The Beginning of the End

And so it begins. The end I mean. Yes, I truly believe that the Supreme Court's decision today marks the beginning of the end for this once-great nation. It is true that we have been on this path for some time now, but to shake your judicial activist's fist in the face of Holy God and decree that His first-created institution, marriage, is something to be toyed with.... The "law of the land" has just finalized our positioning as a nation in the most devastating game of chicken ever. You remember the game, I'm sure -- where drivers race toward each other at high speed only to see who will be the first to turn away. I feel that all three branches of our government have just challenged God, and I guarantee you that He will not turn away.

The Old Testament speaks a great deal about "cups/bowls of iniquity." The idea is that God has some great container into which the sins of a nation are deposited. While the bowl is filling, God is patient, and as a loving God He is sending His messengers to the people of that nation begging them to return to Him. As the bowl grows more full, He sends disciplinary actions to get their attention. Sometimes it is financial difficulty. Sometimes it is a natural disaster. Perhaps an attack by ungodly people. Maybe an epidemic or two. God can and does use anything to get their attention. You see this all throughout the Old Testament. Sometimes the people responded. They cried out in repentance. God forgave their sin and healed their land. Other times they continued to shake their fists in God's face declaring that they no longer needed Him. And when the bowl began to overflow, His judgment poured down. His wrath was released. And the people were no more. It happened to the Canaanites. The Moabites. The Assyrians. The Syrians. The Israelites. The Judahites. There are many others in the Old Testament, but there are many more in the history books. Every nation that has turned away from God has suffered His wrath.

For some time now, I and many other preachers have proclaimed that God was trying to get our attention. We have witnessed financial calamity, natural disasters of biblical proportions, terrorist attacks, horrible diseases, etc. Every once in a while, there is a slight repentance, and God responds as He promises. But we have continued down the slippery slope heading faster and faster into the abyss of immorality and godlessness. Today's decision by our Supreme Court may very well have been, in my opinion, the sin that has caused the bowl of our iniquity to overflow. God's wrath is coming. I know it. The signs are clear. You may not believe in the blood moons that drew everyone's attention for a little while. You may not accept the teaching of the Shemitah -- perhaps you consider all of the disasters that have accompanied God's timetable as coincidental. (For more details, Google Jonathan Cahn's teaching on the Shemitah.) But know this. God has always been faithful to His Word. What He says, He does. He has promised to judge the nations for their sin, and if the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were enough to cause Him to rain fire and brimstone from heaven, the sins of the United States of America will surely draw His wrath.

When we heard the announcement of the Supreme Court's decision, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn't breathe. I felt sick at my stomach. I believe a righteous indignation/holy anger filled my heart. My thought was, "How can this world be so stupid?" And literally, God spoke to me. No, I didn't hear an audible voice, but in my heart, I heard Him say, "The god of this world has blinded their eyes." Satan has deceived them with his lies. They have given in to doctrines of demons, seduced by the pseudo-sciences of our day. They do not know the truth. So how do we respond as Christians? With love. With truth. With a lifestyle of holiness that says, "I will obey God no matter what." We must continue (and for some of us that means that we must begin) to be the salt and the light that Jesus said that we are. We must keep proclaiming the Word of God, demonstrating the love of God, and living in the power of God so that the world will see that our only hope is through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Call to Prayer Pt. 5

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” There is no other discipline in the Bible that better fulfills all of the requirements set out in this verse than fasting. As a result of that, God promises that He will hear our cries, will forgive our sin, and heal our land. I don't know about you, but that sounds like what we desperately need today.

And yet, we don't fast much. We don't even talk about fasting much. But in Numbers 29, God proclaims a fast one day out of the year for the Day of Atonement -- a day of humbling oneself, seeking God's forgiveness and healing. In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast because a mighty army from Moab and Ammon came together against Judah. He was afraid. He knew that he needed God's help. So all of Judah came together to seek help from God. As a result, God heard their prayers and in verses 16-17 said, Go down against them, but you won't need to fight. Just stand and watch the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. Don't be afraid. God answered their prayers.

In Ezra 10, we read that Ezra fasted over the unfaithfulness of the exiles to God. They held a holy convocation in Jerusalem. And in a pouring rain they gathered and listened to the man of God, and God's Spirit brought conviction and power and change to the people's lives. In Nehemiah 9, the people of Israel assembled themselves with fasting and in sackcloth. They separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers. For 1/4th of the day they listened to the word of God read, and for 1/4th of the day they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. At the end of it all, the people of Israel made a new commitment to the Lord. That sounds to me like what we desperately need today. In the book of Jonah, the entire city of Nineveh faced destruction at the hands of God because of their wickedness. When they heard Jonah's message, the power of God's Spirit came upon them, they called a fast, put on sackcloth, humbled themselves before God and repented of their sin. God forgave them. Judgment was averted.

You say, “Preacherman, that's all Old Testament.” Okay, then. John the Baptist fasted. Jesus fasted. The apostle Paul fasted. The early church fasted, and we know the results of those fasts. Listen to me. We could spend hours talking about biblical examples of fasting, Old and New Testament. All I know is what I read in God's Word, and as I read example after example of fasting, there begins to emerge a principle. It answers the question that perhaps some of you are asking: Why should I fast? I'll tell you. You and I need to fast because we want God to do something great. Because we want Him to purify our motives and our enthusiasm. Because we are desperate for God to do something supernatural in our lives, in our ministry here, and in our nation. And the fact is, the length of our fast should be determined by the magnitude of that desperation.

And the church ought to be desperate today. Like the church at Ephesus in Rev. 2, we have left our first love. Our love for God isn't what it used to be, and because of that, the church in general is sorely divided. Instead of being an oasis in the middle of the desert and a haven of rest for those who are spiritually weary, our churches have become battle zones for the spiritually carnal. And my friends, God is not pleased with division within His family.

The church ought to be desperate today because of the image we are portraying to the world. We are supposed to be the salt and the light. We are supposed to influence our morally bankrupt society. Instead, many Christians have lost their savor and are leaving a bad taste in the mouth of society. Instead of portraying the image that we are more than conquerors, Christians are struggling to survive in the world and are not working to preserve it. When some are confronted with the world's conditions and the call to Christian action, many just say, "Jesus said it's going to get worse, so why worry about it?" Instead of being motivated to help spread the gospel and share their faith, they live for the rapture, for the great escape.

The church ought to be desperate for God to work in our midst, but know this. God’s response to our cries for help comes as a sovereign act of God as the result of His people meeting His conditions by responding to the Holy Spirit. Do you know what that response is? Revival! Revival is God's answer to sincere, prevailing prayer. Revival is bringing to life that which was dead, and when God sends revival, He will grip His people with deep conviction, repentance, forgiveness, and deliverance from personal sins. God will fill His people with the Holy Spirit and will manifest in them the fruit and grace of the Holy Spirit. God will fill the church and community with His presence and power. God will ignite in His people a passion to bring the lost to Christ. God will cause the lost to earnestly seek Him. That's what God will do in revival, but we must catch the vision of God's call to revival. We must heed the call to repentance, fasting and prayer. Before God will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land, believers must humble themselves and seek His face in fasting and prayer. And when we do, God will send a spiritual awakening as His people obey His call and yield themselves in repentance to the Spirit of God. As the psalmist says, a broken and contrite heart will always find favor with God.

New Blog Location

At the end of this week, I will stop using this site for my blog. If you have followed me here, go to www.drbenhayes.com, click on the link for Preacherman's Blog and follow me there. Thank you.

Call to Prayer Pt. 4

Please note that this is continued from yesterday’s post. and is a little longer than normal.

What we need to understand as the church of the Living God today is that there is much that we can accomplish and much that we do accomplish outside of the realm of God's supernatural power. We can build buildings without God's supernatural power. We can plan successful programs without God's supernatural power. We can see our children baptized without God's supernatural power. We can call staff members without God's supernatural power. In fact, churches can and many do function completely without God's supernatural power. Just as the disciples went out healing many, but when the real challenge came, they were powerless.

Now, let me explain what I mean by God's supernatural power. I am NOT talking about excitement, emotion, or even enthusiasm. I am NOT talking about tongues, talents or even trances. I am NOT talking about publicity, popularity, or even profession. I am talking about humility that leads to holiness in living, hope for the future, hallelujahs for the present, healing of spiritual diseases, and Hell-assaulting ministries. I am talking about prayer that's more than words, proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to not only profession of faith but possession of faith. I am talking about power from on high that leads us to exalt Jesus and evangelize the lost. I am talking about God manifesting His presence in our lives and in our churches so that His supernatural power works in and through us in an extraordinary way -- in a way that cannot be accomplished outside of His power.

Have you ever wondered why prayers aren't “answered.” Oh, some of our prayers are answered, but I am talking about prayers concerning our lost friends and loved ones. I am talking about the gang problems, race issues, drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, abortion, and so many other things that have become prevalent in our society. I am talking about a young man going into a church in Charleston and killing 9 people and wounding others all because they are of a different race. Why are these things happening in record numbers? Because this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.

What we need to understand today is that these things are only the symptoms of the problem. The problem is plain old-fashioned Satanic wickedness that possesses, overpowers, and controls. It is the same story from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane. And the solution, the cure, is God's supernatural power.

In the midst of the mundane, mediocre, same-old, same-old, half-hearted praying without much expectation, imagine the excitement of experiencing a fresh touch by something out of the ordinary. Consider how shattered the dull routine of average "everydayness" would be in the presence of Almighty God. My friends, I am telling you, if we would allow God to infuse us with His living secure hope, every desperate, fearful, confused moment in life would disappear.

You say, Preacher, how do you know that? Because God is still God. He hasn't changed, nor will He ever change. The God of the Bible is the same God who is waiting and willing to work in the lives of His people today. And people, when God comes, circumstances, situations, things and people change. When God moves, reality shakes and lives are transformed. When God works, He often does things in ways that are out of the ordinary and defy natural explanations. His power is above and beyond anything we can think, imagine, or expect. That is God's supernatural power, and that's what we need today.

How do I know that? Because Is. 58:6 tells us that God honors the kind of fasting and praying that looses the bands of wickedness, undoes the heavy burdens, lets the oppressed go free, and that breaks every yoke, destroys every stronghold that Satan has established.

How do I know that? Because II Chr. 7:14 says, If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. There is only one spiritual discipline that includes every one of these requirements: fasting and prayer. The purpose of fasting, and it's always combined with prayer, in God's Word has always been humility before God. Fasting is to seek to know God in a deeper experience. Fasting is to show sorrow over sin, and issues itself in confession and repentance. Fasting calls us to dependence on God for strength and renewal. Fasting prepares us to receive God's leadership, His guidance, His message for our day.

Fasting, true fasting is a bowing down of the soul and submission to God that leads to moral action. But like anything we do, it is worthless if it does not come from a sincere heart. Fasting is not a way to manipulate God or to fulfill selfish desires. Fasting is not done in order to draw attention to yourself. Fasting is improper while you continue in sin or harbor ungodly attitudes.

Times come when every Christian needs a fresh touch from God. Whether we drift from God, become distracted by competing interests, or become overwhelmed by the struggles of life, we need to reconnect with God. Sometimes we are overpowered by circumstances, intimidated by challenges, or suffer the pain of deep wounds. At those times our need for God becomes obvious. Our energy is exhausted, our plans crumble, and every remedy has failed. When the reality of who we are and who He is sets in, it's time to humble ourselves, cry out in desperation, lift our hands, and place our hope in the only one who can save us. And He is waiting to do it. Waiting to deliver us. Waiting to bless us. Waiting until we humble ourselves and pray. Waiting until we commit ourselves to radical obedience and absolute purity.

A Call to Prayer Pt. 3

Many years ago, I joined with thousands of other Southern Baptist pastors and laymen, kneeling on the floor of the Georgia Dome. Unprecedented in the years I have gone to the convention, Ronnie Floyd, Pastor of FBC Springdale, Arkansas, offered an invitation, and literally thousands responded. On that day, I committed myself to fast and pray for personal revival, for revival in my family, for revival in my church, and revival in this nation. And I wish I could tell you that the weeks that followed were the most wonderful time in my life. I wish I could tell you that it was easy. But it wasn't. You see, I'm addicted to food. Gotta have it. And every time I would try to fast and pray, opportunities to eat arose. When I would go without food for a day, the headaches came. Pastoral responsibilities, family responsibilities beckoned. But I am convinced that all of this was the carnal, fleshly, unspiritual man inside being empowered by Satan to defeat me in my commitment to my Lord.

And I failed. First, I thought of every reason why I couldn't and why I shouldn't fast. My health. My family. Baptist's don't fast. I even thought it might become a source of pride. But I quickly learned that in truth, true fasting doesn't bring pride--it destroys it. Suddenly, in the midst of fasting and prayer you suddenly become aware of how weak and insignificant you really are. Suddenly you realize that all of your ability, all of your strength, all of your organization and planning is nothing without the power of God in it.

You say, "Amen!" And most of us acknowledge freely that without God's strength we can do nothing, but my friends, it's one thing to say it; it's another thing to know it, believe it, and live by it.

I said earlier that I failed, but I pray that all of us could have the kind of failure that I experienced. Understand, I am not boasting. I have nothing to boast about. I failed to fast for the length of time that I committed to. But for the first time in my life, I fasted and I prayed. That was 18 years ago. And my friends, I want to tell you what a wonderful time spent with God. Looking to Him constantly and fellowshipping with Him for hours at a time, growing in His presence. That experience changed my life, and understand, it was not what I did but what God did in me and for me. In one sense I failed, but in another sense I realized for the first time what Jesus meant in our passage of Scripture. "This kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting." Why? Because as Dr. Floyd describes it, prayer and fasting is the gateway to God's supernatural power flowing into us and through us.

Look at a story in Matthew 17:14 – 21. By this time in the gospels, the disciples had heard Jesus' teaching, they had seen His miracles, and according to Mark 6 and Luke 9, they had already gone out on their own preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. You can understand their confusion. A father had brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples for healing. Perhaps he had heard of the miracles they had performed. Perhaps it was simply because of Jesus' reputation. He assumed the disciples could do the same. Whatever the reason, this father believed the disciples could heal his son. The disciples believed they could heal his son, but everything they tried failed.

The Word of God says that Jesus spoke, rebuking the devil and the child was cured. And look at what the disciples did. They came to Jesus and said, "Why couldn't we do that?" And Jesus said, “The number one reason is lack of faith.” And it's incredible because faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to move mountains. Look at what Jesus says in v. 10: “Nothing shall be impossible for you.” But notice the next thing Jesus says. “This kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.” Why? Because prayer and fasting is God's gateway to supernatural power.

 

More tomorrow!

A Call to Prayer Pt. 2

As I promised, I will share some of what I know about fasting and praying this week – even though no one agreed to join me in doing this. I know several of you retweeted, shared, and liked my post about calling us to prayer, but no one agree. Perhaps that is because it was so open-ended. At least that is what I am hoping. No one wants to commit to a 40 Day Fast, so let me explain what I am thinking. You can tailor your fast to whatever meets your need. You can fast for one meal, one day, multiple days. Depending on your physical health and medications you take, you may need to design your fast for something other than skipping meals. That is okay. The purpose of fasting, as I understand it, is to deny yourself of something meaningful and spend the time that you would normally do this activity in fervent, focused prayer. Biblically, fasting was focused on abstaining from food and water, sometimes from sunup to sundown and sometimes around the clock. Often, God would direct His people to avoid other activities. The point is that you make a commitment to God for a period of time and then spend that time praying and reading Scripture. Here are seven basic steps to consider before you make your decision about fasting.

Seven Basic Steps for Fasting

1. Set your objective. Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of a problem, for special grace to handle a difficult situation. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and clarify your objectives.

2. Make your commitment. Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Some fasts are total abstinence from food and water. This would be a short fast, usually from sunrise to sunset. Others would fast for a longer time not eating food but water is allowed. The longer fasts would require juices as well as water. But decide what kind of fast God is asking you to partake. The truth is, every believer could fast. One meal -- take the time for preparation and eating and spend it before the Lord. Fasting will require you to change your schedule, spend more time with the Lord, and reduce physical activities.

3. Prepare yourself spiritually. The very basis of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder prayers. Do this: Ask God to help you make a list of sins. Confess those sins to God. Accept God's forgiveness. Seek forgiveness from those you've offended, forgive all who have hurt you. Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads. Ask God to fill you afresh with His Spirit. Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. Choose to reject your worldly nature. Meditate on the things of God: His love, grace, power, sovereignty, wisdom, faithfulness, and grace. Fast with an expectant heart. Be prepared for Satanic opposition: problems to arise, temptations, etc...

4. Prepare yourself physically. Talk to your doctor if you take prescription medication or have a chronic sickness.

5. Put yourself on a schedule. Set aside ample time to spend with the Lord and to rest.

6. If you fast for a long period, end your fast gradually. Don't eat too much too soon.

7. Expect results. God will work.

Some of you are saying, “I can’t go without eating for a long period of time.” You don’t have to fast for weeks. Some fasts are for a period of several days and others are for a period of hours. You can fast from sundown to sundown, from sunup to sundown, or for one meal. The key is that for whatever period you choose to fast, you use that time to spend in prayer before the Lord. As one pastor put it, “If there were a $5 million check taped to the ceiling, you would be willing to miss lunch to get it, wouldn’t you?”

A Call to Prayer

I'm sorry I haven't been able to blog this week. I have been pretty busy with ministry responsibilities and trying to balance that with caring for my wife who was ill. I am thankful that she is feeling much better, but she is still suffering the side effects of having had a fever and the medications she took for that fever. The doctor said that it was a reaction to the travel vaccinations we took two weeks ago. Even though I confirmed that possibility with a pharmacist and my own personal physician, I am still a little skeptical. Yes, I know. They are the doctors, but two weeks? And she had a productive cough and sore throat. And the doctor gave her an antibiotic and cough syrup. Okay, okay. I know. They are the doctors.

And then it hit me. I have a doctorate. Yes, it's the kind that doesn't make any money, but I have spent my life (yes, my life) studying the Bible and struggling to live out its principles. I have spent 30+ years preaching and teaching it to believers new and old. I have seen many people come to know Christ. I have seen many being discipled. And I am now seeing many who are saying, "Yes, I know what you are saying is biblical, but...." From homosexuality to church polity, they are agreeing that my teachings are biblical, but for some reason, they no longer apply. Their explanations range from the culture in which we live to the traditions to which we have become accustomed. The interesting thing is that those who push back about homosexuality probably agree with the teachings of church polity and vice-versa. It is as if we have taken the "have it your way" philosophy and brought it into the Bible. As if we have the right or the intellect to pick and choose which parts of the Bible are correct and still applicable to our lives. We don't, and we aren't! Folks, Christianity is an all or nothing lifestyle. Jesus made that perfectly clear. "If anyone wants to follow me, " He said, "He must deny himself, take up his cross and come after me." That doesn't sound like a pick and choose kind of statement. It is all or nothing. That's why He also said, "Many will say, 'Lord, Lord,' but I will say to them, 'Depart from me, for I never knew you.'" I fear that many professing Christians have been deceived or have deceived themselves because of the easy beliefism that has been taught in recent decades. We need to get back to the Bible and become New Testament Christians and churches again, and we need to do it right now.

As you read this, I hope you know that what I am saying is borne out of a heart filled with love and compassion and a spirit that has a sense of urgency that I have never known before. I believe with all of my heart that our time on earth is short. I believe that in the very near future that the church in America is going to face severe restrictions on what we say and do with potentially powerful consequences. I believe that we are losing the battle for the souls of men and women because we have become powerless in the battle. Why are we powerless? Because we have gotten away from the truth of the Word of God. We say we believe it, but we do not apply the Word in every aspect of our lives. We are not living holy lives so we are not serving as the salt and the light that has the power to transform the hearts and lives of men. People see no difference in us and feel no need to be converted. Converted. That means changed from what we are to what we need to be. Another good word is transformed. That biblical word comes from the word we translate as metamorphosis. Like caterpillars turning into butterflies, our lives as Christians should be drastically different from our lives as non-Christians. But the only way that will happen is if we get back to the Word of God. Would you be willing to join me in this quest? Would you be willing to fast (yes, fast) and pray fervently with me for God to transform our lives first and then work through us to transform the lives of others? If so, would you reply in the comments to this blog or comment on Facebook.  If you agree with what I have said, would you share it, retweet it, and e-mail this to all of your friends? Over the next few days, I will share a little about how we fast and pray and how it can make a difference in our lives.

Father, bless this call to transformation. Use us for your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

Changing Plans

Changing Plans

Whew! What an adventure. I had written last week that we would be taking a different direction in the blog for a few days. Little did I know that we were going to have a whirlwind of events to change our plans. My goal was to spend this week blogging about our Southern Baptist Convention taking place in Columbus, Ohio. Well, that isn’t going to happen. On our way to Pensacola, Florida where we were going to catch a flight to Columbus, we received heartbreaking news about one of our new members. Her son had been found dead. Our hearts were broken for her, and our desire was to get back to Decatur to minister to the family. We made some phone calls to make sure that she would be ministered to until we could make it back. I am so proud that several people from our church stepped in to act as the hands and feet of Jesus to show His love to the family. Almost immediately following those phone calls, our SUV decided to act up. Yes, it’s almost 10 years old and problems often arise, but it is paid for! To make a long story just a little shorter, we made it to Pensacola, cancelled all of our reservations, and finally got our SUV in the shop on Saturday. Anyway, we made it back to Decatur late yesterday afternoon and had an opportunity to visit with the family whose loved one died.

Now, let me explain a couple of things. We drove down to Pensacola to catch a flight simply because our son-in-law has a birthday this coming Thursday. Our plan was to fly back to Pensacola on Thursday so that we could be with him on his special day. You see, birthdays are a big deal in our family. We refer to them as birthday Hanukahs, and we usually celebrate for weeks. Nothing big, but we love to give gifts and have special meals. But as you know, plans change. I think God sometimes watches as we make our plans and just kind of laughs and says, “That’s what you think.” We spent several hours agonizing over what we needed to do. I prayed and felt miserable. I felt the need to be in Decatur, but I also felt like I needed to be at the convention. I couldn’t “sense” God’s direction, but I just didn’t “feel” satisfied with the thought of continuing on with our plans. So I cancelled all of our reservations. I have never received such customer service in my life. Everyone was willing to cancel everything with the promise that I would have a year to use my airline tickets, the hotel didn’t even charge me a night’s stay, and the rental car did the same. No questions. No hassle. Just service. And suddenly there was peace about the decision. Yes, I still hated that I wasn’t going to the SBC, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Sometimes God waits for us to make a decision before He gives us direction. I am always reminded of Moses at times like this. He asked God, “How will I KNOW that you sent me to deliver your people from their bondage in Egypt?” God’s response: “When you are standing in the Promised Land, you will KNOW.”

It would be great if God gave us step-by-step directions for life, but sometimes He says, “Choose your path according to what I have revealed to you, and I will let you know if it was the right choice.” So did we make the right choice? Absolutely. No, we won’t get to celebrate Jon’s birthday on Thursday, but we did get to take him out to eat several times. Even better, we got to spend some extra time with Jon, Ashley, and Lucy. It wasn’t the convention, but I don’t think I would have gotten the same response from a bunch of preachers that I got from my granddaughter. At least, I hope I wouldn’t have gotten the same response. That would have been a little creepy!

A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth

We are going to go in a little different direction for a week. I am always in awe of how God directs things. Just as Southside Baptist Church is entering into its annual deacon elections, God allowed me to finish my posts on qualifications for deacons. I don't know how many people from my church will read these, but the qualifications are out there if they choose to read them. How important is it for Christians to choose their deacons accordingly? Very! Men who do not meet these criteria should never serve as deacons because they will bring harm to the body of Christ. The same is true for pastors -- even more so. Sadly, in many churches, our deacons are growing older. I think this is in part due to the fact that most younger men understand that serving as a deacon means serving the people and not running the church. They want to do God's business. They want to minister like the deacons of old so they are finding other outlets to do so.

On Sunday, June 21, I will be preaching on the last part of our new vision statement. Southside Baptist Church is a group of born-again believers who are committed to serving together through fellowship and ministry. Serving together. Not just pastors serving. Not just deacons serving. All of us serving together experiencing the power -- the synergy, if you will -- that happens when we come together as the mighty army God has called us to be. Going into the world and making disciples, teaching them to observe all the things Jesus commanded. We could talk about all of those things. Worship God. Live holy lives. Minister to the needy. But all we really have to do is look at Jesus' answer to the question as to what was the greatest commandment. His answer? Love God with all that you are, and love your neighbor like you love yourself. If we do those two things then we are going to worship God, live holy lives, minister to the needy, and so much more. We will actually find ourselves being the salt that flavors and preserves this world in which we live. We will be the light that shines brightly, illuminating the path of salvation that leads to heaven. We will be the change agents that Jesus taught us to be.

There is one more benefit to loving God and loving our neighbors: we will stop fighting each other and start fighting the true enemy, Satan. We will stop allowing our petty differences to become mountains on which we are willing to die (or kill our neighbors). We will stop being suspicious of other's motives and recognize that we are all seeking to do God's will. We will stop worrying about what someone wants to give to the Lord's work and celebrate the generous spirit that is willing to love extravagantly. We will stop trying to further our own agendas and work together to do God's business God's way. In essence, we will start showing the world what it truly means to be Christian and give them a brief, partial glimpse of what heaven is going to be like.

Qualifications Pt. 7

1 Timothy 3:13

What an amazing verse: deacons who serve well obtain for themselves two things – a good standing and great boldness in the faith. The first of these is easily understood. A man with all of these qualifications who takes care of the benevolence needs of the church and ministers well to the sick, the widows, and the orphans is going to be greatly loved and respected. That is the simple truth! Don’t misunderstand. The verse isn’t promising that you are going to get a personalized parking space at the church, but it does mean that those in the church and outside the church will recognize that you are a man of integrity and have a heart of compassion.

Do you know why this is important? When you are respected for your work ministering to people in need, you gain their trust. They listen to what you have to say. It places you in a position where you can share your faith with boldness and confidence. Not only is the deacon emboldened to share his faith, but also his message has credibility with those who know him. It’s like James stated: ministry is taking care of needs – not just telling people that everything is going to be fine (my paraphrase).

So having said all of this, some of you might still be of the opinion that the work of the deacons is the business of the church. And I would say to you that you are exactly right as long as you realize that the business of the church is ministry. The early church’s deacons understood that. Stephen and Philip were two of these men who because of their faith in God were able to take care of the widows and orphans and were great proclaimers of the gospel who impacted their world and ours. Go back to Acts 6 and read a few chapters. You will be amazed at what God did because these men were men of integrity and filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

Now to take care of a little business. I will be transitioning my blog from this site to a WordPress site. The address will be https://bnshayes.wordpress.com . Check it out, but be patient because we are still working on it.

Qualifications Pt. 6

1 Timothy 3:12b

When you get down to it, while the responsibilities and expectations for pastors and deacons are different, the qualifications are very similar. Just like the pastor, the deacon must be the kind of man that leads his family well. Paul used the term “rule,” and the meaning/concept of that word has been lost in 21^st century homes. Let me remind you what Paul said about the pastors’ home life because the qualifications are the same.

(Adapted from Pastor’s Qualifications)

Family! How I wish Paul had moved this to the top of his list because I believe that this should be the number one qualification for a pastor or deacon, and I believe pastors/deacons should understand that the family should be their number one priority. I’ve seen way too many ministers miss this important aspect of their ministry, and when they do, they typically lose both their ministries and their families. Read this carefully: God instituted the family long before He created the church. I believe that as a pastor/deacon, our calling is to put God first, family second, and the church third in life. If your church doesn’t understand that, then shame on you! I have seen way too many churches and families suffer because they get their priorities messed up.

Paul said that a deacon must rule his house well. Paul viewed leadership of the family as a proving ground for leadership in the church, and that goes for more than just pastors and deacons. Literally, Paul is telling us that every Christian father must make sure that everything in their homes runs smoothly. Specifically, for pastors and deacons, their young children must be known for their obedience and morally upright behavior. I also believe that when you train up a child in the way he should go, when he is grown he will continue in that same lifestyle. I seem to remember a wise man saying that a long time ago, and I believe it to be true. However, Paul is talking about children living in your home. Adult children make their own choices, and while an argument could be made that if they have gone off into a lifestyle of immorality as adults that something must have been wrong with their upbringing, this was not Paul’s purpose in this admonition. While they are living in the deacon’s home, the deacon’s children must demonstrate the qualities of godly behavior. That doesn’t mean they won’t do the things that all children do, but they should model the behavior they see from their parents.

Why is this important to the deacon? Like the pastor, he must demonstrate through his home that he is spiritually gifted in ways that allow him to set the example of how to live and serve and love. If he does this, so, too, will his family. If he doesn’t do this, why would anyone want to follow him in the church? Just like the pastor, the deacon must have an exceptional home life – faithful to his wife and father to his children. That is the general idea. Paul described a man who is loving, compassionate, generous, and firm. As any father, Paul’s admonition from Ephesians 6 still applies: “Don’t provoke your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” This is a loving mentality and not a king of the castle mindset. I have discovered that the authority of the father is strengthened when his children know that he loves them beyond measure and when they see him walking in integrity.

Qualifications Pt. 5

1 Timothy 3:12

Sorry about the layoff. I know that you probably think that pastors only work on Sundays and Mondays and the rest of the time is spent on the golf course, but I never had time to learn the game. Don’t get me wrong – I do get time off, but there are those weeks when it seems like you never get a break. Anyway, I am back on track – for now – so let’s get back to the deacons!

Actually, we never really left that topic, but in this particular verse, Paul continued to list the qualifications of the kind of godly men who should choose to serve in the church. Understand that there are often godly men who do not choose to serve as a deacon and are not called into the role. That is okay. However, if God calls a man to serve and he refuses, that’s when he has a problem. Any Christian who rejects God’s call is bound for trouble. So listen to the voice of God, and life will be so much better.

Paul said that, like the pastor, the deacon is to be “the husband of one wife….” Let me refresh your
memory about the possible meanings of that statement because it is the same requirement given for
pastors. There are five basic interpretations of this four-word qualification. Count them: 1) faithful to
his one wife; 2) married to one wife at a time; 3) married once and never remarried; 4) never
divorced; 5) must not be single.

As I said before, I don’t think that Paul was dealing specifically with marital status. I believe he was dealing with moral and sexual purity. We have seen it too many times, so we know that this is the area where Christian leaders are prone to fail. From big-named preachers to pastors of small local churches, most of us know the names of men who did not remain above reproach because they gave in to sexual temptation. Deacons are no different. So let me give you my take on this qualification. Simply put, the deacon must be a one-woman man, totally devoted to his wife, maintaining that singular affection and sexual purity in both thought and deed. You see, he must be an example to the world, so he must model what marital fidelity is all about. Even in the most difficult of times, he must persevere.

Much has been said about this issue. Questions are always asked, and, even now, as Southside begins the process of electing deacons, this qualification has come into play. Let me be honest. I have seen men who were divorced – some once, some more than once – who have been more faithful in ministry than many of the deacons I have served with. Because of the rules specifically instituted in the church, these men could not be elected as deacons. So I told these men that it is the work that is important – not the title. And while I believe that our actions do result in consequences including disqualifying us from service, I also believe that every individual must be examined based on his situation. For example, if his disqualifying actions took place prior to salvation and he has proven himself to be a one-woman kind of man for years after his conversion, why shouldn’t he be allowed to serve? However, we must not be too hasty to place a man in this position regardless of his circumstances because it is one of the most important decisions that the church will ever make.

 

Qualifications Pt. 4

1 Timothy 3:11

Have you ever noticed this before? Right in the middle of his list of qualifications for deacons, Paul slipped in some requirements for their wives. Many pastors’ wives are quick to point out that he doesn’t do the same for them. Some Bible scholars say that the reason for the difference is that Paul didn’t believe that pastors should be married, but that is contrary to his teachings in other letters. Others say that he was referring to a third group of leaders in the church in addition to pastors and deacons – deaconesses – but the Greek word that he used is gunaikos which means women and can refer to wives. If Paul had been referring to deaconesses, he would have used the feminine form of the word for deacon, but he didn’t. So most likely, Paul was placing these qualifications on deacons’ wives. Why? We may never know the answer to that question, but I have an idea. Maybe there was a specific problem in this church that he was addressing, and I will tell you why I believe this in the final paragraph. Regardless, the wife’s character is as important as the deacon’s because she has an important role to fill as she walks alongside her husband.

So Paul said that she must be reverent just as her husband is reverent (serious in mind and character); not a slanderer/gossiper (the word is actually the plural form of diabolos  which is a title frequently given to Satan, the accuser); temperate (possessing self-control); faithful in all things (trustworthy in all aspects of their lives). As you read these qualifications, you see a picture emerge of a woman who loves the Lord and acts accordingly. She is not going to act silly in the middle of serious issues but will rise to meet whatever the needs may be. She is not going to join in or initiate conversations that would defame others, accusing them wrongly. She is a woman of sound mind making wise decisions as she helps her husband serve the church by meeting needs. And she will be dependable every time she is called upon.

Do you want to know the truth? This is not the description of some super-woman. No, these are the character traits of every child of God because we are all called to do the work of the ministry. Because of this fact, I believe that Paul was addressing the same kind of problem he wrote about in chapter 2: powerful women demanding to have their way in the church. This would be an especially difficult problem if these women were the wives of deacons because ministry is about humility – not power. It’s about submission – not demands. And one more thought: no man seeking to do God’s will can be successful unless his wife lives up to these qualifications.

Qualifications Pt. 3

1 Timothy 3:9, 10

As men of integrity, one of the deacons’ most important tasks is “to hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” What in the world does that mean? Do you, like me, sometimes wonder about the language Paul used? How in the world did he come up with these things? We have to remember that this was a Jewish man writing in Koine Greek that has been translated into modern day English. There are some words that easily crossover between the languages, but cultural issues and specific idioms do not always travel well. Such is Paul’s use of the word mystery which he used multiple times. When he used the word, he was referring to a truth that has been previously hidden but now is revealed. He used the concept to refer to Jesus coming to earth to take on the form of a man – a mystery that most people cannot comprehend even today but that was revealed to all of us in the gospels. He used it to refer to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of believers, the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church, the gospel itself, lawlessness, and the rapture. All of these things just don’t make sense to the human mind; we cannot comprehend them outside of God opening our eyes to the truths.

With that in mind, we tackle Paul’s use in this verse, and to be honest, it is impossible to identify a specific item that he called a mystery. So perhaps he was referring to all of the mysteries. Think about it this way. Paul was giving to us the qualifications for men to serve as deacons, so everything he had to say focuses our minds on the deacons’ overall response to Jesus’ message of salvation and what it means to be a Christian – not just a deacon. However, it is absolutely imperative that the deacon has a proper grasp of biblical doctrines and their application. As we see in this list, the deacon is not required to have the ability to teach, so he doesn’t have to worry about standing in front of a class and expounding on these doctrines like the pastor does. But he must hold on to those doctrines with a pure conscience meaning that he doesn’t just understand the teachings – he lives them out. Yes, it is first about believing the teachings of the apostles but it is also about obeying every aspect of God’s Word. You see, this is a heart issue at the deepest level. It isn’t enough to know the truth of God’s Word in his head; the deacon must hold it in his heart. In essence, this verse speaks directly to the deacon’s personal relationship with Jesus.

Notice what Paul said in v. 10: “…let these also first be tested….” A better way of translating these words would be “evaluate the men who would serve as deacons before they become deacons and while they serve as deacons.” The verb tense indicates that the testing should be ongoing meaning that every deacon must be constantly evaluated in the areas of character and service by the church. Again, Paul was not specific, but it is likely that he was referring to the deacons’ beliefs and practices, both of which are important to the church. The testing may have been informal, but the deacon had to convince the church that his faith was genuine and that his life was blameless – again meaning that no charges of misconduct could be leveled at him. I wrote down a quote a long time ago from a man by the name of R.W. Ward. I don’t know where I read it, but this is what it said: “In one sense, all Christians are blameless through Christ; in another sense, all are unworthy to serve; but in the mercy of God, some men, though they feel their unworthiness, are adjudged fit by their fellow believers. God uses men before they are completely sanctified….” And I am glad He does.

Qualifications Pt. 2

1 Timothy 3:8

As Paul was laying out his list of qualifications for deacons, he wanted what was best for the church. God no doubt had given to him the wisdom to know exactly the type of men that should lead the church. Without godly men, how would the church learn godliness? Without trustworthy men, how could the church move forward? Without men worthy of respect, why would the lost world give the church a second thought? They wouldn’t, so just as Paul laid out what it means for the pastor to be blameless, he now clarifies just how it is that the deacon would live out a life of reverence. First on his list was that the deacon must not be double-tongued. No, this isn’t some sci-fi reference to aliens or mutants. It simply means that deacons must never be guilty of telling people what they want to hear at the cost of the truth. It is never the right thing to do to tell one person one thing about a subject and something different to someone else. This one word covers a whole lot of ground from integrity to hypocrisy. Integrity is of the utmost importance for all Christians but especially so for Christian leaders. In an age where trust is hard to come by, it is even more important today. We must mean what we say and say what we mean all of the time. On the other extreme, hypocrisy is never pretty, and it must not be part of the character of the deacon. On a positive note, the word “double-tongued” reflects the concept of sincerity. The deacon must be sincere in his passion for the Lord and His church as he promotes and protects the peace and unity of the church. A deacon cannot do this if he isn’t able to control his speech.

Then, like the pastor, the deacon is not to be preoccupied with either alcohol or money. Paul says that he is not to be “given to much wine” or greedy. That means that he must always put the needs of the church ahead of his own desires. Like pastors, the deacons have great responsibilities and must never allow themselves to become incapacitated by the use of alcohol because he never knows when he will be needed. What could be worse than a benevolence need arise, but when the church member goes to the deacon, he is drunk? That is the essence of this dictate. As for money, the deacons were to operate the benevolence ministry of the church. If you remember what took place in the book of Acts, people were selling possessions and property and bringing the proceeds to the church to be distributed to those who had needs. Undoubtedly, this would place large sums of money at their fingertips. That is too much temptation for anyone who has a problem with greed. One commentator describes this prohibition as reminding the deacon that he must never use the office for financial gain. It would be very easy to “make deals” with people or to use their needs for personal advantage and that must never happen.

You see, this verse is all about personal integrity and outstanding character. Whether the deacons in your church are true servants or serve as directors, they are to be men worthy of respect.

Qualifications Pt. 1 (Yes, Again)

1 Timothy 3:8

Sometimes we make the mistake of differentiating between the offices of pastor and deacon by talking about those who lead the church (pastors) and those who serve the church (deacons). I say we do this mistakenly because both are to be servants and both are to be leaders. In truth, they should readily surrender to the reality that those called by God to be in these positions are to be servant leaders. Pastors serve the flock by utilizing their God-given gifts every day. Deacons become leaders by virtue of their servanthood. If Jesus came to serve and not be served, how much more, then, should the men called to minister to the flock be servants? I tell my deacons all the time that when they serve the people of the church, the people will put them into leadership positions. That means that both pastors and deacons should be and will be held to a higher level of accountability.

In many ways the qualifications for deacons are similar to that of pastors. Paul told pastors at the beginning that they are to be blameless, and then describes what that means in the verses that follow. He included the qualification for deacons, too. Both groups of men must live lives of personal integrity so that no one can charge them with any misconduct. They must have the respect of those inside and outside the church.

Notice how Paul started this list: “Likewise the deacons must be reverent….” In other words, just like pastors, deacons must have this character trait, too. Being reverent. We tend to think of this word as meaning miserable. It’s kind of like the man who was walking down the street when he was stopped by a passerby who asked him, “Are you a pastor?” To which the man replied, “No, but I have been sick lately.” I can’t get my mind around how people think that godliness means walking around with your hands folded in front of you with a serious look on your face. The most godly man of all times was accused of being a party-animal (glutton and winebibber), and children loved Him. You don’t get that reaction if someone is serious all of the time. Neither are pastors and deacons required to be serious all of the time. The word does mean that they are serious-minded men who know how to behave when serious issues confront the church. The word does mean that they must be men whose character merits respect. The word does mean that they are to be men of dignity and purpose. But it doesn’t mean serious all the time. It doesn’t mean boring. Like the song says, “Pastors just want to have fun!” Well, maybe the song doesn’t refer to pastors, and maybe pastors don’t JUST want to have fun. But I think you get my meaning!

Deacons

1 Timothy 3:8

My heart, as a pastor, has always been to lead the church to be a New Testament church – to follow the guidelines laid out for us in the Word. I truly believe that is the only way for us to fulfill the purpose for which we were created. I also believe that God only blesses those churches that are faithful to be obedient to His Word. When we read about the early church in the Book of Acts, we are constantly reminded of that truth. While they were focused on worship, Bible Study, evangelism, and ministry, thousands of new converts were added – sometimes daily. We talk about wanting to see those days again, but we never seem to return to God’s plan. This may seem to be a strange way to introduce this new section of Paul’s letter, but I believe that one of the main areas where we have failed to follow God’s directions is in the office of the deacon. Please don’t misunderstand. I love deacons. I love the office, and I love the men who faithfully serve in the way God has called them to serve. I honestly believe that the ministry of the seven men chosen in Acts 6, those I believe to be the original deacons, was the catalyst that sparked the amazing growth of the church. Not only did these men oversee the ministry to the widows within the church, they spread the good news of Jesus everywhere they went.

In this passage, Paul was laying out for Timothy some very important information – information that would not only allow the church to survive but also would cause it to thrive. In this chapter, Paul gave Timothy instructions about the two biblical offices in the church: pastors and deacons. Even the names make clear the roles that each is to serve. The word for pastor is translated as bishop and overseer. His role was to lead the church in every area. The word for deacon is translated as servant. In fact, in its original form, the word referred to the person assigned the most menial tasks in the household from waiting on tables to the man who was to run alongside the master’s chariot in order to tend to his needs. Truly, God’s plan was clear: pastors lead the church and deacons help them do the work of ministry.

Sadly, the role of deacons has changed through the years. The information that I am about to share with you comes from a variety of sources from Howard Foshee to Jim Henry. If you want specific references, let me know and I will share them with you. In the very early centuries of the church, deacons were the benevolence guys – they took care of the widows and the orphans. As early as the 3^rd century, deacons had family ministry plans. They visited in the homes of church members. They visited the sick and the homebound. They visited martyrs in prison. They helped train new converts. They kept watch over the congregation’s physical and spiritual needs and reported their findings to the pastor so that he could focus on preaching, teaching, and evangelism.

During the Middle Ages, the roles began to change. Those who became deacons were only using the office as a stepping stone to become priests. They took on more authority, usurping the role of the pastor until the Reformation returned the church to the Word of God. Once again, the deacons became servants to the poor. This remained the standard of deacons – overseeing the benevolence ministries of the church – until the last half of the 18^th century. From being servants in charge of ministry functions they became business managers. Suddenly, benevolence and ministry were no longer the priority. Instead, the deacons became a board of directors in the church controlling all secular matters – even exercising oversight of the pastor. By the late 19^th century, the tendency was for deacons to “rule the church.”

For many churches, that remains the organizational structure; however, God will not bless the church that does not follow His plan. If we hope to minister to a lost and hurting world and if we want to see people being saved and ministry taking place, then pastors must lead and deacons must serve. God’s plan is always best.

Qualifications Pt. 9

1 Timothy 3:7 – Qualifications Pt. 9

My wife informed me the other day that there sure are lots of qualifications! She is right. As I looked at my blog over the last couple of weeks, I have probably bored most of you (all 12) who read this material. If so, I apologize. When I started writing the blog again, I decided to let you journey with me through my quiet time – to share with you what God is sharing with me in my daily devotions. As I have come to this passage of Scripture, I felt the importance of this passage for my own life as well as the lives of other pastors, so I hope that you are sharing these blog posts with your pastors and with your friends who go to other churches. This is important stuff whether we want to read it or not. The state of the church today is what it is because we pick and choose what we want to read when we want to read it. The state of the church today is what it is because pastors are not meeting the qualifications that the Apostle Paul laid out for us. The state of the world today is what it is because the church has become impotent in the face of evil, and that has happened because we are picking and choosing what Bible passages want to read when we want to read it. I will admit to you that I don’t like to be under conviction. None of us do. If we liked it we would continue in our sin so that we could experience it more. Conviction of the Holy Spirit is designed to make us miserable so that we will get right with God! So while you might not enjoy it, be happy that He does it!

Now I want to venture into a dangerous place. Above, I stated that my wife was right about there being lots of qualifications. And as I have written about them, it seems that Sonya was right. But in reality, and this is the dangerous place, she is wrong. There is only one qualification. The pastor must be blameless. Everything else in this passage, and in my blog posts, are simply describing what it means to be blameless. That is why Paul summarized what he had to say in verse 7. The pastor must have a good testimony among those who are outside. Lost people may not agree with everything he has to say. They may not like his doctrines and morals. They may not appreciate his lifestyle. But they must respect his integrity and commitment. It is an absolute imperative that the world outside of the church see the pastor as having an unimpeachable reputation. If they do not, the devil can use that to prevent lost people from believing the gospel, and that defeats our purpose in being pastors.

But here is the key. Integrity is not pretending to be perfect. Integrity is having high moral standards AND being honest about our failures. We all struggle to live by some of these qualifications. Some come easily, but others are a real struggle. The world needs to see that reality lived out in our churches because none of us is perfect, but we can be blameless if we take Paul’s admonitions to heart.

Qualifications Pt. 8

1 Timothy 3:6

We are living in a time where pastors are leaving the ministry in record numbers. I think that part of the reason is because of the incredible pressure on pastors today. As I was speaking with a dear friend the other day, he summed up one aspect of the pressures this way: it feels like I have to do three or four term papers every week. The work pastors do just to prepare sermons and Bible studies is tremendous -- research, prayer, organization, writing, etc. Add to that the administrative duties, hospital visits, evangelistic visits, dealing with people in crises, and all the other things, and you begin to see a PARTIAL picture of the pressure. The work is never ending. Seminary cannot prepare you for all of that. Truthfully, I learned more about being a pastor in my first two church than I did in all seven years of my formal educational experience.

Why do I write this? Because Paul said that the pastor must not be a novice. The word "novice" means "newly planted." The Greek word gives us our English word "neophyte," and Paul was describing for us a young Christians that didn't yet have deep roots in the faith. When your spiritual roots aren't deep, it doesn't take much of a wind to uproot you, and some days being a pastor is like walking into a Category 5 hurricane. So the idea is that you shouldn't put a new convert into the role of a pastor. it doesn't matter what his physical age is or what kind of worldly experience he has. It's just a bad idea. If the man is newly saved, don't make him your pastor. Why? Because of his lack of spiritual depth, he would be tempted to become prideful. Pride in a prominent position produces a blindness that blunts spiritual alertness. It's too easy for ego to get in the way, and the arrogance that it produces makes it difficult to hear God's voice and to be obedient. I've seen pastors who believed that they were beyond the need for confession and repentance. But know this. Spiritual maturity causes you to recognize your sin and forces you to humbly repent before God. Truthfully, the "holier" you become, the more you sense your need for repentance.

The consequence of this blindness and deafness is that the minister "falls into the same condemnation as the devil." Wow! What a statement! But remember. Satan's condemnation was due to pride, and that pride resulted in his fall from heaven. The same kind of fall -- not from heaven but from the pastor's position -- could easily happen to a new believer who is placed in a pastor's role.

Qualifications Pt. 7

1 Timothy 3:4-5

Family! How I wish Paul had moved this to the top of his list because I believe that this should be the number one qualification for a pastor, and I believe pastors should understand that the family should be their number one priority. I’ve seen way too many ministers miss this important aspect of their ministry, and when they do, they typically lose both their ministries and their families. Read this carefully: God instituted the family long before He created the church. I believe that as a pastor my calling is to put God first, family second, and the church third in my life. If your church doesn’t understand that, then shame on you! I have seen way too many churches and pastors suffer because they get their priorities messed up.

I will never forget our seminary days. They were tough. Sonya worked full-time and took care of the children. I worked a minimum of 32 hours every week, took a full class load, and helped take care of the children. Not a day went by that I didn’t set aside time to play with Jennifer and Ashley. I have notebooks filled with pages of Greek and Hebrew homework where one of the girls, while sitting in my lap while I was doing the work, tried to draw the same Greek and Hebrew characters they saw on my paper. Please don’t think I’m bragging. I messed up a lot over the years and still cringe when I think about those mistakes. But I’ve always made my family the second highest priority in my life, and I am proud of that.

Paul said that a pastor must rule his house well and that his children must be in submission. Uh, listen up all you dads out there who are not pastors – he says the same thing about you in his letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians. But here is the key. Paul viewed leadership of the family as a proving ground for leadership in the church, and that goes for more than just pastors. Literally, Paul is telling us that pastors must make sure that everything in their homes runs smoothly. Specifically, his young children must be known for their obedience and morally upright behavior. I also believe that when you train up a child in the way he should go, when he is grown he will continue in that same lifestyle. I seem to remember a wise man saying that a long time ago, and I believe it to be true. However, Paul is talking about children living in your home. Adult children make their own choices, and while an argument could be made that if they have gone off into a lifestyle of immorality as adults that something must have been wrong with their upbringing, this was not Paul’s purpose in this admonition. While they are living in the pastor’s home, the pastor’s children must demonstrate the qualities of godly behavior. That doesn’t mean they won’t do the things that all children do, but they should model the behavior they see from their parents.

I do want to point out two things. The word “submission” is a military term referring to soldiers ranked under one in authority. The pastor must take that authority to heart as a father, but he must also temper that authority with the agape love of God. Why? Because the goal isn’t to raise an army that fears you; the goal is to raise a family that knows Jesus. The pastor must demonstrate through his home that he is spiritually gifted in ways that allow him to set the example of how to live and serve and love. If he does this, so, too, will his family. If he doesn’t do this, why would anyone want to follow him in the church?

The second thing I want you to see is that I think Paul wanted pastors to know that they are to relate to their church members not as a master relates to servants but as fathers to their children. Think about that for just a minute or two!

Qualifications Pt. 6

1 Timothy 3:3

Okay. He’s done it. Paul has stopped preaching and started meddling. People say that to me all the time, so I thought I would take a shot at it. Here’s my point. You can tell a man how to live and how to act, and for the most part, he will listen to you. He might even engage you in a conversation/debate. Certainly he would respond to questions. But start talking about his money and you begin to get too personal. I’ve heard it said that most men will talk to you about the most intimate details of their lives, but when you breach the subject of his money, he clams up tightly. However, money is an important matter for all of us and especially for pastors. Financial problems are second only to sexual misconduct as the reason for ministerial failures. So Paul said that the pastor must not be “greedy for money” or “covetous.” Understand, some of the different translations don’t include the first phrase, but they should. It is vitally important that the minister have an understanding of this qualification. It is so important that I believe our seminaries should require every student to go through at least one class on the subject!

Here is the truth: pastors must be motivated by their love for God and His people – not money! A pastor who enters the ministry for money is not only an idiot, but also he reveals a heart that is set on the world, not on the things of God. When I am interviewing candidates for a position on the church staff, if they bring up salary at the beginning of the process, I mark them off of my list. Don’t get me wrong. I know that the minister is worthy of his hire, and that even pastors need money to survive. I gather from my studies of the Old Testament that the priests lived quiet well, and I don’t believe that the early church ministers were cheated out of an income either. But when the money aspect is a priority to the pastor, something is wrong in that man’s life. Again, don’t misunderstand. I’m not one who believes that it is the church’s responsibility to keep the pastor poor and humble. I personally think that the church should bless all of their ministers financially, but it must not be the pastor’s priority.

There are practical applications for this qualification as well. First, you see, a greedy, covetous pastor will most probably not handle the church’s finances appropriately. In the early days of the church, it was the pastor’s responsibility to handle the money and to make sure it was used in the best way possible. False prophets/teachers/pastors often took advantage of this situation to line their own pockets to the detriment of the church. Ministry does not take place, and the church loses its trust for the pastor, and members stop giving. Second, a greedy, covetous pastor is not going to set the example for gracious giving. God tells us over and over again that he loves a cheerful giver. He wants us to give freely to His church and to the needs of others. If a pastor expects his people to open their hearts and their purses to the needy, he must do the same. In fact, when there is a true need, he should be first in line to help. If he is greedy and covetous, that will never happen.

Qualifications Pt. 5

1 Timothy 3:3 - Qualifications Pt. 5

It is interesting to notice the things Paul included in his list. Go back and read them again, and you will see what I mean. But in verse 3, he said that a pastor “must not be given to wine.” Now let me explain that this statement isn’t a prohibition against drunkenness because no Christian, pastor or layperson, is to allow themselves to become drunk. We see that in many passages. Paul is specifically telling pastors that they are not to be addicted to wine. What does that mean? He must not have a reputation of being a drinker. His lifestyle must be so radically different from the world that people take notice. You see, the calling of a pastor is to lead God’s people into holiness, so he must stand out from the world. Do you remember the Nazirite vow in the Old Testament? One of its requirements was that the Nazirite could not eat or drink anything that came from grapes. In a society where drinking wine was the norm, why would that be part of this vow? It was to show that the Nazirite had made a commitment to be different. This is also a practical matter for pastors. Their judgment was not to be clouded at any time by the use of alcohol. Most people think that pastors only work two days a week, but in reality, a pastor works every day of his life. He cannot afford to let his guard down even for a moment because in that moment, he may be needed by someone God places in his path.

Paul continued by saying that the pastor must not be violent. A literal translation of this word means “not a giver of blows.” Things often happen that cause an emotional reaction – sometimes even anger – but the pastor must never react with physical violence. Of course, the preferred response is gentleness, but understand Paul’s point. The pastor cannot be one who prefers using his fists rather than reason. I would take this one step further. Words can hurt as badly as physical blows, so pastors must guard against verbal assaults as well. The picture Paul paints by using this word is that of a bully. Too often pastors can come across as intimidating and demanding. Paul said, “Don’t do it!” Instead, pastors are to be gentle and not quarrelsome.

As you look at this passage of Scripture, you begin to see a picture of the pastor’s personality as well as his qualifications. A pastor must be in control of his emotions and never give in to the temptation to be contentious. Understand that is not always easy because as Paul mentioned earlier, there are troublemakers in the church, but the pastor must approach these troublemakers with patience and love. He must be kind and considerate in the face of opposition. In other words, he must strive to be like Jesus. And I’ve seen it happen – through this peaceful, loving demeanor, the pastor can defeat those who stand against God and His church.

Qualifications Pt. 4

1 Timothy 3: 2-3 Qualifications Pt. 4

There are lots of things that ministers must be able to do, and one of the most important is that he be able to teach. In our society, pastors have become CEOs and public relations experts. But if we truly model ministry from the Great Minister and the Apostles, we know that our primary responsibility is to teach the Word. Yes, Jesus and the disciples did miracles and ministry, but the majority of their time was taken up by teaching.

The interesting thing is that the word Paul used for this qualification occurs only here and in 2 Timothy 2:2. It is the one qualification that deals with the pastor's area of spiritual giftedness and ability. Having said that, Paul used other words to describe this responsibility 8 times in the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus). Do you know what he said in these verses? That the pastor must give attention to doctrine, labor in the Word, and rightly divide the Word. That takes time and effort, so the pastor must be able to teach.

Two things must be said about this qualification. Paul spoke of the gift of "pastor/teacher" in several places. It is a gift given by God to empower the pastor to do this primary work of the ministry. God truly does this and it makes the work of teaching a great joy. However, the pastor/teacher must also do his part to hone that gift to razor sharpness. Too many times, we use the concept of gifts as an excuse for laziness. It's like the story of the young minister who bragged to his congregation that the only time he spent in preparation for his sermons was the time it took him to walk from the pastorium next door to the church on Sunday morning. That week, the church bought a new pastorium on the far side of town. Yes, it's a joke, but it illustrates my point. The church is hungry for the truth of God's Word, and pastors must do their best when it comes to teaching and preaching. Every good educator knows that preparation is the key.

Qualifications Pt. 3

1 Timothy 3:2 - Qualifications Pt. 3

What does it mean to be blameless? We've looked at several of the characteristics Paul listed. As we move forward, he spoke of good behavior which means orderly. Do you begin to see the picture? Paul told Timothy that the minister must not allow life to become so chaotic that he cannot do his job. After all, how can he bring order to the church if he cannot bring order to his own life? The outward life of the minister is a reflection of inward stability.

Going beyond behavior, the minister must be hospitable. This is a word that means "a love of strangers." This was important to the early church because travelling Christians would be dependent on the kindness of other Christians as they passed through their communities. This was essential for two reasons: 1)most Christians had very little money and as they were doing the work of ministry, they could not afford the cost of staying at an inn; 2)most of the inns of that day were little more than brothels. At their best, they were dangerous and crime-infested. As we shall see, one of the most important resources a minister has is his reputation, and nothing ruins a reputation as quickly as being in the wrong kind of place.

But I think this word merits additional consideration because we have lost this gift of hospitality in our churches. If the word means "love of stranger" (and it does), then it means that we must be open to new people in our churches -- people we don't know, who are different from us. It is too easy for us to only hang out with our friends, to form cliques that new people cannot be a part of. It is too easy to become comfortable with those we know when we must seek to know those who need Jesus!

Let me take that one step farther: it is imperative that the church is more than open to strangers. We must go after them and when they come into the church, we must embrace them. In all seriousness, I believe that when a guest enters the church, multiple people should go to them, welcome them, sit with them, show them around, take them to lunch, etc. People need to know that they are wanted.

Qualifications - Pt. 2

1 Timothy 3:2b - Qualifications Pt. 2

Qualifications for ministry? I think there is only one: blameless. As I stated last week, we aren't talking about sinless perfection. Paul meant that any accusations that might be thrown at the pastor wouldn't stick. Yes, he might/will make mistakes, but his character must be impeachable.

What followed in these verses was a word picture of what this looks like. We dealt with the "husband of one wife" issue, so I will not go back over that. But Paul then said that a blameless man is temperate. A literal translation of this word could be "wineless." Now understand, I wish that God had said that all of His people should stay away from all alcoholic beverages, but He didn't. I think that the only way that any person in our society can be sure never to become an addict is to never take the first drink. Having said that, God did not command, "Thou shalt not drink alcohol." But He did say, through Paul, that the pastor should be wineless. Why? Because the pastor must be able to think clearly at all times. He cannot afford to become inebriated and make poor or rash decisions. He must be a man with complete self-control, so anything that would decrease inhibitions would be prohibited. In essence, the pastor must never allow himself to become controlled by any substances that could inhibit clear thinking or cause him to act rashly. It really is a matter of self-restraint because a man who cannot control his own drives and urges won't be able to effectively lead the church. A leader in the church must have a sense of self-mastery and accountability. So you see, the word includes more than a caution against the use of alcohol and drugs.

In fact, it is the same word picture Paul painted with the qualification of being  sober-minded. The word literally means disciplined. The minister must know how to properly order his priorities and be serious about spiritual matters -- not acting like a drunken idiot with no self control. With all that he has to do, the minister must be able to manage his life so that he would be seen to be trustworthy. Too often, we allow ourselves to become so busy that we cannot keep all of our commitments, and that must never happen.

I will never forget the time many years ago when I promised one of our senior adults that I would stop by and visit with him. I got busy and forgot all about the promise. Later, he told me that he had waited all day for me to come. My heart was broken when I saw how disappointed he was in me.

With all of this in mind, don't think that a pastor cannot have any fun. At this moment, I am having the time of my life watching my precious Lucy (granddaughter) eat Smarties with her Memama. Nothing could be better!

Qualifications - Pt. 1

1 Timothy 3:1-2a

The overseer/bishop/pastor must show himself committed to both Christians and non-Christians alike: committed to the Lord and to his people. It is a noble calling to be chosen to watch over the spiritual welfare of a church. It is a calling that requires the highest personal and moral qualifications.

Paul said that he must be blameless. Now this is a good place to make this point: the qualifications are high but they are not unattainable; the call is to be blameless, but blames does not mean perfect. “All have sinned,” Paul said in Roman 3:23. Even he was forced to admit that he struggled with doing things he should not do. Please do not hold your pastor to the qualification of sinless perfection because only Jesus has accomplished that level.

So what does it mean to be blameless? Other translations say “above reproach.” The word Paul used means “chargeable with no misconduct.” In itself, the word has to do with personal integrity. In our day, many pastors are giving up because of the pressure they feel to be perfect. Much of that pressure comes from our own minds, but there is a great deal of expectation coming from church members. We need to get back to the biblical basis for expectations which means that the pastor must live a life that is beyond legitimate accusation and public scandal. He must be a person of integrity, and, yes, Paul emphasized that this is a “must.” Living this kind of life is absolutely necessary for the pastor to be effective in ministry.

Having said all of that, what does it mean to be blameless? I think that is what Paul described for us in the rest of these verses. Over the next several days, we will look at his description:

·         Husband of one wife – would you believe me if I told you that there are five basic interpretations of this four-word qualification? That’s true. Count them: 1) faithful to his one wife; 2) married to one wife at a time; 3) married once and never remarried; 4) never divorced; 5) must not be single.

Can you say, “Wow?” Let me shock you just a little bit. I don’t think that Paul was dealing specifically with marital status. I believe he was dealing with moral and sexual purity. We have seen it too many times, so we know that this is the area where Christian leaders are prone to fail. From big-named preachers to pastors of small local churches, most of us know the names of men who did not remain above reproach because they gave in to sexual temptation. So let me give you my take on this qualification. Simply put, the pastor must be a one-woman man, totally devoted to his wife, maintaining that singular affection and sexual purity in both thought and deed. You see, he must be an example to the world, so he must model what marital fidelity is all about. Even in the most difficult of times, he must persevere.