Pastoral Prayer Mtg

2 Oct 2018

Christ IS the head of the church

Ephesians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph5.22

Illustration/Introduction

Husbands with wives having problems with in-laws.

The husband may feel they had to choose between parents and wife.

Honour parents vs love wife?

Not true because the LORD who gave both commandments is not contradictory.

We can feel a similar contradiction when it comes to managing the church.

Putting the local church first at the expense of the kingdom of GOD.

Or putting the Kingdom of GOD first and neglecting the local church.

How do we love the kingdom of heaven and the local church without the tension?

Is there even a conflict between loving the kingdom of GOD and the local church?

I do not think there is a conflict - like honouring parents and loving our wives.

5 suggestions from Scripture on how to deconflict this.

Love Christ first - not the local church. Like parents making their child an idol. The spouse making the other spouse an idol…etc.Christ must always be first…not the local church. Christ Himself is first.

Do not fear the congregation - fear GOD. The Elders, under shepherds answers to the chief shepherd, not to the flock. When you answer to Christ, His true sheep will follow you but His enemies will persecute you. .

Proverbs 29:25 KJV 1900

The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Manage and rule the church out of love for Christ and His people. Not out of fear. GOD is love and rule in love not from fear. Love makes you bold but not careless. Fear binds and stifle you from acting in faith. , .

Romans 8:15 KJV 1900

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV 1900

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Use our gifts under the supervision of the Holy Spirit according to Scripture. Be conscious of the facts that many things we use and learn at work and in the world is not meant for the church of Jesus Christ. Learn to discern what is Biblical and what is worldly.

Pray and submit to one another. Engage one another. Learn to submit to one another. That is how Christ would want us to serve Him together. , . And to all Christian, Paul wrote .

1 Peter 3:8 KJV 1900

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 3:8 ESV

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Let us remember the charge given to all Elders/Pastors in;

1 Peter 5:1–6 KJV 1900

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: 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; 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. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Ephesians 5:15–21 KJV 1900

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Good intention and godly devotion in our calling is not a feeling.

Our calling does not allow us to be careless and illogical.

Our serve in the church of Jesus Christ is about knowing how Christ himself would manage His church and acting as He would.

Let us pray.