All of Grace

Q: What does the Bible say about the role of elders in the church?

The Bible emphasizes that elders are to teach the Word of God and shepherd the flock. According to Scripture, the role of elders is critical in the church as they are tasked with teaching the Word of God and providing spiritual oversight to the congregation. In 1 Peter 5:1-3, Peter exhorts elders to feed the flock of God entrusted to them, highlighting that their leadership should be characterized by humility and a willingness to serve rather than domineer. Elders are to lead by example, ensuring that their authority rests not in their titles but in the Word of God that they preach.

Q: How do we know that elders are important for the church?

Elders provide necessary spiritual oversight and aid in teaching God's Word, which is foundational for a healthy church. Elders play an essential role in the life of the church by providing spiritual nourishment and guidance to the congregation. The New Testament clearly outlines that elders are not just leaders but also guardians of sound doctrine and messengers of the Gospel. Their importance is rooted in the biblical mandate to 'feed the flock of God' (1 Peter 5:2). When elders faithfully fulfill their calling, they promote spiritual growth and health for the entire body of Christ, enabling believers to stand firm in their faith. The responsibility of elders is a heavy one, as they must care for the souls of their congregation, leading them to maturity in Christ.

Q: Why is humility important for church leaders?

Humility is critical for church leaders to serve effectively, as God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility is a foundational virtue for church leaders as exemplified in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles. In Matthew 23:11-12, Jesus teaches that those who are greatest should become servants. Church leaders must recognize that their authority comes not from their own status but from their role as servants of Christ and His Gospel. This mindset cultivates an environment of grace and unity within the church, as leaders demonstrate to the congregation how to live in humility and submission to one another. 1 Peter 5:5 states, 'Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another,' highlighting that humility fosters healthy relationships and effective ministry.

Q: How should elders handle authority in the church?

Elders should exercise their authority with confidence grounded in the Word of God, not through coercion or personal ambition. The authority of elders in the church comes from the office they hold, but more importantly, it is derived from the Word of God they proclaim. Elders are called not to be lords over God's heritage but to be examples to the flock, as stated in 1 Peter 5:3. This calls for a wise and humble exercise of authority, ensuring that decisions and teachings align with Scripture. Elders must lead with a spirit of servitude, focused on nourishing the flock spiritually and helping them grow in their faith, rather than seeking popularity or personal gain. A true elder recognizes his role as an under-shepherd, accountable to the Chief Shepherd, who is Christ Himself.

These disciples of our Lord established
churches in various places. Timothy and Titus and other men
who assisted them. And they ordained pastors and
elders in the churches. They had pastors and they had
elders. And the elders' chief business is to teach the Word of God. That's the chief business of
the elders, is to teach the Word of God. Uses the term elder,
usually when we talk about elders, we're talking about older people.
And these elders generally were older men, but not always. A man wasn't chosen to be an
elder, a teacher, because he was old, but because he was gifted.
He was taught of God and given the gift to teach. So Peter is
writing to the elders which are among you, and there were more
than one. There are several, plural, the
elders which are among you. I exhort, and Peter says, I also
am an elder. These were, these disciples,
these apostles were humble men. We can learn from them that they
didn't love titles. Paul didn't call himself the
apostle. He said, I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ. And he didn't
call himself Dr. Paul or Reverend Paul. It was
just Paul. They weren't fond of titles.
Someone I read one time said, generally, the man who really
deserves a title won't claim it. other people have to give
it to him. They wanted to make Dr. John
Gill, and that's what we called him. I don't know how to call
him anything but Dr. John Gill, but they gave him an honorary
title, and he said later, I never thought it, thought it, or about
it. But God's men are humble men, and Peter is a mighty apostle,
one of the earliest of the apostles, but he tells these men who are
to elders, like in this church. He says, I too am an elder. I'm
quite honored, he said, to be an elder. It's an honorable office. I too am an elder. And I'm a
witness. Now Peter was a witness not only
to the sufferings of Christ, but of the sufferings of Christ.
I'm a witness. He was there when our Lord was
crucified. We weren't. But that's what an
elder is, he's a witness. We're not witnesses to the sufferings
of Christ with these eyes, but we're witnesses to the sufferings
of Christ as revealed in the Word. But every elder is a witness
of the sufferings of Christ. That's our calling, is to preach
Christ and Him crucified. That's what Paul said when he
went down to Corinth, he said, I came to you in weakness and
fear and much trembling, but determined to know nothing among
you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Christ is our message,
Christ is our theme, Christ is our gospel. We're witnesses. He said that to his disciples.
He said, you'll be my witnesses. Witnesses unto me. In Jerusalem,
where you are, where you started, in Judea and Samaria, wherever
I send you. You're my witnesses. You're my
witnesses. And then he said, I'm not only
a witness of the sufferings of Christ and to the sufferings
of Christ, but a partaker of the glory of Christ. that shall
be revealed." Now, Peter, that's twofold as far as he's concerned. If you open your Bibles, turn
in your Bibles to Luke 9, and while you turn, let me quote
a scripture. In Luke chapter 9, John, writing
in John 1, said, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. And all things were made by him,
without him was not anything made that was made. And in verse
14 he said, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
and we beheld his glory. Peter, James, and John actually
beheld his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Here it is
here in Luke chapter 9. In Luke 9, verse 32, Luke 9,
verse 32. Start with verse 29. And he prayed,
as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered,
and his raiment was white and glistering. And behold, there
talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elias, who appeared
in glory. and spake of his decease, which
he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were
with him were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake, they
saw his glory." Oh, we will someday. So Peter here, he says, writing
to the elders, I exhort the elders, I'm an elder, and I'm a witness
to the pain and agony and suffering of Christ and of the sufferings
of Christ as you are. And I'm a partaker of the glory
of Christ. I saw his glory. But I will someday
enter into his glory and be a partaker myself of that glory as you shall. Father, I will that those whom
thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold
my glory. Won't that be something when
we behold his glory? And the glory which you have
given me, I've given them. Partakers. He hath made us meet
sufficient to be partakers of his glory and of his inheritance. And an elder is such a wonderful, wonderful office to
be a teacher. There's two or three famous missionaries, two especially that I've read
about is Judson in Burma and William Carey in India. But William
Carey missionary to India for a long time, and his son joined
him, like Cody Groover joined Walter Groover in Mexico. His
son Felix joined his father as a missionary. Felix was a very
talented young man, a very educated young man, and the Queen of England
was so impressed with Felix, this young missionary in India,
she made him an ambassador. She gave him a title as an ambassador
to India to represent, you know, India was a part of the British Empire. She
made Felix, instead of a lowly missionary, a high ambassador. How did this old man react to
that? He wrote a friend, he said, my son Felix has shriveled from
a missionary to an ambassador. Most folks would put that the
other way around. But that old man knew that the
highest office his son could possibly hold would be to be
an elder, a missionary, a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verse 2, Peter said, feed the flock of God. That's our business. That's what God called us to
do. Feed the flock of God. apostle that could make that
statement with more meaning and feeling than Peter. He's telling
the elders, now you feed the flock of God. He had that impressed
on him powerfully when our Lord arose from the grave and met
him there on the seashore and sat down with him and asked him,
you love me? Yeah, Lord, I love you. You feed
my lambs. You love me? Yeah, Lord, I love
you. You feed my sheep. You really
love me, Peter? Lord, you know I love you. You
know I love you. You know everything. You feed
my sheep. He's passing that information
on down to us. He said that's your business,
to feed my sheep, of which is among you in the margin It says,
as much as in you is. Well, that's twofold. You can
say that either way. Feed the flock which is among
you. That's the flock you're responsible for. I'm responsible
to preach wherever God opens the door, but my chief responsibility
is right here. And you elders, that's fine to
go up and preach somewhere, but this is your calling to feed
these folks. They're your primary concern,
and you feed them. the elders which are the flock
which is among you, and you feed them to the utmost of your ability,
as much as in you is. You can't tell what you don't
know anymore, you can come back to where you hadn't been, but
you can tell what you know. And you can study to show yourself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. Study. I told a pastor friend not too
long ago that I have a schedule even at my age, as long as I've
been in the ministry. I get up in the morning, have
my coffee and breakfast, I go to my study. I'm in there by
8 o'clock or 8.30. I come out of there, when lunch
is served at 1231. And that's been all my ministry,
studying the Word of God. And we can't minister to God's
people unless we minister to ourselves. That's right. Feed the flock of God. Feed the
flock of God. Don't ever go into the pulpit
on papaya. Don't ever, ever, ever ever go
into the pulpit unprepared. And he says, you take the oversight
thereof. With the office comes the authority.
That's right. With the office comes the authority.
With the office comes the leadership. That's right. You listen to the
Lord, and then you teach the people. And you teach them with
confidence. Take the oversight. Take the leadership. Do it with
confidence. Do it with authority. Don't take
your doubts into the pulpit. Leave your doubts at home. Settle
them there and then come here. Tell what you do know. Tell what
God has shown you. But don't be bashful about it.
Don't be backward about it. Don't be shy about it. Those
people that listen to the Master Preacher, they said, he speaks
as one with authority. Well, the Word is the authority.
The Word, if God shows it to you, it's so. It's so. Take the oversight. Take it with
confidence. Because we have confidence in
the Word. If we don't have confidence in the Word, don't get up here.
Don't stand before people. I don't like this round table
sharing where I think this, I think that. I don't preach what I think.
I preach what I believe. And I wait till I believe it
before I preach it. That's not the way to teach God's
Word. Take the oversight. With the call, with the assignment,
with the gift comes the authority. And do it willingly. Not by coercion. Don't make them push you into
this office. Don't let them push you into
this office. But take it, if God has called you, take it not
by coercion, not with reluctance, not for praise. Not for filthy
lucre, not for gain, not for applause, not for profit. But
here's the clue of a ready mind. A ready mind. Motivated by the joy that comes
from knowing the word and teaching somebody else. We have school
teachers here. Lots of them in our congregation.
And it's hard work. But they love it. They love to
see their little pupils learn, and watch them learn to read,
and watch them grow in understanding. That's the joy. You don't get
paid much if you go into the school teaching. You're not going
to get rich, I promise you that. But I tell you, you'll be rich
in joy. You'll be rich in accomplishment. It's the joy and blessing and
privilege of teaching others and showing them what God has
shown to us. That's right. That's right. 1 Thessalonians 2. Listen to
the Apostle Paul here. 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 19. 1
Thessalonians 2 verse 19. He says, what is our hope? What is our joy? What is our
crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ and His coming? You are our glory,
you are our joy. Those people you teach, that's
your joy, that's your glory. All right, let's look at verse
3. Now here's an important point here. Now you elders, Feed the
flock, which is among you, or as much as in you is. Take the
oversight now. You have the authority, goes
with the office, and the word is your authority. And not by
constraint, but willingly. Not for gain or popularity or
fame, but of a willing mind, a ready mind. Neither is being
lords over God's heritage. but being examples to the flock.
Now let me show you, say something here. The pastor and elders are leaders. They're ambassadors of Christ.
And they speak with authority. What is their authority? The
office? Well, in a sense, but not totally. The word is their authority.
That's the authority. The word. The authority is not
in the person. And he's got to realize that,
and the people have got to realize that. But the authority is in
the word they preach. Here's an ordinary man, a little
boy, grew up in this church. And we've known him since he
was a little boy. And he grows up, and he becomes
a man. And he goes to the police academy
and studies law and law enforcement. They pin a badge on him. He's got authority. I say, yes,
sir. Yes, sir, to him. He tells me
to pull over. I pull over. He tells me to follow
him down the road. I'll follow him down the road.
Why? I'm scared of him? No. He's got a badge. That's the
authority. The United States government,
the state of Kentucky, has commissioned him and ordained him to enforce
the law. And the man who stands in the
pulpit Preaching the Word of God, both elders and pastors,
they have authority. But the authority is not the
man. It's the Word of God. Paul said, as an ambassador of
Christ, we beseech you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. So when the pastor and the elders
and the leaders of the Church offer to you a solution from
the Word of God, You're obligated to do it. Not because he said
it, but because God said it. See that? That's the authority.
So he said, don't be lords over God's heritage. You're not promoting yourself,
but you're examples to the flock, and you lead by example. The
Word is preached, and we lead by example. Turn to Matthew 23. Matthew chapter 23. And we're expected to follow
what the Word of God says. Now listen to our Lord here in
Matthew 23, beginning with verse 6. He talked about these Pharisees,
these religious leaders who weren't truly sent of God at all. He
says in verse 6, they loved the uppermost seats or rooms at the
feast. They loved the chief seats in
the synagogue. They liked that power. That authority,
that office, they like it. They love greetings in the marketplace. They love to be called a man,
rabbi, master, master, doctor, professor, bishop. Oh, they love
that. But don't you be called rabbi,
master. One is your master, and that's
Christ. All your brethren. This is a problem we have with
that term reverend, you know. A lot in town here, reverend
mayhem. The scripture says holy and reverend
is his name. I'm pastor man, I like that,
that's my office, I'm a pastor. But I'm no more reverend than
any other child of God. I'm holy in Christ. But he is
holy in essence. He's the one that's holy and
reverend. That's his name. So don't be called master. One
is your master, your brethren. Your brethren, verse 9, call
no man your father. call our church leaders father
upon this earth, one is your father which is in heaven. Neither
be ye called master, one is your master even Christ. He that is
greatest among you shall be your servant. But whosoever shall
exalt himself shall be abased. He that humbles himself shall
be exalted." I preached last night up at a television studio
and I talked about the publican and the Pharisee. The Pharisee
went to the temple. He went to the temple, and he
justified himself, and God condemned him. And the publican went to
the temple and condemned himself, and God justified him. The Pharisee
exalted himself, and God put him down. The publican put himself
down, and God put him up. So that's what he's saying here.
Whosoever exalted himself, he's headed for trouble. He may not
know it, but he is. And he that shall humble himself
shall be exalted. So the Word is our authority.
That's how the elders, neither being lords over God's heritage,
verse 3, but examples. Examples in conduct, examples
in conversation, examples in study, examples in giving, examples
in forgiving. Just examples. We lead by example.
We lead by the Word, and the Word's the authority. men are
expected to walk in. I'll tell you how Paul over in
1 Corinthians 11, he taught, he taught a certain truth. And
then he said this, now if anyone is disposed to be argumentative
and contentious about the doctrine and teaching of the Word, let
him remember We hold to and recognize no other way. I like that. He
said, I'm teaching this now. I'm teaching this. And he said,
now if anybody's argumentative, this is amplified, and contentious
about this doctrine, let him remember there isn't any other
way. That's authority now. That's
just the way it is. All right, verse four. And when
the chief shepherd You know who that is. He called himself the
Good Shepherd. I'm the Good Shepherd. The Covenant of Grace called
him the Great Shepherd. When the Chief Shepherd shall
appear, you shall receive a crown of glory, you elders, pastors,
teachers of the Word, that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 2, verse 25, back just
a page. It says, you were as sheep going
astray, but you now return to the shepherd and bishop of your
souls. That's our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is our shepherd. We're under shepherds. He's our
bishop, shepherd and bishop of our souls. He's our high priest.
He's our Lord. He's our King. He's our Heavenly
Father. He's the head of the church.
And shame on any man who attempts to assume his office. We just
don't wear those titles. We just don't. The shepherd and
bishop of our souls is our Lord. We're not vicars of Christ. The
word vicar is vicarious, is substitute. And no man got that kind of authority. No, no, not Vicars of Christ.
That's a bad term for a man. One is your Master Christ and
your brethren. Here's that brethren relationship.
Turn over here to Matthew again, chapter 20. Here's
our relationship in Matthew chapter 20, verse 25. in verse 25 of Matthew 20, but
Jesus called them to him and he said, Now you know that the
princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they
that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be
so among you in the church among believers. But whosoever would
be great among you, let him be your minister. And whosoever
would be chief among you, let him be your surfer. Even as the
Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give
his life a ransom for many." That's our relationship. And
it can be good and it can be blessed if we remember that the
Word is our authority. The pulpit bows to the Word of
God. The pew bows to the Word of God. The women bow to the
Word of God. The men bow to the Word of God.
This is where churches are disciplined. This is where churches are led.
This is where churches are taught from the pulpit. That's right. Not from meetings back in somebody's
home, or back in the back, or deacons' meetings, or council
meetings, or board meetings. Pulpit. See, the Word's our authority. The Word's our foundation. foundation of faith. I believe,
therefore I've spoken. That's what Paul said. That's
what David said. I believe the word, therefore I'll speak. And
this is where it takes place. He says in verse 5, you younger,
therefore likewise you younger, submit yourselves to the elder.
Now, what does this mean? Well, even proper wisdom will
tell you what this means. even proper wisdom, but grace
more than that. Young people in age should respect
and listen to older people. The scripture says rebuke not
an elder, that's not talking about the office of elder, that's
talking about older believers. You don't, you don't, young people
you don't rebuke. an older believer. And you treat
the older women as mothers, and the older men as, like you treat
your own father. You don't rebuke them. Honor
to whom honor is due, tribute to whom tribute is due, respect
to whom respect is due. So start with, I've got three
applications here. Younger, submit yourself to the
older with respect and admiration. There's gray hair, And longevity
and grace and perseverance deserve much respect. Much respect. Secondly, you younger in grace,
now you might be 50 years old and be a baby in Christ, but
if you're young in grace at any age, you should listen to those
who've been around a while in grace. You know, the longer you've
been in grace, if you're a student of grace, the more you know about
it. And we've got lots to learn, but the younger have more to
learn. And so a young person in grace at any age, young in
Christ, young in faith, ought to listen and heed the mature
words of those who've been around a while. And then thirdly, the
younger elders and pastors should listen and learn from experienced
pastors. They should. They should seek
their counsel and seek their advice, and they'll be able to
avoid a lot of problems if they listen. Submit yourself to the
elder. And then it says, yea, all of
you, everybody, be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility. Here is a scripture that emphasizes
that, Ephesians 4. Ephesians chapter 4. Verse 1. Let's everybody show respect
and kindness and humility and meekness around one another. Be subject one to another. Look
not on your own things, but on the things of others. Here, Ephesians
4.1. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that
you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with
all lowliness and meekness. and long-suffering patience,
forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Make it. Don't fall out
with people. Don't have a bad spirit. Endeavor
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Because
there's one body, one Spirit, even as you're calling, one hope
of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and
Father who's above all and through all and in you all. True humility,
I read this recently, true humility shows itself when we speak the
best of others and the worst of ourselves. Don't get that
reversed now. True humility speaks the best
of others and the worst of ourselves and then true humility seeks
to promote the happiness and the gifts and the graces of others. Brag on them. Not ourselves. Let another praise thee and not
your own mouth. And true humility, the man said,
this is good, true humility shows itself when we speak the best
of others and the worst of ourselves. When we seek to promote The happiness
and the gifts and the graces of others and the work of others
are not our own projects. But true humility comes to the
assembly. Seeking to greet, not just to
be greeted. Seeking to recognize and not
to be recognized. Seeking to hear, not only to
be heard. Seeking to praise and not to
be praised. Seeking to comfort, not just
be comforted. Seeking to serve and not be served. That's beautiful. I don't even
know who wrote that, but I think it's excellent. He says, all of you be subject
one to another, be clothed with humility. Just be clothed with
humility because God resists the proud. I read from Proverbs,
six things God hates. Six things God hates. Yea, seven
are abomination to Him. And the first one name is a proud
look. Proud look. God hates pride. He gives grace to the humble.
So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. That shouldn't
be hard to do. If we realize we're under the
mighty hand of God, it shouldn't be too hard to humble ourselves,
should it? The mighty hand of God, the sovereign
hand of God, beneath it, underneath it, what a hiding place, what
security. To be under his hand in humble
submission is to be safe. It is to be comfortable. It is
to be secure. It is to be kept. It is one day
to be exalted in his own time. Humble yourselves under the mighty
hand of God and he'll exalt you when it's time. When it's time. Spurgeon said you just need to
know two words to be saved. Sin and the Savior. You just need to know two words.
Sin and the Savior. In other words, he said this
is where it is. Lord, show me myself. Keep on showing me myself,
who I am, what I am, where I came from. Then show me yourself. If you can get a good grasp on
who He is and who you are, you're not going to have any trouble
with pride. You're just not going to have any trouble. Where we
have trouble with pride is when we forget who we are. and who
the mighty hand belongs to. And that's when we get kind of
lifted up, you know, we raise up instead of going down. We
forget who he is. But you keep in mind who he is,
what he did, why he did it, and where he is, and who you are,
and what you were, and where you came from, and where you'd
be if it wasn't for his grace. And that'll just drain the starch
out. Casting all your care on Him. This is so hard to do, isn't
it? Casting all your care. All your care, all your anxiety,
all your worries, all your concerns, all your children, all your grandchildren,
all your past, all your present, and all your future. Cast it all upon Him. into his
hands. Why? He cares for you. He cares
for you means two things. It means he cares for you. That's
about the first thing you told your girlfriend when you started
dating. I care for you. You didn't dare say I love you.
I care for you. But he cares for you. He loves
you. He loves you. He loves you. And also he'll
take care of you. And if he loves you, he will.
If he loves you, he will. You can be sure of that. So watch
this now. Let's learn something here. Be
sober, be vigilant. Be sober. That word is circumspect. Make your judgment after much
consideration. That's what circumspect means.
Make your judgment after much consideration. Be sober. Be serious. That word means all
that. Circumspect, serious, sober,
and watchful. Now here it is in the illustration. Be sober, be careful, be moderate
in all things, and watch your attitude and conduct. Be sober
and watchful, vigilant. Circumspect, moderation, temperance,
and watch out for your attitude and spirit. Be sober. Secondly, that's seriousness
of mind. We're not playing games. Be serious and dedicated, and
then watch to maintain sound doctrine and practice. Sound
doctrine and practice. personally and in the church.
And then thirdly, be sober. Be serious. Circumspect in your
profession. In your profession, in your prayers,
in your worship. I read that while ago in Psalm
89. The Lord is to be had in reference
by all them that come near him. Be serious. Don't joke about
the things of God. Be serious, sincere in your profession,
in your prayers, and be vigilant. Try the spirits, whether they
be of God. Try the spirits, whether they
be of God. And this is all necessary, why?
Because you're adversary of the devil. Now you'll learn something
here, I did, if you'll listen to me a minute. Be sober, circumspect,
serious, careful, moderate, temperate, serious of mind, sincere, and
be watchful, vigilant. Watch your own attitude, watch
to maintain sound doctrine, and try the Spirit. Why? Because
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he
may devour. Whom resist, you resist him. Step fast into faith. Now, question. How does a peanut like me resist
the devil? That's a big order, isn't it?
How do you and I resist principalities and powers and rulers of the
darkness, spiritual wickedness and high places? How? Well, it's
not a one-on-one situation. It's not a one-on-one confrontation. You'd be glad of that. It's not
a one-on-one conflict. Our Lord took him on one-on-one
and whipped him. But you can't do that. So it's
not a one-on-one conflict. I'll tell you what it is. It's
given to you there in verse 8. Be sober. Be serious. Be vigilant. Be watchful. Be careful. Give attention and care to those
areas where Satan, the wily and crafty and subtle one, attacks.
and overcomes people. You watch those areas in your
life, in my life, where he attacks people. Where did he attack Eve? She questioned the Word of God.
Watch out now, don't ever question the Word of God. He said, did
God say that you'd die? Ah, you won't die. Watch out
now. Watch out. He opened the door for him. How
about Cain? Questioned the blood atonement.
He brought works. Watch out. That's where he works,
on works. That's where he gets folks. When they start leaning, well,
I know there's something I must do. That's what Cain said. The
blood's not enough. That's what Cain said. He opened
the door. See what I'm saying? What about
Lot? What's he doing in Sodom? He
coveted the beautiful watered plains of Sodom. He looked so
good. Those mountains up there where
God was, it's just a little bit uncomfortable there. But boy,
you ought to see that 40 acres down there of green grass. I
know they're perverts down there, but I mean that grass is pretty.
Watch out, you're opening the door. You start coveting. Judas, what do you give me? Ananias
and Sapphira. Now, we need a little recognition
in the church. So tell what let's do. Let's
sell this property and we'll take it like the rest of those
people. We'll say, that's all of it. She said, that's not truthful.
Well, it's just a little lie. It ain't too big, you know. Get
a little recognition. What about Peter? Fear of man. He was sitting there with those
Gentiles and those fellas came down from Jerusalem and he got
up and moved. He was afraid of them. So resisting the devil,
these preachers have missed it. You don't handle him one-on-one.
It's not a personal confrontation. When he says, resist the devil,
this is the way you do it. Be sober, be vigilant, because
he's a roaring lion, and he's seeking whom he may devour. So
you be steadfast and serious and sober in the faith. in the faith. Resist him in the
faith. Believe in God. I believe the
Word of God. I believe the blood of Thomas.
I believe God will supply my needs. I believe I don't need
to prosper in this flesh. I need to prosper in my soul.
How much will you give me? How famous can I get to be? I've
seen preachers lose their ministry trying to climb the ladder. I've
seen them educate themselves right out of the ministry. I've
seen them go to a bigger place, a bigger church, a bigger parsonage,
a bigger salary, and become smaller men. You have to, Satan, stay
out of his, stay out of his patch. Move away. That's how you resist
him. Because all these afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But here's
our solution, I'll close with, but the God of all grace, that's
what I call this message, Ron, is all of grace. The God of all
grace, who had called you to his eternal glory by Jesus Christ,
after you've suffered a while, he'll make you perfect, just
like Christ. He'll establish you, he'll establish
you with stability, perseverance, like a rock, and he'll settle
you, strengthen you, We're weak, but He'll strengthen us and He'll
settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion
forever and ever. Amen.

All of Grace

What does the Bible say about the role of elders in the church?

How do we know that elders are important for the church?

Why is humility important for church leaders?

How should elders handle authority in the church?

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All of Grace

What does the Bible say about the role of elders in the church?

How do we know that elders are important for the church?

Why is humility important for church leaders?

How should elders handle authority in the church?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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