Untitled Sermon (17)

Verse 17)  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine

What is a Elder here? This comes from the Greek word “presbuteros” and it refers to a Bishop or a overseer aka a Pastor in the Churches.

virtually meaning “one who presides over the Christian assemblies”

They are given two jobs to do in verse 17, they are to “rule well” and “labor in the word”

Rule comes from the Greek meaning “to set over, to superintend, to protect and guard, to take care of”

In English means “to govern, that is, to stretch, strain or make straight, having command, control and authority”

Spiritually the Pastor or Elder is to “stretch, to strain, to make straight, to care for the congregation and lead them.

So what do we do with these words? Stretch, strain and make straight?

Notice that at times Gods people can develop shrunken hearts sometimes and their hearts like the Grinch are 3 sizes to small for God .

The Pastor by Biblical counseling and preaching is to “stretch out hearts”

so that they can hold more of God.

Notice in our earthly life we fall into sin and many manifold temptations

and then we carry the residue of sin in our hearts and life, like processed starch on some packaged noodles.

Just as Alaina takes a strainer and rinses the noodles clean in water,

the Holy Spirit wants to use the preaching of the Word of God like a strainer to strain the sin out of your hearts and life.

Also our sins can build up amen and make crooked the arrow of our hearts and path of our life...........

the preaching of Gods Word makes the arrow strait and no longer crooked and twisted by sin.

This process of making what is crooked and twisted inside of us straight,

of stretching out what is to small, and straining out the impure from the pure,

these things do not feel good when they are happening....

They are uncomfortable, they are painful but that is the purpose of Gods Word,

it is a sword in the hand of the Lord and the burden and purpose of the pastor.

Hosea 6:5) Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: And thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and snot sacrifice; And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

HEW'ED, “Cut and made smooth or even; chopped; hacked; shaped by cutting or by a chisel”

So the preacher wants to use Gods Word, like a axe chops wood,

or a artist chisel art from stone, or a mason carves stone to build and shape into a structure.

just as the romans slew Christ on the Cross and God raised him from the dead, Gods Word wants to slay the sinful parts of you and resurrect you to newness of life.

The Word of God faithfully preached, wants to do a powerful work in your life!

Proverbs 27:6 “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

The preacher who preaches the hard truth, the painful truth does so because he loves his people and his God.

The loving and faithful preacher, shows himself faithful to God and a true friend to man when he speaks the truth of God to man.

Paul says the faithful preacher or Elder is deserving of “double” honour especially when they labor in the word and doctrine. (Re-read the verse)

“Labor” in Greek means “to weary themselves out”

 to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief) to labour with wearisome effort, to toil

(in English) ——LA'BOR, noun [Latin labor from labo, to fail.]

. Intellectual exertion; application of the mind which occasions weariness; as the labor of compiling and writing a history.

3. Exertion of mental powers, united with bodily employment; as the labors of the apostles in propagating Christianity.

6. Travail; the pangs and efforts of childbirth.

These characteristics should incapsulate the Preachers time in study of Gods word and the preparation of sermons.

he should give himself fully to study, reading, meditation and prayer, to the point of “wearing himself out”

Every preacher worth his salt should be able to understand completely the words of Solomon in....... (turn next page)

Ecclesiastes 1:12,17-18) I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven....17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 12:8 -12) Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. 9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Verse 18)  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

This is the Bibles teaching that a Pastor or Elder is to be finically supported by the congregation he serves and leads.

Various christian denominations and cults preach against a paid clergy.

They believe its a sin to pay a preacher and therefore the preacher is forced to work a secular job to make ends meet.

But this is unbiblical according to the Word’s of Paul.

Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 to prove his point.

By doing so, Paul refers to the PREACHER as a Ox that treadeth the corn eating corn as it mills,

Paul is saying that churches who refuse to financially support their Pastor are like the man who cruelly muzzles the ox so he can not eat as he works but works without eating all day.

Paul teaches this truth also in (1 Corinthians 9:9, 2 Timothy 2:6)

Verse 19-20) Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

This verse acts as a protection and warning to PASTORS.

A Church is to follow Gods law and reject accusations of clergy that are missing 2 or 3 witness.

The Church Timothy was pastoring had experienced drama in the past

when some of the younger widows “going house to house” and “saying things they ought not”. in vs 13

Apparently some had made sinful unsubstantiated accusations against church leadership WITHOUT evidence or witnesses.

Accusations like this are to be rejected based on Gods Law.

Verse 20, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

Warns Pastors that if they are living wicked, they are to be rebuked, so the rest of the Elders and church members may fear.

For example, if i committed adultery, i need to be rebuked so everyone knows, that Adulterers get rebuked and disciplined in this church.

But if Pastors are allowed to get away with gross and unrepentant sin, church members will think they can get away with it.

So Paul says rebuke before all, so all may fear the Lord and avoid sin.

I believe this is also a warning against liars who falsely accuse Pastors and church members.

liars are to be rebuked before all so everyone fears being disciplined for lying.

Verse 21-22) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

Paul commands Timothy, to observe the commandments he has given

regarding false teachers, ordaining Pastors and Deacons and accepting qualified servant Widows.

The instructions regarding these offices and their qualifications are to be followed “without partiality or favoritism”

For example, Jimmy Swagger was a amazing preacher and oratory speaker.

he was a charismatic man with a friendly and likeable character.

he was allowed to get away with many prostitutions scandals...

Why? because people liked him, so they just turned a blind eye to his infidelity.

They were partial to him, he was their favorite preacher. so they excused his sin.

If Timothy would allow a man like Jimmy Swagger to be ordained to the ministry, or remain in the ministry.......

He would “become a partaker of other men's sins and be impure” himself. vs 22

Verse 23) Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities

Read from ABA Commentary page 118

Verse 24-25)  Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Some peoples sins are known before the day of judgment and are punished in the earth.

other peoples sins are not known and not punished before the day of judgment.

But notice the scripture “Some men’s sins”..... “ they follow after”

We may hide our sins all the days of our life, but God sees all and will judge all.

We can not escape our sins, for we will all stand before God on judgment day

and be forced to give a account for every word, deed and thought.

Notice there are two judgment seats that mankind will face.

The unsaved, will go to the “Great White Throne Judgment Seat” and will have their sins judged by the Law of God without a savior.

——-The Angels of God will then cast them into hell.

But the believers, the saved will go to the “Bema Seat of Christ”

This is the Christians judgment, we are judged by Gods law,

but we have a saviour who stands in the gap for us!!!!

and then we are rewarded for our good works and christian service.

Bema refers to the seat of judgment in Roman and Greek ATHLETIC games

THIS WAS where racers and Olympic athletes were rewarded with medals and crowns.

Where the Great White Throne judgment ends in condemnation and hellfire

the bema seat judgment of Christ ends with WIPING AWAY OUR TEARS, joy, grace and eternal rewards!!!!!

Where we are to forsake our sins because we know God is watching and is going to judge us!

We also should do good works and serve God!

even if WE know NO one sees us, or affirms us in this earthly life.

we know that God sees us! and he will reward us in the life to come!