In a church structure, there should be a number of leaders, or elders. The leadership of the church is a group of people, although there is a leader amongst that group. We need to be sensitive to what God wants to do. He is building His church, and we need to build a structure that allows Him to do what He wants to do among the congregation. We are ambassadors for Christ and we should share His good news with others who don’t know Him. There is a hurting world out there. We should share our faith and proclaim the Gospel. That is always paramount with what we do in the church because that is what Jesus wants us to do.
1 Peter 5:1-3
That is a description of what an elder is, or the leader of a church. They have a responsibility to feed the flock. What is an elder’s function? What are the qualifications for being an elder? They are the servant of all. God appoints whom He will, so He inspires who we appoint as elders.
The word ‘feed’ can be translated as to shepherd the flock of God. All the words used in the Bible to describe leaders in the church – overseer, pastor, bishop – are essentially describing one job. It isn’t that there are separate jobs in the functioning of a church. There have to be people who are in leadership over individual churches.
Titus 1:5
Acts 14:21-23
Appointing elders was not something random – it was very serious. It was the church of God, and it wasn’t done lightly. There are many other scriptures that show that the early church appointed elders.
Acts 6:3-4
God is directing his church, so those leading the church must be able to minister the word.
1 Timothy 5:17
There is no point having someone in leadership who does not know the Word of God and who is not clear on doctrine.
1 Timothy 3:4-5
Hebrews 13:17
The leaders of the church need to watch for the church’s souls. They are accountable for people’s souls and they have to look out for them. They should be aware of the circumstances in a person’s life that God might be working them through for the benefit of their souls.
Hebrews 13:7
It matters how the leader lives his life.
Acts 20:28
It is God’s church. It is not the leader’s church.
Ephesians 4:11-12
Elders are leaders which have the capacity to teach the Bible correctly.
1 Timothy 3:2
At the end of Jesus’ life He spoke to Peter and told him three times: ‘Feed my sheep’.
Jashua 5:13-15
Titus 1:9
There is a protection, where you have the leadership of the church who know about sound doctrine. Part of caring to the flock of God is protecting them from false teachings.
There is also a certain amount of discipline involved in being an elder or a teacher.
Matthew 18:15-17
If someone will not put something right, the leadership will be involved with it.
1 Peter 5:2-3
Someone in leadership does not have the church as his private workforce.
1 Timothy 3:1-13
The qualifications in leadership are very clear from that passage.
Titus 1:6-9
The job description for someone in leadership is clear. It should be that with a leader, what you see is the truth. There is no double life. They should be faithful, and fully aware of their responsibility before God to outwork what He wants from them, as God builds his church in his way and his time.
1 Peter 5:1-6
It is God who exalts you. All of us should be faithful, reliable and trustworthy. God will help us progress in our lives because all that we are and do is as unto God.
Matthew 23:11-12
Jesus, as our example, made Himself of no reputation. He took upon Himself the form of a man, so that He could go through life and end His life on the cross as the servant of all.
Leaders should be beyond reproach both inside and outside the church, and should be the servant of all.
John 10:9-11
Cast all your care upon him, because He cares for you.
Showing posts with label building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label building. Show all posts
Friday, 1 May 2009
Sunday, 4 May 2008
God is Building His Church
The book of Zechariah sets out God’s instructions to the children of Israel were to live as they rebuilt the temple. As God builds His church today, it is important that we should follow the principles He has set down for us.
There was a time when the people of Judea went into exile in Babylon. When the Persians took over there had been Babylonian rule for 50 years. There were three kings of Persia in quick succession, and Zechariah was there during the reign of Darius I. God used two prophets Haggai and Zechariah to tell the people to rebuild the temple, (which had been in ruins for between 50 and 70 years) and how they should treat each other.
Haggai particularly refers to the building of the temple.
Haggai 2:9
This was a specific rebuilding programme. Zechariah told the people how they should treat one another, and how to go about things, and explained to them how jealous God was for His people. What looked impossible was to become possible because of God’s intervention.
We are living in a time where God is building His church. And the people of God at the time of Zechariah ... the dealings of God were all to do with His care for His people. Nothing has changed.
Zechariah 8:1-2
God was jealous for the people of Jerusalem and God is careful for what He is doing in building His church.
This includes everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are. There will be the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and this will happen. It doesn’t matter what you experience at the moment – this will happen.
Zechariah 8:6-8
You will see that God is so concerned about the preservation of His people that He will do this. He will be their God in truth and righteousness – no hidden agendas.
Zechariah 8:9-12
This was music to their ears – so different from the state they were in. It was an impossibility become possible. They began to grasp what Zechariah was saying. It shall come to pass.
Zechariah 8:9-13
They were establishing things in a country which had been overrun for a long time. Some of the people would have been thinking back to their foundation and wondering how things had been before the temple had been destroyed.
Verse 16 is very practical, because God knew there had to be certain standards for things to work.
Zechariah 8:16-17
There are certain things God hates:
1. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour. God hates the opposite of that. We need to speak the truth with our neighbour. I recently read a book – “The death of spin”. Spin had become so much of everyone’s world that the truth had disappeared.
2. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. With truth you don’t get tumult, hate.
3. Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour. That extends to the practice of me thinking the best of someone, not wishing ill of someone. I want to build you up, to see you blossom in God, in your life. I don’t wish ill on my neighbour.
4. Love no false oath. If you know something is a lie, don’t amplify it, don’t love it, and don’t dwell on it. For Jerusalem, the way forward was God’s truth and righteousness.
Zechariah 8:18-23
God is quite able to glorify His own name, and is doing so. He is building His church. The Book of Zechariah, more than any other minor prophet, is to do with foretelling the Messiah to come.
Zechariah 9:9
That’s Jesus. Zechariah is talking about the temple and about how you should treat each other – and look at what is coming down the line.
Zechariah 9:11
There are about seven or eight places which refer specifically to the coming Messiah.
God in His fury was jealous for His people. And when Jesus went to the Cross for you and me, He was jealous for your salvation. He had you on His mind. “For the joy which was set before Him.” What was that joy? His glorious church? Who is that church? You and me? Who else will be part of that? I don’t know, but we’re part of God’s church here and in the wider world.
Matthew 16:13-18
How can a gate be active? In old times, the gates of the city were the most fortified area. And often the council met in a room in those gates. So taking that thought, it doesn’t matter what is being planned, what the machinations of hell are – those machinations will not prevail against what I am doing in building my church. That’s why Jesus came – to break the power of sin in people’s lives. To create a church where there is love between brother and sister – not a place of hatred and discord. As a Christian, Jesus Christ lives within an individual. And it is for us to rejoice in what God is doing, in His way, to build His church.
Zechariah told them to rebuild the temple, but to bear in mind the way they treated one another. Don’t imagine evil against one another. Don’t cash in on pulling someone down.
God knows what He is doing, and He is doing it. Whatever He is doing will be to His glory. How ever things outwork, it will be to His glory, because He will build His church, and you are part of that, because of His love for you and me. What do you mean by love? I mean moving heaven and earth to make sure your life was different, to make sure you had a new start, to ensure that you were changed on the inside. God has opened your eyes, so you want to do what God wants in your life. Has He opened your eyes? Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, because God has opened your eyes. And I’m building my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He is building His church, and it’s a wonderful thing.
He can take what is impossible and make it possible. He can take a pile of stones which have been overrun and rebuild. And He can take those things which will outwork His plan. He was jealous for His people, and He was so careful for you and me that He sent His son.
He saw you and me when He was on that Cross, and He knew that taking into Himself sin and the power of sin would set you free now, so that your life would bring glory to His name, so that you’d want to do what He wants for your life. Would He play cat and mouse with you? Not at all – He’s your heavenly Father. Whatever situation you’re facing, He’ll give you the answer. He is the answer.
There was a time when the people of Judea went into exile in Babylon. When the Persians took over there had been Babylonian rule for 50 years. There were three kings of Persia in quick succession, and Zechariah was there during the reign of Darius I. God used two prophets Haggai and Zechariah to tell the people to rebuild the temple, (which had been in ruins for between 50 and 70 years) and how they should treat each other.
Haggai particularly refers to the building of the temple.
Haggai 2:9
This was a specific rebuilding programme. Zechariah told the people how they should treat one another, and how to go about things, and explained to them how jealous God was for His people. What looked impossible was to become possible because of God’s intervention.
We are living in a time where God is building His church. And the people of God at the time of Zechariah ... the dealings of God were all to do with His care for His people. Nothing has changed.
Zechariah 8:1-2
God was jealous for the people of Jerusalem and God is careful for what He is doing in building His church.
This includes everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are. There will be the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and this will happen. It doesn’t matter what you experience at the moment – this will happen.
Zechariah 8:6-8
You will see that God is so concerned about the preservation of His people that He will do this. He will be their God in truth and righteousness – no hidden agendas.
Zechariah 8:9-12
This was music to their ears – so different from the state they were in. It was an impossibility become possible. They began to grasp what Zechariah was saying. It shall come to pass.
Zechariah 8:9-13
They were establishing things in a country which had been overrun for a long time. Some of the people would have been thinking back to their foundation and wondering how things had been before the temple had been destroyed.
Verse 16 is very practical, because God knew there had to be certain standards for things to work.
Zechariah 8:16-17
There are certain things God hates:
1. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour. God hates the opposite of that. We need to speak the truth with our neighbour. I recently read a book – “The death of spin”. Spin had become so much of everyone’s world that the truth had disappeared.
2. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. With truth you don’t get tumult, hate.
3. Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour. That extends to the practice of me thinking the best of someone, not wishing ill of someone. I want to build you up, to see you blossom in God, in your life. I don’t wish ill on my neighbour.
4. Love no false oath. If you know something is a lie, don’t amplify it, don’t love it, and don’t dwell on it. For Jerusalem, the way forward was God’s truth and righteousness.
Zechariah 8:18-23
God is quite able to glorify His own name, and is doing so. He is building His church. The Book of Zechariah, more than any other minor prophet, is to do with foretelling the Messiah to come.
Zechariah 9:9
That’s Jesus. Zechariah is talking about the temple and about how you should treat each other – and look at what is coming down the line.
Zechariah 9:11
There are about seven or eight places which refer specifically to the coming Messiah.
God in His fury was jealous for His people. And when Jesus went to the Cross for you and me, He was jealous for your salvation. He had you on His mind. “For the joy which was set before Him.” What was that joy? His glorious church? Who is that church? You and me? Who else will be part of that? I don’t know, but we’re part of God’s church here and in the wider world.
Matthew 16:13-18
How can a gate be active? In old times, the gates of the city were the most fortified area. And often the council met in a room in those gates. So taking that thought, it doesn’t matter what is being planned, what the machinations of hell are – those machinations will not prevail against what I am doing in building my church. That’s why Jesus came – to break the power of sin in people’s lives. To create a church where there is love between brother and sister – not a place of hatred and discord. As a Christian, Jesus Christ lives within an individual. And it is for us to rejoice in what God is doing, in His way, to build His church.
Zechariah told them to rebuild the temple, but to bear in mind the way they treated one another. Don’t imagine evil against one another. Don’t cash in on pulling someone down.
God knows what He is doing, and He is doing it. Whatever He is doing will be to His glory. How ever things outwork, it will be to His glory, because He will build His church, and you are part of that, because of His love for you and me. What do you mean by love? I mean moving heaven and earth to make sure your life was different, to make sure you had a new start, to ensure that you were changed on the inside. God has opened your eyes, so you want to do what God wants in your life. Has He opened your eyes? Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, because God has opened your eyes. And I’m building my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He is building His church, and it’s a wonderful thing.
He can take what is impossible and make it possible. He can take a pile of stones which have been overrun and rebuild. And He can take those things which will outwork His plan. He was jealous for His people, and He was so careful for you and me that He sent His son.
He saw you and me when He was on that Cross, and He knew that taking into Himself sin and the power of sin would set you free now, so that your life would bring glory to His name, so that you’d want to do what He wants for your life. Would He play cat and mouse with you? Not at all – He’s your heavenly Father. Whatever situation you’re facing, He’ll give you the answer. He is the answer.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Speak Right Live Right
The way we speak and the way we live are intimately connected. God has wonderful things in store for us, but we need to make sure our what passes our lips is what He wants.
James 3:1-3
Controlling your tongue and what you speak is a vital part of living the right way.
James 3:3-6
Just as a bit in a horse’s mouth can control the horse, so even though the tongue is small it can have an impact on things.
James 3:6
He was emphasising this whole aspect of the use of our tongue and what we say. We can cut someone dead or build them up, bless them or curse them.
James 3:7-9
Isn’t this a bit over the top – to say that the tongue is almost evil of itself? In the beginning was the word, and the word was of God. God is a communicating God. He wants to communicate with us and be in fellowship, and He is the word. James is saying that when you use words in the wrong way, you’re going against what God was doing, if you use your means of communication to do the work of evil.
James 3:9-12
The first twelve verses of this chapter are all about the problem of the tongue. In the second part of the chapter, he moves to what we should be doing with our tongue. Some people feel you have to be natural, to be yourself. But we need to be naturally supernatural. As a Christian, it’s Christ that lives inside. I don’t like swearing. I think a looseness has come in. Some people will say I’m just being religious. But you wouldn’t encourage a small child to swear would you?
James 3:13
The way you live – your conversation, your manner of life – out of that way, show who you are with meekness of wisdom.
James 3:14-17
He’s gone deeper here. If you have bitter envying and strife in your heart, what comes out of your tongue will reveal it, and bitterness and envying will kill you and destroy others. If you have these things in your heart, don’t boast about it. It’s earthly, natural, devilish.
Where envy and strife is, there is every evil work. If I’m gossiping about someone behind their backs, there is in my heart that which will destroy me. That doesn’t mean we don’t judge. But if I cash in on a conversation which pulls someone else down, there is confusion, tumult, every evil work. You know if a conversation is going that way, it’s easy to throw your bit in...
As we go forward together, and together we’re going forward as God wants us to go forward, as His people, and we’re part of a worldwide. If we have envy and strife, there will be confusion and evil works.
James 3:17
Eight things which are the wisdom from above. I want to get involved in that wisdom because Christ lives inside me. I am involved in it. I have a choice. I can use what I’m saying in accordance with that wisdom, or I can go contrary to it. Eight things which are from above, and we didn’t get these from our first birth, but from when God got hold of us on the inside and changed us.
James 3:18
We are facing a critical time over the next weeks. And that time God knows about. And that time will result in God being glorified in what He is doing.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Philippians 1:9-13
We kick off with love – that it may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment.
By your fruit ye shall know them. Fruit is apparent. The wisdom from above is apparent. God’s love and life in your heart is apparent. And what I pray, is that ye being filled with the fruits of Jesus ... it’s wonderful, glorious, as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who took sin into His own body, rose from the dead and conquered death so you can live forever, and so that the creator God will cause you to be thankful joyful, and enable you to achieve His destiny for you in your life.
We don't know what will happen to the younger generation. But i know we want them to know Him as Saviour. Am I confident in that? Yes. Can we educate them into it? No. How we will help? We will help the parents work as a unit, helping but not interfere.
God’s going to build his glorious church. How will he do it? We don't know we need to take it a day at a time, and God is in control, and there is no reason to fear anything. Perfect love casts out fear. Who is perfect love? Jesus Christ. Who lives inside you? He does. Are you afraid? No.
But whatever God wants for your life, that’s where we want to be. Whatever God wants is the best. And it’s rooted and founded in Him, in His love for you and for me.
It’s a wonderful Gospel.
I have no doubt that in the weeks ahead, people will be drawn across your path, and you’ll invite them, and He’ll meet them. We need to make sure that we reach out and do not isolate people, and we’ll reach out together for whatever He has in store for us – filled with the fruits of righteousness: not with the miracles, but with the fruits of righteousness. God will do miracles, yes, but we’ll reach out filled with the fruits of righteousness.
James 3:1-3
Controlling your tongue and what you speak is a vital part of living the right way.
James 3:3-6
Just as a bit in a horse’s mouth can control the horse, so even though the tongue is small it can have an impact on things.
James 3:6
He was emphasising this whole aspect of the use of our tongue and what we say. We can cut someone dead or build them up, bless them or curse them.
James 3:7-9
Isn’t this a bit over the top – to say that the tongue is almost evil of itself? In the beginning was the word, and the word was of God. God is a communicating God. He wants to communicate with us and be in fellowship, and He is the word. James is saying that when you use words in the wrong way, you’re going against what God was doing, if you use your means of communication to do the work of evil.
James 3:9-12
The first twelve verses of this chapter are all about the problem of the tongue. In the second part of the chapter, he moves to what we should be doing with our tongue. Some people feel you have to be natural, to be yourself. But we need to be naturally supernatural. As a Christian, it’s Christ that lives inside. I don’t like swearing. I think a looseness has come in. Some people will say I’m just being religious. But you wouldn’t encourage a small child to swear would you?
James 3:13
The way you live – your conversation, your manner of life – out of that way, show who you are with meekness of wisdom.
James 3:14-17
He’s gone deeper here. If you have bitter envying and strife in your heart, what comes out of your tongue will reveal it, and bitterness and envying will kill you and destroy others. If you have these things in your heart, don’t boast about it. It’s earthly, natural, devilish.
Where envy and strife is, there is every evil work. If I’m gossiping about someone behind their backs, there is in my heart that which will destroy me. That doesn’t mean we don’t judge. But if I cash in on a conversation which pulls someone else down, there is confusion, tumult, every evil work. You know if a conversation is going that way, it’s easy to throw your bit in...
As we go forward together, and together we’re going forward as God wants us to go forward, as His people, and we’re part of a worldwide. If we have envy and strife, there will be confusion and evil works.
James 3:17
Eight things which are the wisdom from above. I want to get involved in that wisdom because Christ lives inside me. I am involved in it. I have a choice. I can use what I’m saying in accordance with that wisdom, or I can go contrary to it. Eight things which are from above, and we didn’t get these from our first birth, but from when God got hold of us on the inside and changed us.
James 3:18
We are facing a critical time over the next weeks. And that time God knows about. And that time will result in God being glorified in what He is doing.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Philippians 1:9-13
We kick off with love – that it may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment.
By your fruit ye shall know them. Fruit is apparent. The wisdom from above is apparent. God’s love and life in your heart is apparent. And what I pray, is that ye being filled with the fruits of Jesus ... it’s wonderful, glorious, as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who took sin into His own body, rose from the dead and conquered death so you can live forever, and so that the creator God will cause you to be thankful joyful, and enable you to achieve His destiny for you in your life.
We don't know what will happen to the younger generation. But i know we want them to know Him as Saviour. Am I confident in that? Yes. Can we educate them into it? No. How we will help? We will help the parents work as a unit, helping but not interfere.
God’s going to build his glorious church. How will he do it? We don't know we need to take it a day at a time, and God is in control, and there is no reason to fear anything. Perfect love casts out fear. Who is perfect love? Jesus Christ. Who lives inside you? He does. Are you afraid? No.
But whatever God wants for your life, that’s where we want to be. Whatever God wants is the best. And it’s rooted and founded in Him, in His love for you and for me.
It’s a wonderful Gospel.
I have no doubt that in the weeks ahead, people will be drawn across your path, and you’ll invite them, and He’ll meet them. We need to make sure that we reach out and do not isolate people, and we’ll reach out together for whatever He has in store for us – filled with the fruits of righteousness: not with the miracles, but with the fruits of righteousness. God will do miracles, yes, but we’ll reach out filled with the fruits of righteousness.
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