As we've been doing each week we also begin with the passage
found in the book of Titus. You remember very briefly.
Now this was the Apostle Paul telling Titus the reason that he
left him increase found in Titus Chapter 1 and verse 5.
And here it is for this reason. I left you in Crete that you
should set in order, the things that are lacking and appoint
ordain Elders in every city as I commanded you now very, very
briefly sometimes people think because Creek was so large and
it was over a million people there and ancient historians say
that there were over 100 cities there.
And the Apostle Paul told Titus to ordain Elders in every city
or in every church that they must have been accompanied with
Divine help or miraculous help from God.
But not so these were qualified men as somebody might say, well
how Who was it that they were qualified.
And today, we struggle trying to find a plurality of men that
would fit the qualifications to be an elder in various
congregations, in the body of Christ.
For example, in our country, I think the answer is very simple.
If you go back to Five Lessons, to the very first one, I made
this point, many of those that were converted early on were
Jews. They had lived their life, they
had worship, they have served God under under the law of
Moses. In other words, these were men
that were already spiritually. Minded.
In other words, they didn't have very far to go in order to be
qualified to be Elders. So, what's the answer today?
The answer today is we need more men in this begins.
When they're young, we need more men that are spiritually minded
and work toward the end of being an elder.
One day now, The word elder or the term Elder the office of an
elder? Is described in three ways of a
very brief. He is called an elder because
the word Elder means older. And with experience now the very
definition of the word eliminates, a young man that is
full of, or not full of experience, he is also called a
bishop and why is that? Because it describes his duty to
the congregation which is he is an overseer, he is also referred
to as a pastor and pastor's Pastor is not preacher.
Pastor is an elder. And this man is referred to as a
pastor because he is a Shepherd. Describing the task to feed the
flock of God. Now, All that being said.
There's a lot of qualifications that a man must feel and a man
must be able to qualify in these very briefly.
We've noticed these so far number one, he must desire, the
office. And in order to desire the
office, if he's going to do that, if he's going to desire
the position or title or office of an elder, he must eagerly or
earnestly. Desire the work.
He must be a man. Not certainly a This man
nobody's a sinless man but he is a blameless man.
Another words there's no sustainable charges against him,
he's a one-woman man. In fact Paul simply calls that
the husband of one wife he is faithful and true to his one.
Bride just as Jesus Christ is faithful and true to his bride.
And that being the church regardless of how many children
he has. That part's not relevant.
What is relevant is all of his children.
And need to be faithful Christians.
He needs to be as the King James describes it as a temperate,
man. Then the the new King James says
temperate, the Old King James says Vigilant and it just simply
means he's calm and his demeanor and he's watchful over others.
He is sober minded. In other words, he demonstrates
self-control in both his premeditated actions and his non
premeditated. Reactions.
This is a guy that's a respectable guy.
He's a guy of good behavior and what that means is his outward
behavior in his life. Simply is a luminary of the life
that's already inside and that is Jesus Christ.
In other words, he reflects Jesus in his behavior.
What else? He's a lover of strangers.
He's a man of hospitality. What else he is?
Also one that is skillful and capable of teaching.
And not just exclusive to the pulpit in a public sense, but
also inclusive of a private sense.
And one that gives good advice with wisdom, tooth.
Last time we noticed these six, he's not to be given to wine and
literally means not beside wine. What's that mean?
It means he total abstinence. He has nothing to do with it.
What else? He's not a striker.
He's not a violent man. He doesn't do those things.
He's not greedy for money. He is not a mind.
Loser. He's gentleman what that means.
Doesn't mean timid. It means reasonable.
Is talking about somebody that is reasonable somebody, that
allows for the other person to speak somebody that allows the
other person's feelings and thoughts to that's a gentle man
or simply a gentleman, what else?
He's not quarrelsome. He's not an argumentative person
and finally he is not Covetous, meaning he's not a lover of
money, one scholar just simply said, that money is not his God.
God, these are 15 that we've already noticed.
Here's number 16, this morning, here it is.
He rules his own house. Well, Now, in 1st, Timothy
Chapter 3 and verse 4, the passage reads one who rules his
own house. Well, having his children in
submission with all reverence. Now, what does all that mean?
Sometimes people misunderstand the word rule, one scholar said,
it simply is this and I love this when you describe somebody,
that is ruling his own house. Well, you are describing a man
that stands before his family and and not stands above his
family. That's that kind of a man.
What am I saying? I'm saying he's not a dictator.
I'm saying he as a Shepherd does.
So as Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd.
Now, picture this, the Bible says of Jesus Christ that he is
the bishop of our souls. What does that mean?
When it says he's the bishop of our souls?
That means he is the overseer of our souls.
What else he is? Also a Shepherd, what's a
Shepherd do? Do there's a Shepherd stand
above to the shepherd bark out orders.
It has a Shepherd, yell out, commands know a Shepherd good
does. What he goes before those he's
leading and he leads them and they follow.
He leads and he guides. The point is this if an elder
trains his children with discipline proper discipline,
discipline and love, he will use the exact same qualities to
train discipline and encourage members of the household of God.
Now more about rules. Ruling.
Well, and ruling over. What does all that mean?
In an additional sense? First of all, it means that he
Rules by showing the way not by shouting, the orders that I just
mentioned. He is not one that does that
that shouts out and gives commands and is loud.
He is somebody that leaves by faith and not by fear.
He leads by faith and not by fear and I got to tell you, I
got to tell you. If a person is in a position of
leadership, please hear me. I don't care what aspect of life
that it is. I don't care.
If you're a teacher, I don't care if you're a coach, I don't
care if you're a parent, I don't care if you just have people in
your job that you are over. If you have to keep telling the
people that are under you, that you are over them, there's
something sadly wrong with your leadership. if I go into my
house that I say, I've heard been do this in my life, And I
probably ridiculously did so in a very young foolish, man, but
at some point in time, you say I'm the head of the house.
I should never have to make those.
I should never have to make that statement.
I should never have to utter those words. the people in my
house because I am standing before them and I am leading
them, they should know by my actions, my demeanor, my
behavior that I am the head of my house Have you ever worked
for somebody that kept saying, I'm the boss?
I'm your boss really? You have to keep saying that.
If you have to keep saying, if there's something wrong with
your leadership skills and your behavior to.
Now, let's talk more about the word ruled.
I think it's very important. Some translations actually just
render it managed. That's what you're doing.
You're a manager, you are managing and leading and
guiding. Now.
That comes from a Greek word is translated in the new King James
as rules and in other translations managed.
But it comes from this Greek word here and it's Pro his
demise and it means to be that head to direct to be concerned
about and care for. And you know what, I don't see
the word boss in there at all. It's the same work.
Now that word effect is found in a number of passages.
It's found in first Thessalonians, chapter 5 and
verse 12. And it's also found in first
Timothy 5:17. Remember this?
We mentioned it last time that an elder who rules well is
worthy of double honor. Now, as we said last time, that
doesn't mean he gets to chicks, double honor means the honor of
being an elder. But if He is going to be one
that is teaching the word of God and being an elder is his
full-time commitment. He's worthy of support financial
support, just like just like a preacher.
In fact Paul says those that labor in word and Doctrine and
rules. Well, what are we talking about?
We're talking about somebody that is managing, well, somebody
that is leading well in the church.
There's another passage to Romans chapter 12 and verse 8,
this works found there too. It says he who exhorts in
exhortation, he who gives in liberality, he who leads?
Same word with diligence. Now, in this verse Paul,
discusses those who serve in the church in various capacities and
although Paul does not mention Elder specifically, he no doubt
is referring to them. And when he says those that
lead, he's talking about, An elder.
No Doubt. all right, first of all, with the occurrence of the
word Pro histamine I It's obvious that Elders.
Have a measure of authority. That's true.
But you remember, we mentioned just a moment ago, very briefly
about Desiring the office number when we studied that the very
first lesson that those words, desire are there two different
words. The first word desire means you
have the desire for the position.
The second word desire means you have a greater desire for the
work. Now why is that important?
That's important because when you put in a position of
leadership or you have a position of authority, you need
to be the kind of a person that realizes that my influence is
more important than my authority.
My influence is more important than my authority.
Authority here, derives from our responsibility, or a man's
responsibility as an elder to care for the flock.
The example of the family is used to describe the work of an
elder. And let me say this too.
Please understand, a good. Father does not practice
authoritarian rule in the home. I'ma say it again.
A good father, does not practice authoritarian rule in the home.
A good father. Manages a good father directs.
A good father is concerned about a good.
Father is one who cares for a good?
Father is a man that stands before his family and not above
his family. I read this from a so-called, I
don't know, expert so-called I guess it's worth what you pay
for. It was nothing was free but I
want to share it with you. He said this the authoritarian
form of family government with Its emphasis on total Conformity
and submission is one of the least effective ways for a
father to manage his family. Now, a father can still be the
head of the family without being authoritarian.
Now. Okay.
What do I mean by that? What do I mean by authoritarian?
It's defined really is this? Someone who shows a lack of
concern. For the wishes and opinions of
others. He is one that has a domineering
and dictatorial, attitude and demeanor.
That's a dictator. That's not a good father.
You know, what happens too many times with the authoritarian
approach. It very.
Sadly often provokes family members to anger and even
Rebellion. But still all that being said.
Children have the responsibility of being obedient to parents.
You know, the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians chapter 6, he said
obey your parents in the Lord no.
Notice what he says he says, and why for this is right, then he
says, honor, thy father and thy mother which is the first
commandment with promise, which is what that you may live long
on the earth. It may be well with you and you
may live long on the earth. In other words, he told.
The Apostle Paul writing the Ephesian letter said, children
obey your parents in the Lord. Why?
It's right. What else honor them So, it's
not just a matter of doing what you're told.
It's a matter of honoring and respecting them too.
Now, I'll tell you something. It's true that I have to leave
my family and my children in such a way.
That they become that. But it's also the child's
responsibility to be that. And when the Bible, by the way,
talks about faithful children, when it talks about having
faithful children, I have the responsibility in my life of
trying to bring up my children in the way that they should go
and prayerfully when they are old, they will not depart from
it. We believe in all of that, I
must train my children in that way and provoke, not them to
wrath but bring them up in the training and admonition of the
Lord. All that's true.
But children have the responsibility to yes, you do.
And that's to be faithful for the rest of your life.
Young people, please understand. You have a huge responsibility
to Don't disqualify your father for being an elder one day
because you can't stand and do what's right?
Don't disqualify your father. I simply said this a few lessons
ago and I mean this, but really shame on the child.
Shame on the child who has been brought up in a Christian home
and guided in the way that he should go.
Shame on the child, decides to depart from what is, right?
And disqualifies his or her father for being an elder in the
Lord's Church. Shame on you, that would do
that. So instead of an authoritarian
approach, though, the home is where love is, its where
forgiveness is its, where happiness is experienced a
Christian home is a place where babies grow into mature adults.
So, a man that manages his family, well, is a man that's in
an excellent position to manage the family of God.
That's the whole point. In fact, a man who emotionally
one man said, Emotionally stable, spiritually, mature and
wise in his life will provide adequate leadership in the home.
All right, so not only is he to rule his own house.
Well, but number 17 and I have I have separated these although
they go together but I've separated them as different
qualifications. So here we're talking about,
he's to rule his own house, well, but then it says, having
his children in subjection, Now. I got to say, when Paul gives a
qualification to Titus, And then he gives the qualification to
Timothy. The qualifications to Timothy
and the qualifications to Titus. They are not either or they are,
and So I make this point when he says that a man must have his
children in submission or subjection, it doesn't mean that
he can have young children in subjection in submission and
doesn't have to have all of his children being faithful.
So, what did you already tell Titus.
He said, you have to have faithful children me.
All your children are. Faithful.
Christians. In addition to that those.
Same Christians that Our faithful must be in subjection
or submission with reverence. Now, this is an extension of the
other first, Timothy three and four one who rules well, his own
house. As I said, I separated them as
two different qualifications though, they go together.
One who rules? Well his own house doing what
having his children in submission an extension of the
other now? It's an extension or result of a
father who rules or manages or leads his family properly.
And again, the point is this, the children's love and respect
should be one rather than severely enforced.
The children know their father's voice and they recognize that
voice. As a voice of love, a voice of
concern, a voice of fairness and the same as seen in the church
and Elder knows each member of gods family too.
And by the way, when working with a congregation recently
that wants to have elders, One of the things that we did as
evangelists great gain, I is we sent home with them question,
ears for their family to fill out.
I thought that was really wise and Greg to do that in other
words, their questionnaires, because nobody knows you like
your wife and kids. Sometimes we behave in a certain
way when we're out in public or Out Among the congregation.
But when the doors are shut and we're in the house, our family
sees who we really are. If my family sees me and
respects me based on what I do, and the way I lead my family,
Then that's who I really am. How I behave, that's the kind of
guy that needs to be an elder if the congregation knows him as a
loving kind caring family, man, then they can rest assured.
He will do the same thing in the household of God.
So the reason for this qualification, though here's a
reason, verse 5, watch this for if a man does not know how to
rule his own house. How will he take care of the
Church of God? Simple, as that.
But then, there's the next one. He's not a novice.
He is not a novice. What does that mean in 1st
Timothy Chapter 3 and verse 6. Paul said this.
Not a novice. What a powerful passage not a
novice lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil. Now, this Greek word here, Nia
Foo Tous is a compound word and all that means is it's a Greek
word that was taken from two other words.
So when we try to figure out what a novice really is, let's
talk about that. It comes from two other words.
One word is NEOS. Meaning You or fresh.
And the other word is fateha, which is a plant.
Talking about something that is a Nia food.
Tous is simply one, that is newly planted in the faith.
He is a new convert. A new convert.
Now I'm going to tell you, there's an English word that we
get from Nia frutos. It's the word Nia fight.
It's the word that means beginner or novice and I'm gonna
tell you something. I'm saying these words an
exaggeration but here's the poem, it's not talking about
chronological age by itself. The word Elder describes
chronological age. In other words, he's an older
man. He is a man that is respected.
He is a man that has Audience, right, we get that.
That is an elder, okay? But this word here is talking
about where he is spiritually and he can be 175 years old and
be a novice. If he's a new convert was
baptized at 80 years old. You know what he is?
He is a novice, he's brand new in the faith.
So it doesn't just mean a man that's older with chronological
age and therefore he should be an elder.
He's an elder, if he fits the Asians one of which is he can't
be a brand-new convert Can't be. Now a recent convert will not
have the spiritual maturity and experience necessary to be a
good Elder. In fact, Paul says that a novice
may be lifted up with pride because of his lack of
experience in the faith. Now we all understand there's a
period of time and all of our life spiritually speaking, when
we are available, we are babe in Christ.
There is a period of time. In fact, Hebrews chapter 5,
beginning in verse 12, listen to this Hebrews 5, beginning in
verse 12. For though.
By this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to
teach you again. The first principles of the
Oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food
for everyone who partakes, only of milk is unskilled in the word
of righteousness. Why?
For he is a babe, but solid food belongs to those who are full
age. That is those who by reason of
use have their senses, exercised to discern both, good and evil.
Here's another passage First Corinthians 3.
First one, and I Brethren could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual. Because but as carnal as babes
in Christ, when someone is placed in a position of
authority before he's able to handle it, it's very dangerous.
It's very dangerous and you can fall into the same judgment as
the devil who was puffed up with pride.
Now, Sometimes people want the position or the title without
the work. Sometimes people want to get get
any kind of position because they just want to be large.
And in charge instead of being a humble servant, an elder is a
humble servant he leads in a way that a father is to lead.
That is out in front. He is living his life in such a
way that he demonstrates, the qualifications in the qualities
that Elder must have. He doesn't in the home.
Therefore, he has the Spect of his family and all the members
of the body of Christ can see that.
That's how he's living his life. Not a novice, a humble servant
that is not new in the faith. But then he says this, unless
what lest he being puffed up or some translations say, lifted up
with pride. Now Kenneth wuest said, this
about the phrase being lifted up with pride, he It's being blind
with pride or conceit. You know what happens when
you're a novice, when you're new in the faith, when you don't
have the wisdom and experience what happens, you can be puffed
up or you can be blind with pride and watch this.
And fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
You know, a long long time ago, the Bible records that there was
an angel named Lucifer and he was in heaven.
He's also called Satan. He's called The Devil, he's
called the dragon, he's called a number of different things.
Lucifer was in heaven as one of the angels and Lucifer.
And a third of the hosts of Heaven were cast out.
Because of pride. Paul said this don't put a man
that is a new convert or a beginner in a position of being
an elder or he runs the risk of what being puffed up with pride
and fall into the same condemnation as did the devil.
now, a brother who desires to become a church leader, I think
must have plenty of time and opportunity to test his own
faith and be shown among those that are around him and to give
and to give others time also to see evidence of his spiritual
growth and maturity now folks, here's the deal.
We have to have a good reputation.
Now, do you remember when I have said, periodically through these
sermons, that many of these things, apply to every Christian
Do you know when it talks about having a good reputation?
It's talking about every Christian to I will have
absolutely no influence at all. If I don't have a good
reputation based on my behavior All the things that we've talked
about so far, is the reputation that a man that wants to be an
elder must have in his family and the reputation in the
church. But there's more.
And that's the reputation among those that are outside.
That's those that are in The world in this passage in 1st
Timothy 3 and verse 7. Moreover, he must have a good
testimony among those that are outside some translations, say
those that are without in other words, those that are in the
world, So I have to have a good reputation among my family among
the church, and I need to have a good reputation as a
qualification to be an elder. If I wanted to be one.
One day, I must have a good reputation among those that are
in the world, too. This phrase here actually means
this having a good testimony among those who are outside one
scholar said, it means that he's a man of General acceptance by
reputation. First Corinthians chapter 10 and
verse 32 is talking about reputation and safeguarding your
reputation among those that are in the world.
First Corinthians, 10:32 says this?
Give no offense either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the
Church of God, Philippians 2 and verse 15.
Paul advises this he said that you may be blameless and
harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked
and perverse generation among whom you shine as Life's in the
world. One more, passage Colossians 4
and 5. Walk in wisdom toward those who
are outside Redeeming the time now, you know, it's interesting
in the new English Bible. It renders this passage very
clearly watch this. This is how the new English
Bible. Renders this passage He must
have a good reputation with the non-Christian public so that he
may not be exposed to Scandal and get caught in the devil's
snare. Interesting phrase isn't it and
be caught in the devil's snare. In other words as, as possible
as it could be Elders, need the shine as lights in the world.
Not compromising their Christian position their In suppose, and
their practices. Now remember, this, Jesus is the
chief Shepherd. We showed the world Jesus in our
Behavior. That's what we do.
We are moral. We are committed.
We are honest. We are sincere.
You know, if we really want people to know about our
reputation and I'm just going to, I'm just going to use me,
I'll just use me. if you want to know whether I have a good
reputation or not, And you need to go and talk to kids on coach.
You need to go talk to my family.
You need to go talk to the people.
I play golf with haven't played in a long time.
Love it. Want to get going again.
Love it. But the way that I behave
outside, Really determines my reputation.
So, if we were at a point in time where we are looking at
this qualification for an elder, we need to have a man that
shows, a good reputation in his family in the church.
But also in the world among those that see him at his job,
how about that? What if you were a businessman?
It'd be great to go talk to people that you do business
with, or employees or whatever. And why does it matter, why does
it matter? If the world sees us, living a
good life with a good reputation, and we are the real
genuine article. The real deal.
As the common vernacular would say, you know what happens?
God gets the credit and God is glorified for the reason or the
purpose that you are the Way You Are. listen to this quote,
please I got this from a commentary, listen to this
quote. The reputation of the
congregation. Is only as strong as the
reputation of its leadership. And that's a fact.
Now, Paul says this, you got to have a good testimony among
those that are outside less. He fall into reproach of the
devil. Now, the word reproach according
to w, evine means defamation. Disgrace slender.
Blame for a ques accusation. The point that he's making is as
Satan himself fell with pride, he greatly longs to see church
leaders fall into the same snare.
He was cast out of Heaven because of Pride, you know what
he wants? He wants other people in the
church that fall into the same disgraceful.
Snare of pride. That's why we have to have a
good reputation among those that are around us.
Paul mentions the snare of the devil in 2nd, Timothy 2:26 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
now Satan, because of Pride came under judgment, and that's
exactly what he wants. That's exactly what Satan wants.
He wants people of God to come under the same judgment.
But here's the point, an elder must have a good reputation and
not be open to an easy attack from the Devil.
Now, by the way. We've just finished the
qualifications in the book of 1st Timothy.
Do you see something that happened here in verses 6 and 7?
It sums up the reputation or sums up where he began.
Do you remember the first thing that he said after?
He said you have to design the office.
The very next thing in the very beginning, he said you got to be
blameless. You know what he says at the end
7 verses later got to be blameless. blameless in the
church and blameless outside no, sustainable charge against Let
me ask you this. If you were a person that was a
sister in Christ, you can't be an elder can't qualify to be an
elder. We know that, but I guarantee if
you had a good reputation among those that are within and those
that are without, you be a better person to be a better
Christian. We all would every one of us, we
would all be blameless. And the reason that this is
important is because those that are outside of the body of
Christ, they will judge the church B leaders.
Okay in conclusion, here's the qualifications that we noticed
and the in the introduction I went over.
These will not do that. Again, these are 15
qualifications. Here's what we've noticed today.
An elder must first rule or lead or manage his own house.
Well why if you can't manage his home how's it going to manage
the family of God? Number two, he must have his
children in subjection. In other words, they are
respectful children. They not only are listening and
obeying but they are honoring their parents and they have to
be faithful Christian. So we're talking about faithful
Christians that are in subjection with respect to their
father. He must not be a novice.
He can't be a new convert. And finally, he must have a good
testimony, or he must have a good reputation among those that
are in the world. Now, that's first Timothy.
That's all the qualifications given in first Timothy, the
remain qualifications from Titus and this will be next time.
Here they are. Must not be self-willed or
error. Get must not be.
Quick-tempered must be a lover of what is.
Good must be Justin. Upright must be holy and devout
and must hold fast the faithful word.
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