January 16, 2010
-
sermon 1 16 10 leadership -- intro to 1 17 youth seminar-- 'won't cover all this in church...read it
Being a Leader in your Local Church
First: What is the dictionary definition of a leader?
Leader: 1.
a person or thing that leads.
2.
a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.
3.
Music. a.
a conductor or director, as of an orchestra, band, or chorus.
b.
the player at the head of the first violins in an orchestra, the principal cornetist in a band, or the principal soprano in a chorus, to whom any incidental solos are usually assigned.
lead–verb (used with object)
1.
to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group on a cross-country hike.
2.
to conduct by holding and guiding: to lead a horse by a rope.
3.
to influence or induce; cause: Subsequent events led him to reconsider his position.
4.
to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring: You can lead her around to your point of view if you are persistent.
6.
7.
8.
to command or direct (an army or other large organization): He led the Allied forces during the war.
9.
to go at the head of or in advance of (a procession, list, body, etc.); proceed first in: The mayor will lead the parade. Note: I think of pioneer …or, in the case of being someone to be the first to bring up an idea or practice, a “trend setter”
10.
to be superior to; have the advantage over:
11.
to have top position or first place in: Iowa leads the nation in corn production.
12.
to have the directing or principal part in: The minister will now lead us in prayer. He led a peace movement.
13.
to act as leader of (an orchestra, band, etc.); conduct.
–verb (used without object)
18.
to act as a guide; show the way: You lead and we'll follow.
20.
to go first; be in advance: The band will lead and the troops will follow.
22.
to take the directing or principal part.
28.
the first or foremost place; position in advance of others: He took the lead in the race.
34.
precedence; example; leadership: They followed the lead of the capital in their fashions.
—Verb phrases
51.
lead off,
a.
to take the initiative; begin.
52.
lead on,
a.
to induce to follow an unwise course of action; mislead.
b.
to cause or encourage to believe something that is not true.
Origin: bef. 900; ME leden, OE lǣdan (causative of līthan to go, travel); c. D leiden, Synonyms:1. accompany, precede. See guide. 3. persuade, convince. 10. excel, outstrip, surpass. 28. head, vanguard.
Antonyms:1. follow.
At ROL you don’t have to have a position to lead. Anyone here can lead in any way they feel led to lead. You can lead by getting excited about participation in any aspect of the work of the ministry. E.g., you can lead people to Christ , bring them to church, and then take them out to eat afterwards to teach them some more about the Lord.
*********************************************************8***
Things we look for in our local church, River of Life, in seeing who is a leader and/or who has strong potential to come forth more as a leader. Some of the things mentioned only come forth as people mature. This is not a comprehensive list – just some highlights.
Right now what is being addressed is leadership on all levels – from five fold ministry leaders who have some authority here all the way to those who lead by the influence of a Godly character , but have no “formal” “position”.
1. Faithfulness in sharing all your gifts and talents – both spiritual and natural: We look at the ministry gifts and talents and maybe just plain “elbow grease” he faithfully shares in the local church .
2. . Faithfulness and generosity in sharing time, money , and energy.
3. Being the first to be willing to do something right without finding out who else will also be taking the high road.
4. Being on time.
5. Easily entreated. Willing also to entreat others. Exhort others . Hold up the standard of God’s Word all the time.
6 Eager to help. Eager to show others how they can help. Some may not know how to do something, i.e., where to get the equipment and/or supplies to do it and are happy to do something once they know how. Those who teach them how and encourage them to keep helping are LEADERS – with or without a title for what they are doing.
7. Holiness
8. Leaders recognize and submit to others who are in charge at a given time as well as being able to be in charge themselves.
9. Leaders are “in the know”: Leaders in a local church know the people and know what is going on.
10. The ongoing enthusiasm of a leader is contagious
11. Leaders are full of life
12. Leaders get God’s heart and vision for His people and do whatever they can to help to fulfill the vision of the Lord.
13. Also important to consider is whether or not that person has a consistent walk with the Lord and the fruit of the Spirit in his life.
14. Do what you sense the Lord wants you to do and what He has gifted you in: At our church we have often said that we will acknowledge what a person is called by the Lord to be when we see him doing things that those in that calling are typically apt to be doing. If someone is acting like a deacon, eventually (given the corresponding maturity and character traits) we will call him that. In the same way, when someone begins to act like a five fold minister, we want him to be trained to perfect that calling on his life. We cannot "make" anyone a deacon or a fivefold minister. Individuals must be called to that ministry. But we can surely recognize the calling and train them accordingly.E.g., Deacon requirement: 1 Tim 3:12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. NIV
As I said, the above list is not full; however, the reader can make it a lifetime endeavor to discover in the Word what the Lord requires of leaders.
15. A leader will keep his life pure and his relationship with others loving.16. A leader knows the voice of God vs. a soulish , fleshly voice from within himself. He is objective and ruthless with himself in responding to the Word of God rather than his own personal, soulish thinking.
17. A leader can discuss a heavy topic without becoming emotionally distraught (e.g., badly hurt or very angry with all the corresponding outward expressions. ). He is objective and circumspect when dealing with any conversation.
18. A leader quickly forgives.
19. A leader must be or actively, passionately endeavoring to be filled with
the Spirit: A leader wants every possible tool he can get to be able to truly and boldly lead. That includes the Holy Spirit baptism.
18. A leader dares to step out in faith to exercise the gifts of the Spirit in church.
19. A leader dies to self and delights himself in the Lord : The utter lack of self-consciousness and the freedom it takes to bask in His presence boldly is absolutely magnified when a person receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
20. A leader in God’s house is not seeking to become rich and famous via his leadership and/or his gifts and talents. God may give that to him; however, that is not his motive. His motive is to seek first the kingdom of God…he wants God to rule in the hearts of all!
21. A leader needs to have a very close relationship with the Lord in order to know what sort of atmosphere must be established that will please the Lord and cause Him to desire to be in our midst. A leader should be doing all he can to do his part in helping to usher in glory of the Lord.
Here are some characteristics people called into five fold ministry MUST HAVE – and these things are the way ALL saints should be and do!:
1. Love of the Lord and consistently -- usually daily -- spending time with Him in Word, prayer, and worship.
2. Love of sharing what the Lord is saying with others. THIS is a MAJOR KEY for Word Ministers especially; however, we should all want to do this regularly! Much of our all "seeing" that someone is called to Word Ministry results from our experiencing their regular and enthusiastic sharing in open pulpit! The sharing will be Biblically sound. Words and walk will harmonize. The person will love to share the Word whenever anyone will listen!
3. Love of seeing others come to and grow up into Christ.4 . Conversational material that is off self and unto the things of the Lord in order to draw others into a deeper walk with God.
Being a leader during times of praise and worship:
I dealt with praise and worship in Home school and think some of that material is relevant for all ages:
We all can be praise leaders – both up front and from our seats.
Whether we are the “up front” worship leader or at our seats participating, we need to be aware of the things on this test so we can be enthusiastic praise leaders who influence many to praise.
. Because the fact is that we influence people strongly by our example of worship and praise involvement both as leaders up front and as “leaders” at our seats.
Over the years I have both watched congregations be either stirred to get more involved in worship because of the behavior of just one or more among them and I have been disappointed to see some about to be involved and then quit when they realized their friends were not actively praising. E.g., I have seen young people raise their hands and then quickly lower them when they realized they were the only young person doing so.
I have seen some courageous souls who freely praised no matter who else was or was not praising the Lord. even if no one around was responding. That is true leadership! Followers wait to see what others are going to do; leaders are in touch with what the Lord wants them to do and they just do it.
David is a great example of a praise leader
2 Sam 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart…………….20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death
The appearance of a leader:
The following section is being included because of the universal “passage” youth all over the world enter into when they discover they are “other than” their parents , teachers, and leaders. Before the transition into young adult hood, children typically dress and look as their parents decide they should dress and look. The children seldom question the parents’ choices for them . But, as young people become aware of “styles” and choices, some begin to express themselves in ways that cause conflict. Youth sometimes do not realize what message their dress is loudly conveying to adults.
Those youth who wish to become leaders in the house of God may have to submit to Godly counsel concerning their dress. Leaders influence others. For a youth aspiring to leadership to be held back simply because they are distracting everyone with their clothing and chosen look would be very sad – what a waste of time!
Right now we don’t have anyone expressing themselves in extremes; however, for the benefit of youth right now, I am going to discuss some things regarding appearance – some things that could hinder their ministry if they are unaware of the distraction certain choices create. Even if that is now a huge problem right now, to reestablish certain principles will help our youth to deal with a newcomer who may need to be taught about these things.
Leaders dress lovingly: They do not wear anything which distracts others during services.
We should avoid slogans , advertising , and/or event t shirts that we know could be offensive or distracting to some.
We at ROL don’t get into tatoo’s and piercings in strange places on our body..
We should not dress to tease or to seduce the opposite gender.
We avoid tight, revealing clothing and inordinately low cut tops for women.
Women should judge skirt length to be appropriate when it falls right about where the line is behind their knee.
Men should wear men’s clothing; women should wear feminine clothing.
Transparent clothing is inappropriate as are halter tops. Avoid shirts short enough to reveal midsections and pants that don’t cover the top of a derriere.
There is a dress code for platform participation at ROL: No blue jeans. And all of the above mentioned principles apply as well.
Hair needs to be clean and not styled in outlandish way (which means:” strikingly out of the ordinary : bizarre - an ∼ costumeb. bexceeding proper or reasonable limits or standards”) .‘
Whether we like it or not, how we look will speak volumes to others.
If we are attention seeking in a far out way, that speaks of a lack of death to self. If we are dressing the way a sinful subculture dresses, we are appearing as if we are in agreement with that people group. If our appearance speaks of sensuality, that speaks of wanting someone else to see and admire us in fleshly ways. (Of cours, if someone is extraordinarily gorgeous or handsome and they do their best to avoid the appearance of evil in their choices and yet someone else looks at them wrongfully, that is not that good looking person’s fault).
We must all walk in holiness and modesty our choices.)
E.g, radical hairstyles and fashion can make a loud statement that distracts from what we are all about in the house of God!
Leaders investigate on their own what different choices (hair , dress) imply to others. Leaders are “over” childish rebellion. Leaders don’t do something just on the edge and then get angry when someone questions their choice.
Just to learn more, I did a bit of research just now on some rather radical looks—I copy/pasted some web info here:
Examples: I am quoting web sources here:
Mohawk hairstyles will always have a place in society. From American Indians who used to wear them to the punk rockers of today, mohawk hairstyles have always caught attention. If your a punk rocker, not Rock and Roll long hair, but an I don't care, the wilder my hair looks the better, then you probably have either wanted or already tried mohawk hair.
Dreadlocks are associated most closely with the recent Rastafari movement, but people from many groups in history before them have worn dreadlocks, including the Hindu Shiva worshippers of India, historic European peoples,[vague] and the Sufis of Pakistan.
Punk Hairstyles | Emo Hairstyles: Punk Hair Styles are not for everyone but are very trendy hair styles. Punk hair styles are usually for the younger crowd who are liberal and do not need the normal everyday hairstyles that most people have. When it comes to punk hairstyles, there is no normal look and usually the more wild the hairstyle is the better.
When going punk, don't worry about how you look just worry about having fun and being free from society's judgements. One dictionary definition of punk: Punk:. a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans.
Punk isn't your style? Then find out if goth hair is right for you. Goth hair style: Study up on what you would then appear to be like:
Goth:Styles of dress within the subculture range from deathrock, punk, androgynous, Victorian, some Renaissance and Medieval style attire, or combinations of the above, most often with black attire, makeup and hair.. The gothic novel of the late eighteenth century, a genre founded by Horace Walpole with the 1764 publication of The Castle of Otranto, was accountable for the more modern connotations of the term gothic. He originally claimed that the book was a real medieval romance he had discovered and republished. Thus was born the gothic novel's association with fake documentation to increase its effect. Henceforth, the term was associated with a mood of horror, morbidity, darkness and the supernatural as well as camp and self-parody. The gothic novel established much of the iconography of later horror literature and cinema, such as graveyards, ruined castles or churches, ghosts, vampires, nightmares, cursed families, being buried alive and melodramatic plots.
Certain elements in the dark, atmospheric music and dress of the post punk scene were clearly gothic in this sense. The use of gothic as an adjective in describing this music and its followers led to the term goth.
Some of the early gothic rock and death rock artists adopted traditional horror movie images, and also drew on horror movie soundtracks for inspiration. Their audiences responded in kind by further adopting appropriate dress and props. Use of standard horror film props like swirling smoke, rubber bats, and cobwebs were used as gothic club décor from the beginning in The Batcave. Such references in their music and image were originally tongue-in-cheek, but as time went on, bands and members of the subculture took the connection more seriously. As a result, morbid, supernatural, and occult themes became a more noticeably serious element in the subculture.
A literary influence on the gothic scene was Anne Rice's re-imagining of the idea of the vampire. Rice's characters were depicted as struggling with eternity and loneliness, this with their ambivalent or tragic sexuality....
The Goth subculture has influenced different artists - not only musicians - but also painters and photographers. In particular their work is based on mystic, morbid and romantic motifs. In photography and painting the spectrum varies from erotic artwork to romantic images of vampires or ghosts.
Goth fashion is stereotyped as a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, dark eyeliner, black fingernails, black period-styled clothing; goths may or may not have piercings. ……. Goth fashion is often confused with heavy metal fashion:[10] outsiders often mistake fans of heavy metal for goth, particularly those who wear black trench coats or wear "corpse paint" (a term associated with the black metal music scene).
Understanding Goth Haircuts: It very well coud be described as a combination of the two, punk and elvira dark.** Gothic hairstyles are not much different from regular hairstyles except they are designed to send a message thats much different. Gothic hairstyles represent something not mainstream, not easily understood, dark and mysterious, and even spiritual.
**Elvira, Mistress of the DarkTV Personality,Best known as: Vampy TV host of late-night horror movies: Cassandra Peterson was just another struggling actress during the 1970s. In the early 1980s, as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, she put the "vamp" in vampire and introduced horror movies on a Los Angeles television station. From there she launched a career as a cleavage-rich spokeswoman for all things spooky and campy, including a syndicated TV show, a movie and a merchandising blitz that cranked out everything from perfume to pinball machines.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 1:26 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. NIV
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. NIV
1 Cor 6:1919 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaders do not indulge in every fad in any area, e.g., clothing, movies, ways of talking, the latest thinking on a given topic that is politically correct. Leaders form their own opinions , led by the Lord and do not care if some of their resulting choices seem out of step with our culture.
There is a large range of clothing to choose from well within the boundaries of having a handsome or beautiful appearance without a hint of seduction or worldliness!
Explore what makes you look YOUR very best – get creative and original with it! Those two words , “creative” and “original” demand a leadership style, i.e., a person who could care less whether or not his or her peers think he or she is in style.
For those who think their leadership role may flow from a calling to be a five fold minister:
Here are some excerpts from my paper on the Five Fold Ministry (the one a word ministry student candidate must read and respond to).
Ephesians 4:11:16, that passage that inspired our church to be established says: 11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The major ministry insight from this passage for us was that all ministry offices, i.e., the fivefold ministry -- apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers -- exist to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry. The work of the ministry is to bring all saints into the unity of the faith, the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and for all to live in perfection in the fullness of Christ. For this to happen, truth must lovingly be spoken. All people in the Body of Christ His church must add their part in love to build up the church.
The work of any local church is twofold.
1. Bring people into Christ.
2. Teach, train, and perfect the people into being filled with Christ and walking in Him.
We find this twofold purpose in what is called The Great Commission. This is a command given to us, His disciples, by the Lord Jesus Christ just before He left this earth.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Getting people into Christ is often considered the special gift of the Evangelist. The Evangelist should be perfecting the saints to do the work of the ministry regarding evangelism as well as actively evangelizing.
The other fivefold ministers -- the apostle, prophet, pastor, and teacher -- are commonly more involved in the process of teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. All these ministry workers should also be teaching all the saints how to be apostolic, prophetic, pastoral, and apt to teach. Learning these things does not make the individual saint a fivefold ministry but it does teach him how to do the work of the ministry. If the other four ministry offices do what they are supposed to do, they will perfect the saints in the area of their own gifting. All saints can be evangelistic, apostolic, prophetic, pastoral, and able to teach others. An evangelistic person would be praying for open doors of witnessing and telling the lost about the Savior. An apostolic person would be quick to be sent on a mission even if it meant bearing reproach. A prophetic person would have their spiritual ear to God and share what they hear with the congregation. A pastoral person would disciple and care for others one and one and in small groups. A person with a desire to teach would be continually flowing forth with Gods Word and it's practical, daily applications.
All of our work is to either fulfill God telling us to Go ye therefore and teach so they will be baptized (I.e., come into a saving relationship with the Lord) or to teach people to observe all that Jesus commanded. The latter directive involves ongoing discipling of Christians until they look and act like their Lord.Note added 1 16 10: LITERALLY ALL of our work should be done with this in mind. Even when we think of “helps”, it is to create a venue conducive to accomplishing the great commission. Hospitality and recreation promote relationships which – when established – give further opportunities to “speak the truth in love” so we can help one another grow up into Christ. Everything—everything we do at River of Life – should be with a mind to reach the goal of bringing people into Christ and then teaching them His ways. This is the mandate for all local churches! This mandate must be understood and embraced by all church leaders!
Paul, the apostle, said his goal was to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
The fivefold minister must perfect the saints in the ministry of helping people grow up into Christ.Because of what is commonly taught, so many Christians do not realize that the Lord's plan for His church is for her to be without spot or wrinkle, for her to be a perfect reflection of Him!
Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Too often people say, “We will never be perfect”; however, the Word clearly teaches that the Lord expects us to aim for perfection because that is His plan for us!
Look at these verses and passages that speak of our being perfect, sinless, unblameable, spiritual, holy, blameless, and without spot or offence.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. [7] Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. [11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
2 Cor. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Romans 8:4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
2 Cor. 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephes. 4:22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
2 Peter 1:5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Philip. 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
1 Thes. 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thes. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Rev. 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Ephes. 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Col. 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col. 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Hebrews 13:20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephes. 3:16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Col. 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.Note for this particular sermon added on 1 16 10: The above passages are a good example too of the kind of things a leader will read in the Word, compare with what is Christian myth among us (“no one can be perfect”) , and choose to believe God rather than man! That leader will ignore man’s wrong interpretation of God’s (clear!) Word and proceed to embrace God’s way with no fear of man!
This state of perfection can only be attained when we abide in Christ. When we abide in Him we draw from His divine ability to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. When Jesus was on earth, He fulfilled the law through the Holy Spirit in Him thus showing us we could do the same through His Spirit in us.
This maturity comes through a process of hearing and applying the Word of God over months and years!The character of a Fivefold minister
The Fivefold ministry office workers are those who are responsible to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.
To discover the steps needed to be taught to the saints for them to walk in to grow into maturity demands that this minister t become very close in communion with the Lord and that he or she thoroughly know His Word, the Bible.
Furthermore, ministry workers must be a role model of what the Lord expects His people to be.
The word lists some standards for bishops (church overseers) and deacons. It would be very appropriate to assume that the Lord would want all of His ministers to have the same standards. Actually, these are standards that all saints should endeavor to attain; however, it is expected that those who lead God's people have already come to this level of character growth in Christ.
Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. [7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; [8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; [9] 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.1 Tim. 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) [6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. [8] Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; [9] Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. [10] And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. [11] Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. [12] Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. [13] For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
In training ministers, it can happen that there is a gap between the academic portion of the training and the maturing of the minister. No trainer can cause someone to walk in mature character. Furthermore, a minister may seem to be mature and then back slide, I.e., lose good standing that has been previously attained in the Lord.
Paul experienced this sorrow with a fellow laborer named Demas:
2 Tim. 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.
To a certain extent the trainer is required to make sure the ministry trainee is already faithful so that time is not wasted in training someone:
2 Tim. 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Much sorrow and discouragement has come to me because of seeing those I have trained either fall into immorality or walk right but with no more interest in teaching others what they have learned than those who never came to be trained in the first place! Rehearsing in my mind those who are still faithfully laboring gives me much joy and much enthusiasm to start all over again in training someone new.
I have come to the conclusion (at this point in my growth) that my offering to tutor and train someone into fivefold ministry is a precious gift from me to that person. I am not obligated to train anyone whom I deem to be not ready or not showing fruits of those God has called to become a five-fold minister.
----------------------------------------Various ways in which we begin to discern a person's call to the five fold ministry
A minister loves the Lord and desires to feed the Lord's sheep.
At our church, we often have what we call open pulpit. If a person says they want to be in the ministry training but they have not shown a desire to share in open pulpit the Word that they have gleaned in their private devotions, then I question their calling. A cook wants to cook. A janitor wants to clean. A dancer wants to dance. A writer wants to write. A fivefold minister wants to share the Word with people. It is part of their very being. No one can stop them. If they are not allowed to speak in their local church, they will find a platform even if it means calling together a group of people from their neighborhood or their job.
Their passion is to see the growth the hearing and learning of the Word does to the church.
Word ministers get revelation for themselves from the Word. He or she actually hears what the Spirit is saying through the written Word.
A Word minister shares the Word in such a way that is understood by the people who have ears to hear., I;e; You can hear others say, {That Word minister} said ________ and I learned from that.
A Word minister is a leader in the things of the Lord. If no one is following, they are not a five-fold minister in the making. Of course, there may be those rare times a person is called on a special mission to preach forth or to prophesy something extremely unpopular and therefore they are not heard. It is not because God did not send them but because the people are hard hearted and God sent that person to give the people another warning before His judgment came forth. But that is not the norm in a local Christian church or setting. Usually someone God has called will begin to manifest their gifts slowly but surely until most all (who are spiritual) receive that person's ministry even long before that person formally enters training to walk in their fivefold ministry office.A fivefold minister will ordinarily see the congregation as a whole and the individuals within it; others usually see the individuals in the congregation only. To know what to feed a congregation, the fivefold minister must have a congregational point of view. If they only see their friends or other individuals, what they give to the whole will only be directed to those they know and they will miss the overall need of that church or group.
I often use the analogy that a person called to be a block mother would probably know the name and address of every child on the block. She will know what places are dangerous and where it is safe. She may not even know the name of the major of her city, but she knows that block intimately. Her scope of service fulfills her and that is all she is interested in regarding community involvement. But the person called to be the major sees the whole city. He knows what neighborhoods need improvement, which schools are the most dangerous, and whether the water supply is pure. He may not know three individuals in any given neighborhood personally, but he can be of great service to each neighborhood nonetheless. The two people are given a perspective and interest in accordance with their calling.
A fivefold minister desires to encourage and train others in the area of their own gifting. E.g., a prophet does not simply get up and prophesy. A prophet also notes when others prophesy and encourages as well as helps in fine-tuning the others gift. A prophet also general hears words for the church as a whole as well as for individuals. Some prophets are called to prophesy to natural leaders and countries too.Some of the biggest problems in our church have been the issue of a person's motive for wanting to become a five-fold minister.
I used to be a social worker. It was then I realized that some of the workers did even not like our clients that we served at the state welfare office! How did I know? They were not quick to do the paperwork to make sure the needy family received their welfare money. When a new benefit came (e.g., being able to get used appliances), some workers would never even bother to let the clients know that this benefit was now available. Most of the benefits the welfare clients received above and beyond their check, Medicaid, and food stamps were benefits we had to explain to them. Love for the clients would cause a worker to take time to find out all of their needs and then find out what the state or county had available to meet those needs.
Those workers who did the minimum effort possible obviously did not have the client's best interest in mind. But oh how they loved their professional status, their paycheck, and their fellowship with all these warm, loving, helpful people in the human services profession!
There seem to be some ministers who operate out of the same kinds of motives!
When Jesus was on earth, the people He rebuked the most were religious leaders with fleshly motives. We must examine ourselves as ministry leaders to make sure we are not in ministry for personal gratification in the flesh but for the love of the Lord and the joy of laboring with Him in the Spirit.
Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, [2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: [3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. [4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. [5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, [6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, [7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. [15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. [16] Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! [17] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? [18] And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. [19] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? [20] Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. [21] And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. [22] And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. [23] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. [24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. [29] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, [30] And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. [31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. [32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. [33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Simon the Sorcerer is an example of a man who wanted Holy Spirit gifts simply for his own status.
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: [10] To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. [11] And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. [12] But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. [14] Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: [16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. [18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. [20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. [21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. [22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. [23] For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. [24] Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.We must thoroughly examine our motives in desiring to be the Lord's ministers. The ministry worker must care about the saints being perfected. Paul made it clear that Timothy's nature of caring about others was not the norm.
Philippians. 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. [20] For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. [21] For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. [22] But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Questions:
1. In your local church, when you look around to see which people genuinely care for the needs of others, what is it you see them doing or hear them saying?
2. Go through your membership directory praying for each person. As the Lord directs you in how to pray for each one, do you genuinely care about their needs or are you bored to have to even consider each individual and/or family in this way?
Ministry workers must not be those who minister for their own status sake but those who truly love the Lord's sheep.
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.Although the fivefold minister must become a lifelong student ever increasing in the knowledge of the Lord's ways, the training school is an introduction into that path of growth.
The motive of a fivefold minister called of God is to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry. He or she lays down their life in order for the church to flourish. They are thrilled when the saints come forth in their gifts. They are happy when they train others and those others run even further than they did. Although honor will be given if the saints act right, they do not quit when the saints take them for granted and forget to express gratitude for the work that is being done on their behalf. If the Lord requires it, they will go and teach five people in a living room as faithfully as a group of five thousand. They are not looking for personal gain or glory; they are wanting to be obedient to the Lord's instructions to feed His sheep.
Motive:
Some of the biggest problems in our church have been the issue of a person's motive for wanting to become a five-fold minister. I used to be a social worker. It was then I realized that some of the workers did even not like our clients that we served at the state welfare office! How did I know? They were not quick to do the paperwork to make sure the needy family received their welfare money. When a new benefit came (e.g., being able to get used appliances), some workers would never even bother to let the clients know that this benefit was now available. Most of the benefits the welfare clients received above and beyond their check, Medicaid, and food stamps were benefits we had to explain to them. Love for the clients would cause a worker to take time to find out all of their needs and then find out what the state or county had available to meet those needs.
Those workers who did the minimum effort possible obviously did not have the client's best interest in mind. But oh how they loved their professional status, their paycheck, and their fellowship with all these warm, loving, helpful people in the human services profession!
There seem to be some ministers who operate out of the same kinds of motives!
When Jesus was on earth, the people He rebuked the most were religious leaders with fleshly motives. We must examine ourselves as ministry leaders to make sure we are not in ministry for personal gratification in the flesh but for the love of the Lord and the joy of laboring with Him in the Spirit.
Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, [2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: [3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. [4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. [5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, [6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, [7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Recent Comments