Just a little introduction about the passage that's on the
screen. The great Apostle Paul divinely
inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote the letter to the church
at Philippi from a Roman prison. And in this Roman prison.
And in this letter at the very beginning of it, he gives them a
salutation and in that he gets also gives us a very quick
glance at the organization of the church.
In fact, these are composed of three kinds of people Saints
Bishops and deacons Deacon's now Saints are those that are
baptized Believers. Let me just say this to there's
nowhere in the word of God as some religious affiliations
would believe that somebody is Anointed or crowned in to
sainthood after they die. That is not found in the word of
God, contrary to what some would believe.
In fact, the Bible says that we are all Saints.
So everyone that is a member of the body of Christ.
A member of the Church of Christian baptism.
Iced into Jesus Christ. For the remission of sins, is
the saint. Secondly, though, he says, there
are Bishops and Bishops, are leaders of the church will not
go into that. We've done that in great detail,
over six lessons, but there are some synonymous terms that are
related to the word bishop, and it's talking about the same
person. They are Elders, they are
pastors. They are overseers, and there
are Shepherds. But then there's a third person
that's described In this passage and it's the third that is
described in the organizational structure of the church and that
is among certain Saints. There are deacons.
Now, what is a deacon, the word, Deacon actually comes from the
Greek word Daya condos and it actually means a servant This
word is found 30 times in the New Testament.
And you know what's interesting about this word?
Diakon owes is found 30 times in 26 of those times, it refers to
a serve it and only four times it refers to a deacon or
translated Deacon have no fear though, because there's ample
evidence in the scriptures that proves that they these were a
special office. And they were called a deacon.
Now, I want to make this point to a deacon is not a slave of a
congregation. Did you get that?
There's a difference between a servant and a slave a deacon
like one man, said, one time a deacon is a servant of his work,
a slave is a servant of his master.
Now, every saint every Christian is a slave to Jesus Christ.
He has bought us by his inestimable, blood.
That was shed. Ed on the cross were baptized
into Christ. Would contact that blood and
guess what? For the rest of our life, the
Saint the child of God becomes a slave for Jesus Christ.
That's everybody. But a deacon is a servant, a
servant in relationship to his work.
Practically speaking a deacon or someone who promotes the welfare
and prosperity of the local church by carrying out tasks
that are assigned by the elders. Now there are some that falsely
assumed and I've heard this before.
Elders, oversee, the spiritual needs of a congregation and
deacons oversee. The physical needs of the
congregation that is not true. That is not true Deacon's over.
See nothing and Elders. Oversee, everything an elder in
the body of Christ overseas, both the spiritual and physical
needs of a congregation. They are the overseers of the
flock Deacon's though Deacon serve them as serving them in
the tasks that the elders, give them in the work so they are Are
Servants of the work directed by the elders.
In addition to this to deacons were also teachers, you
remember, Stephen and Philip of Jerusalem and Acts chapter 6.
Another man that's found in Philippians.
Chapter 2, epaphroditus was a teacher in the body of Christ
and also a deacon. Well, I want to notice with you
now. Just a couple things regarding
the history of deacons. And if you will turn your Bibles
to Next chapter 6 in Acts chapter 6 verses 1 through 7 and
the reason I asked you to do that is the only verse I'm going
to put on the screen is the first verse.
Let's talk about the history of deacons we find in Acts chapter
6. Beginning there in verse number
one that there was a problem in the church.
In fact it's the very first one that we can find and the Bible
says, there was a murmuring among members of the church.
Now the Ring or the dispute or the complaining was between two
kinds of people or two peoples, I guess you would say what were
the grecians and the other were the Hebrews.
So as I will put now on the screen verse 1, now when those
days when a number of disciples was multiplying there arose, a
murmuring against the Hebrews by the hellenists because their
widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
First of all, the Word murmur means complain.
Let me just say as a side note. Have you ever known somebody
that complained all the time? They were never satisfied.
They were never content, they just complained all the time.
Hope he likes to be around that person.
That's discouraging somebody that's always complaining.
But in this particular instance, there was a real problem and the
complaining was between the hellenists and the Hebrews that
who were they the hellenists? You remember they were Grecian
Jews that were born and raised in another country besides
Palestine. They were the hellenists.
And by the way, we are talking about when we say helenus, and
we say Hebrews were talking about converted Christians
though, these are members of the body of Christ, see Got two
kinds of people. You got those guys that were
from a different country. Grecian Jews other than
Palestine and you have the Hebrews and the Hebrews were
those of Jewish blood pure Jewish blood running through
their veins. They were Hebrews.
They were like Paul said one time Hebrew of the Hebrews and
they spoke the Hebrew language. Now here's the problem in this.
There is a Conflict, The Grecian Jews or the hellenists make a
charge that their widows were not, receiving equal treatment
as those that were Hebrew widows and the Apostle.
The apostles came up with a solution.
Here it is. And for good reason, too.
You can't have division. You know, what's really sad
division, destroys the church? And sometimes when there's a
disagreement or there's personality conflicts, or
there's some kind of a turmoil here and there and people get
into some kind of a complaint back and forth, sometimes they
don't Rectify, whatever it was that was differing between them
and very sad sometimes division, occurs and churches even split
what a terrible thing. To have the body of Christ
divided. Now, what were the apostles?
What did they know? They know if we don't fix this
problem. There's going to be division in
the church. It's going to tear up the
church. That's number one.
Number two, what else did the apostles know?
They knew I don't have time to go serve tables.
I don't have time to go out and serve the Widow's.
It's very needed that they get served though but I don't have
time to go out and serve the widows.
We need to have somebody else do that.
At, so, they Apostles can continue to preach the word of
God. In fact, as the Bible says, to
continue in preaching and in prayer, there are side note
here. I'm an evangelist working among
you. And you have no idea how much I
appreciate the workers of the congregation that see about the
needs of others. I love you for that.
That is a good work. The lord loves that too.
But when you as a body of Christ, as members of the
church, you then our Saints. Go out and help others and see
to the needs of others. It frees me up as an evangelist
to do my work and that is to preach evangelistically to teach
in an edifying way and also to set in order the things that are
lacking. Now, every Christian needs to go
and see the needs of others. But I really appreciate those
that go out and do that and take care of those that have needs.
So the apostles come up with a solution.
They instructed the church to choose seven men from among
them, that would care for this business.
In other words, the business at hand was not to be demeaned.
It was very, very important but the apostles understood, they
didn't have time for that. So he gave some general
qualifications. Now, the general qualifications
were these number one in the general qualifications.
There were those of honest report as the King James says
know. Other words they had to be a man
of honest report. He had to be a man that was full
of the Holy Spirit. And number three had to be a man
that was full of wisdom. Let's talk about these
individually. First of all, the words honest
report. As found in the King James
version, really, simply means this, in fact, it is translated
in this way, in the new King James that is.
We've got to 57 men of good reputation.
That's that's reasonable 57 men of good reputation.
In other words, men of good reputation and integrity.
What else in a general sense, full of the Holy Spirit Full of
the Holy Spirit. Now I got to tell you for many
years, I thought, because the various commentators that this
was talking about miraculous gifts or spiritual gifts.
And when he said, find seven men of good reputation that are full
of the Holy Ghost, I used to believe that this was talking
about those that had the endowment of spiritual gifts
given to them and Were able to perform Miracles, there's a
problem with that. There's a problem with that.
In this qualification. What's it actually talking about
McGarvey says this. This means men that are full of
the spirit as respects to the fruits of a holy life.
Now, let me just say this Let me just say this.
This if this is talking about miraculous gifts full of the
Holy Ghost, be miraculous gifts, if that's what that means.
Then this does not apply today because we do not have Miracles
today. So they had to be men of honest
report or good reputation full of the Holy Ghost.
Now remember this, too? When spiritual gifts were given
they had to be given by the laying on of the Apostles hands.
Now, watch this, this verse that we're talking about that says
full of the Holy Spirit or full of the Holy Ghost is in verse 3.
The laying on of hands did not happen until verse 6.
So whatever it was here, it was talking about a requirement or
qualification that they had before the laying on of the
Apostles hands there for I believe it could not have been
miraculous. All right, so, how do we apply
this today? What is a practical way if we
were looking for deacons today? That would fall into the
category of being a good reputation and being full of the
Holy Spirit? And as those that are described
by McGarvey from that passage, who would we be looking at?
We would be looking at these fellows right here in the book
of Galatians. In the book of Galatians chapter
5. In Galatians.
Chapter 5, Paul gives exactly what we're talking about.
We are talking about those individuals that manifest in
abundance, the fruit of the spirit, here it is.
So if we're looking for somebody that fits this quality, here it
is. But the fruit of the spirit is
love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness self-control against
such. There is no law.
In other words, Someone that was full of the Holy Spirit.
From this context of this passage is someone that in,
abundance manifested. The things that I just read to
you from Galatians chapter 5. Now.
One commentator said, a man can be recognized for what he really
is by observing what his life produces.
Years ago, you've heard me say this, you've heard me use this
quote and I did and I did, I made it up came to me.
One day years ago, I was coaching a football team that
was undefeated. And every week I was trying very
hard to keep them focused and not rest on the things that they
did, but to continue to work forward.
So, one day we are out on the practice field and I said,
listen, we are what we are, because we do what we do.
And my point was, we have, if we want to continue on the path
that we are on, we have to continue doing the things that
got us here. But I like what Jesus said
though, I like he said, it's so much better in Matthew chapter 7
and verse 20 by your fruits, you shall know them.
In other words, you can determine a person by the things
that they do. It's manifested in their life,
can't you? Just put your mind back on that
day when he says, choose men of honest report 7, man that are
fit. The qualifications that we've
just talked about. In other words, their life is
manifesting all of these characteristics and qualities in
their life. And I'm going to tell you right
now, when a person has them their obvious, if you ever heard
somebody, Say that you should never have have to tell somebody
you're a Christian. We've said it.
I've known a lot of people that wore t-shirts. and on the
T-shirt it was always saying something like I'm a follower of
Christ or I'm a I'm a Christian Sometimes bumper stickers are
put on cars and they want everybody know.
I'm a Christian I've known a lot of contractors over the youth.
The 24 years that I was a painting contractor, they have
business cards with a fish on them because they want people to
know that they are religious people.
But, you know, in your life, you shouldn't have to do any of
that. You shouldn't have to wear a
t-shirt, a billboard, a bumper sticker a card, whatever.
You shouldn't have to do any of that.
People should be able to see the manifestation of what you are by
your actions. And by the way that you live,
the same is true with these deacons same as true now.
What else? There was another quality,
another qualification and that was, they had to be full of
wisdom. Now, why was that those that are
full of wisdom are man, who are able to make wise, and fair
decisions? Those are those that are wise.
Now, I said stay in the book of Acts.
So now, look in verse 5, Acts chapter 6, and verse 5.
Watch what happened after they said this and the saying please
the whole multitude and they chose Stephen.
Man, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, just in the context that
we've just said, and Phillip and proc chorus and night, caner,
and timman, and parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.
Now, what happened in verse 6, look at verse 6, so they chose
these seven men that fit the bill of these three General
qualifications what happens? Now in verse 6, they got 47 in
front of them. Watch this, the apostles, are
there whom they sent me. Before the apostles and when
they had prayed, what did the apostles do they laid their
hands on them? now folks, The laying on of
hands was not, merely part of a ceremony of ordination, as some
would assume, it was that the apostles endowed, the seven with
miraculous powers. Do you remember Acts chapter 8?
Remember that? Simon, the Sorcerer acts 8 and
verse 18. Now, Simon saw that through the
laying on of the Apostles hands. The Holy Spirit was given he
offered them money. So, the giving of the holy
spirit in miraculous form was always done by the laying on of
the Apostles hands. So, miraculous Powers came by
the laying on of hands. Now, look at verse 8, x 6 and
verse 8. Now, remember this before this
They didn't have it. Before this they didn't have it.
They didn't have miraculous powers.
In fact before verse 6 they were full of faith that talks about
Stephen being full of faith and the Holy Spirit just like we
have on the screen. But after verse eight, things
changed looking at x 6 and verse 8, and Stephen Full of faith and
power did great wonders. And signs among the people.
You see the difference after the laying on of the Apostles hands,
they were able to perform miraculous.
Gifts. So we're talking about this
General sense, got to be good. Reputation.
Got to be manifesting the fruit of the spirit in your life.
You got to be a man that is full of wisdom.
Making Fair decisions, those are qualifications of being a
deacon. Now, let's talk about this.
Let's talk about some general duties and responsibilities.
I hear this a lot. I hear.
Well, what in the world does a deacon do then?
What is their job description? First of all, in General sense.
All we're just say that the duties and responsibilities of a
deacon are to provide a support structure for elders and
preachers so that they can engage in activities that are
more centered on teaching God's word.
Now, this does not mean that deacons don't share in the
responsibility of teaching and preaching God's word.
In fact, I know some deacons in the church today of other
congregations. They are some of the best
congregational teachers that that congregation has So I'm not
saying that deacons don't teach what I'm saying, is the deacons
provide a support structure under the under the get under
the instructions of an elder, so that the preachers and the
elders can continue with the work of teaching the word of
God. Now, Let's talk about some
specific qualifications. Now, though specific
qualifications go to First Timothy chapter 3, In 1st
Timothy Chapter 3 B and we're going to notice the things that
are found beginning in verse 8. Now the first thing that he says
is reverent the King James says grave.
I don't know what you think about when I think about grave
but I think about something that's pretty negative.
You ever heard somebody say that something is grave door?
Someone is in grave danger, I think about something that's
really - and I think about death but in the King James actually
says gray, but it really means reverent.
That's what the passage means, that's what the word means and
it means this serious and somber.
Now we have to stop right there. It doesn't mean that deacons
have to walk around and be serious from the standpoint of
they can enjoy life. They can't have any fun, they
can't laugh. They got to walk around like
they're sick all the time religiously.
And you know what? I think about that a religion
that makes a man sick won't cure the world.
It doesn't mean that you have to walk around with a serious
somber. Look on your face.
What it means is this reverent word, here means serious and
somber about the Business, that's to be conducted.
We're talking about somebody that is serious about the work
and when it comes time to do the work, they are reverent in that
they're serious. And somber in that.
In other words must not be conducted with a slack hand or a
flippant attitude. Here's another one.
Not double tongue. What's that mean?
I would venture to say, that if you thought about it right now,
you could think of somebody that you know, that fits the bits
that very idea of being double-tongued It would double
tongue means. Here it is.
Does not say one thing to one person and say, another thing to
another person. We've known people like that.
In other words who they are is influenced by who they're with.
I'm going to tell you. You can't trust that person.
You cannot trust a person that will say, one thing, to one
person. And another thing to another
person, Double tongue, the psalmist.
David said this, he that swears, but to his own hurt and does not
change somebody that's influenced by those that are
around him and doesn't stand for anything is double-tongued.
Deacon cannot be that. Here's another one.
And by the way, you remember, when we preached on the idea of
Elders, and we talked about how the Bible says, about an elder,
he cannot be given to Wine. I said, Hold that thought
because when we get the deacons, I'm going to go into detail
about much wine and what that means.
So here we go. Another quality is he cannot be
a man that is given to much wine.
Now, the word much Is added to verse 3.
Concerning an elder. It's added.
So, you know what people say? They say an elder can't have
any. And a deacon, he can have
learning. An elder, he can't have any
because it says not given to Wine, but it looks over there
like a deacon, he just can't have much wine.
So people have deduced if a deacon can have a little bit
then that's authorization for social drinking and a guy can go
out and he's not drinking a lot, he can go out and have a couple
beers with the boys and everything is fine because after
all even a deacon in the church can have a little bit, he just
can't have a lot. The question is, what does it
mean? When it says much Wine, Barn
says this regarding the word much it is not affirmed.
That it would be proper for a deacon, any more than a bishop
to indulge in the use of wine and small quantities.
In other words, Barnes is saying, when it says not given
to much wine, it is not saying that a deacon is authorized to
have a little bit, just not a lot, that's what he's saying.
There, he further goes on and says this.
If it is affirmed that a man, that is given to much wine
ought. Not on any consideration, be a
deacon. Now let's go further.
Wycliffe said this? This is Wycliffe on much wine.
He said, the Bible testimony is consistently against the use of
strong drink, the practical application of the principle in
modern society. This is the Practical example is
total abstinence. All right now, but there's got
to be a better explanation. and there is Here's the better
explanation to believe it or not I am sorry.
Emser had the best explanation. Here it is.
Watch this. The old-time wine was often used
as medicine. Don't you remember what Paul
said to Timothy? Timothy said don't no longer,
just drink water Timothy but have a little wine for thy,
stomachs sake, and thine often infirmities.
In other words, he told Timothy because of the infirmities that
he had physically to take a little wine for that purpose.
In other words, there says the amount little wine.
I was always connected to medicinal purposes, always.
Back up again. The old-time wine was often used
as a medicine and that's what Paul meant in 1st Timothy 5:23.
But the amount for medical purposes was always considered a
little wine and it would not make a man drunk.
Thus, if a person manifested drunkenness, it was evidence
that he is using it for the purpose or not using it for the
purpose of Health. How do I summarize all that?
Here it is. if I take some medication with alcohol in it,
that is the equivalent today of little wine.
Anything. In addition to that is
considered from a social standpoint or any other way, it
is considered, let's wine. So that's all it is medicinal
purposes given to us by for medicine and medical purposes.
That is little wine. That is not a sin.
That's what Paul told Timothy to do.
Anything in addition to that anything is considered much wind
and that is wrong. Now let's go further though.
Why. And why would Paul in all of
this and giving the qualifications of a deacon Why
would Paul say it's okay to have a little and just don't get
drunk if that's what he meant. Why would he say that when the
wisest man that ever lived? Except for Jesus Christ, said
this in Proverbs Chapter 20 and verse 1.
Watch this wine is a mocker intoxicating.
Drink arouses brawling and whoever is Led astray by it is
not wise. Why did I highlight those words?
I did. This reason watch this, he
doesn't say. Becoming intoxicated leads to
brawling. He didn't say that.
He didn't say becoming intoxicated is a mocker.
He talked about the intoxicant itself, the intoxicant is a
mocker, the intoxicant, arouses brawling and whoever is led by
it. The intoxicant is not wise.
Christians have no business, no matter who we are drinking at
all. Here's another one and some of
these were just going to kind of swing just kind of Breeze by
because we wouldn't great detail about an elder but those that
are greedy for money Deacon cannot be greedy for money.
In other words, no lover of money.
Money is not there God. It is not what drives them in
their life. First Timothy chapter 6 and
verse 10, For the Love of Money is a root of all kinds of evil,
for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,
and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows.
So, a person that is driven by greed and is driven by money is
a person that doesn't qualify to be an elder.
And the reason for that is it takes their mind and their
motive and there. Far away from.
What is should be their focus? Here's another one and I'm just
going to call it this. I'm going to call it a holder of
the faith. Paul says, it's those that hold
the mystery of the faith deacons and all Christians for that
matter. Need to hold the faith.
It's a matter of the ability to express clearly and convincingly
what they believe. Okay.
I'll tell you, I know a lot of Christians.
That believe what they believe because they know it's right.
Because they've always been taught that because they've
always done it that way. But cannot tell you why.
A deacon being a holder of the faith is the ability to express
clearly and express convincingly what they believe.
And why the Deacon also must know what he believes and be
firm and secure, especially in matters of Doctrine.
This is somebody not by his own thoughts, or by his own
standards, but by the standards of the word of God is someone
that can distinguish between good and bad, he can commend the
good while condemning the bad. Another quality.
Paul says, he must be proved. What does that mean?
Well, first of all, the Deacon must first be tested.
And he must have the qualifications listed.
Now, let me say this, let me say this. when it comes to an elder
and a deacon, Nowhere, does it say, let's install them.
And they'll grow into the qualifications.
I've heard that talk I've actually heard somebody take the
interpretation of the passage. When it says the elders that
rule? Well, now what do we already
know about ruling? Well, Elders, we know it's those
that are doing so they don't have a job.
Perhaps they're retired, their entire existence is the church
and they are Elders in the church.
That is their life. And when they teach the word of
God, and they labor in word and Doctrine, it says those men are
those that rule. Well, and they are those that
are worthy E of double honor, meaning the honor of being an
elder and the second honor, meaning financial support.
So if a man is an elder and that's his entire existence and
he's teaching and laboring in the word of God, guess what?
The Elder gets supported financially just like the
preacher. But I heard somebody say one
time this you see if in fact, it is true that there are Elders
that rule. Well, then there also are elves
that Elders that do not rule. Well, maybe they're the younger
Elders, they could just kind of grow into the position.
No elders. And deacons had to be proved
Meaning they had these qualifications before they were
installed, what else? He must be of sufficient age,
that would allow time for faithfulness and steadfastness
in the work of God. Here's another one, we spent a
lot of time on it with Elders. Remember this one, blameless.
What's that mean? It doesn't mean he's a perfect
man. He doesn't mean that he will not
make mistakes because he will, it just means this.
There are no sustainable charge. He has against him.
He he does not have a reputation for evil. that's somebody, that
is Blameless. Here's another one.
This is exactly like an elder. He's the husband of one wife.
Now. You can read commentators and
they'll tell you all manner of things.
But really, when it talks about the husband of one wife, we are
talking about a one woman, man, that's what that means.
Husband of one wife is a one-woman man.
This is somebody, this is somebody that is faithful to his
bride in the same form and fashion, that Jesus Christ is to
his bride, that's the church. He's faithful and true to his
bride. Just like Jesus Christ is
faithful and true to his bride. There are no other women in his
life. This is a man that is the
husband of one wife. He is a one woman man.
What else? He rules their children and
their own house, will their children are not out of control.
Yeah, they're not out of control.
Now, watch this. Remember, when we talked about
with Elders, we talk about ruling ruling doesn't mean with
an iron fist. Doesn't mean Boston me screaming
at kids and mean that at all, it means to lead in other words, I
lead my family. For example, if I was to fit
that quality I would be somebody.
That was a one woman man. Faithful to my wife as Jesus
Christ is to the church. Furthermore, I would leave my
children and I would lead my entire household.
Old in the way that they should go.
And my kids would demonstrate that and they would not be out
of control. Wild and out of control.
Incidentally, incidentally, you can tell how kids are brought
up. You really can if you ever coach
or you're involved in anything at all with kids at all, you can
tell who was raised, right? And who was not, you can tell
who has respect for authority and who does not you can tell
who's in control and respectful. Who is out of control and
disrespectful? Don't you see it's the
manifestation of what they got at home and a deacon is supposed
to be such that he leads in such a way that his children are
examples of how he led his family.
Furthermore. Furthermore, he's a man that
loves his wife. As Christ loved the church.
He cares for his family, he follows the example of Abraham
listen to this passage in Genesis 18 and 19 for.
I have known him in order that he may command his children and
his household after him that, they keep the ways of the Lord
to do, righteousness and Justice that the Lord may bring to
Abraham what he has spoken to him.
All right. Summing up so far and we are
almost finished. I realized that when we gave in
six lessons, we went down all the requirements.
Of being an elder. And now we've talked about more
requirements and qualifications of being a deacon And sometimes
what people do is? What people do is they think
it's so difficult, why bother. It's so difficult.
Why Try? So the mindset really?
Well we're just not going to have Elders today, that's just
kind of something that fit that back then, we're not going to
have qualified men so let's not even worry about it.
And we'll just exist in the absence of Elders and deacons
forever. But folks, two things about
that. Name, one thing that's found in
the qualifications of an elder or one thing that's found under
the qualifications of a deacon name, one thing in your mind
that is unreasonable or hard to do.
Secondly, except for the familial requirements of a
deacon. Everything I said today, except
for the family requirements of being the husband of one wife
and ruling. Well, his own children his own
house. Do you know every one of those
other qualities fits every single Christian everyone?
So in other words, the idea wasn't to try to find men that
were super naturally Superior in a spiritual sense that everybody
else they were spiritually minded men and that's why on
Crete they were able to and ordain Elders in every Church in
every city they were spiritually minded man.
And they did fit the qualities, they did fit the qualifications.
Just talking about Christians, folks.
But there's some great rewards to great rewards.
Listen to this, listen to the rewards of being a deacon and
First Timothy 3:13 for those who have served well as deacons
obtain for themselves. A good standing and great
boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
It is a fantastic benefit. It is a trend, it is a wonderful
thing for being a deacon or an elder in the Lord's, Church in
conclusion. Then this morning We've talked
about three things, the history of the office of a deacon from
Acts chapter 6, we talked about the responsibilities of that
office as they serve under the direction of the eldership and
we talked about the qualifications of a deacon.
Now, I found this quote, I want to share it with you.
I stole it. Watch this final point.
I love this one is not a Christian because he is a deacon
But he is a deacon because he is a Christian.
Then that kind of fit what I just said about all the things
that are related to a deacon also relate to a Christian.
Just a Christian. That's a Christian.
All the qualifications fit except the familiar ones to
every child of God. Now, we've now covered the
office of an elder and we've covered the office of a deacon.
And there are only two things left here they are.
This is all that's left. Number one is the qualification
of an elder and a deacons wife. Yeah.
Does that mean if a man is fit and qualified in every single
one of those qualities and characteristics and
qualifications of requirements? Is it saying that a wife?
If she doesn't fit her role can disqualify the man, Yes.
There's qualifications for the wife to and secondly, we have to
discuss the duties at the church.
Has toured the eldership, not only the eldership to the
congregation with the congregation to the eldership.
I'm through this morning. I hope something was said, that
was edifying to you. Encouraging to you in some way
on the subject of Elders and deacons, I realize that these
are things that we we want to strive for in the future at some
point in time. I would love it for the
congregation here to be able to have a plurality of scriptural
elders and deacons in this congregation.
Now I don't know when and if we will ever achieve that but I do
know this if we don't aspire to meet the qualifications and we
don't aspire to do that as a goal.
We'll never get there and what will happen is 10 years ago by
and we didn't move at all another 10 years ago by and we
haven't grown at all from that standpoint.
So these are things to work toward and work on.
As we strive for the scriptural government organization of the
church given in the New Testament.
We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the
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