I thought we had a great presentation this morning, Harold did a good job.
Just a nice balance of enough information about the numbers and
focus on what we're doing. Prayers for the
things that we'll be doing in the future and Bobby
leading all those you reading all those those blue cards.
People needing prayer for a variety of ailments.
And so I appreciate that part I appreciate the blue card part of the
of the service. And I also appreciate it when someone will
hand in a card from time to time simply asking that we pray for
our leaders, our elders, deacons and ministers. I personally as one of the
ministers I'm always appreciative of someone thinking that perhaps we also
need to be prayed for to do our work. And of course I'm aware of
the fact that prayers that are offered not only in public here but prayers that
are offered in private for those who serve in a leadership role in the church.
Many people have said to me personally you know I'm praying for you or our family prays
for you and Marty and Mike and the others who serve. So my
lesson tonight is to explain why these prayers are appropriate.
And very necessary. Leaders carry a heavy
burden of responsibility.
And with this lesson I'd like to make you aware so that you can be motivated in your prayers
especially for those leaders who hold the position of elders.
And I'd like to describe some of the burdens that each of our leaders who serve
as shepherds here, have to carry. For example is the
burden of character. Leaders become leaders for two
reasons. One they have the desire to serve in this way.
You know Paul says in First Timothy Chapter 3 Verse 1. It is a trustworthy statement
if any man aspires to the work of overseer. It is a fine work
he desires to do. I believe that Paul is explaining that the
desire to lead is part of the calling that a man has.
To leadership in the assembly. I believe sincerely that
God draws a man to this role. And puts a desire
into his heart to lead God's people.
It's not healthy for a man to take on leadership especially in the church if he doesn't have the
desire to do good works on behalf of the Lord as a leader of God's people.
Another reason men aspire to lead
is because they feel qualified to lead.
They feel that they have some resources that they can offer.
In the service to the church.
Paul the Apostle reviews these qualifications in First Timothy Chapter Three But in these
qualifications very interesting we note that some of them are conditional.
For example a man must be married. That's a condition and he must
have children that believe that also is a condition.
All these qualifications you know they're easily determined simply through
observation. We can tell Well Marty he's married there's his wife.
These are his children and so on and so forth. There are however
other qualifications which are more subjective. In nature. Paul
says again in First Timothy 3 that an overseer must be temperate.
And prudent. Respectable hospitable able to teach
not addicted to wine or pugnacious
gentle. And so on and so forth.
These things that are just mentioned are qualities in a man that are not always
easily detectable simply by looking.
Because they're parts of his character. These are things that he needs to
develop over time.
The burden here is that he must maintain the conditional qualifications. In other
words remain married. Continue to have a good home to rule
his children well and all those things. And he must maintain these conditional
qualifications and at the same time needs to develop the skills such as
teaching and hospitality and continue to grow in the character of Christ.
This is a burden. This is a personal
burden that he carries in order to simply continue
in the role of leader. Of course all are weak and sinners in the
eyes of God. However to retain effectiveness and credibility God's
leaders have to demonstrate that they can maintain their
qualifications and they can improve their ability to teach and they
can grow in Christian character even after they've reached a
certain mature age.
They never stop wanting to grow in the likeness of Christ.
I believe this is a great burden of responsibility and it requires not only the effort of the
individual but the prayers and the encouragement of the entire congregation.
That's my point.
Why should we continue to pray. We need to continue to pray for our leaders because they
carry this burden of personal responsibility.
And the thing is if you're not in that role.
Nobody's watching you. But if you happen to be one of the elders.
Everybody's watching you. You're working out your salvation you're working on your
character you're developing your qualifications in front of everybody.
Unlike the rest who do not have that particular role we're still
responsible for that. But nobody's sitting there judging how well we're doing, than
other than ourselves perhaps.
Another great burdens that leaders carry and that is the burden of ministry.
According to the Scriptures. Elders have a very specific ministry to carry out.
First they must first. Guard the doctrine.
In Acts Chapter 20 verse 28 to 30 I want to read a brief but familiar
passage it says Paul here is talking speaking to the elders
that have that have come to see him and
he's speaking to these elders from Ephesus and he says to them, "Be on guard for yourselves and
for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit (notice) has made you overseers."
Yes the church puts in names and yes of course we discuss these
things and we print out qualifications and and we give them to everybody
to examine this. You know when we're we're searching for new elders. But notice the Bible says here the
"Holy Spirit has made you overseers." It didn't say the congregation made you that.
It's an office received from God.
And he says made you overseers to
shepherd the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood I know that
after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock
and from among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things to
draw away the disciples. After them. And so first of
all they must guard the doctrine. Elders are responsible for making sure
that what is taught at every level in the church is accurate according to the Bible.
This is one of their primary responsibilities as leaders in the church they
must protect the purity of the doctrine not
we don't have to protect the Bible, the Bible doesn't need us to protect it.
But we have to protect the congregation from false
teachings even if it isn't maliciously done.
Sometimes people make mistakes in their classes. They're responsible to make sure that
that doesn't happen. One of their primary responsibilities as leaders in the church.
Another responsibility and the burden of ministry. They need to encourage and
appoint evangelists. First Timothy Chapter 4
verse 14 again Paul says do not again
speaking to young Timothy the the young evangelist he says "Do not neglect the
spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic
utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery."
By the elders. It's interesting to note in the Bible that
when there are no elders It is the responsibility of the evangelists
to recruit and train and to raise up elders. Titus chapter 1
verse 5. And that cycle is complete. When elders are in
place well when that happens it is their responsibility to
recruit and encourage and provide training for young evangelists as they did for
Timothy. It is their responsibility to make
sure. That preachers are sustained and supported in their work
and have the encouragement that they need to continue faithfully serving in this difficult role.
See the cycle? How wise God is. Evangelists go in they
establish the church. They plant the church through their preaching. They raise up elders for
that particular congregation and then with time those elders seek out
those that have the gift. For preaching and teaching.
And what do they do they encourage that person into the ministry and at some
point ordained, we used the word "ordained" but we commend
that young evangelist into the service of the gospel to make that cycle complete.
Another part in the burden of ministry that they have the elders must guard the flock.
You know Paul encourages leaders to protect the church from false teachers we said that in
Acts 20:28 but also to protect the church from division (Romans 16:17).
To protect the church from immoral conduct and the
growth of improper moral influences in the congregation (I Corinthians 5:1-9).
They put out a lot of fires in this area and this is a great task that they must continually
be attentive to. You know they go to the meetings and all of a sudden someone says OK I need to
report this is happening over here. Or sister so-and-so was over here
or brother so-and-so you know was arrested and.
Whatever happens.
They're continually putting out fires continually trying to make sure that
perhaps a small dispute between two of the teachers for example doesn't
blossom into an all out war.
Very delicate work, time consuming.
Another part of the burden of ministry leaders in the church must minister to the
weak and those who are sick. You know it's interesting to note that in James
Chapter 5 verse 14 James tells people who are ill and suffering in the church
that they should call on the elders to pray for them not the deacons
not the evangelists.
Now this doesn't mean of course that the preacher or the deacon or any member cannot pray or minister
to anyone who is sick. Of course not. What what James is saying is that the
elders have the primary responsibility for ministering through prayer.
Through the presence of comfort those who are sick and those who are
weak in the church I can tell you after 38 years of ministry
having visited a lot of people in the hospital it's one thing if I go.
But it isn't complete unless the elder goes,
in the mind of the individual who is ill.
And I'm looking at Bud here and he's
shaking his head. Absolutely. They expect the preacher to go well surely
he gets paid to do that.
[snickers]
Yes. What else has he got to do. Nothing to do. Yeah right.
But the visit from the elder.
To hold his hand or her hand. And to whisper a prayer
to them. And to say to them be encouraged or
don't be afraid. And that we're with you.
There's something deeply comforting for that individual.
Because I think every person in the church knows that
particular passage and they await expectantly.
The visit or the call from the elder.
That is a burden.
This is a great task and it's a time consuming task. And for this reason
we need to support our leaders and encourage them for the effort that they make.
Another responsibility in the burden of ministry leaders and the church
must also be the ones to resolve disputes.
In Acts Chapter 15 we see that the Apostles and the elders in the Jerusalem
congregation gathered together to resolve an important doctrinal dispute
that had taken place in Antioch.
Note that it was the leaders in the congregation that had to listen to both sides of an
argument and then make a decision as to the course that needed to be followed.
And I'm always struck with the idea and Acts 15 that the Apostles were
there and yet it says the Apostles and the elders.
Together. Nobody was pulling rank here.
The Bible recognizes the authority and the leadership role.
Of elders.
Sometimes you know we need a judgment call on the matter and we must allow our elders to make that
call if we can't come to some resolution on our own. And this
requires wisdom and patience. And for this reason we need to pray for
our leaders so they will have the kind of wisdom and patience to make difficult
decisions on matters where there is a dispute in the congregation
because a wrong call sometimes to cause a lot of trouble.
These tasks that I have described are the God given tasks that
elders need to carry out.
To guard the doctrine of the word.
To encourage the evangelists to guard the flock to minister
to the weak and the sick to resolve disputes.
When they are appointed to their position as elders This is the work that they
take on. This is the work that they agree to do.
Here in Choctaw I think we are well organized. However
it does take a lot of effort to oversee the teachers and the teaching program for
so many classes. I think brother Harold mentioned that 80 people.
80 people involved in teaching.
And to work with and encourage the
ministers we have three full time ministers and the deacons as well of course with all
of their separate tasks. To visit and pray with the sick
to encourage young families to care for the aged shut ins.
I hope you recognize that doing all of this requires hours of work away from home
visiting on the phone sending cards having meetings.
And four of our elders are retired but three of our men still have full time jobs.
So we need to pray and cooperate with them because it takes time and effort.
And sacrifice to be a true shepherd.
In the future those who desire to become elders should understand the burden
of ministry that comes with this role. Don't take on the role if you're not ready
to take on the burden of ministry. And don't criticize one of
our elders if he happens to retire because of the burden that he's carried for
so long and needs to rest.
We all benefit from elders who carry out their ministry.
So we should all share in the prayers and the support and the encouragement of
our elders and their families because they carry the burden of character.
As well as the burden of ministry.
Another burden that elders carry. Is the burden of responsibility.
Harry Truman former president of the United States had that famous sign on his desk
that said "the buck stops here."
Of course you didn't mean the buck like the dollar. He meant the blame
the responsibility as in passing the buck for you younger people
here who are not familiar with this saying.
Of course in politics the good thing about having the final responsibility is that you
also get to make the rules.
In business, the boss is responsible, so the boss sets the rules.
The boss is the one who hires, the boss is the one who fires, he cracks the whip (he or she)
cracks the whip if necessary. But in the church.
We already have the rules they're here. We don't make up our own rules.
And we already have a boss so to speak. His name is Jesus Christ.
What God gives us in Elders. Are people who are
responsible for teaching us these rules and
making sure that these rules are these teachings are done properly.
He's given us man to protect us against
those who would hurt us spiritually. He's given us these men
to guarantee that the gospel will continue to be preached even after they are gone.
And they are here by God's charge
for loving and caring for us even when we are weak or sick.
Or troubled. Or dying.
For loving and caring for us even when we don't love ourselves
even when we have become unlovable. God has put the charge to
them. To love us. Nevertheless.
This is the burden of responsibility of the elders the
things that God will hold them accountable for. I don't know about
you but this is a pretty tall order, isn't it?
I mean, who can do this?
I think most elders don't quite see all of this when they signed up to do the work.
Yeah become an elder. Yeah I think. I think that's a good idea.
Yeah I believe you know be with the men.
You know I'll be able to give some direction. Yeah sounds pretty
good till the first meeting.
But if they persevere and allow God to humble them and remake them they will
find that he can equip them through the grace of his love and the wisdom of his word
to rise to the level of maturity in Christ.
Not attained by many of us because along with
the responsibility comes an opportunity an
opportunity in Christ that not many receive in life.
You see that's the secret. The burden of responsibility is great.
But the potential in Christ is so exquisite.
So you may be asking yourself, 'why is he preaching this lesson?'
It seems so narrow so focused on so few. After all we only have
seven brothers who are elders and they're all staring at me.
[laughs]
And here I thought there'd be a big crowd you know you get lost in the crowd. No.
The reason that I'm teaching this particular lesson for these particular people are the following.
1. Well it's part of my ministry as a preacher.
Paul tells the young preacher Timothy I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus who is to judge the living in the dead and by his appearing and
His Kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season
reprove rebuke exhort with great patience and instruction. II Timothy 4:2.
And so the preacher is supposed to provide this
not just for the members but for everyone including the leadership.
In Titus when Paul tells Titus to raise up elders.
He doesn't just mean to appoint them on a given day. He means to find them and motivate
them and train them and encourage them and also to raise their sights higher.
You know the elders encourage and they teach they lead they comfort us. But here's
my question. Who encourages them?
Who rebukes them? Who teaches them?
Who admonishes them? Well the Bible tells us that well that's the
evangelists role to do this.
This is God's perfect and balanced plan.
I want personally, I want our elders to see and to strive for the highest vision
of their role possible.
Secondly I preach this lesson to inspire others.
And that's the real reason that I am saddened that such bad weather that we
had tonight we have such a smaller crowd.
How will a man desire if he doesn't see.
We are going to need more elders who wish to aspire to the high calling of eldership.
I want to plant the seed in hearts.
I want to strike the fire in someone's soul so that you will give more
of yourself than you've ever dreamed that you could.
So this lesson is also a call to ask God to raise up
more man who will take on the important task
of being God's shepherds.
I also preach this lesson for the wives of our elders. No leader
can lead without a help mate who loves the Lord as much as he does.
I want to give to each elder's wife each future elder's wife the notion that her
husband's calling and vocation is an enterprise worthy of her full devotion.
I want her to know that as the spouse she shares in the success or the
failure, in the reward as well as the repute.
I call out to the elders wives to make this a priority in your lives
knowing that if you don't. He won't either.
And I preach this lesson for the congregation.
I want you to know the value in the context of the height and the depth of the
sacrifice that ordinary people are making for you
and for me.
Elders and their families are like your family, except for one main difference.
When you go to bed, you think about your life and
your family. But when elders go to bed they think and pray not only for
their own family but they carry the burden of your family with them
into their sleep.
Perhaps you have had a tragedy or a crisis in your life.
And one of your first calls was to the office or to Marty because of
course he serves in the dual capacity as the pulpit minister but else
also as an elder or your first call goes to Johnny or one of our elders.
Oh my sons had a terrible accident. All right on each at the hospital at you know and
your crisis in he is there in your crisis
until hopefully it passes and there's some you know some sort of resolution.
That the reality of the situation is that well that was your crisis.
Your one crisis in your own life.
But that may have been his fifth crisis this week.
You and I we only have our own crisis but they must
participate in everybody's crisis. Who are they
that they should have to do this thing. They don't get paid for it.
There's no great honor.
I mean you know they don't they don't get a limo.
There's no applause or anything like that.
The reward is from the Lord in the future.
Why do they have to do all of that?
Remember that, when you pray. Remember that, when you see them.
And let your words and actions support them in the burden of leadership.
And of course the greatest burden of all that the elders carry is for unsaved
souls especially those souls who are close by or even within these
walls. So as I close out this lesson this evening.
I encourage anyone who needs to unburden their souls of sin
certainly to coming confess Christ be baptized.
To remove that burden from your heart and from your soul.
And I also want to remind you.
That we will need. Preachers and
elders and deacons.
Who are they in this congregation? Who's going to be the next elder?
And join the ones that we have in service, who are the next deacons?
That will take on important ministry responsibility
who are going to be the preachers. You know Marty is getting so old.
You know. I got an amen. I didn't get anything for the sermon but I got
amen on how old you look.
[laughs]
You can still hear it. No seriously were it worse the young blood.
I've been back seven, back, you know seven years.
I haven't seen. I hadn't heard one single person say I want to go to a preacher school. I want to do this. I want
to go and be a minister. Will you help me of anybody come to the elders asked for money to be a preacher?
At this rate. Why should we have to put an ad. I mean we're
350 to 400 people. Why should we ever have to put an
ad in the paper to look for a preacher who has to come from
I don't know where New Mexico or California or Texas.
You mean we can grow our own here.
Where are those young man?
Where are those mature men who are in the strength of their lives?
In the in the meaty part of their lives. Are at the top of their game. They're at the top of
their game and they're in their careers. And where are those men
who are going to come and step up to to be deacons?
And we're are the ones who who will say,
"Here I am Lord, use me, use me, I'm ready to sacrifice my life
to shepherd your people.
Poor my life out as a sacrifice of service."
Where are those men?
Well we won't find them if we don't start praying.
If we don't start calling out to God telling us show us who they are Lord.
Better still put a burden on the hearts of some of these
individuals. Lord put it in the
heart of one of these young women or one of these mothers to to
encourage their husband to seek more fervently your will.
When taking on the responsibility of leadership
in the church. I don't usually do this.
This is not my way but I would like to close up my sermon
with a brief prayer.
At this time while reminding I look around and I kind of see
everyone here a member of the church.
Nevertheless if you've not been baptized of course come and become a Christian or if you need
the prayers of the church. Absolutely. But for now let's have a prayer together
as we close out this lesson about leadership.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your church. We are so grateful that
you have called us. And brought us into the kingdom
as we await your glorious return. Father.
And the eternity that we will spend with you and our Lord Jesus in
perfect harmony through your Holy Spirit.
Heavenly father we call out to you now. To put into the hearts and
minds of young man and an older man, Father,
the desire to serve you. The desire to put away the things of
childhood and take on the things of manhood to put away
the things of this world and take on the things
of the kingdom, Father. We pray Lord that you will raise
up among us, Godly men and Godly women
who will lead this congregation into the future.
We also pray Father that you bless those who are now in
the role of leadership, our shepherds and their wives We pray your blessing
on them for the burdens that they carry that you strengthen
them and encourage them these things. And for our deacons and their
wives that you help them father in the many tasks that are before them
and that they find joy in their service. Father.
And we pray also for those who preach and teach in this
congregation that you would continue to hold them up and
give them a clear mind and a clear understanding of your word and the courage to
speak it at every time. And Father we pray for the
congregation. That we will love one another and support one another and
especially pray for one another and especially pray for those who lead us
in Christ. Father we know you hear our prayer. We pray that you will answer
soon. All these things we pray in Jesus name.
Amen