REQUIREMENTS FOR LEADERSHIP FROM FIRST TIMOTHY 3 – PART 2
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The saying is true and irrefutable: If any man [eagerly] seeks the
office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent
task (work). 1 Timothy 3:1 AMP
He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under
control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and
keeping them respectful. 5 For if a man does not know how to rule his
own household, how is he to take care of the church of God? 1 Timothy
3:4-5 AMP
The same qualities that are required to be the head
of the house, to earn the respect of your wife, and to raise godly
children, are also the qualities needed to lead God's people. If it
doesn't work at home – in your own house – don't export it. Do not ever
make ministry your first priority. Make your own relationship with God
your first priority and your spouse and children second and third
before ministry. Make sure you take responsibility for them. Too many
people in ministry are minding other people's business ahead of their
own. Minister to your family – make sure that you love them, provide
for them, protect them, direct and correct them. Then you may bring
direction and correction to others outside of your family. What good is
it if you save the whole world, and your own family goes to hell?
He must not be a new convert, or he may [develop a beclouded and stupid
state of mind] as the result of pride [be blinded by conceit, and] fall
into the condemnation that the devil [once] did. 1 Timothy 3:6 AMP
People who are newly born again should not be placed in a place of
leadership. Even if someone is older in years or a leader in business
or the community, that does not qualify them to lead God's people.
Those who want to be in leadership must be mature in the things of God.
There are some young people, who have served God all their lives – like
Timothy – who are more qualified to lead in the Body of Christ, than an
older person who was only recently saved and sanctified. Grey hair does
not automatically give you wisdom, but the fear of God, and obedience
to Him and His word, is the beginning of wisdom. A spiritually immature
person is too vulnerable to pride to be in leadership. A potential
leader must learn humility – they must learn the lesson that God is in
charge. They must learn not to be moved by persecution or by praise. It
all goes to God. The Lord wants to protect you from pride, because
pride is the devil's way of deceiving you and leading you astray.
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by
those outside [the church], lest he become involved in slander and
incur reproach and fall into the devil's trap. 1 Timothy 3:7 AMP
Some people behave one way in church and another way in the world. They
are little angels in church, but when they are not in church, they act
just like the world, because they are carnal. You will never win
sinners to Jesus by acting like them. Those who want to be in
leadership must carry themselves in a godly way all the time, wherever
they are. Being godly is not being "super-spiritual" or religious. It
is just consistently walking in the love of God and being a blessing to
others– not promoting one's self, but putting the welfare of others
first.
In like manner the deacons [must be] worthy of
respect, not shifty and double-talkers but sincere in what they say,
not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain [craving wealth and
resorting to ignoble and dishonest methods of getting it]. 9 They must
possess the mystic secret of the faith [Christian truth as hidden from
ungodly men] with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tried and
investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above
reproach, let them serve [as deacons]. 1 Timothy 3:8-10 AMP
Deacons must also adhere to the same standards with a clear conscience.
No matter what your level of involvement, no matter what position of
leadership you aspire to, the same standards apply. Those who want to
be in leadership must not be two-faced or critical of others. Matthew
5:37a NKJV says, "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'"
and Ephesians 4:15 AMP says, "Rather, let our lives lovingly express
truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly].
Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into
Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one)."
[The] women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not
gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy
in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let
them manage [their] children and their own households well. 13 For
those who perform well as deacons acquire a good standing for
themselves and also gain much confidence and freedom and boldness in
the faith which is [founded on and centers] in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy
3:11-13 AMP
Women generally like to talk more than men do and
sometimes are more open to temptation in the area of gossip and
criticism. Both men and women who desire to be used by God need to put
a guard on their lips. Psalms 34:12-13 AMP says, "What man is he who
desires life and longs for many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep
your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit." and Psalms
141:3 AMP says, "Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at
the door of my lips."
If you do all these things, then God
will be able to use you. You will promote God's Kingdom – not your own
- and be a blessing to all the people whose lives you touch.
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the