The Ordination of Zachary Earl Cox
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:07:18
0 ratings
· 10 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
OPENING PRAYER BY BROTHER TIM DIXON
“Rescue Story” by Zach Williams
“Rescue Story” by Zach Williams
MUSIC INTERLUDE 1
The Ordination of Zachary Earl Cox
The Ordination of Zachary Earl Cox
As many of you know, over the past year Zach has been regularly teaching in our church, he has been helping to run our bible study and discussion group, and has been stepping up to assist with whatever the church may need. Whether that is to answer questions, maintaining the actual church building, or a myriad of other things that may need to be addressed from time to time.
Taking care of these things is what the Bible would call shepherding the flock. Being there to take care of the church, not meaning a building but the people. And like everything else in a Christian’s life, Jesus Christ set the example for what shepherding should look like. We see the Lord called the great shepherd in Psalm 23. Let’s start there this morning.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In this verse we see God as a shepherd, emphasizing His care and protection of His people.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Think about why green pastures is important. What do sheep eat? Grass and vegetation. This is showing God providing for His people both physically, but more importantly spiritually. And the still waters are meant to show quietness, symbolic for rest and security.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
God will shine a light on the path we should follow in life, not just for our sake, but for His own sake. His will is that all people would come to salvation and find eternal life.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
David here recognizes that life is going to have it’s up and downs, and as a Christian you will face hardship, but we should always remember that God is present with us and will guide us through whatever we may face.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
David writes in this verse about God “preparing a table”, showing God portrayed as a host. And in the culture of the time, hosting someone was about more than providing a meal. A host would also be responsible for protecting the guests. This shows us that God will provide for us and protect us.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
So we see the Great Shepherd bringing peace and comfort, the example for how a pastor should strive to bring peace and comfort to the members of the church. We also see in Hebrews 13 Jesus as the great shepherd, bringing a path to salvation to through His blood on the cross, and working in the hearts of his followers.
Now 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,
Make 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.
Now we all know that no man can bring salvation, no man can forgive sin. But as a pastor, your mission is to point people to Christ, to reflect His light and love so that salvation and forgiveness can be found through Him and His sacrifice.
You are to be an example to those around you, to testify of the glory of God, and as we see in 1 Peter 5 you will be recognized for faithfully serving Christ through shepherding the church.
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:
The word elder here in the Greek is presbyteros, meaning a church leader. Peter had been a witness to Jesus’s ministry and crucifixion, but he is also referring to the sufferings of the church after the death of Christ. Peter interprets the sufferings of the church as participation in the sufferings of Christ, think of how we talk about us all being members of the one body of Christ.
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;
Peter here is encouraging the elders of the church to have care and concern for the people in there communities. Not out of a feeling of obligation, but out of willingness. Filthy lucre is referring to riches, or money. So Peter says that an elder of a church should not be in it for the money.
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
The chief shepherd that appears of course is referring to Christ. But I want to focus for a second on this “unfading crown of glory”. This does not mean that a pastor that does good works for the body of Christ is royalty. It doesn’t mean that you are held in a higher regard. The Greek phrasing that is used here is emphasizing a never ending reflection of the light of Christ. That the glory of Jesus should pour out of you. This is saying that even with the return of Christ, your job will not be finished. We are all called to reflect the light and love of Jesus Christ, our lord and savior, and the great reward for being faithful is not for that to cease. It’s to be rewarded with everlasting life, where we will continue to sing of His glory, to praise Him for His mercy and grace, forever and ever.
For a brief period in history, there were people that were blessed to walk in the physical presence of God. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God With Us, dwelling with His people. But after His crucifixion we are now in a period of time where God is with us through the Holy Spirit, but we are also awaiting His return. And this is why the Bible calls for the church to have elders. Also called shepherds and pastors. The church needs those that are willing and able to help spread the Word of God. We see this in the Old Testament like in Jeremiah 3
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
We see the children of God backsliding, or turning away from Him, but God is not willing to give up on His children.
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Part of God’s plan for redemption for His people is to have pastors that would pursue God with their entire hearts, that can then help guide the flock back to the path of salvation. The pastors, or elders, should be nourishing the flock with knowledge of the Word of God.
In the Gospel of John we see Jesus himself instructing Simon Peter to shepherd the church.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Jesus asks Peter if his love for Christ is more than his love for the other disciples
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.
What is the implication here? Christ is saying, Simon Peter, if you love me, FEED MY SHEEP.
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.
Jesus asks three times, reflecting Peter’s three denials of Christ. Let that be an example to us. It is never too late to return to loving embrace of God. And In these three verses are the most important thing for us to all remember. No matter what our mission, no matter what our goal, it all must begin with our love for Jesus Christ. Simon Peter can’t shepherd the church without first loving Christ above all else.
We also see in the book of Acts, the elders being told to shepherd the church because Jesus will no longer be physically with us, even though the Holy Spirit would be; and that the apostles would no longer be with us either.
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Notice here that Paul states he has declared “all the counsel of God”. When we share the Word of God we can NOT pick and choose what parts to share and what parts to conceal. We have to study ever part of it, the entirety of the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
The Greek word that we see here as overseers is episkopos meaning someone who has leadership responsibility over the church.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Paul has used the metaphor of the church being a flock and the elders being the shepherds, and here he refers to false teachers as wolves.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
False teachers could arise from outside or within the church, and the elders are meant to protect the church either way. So this is setting the table for the mission at hand. Instructing the elders of the church to pastor and shepherd God’s sheep, meaning the Christian people. First He says to feed the church, we’ve seen it multiple times. Well what do we feed the Church?
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
So Jesus is the bread of life, but how do we feed people the bread of life?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We feed the church the bread of life by studying, understand, teaching, and spreading the Word of God. But he then says that we should protect the sheep from wolves, both from the outside and inside of the church. How can we protect each other?
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
It always comes back to Jesus, does it not? Faith in Jesus as the messiah is our shield. It’s our protection. So to protect the sheep you first pick up your shield, your faith in Jesus, and then you help guide others to find that same faith. You protect them with your shield, until they are ready to pick up their own.
So now Zach, with all of these things in mind there are a few questions you need to think over, and as much as the Bible explains that when we receive one another in Holy Matrimony we become one flesh, Jasmin I would ask that you ponder these questions as well, as this decision for Zach to become ordained will effect your life as well. After each question, I would ask that you answer truthfully, speaking from your heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Do you both accept the Bible as God’s inspired, infallible, inerrant, immutable, indestructible, and indispensable Word?
Zach, Do you understand the requirements, responsibilities and realities that are about to be placed upon you by being ordained and set apart as an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Jasmin, do you understand that these responsibilities will affect not only Zach, but your family as a whole; and are you ready to face that reality as one flesh, as this is how the Bible describes a husband and wife?
Zach, Are you ready and willing to accept and assume the responsibility to peruse, preach, and practice God’s word with boldness?
Are you ready to minister to the needs of those to whom you are sent without partiality, and to give yourself sacrificially and without reserve to the educating, edification, and equipping of the body of Christ?
Will you endeavor to be diligent in the study of God’s Word, instant and faithful in prayer, an example in Christian faithfulness and discipline for your community, so that your life may be an example of the blessings of that faithfulness to our Lord and Savior?
Recognizing the sacred responsibility of your call and aware of your own human weakness, will you seek the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in order to be a faithful minister of Him who has called you?
“God Be The Glory” by We Are Messengers
“God Be The Glory” by We Are Messengers
MUSIC INTERLUDE 2
The Charges of A Christian
The Charges of A Christian
We are not here just to recognize a milestone in a man’s life, but to acknowledge the work of God in calling a shepherd for His flock. This moment is not about position, title, or honor; it is about Christ entrusting the care of His sheep to a shepherd.
As we have seen, the Scriptures remind us that it is the Holy Spirit who makes a man an overseer. And we are reminded that every one of us answers to the Chief Shepherd. What we are about to do, therefore, is both solemn and joyful.
In just a moment, I will present the charges, not just to Zach but to all of us. These charges are not just words to be admired and forgotten. They are commitments rooted in the Word of God. They define the sacred trust between shepherd and flock.
Zach you are being entrusted with the ministry of the Word, and the care of God’s children.
And we ALL are being called to pray for, support, and walk alongside one another in the mercy, grace, and light of our Lord and Savior.
Let us listen carefully and receive these charges with humility. And let us remember that this work belongs not to man, but to the Lord Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of the Church, the foundation on which everyting rests.
With that in mind, let us consider these charges.
I CHARGE YOU TO PURSUE THE WORD OF GOD.
This is the greatest pursuit that we will have in life and we see Paul give Timothy this charge in 1 Timothy chapter 4.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Paul states that by pursuing the Word of God that not only do we find the path to salvation for ourselves, but we gain the ability to help others find that path as well. He then charges Timothy to study the Word of God to the fullest of our abilities in 2 Timothy chapter 2.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Our pursuit and study of the Word is how we show ourselves approved to God. It’s is one of the most important works that we have in life.
I CHARGE YOU TO PRACTICE THE WORD OF GOD.
Paul affirms this charge when he writes:
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
And Paul continues in 1 Timothy chapter 4:
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
And in 2 Timothy chapter 2:
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
I CHARGE YOU TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD.
You are called to be a teacher, a pastor, and a shepherd for the church. Some assume the call to preach and do very little about it, becoming entangled with various professions of the world and the ministry becomes a side job. I believe it is proper to include in this charge that if you are called to be a teacher of God’s Word then BE A TEACHER OF GOD’s WORD. You are not called to be a politician, schoolteacher, a businessman, a social worker; you are a man of God called to shepherd His sheep. Paul’s final instruction to Timothy was:
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
PRAYER OF ORDINATION
THE PROFILE OF A PASTOR
The Lord exercised special care for His church by appointing pastors. The pastoral ministry is not an afterthought with God, but a divine, designated, and designed office which meets the needs of the church. The pastoral office demands a uniquely qualified individual, equipped with proper credentials. He must possess good, natural, and acquired abilities; deep and ardent faith, be especially called of God to the work, and ordained by prayer and the laying on of hands. Proper credentials are prescribed by the Scriptures, and enable a pastor to preach the word, administer ordinances, shepherd the flock, and perform the duties of a faithful minister. Let’s look at these scriptures in Titus chapter 1.
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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:
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
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;
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
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.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Paul shows us that a good pastor must have a life that is following the Word, and a home and family that reflects that. That his character should be shaped by the Holy Spirit’s presence, and he must have courage to protect the flock. And Paul writes that we should avoid pride and anger. We should not allow greed to lead us into false teaching, and we must avoid hypocrisy. A pastor should have a life that is being lead by Christ and if that is the case, his credentials won’t be something that is hanging on the wall, it will be the evidence shown in his life.
“Fear Is Not My Future” by Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore
“Fear Is Not My Future” by Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore
MUSIC INTERLUDE 3
CLOSING PRAYER BY BROTHER EARL COX
