An Example of the Believers

An Example of the Believers

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.

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.

Qualifications for Deacons

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

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 this passage Paul is writing to Timothy some instructions on choosing leaders. The church at Ephesus had been established for a while and there were people that were putting themselves in positions of leadership and it was not a good thing.

Look with me

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

They wanted to be teachers but they did not understand what they were teaching and they did not understand the documents they were getting their affirmation from they were twisting things.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

HE said the position of leadership comes from God God counted me faithful and put me into the ministry. I was not even seeking it I was in tarsus minding my own business for years when barnabas came and got me.

Than chapter three he said when there is a pastor when there is a deacon this is what they need to look like.

What we read in 3:-13

It was some things Paul said timothy I want you to have these things in mind as you are looking to choose leaders and deacons.

He said this in A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

When pastor Yeargin was ordained the man that preached his charge said this we are not rodaining him to say no go and be but this is what he has been doing for years.

Look at Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Make sure they have been tested and proven to have grown up to these things.

This letter is to Timothy at that point it was not a public letter

It was something for him to have in mind as he was navigating through all these people that were asking him for these positions.

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.

So how did they know what to do to qualify for the Job ?

How did those faithful men know to be what was talked about in ?

Here is the answer you ready for it. You are not going to like it but I will tell you anyway.

It is what everyone should be doing.

The reason he had to tell some of them to sit down is they were not doing what they were supposed to be doing.

Why is that important ?

Because here is how we look at the passage.

Yea preacher cant to that .

Glad I am not a preacher.

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

You know what it means to be given to something. I think about it all the time. I can't help myself it has control over me I am given to it.

The word much does not mean there is a different standard for the preacher than the deacon.

The point is a leader in the church should not be controlled by anything other than the holy spirit.

Doctor nurse not different standards for them.

What are you trying to say these things here are things we should all try to be doing.

But by the time you are selected to be a preacher or a deacon these are things you need to have learned how to do so you can be an example to others. So you can lead others.

So this Idea I am not a preacher I do not need to know my bible is not right.

This double standard for preachers and deacons is not biblical every one of these things are things we should all be doing.

How do you know ? because they in other verses that are not talking to preachers but to the body of Christ.

Pauls said timothy these are things God wants his people to be doing and make sure you choose leaders that are obedient in these things already.

The illustration is not a good idea for a pastor to be doing these things the application is I should not be doing them either.

People hold pastors to high standard and it is correct but they forget they are held to the same standard.

In the christian church there is not a separation between clergy and laity. We are one in Christ Jesus.

I can't believe you would do that being a pastor.

Be an Example in Your Personal Walk

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Maybe you are here and you desire the office of a bishop you want to be a pastor.

He said that is a good work. This is true, saying it is a good work.

If you ever serve as a pastor or a deacon people will say you are wasting your time. They will say you are trying to build a pyramid and put yourself at the top.

They will say it is to hard and it comes with a death penalty. But the Lord says it is a good work

It is a good work to lead to teach to minister and to take responsibility and oversight

The office of a bishop is a good work.

That he tells you about things he must be in his personal walk.

Remember before you can lead anyone else you must first learn how to lead yourself.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Blameless is that when they accuse you it needs to be without merit.

The things people accuse you of should be baseless.

He only cares about money. He is just doing it to get paid

He just loves power.

He does not really care about people unless you are useful to him.

They need to be baseless.

It is not good when their complaints are credible.

People need to have the confidence that the Pastor is not going to be doing things that bring a reproach on the ministry they need to have confidence in them.

There has been someone accusing Pastor Ahston and me of being unkind to elderly people and not letting them come to the church for no reason. And the people they told had the confidence to say you are wrong that is not them i will talk to him. Baseless.

It should be unbelievable and untrue

Pastor yeargin got mad and cusses his wife and kids out and drove over the trash can.

People say yes that figures I believe that . It is all starting to make sense now.

But just as it is not becoming of a pastor.

You should be blameless as well.

Just because you are not a pastor does not give you a greater excuse

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

You do not get a pass because you are not a bishop.

We all hold forth the word of life.

You have the name of Christ on you do not disgrace it.

the husband of one wife, Just because you are not a pastor does not mean you can live a life of fornication

Why should be the husband of one wife ?

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

You are not a pastor but it does not mean you should allow yourself to be addicted to pornography or be involved in fornication.

vigilant, sober,

The pastor needs to be sober. We get called in the middle of the night all the time to go pray go someone is dying they are on life support they need to have someone pray with them.

You good to drive. Yes run into a ditch.

How would it seem if say sorry can't come not good to drive. If not good to drive than you are not good to minister.

You are watching out for danger. You are aware of what is going on you are watching for others. You have to be ready to preach pray or die at a moments notice.

Do you think because you are not a pastor you do not have to remain sober?

1Pe_5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

of good behaviour,

This verse has kept me out of so much trouble

It is not becoming of the pastor to do donuts on the golf course.

It is not becoming of the pastor to ask neighbors for help on the neighborhood app because he lost his pet cobra.

Or to ask for small dogs or pets to feed his pet snake.

given to hospitality,

A pastor should have people over into his home to feed them to witness to them.

To share with those he ministers to what God has ministered to him with

And should should you.

More hospitality and more witnessing more people getting saved.

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Befriend them bring them in. Be a family to them. All of our responsibility.

As you look for a leader look for the person that is being obedient to this.

apt to teach;

This person needs to be about the business of teaching others and helping them.

He cant just get annoyed that people do not know it and say things like you did not know that . I knew that since I was five.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

You are to be light and salt and teach and help people with his precepts and his princibles

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

He is not yielding or relegating the control of his facilities to any substance.

1Co_6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The holy spirit should have control of you.

None of us should be given to anything controlled by food or drink or entertainment.

no striker,

It is not ok for me to beat up people or for you

not greedy of filthy lucre;

Not ok for any one to be greedy of gain especial corrupt gain gottine in a wrong way

but patient,

The Pastor must be a gentle man. He must be willing to listen to people when they need him and he must be able to take criticism without responding in anger. The Pastor will take a lot! However, proper conduct will mark a man and people will respect the Pastor and will treat him accordingly

Like moses he must endure by seeing him who is invisible behind the scene holding him up.

Fruit of the spirit

not a brawler,

Argumentative

not covetous;

One of the ten commandments and the one kept the rich man from salvation.

What is he saying ?

Before you put a man up as a minister make sure he has learned to lead himself.

He needs to be an example in his personal life

Choose him out of the ones that have grown to obedience in this area.

And teach the people to be obedient in this area and see who responds.

Let me ask you are you creating a double standard for yourself ?

Letting yourself off the hook because you are not a pastor or a teacher ?

Are you holding others to a higher standard than you hold yourself?

How is your personal walk how are you leading yourself

If I can't learn how to do these things how can I teach anyone else

Be an Example in Your Private Walk

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

After you have learned to lead yourself you must learn how to lead your family.

Before you can lead the big people you must learn how to lead the little people. The principles are the same the forgiveness is much greater in your children.

You must rule house

And you must rule it well if you are to pastor a church.

What is ruling well

Children are in subjection.

It means they listen without arguing and back talking.

They take you seriously. They know you have an expectation of leadership.

When daddy says something it is the law

Ruling well means you do not need to fly off the handle yell or be a brawler.

It means you have their attention.

You have their trust

You have their obedience

People are always looking at your children

And if the reason your kids will not follow you is the kids fault

And you cant take accountability for a child and it is the child's fault

Than it will be the congregations fault if you cant lead them.

Gods question on the resume is not who you are at work but who you are at home.

God want those that know you best to follow you.

Can you lead and do you have the respect of those that know you best?

Those that know you best will they submit to you ?

He has an expectation to be followed and those that know him best willing do it.

He rules well.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

They have taken the way God wants them to conduct their private life seriously.

He got his kids onboard his wife is on board they are behind him.

As a leader, the greatest thing you can put on your resume is if your wife and kids are behind you following you as you follow Christ.

That is not just the responisiblity of the pastor. But every Husband every Father in here has the same comand and the same responsibility.

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

This is not about power trip it is not about male chauvinism

It is about caring for those closest to you

The position of a pastor is one of care.

And if you do not care if your children are going in the right direction than you will not care if the members are going in the right direction.

The greatest preparation for ministry is caring for your wife and children

They are your first responsibility and if you neglect that than do not apply for leadership.

The bible says children obey parents in the Lord

It says the man is supposed to lead his house and that is his responsibility.

Not just the pastors not just the deacons but everyone needs to take this responsibility seriously.

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

That is inexperienced

They have begun but they do not know what they are doing

They will get in that position and fall into condemnation because they have not been experienced.

How do you get the experience ? learning to lead at home.

Let me ask you how is it at home?

IF you were called on for a leadership position is your home ready?

And if it is not ready is it heading in the right direction?

Or do you just say well I am not the pastor so it does not matter for me ?

Do you give yourself a pass or do you take it seriously?

He said these things command and teach for every one

But for leaders they need to have grown to the point of example in this area.

Be an Example in Your Public walk

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without

A preacher needs to be thought of by the lost people in the community as honest.

I read about a preacher that owned a factory and he preached on the weekends at these various churches

And his employees had a running Joke they said we can always tell when he was out preaching because he had an awful temper and was in a foul mood that monday.

He needs to be thought of as kind truthful

He needs to have a good testimony.

I know a girl used to work at the little grocery store in the country And the deacon used to come in and by a 12 pack of beer every weekend.

And the employees would always have a conversation and a laugh about it. Guess who came to get his beer deacon so and so. They were not saved and they did not even believe it was wrong to drink but he was not concerned with his testimony of them that were without.

But he made sure no one from within knew he drank.

He was concerned with the saved people and what they thought down at the church but he was not concerned with what the lost people thought.

Listen I am not getting on a hobby horse

I am just asking how is your testimony with them that are without ?

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Pastor in Texas enjoyed a good reputation in his church and in his fellowship of other pastors

Boy he was a hard preacher preach hard against the lbgtq agenda

But he did not care about the way those that were without thought about him.

Why would he care what lost people thought. His mindset was asl long as these people think I am ok I am ok

He got caught in a casino his kids in one room and he was in another room with drugs and a couple of prostitutes.

How is your testimony not here but out there to them that are without?

How do the people at work view you ? do you have a good report ?

Pro_25:26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

The world hates Christianity and they are always looking to jump on any story that discredits us and it matters what they think.

1Co_14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

That goes for all of us

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

How do the people outside of Huisache view you?

Listen for many years of my ministry I failed in many of these areas

I used to say it has to be conditional no one can be blameless

And what do you did if your kids won't listen?

I have to be a brawler to contend for the faith.

And as a result the ministry never gained much traction.

As a result, I did a lot of damage.

I learned the importance of these things.

And I began to take it seriously and it did my family and the church a whole lot of God but what I realized in the process is that it is not just for preachers

The preacher needs to be this way so he can be an example for everyone else.

These things command and teach.

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.