Morning Moments

1 Timothy 5:17-25 (KJV)
1Ti 17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Having considered the church's care for the Body and the Bereaved, we shall now consider its care for the Brothers who lead. We shall follow the outline below -

We are to SHOW APPRECIATION - "double honor"
ANY church that does not honor the pastor is under the judgment of God! Copy that Houston? God can cure him if he is wrong or kill him if he is corrupt. THE ONLY time a local assembly has the right to remove a pastor is when he is morally impure or doctrinally unsound (to sound doctrine, not merely denominational bias). That is a hard pill for the American Church to swallow, but it is Biblical. It is also to be done Biblically by warning first, then waving goodbye second.

I am a Bible man and do not give a rip about tradition or trend if they contradict truth. My allegiance is to THE ONE who ordained me and sent me to bear fruit - the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. There are NO laws against this fruit.

We are to treat one another as we would be treated, and we are not to rebuke an elder (pastor, overseer, bishop, shepherd, presbyter), but we are to entreat him as a father. Too many young and immature preachers have created nightmares for the church by not balancing common sense with commitment to service. SCRIPTURE IN ALWAYS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR. Today's youth want to be the "senior pastor" right out of Bible School or Seminary without the maturity it takes to lead those who are older and often wiser. Remember that Jesus did not begin His public ministry until the age of thirty. I wish I had been given this kind of counsel when I began to pastor at the age of twenty five. I can't change that, but I can charge others.

The HCSB puts it this way - 1 Timothy 5:17 (HCSB)
1Ti 17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

In other words, those who have given themselves to diligently work hard in "preaching and teaching" or in consuming and communicating the Scripture are worthy of liberal support. NOW HEAR THIS! Anyone can visit the sick, the aged, the hospitals, and nursing homes, which should not be neglected, BUT the man of God who has been gifted to lead and feed the flock is not a nursing home administrator. We have developed a mentality, especially in smaller churches that the study and teaching of the Word of God is somehow not as important as a pastor holding the hand of Uncle John who is having an ingrown toenail removed. That is why we have deacons and they should be deeking and not de king.

Pastor, give yourself to preaching AND teaching and let the deacons do what they were "appointed" to do. If you will in love and gentleness teach this, it will make a difference in your church and ministry. DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND THIS PLEASE! You should NEVER be accused of being lazy, sleeping late, or neglecting the flock, but you are to MANAGE (not manipulate) the deacon's work. In the New Testament Church, every member ministers.

We are to consider a SIMPLY ANALOGY -

We are to understand the SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY -

We are assured of SUFFERING ADVERSITY -

We are to remember a SHAMEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT -

We are to respect the SAINTLY ACTION -

BLESSINGS!