're you know those engaged in total depravity and total inability that doesn't you know win friends and any influenced enemies that's just not a popular thing so if a man is loved by everybody on the outside arguably he's not doing his job again don't go out and offend for the purpose of having people hate you you know don't go out and you know carry a sign that says whatever it may say just to necessarily make people angry at you but this idea of a good testimony toward those on the outside among those who are outside doesn't necessarily mean you're everybody's best friend because if you are you're probably not preaching the offense of the Cross and then finally if you look at all these particular things they all have to do with character don't they they're all virtues they're all sort of good aspects or facets of a man's life there's one gift in first Timothy 3:1 to 7 and it's the ability to t verse two that's what separates the man that's what differentiates the man that's what along with all of these graces qualifies the man to be an elder notice that the Deacons are described in roughly the same way in terms of character in terms of fruit in terms of virtue in terms of grace they as well need according to verse nine they need to hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience that means they need to be doctrinally sound men that are deacons in the church but nowhere in verses eight to 13 is the deacon told that he must be apt to teach this is uniquely the elders role this is what bishoping overseeing and eldering and pastoring has to do with the whole of it is is preaching and teaching the word in other words how do pastors govern the church how do pastors steward the church how do pastors take care of the church it's not the wielding of some cult acceptor it's the preaching of the word that's how shepherding is done it's not through coercion it's not through manipulation it's not through running roughshod over persons but rather it is to teach them what the truth of God says and then the Spirit of God takes that truth and moves them in the proper direction it's a beautiful thing it's a beautiful wonderful thing so the elder must be able to teach now when we look at this particular section we see that as I've said it describes the character this describes his gift the gift of teaching differentiates the elder from the deacon and then as well the gift of teaching or preaching is consistent with the emphasis on sound doctrine throughout what's called the pastoral epistles pastoral epistles are first Timothy second Timothy and Titus they're called pastoral epistles because Paul wrote them to pasture and you know Paul's emphasis throughout first second Timothy and Titus it's on sound doctrine it's on the truth it's on teaching it's on preaching there are several several places that we can see this in fact it does bear a quick survey notice in first Timothy chapter 4 verses 6 & 7 first Timothy chapter 4 verses 6 & 7 if you instruct the Brethren or by instructing the Brethren in these things you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine which you have carefully followed so reject profane and old wives fables and exercise yourself toward godliness and the minister himself is to hold be nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine notice in 4 13 and 14 till I come give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine do not neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership brethren verse 13 refers to public worship this isn't Timothy's personal reading habits this isn't his own devotional life verse 13 has to do with public worship till i come give attention to reading that's the public reading of scripture why have we read Isaiah 5 tonight mark 16 in the morning because that's what the church does she reads Scripture he realized that in Paul's day when he wrote this they didn't have these beautiful Cambridge Bibles you know where persons came into contact with the Word of God it was in church on the Lord's Day it was through the reading in the preaching of Scripture that's why the emphasis is upon the reading in the preaching of Scripture so verse 413 is with reference to public worship till i come give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine notice in 1st Timothy 5:17 I've already referred to this let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor especially those who labor in the word and what doctrine notice in 6 - and those who have believing masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather serve them because those who are sanctified are those who are benefited our believers and beloved teach and exhort these things 6:17 come and those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty nor to trust and uncertain riches but in the Living God you see what Paul tells Timothy you had teach people you don't instruct that that's what elders are supposed to be able to do that's what elders are supposed to to exist for in the context of the church notice in 2nd Timothy 1:13 hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus that good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us notice in 2nd Timothy 2:15 be diligent to present yourself approved to God a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth now I understand that in some denominational settings or in some sort of preaching settings the sign of nobility and the ministers that he gets his taxed on the way to the pulpit I could think of nothing more foolish than such a thing I'm not suggesting that if a minister is gripped with something and God seems to overwhelmingly come upon him in terms of Providence and you know maybe you should preach there's I don't think God actually says that but you know maybe 10 atheist show up so he shelves his study on you know wives you know know how to bake a cake I don't think that's what we should be teaching on anyway but he thinks hey I'm gonna go ahead and preach the gospel there might be a change or there might be a time for a minister to change it up because of you know circumstances or something that comes up but as a matter of course for a man not to know what he's going to preach on well it may have sort of some mystical element of payasa T Paul says you need to be diligent to present yourself approved to God a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth in other words you need to cut a straight path in the word be prepared to speak the word in order to edify people with the word it isn't pious to just sort of wake up on a Sunday and hope the Lord gives you a text just had to get that B out of my bonnet and then notice 2nd Timothy 2 what we already read to 24 and 25 it is by means of teaching that you correct those who are in opposition of course the text in second Timothy 3:16 all Scripture is given by inspiration of God profitable for doctrine reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness and then of course for one and to preach the word be ready in season and out of season convinced rebuke exhort with all longsuffering into each a it's just amazing to me that the church at least in our generation is somehow forgotten this why do pastors exist today well they're CEOs they manage groups they manage ministries they manage the parts in the job they should be managing their time so they're effectively preparing to preach the Word of God to God's people that's what managing that a pastor should be engaged yet it's not managing the various structures in the various ministries and you know conducting himself as a fortune 500 no preach the word Timothy be ready and season and out of season convinced rebuke exhort with all longsuffering and teaching this is what you're supposed to do this app ness to teach and 3:00 to is not a suggested a suggestion for an elder that may go above and beyond it is absolutely necessary it doesn't mean every elder will be a Spurgeon preaching week in and week out doesn't mean every elder is going to be as competent as John Calvin but it means every elder has the ability to open his Bible and to teach and preach when necessary some are gifted to do it in a public setting week in week out all must be gifted to be able to do it in a private setting when persons ask questions of conscience or they ask questions concerning scripture that is absolutely required for gospel ministry you see it in Titus 1 as well notice in Titus 1 verse 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convict those who contradict John Calvin says with reference to holding fast the Word of God this is the chief gift and a bishop who has elected principally for the sake of teaching for the church cannot be governed in any other way than by the word he wishes that a bishop should hold it fast so as not only to be well instructed in it but to be constant in maintaining it and then note the twofold thing that the elder mas do with the word by sound doctrine the end of verse nine both to exhort I take that to mean exhort those in the church who are for the doctrine that you are exhorting on words exhort those who are with you exhort those who comply exhort those who are being edified and sanctified by the Spirit through the word it's that next aspect it's a little bit more difficult and convict those who contradict towards the minister must not only be able to teach the word in such a way as to feed the flock to help the sheep to guide them direct them and lead them but he must also be able to convict those who contradict John Calvin explains it this way the pastor ought to have two voices one for gathering the sheep and another for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves that's a great description of that twofold thing there in Titus 1:9 well there's our exposition just a couple of thoughts and then we'll close in the first place the necessity of the qualifications the church must know these things and the church must apply these things turn to Revelation chapter two for just a moment just to see a bit of a success story I think Ephesus gets a bum rap now it's certainly not good that they were condemned for leaving their first love I'm not suggesting that you know that's a good thing but I think we forget the commendation by Christ to the church at Ephesus now Ephesus is where Timothy was when Paul wrote to him first Timothy notice in Revelation 2-1 to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write these things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands I know your works your labor your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil and you have noticed tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars now he's gonna go on in verse four to say nevertheless I have this against you that you have left your first love I don't think that means they were apostate I don't think it means that they had abandoned Jesus altogether I personally think it means that the church probably met up with some difficulties some trials and some hardships and while the church was battling those difficulties and trials and hardships the the love for Jesus waned a bit so Jesus and his kindness tells them nevertheless I have this against you and it's spoken by him to them to stir them up to this particular thing but that is very commendatory you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not but you have found them to be liars the church needs to take seriously the qualification for the eldership and she needs to apply that in her own context secondly I would suggest that any man who aspires to the office of Elder visa vie the man described in first Timothy 3:1 2:7 must first prove himself in church men ship in other words if a man hasn't been a faithful church member why in the world would B be inclined to think he's going to be a faithful Church elder that makes sense you're not a faithful Church man you're not going to be considered for older ship that that's just the way it goes the man should maintain a consistent devotional life both private and family the man should faithfully attend the public means of grace I mean come on is that you know asking a lot what we expect our olders to show up at church I'll dare you how dare you I can hear it now I'm taking you to court what cuz we think you should show up to church if you're gonna want a pastor in that church you should be a member of the church you should support its ministry should pray for it you should encourage you should be faithful the man should love and serve the Brethren pardon parcel the pastoral ministry that's what eldership is all about that doesn't mean he fawns over everybody all the time and he brings them coffee and flowers at their workplace it can't mean that but it means he loves and he serves the Brethren brethren that is something elders do the man should be faithful in little things before we give him responsibility with big things now I sometimes see my notes you know when I revise them I see what I used as illustrations then and you know it kind of indicates where I was at my own life at that particular time at that particular time I happen to know that ronnie coleman was the eighth time mr. olympia guys that you know they got muscles on top of muscles and I remember hearing Ronnie Coleman say something once that really intrigued me and I think there's a spiritual application here says everybody wants to be a mr. olympia but he says nobody wants to lift any heavy weights in other words you're not going to become mr. olympia unless you lift heavy weights my observation in the church there are men who want to preach in pulpits they ain't going to show up at the old folks home on a Monday night they want to preach in pulpits but they're not going to plunge a toilet if it starts to overflow they want to preach in pulpits but they're not going to clean up vomit if a kid loses it during the service they want to preach in pulpits but they're not going to show up at the church work day they want to preach in pulpits but they're not going to cut the grass at the church they want the grater without showing faithfulness in the smaller a brethren I don't think it's rocket science and I don't think I'm applying anything too severely or too harshly but he who is faithful and little is faithful and much if a man is not faithful and little he can't show up consistently on time to church services why in the world would we ask him to preach in a church service it makes no sense to me so ecclesiastically if a man is not a good church man he ought not to be considered for the eldership if he is not faithful in the little things he certainly ought not to be given charge in the greater things and of course the man who aspires to church office must be recognized by the church in terms of teaching and preaching in terms of doctrinal understanding this is a blessing of being a confessional Church we have 32 chapters in that little compendium of the Christian faith of those things most surely believed among us it is a useful proven guide on how we can scrutinize men who aspired a Christian ministry to make sure that they are doctrinally sound to make sure that they are within the parameters of historic Christian orthodoxy a man must know his Bible a man must know sound theology or a man ought never ever to go into a Christian pulpit because it is that important it is that necessary Paul would not say he needs to be able to teach if it wasn't absolutely requisite so those are the kinds of men that we ought to be searching after those are the kinds of men that this church must pursue those are the kinds of men that ought to be recognized and put forward into gospel ministry well let us close in a word of Prayer father we thank you for your word and it's clarity on these issues and I pray that you'd give us wisdom as we proceed give us grace Almighty God to make faithful wise and good decisions and give us grace to operate always in the strict confines of written revelation may we not depart and may we never devolve to the place of a popularity contest or a man's proven success in the in another area of this world but God may we indeed take this take take it seriously and apply it and live accordingly in the life in the context of the free grace Baptist Church we do pray for this church plant and Surrey we do long to see it staffed and then fitted with qualified men we just pray God that it would be a work blessed of God and in particular we pray for our brother Mike that you would to see the seriousness and the solemnity with which he is to pursue this I pray that you would give him grace to strive to be all that Paul says in this passage of Scripture go with us now watch over us in this coming week and help us to live for your glory and for your honor and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed [Music]
