Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 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 self-willed, 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.
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Elders or bishops are the overseers of the local church. An elder can be a teacher, a prophet or an apostle who functions in the local assembly.
1Peter 5:1 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: 2 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; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
These ministries oversee and judge doctrine that comes into the local church. Elders will often join in with prophets and apostles to hear from each other the teaching and direction of the Holy Spirit. There are generally two or more elders in the local fellowship governing and protecting the body of Christ. True elders do not lord over the sheep, they simply guide and assist the believers to function as the Holy Spirit desires them to function in the body. They encourage the believers to develop their ministries. These ministries function within the believers meeting. But elders also help create and develop the individual believers in ministries outside the body for community outreach. Elders instruct and encourage believers to accept and perform according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Elders do not take over all the ministry of the body of Christ but, rather, they build up ministries within the body. They encourage participation and rebuke passivity within all believers. Believers are directed to be a functioning part of the body and not a couch potato. Elders do not develop programs to entertain the congregation. They develop and encourage the congregation to become a functioning body expressing the life of Christ within their community.
Paul wrote to Timothy the qualifications of an elder or bishop. 1Tim 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.
Peter outlines the qualifications of elders as examples of the life of Christ. 1Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
The qualifications of an elder or bishop is the same as the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. He suffered and demonstrated the example all believers are to follow but especially elders: sinless, no guile found in his mouth, reviles not, threatens not, seeks righteous judgment, covers sin of other, applies the cross and lives unto righteousness. A bishop understands how easy it is for sheep to stray but returns them to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. The elders and bishops of a local fellowship have the heart of the Good Shepherd. They will lay down their life for the brethren. Oh Lord, restore unto us true elders to help assist in the building up of the body of Christ in every city.
1Peter 5:1The 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: 2 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; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
The purpose of all ministries to the body of Christ is to create activity and not passivity. The idea of being entertained and following a ritual that emphasizes one person or ministry is not the purpose of our gathering together in his name. In today’s churches we find the pastor has taken over everything especially the sermonizing and on T.V. his the number one star. The pastor is the one who brings the weekly preaching, he is the star of the show and the talk of the congregation. This method has produced one thing-- a passive people who sit in their own pew each Wednesday and Sunday expecting to be entertained and amused for an hour or so. Many remain in the same building faithful for years as they have been baptized, married and buried in the same congregation. Any ministry concerned about itself and expects the congregants to be faithful to only him or her is not a New Testament ministry but a ministry derived from human training and thinking. Any ministry that draws people unto himself is in danger of preaching another gospel and is not a New Testament ministry. Jesus said if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto myself. True ministries of Christ build up the members of Christ and are dedicated to the task of teaching each individual member the importance of functioning as a living cell in the body of Christ. The day of one-man ministry is over-- in fact, it never should have gotten started. Let us look at the following scripture.
Let us look at the following scripture: Eph. 4:11 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:
The purpose of the above ministries is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ. The word perfecting in the Greek iskatartismos and means the complete furnishing as in a building project where several contractors join together to follow the architect's plans. In the Gospel the only architect is Jesus and the contractors are the ministries helping to build and raise up the building to completion through the direction of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of all ministries in the body of Christ is to gather the living stones and place them where they belong and equip each member so they can function and work in the ministry, work in the service, and work better for the Lord in the work to which he has called each one. The ministries are there so each member can receive the abilities needed to carry out the ministry. The overall finishings of this great process is the edifying of the body of Christ, the building up of the body to a place of sonship, ready to walk the earth as Christ walked the earth, fully furnished with the power of God, ready to do the will of God in every city and the uttermost parts of the world.
A body equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God's Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord-yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times-speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly --and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of loveEph. 4:13-15 TLB
Phil 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Paul addresses more than one bishop in the local church. God never set a plan for the church to be directed and controlled by one man, bishop, priest or pastor. The ministries over the church are plural. The word bishop is the Greek word Episkope. When we break the word down Epi means to superimposition, shopos means a covering or a piece of clothing which covers the body and the word super means over and beyond superior in comparison. So a bishop is one who superimposes a pattern over the present cloth, cuts it to size so that it may cause the truth to rise when the garment is placed or worn by the person who will bear the image of Christ. The pattern is made by adding the distinct feature, element and quality of the person from which the pattern is taken so that hope may rise up and be seen according to the pattern. The pattern is Jesus Christ. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot… And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Put on (endo) means in the sense of sinking into a garment. Col. 3:10, Rev 1:13. The ministry of elders and bishops is to build the house according to the pattern. They lead and help the sheep to put on Christ, the true garment of righteousness. They teach believers to put on the garment of praise. They instruct believers to remove their old garments and put on holy garments, the priestly garment even the dyed garments of Bozrah.
Isa 63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Elders and bishops are the ministries that help the believers put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. This is the vengeance that changes the minds of unbelievers to accept righteousness. For these garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind… of the Holy Spirit. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad…the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. Oh Lord, let our garments always be white, filled with thy beauty and righteousness and raise up elders in our midst to have the same heart as the Bishop of our soul. (Is. 59:17, Job 37:17, Ps.45:8, S.S. 4:11)
Every year Hannah brought Samuel a new garment. “And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.” Each year Samuel ministered before the Lord and Hannah would come to see him bringing a new set of garments. Samuel grew in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord. And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and men. Samuel was a prophet but he also was a bishop to all of Israel in that he brought about the vision of the true God into Israel. Bishops must do the same todayin their own city. In Samuel’s day the word of the Lord was precious and he brought back the open vision of the Lord. He became a new door of utterance from the Lord. He had a door opener ministry. He continued to grow and minister unto the Lord. Ministering to the Lord is really the only way we grow. Through Samuel Israel returned to the Lord, received a true king and eventually saw the ark of God return. Samuel reigned in Shiloh over the company of prophets which set up a force field that even Saul bowed his knees and prophesied. All Israel knew he was a prophet of the Lord. “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew and he let none of his words fall to the ground.” Each year he grew a new garment was prepared for him. May the church have bishops that will produce real prophets in the land. May the bishops wait on the Lord like Hannah and give birth to the ministries that will usher in the Kingdom of God on this earth. Instead of killing her prophets may she weave a new set of clothes for each one.
Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: Zech.3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. Ezek.44:17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
Ps.22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
1Tim. 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Leaders in abstracting funds for their support often quote this scripture. The scripture is referring to elders receiving support for a ministry in the New Testament. However, it does not say money but declares “double honor”. The Greek word is time and refers to value, esteem to the highest degree and ascribing dignity. This could mean support financially but refers more strongly to the attitude members should have toward those who watch over their souls. Find a leader who will watch over your soul and not your pocket book then you do have the responsibility to esteem them to the highest degree. Most of the funds collected by the apostles were for the purposes of helping the poor in other churches. Members lend their support on a volunteer basis. There is no scripture allowing ministries to demand tithes or gifts for the support of their ministry on a regular basis. It must be voluntary by the love of a cheerful giver. It is a shame to see TV preachers and preachers in large churches extracting millions of dollar from its members. Many have become millionaires living in beautiful homes, flying around in private jets and building huge cathedrals while most of the body of Christ is in poverty. This is all done in the name of the Lord. They cite the Old Testament giving of tithes to verify the collecting of their support. The Levites received these gifts so they should receive them. Remember we are kings and priests after the order of Melchisdek. Let us also observe Jesus. He never begged for funds or support. He did not instruct his disciples to raise money before he sent them out.
Matt 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. All ministries receive their support from the provision of the Lord. If you are called He will supply all your needs. Yes, the members will help you because the worker is worthy of his meat but you can call up a fish to pay your taxes.
Matt 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
In the following scriptures we see Jesus received support from believers but we have no record that he asked or demanded this support. Mark 15:41(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
Luke 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
The scriptures reveal in the Old Testament the attitude and responsibility that God demanded of the Elders.
Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews.
Ezra 6:7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel,
Num.11:116 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
Num. 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
Num.11:24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
We can see how important it is for the church to have elders and prophets in their midst. Without them we cannot build or prosper in the work of God. The book of Acts gives a further account of "the elders and prophets" ministry in the local fellowship. Even the prophets of old spoke of these days.
Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. The ministry of the prophets did not end in the Old Testament rather it flourished even more.
Acts 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. Prophets moved among all the local churches. This is the first scripture since Samuel that mentions a group or company of prophets that came from Jerusalem and Antioch. This indicates that a company of prophets moved from city to city. All these ministries were birthed out of the local churches.
Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; We see that the ministry of prophets was never meant to be dissolved or done away with as it is in today’s churches. This ministry is valuable to the believers though virtually ignored by most churches in the twentieth century. We may hear tongues and interpretation given today but most of it is exhortation or accusations against the believers and rarely even edifies. There is really no place given for the ministry of the prophet in most local churches. The ministry of the prophet needs encouragement to function in the local assembly. Here is how it used to work in the local churches.
Acts 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great death throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
These fellow servants foretold, exhorted, judged, tormented the ungodly with fear and could stop those who would destroy the church. Even the elders and all the people in Samuel‘s time feared him. 1Sam 12:18 and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 1Sam 16:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? Maybe the fear of the Lord would return if the church would give regard to the ministry of the prophets in our day. May we give heed to this ministry in our midst so we may profit in the local assembly and receive a prophet’s reward. A prophet should be received in his own country.
the voice 1998
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THE ELDERS: CHAPTER 6