Now, our Bible reading this morning is from 1st, Timothy
Chapter 3. And we're reading through versus
127. 1st Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 to 7.
Let's hear the word of God. Reading, of course, from the
authorized version. 1st Timothy 3 verse 1 to 7. this is a true
saying, If a mom desire, the office of a bishop he desireth a
good work. A bishop, then must be
blameless. The husband of one wife Vigilant
sober of good behavior. Given to hospitality.
Up to teach. Not given Duane no Striker.
Not greedy of filthy lucre. But patient.
Not a brawler, not Covetous one that ruleth well, his own house.
Having his children in subjection with all gravity for
if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take
care of the Church of God? Not a novice lest being lifted
up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
moreover he must have a good report of them which are worth,
I'd lest they fall into reproach and the snare of the devil now,
if you turn with me to First Peter chapter 5, First Peter
chapter 5. I want to read there. five,
versus 1st Peter chapter 5 would read from verse 1.
The elders which are among you I exhort who am also an elder and
a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of
the glory that shall be revealed. feed the flock of God,
which is among you taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being an
examples to the flock, and when the chief Shepherd shall appear,
ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth, not away a
measurement of the Lord will stamp with his own approval and
blessing, this reading of his own precious and infallible word
My tax today has really taken from 1st Timothy chapter 3
verses 1 through 2 Sava we could also think about Titus Chapter 1
verses 5 to 7 and First Peter chapter 5, verses 1 to 4.
You see my theme today although not the most thrilling of
subjects as I've said and prayer, it's an important
subject and my theme is this the office and the Of an elder.
Now, this is the third message and this series of messages,
pending our election, in the 8th of March, to do with the genius
of the Presbyterian form of church government.
You see when even children, young people hear the word
government. They think of somebody being in
charge. So if I was to ask the question,
well, who's in, charge of carried of FPC, you made all
look up in the pulpit and say oh the minister is Well, I'll tell
you, you're wrong, The Minister's not in charge of this
congregation. Now, of course he has been
gifted a charge He has taken a charge upon himself before God
to look after this congregation. But there's the world of
difference of thinking of one man being in charge You see The
Minister's not the boss of the church.
I say this respectfully is not the Pope in Roman Catholicism,
the pope as the top dog, he is the man in charge of all who are
found within the communion of Roman Catholicism in the
Anglican communion, if we asked who's in charge of the Anglican
Church, where the answer would be the Archbishop.
Justin Welby, not that he's doing a great job. but the
minister of say that's church or the pastor of the local Baptist
Church, He's not in charge and not sense.
And if he's not in charge, then you see you have a right to ask
well who he is. And here's the real answer, they
listen to me carefully, here's in charge of carried off, FPC,
and here's the answer. Jesus Christ, because Jesus
Christ. Exercises headship over his
church, he's the head of the church, which is the body and
I'm on their Christ and then submission to him.
The height is he exercised headship.
Here's the answer through church recognized spiritually, mature
Elders, man, who are see of by the grace of God, and man, who
are spiritually minded and spiritually gifted, and they on
their Christ, the Good Shepherd. Take charge of shepherding has
flock, you see in every local church, according to the New
Testament. It's made up of I read for
Olympians chapter 12, you Paul, and timotheus.
The Servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus,
which are at Philippi. With the Bishops and the
deacons, the church is made up of since those you've gathered
out of love for the Lord to worship Him and the Church, of
course, mates, not only as a seriously body but they meet
with the best ships and the elders, the word Bishop of the
Episcopal is, there's two aspects.
There's a teaching Elder and there's a ruling out of the word
bishop and pressed butter. Elder is used interchangeably in
the New Testament as a weird, a scene.
So you've got to think of a Congregation of cience and
they're there with the best ships, the elders, the teaching
out of the ruling Elder pound the deacons, and I want to make
it clear that no man has any right to form a different form
of government for the local church.
This is how Jesus Christ has constituted his church.
Now, let me say this. This this morning respectfully
I'm a free Presbyterian Pig by convection I believe in the
Presbyterian form of church government as the general rule
for church. Government has set forth in the
scriptures and in Acts chapter 15.
If you want to turn there this morning Acts chapter 15, we read
in verse 5, there's a problem in the church.
It says what? There Rose up certain of the
sect of the Pharisees was believe saying that it was
needful to circumcise them until command them to keep Moses law.
So here's a problem in the church, right?
And what was this problem? How to be sieved, how to be a
Christian? Judas was a spiritual problem
that arose in the Church of Jerusalem and this matter was
fundamental and to, the flock of God, and how did they resolve?
It acts 15 Verse 6 and the apostles and Elders came
together for to consider this matter.
You see, it was no longer a local church.
Modern Jerusalem. There was much disputing about
this matter, a man from each of the local churches and around
Jerusalem and Beyond they came together, the apostles all 12 of
them, I'm the elders from these different churches and they
decided and settled the matter. You see that's a system of
interdependence Not independency.
Every local church to a certain degree is autonomous.
It can decide and do its own thing, but there's not fool
independency because here's this matter that was spiritual in
nature and it was taken in Hand by the first local church press
poetry made up of the Apostles and the elders.
And I'm not suggesting and we're not suggesting this morning that
every precise detail of church policy is set forth and Babel,
there are broad principle set down other details have to be
settled according to the general rule of scripture and also what
we call scriptural leg e and Common Sense.
However, let me stress this no system of church government.
And I mean this, listen to me carefully as better than the man
who run the church. No system of church, government
is better than the man who run the church.
Because remember, they run the church under Christ.
He's the chief Shepherd, the great Shepherd, the Good
Shepherd, and they're running at for Christ.
You see some Churches even run along Presbyterian guidelines.
There's man and office in the Pulpit.
You're not see it, bailing the elders and the Pew.
You're not see it on converted. And to me that's on public 'l.
We have man here, religious, and respectable.
But not regenerative, not not born again and some churches
that are totally independent of any other churches are around.
Almost like a like a zillion and Anything Goes.
I'm waiting. That's true.
The local church will not be any better.
Then the man that run it and each local church, we should
Endeavor to have a faithful preacher of the word of God.
Who see of Dan loves Jesus Christ and accompanying that
faithful Pastor as a body of faithful man who will help him
as under Shepherds look after the flock of God, But you can
have a fearful pastor. And you can have faithful
elders. And he could work hard, and he
could have a bound. The faithful praying people are
riding them. And yet that local church will
never grow. Never be established will never
be strengthened anymore than the spirituality and the strength of
the man that God has raised up to be the teaching and the
ruling Elders of the church. If manner of per character of
man, haven't a good public testimony of man.
Have have no ability to lead the flock.
If man make bad decisions. Then that church will be a pure
church. Maybe not even in riches or
finances, but it will be /, spiritually and week before God.
So once good man come to the fore.
Man of God man to lead and the bare room then I believe others
will rise up and follow. Now I want to say this, I thank
the Lord for this congregation. I thank the Lord for gifting you
to me, Thank the Lord for this church and you knew that but
this is not my church. You understand that?
It's the Lord's church and I'm going to tell you something
else. It's not even your church.
It's the Lord's. You can be a foundation member.
And you could be a prayer member, and you can give
generously to support the work and serve the Lord faithfully
and have done over many years. And yet, as far as ownership is
concerned, It's not your church in that sense of ownership, it
is Christchurch. He's the head of the church.
He purchased the church with his own blood acts 20:28.
That's the nature of the church. It's very essence demands and
NASA TV. It's the spirits Ministry at the
heart of a church government, why?
Because the church was purchased by Christ, it says particular
possession. It's a, it's an institution
that's precious to Christ. In the sight and the eye of the
Lord. If I could put it this way, the
Church of Jesus Christ belongs to Jesus Christ.
He's the head of the body. He's the king over his people.
And the function of church government as to follow Christ.
In the exercise of his headship over his church.
You see the question of this election that's coming up as not
to me. What's the mind of the members
who do the members want to be elected?
The chief should be. What is the mind of Christ?
He's the real true lord of the church and I believe the mind of
Christ has given to us in his word and that's why it's
necessary just like we eat bread that we've got to read and study
the word of God to assert in the mind of the Lord.
And if you're in submission to Christ as the lord of the church
and you want to obey his word and you want him to take care of
the church business. So when we come together to take
care of that church business, we will set aside or Prejudice.
We set aside our whims or Notions are found sees who will
deny, our sales and will reverently, pray over the
scriptures and will cast her mind in light of the scriptures
for the man who qualify and later the scriptures.
So that's really the introduction and I'm sorry it's
taken me so long to say that but that's what was on my heart.
Three things. Let's try and wrap this up in 15
minutes or so, think about the, the confidence for the office of
Elder. You see, when I study the
various qualifications for this office, it's interesting.
If you turn there to First Timothy chapter 3, what Paul
didn't actually say notice he says, in 1st Timothy 3:1.
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop.
He desireth a good work, a bishop then must be on, will
pause there. See notice what he doesn't say.
He doesn't mention his prayer life, why?
Surely? That's important.
If I mom doesn't come to the prayer meeting, don't elect that
mount to be an elder. But why does Paul not mentioned?
Because I believe he assumes that if a man desire the office
of a bishop That Bishop not Elder will be a praying man.
He says, he desireth a good work of Bishop, van the word they,
and means therefore a bishop the end.
And in light of this work is required of him.
And what is meant? The end is certain standards
that are required of this individual.
He must be a man who's fit for this kind of work set forth in
the scriptures. You see this work involves a
Sacred stewardship. If you turn over there to tight
us just after second Timothy and Titus Chapter 1 and verse 7.
It says for a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of
God, the word stirred denotes a servant.
So think of a servant who's been commissioned by his master Do
you administer the Affairs of his master's house?
He doesn't all in the name of his master.
He does it for his master according to the will of his
master and you see Elders are Christ's servants.
They are see if man born again washed in the blood of Jesus
Christ, if a testimony to receiving and keeping power, and
they recognize that they are, but the Servants of Jesus
Christ, they recognize their sleeves of Jesus Christ.
East. And you see the Elder most
recognized? That they have been called to an
office of service. They're not a lord over God's
Heritage, they're not a poop like figure, they're not an
Archbishop like figure, they're not to abuse The Authority,
they've been given, they're not to be arrogant, man there to
live in late of that one day that they will give an account
of their stewardship to the Lord.
For every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.
And as a servant, the exercise, Spiritual Authority in the
church. You see the highest office of
Christchurch? Is the office of the Elder, the
office of the bishop, it's an exalted office, the office of a
bishop and an elders, just wanted to see him in Pesco.
Pause-press beauty, rose in the Greek is the same office.
They're used interchangeably, these words.
Even in heaven, Revelation 20:4, what does it mansion?
It mentions the church being represented by 24 Elders.
You see the the elders, they've entered into a secret
stewardship but the elders act with the authority of Christ
among the elders. Meet we, we call it the Curt
session meeting. We make a decision,
collectively, according to the will of God.
That's an authoritative decision and we have to make those
decisions and later Eternity for the welfare of all the flock.
Tell you something else, the elders Works involved to
spiritual oversight. He said the word Bishop their
first Timothy chapter 1 verse 3, it means and overseer.
That's interesting. One who sees over the work of
God. That's his job.
He comes to see and inspect. Hehe investigate things that
need to be investigated. He gives instruction, he makes
an injunction. He's not a man who has his eyes
closed. He's a man who sees things hear
things knows things. His heart is open to the needs
of the church. God's flock.
What does God is? Flock Nate and we need man who
have that burden on their heart. What does curried of FPC need
going forward and one? Of the things that they
emphasized and Wednesday night was we need the blessing of God.
God's presence. God's power God's profession.
1st Peter, 5 and 2 talked about not taking the oversight.
You see, Elders are responsible for taking the oversight.
Every Elder involves Shepherd and Christ's flock see, Christ's
flock. Ehrlich sheep.
I told the children thus morning she / Wayward, there are
creatures your wonder if you've ever heard of tree and sheep.
I told to tell you heard of tree and dogs, training, Lions
training, elephants and the surface.
I even told them they were training, pegs, you know, butt
sniffer, pegs and Australia, various airports there to sniff
out drugs. what shape are not three and We are all like sheep
going astray. Peter says, first Peter 225 as I
have 53 verse 6. We all like sheep have gone
astray as here about natural tendency to wander off to wander
away from God. Follow the world, follow her own
bias and sin. Why are we doing this?
Why are we doing that? So and so well were prone to go
astray cheaper, wavered she per week creatures.
Flock of sheep. There's not much defense against
a wolf, or a bear. A donkey could kick.
A horse could run. A dog could bait but she'd are
weak creatures. They're not able to fight for
themselves and need to protect it and that's why God has put
them into your flock. The flock of God feed the flock
of God, Peter said and if your sea of the love Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior then it's God's. Will that you belong to your
flock? It's God's will that you gather
with other sheep and you put yourself under Shepherds and
we're all under the grid, Chief Shepherd of the sheep CeCe,
without that sheep can wander off, they can fierstein jurors,
they they're prone to trouble. There's a weakness.
But they're also worthwhile creatures, you know sheep are
very valuable speaking, the amount just yesterday, from
Western Australia, we talked about sheep, 20,000 of them and
some Rams cost 20,000 Australian dollars some sheep here.
Cost 20,000 pounds, cheaper, clean animals, she provide wool
and meat. Sheep Revival and sheep are
worthwhile creatures in the eyes of the Lord.
I wonder do, you know the Lord? Are you one of his own sheep?
You know, that he lived for you? He died for you.
He see if Jay your head as you can say.
Now, I belong to Jesus. Jesus belongs to me, not for the
years of time alone. But for eternity, she put you
and your flock to protect you. And those that protect you are
act like the Good Samaritan, they take care of you.
They're there to help that they're tender hearted.
They sacrifice themselves because their fetid, for this
task, I was part of their job. They are willing to discipline
the flock, like the shepherd, with the crook and the staff.
They paid diligent attention to rule, the flock that they
defend. The flock, they're fearful man.
They can feed the Just Like a Shepherd can all that's needed
for the flock, their heart and mind, and souls involved the
competency to the surface quickly, the calling to this
office. If there's a true saying, Peter
Paul says of amount desire, the office of a bishop, he desireth
a good work. Thing is a calling of an elder
is the mound suited to this office.
Let me tell you what he must have.
He must have a Father's Heart. First Timothy 3 and 4 says one
that ruleth well his own house. Having his children in
subjection with all gravity. What does that mean?
Not necessarily a married, man. Although that has helped a
single noun can be an elder but even as a single man that Elder
must have a Father's Heart for the family of God.
There's a rule for a father-like figure in the Church of Christ.
And the reference to Children Here is not a reference to
adults. It's a reference to children who
are under that age of responsibility. the Bible tells
us here in verse 6 of First Timothy 3, not a novice And the
Church of Scotland, they have a rule that no man under 21 is
allowed to become an elder. It's not a reference, I believe
to physical years. I believe it's a reference me
and lead to spiritual maturity, just suppose amount of 70 years,
of age, got saved and come into the church.
And after a year, there was an election for officers.
That man's name, potentially could be on the list for the
office of Elder. But it was only see if the few
months or up to a year, then it would be my mind that he should
willingly exclude himself. From the office of an elder
because the Bible says, not enough of us, not not something,
he's just spiritually Born Again of the spirit and added to the
church at no, no reference to his age, it has to do with
spiritual maturity. The man must not only have a
Father's Heart. He must have a Shepherd heart.
We already ran from 1st Peter 5, feed the flock of God.
And that means he'll do all that's necessary to look after
Christ's flock. He'd have a Shepherd's Heart.
See many are manner, academically minded, they know
Greek and they knew Hebrew, they have great power of our tree.
They have tremendous ability but have the heart for the people of
God. Sadly.
I know many Elders of the heart for the people of God, I know
some pastors. You have no heart for the people
of God. And if you know that, somebody
has no heart for the people of God and they're cold and
callous, then they're not called to be an elder.
An elder must have a care and concern for all the Sheep.
I need doesn't make decisions out of self.
Well, he's not a self-centered individual, but he makes
decisions about what is best for all the flock.
He is an eye to them. Die.
He's and I to them next week, and next month, and next year,
and into the future, the man must also have a leaders heart
because he stabs before the people someone that the people
can look up to. He's there to guide, by example,
he's there to give extra Tatian encouragement.
Now I'm suggesting that man would have all the spiritual
virtues are necessary. Not suggesting that but of a
mild hasn't got any spiritual virtues, a Father's Heart of
shepherds harder, our leaders heart.
If he's not an attendance at Old, the church meetings, the
prayer meetings of the church that he's not taking a lead and
commit it. Then that's not the type of man
that you want. As an elder, let me just say in
closing still about a few minutes.
I want you to think of the conduct of the office of the
Elder. Look with me at first, Timothy
chapter 3 and we'll read through this list together and I try an
experiment. A bishop then must be blameless.
What does that mean that that's a reference to his character?
His conduct his conversation? Not saying he's perfect, not
saying he's sinless, but it means that that man is beyond
reproach. He is a personal testimony.
See the age of the church are upon but the eyes of the world
are upon them. They must be no accusation that
someone inside the church or right side the church, that's
true. That could be put upon him.
That could be put into the hands of his enemies to accuse him so
his private life has public life.
His business life of his, a business person is scrutinized
by the people, is he honest, is he a man of his word Is there an
accusation against seat? Eight US 17 says there must be
no accusation against. He must be above and beyond
reproach. He is not giving a reason to the
enemies to blaspheme the Lord, and the Lord's work.
Haven't? We heard it so often.
Good Lovin 411. The man's not a liar.
He's not a thief. He's not a rascal.
There's no irresponsible Behavior or speech.
He's not going to give a handle to someone to lay, hold off to
to bring a charge against them. You think of a rock children.
And you want to move a big Stone you.
We get a long board along steel pole and you would put under the
Rock and and you could move it. It talks about Leverage No.
Leave her to the ungodly. That's really what it means.
Let me tell you something else here.
It mentions. The husband of one wife, big
discussion. We could have on that subject
alone. What does that mean?
Over there in Titus 1 and verse 6.
It says something similar, if any be blameless, the husband of
one wife, If I can put it this way we in the free pass to in
church do not believe a divorced man should hold office in the
church, no matter the circumstance.
Although I am very much in favor of the man who's the innocent
party in a divorce but this is the mind of the Presbytery.
At this moment, I'm divorced man.
Can't hold office in the church so we can't be a minister.
He can't be an elder, it can't be a deacon.
In Paul's day, the husband of one wife was because people were
just see of date of heathenism, some of them had more than one
wave. Some of the material, three
waves. You'd wonder why he was dealing
with things like homosexuality and incest, and adultery and
fornication. And there was very little
marriage Fidelity. There was very little moral
Fidelity and Paul wanted the man who are Elders to be faithful to
one wife, the husband of one One wife and there's to be no
Scandal and public office. If there's a question mark over
a man's morality Or or, or a man's moral Purity, that man is
not to be allowed to stand for office.
Notice the other word Vigilant, that means he watches for Souls.
Super. That means he's of a sane mind.
He has control over his passions.
He, he looks at things in a very sensible seeing way, as he
administers rule, he's of good behavior.
That, that means that he is has a well-managed orderly life.
He's modest and his behavior. He's not out of control.
He given to hospitality that. That means he's Got an open
heart, he's got an open home, good man or invaded.
And he's a lover of good man. He's a lover of the stranger.
He receives them. Well, he treats them.
Well, he receives them and his home was if he's receiving
Christ himself. That's very important notice.
This also is out to teach, I'm not suggesting that the ruling
Elders are called to preach, but they should be man.
That can lead a service. Take a meeting, bring a wee word
over there again and Titus and Titus 1 and verse 9.
If we do a contrast holding fast the faithful word as he hath
been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers. Yes, he must love the Bible
live, by the Bible, be loyal at to the Bible.
He must have learned the Bible. He should be able to read a
portion and explain it to all that would ask young and old.
If we go back to Timothy, he says here not given to Wayne.
That means not a drunkard. He lives a life free from the
effects and contamination of alcohol, definitely couldn't be
an alcoholic. Man who developed a drink
problem and the church should automatically Stand Down from
Office. That's why we hold the fact that
Elders should be teetotalers. Notice also here not a striker.
No Striker. Not a fighter, not a contentious
man. Not Sunday WHo sails to the
individual. I don't get mad.
I get even sadly. Some Elders.
Love a good fate that they love to quarrel.
Some are not happy unless they're fighting and arguing
with someone else. He's not a striker, not greedy
of filthy lucre, but what does that mean?
That means you don't have a love for money.
How does an elder or a deacon? Make decisions about money as he
tamed and generous of the open heart if a man is greedy for
money and not generous. Then that's contrary to what
Paul says, not greedy of filthy lucre.
And hope somebody has a love for money more than a love for God
or a love for gold, more than a love for God.
It mentions here. Patient, that means gentle,
remember he's got a shepherd's. Father's leaders heart, he is
patient with the Sheep because the Super Wave or their week,
but they're worth while creatures.
Remember that it's not a brawler, it's interesting, the
includes this. What does that mean?
Not someone who flies India need rage.
Not someone who is unstable and not someone who would chew you
up and spit you out a or someone who would hold a grudge against
you, I'll fix ya. I'd sort you hate not a
Covetous, man. That that means not allow his
heart and his head. To be ruled by.
I want this, and I want that. I'm going to get it at all
course. One that ruleth well, his own
house. He has the respect of the
children, the grandchildren. Remember, it's those who are
underage, it's not the daring to, with adults.
Adults, children should have the respect to Mom and Dad.
But remember, they're responsible for their own
behavior because they're now over the age of 18 or over the
age of 21 that, you know, John Wesley was married to an unsaved
woman, a carnal woman, he hit it all.
He didn't stood for me, this life of misery but John Wesley,
never uttered, a bad word against his wife.
He bore it all with a spurred of Greece and a spirit of Christ.
Houses children living a life of obedience.
Before them, the taters talks about having faithful children,
not not children accused of Riot as Behavior or unruly Behavior.
A good report of those that are without is a good testimony,
what does the the church that give him?
What does the world? Think some men have a rotten
testimony, I'd say to chance. And that's bad for the church
because when Outreach and missions are on that, then they
won't come. Not someone who's self weld.
If you read Tate us, I have to finish.
It says there for a bishop must be blameless.
As the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon, angry,
not given to Wine, no Striker, not guilty of filthy lucre.
In other words, he's not in the office to please himself.
He's not trying to be a dictator.
He's Not the Killing to the other, man, how they should
decide and, and what they should do, he respects the views of
others, he puts himself in their shoes.
First, he tries to see the knife from their perspective, how can
I help my brother? How can I help my sister?
How can I help the church? And that's where wisdom comes
in. A lover of good man holding as
we've said and Titus to the faithful word amount of sound
Doctrine. The money knows the gospel, he
knows what he believes, and why he believes it amount of
conviction. This is all the character that's
involved in this, man for the office.
And what I want you to do, I'm going to finish as I want you to
pray over first, Timothy chapter 3, I want you to study Titus
Chapter 1, verses 5 to 7, pray over that.
And then make your decision in light of what the Bible says.
Because remember, this is Christchurch and you belong to
Christ. You're one of his sheep.
Our time is gone. I'm just going to close will not
sing. The last hem.
We'll just have a word of prayer.
Father. Take, what has been of thyself
this morning. We've only scratched the surface
and thus creates subject but we pray, you'll take these few
stumbling stammering words, write them and all our hearts,
write them in the hearts and Minds, even of the young people
growing up, and we pray that the love of Christ and the fear of
God will be upon us especially as we go forward into this
election. Process.
We commend ourselves to the nie. We pray that the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the love of myself, and the commune of the
holy spirit will be upon us both now and Evermore and Jesus name.
Amen. Amen.
Again I apologize for the time this morning.
Process. We commend ourselves to the nie.
We pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of
myself, and the commune of the holy spirit will be upon us both
now and Evermore and Jesus name. Amen.
Again I apologize for the time
this morning.