1. The Bible has a lot to say about what it takes to be that spiritual man, that spiritual woman that will be used of God to be leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ.
a. As a church, we’ve studied many of these passages like Exodus 18 & the books of 1-2 Timothy & Titus.
b. The ingredients are essential & not debatable.
NOTE: So what is it that God looks for when He chooses a leader?
Does He used the same criteria that man often uses?
• Is it charisma? Can he hold & influence an audience?
• Is it style? Does he “LOOK LIKE” a leader?
• Is it his voice? Does he “SOUND LIKE” a leader?
• Is it humor? Can he keep them entertained?
WELL FIRST AND FOREMOST God looks to the heart of a man and a woman to serve in His Church.
• His character. Her love for God’s people.
• Let’s look at 1 Timothy 3:1ff
APP: I’m convinced that whether you’re looking for a pastor to fill the pulpit or just a leader to lead in the church…
• I think we make a mistake choosing those with CHARISMA but lack the depth of Christ-like character.
• Too many have been chosen for their STYLE even when they had no spiritual substance in their lives.
• I think the church may enjoy the HUMOR of the man and not really care whether there is any holiness flowing in his life.
GUYS… why is this so important? Why should we care?
• There’re a lot of fakes & phonies in the Christian world.
• There’s a lot of personalities, promotion, & gimmicks designed to rule over you and short change your spiritual life.
• Christian celebrities & so-called spiritual superstars.
• But where are the men & women of sacrifice & service.
• We don’t hear much about them… sort of ignored these days.
NOW when you find these men and women serving in your church, in this church, how are they to be treated?
• What is to be our response to them?
I’ll admit to you this morning, this message makes me a little uncomfortable because it can so easily be misinterpreted.
• It may even sound a little self-serving, but believe me it’s not.
• As learn this morning HOW TO TREAT SPIRITUAL LEADERS, it’s as much for me as it is for you.
• As the family of God, our hearts and lives must support and love and help and hold up our spiritual leaders.
Hebrews 13.16-17 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
• And this message is an essential ingredient in your spiritual growth, especially among the family here at Calvary Chapel!
You’ll recall Moses with Aaron and Hur at his side.
• The battle against the Amalekites was intense & fierce.
• The war was interesting because as Moses was able to raise up his hands, Israel prevailed & won.
• But when his arms were weak and down, they lost.
• Let’s look at Exodus 17:8ff
• That’s our role with leaders in the church: we’re here to lift up their arms, support them, and hold them up in the ministry.
• Not to the point of idol worship or blindly following them no matter what they do or what they teach. No way!
• But certainly in response to they’re great love and sacrifice for the sake of the Body of Christ we are to esteem them highly!
I. (5:12-13) Esteem Them Highly
1. (12) Recognize those who labor among you.
a. We beg you guys, urge you strongly… recognize those who are laboring among you and esteem them highly in love!
NOTE: Historically the church has wavered between 2 extremes with its leadership…
• On one side the church has elevated leaders almost to the point of worshipping them and making them untouchable saints.
• Jesus tells the church in Ephesus, Revelation 2, that He commends them for hating the doctrine of the Nicolatins.
NOW: There is a lot of debate over what that doctrine was but if we break down the word it literally means, “to conquer the laity”
• This has led many believe this was the first division between the priesthood & the people.
• The setting up of a leadership to lord over the people.
• God hates any system that puts people closer to God than others!
THE OTHER EXTREME is equally dangerous and that is when people don’t respect, or honor, or even listen to the leadership!
• “Who are you to me?” Why should I listen to you?!
• ‘You’re not God. I don’t have to submit to you!’
• This attitude certainly entered into the Corinthian church and it opened the door wide for sin to run rampant in their midst!
NOTE: There is that relationship between the leadership and the flock that requires a mutual trust and a meaningful submission!
AND IT MUST be added that these 2 extremes are taken by different leaders themselves too.
• You’ll have some that want to remain untouchable and believe they are above any sort of criticism and accountability!
• And still others will lord it over the flock and rule with an iron fist and a heavy hand.
So Paul says you’re not to worship them or despise them but to simply recognize them and esteem them highly in love!
• We’re to ACCEPT them and APPRECIATE them. WHY?
• Because of their age or their degrees or experience? NO.
• For their work’s sakes, for what they do, for their labor!
The Word ‘labor’ in v12’ literally ‘working into fatigue, to be worn out, weary, to weary oneself with labor.’
And the Word ‘work’s’ in v13, literally ‘the acts, the deeds, the service & work that they continually do’
I Know How easy it is to look at the ministry and think, labor?
• Sure, all you do is show up and speak of an hour on Sunday.
• What’s so hard about that? What do you do the rest of week?
• Play golf? Play video games? Goof off?
• In my life, believe me, studying, praying, preparing, counseling, calling, emailing, etc… I have a full week.
• But there are so many more serving in this church who serve at a high level of commitment ON TOP of their full time jobs and ON TOP of their responsibilities at home! LABOR & WORK for sure!
1 Cor. 15.10-11 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
There are a lot of misunderstandings & unrealistic expectations about the pastor out there… consider this note entitled:
THE PERFECT PASTOR
The perfect pastor preaches exactly 10 minutes.
He condemns sin roundly but never hurts anyone’s feelings.
He works from 8 AM until midnight and is also the church janitor.
The perfect pastor makes $40 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, guys good books, and donates $30 a week to the church.
He is 29 years old and has 40 years experience. -- Above all, he is handsome.
The perfect pastor has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and he spends most of his time with the senior citizens.
He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his church.
He makes 15 home visits a day and is always in his office to be handy when needed.
The perfect pastor always has time for church council and all of its committees. He never misses the meeting of any church organization and is always busy evangelizing the unchurched.
The perfect pastor is always in the next church over!
If your pastor does not measure up, simply send this notice to six other churches that are tired of their pastor, too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of the list.
If everyone cooperates, in one week you will receive 1,643 pastors.
One of them should be perfect.
So esteem them highly in love for their work’s sake.
Why is it that we are to recognize and love and esteem leaders in the church? Well consider closely their lives…
• Any instrument used of God is certainly a high priority target of the devil. -- Get the leader to fall & others will fall with him.
Esteem Them Highly in love…
II. (5:14-15) Exercise Your Spiritual Gifts
1. (14-15) Different types of people.
a. There are 3 types of people mentioned here.
b. Unruly, fainthearted, and the weak.
c. In order to support those in the ministry, we as a Body need to regard those who are among us… serving them.
d. Giving special attention to approaching people differently depending on their temperaments.
e. Paul is encouraging the whole church to get involved.
UNRULY: Warn them. The unruly are literally the rebellious, the spiritually defiant Christian. ‘The careless ones, the out of line.’
• The Greek word was used in the military for a soldier who wouldn’t keep rank with others.
• There are Christians that just like to argue & fight.
• They question everything and are really never satisfied.
• These are to be warned, admonished, and exhorted to get right before God. Their bad attitude is infectious & inconsistent with love flowing through a church!
• And if they don’t heed the Word… there comes a time:
Titus 3.10-11 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
FAINTHEARTED: Comfort them. These are Christians who have a sensitive bent in them.
• Emotionally they can go up and down like a roller coaster.
• We don’t warn or rebuke them, we have to be gentle and encourage them in the Lord.
• Fainthearted literally means, “small souled”
• They can get discouraged very quickly and want to quit.
• They get so swallowed up in their own failures or the circumstances of their lives that they just check out.
• Unfortunately, even some Christians in this category are tempted to take their own lives!
• May the Lord help us to encourage and uplift them and edify them with the truth of God’s Word and his tangible love.
WEAK: Uphold them. These are Christians who are young and need to help up.
• Literally this could be translated, “Hold fast to the weak” AND “Don’t let them fall!”
• It means to put your arm around them and be a strength!
• Some in the church need this almost constantly for a short period of time.
• A huge crisis has hit. You’re a new believer. your sin has beaten you down…
• The problem here is that many are just afraid to admit it.
• It’s OK to admit your weakness guys! As you do, the Lord is able to surround you with help and hope!
THEN Paul says be patient to all…
• It’s a simple reminder to be filled with the spirit and have a long burning fuse toward everyone in the church!
The last thing in this section is the exhortation to not render evil for evil, not to get revenge or attack back.
• As you’re serving & loving these types of people, somebody is going to get hurt.
• Revenge is very easy to come by in times like this!
• Don’t go there. Don’t do it!
• We’re to return good of evil. A soft answer turns away wrath.
How are we to treat Spiritual Leaders?
• Esteem them Highly in Love
• Exercise your Spiritual Gifts!
Let me just say that it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this church. Are we perfect? NO WAY! I’m here… enough said.
• But your love is so evident. Your patience. Your kindness.
• It’s a joy to serve you and I pray for wisdom and direction on how I might grow in the Lord to greater areas of usefulness.
• There are weak & strong here. There are some who are unruly, some who are fainthearted, others who are weak…
• But as we seek Jesus together, we’re able to grow deeper.
2 Cor. 3.18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
AND you have your part too. Consider how you treat the leaders in the church, the pastors, your fellow believers.
• If there are changes that need to be made, may the Lord affirm them in you and empower you toward them!
• Let’s close in Luke 10:1ff
