1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
To be a Church Leader like a Pastor is the most honorable and sensitive position that a newly converted (NOVICE), even wise, intelligent, secular university graduate should not be hastily given the title or the position until a God given time to determine his calling, attitude, and time to learn the Bible doctrines and what it takes to be a Pastor.
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings is teaching us His principles of true leadership. Leading by example... The hardest way of leadership style, because you must walk the talk, you must live what you preach, you must show them how to rightly do it. No problem with our Lord because He is perfect and He is our God. We can only obtain that correct application by inner changes in our life. First, you should be saved, meaning the Holy Spirit is inside you, dwelling and making the construction and repair of your attitudes, character, thinking through the Bible, this makes studying the Bible a must. You can never attain spiritual maturity without reading, studying and meditating in God's Holy Word. God's word is the material that the Holy Spirit will use to build you. It is the perfect sword to protect you and you can use against the enemies of correct mindset that God wants you to attain. Satan is fighting to have a place in your mind through wrong ideas, false information, wrong examples, wrong understanding of issues and applications. The pastor should have a system of knowledge of ministerial practicalities of doing things that must be Bible based and sound faith.
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Leadership behavior in the church as the pillar and ground of the truth may be compromised when we don't know in some point what we do due to lack of study, knowledge or coaching of older pastors.
We will first see God's guidance and instruction of what He wants His church leaders or pastors to behave in the house of God as an ordained leader.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Inverted service... the leader, the motivator, the person responsible for the outcome and result must have the attitude of the lowest servant. God is teaching us the way up starts at the lowest position. It is hard to comprehend the inversion of direction of motives and paradigm, the way UP is DOWN. Jesus made it clear by example and by written words that this should not be so among YOU! You can readily recognize in the set up of so many so-called churches the deviation and the lording, through the hierarchy of officers and political power inside the organization that to go up is to pull many down... and its the dog eat dog scenario of the career ladder in the corporate world.
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Serving God is in the spirit and truth always... never with the motive to be seen of men, but for God's eyes only and for His consumption and glory!
In God's service, equality, same mind principle is being taught and practiced. We can observe Jesus washing the disciple's feet, sacrifice and humility in the crucifixion, is the trademark of Jesus Christ for us to see that that is what He wants to be seen in His churches. Paul taught this:
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
The basics of Christian leadership is founded in the wisdom that God hates Necolaitaines.
Nikolaitēs
Thayer Definition:
Nicolaitans = “destruction of people”
1) a sect mentioned in Rev_2:6,Rev_2:15, who were charged with holding the error of Balaam, casting a stumbling block before the church of God by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols as well as committing fornication
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Lording over God's heritage is one of the sins of leaders, organizations such as conventions, fellowships, denominations that is dictating the affairs of the church, which must be subject alone to Jesus as Head, founder and King.
Church oversight as under shepherd under Christ should not be done by constraint, but willingness is being motivated to gain cheerful service and giving. When the church is touched by example and service, they will follow with love and voluntary.
Everybody is under Christ. He should have all the honor and glory. He should be the content of the heart and mind as we serve... do all for the glory of God.
Preeminence is very critical that it is solely for the King of kings alone. People who wants to usurp it causes problem and are a great hindrance in God's work.
3Jn_1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
It is very clear that in all things, in everything,He should be the one being recognized. Let's remember that God is a jealous God and and He alone should be given the highest respect and regard in the church business.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Edification is the duty of all the members of the church, to strengthen others, to comfort and to remember the pastors, the leaders, they should do it as unto the Lord, not that the pastor is regarded as Lord but by being obedient to Christ, they encourage the leaders by their love and without this te pastors will not be effective and will fail. Members could help the pastors by being at peace with everybody. Problems in the church between members are diverting precious energy of the church and pastor which is intended for God's work to nonsense immature and childish behavior which should have been used for soul winning, preaching and visitation.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called to day, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
