Is The Pastor Eligible?-II—Titus 1:5-9
Attention:
The churches of Crete were saved but were lacking the finesse necessary to accomplishing their mission. They were not yet organized for ministry.
A pastor by the name of Titus, was charged with the fortunate task, of straightening out those aspects of a local— & possibly island-wide— church body which would bring it up to speed, thus making them viable & able to powerfully carry the message of Christ to a lost world.
With apostolic authority, Paul instructs Titus specifically, to “appoint” qualified men to pastoral positions in every city on the island of Crete. That is his first priority. This is because without headship, their can be no sustained & organized effort to win their world for Christ.
Thus Paul informs Titus of the basic qualifications for pastoral eligibility.
Paul told Titus that the focus of his work on Crete was to bring order to the churches & appoint qualified elders.
Pastors must meet certain qualifications.
What qualifies a man as pastor?
6 measures of pastoral eligibility/integrity.
Previously we found that Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
1. ALIGNMENT Stability(:5)
2. PUBLIC Stability/ Respect(:6a)
3. MARITAL Stability(:6b)
4. BROOD Stability(:6c)
So we begin at this point in verse 7.
5—Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
CHARACTER Stability(:7-8)
Explanation:(:7-8)
:7—“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God
Elders are here, equated with overseers. One of the elders would be the overseer.
The overseer, of necessity, must be without indictment because he is the “steward” of God, responsible for the overall welfare of the flock. He is to manage the household of God, as-it-were, well, in such a manner as to be absolved of any wrongdoing.
“Bishop/Overseer”—episkopov—An overseer—1a) A man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent, 1b) The superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church.
“Blameless”(See :6)—anegklhtov—That cannot be called into account, unreproveable, unaccused, blameless. Designates one against whom there is no accusation, implying not acquittal of a charge, but that no charge has been made. Strong—The negation of egkalew —To call in (as a debt or demand), i.e. bring to account (charge, criminate, etc.):-- Accuse, call in question, implead, lay to the charge. Used 5X.
“Steward”—oikonomov—1) The manager of household or of household affairs; 2) metaph. The apostles & other Christian teachers & bishops & overseers.
“Not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,”
*An overseer’s stewardship is in many respects defined by the things he is “not.”
“Not self-willed”
He is not characterized as being “self-willed.” That is, his decisions are NOT directed toward self-fulfillment but rather toward fulfilling God’s desire. He does NOT seek to do what he wants to do regardless.
“Self-willed/Overbearing”—auyadhv—Self-pleasing, self-willed, arrogant. From:—autov— ‘Self’ &—hdonh—(Eng. hedonism)1) Pleasure; 2) Desires for pleasure. ‘Self-pleasuring’
“Not quick-tempered”
An overseer is NOT characterized as someone prone to anger. A quick-tempered person will not tolerate the opinions of others because he considers himself to have arrived. And usually is not willing to be taught. He takes it personally when an idea or plan of his is not accepted.
“Quick-tempered/Soon angry/”—orgilov—Prone to anger, irascible.
—Mike a Seminary student/Seemed to fly off the handle at the drop of a hat/ Distanced myself from him.
“Not given to wine”
An overseer is not characterized as someone “given” over to the influence of alcohol. Alcohol clouds one’s thinking, thus his decisions are made in the flesh.
Eph. 5:18-20—“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
“Given to wine”—paroinov—From —para— Properly—Near; i.e. (with genitive case) From beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) At (or in) the Vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the Proximity with ; & —oinov— ‘Wine.’ Used 2X, both regarding overseers—1Tim. 3:3.
“Not violent”
Neither is he characterized as a “violent” person. He does NOT solve his problems thru destruction but rather construction.
Rom. 14:19—“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
“Violent/Striker”—plhkthv—1) Bruiser, ready for a blow; 2) A pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person. From—plhssw—To pound(flat). Used 2X, both regarding overseers—1Tim. 3:3.
“Not greedy for money,”
Neither is he characterized by greed, particularly as it relates to a desire for “money.” If a pastor is greedy for money, then he will preach what money buys—the fleshly desires & preferences of the giver.
“Greedy for money/Given to filthy lucre/Fond of sordid gain/Pursuing dishonest gain”—aiscrokerdhv adj.—Eager for base gain, greedy for money. From —aiscrov— Shameful, base(susceptibility to bribery)—filthy, dishonorable & —kerdov— ‘Gain.’ Used 3X—1Tim. 3:3 & 1Pet. 5:2.
—’Pastor’ in Concord,NC who funneled money from the church into his business.
:8—“but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,”
*An overseer is also defined by the things he IS. Those things that reside in his heart, as the true & personal desires which set him apart.
“But hospitable”
He must be characterized by his being “hospitable.” That is, he opens his heart to others, even to strangers.
“Hospitable”—filoxenov—Hospitable, generous to guests. From—xenov—1)Stranger or foreigner; 2) One who receives & entertains another hospitably—2a) With whom he stays or lodges, a host.
“A lover of what is good”
An overseer loves that which is “good” in his world. And thus those things which speak of God’s love & grace, even when exercised by lost people in the secular realm.
“Lover of what is good/Lover of good men/Loves what is good”—filagayov—Loving goodness.
“Sober-minded”
He must be a “sober-minded” person. Nothing fleshly/traditional/expected, etc. clouds his thinking. He must be able to reason & rationalize effectively.
“Sober-minded/Sober/Sensible/Self-controlled”—swfrwn—1) Of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses; 2) Curbing one’s desires & impulses, self-controlled, temperate. Strong—Safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion):-- discreet, sober, temperate. From:—swzw—To save, keep safe & sound, to rescue from danger or destruction—& —frhn—1) The midriff or diaphragm, the parts of the heart; 2) The mind—2a) The faculty of perceiving & judging. ‘Safe-minded’ or ‘Kept-minded’
“Just”
He must operate with a sense of being fair-minded & impartial. Judging all things regarding all sides in any matter.
“Just/Upright”—dikaiov—1) Righteous, observing divine laws. Strong—Equitable (in character or act); by implication, Innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):-- Just, meet, right(-eous).
“Holy”
He thus sets himself apart from sin & the concerns of worldliness.
“Holy/Devout”—osiov—Undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious. It is rather a separation from evil & defilement. The moral signification of the word is therefore the prominent one.
“Self-controlled”
An overseer/bishop must be in strongly in control of his emotions so that they do not carry him away from God in any moment that holds potential for the flesh.
“Self-controlled/Temperate”—egkrathv—1) Strong, robust; 2) Having power over, possessed of (a thing); 3) Mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining—3a) Controlling one’s self, temperate, continent. From:—kratov—1) Force, strength; 2) Power, might: mighty with great power—2a) A mighty deed, a work of power; 3) Dominion.
Argumentation:
Rom. 5:1-4—“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, & rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; & perseverance, character; & character, hope.”
2Cor. 1:5-6—“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation & salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation & salvation.”
2Cor. 11:24-29—“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night & a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness & toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger & thirst, in fastings often, in cold & nakedness-- besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, & I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, & I do not burn with indignation?”
Illustration:
I am a child of the Jim & Tammy Fae Bakker days/PTL Club(Praise the Lord)/He would beg for money & she would weep & make her makeup run/Local Charlotte radio station called it the ’Pass The Loot Club’ with good reason/CHARACTER In-stability
Danny Akin/SEBTS President/My professor—Christianity/Utmost respect for him/CHARACTER Stability
Application:
?Your Pastor bring CHARACTER Stability to this Church?
?He in-line with the full truth of God’s word, & with the Gospel of Christ?
6—Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
TEACHING Stability(:9)
Explanation:(:9)
:9—“holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort & convict those who contradict.”
“Holding fast the faithful word”
“Holding fast/Hold firmly”—antecomai—1) To hold before or against, hold back, withstand, endure; 2) To keep one’s self directly opposite to any one, hold to him firmly, cleave to, paying heed to him. From:—anti—1) Over against, opposite to, before; 2) For, instead of, in place of (something). Strong—To hold oneself opposite to, i.e. (by implication) adhere to; by extension To care for:-- Hold fast, hold to, support. Used 4X.
Ps. 119:9-11, 24, 49-50, 67, 71, 99-100, 130, 155, 172—“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”....“Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.”....“Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.”....“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.”....“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”....“Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.”....“I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.”....“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”....“The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”....“Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.”....“My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.”
“As he has been taught”
“As he has been taught/In accordance with the teaching/As it has been taught—“kata thn didachn”— ‘According to the teaching.’
“That he may be able, by sound doctrine”
“Sound doctrine”—didaskalia th ugiainoush— Teaching, instruction—&—To be sound, to be well, to be in good health.
“Both to exhort & convict those who contradict.”
“Exhort”—parakalew—1) To call to one’s side, call for, summon; 2) To address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc. Strong—To call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):-- beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
“Convict”—elegcw—1) To convict, refute, confute; 2) To find fault with, correct. ‘To rebuke with sufficient cause, & also effectually, so as to bring the one rebuked to a confession or at least a conviction of sin. In other words, it means to convince.’
“Contradict”—antilegw—1) ‘Speak against’, gainsay, contradict; 2) To oppose one’s self to one, decline to obey him, declare one’s self against him, refuse to have anything to do with him. Strong—To dispute, refuse:-- answer again, contradict, deny, gainsay(-er), speak against.
Argumentation:
2Tim. 2:2—“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Js. 3:1—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
2Tim. 4:2—“Preach the word! Be ready in season & out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering & teaching.”
Illustration:
Word-Faith OR Name-it-&-claim-it movement/Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, etc./‘We can produce whatever our hearts desire by simply demanding what we want by voicing that faith/‘If we can manipulate the universe and perhaps even God, then we have our own personal genie just waiting to fulfill our wishes.’—Gary Gilley /It puts you in control! So if man has control, God no longer has it!—Frederick K.C. Price/Intensely built on personal physical visits/experiences with Jesus, angels & the miraculous/?TEACHING Stability?
Application:
?Your Pastor bring TEACHING Stability to this Church?
?He in-line with the full truth of God’s word, & with the Gospel of Christ?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
5. CHARACTER Stability(:7-8)
6. TEACHING Stability(:9)
1. ALIGNMENT Stability(:5)
2. PUBLIC Stability/ Respect(:6a)
3. MARITAL Stability(:6b)
4. BROOD Stability(:6c)
Presented 03/21/2010am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
