1 00:00:01,029 --> 00:00:08,233 If you'll open in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 3. 2 00:00:08,233 --> 00:00:13,231 1 Timothy 3. 3 00:00:13,231 --> 00:00:16,270 I'm going to pray again 4 00:00:16,270 --> 00:00:22,006 just asking God for His help. 5 00:00:22,006 --> 00:00:27,074 Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, 6 00:00:27,074 --> 00:00:30,218 Lord, just that - help us. 7 00:00:30,218 --> 00:00:34,465 Help me. 8 00:00:34,465 --> 00:00:36,223 God, You've ordained all things 9 00:00:36,223 --> 00:00:41,297 and You've ordained the means of all things. 10 00:00:41,297 --> 00:00:42,732 Help us to look to You 11 00:00:42,732 --> 00:00:47,116 and then walk in obedience to those means. 12 00:00:47,116 --> 00:00:49,767 God, as our brother said, 13 00:00:49,767 --> 00:00:53,442 every blessing in Christ is ours, 14 00:00:53,442 --> 00:00:56,335 but You've ordained that they come to us 15 00:00:56,335 --> 00:00:58,844 through the means of things like prayer 16 00:00:58,844 --> 00:01:00,707 and obedience. 17 00:01:00,707 --> 00:01:03,412 So help us to walk in these manners, 18 00:01:03,412 --> 00:01:06,754 to obey You, to honor You, to look to You. 19 00:01:06,754 --> 00:01:09,263 So come now and meet with us. 20 00:01:09,263 --> 00:01:10,693 Be with us. 21 00:01:10,693 --> 00:01:11,992 God accomplish something - 22 00:01:11,992 --> 00:01:13,434 not just here in this sermon, 23 00:01:13,434 --> 00:01:15,353 but in this conference. 24 00:01:15,353 --> 00:01:17,757 God, that You would get the credit alone; 25 00:01:17,757 --> 00:01:22,308 that it could not be given to the power of man; 26 00:01:22,308 --> 00:01:24,347 it could not be something that we've done, 27 00:01:24,347 --> 00:01:27,030 but something that You've done where You would get glory, 28 00:01:27,030 --> 00:01:32,904 You would get credit, God, in each of us. 29 00:01:32,904 --> 00:01:35,384 Thank You for Christ our Savior. 30 00:01:35,384 --> 00:01:41,986 In His name we pray, amen. 31 00:01:41,986 --> 00:01:46,047 1 Timothy 3 - 32 00:01:46,047 --> 00:01:47,628 a text we looked at yesterday. 33 00:01:47,628 --> 00:01:50,182 I'm going to read again to begin us here. 34 00:01:50,182 --> 00:01:54,854 Starting in v. 14. 35 00:01:54,854 --> 00:01:57,544 "I hope to come to you soon, 36 00:01:57,544 --> 00:02:00,186 but I'm writing these things to you 37 00:02:00,186 --> 00:02:02,256 so that if I delay, 38 00:02:02,256 --> 00:02:05,172 you may know how one ought to behave 39 00:02:05,172 --> 00:02:07,482 in the household of God, 40 00:02:07,482 --> 00:02:09,330 which is the church of the living God, 41 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:13,003 a pillar and buttress of truth." 42 00:02:13,003 --> 00:02:14,619 We looked at that text yesterday 43 00:02:14,619 --> 00:02:16,509 and we recognized this, 44 00:02:16,509 --> 00:02:19,832 that Scripture does give us 45 00:02:19,832 --> 00:02:24,846 direction pointedly on how we are to behave 46 00:02:24,846 --> 00:02:26,693 in the church - 47 00:02:26,693 --> 00:02:28,143 what our roles are, 48 00:02:28,143 --> 00:02:30,894 what our responsibilities are, 49 00:02:30,894 --> 00:02:35,106 and how we are to relate to one another. 50 00:02:35,106 --> 00:02:37,307 If you were with us last night, 51 00:02:37,307 --> 00:02:40,082 we looked at the role and responsibility 52 00:02:40,082 --> 00:02:43,518 of pastors, of elders. 53 00:02:43,518 --> 00:02:47,513 We noted first that for the church 54 00:02:47,513 --> 00:02:50,587 to be functioning in order, 55 00:02:50,587 --> 00:02:52,632 it's necessary that they have 56 00:02:52,632 --> 00:02:54,838 pastors and elders. 57 00:02:54,838 --> 00:02:56,280 And so we should be praying 58 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,194 and working towards that. 59 00:02:59,194 --> 00:03:01,050 We noted yesterday too 60 00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:05,495 that the elder, the overseer, the pastor 61 00:03:05,495 --> 00:03:08,812 is describing the same office. 62 00:03:08,812 --> 00:03:11,985 It is elder, overseer, pastor 63 00:03:11,985 --> 00:03:13,377 in the same office there. 64 00:03:13,377 --> 00:03:15,535 It is describing one person 65 00:03:15,535 --> 00:03:19,379 which there are to be a plurality of. 66 00:03:19,379 --> 00:03:22,008 We saw also yesterday that elders 67 00:03:22,008 --> 00:03:25,479 are to be biblically qualified men, 68 00:03:25,479 --> 00:03:28,011 and they are to remain qualified. 69 00:03:28,011 --> 00:03:29,991 It's not just that they're qualified 70 00:03:29,991 --> 00:03:32,958 as they enter into or are considered for that role, 71 00:03:32,958 --> 00:03:35,677 but they are to remain qualified 72 00:03:35,677 --> 00:03:38,832 by having careful watch over themselves. 73 00:03:38,832 --> 00:03:41,309 We noted yesterday too that elders 74 00:03:41,309 --> 00:03:45,430 are made overseers by the Holy Spirit. 75 00:03:45,430 --> 00:03:49,793 They oversee the affairs of the church. 76 00:03:49,793 --> 00:03:52,043 We saw also that they are called 77 00:03:52,043 --> 00:03:55,025 to collectively in the plurality of elders 78 00:03:55,025 --> 00:03:58,337 to shepherd or pastor the flock of God 79 00:03:58,337 --> 00:04:01,045 that is before them. 80 00:04:01,045 --> 00:04:03,974 And we saw that they pastor 81 00:04:03,974 --> 00:04:06,200 by knowing the sheep - 82 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,070 knowing who these people are 83 00:04:08,070 --> 00:04:10,855 that God has entrusted to them. 84 00:04:10,855 --> 00:04:13,310 We also saw that they are to lead the sheep. 85 00:04:13,310 --> 00:04:15,228 They are to lead by example. 86 00:04:15,228 --> 00:04:19,703 They are to be an example to the sheep 87 00:04:19,703 --> 00:04:23,107 in conduct, love, faith, and purity. 88 00:04:23,107 --> 00:04:27,930 We saw too that they are to feed the sheep. 89 00:04:27,930 --> 00:04:31,056 They feed them the whole counsel of God's Word. 90 00:04:31,056 --> 00:04:34,718 And we saw that they are to protect the sheep. 91 00:04:34,718 --> 00:04:36,017 And we noted yesterday, 92 00:04:36,017 --> 00:04:38,503 yes, to protect the sheep from the outside influence 93 00:04:38,503 --> 00:04:40,077 of the world coming in, 94 00:04:40,077 --> 00:04:42,633 but to protect the sheep from wolves 95 00:04:42,633 --> 00:04:47,453 that have crept in unnoticed among us. 96 00:04:47,453 --> 00:04:50,911 We noted something about those wolves yesterday - 97 00:04:50,911 --> 00:04:55,596 that they seek to draw away disciples after themselves. 98 00:04:55,596 --> 00:04:58,305 They have contagious personalities, 99 00:04:58,305 --> 00:05:00,194 a contagious zeal, 100 00:05:00,194 --> 00:05:03,212 but they begin to speak twisted things 101 00:05:03,212 --> 00:05:06,454 to draw disciples away from the flock 102 00:05:06,454 --> 00:05:10,670 unto themselves. 103 00:05:10,670 --> 00:05:12,187 Well, today we're going to look 104 00:05:12,187 --> 00:05:13,642 at what Scripture has to say 105 00:05:13,642 --> 00:05:15,721 regarding the responsibility 106 00:05:15,721 --> 00:05:19,821 of the congregation to their pastors. 107 00:05:19,821 --> 00:05:22,217 We'll be in a few different portions of Scripture, 108 00:05:22,217 --> 00:05:24,375 but I'm going to have you turn over one page 109 00:05:24,375 --> 00:05:27,397 to 1 Timothy 5. 110 00:05:27,397 --> 00:05:33,564 1 Timothy 5. 111 00:05:33,564 --> 00:05:36,665 In chapter 5, Paul is giving instruction 112 00:05:36,665 --> 00:05:38,899 to the church. 113 00:05:38,899 --> 00:05:40,542 Again, how we ought to behave 114 00:05:40,542 --> 00:05:42,904 in regards to our relationships 115 00:05:42,904 --> 00:05:44,067 to one another. 116 00:05:44,067 --> 00:05:45,674 At the beginning of the chapter, 117 00:05:45,674 --> 00:05:47,794 he speaks about how young men 118 00:05:47,794 --> 00:05:51,993 are to relate to older men in the church; 119 00:05:51,993 --> 00:05:55,607 how they're to relate to other young men in the church; 120 00:05:55,609 --> 00:05:58,666 how they are to relate to the sisters in the church; 121 00:05:58,666 --> 00:06:01,244 how they are to relate to older women 122 00:06:01,244 --> 00:06:02,807 in the church. 123 00:06:02,807 --> 00:06:05,399 In v. 3-16, he instructs us how 124 00:06:05,399 --> 00:06:09,960 we are to relate to widows in the church. 125 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:11,918 And then in v. 17, 126 00:06:11,918 --> 00:06:14,084 Paul gives instruction for Timothy 127 00:06:14,084 --> 00:06:19,868 regarding elders, pastors, overseers. 128 00:06:19,868 --> 00:06:22,929 Beloved, this will not be an exhaustive look 129 00:06:22,929 --> 00:06:26,606 at the congregation's responsibility 130 00:06:26,606 --> 00:06:29,209 to the elders. 131 00:06:29,209 --> 00:06:31,302 So, there will be more that can be said, 132 00:06:31,302 --> 00:06:33,866 but hopefully it will give us some direction 133 00:06:33,866 --> 00:06:35,444 in regards to these things 134 00:06:35,444 --> 00:06:37,172 and maybe quite possibly 135 00:06:37,172 --> 00:06:41,755 some correction in regards to these things. 136 00:06:41,755 --> 00:06:45,682 Let's look at v. 17. 137 00:06:45,682 --> 00:06:48,152 Paul writes to Timothy, 138 00:06:48,152 --> 00:06:52,053 "Let the elders who rule well 139 00:06:52,053 --> 00:06:56,283 be considered worthy of double honor, 140 00:06:56,283 --> 00:06:58,918 especially those who labor 141 00:06:58,918 --> 00:07:01,591 in the preaching and teaching. 142 00:07:01,591 --> 00:07:03,376 For the Scripture says, 143 00:07:03,376 --> 00:07:05,596 'you shall not muzzle an ox 144 00:07:05,596 --> 00:07:07,611 when it treads out the grain;' 145 00:07:07,611 --> 00:07:10,831 and 'the laborer deserves his wages.' 146 00:07:10,831 --> 00:07:13,518 Do not admit a charge against an elder 147 00:07:13,518 --> 00:07:19,376 except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 148 00:07:19,376 --> 00:07:22,511 As for those who persist in sin, 149 00:07:22,511 --> 00:07:25,001 rebuke them in the presence of all 150 00:07:25,001 --> 00:07:30,391 so the rest may stand in fear." 151 00:07:30,391 --> 00:07:32,796 First, notice again here that Paul 152 00:07:32,796 --> 00:07:35,007 uses the plural. 153 00:07:35,007 --> 00:07:37,157 Let the "elders..." 154 00:07:37,157 --> 00:07:39,249 We mentioned this yesterday. 155 00:07:39,249 --> 00:07:41,285 That God's design for the church 156 00:07:41,285 --> 00:07:43,433 is to have a plurality of elders - 157 00:07:43,433 --> 00:07:46,229 more than one. 158 00:07:46,229 --> 00:07:49,463 And again, I know we live in the providence of God here. 159 00:07:49,463 --> 00:07:51,143 But we should be working towards 160 00:07:51,143 --> 00:07:53,266 the raising up of more men 161 00:07:53,266 --> 00:07:55,255 that there would be more than one elder 162 00:07:55,255 --> 00:07:57,738 in the churches. 163 00:07:57,738 --> 00:07:59,316 And he continues here: 164 00:07:59,316 --> 00:08:03,884 "Let the elders who rule well..." 165 00:08:03,884 --> 00:08:06,614 I want to stop there for a moment. 166 00:08:06,614 --> 00:08:09,046 Pay attention to these words. 167 00:08:09,046 --> 00:08:12,714 What is it that the elders are to do? 168 00:08:12,714 --> 00:08:15,465 They are to rule. 169 00:08:15,465 --> 00:08:17,528 They are to lead. 170 00:08:17,528 --> 00:08:21,010 They are set over and preside over the church, 171 00:08:21,010 --> 00:08:25,204 and again, the affairs of the church. 172 00:08:25,204 --> 00:08:28,427 Saints, this is what Scripture teaches. 173 00:08:28,427 --> 00:08:32,662 There is authority given here. 174 00:08:32,662 --> 00:08:35,103 There is order. 175 00:08:35,103 --> 00:08:36,863 Without authority, 176 00:08:36,863 --> 00:08:41,336 without order there's chaos. 177 00:08:41,336 --> 00:08:44,243 I know in all of us at some level, 178 00:08:44,243 --> 00:08:45,903 whether it's at home - 179 00:08:45,903 --> 00:08:47,802 maybe wives with husbands - 180 00:08:47,802 --> 00:08:50,290 maybe it's in your workplace with a boss; 181 00:08:50,290 --> 00:08:52,231 maybe it's in a church that you've had 182 00:08:52,231 --> 00:08:55,391 an experience where you've experienced 183 00:08:55,391 --> 00:09:02,071 an abuse or a misuse of authority. 184 00:09:02,071 --> 00:09:04,540 And that can be very difficult 185 00:09:04,540 --> 00:09:07,491 to come in and then hear that God has given 186 00:09:07,491 --> 00:09:11,980 authority in the church to men. 187 00:09:11,980 --> 00:09:14,452 But here's something important. 188 00:09:14,452 --> 00:09:18,667 We cannot allow our bad experience 189 00:09:18,667 --> 00:09:20,965 of abuse or misuse of authority, 190 00:09:20,965 --> 00:09:24,156 or even the potential danger 191 00:09:24,156 --> 00:09:25,966 of misuse of authority 192 00:09:25,966 --> 00:09:29,223 to remove or soften what Scripture teaches 193 00:09:29,223 --> 00:09:38,722 regarding the role of pastors and elders. 194 00:09:38,722 --> 00:09:40,913 Beloved, this is why we have to be careful 195 00:09:40,913 --> 00:09:43,506 who is an elder. 196 00:09:43,506 --> 00:09:46,114 This is why there are qualifications given 197 00:09:46,114 --> 00:09:50,127 when we're considering who should become an elder 198 00:09:50,127 --> 00:09:54,496 because there is authority given here. 199 00:09:54,496 --> 00:09:57,838 As I thought about this struggle 200 00:09:57,838 --> 00:10:01,036 of the reality that God has given authority 201 00:10:01,036 --> 00:10:03,313 to elders and pastors in the church 202 00:10:03,313 --> 00:10:04,741 and it's a struggle for us - 203 00:10:04,741 --> 00:10:07,565 I just began to think through 204 00:10:07,565 --> 00:10:10,600 what are the struggles that we have 205 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,223 with authority? 206 00:10:14,223 --> 00:10:16,087 I thought of a couple things. 207 00:10:16,087 --> 00:10:17,551 One I mentioned - 208 00:10:17,551 --> 00:10:19,190 some of us have experienced 209 00:10:19,190 --> 00:10:21,500 an misuse or abuse of authority. 210 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:24,743 It makes us skeptical to authority; 211 00:10:24,743 --> 00:10:28,222 to the idea of having someone over us. 212 00:10:28,222 --> 00:10:30,877 Second maybe, I know that we 213 00:10:30,877 --> 00:10:32,161 who are in the church 214 00:10:32,161 --> 00:10:34,277 are new creations in Christ - 215 00:10:34,277 --> 00:10:36,464 we're no longer slaves to sin, 216 00:10:36,464 --> 00:10:38,695 but we live in this suit of flesh. 217 00:10:38,695 --> 00:10:41,930 And there are desires in the flesh. 218 00:10:41,930 --> 00:10:45,203 And the desire of the flesh is one of autonomy. 219 00:10:45,203 --> 00:10:47,878 It's one of self-rule. 220 00:10:47,878 --> 00:10:50,635 It's one of pride. 221 00:10:50,635 --> 00:10:53,588 So the temptation of self-governing and pride 222 00:10:53,588 --> 00:10:56,030 can lead us to believe at times: 223 00:10:56,030 --> 00:11:00,250 I don't need anyone over me. 224 00:11:00,250 --> 00:11:03,165 I think being an American 225 00:11:03,165 --> 00:11:05,283 does not help in this area. 226 00:11:05,283 --> 00:11:09,206 The notion of America is one of self-governing. 227 00:11:09,206 --> 00:11:11,374 And as it pertains in relation to 228 00:11:11,374 --> 00:11:13,235 the government in our lives, 229 00:11:13,235 --> 00:11:14,958 there is some good about the concept 230 00:11:14,958 --> 00:11:18,856 of "we the people" - self-governing. 231 00:11:18,856 --> 00:11:20,614 But you can't take the notion 232 00:11:20,614 --> 00:11:23,983 of American thought and way and culture 233 00:11:23,983 --> 00:11:25,521 in regards to government 234 00:11:25,521 --> 00:11:27,665 and then allow that to have you 235 00:11:27,665 --> 00:11:29,430 be resistant within the church 236 00:11:29,430 --> 00:11:36,894 to those who God has given to be over you. 237 00:11:36,894 --> 00:11:41,149 In addition to that, 238 00:11:41,149 --> 00:11:45,313 you remember maybe 20 some odd years ago, 239 00:11:45,313 --> 00:11:47,637 there was a major shift when some men 240 00:11:47,637 --> 00:11:51,887 who hold the title of elder or pastor 241 00:11:51,887 --> 00:11:53,788 decided that they needed to think 242 00:11:53,788 --> 00:11:55,454 of new and innovative ways 243 00:11:55,454 --> 00:11:58,036 how to grow the church. 244 00:11:58,036 --> 00:12:00,625 So what they did is they went to 245 00:12:00,625 --> 00:12:04,514 secular marketing business gurus. 246 00:12:04,514 --> 00:12:05,944 And they said how can we grow 247 00:12:05,944 --> 00:12:07,865 the number of people? 248 00:12:07,865 --> 00:12:11,916 And they got secular marketing plans. 249 00:12:11,916 --> 00:12:18,231 And they brought them into their churches. 250 00:12:18,231 --> 00:12:19,752 And they came up with the notion 251 00:12:19,752 --> 00:12:21,618 what many have referred to 252 00:12:21,618 --> 00:12:24,786 as the seeker-friendly movement. 253 00:12:24,786 --> 00:12:26,893 An attempt through carnal means 254 00:12:26,893 --> 00:12:28,282 to put people in the seats 255 00:12:28,282 --> 00:12:32,025 and get the machine rolling. 256 00:12:32,025 --> 00:12:34,833 And I know us sitting here - I imagine, 257 00:12:34,833 --> 00:12:36,889 most of you if not all of you, 258 00:12:36,889 --> 00:12:38,553 we looked at that and we stand 259 00:12:38,553 --> 00:12:39,903 in resistance to that. 260 00:12:39,903 --> 00:12:41,369 We know that's not God's means 261 00:12:41,369 --> 00:12:42,517 of growing the church. 262 00:12:42,517 --> 00:12:44,526 He grows the church supernaturally 263 00:12:44,526 --> 00:12:46,486 through the proclamation of the Gospel, 264 00:12:46,486 --> 00:12:48,548 regenerating people and drawing them 265 00:12:48,548 --> 00:12:49,602 into the church. 266 00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:51,613 And that's how God grows the church, 267 00:12:51,613 --> 00:12:53,607 but we have to be honest as well 268 00:12:53,607 --> 00:12:55,586 that this notion - maybe many of you 269 00:12:55,586 --> 00:12:57,549 were in some of these churches. 270 00:12:57,549 --> 00:12:59,788 A lot of the people in our church in Dallas 271 00:12:59,788 --> 00:13:01,952 came out of those churches 272 00:13:01,952 --> 00:13:04,220 and there's residue that's left on them 273 00:13:04,220 --> 00:13:05,922 from coming out of those churches 274 00:13:05,922 --> 00:13:08,165 that has to be undone. 275 00:13:08,165 --> 00:13:09,887 What happened during that time 276 00:13:09,887 --> 00:13:11,716 is we had what's called maybe 277 00:13:11,716 --> 00:13:15,324 a consumer mentality to the local church, 278 00:13:15,324 --> 00:13:17,607 where the church was marketed to people; 279 00:13:17,607 --> 00:13:19,885 where people went out and asked people: 280 00:13:19,885 --> 00:13:22,220 Hey, what is it that you are looking for? 281 00:13:22,220 --> 00:13:23,755 And they asked unbelievers, 282 00:13:23,755 --> 00:13:26,256 what is it that you would like to see in the church? 283 00:13:26,256 --> 00:13:28,256 And then they began to create those things 284 00:13:28,256 --> 00:13:30,847 and draw people in through those carnal means 285 00:13:30,847 --> 00:13:32,115 and then they realized, 286 00:13:32,115 --> 00:13:34,165 we have to continue in those carnal means 287 00:13:34,165 --> 00:13:36,469 in order to keep these unregenerate people here 288 00:13:36,469 --> 00:13:38,377 so we can keep the machine running. 289 00:13:38,377 --> 00:13:41,015 But what happened in all of that 290 00:13:41,015 --> 00:13:44,607 and bled maybe into some of our churches unknowingly 291 00:13:44,607 --> 00:13:48,510 is this consumer mentality of the church 292 00:13:48,510 --> 00:13:50,915 where the church is here for me. 293 00:13:50,915 --> 00:13:52,352 It's to meet my needs. 294 00:13:52,352 --> 00:13:53,997 And the moment that the church 295 00:13:53,997 --> 00:13:55,430 doesn't meet my needs 296 00:13:55,430 --> 00:13:57,097 or do it the way I want, 297 00:13:57,097 --> 00:14:00,711 well, I'll just go to the next church down the street. 298 00:14:00,711 --> 00:14:02,111 And so people, you can hear 299 00:14:02,111 --> 00:14:03,740 even how they talk when they come 300 00:14:03,740 --> 00:14:05,206 into the churches sometimes 301 00:14:05,206 --> 00:14:06,807 and you begin to talk with them, 302 00:14:06,807 --> 00:14:10,248 and they talk about using shopping terms 303 00:14:10,248 --> 00:14:12,579 when they're looking for the church. 304 00:14:12,579 --> 00:14:14,364 And that's what people do today. 305 00:14:14,364 --> 00:14:17,102 They shop for churches. 306 00:14:17,102 --> 00:14:19,868 Well, who's going to best meet my needs? 307 00:14:19,868 --> 00:14:21,175 And we need to be honest, 308 00:14:21,175 --> 00:14:23,162 if we've come out of that environment, 309 00:14:23,162 --> 00:14:26,725 some of that has stayed with us. 310 00:14:26,725 --> 00:14:28,633 And it can make us resistant, 311 00:14:28,633 --> 00:14:30,415 because if I come to you and say 312 00:14:30,415 --> 00:14:33,187 I'm going to market this to you, 313 00:14:33,187 --> 00:14:37,206 and then I don't do things the way you want, 314 00:14:37,206 --> 00:14:40,548 you just say fine, we'll leave and go somewhere else. 315 00:14:40,548 --> 00:14:44,675 And I see that as bled into many of our churches. 316 00:14:44,675 --> 00:14:46,904 And it's impacting our understanding 317 00:14:46,904 --> 00:14:49,529 of how we're to relate to one another 318 00:14:49,529 --> 00:14:52,512 because maybe for some of you for so long, 319 00:14:52,512 --> 00:14:54,862 the "pastors" that you sat under 320 00:14:54,862 --> 00:14:58,127 just marketed to you to meet your needs. 321 00:14:58,127 --> 00:14:59,516 And then when you come under 322 00:14:59,516 --> 00:15:01,728 a biblical eldership, 323 00:15:01,728 --> 00:15:05,402 who's mindful of the people, 324 00:15:05,402 --> 00:15:08,450 but they're looking to the Word, 325 00:15:08,450 --> 00:15:10,528 and they strive to be faithful and govern 326 00:15:10,528 --> 00:15:12,445 according to the Word, 327 00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:14,482 and you may disagree, 328 00:15:14,482 --> 00:15:16,423 but they don't change their mind 329 00:15:16,423 --> 00:15:19,790 just to meet your needs or your preferences. 330 00:15:19,790 --> 00:15:22,073 And if you have a consumer mentality 331 00:15:22,073 --> 00:15:24,264 regarding the church, 332 00:15:24,264 --> 00:15:30,584 I'll just go to the next one then. 333 00:15:30,584 --> 00:15:36,153 Another reason that this could be hard for us. 334 00:15:36,153 --> 00:15:39,882 We just need to be honest here. 335 00:15:39,882 --> 00:15:43,709 Pastors are imperfect people. 336 00:15:43,709 --> 00:15:47,617 They make bad decisions sometimes. 337 00:15:47,617 --> 00:15:49,230 And we're going to get into this 338 00:15:49,230 --> 00:15:50,482 a little bit more in depth 339 00:15:50,482 --> 00:15:54,027 and try to flesh this out as we go through this. 340 00:15:54,027 --> 00:15:58,700 Because if they are called to rule, 341 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:01,885 govern the church, 342 00:16:01,885 --> 00:16:04,225 there will be times when you disagree 343 00:16:04,225 --> 00:16:05,512 with your pastors 344 00:16:05,512 --> 00:16:08,017 and the decisions that they've made. 345 00:16:08,017 --> 00:16:09,942 And I want to ask Scripture, 346 00:16:09,942 --> 00:16:11,625 what are we to do about that? 347 00:16:11,625 --> 00:16:12,883 What are we supposed to do 348 00:16:12,883 --> 00:16:14,845 when they don't do things the way I think 349 00:16:14,845 --> 00:16:16,526 they should be done? 350 00:16:16,526 --> 00:16:18,449 So hopefully we can find 351 00:16:18,449 --> 00:16:23,013 how the Scriptures speak to us. 352 00:16:23,013 --> 00:16:25,612 Let's continue in v. 17. 353 00:16:25,612 --> 00:16:29,270 "Let the elders who rule well 354 00:16:29,270 --> 00:16:33,356 be considered worthy of double honor, 355 00:16:33,356 --> 00:16:35,322 especially those who labor 356 00:16:35,322 --> 00:16:37,267 in preaching and teaching. 357 00:16:37,267 --> 00:16:38,977 For the Scripture says, 358 00:16:38,977 --> 00:16:41,282 'you shall not muzzle an ox 359 00:16:41,282 --> 00:16:42,987 when it treads out the grain;' 360 00:16:42,987 --> 00:16:46,824 and, 'the laborer deserves his wages.'" 361 00:16:46,824 --> 00:16:49,536 What does Paul mean when he says here: 362 00:16:49,536 --> 00:16:53,656 "be considered worthy of double honor"? 363 00:16:53,656 --> 00:16:56,646 I think he has at least two things in mind. 364 00:16:56,646 --> 00:16:59,536 One is the valuing, 365 00:16:59,536 --> 00:17:02,456 the esteeming of elders. 366 00:17:02,456 --> 00:17:06,516 Holding them in high regard. 367 00:17:06,516 --> 00:17:11,992 And the second is dealing with financially supporting them. 368 00:17:11,992 --> 00:17:13,877 Let's talk about this first one. 369 00:17:13,877 --> 00:17:18,949 The honoring of elders by holding them in high regard. 370 00:17:18,949 --> 00:17:21,691 Paul says something very similar 371 00:17:21,691 --> 00:17:24,295 to the church in Thessalonica. 372 00:17:24,295 --> 00:17:28,912 Let me read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, 373 00:17:28,912 --> 00:17:31,050 and you see if you hear a parallel 374 00:17:31,050 --> 00:17:35,199 to this call to honoring. 375 00:17:35,199 --> 00:17:37,912 He writes, "We ask you, brothers, 376 00:17:37,912 --> 00:17:41,373 to respect those who labor among you 377 00:17:41,373 --> 00:17:44,898 and are over you in the Lord 378 00:17:44,898 --> 00:17:48,912 and admonish you, 379 00:17:48,912 --> 00:17:53,637 and to esteem them very highly in love 380 00:17:53,637 --> 00:17:58,006 because of their work." 381 00:17:58,006 --> 00:18:00,058 Did you notice the reason 382 00:18:00,058 --> 00:18:03,175 that you are to honor your pastors? 383 00:18:03,175 --> 00:18:04,770 Did you notice the reason you are 384 00:18:04,770 --> 00:18:07,193 to respect them? To esteem them? 385 00:18:07,193 --> 00:18:08,305 And look at the words: 386 00:18:08,305 --> 00:18:11,442 "very highly in love." 387 00:18:11,442 --> 00:18:13,383 Is it because you agree with them 388 00:18:13,383 --> 00:18:16,328 at every step and turn they make? 389 00:18:16,328 --> 00:18:18,039 No. 390 00:18:18,039 --> 00:18:20,902 Why does Paul tell you here to show honor, 391 00:18:20,902 --> 00:18:23,824 to respect, to esteem your pastors? 392 00:18:23,824 --> 00:18:27,587 Because of their work. That's why. 393 00:18:27,587 --> 00:18:30,134 Paul holds the work, the role, 394 00:18:30,134 --> 00:18:33,013 and the responsibility that pastors have 395 00:18:33,013 --> 00:18:35,076 as a high regard; 396 00:18:35,076 --> 00:18:37,606 as a very vital and essential aspect 397 00:18:37,606 --> 00:18:38,973 to the church. 398 00:18:38,973 --> 00:18:41,185 And because of that work, 399 00:18:41,185 --> 00:18:44,035 he says I want you to honor them and esteem them. 400 00:18:44,035 --> 00:18:46,893 Not because you agree at every turn they make. 401 00:18:46,893 --> 00:18:52,052 Just because of the work that they do. 402 00:18:52,052 --> 00:18:54,751 Let me tell you what Paul's not saying. 403 00:18:54,751 --> 00:18:56,395 Paul is not saying that you 404 00:18:56,395 --> 00:18:58,207 as the individual church member 405 00:18:58,207 --> 00:19:01,682 get to decide how well you think your pastors are doing 406 00:19:01,682 --> 00:19:05,342 in their ruling, in their being over you, 407 00:19:05,342 --> 00:19:07,234 and then if you don't agree with them, 408 00:19:07,234 --> 00:19:10,165 you don't have to show them honor. 409 00:19:10,165 --> 00:19:12,722 That's not what he's calling you to. 410 00:19:12,722 --> 00:19:14,937 He's stating a fact that they are called 411 00:19:14,937 --> 00:19:16,658 to rule, to oversee. 412 00:19:16,658 --> 00:19:18,823 And he says I want you to honor them 413 00:19:18,823 --> 00:19:20,619 and I want you to respect them 414 00:19:20,619 --> 00:19:24,734 because of the work that they do. 415 00:19:24,734 --> 00:19:26,798 Paul is telling Timothy 416 00:19:26,798 --> 00:19:28,687 and the churches to recognize 417 00:19:28,687 --> 00:19:31,969 that God has put these men over you 418 00:19:31,969 --> 00:19:33,443 in the Lord. 419 00:19:33,443 --> 00:19:37,400 And notice I didn't say "in between" you and the Lord. 420 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,174 This is not a mediator. 421 00:19:39,174 --> 00:19:42,054 This is not the Catholic church notion. 422 00:19:42,054 --> 00:19:45,304 Okay? God in His love and His kindness 423 00:19:45,304 --> 00:19:47,650 has put men over the church - 424 00:19:47,650 --> 00:19:48,945 under-shepherds. 425 00:19:48,945 --> 00:19:50,726 Not in between you and the Lord. 426 00:19:50,726 --> 00:19:54,138 You don't go through your pastor to get to God - none of that. 427 00:19:54,138 --> 00:19:57,076 But over you in the church. 428 00:19:57,076 --> 00:19:59,427 There is one Mediator in the church. 429 00:19:59,427 --> 00:20:04,778 It's the Lord Jesus Christ. 430 00:20:04,778 --> 00:20:08,146 So what do we do when these men are imperfect? 431 00:20:08,146 --> 00:20:09,383 They have faults. 432 00:20:09,383 --> 00:20:11,190 They have weaknesses. 433 00:20:11,190 --> 00:20:13,849 And we don't always agree with their decisions 434 00:20:13,849 --> 00:20:16,953 or their rule. 435 00:20:16,953 --> 00:20:19,329 Typically I hear the argument 436 00:20:19,329 --> 00:20:21,814 in this area of this: 437 00:20:21,814 --> 00:20:29,314 Are you asking us to just blindly follow these men then? 438 00:20:29,314 --> 00:20:33,275 Are you asking us just to blindly follow these men? 439 00:20:33,275 --> 00:20:35,876 And Paul would say to you: No. 440 00:20:35,876 --> 00:20:41,451 And I am in no way telling you to blindly follow men. 441 00:20:41,451 --> 00:20:43,904 But we do need to see the role 442 00:20:43,904 --> 00:20:46,827 that they have of ruling; 443 00:20:46,827 --> 00:20:57,407 of being over you in the affairs of the church. 444 00:20:57,407 --> 00:21:00,586 I'll tell you this, 445 00:21:00,586 --> 00:21:02,334 you may be looking at me right now 446 00:21:02,334 --> 00:21:05,843 and saying, we'll, you're a pastor. 447 00:21:05,843 --> 00:21:10,064 Maybe it sounds like I'm making a power grab. 448 00:21:10,064 --> 00:21:12,926 But I can say this for one time, 449 00:21:12,926 --> 00:21:15,005 thankfully none of you are in the church 450 00:21:15,005 --> 00:21:17,466 that I pastor. 451 00:21:17,466 --> 00:21:20,553 Not one person here is in the church that I pastor. 452 00:21:20,553 --> 00:21:22,306 So in regards to you, 453 00:21:22,306 --> 00:21:25,434 I have no personal gain 454 00:21:25,434 --> 00:21:28,047 in sharing these things with you. 455 00:21:28,047 --> 00:21:29,671 I don't get anything. 456 00:21:29,671 --> 00:21:32,834 If you say, okay, we're going to honor our pastors - 457 00:21:32,834 --> 00:21:34,880 personally it doesn't impact me 458 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,738 in the church that I pastor in Dallas. 459 00:21:38,738 --> 00:21:40,909 But I want you to know this, 460 00:21:40,909 --> 00:21:43,484 as a pastor and of the pastors here, 461 00:21:43,484 --> 00:21:45,730 you need to put these things 462 00:21:45,730 --> 00:21:49,674 before your people in your church. 463 00:21:49,674 --> 00:21:54,465 Because who else is going to teach them these things? 464 00:21:54,465 --> 00:21:57,701 Not many people will get up and teach these things. 465 00:21:57,701 --> 00:21:59,969 Preaching these things in your own church 466 00:21:59,969 --> 00:22:02,433 does sound self-motivated, 467 00:22:02,433 --> 00:22:04,686 but I will not apologize for what it is, 468 00:22:04,686 --> 00:22:07,621 because we're looking at God's Word. 469 00:22:07,621 --> 00:22:10,094 We're looking at multiple places in Scripture - 470 00:22:10,094 --> 00:22:15,846 not an obscure passage. 471 00:22:15,846 --> 00:22:17,692 Multiple places in Scripture 472 00:22:17,692 --> 00:22:19,127 that speak to the role, 473 00:22:19,127 --> 00:22:21,172 the authority, and the rule 474 00:22:21,172 --> 00:22:23,847 of elders within the church. 475 00:22:23,847 --> 00:22:25,517 I'm sharing these things with you 476 00:22:25,517 --> 00:22:27,073 because this is God's Word 477 00:22:27,073 --> 00:22:29,011 and because as you obey these things 478 00:22:29,011 --> 00:22:31,487 and submit to these truths, 479 00:22:31,487 --> 00:22:33,954 it goes well for you in your church. 480 00:22:33,954 --> 00:22:35,640 I'm speaking these things to you 481 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:37,868 for your edification and for the health 482 00:22:37,868 --> 00:22:39,261 of your local church, 483 00:22:39,261 --> 00:22:49,032 and ultimately then for the glory of God. 484 00:22:49,032 --> 00:22:51,028 So we'll speak more about what do we do 485 00:22:51,028 --> 00:22:54,339 when we disagree here in just a few moments. 486 00:22:54,339 --> 00:22:56,992 Pastors, let me share this with you though. 487 00:22:56,992 --> 00:22:58,931 If you have any fear about getting up 488 00:22:58,931 --> 00:23:00,824 in front of your church 489 00:23:00,824 --> 00:23:03,993 and sharing these truths with them, 490 00:23:03,993 --> 00:23:05,820 I want you to know this. 491 00:23:05,820 --> 00:23:08,172 They will gladly receive them 492 00:23:08,172 --> 00:23:11,715 because they see that you love them. 493 00:23:11,715 --> 00:23:14,285 It's through our serving the saints 494 00:23:14,285 --> 00:23:16,377 that they may be tempted in a moment 495 00:23:16,377 --> 00:23:20,211 to think this is self-serving; this is a power grab of our pastor, 496 00:23:20,211 --> 00:23:22,673 but when you are sitting there laboring with them, 497 00:23:22,673 --> 00:23:23,931 praying with them, 498 00:23:23,931 --> 00:23:25,713 sitting across tables with them, 499 00:23:25,713 --> 00:23:27,874 demonstrating your love with them, 500 00:23:27,874 --> 00:23:30,067 they'll humble themselves in these moments 501 00:23:30,067 --> 00:23:33,245 and they won't perceive it as a power grab 502 00:23:33,245 --> 00:23:35,963 as you teach them God's Word. 503 00:23:35,963 --> 00:23:39,353 Well, Paul goes on in regards to honor. 504 00:23:39,353 --> 00:23:41,206 And he said not only should this mean 505 00:23:41,206 --> 00:23:43,582 respect for the role that they have, 506 00:23:43,582 --> 00:23:45,340 the job that they do, 507 00:23:45,340 --> 00:23:49,641 but he is speaking also of financial support. 508 00:23:49,641 --> 00:23:51,387 And you notice here that he says: 509 00:23:51,387 --> 00:23:53,889 "especially those who labor 510 00:23:53,889 --> 00:23:57,764 in the preaching and teaching of the Word." 511 00:23:57,764 --> 00:24:00,527 Paul's argument for financially supporting 512 00:24:00,527 --> 00:24:03,767 the pastors is tied to Old Testament texts. 513 00:24:03,767 --> 00:24:05,898 It's tied to Deuteronomy 25 514 00:24:05,898 --> 00:24:07,475 and Leviticus 19. 515 00:24:07,475 --> 00:24:10,384 "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain." 516 00:24:10,384 --> 00:24:14,206 And "the laborer deserves his wages." 517 00:24:14,206 --> 00:24:16,637 Paul fleshes this out if you want to study it more 518 00:24:16,637 --> 00:24:19,958 in 1 Corinthians 9. 519 00:24:19,958 --> 00:24:23,808 But Paul so values the role of pastors 520 00:24:23,808 --> 00:24:25,841 and particularly within the eldership 521 00:24:25,841 --> 00:24:28,245 or the plurality, those who are given 522 00:24:28,245 --> 00:24:31,190 to the preaching and teaching of the Word 523 00:24:31,190 --> 00:24:33,750 that he says whenever it's possible, 524 00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:35,406 working towards this end, 525 00:24:35,406 --> 00:24:37,899 that you should set that person apart 526 00:24:37,899 --> 00:24:41,459 for the ministry of the Word and prayer. 527 00:24:41,459 --> 00:24:43,077 Beloved, let me ask you this: 528 00:24:43,077 --> 00:24:47,916 Do you think about that when you're giving? 529 00:24:47,916 --> 00:24:51,155 This is of value for you. 530 00:24:51,155 --> 00:24:55,520 I know that sometimes that's not a possibility in the moment. 531 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,817 And I think most of us here who are pastoring 532 00:24:57,817 --> 00:25:03,264 probably were bi-vocational. 533 00:25:03,264 --> 00:25:07,633 I worked bi-vocationally for 8 years. 534 00:25:07,633 --> 00:25:09,898 And I want you to know it was so hard 535 00:25:09,898 --> 00:25:12,717 on me and my family. 536 00:25:12,717 --> 00:25:17,043 But it also wasn't good for the church. 537 00:25:17,043 --> 00:25:19,512 And again, we live in the providence of God, 538 00:25:19,512 --> 00:25:21,596 but to the degree that we're able, 539 00:25:21,596 --> 00:25:23,156 we should be giving so we can 540 00:25:23,156 --> 00:25:27,560 set these men apart - especially those who labor 541 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,612 in the preaching and teaching of the Word. 542 00:25:29,612 --> 00:25:31,334 Set them apart so they can be 543 00:25:31,334 --> 00:25:33,948 fully devoted to these things 544 00:25:33,948 --> 00:25:41,036 for the building up of the church. 545 00:25:41,036 --> 00:25:42,879 What you'll see very often 546 00:25:42,879 --> 00:25:44,765 when he differentiates here 547 00:25:44,765 --> 00:25:46,763 among the plurality, 548 00:25:46,763 --> 00:25:50,618 that you will see within the plurality, 549 00:25:50,618 --> 00:25:52,619 all of them need to be able to teach, 550 00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:54,961 but you'll see very often where there will be 551 00:25:54,961 --> 00:25:57,597 one or two of those elders just set apart 552 00:25:57,597 --> 00:26:00,918 for the preaching and teaching of the Word. 553 00:26:00,918 --> 00:26:02,642 And when you recognize that, 554 00:26:02,642 --> 00:26:05,758 strive to set those people apart 555 00:26:05,758 --> 00:26:09,021 by supporting them financially 556 00:26:09,021 --> 00:26:11,773 so they can fulfill this call. 557 00:26:11,773 --> 00:26:13,306 Even the ones who are set apart, 558 00:26:13,306 --> 00:26:15,496 remember this, within the plurality though 559 00:26:15,496 --> 00:26:18,419 it's a co-equal shepherding. 560 00:26:18,419 --> 00:26:19,710 Just because one is given 561 00:26:19,710 --> 00:26:21,811 to the preaching and teaching of the Word, 562 00:26:21,811 --> 00:26:25,619 it does not mean that he's a senior pastor. 563 00:26:25,619 --> 00:26:27,667 There are pastors. 564 00:26:27,667 --> 00:26:29,671 There's no levels here. 565 00:26:29,671 --> 00:26:31,009 They're co-equals. 566 00:26:31,009 --> 00:26:33,344 They shepherd collectively together. 567 00:26:33,344 --> 00:26:35,773 And some of them within the co-equal 568 00:26:35,773 --> 00:26:43,420 are given to the preaching and teaching of the Word. 569 00:26:43,420 --> 00:26:48,430 So far we've seen that elders are called to rule; 570 00:26:48,430 --> 00:26:50,834 to preside over the church. 571 00:26:50,834 --> 00:26:53,413 The congregation is to see that 572 00:26:53,413 --> 00:26:55,193 and to honor that. 573 00:26:55,193 --> 00:26:56,822 They're to respect the elders 574 00:26:56,822 --> 00:26:58,835 and to esteem them highly in love 575 00:26:58,835 --> 00:27:01,149 because of their role. 576 00:27:01,149 --> 00:27:04,553 They're to provide for the elders in the church 577 00:27:04,553 --> 00:27:08,278 material as they feed you spiritual. 578 00:27:08,278 --> 00:27:11,292 Especially those who are given 579 00:27:11,292 --> 00:27:15,542 to the preaching and teaching of the Word. 580 00:27:15,542 --> 00:27:19,153 Beloved, any true pastor is not in this 581 00:27:19,153 --> 00:27:22,417 for greedy gain. 582 00:27:22,417 --> 00:27:33,759 Peter warns about that in 1 Peter 5. 583 00:27:33,759 --> 00:27:36,898 Let me share this too though. 584 00:27:36,898 --> 00:27:38,903 I've heard this notion - again, 585 00:27:38,903 --> 00:27:41,062 you aren't in the church I pastor, 586 00:27:41,062 --> 00:27:48,087 so remember, I don't have a motive for you here personally. 587 00:27:48,087 --> 00:27:53,935 Keeping your pastor poor is not holy. 588 00:27:53,935 --> 00:27:57,909 There's this notion: if we pay our pastor 589 00:27:57,909 --> 00:28:00,598 this much money, he'll be in it for the money. 590 00:28:00,598 --> 00:28:06,002 If he's in it for the money, he's disqualified. 591 00:28:06,002 --> 00:28:08,658 No one's going into this calling 592 00:28:08,658 --> 00:28:10,403 for material gain, 593 00:28:10,403 --> 00:28:12,215 but don't go into it with 594 00:28:12,215 --> 00:28:15,723 a monastic mentality. 595 00:28:15,723 --> 00:28:19,646 Just keep them poor. It will keep them holy. 596 00:28:19,646 --> 00:28:23,084 I'm not advocating to make him rich either. 597 00:28:23,084 --> 00:28:24,732 But don't ask this man 598 00:28:24,732 --> 00:28:26,636 what's the least amount of money 599 00:28:26,636 --> 00:28:29,428 you could possibly humanly survive on? 600 00:28:29,428 --> 00:28:31,908 And then give him that amount. 601 00:28:31,908 --> 00:28:33,693 You don't treat anyone else like that 602 00:28:33,693 --> 00:28:35,940 and you don't treat yourself like that. 603 00:28:35,940 --> 00:28:37,838 Be mindful of your pastor. 604 00:28:37,838 --> 00:28:39,856 Give him enough money 605 00:28:39,856 --> 00:28:44,179 that he can be an example in his own giving. 606 00:28:44,179 --> 00:28:45,646 That's a good rule. 607 00:28:45,646 --> 00:28:47,042 He needs to lead in all ways. 608 00:28:47,042 --> 00:28:49,081 He should be an example to the church 609 00:28:49,081 --> 00:28:51,696 in his own giving to the church 610 00:28:51,696 --> 00:28:54,743 and to missions. 611 00:28:54,743 --> 00:28:56,163 But if you've said, well, 612 00:28:56,163 --> 00:28:58,446 this is the least amount you can live by. 613 00:28:58,446 --> 00:29:00,231 We'll give him $10 over that. 614 00:29:00,231 --> 00:29:03,278 How is he to lead then in the example of giving? 615 00:29:03,278 --> 00:29:08,949 Be mindful of your pastor in these ways. 616 00:29:08,949 --> 00:29:12,970 Let's look at v. 19. 617 00:29:12,970 --> 00:29:15,124 This might be one of the most important parts 618 00:29:15,124 --> 00:29:20,838 about your relationship to your pastors. 619 00:29:20,838 --> 00:29:24,246 Paul tells Timothy in v. 19, 620 00:29:24,246 --> 00:29:28,329 "Do not admit a charge against an elder 621 00:29:28,329 --> 00:29:29,996 except on the evidence 622 00:29:29,996 --> 00:29:33,049 of two or three witnesses." 623 00:29:33,049 --> 00:29:34,965 The NASB renders it, 624 00:29:34,965 --> 00:29:38,401 "Do not receive an accusation..." 625 00:29:38,401 --> 00:29:42,794 The NIV says, "Do not even entertain 626 00:29:42,794 --> 00:29:45,529 an accusation except on the account 627 00:29:45,529 --> 00:29:51,640 of two or three witnesses." 628 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,965 Paul seems to understand something. 629 00:29:54,965 --> 00:29:58,176 As people struggle with this idea 630 00:29:58,176 --> 00:30:01,098 of elders being over the church 631 00:30:01,098 --> 00:30:03,488 and the resistance to that 632 00:30:03,488 --> 00:30:06,326 that is often within the church, 633 00:30:06,326 --> 00:30:08,945 Paul recognizes that one of the ways 634 00:30:08,945 --> 00:30:11,172 some people might try to deal 635 00:30:11,172 --> 00:30:14,402 with an elder's decision they don't like 636 00:30:14,402 --> 00:30:18,271 is by lobbing an accusation against them. 637 00:30:18,271 --> 00:30:19,897 And Paul's telling Timothy here - 638 00:30:19,897 --> 00:30:21,984 remember Timothy is acting as an elder 639 00:30:21,984 --> 00:30:23,860 in this church right now. 640 00:30:23,860 --> 00:30:25,080 And he's telling Timothy, 641 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:26,565 hey, when you're in there 642 00:30:26,565 --> 00:30:28,363 and you have these elders with you, 643 00:30:28,363 --> 00:30:30,344 don't receive; don't even entertain 644 00:30:30,344 --> 00:30:32,553 an accusation against the elders 645 00:30:32,553 --> 00:30:36,611 unless it's on the account of two or three witnesses. 646 00:30:36,611 --> 00:30:44,932 Paul's trying to protect the elders. 647 00:30:44,932 --> 00:30:48,207 Not because elders don't need accountability. 648 00:30:48,207 --> 00:30:49,851 They do. 649 00:30:49,851 --> 00:30:53,672 There again's another reason for the plurality. 650 00:30:53,672 --> 00:30:57,368 And not because they're not capable of sin. 651 00:30:57,368 --> 00:30:58,780 They are. 652 00:30:58,780 --> 00:31:00,633 In fact, we'll see in the next verse 653 00:31:00,633 --> 00:31:03,976 how he deals with elders who are in sin. 654 00:31:03,976 --> 00:31:05,545 But Paul seems to recognize 655 00:31:05,545 --> 00:31:07,803 that there will be many accusations 656 00:31:07,803 --> 00:31:11,117 made against elders or an elder 657 00:31:11,117 --> 00:31:12,443 in the church. 658 00:31:12,443 --> 00:31:16,479 And he's telling Timothy how to handle this. 659 00:31:16,479 --> 00:31:18,021 How to handle it when people 660 00:31:18,021 --> 00:31:20,230 don't agree with the elders 661 00:31:20,230 --> 00:31:24,055 and then begin to make accusations against them. 662 00:31:24,055 --> 00:31:27,504 Paul is not saying that if you have an accusation - 663 00:31:27,504 --> 00:31:31,223 you become aware of sin against an elder, 664 00:31:31,223 --> 00:31:33,021 that you shouldn't do anything. 665 00:31:33,021 --> 00:31:34,747 He's not saying that. 666 00:31:34,747 --> 00:31:38,811 Remember again, Paul's functioning as an elder. 667 00:31:38,811 --> 00:31:40,850 So if someone in the church there 668 00:31:40,850 --> 00:31:42,590 saw or heard of something 669 00:31:42,590 --> 00:31:44,748 in regards to an elder being in sin, 670 00:31:44,748 --> 00:31:46,211 they're to go to Paul 671 00:31:46,211 --> 00:31:49,602 and bring that accusation to the other elder. 672 00:31:49,602 --> 00:31:51,958 But what Paul is telling Timothy here 673 00:31:51,958 --> 00:31:54,485 is but do not entertain it; 674 00:31:54,485 --> 00:31:58,740 don't consider it until there's two or three witnesses. 675 00:31:58,740 --> 00:32:01,314 Let me tell you what that does not mean. 676 00:32:01,314 --> 00:32:04,017 That does not mean that if someone 677 00:32:04,017 --> 00:32:06,099 has an accusation against an elder, 678 00:32:06,099 --> 00:32:07,695 that they are to go out then 679 00:32:07,695 --> 00:32:09,772 and find other church members 680 00:32:09,772 --> 00:32:13,247 and share with them their understanding 681 00:32:13,247 --> 00:32:15,366 of the issue they have with the elder 682 00:32:15,366 --> 00:32:17,843 so they can get two or three witnesses 683 00:32:17,843 --> 00:32:19,592 and then they can go in and present 684 00:32:19,592 --> 00:32:21,302 their case against the elder. 685 00:32:21,302 --> 00:32:23,426 That's not what it means. 686 00:32:23,426 --> 00:32:25,903 What he means here is that 687 00:32:25,903 --> 00:32:29,644 when sin becomes public to someone, 688 00:32:29,644 --> 00:32:33,028 they go to an elder in the church, 689 00:32:33,028 --> 00:32:35,430 and that elder hears it. He listens. 690 00:32:35,430 --> 00:32:37,072 He begins to pray. 691 00:32:37,072 --> 00:32:38,717 And then when somebody else - 692 00:32:38,717 --> 00:32:40,780 not because they've come together 693 00:32:40,780 --> 00:32:42,288 in some plan - 694 00:32:42,288 --> 00:32:43,452 but when someone else, 695 00:32:43,452 --> 00:32:45,383 God brings that sin to the surface, 696 00:32:45,383 --> 00:32:46,813 they become aware of it, 697 00:32:46,813 --> 00:32:48,575 they go to the elder as well. 698 00:32:48,575 --> 00:32:50,383 And now we have two people coming 699 00:32:50,383 --> 00:32:53,381 as witnesses in regards to an accusation. 700 00:32:53,381 --> 00:32:55,182 And Paul says in the next verse, 701 00:32:55,182 --> 00:32:56,832 you deal with that swiftly 702 00:32:56,832 --> 00:33:04,531 and you deal with that publicly then. 703 00:33:04,531 --> 00:33:10,882 And there's a principle here for all of us. 704 00:33:10,882 --> 00:33:13,403 If Timothy is not to entertain or admit 705 00:33:13,403 --> 00:33:15,173 a charge against an elder, 706 00:33:15,173 --> 00:33:19,741 except on the evidence of two or three witnesses, 707 00:33:19,741 --> 00:33:23,586 do you think there's a principle for us in there? 708 00:33:23,586 --> 00:33:25,382 Let me tell you the principle I think 709 00:33:25,382 --> 00:33:28,996 is in there for us. 710 00:33:28,996 --> 00:33:31,917 When someone begins to disagree 711 00:33:31,917 --> 00:33:38,911 with an elder or decisions that the elders have made, 712 00:33:38,911 --> 00:33:42,585 they may not run around and claim 713 00:33:42,585 --> 00:33:46,021 sin against the elder upright. 714 00:33:46,021 --> 00:33:48,077 But very often, what we see happening 715 00:33:48,077 --> 00:33:51,723 is that they do begin to go to other members 716 00:33:51,723 --> 00:33:53,507 in the church 717 00:33:53,507 --> 00:33:56,271 and subtly begin to make accusations 718 00:33:56,271 --> 00:33:59,930 against the elder or the elders 719 00:33:59,930 --> 00:34:02,595 because they disagree. 720 00:34:02,595 --> 00:34:06,224 Now if Paul tells Timothy 721 00:34:06,224 --> 00:34:09,086 do not entertain an accusation 722 00:34:09,086 --> 00:34:11,228 against the elders except on the evidence 723 00:34:11,228 --> 00:34:14,819 of two or three witnesses, 724 00:34:14,819 --> 00:34:18,994 what should that look like for you? 725 00:34:18,994 --> 00:34:21,879 When someone in the church comes to you 726 00:34:21,879 --> 00:34:28,332 and inevitably they present this to you 727 00:34:28,332 --> 00:34:31,783 as great concern they have for the church - 728 00:34:31,783 --> 00:34:34,627 I've got great concern for the church right now 729 00:34:34,627 --> 00:34:35,910 and I want to come to you 730 00:34:35,910 --> 00:34:38,412 regarding this elder and this decisions 731 00:34:38,412 --> 00:34:39,920 or the elders and the decision, 732 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:43,261 and the elders are what they're saying. 733 00:34:43,261 --> 00:34:45,663 Are you not in that moment entertaining 734 00:34:45,663 --> 00:34:50,488 an accusation against the elders? 735 00:34:50,488 --> 00:34:53,663 Think of what that means: to entertain. 736 00:34:53,663 --> 00:34:57,055 To consider the accusations. 737 00:34:57,055 --> 00:34:59,564 We disagree with the elders in this area 738 00:34:59,564 --> 00:35:01,808 and here's why. 739 00:35:01,808 --> 00:35:03,981 Is that a church member's responsibility 740 00:35:03,981 --> 00:35:07,147 to other church members? 741 00:35:07,147 --> 00:35:09,253 No. 742 00:35:09,253 --> 00:35:11,641 That's not a church member's responsibility 743 00:35:11,641 --> 00:35:13,434 to other church members. 744 00:35:13,434 --> 00:35:15,086 It's not to go and present 745 00:35:15,086 --> 00:35:17,036 your disagreements with the elders 746 00:35:17,036 --> 00:35:20,015 to other church members to gather a coup. 747 00:35:20,015 --> 00:35:21,964 That's not your role. 748 00:35:21,964 --> 00:35:24,448 And I would guess many of you are not doing that - 749 00:35:24,448 --> 00:35:26,078 hopefully none of you are, 750 00:35:26,078 --> 00:35:28,852 but one thing I want to warn you to be careful of: 751 00:35:28,852 --> 00:35:32,629 are you on the receiving end of that though? 752 00:35:32,629 --> 00:35:36,269 Are you on the entertaining end of that? 753 00:35:36,269 --> 00:35:38,729 Where someone in the church has a disagreement 754 00:35:38,729 --> 00:35:41,287 with the elders and they come to you 755 00:35:41,287 --> 00:35:43,315 and they say, 756 00:35:43,315 --> 00:35:47,490 "Well, I don't know if I agree with the elders in this area then." 757 00:35:47,490 --> 00:35:52,367 And you sit down and you begin to entertain these things? 758 00:35:52,367 --> 00:35:56,131 Can I tell you what's happening when you do that? 759 00:35:56,131 --> 00:35:58,042 You're allowing an undermining - 760 00:35:58,042 --> 00:36:01,008 a seed to be planted in you regarding the elders - 761 00:36:01,008 --> 00:36:02,818 and it will create a lens for you 762 00:36:02,818 --> 00:36:05,229 through which you will begin to look at everything 763 00:36:05,229 --> 00:36:09,133 your elders do in light of that. 764 00:36:09,133 --> 00:36:11,989 It creates division in the church. 765 00:36:11,989 --> 00:36:21,044 Entertaining accusations against the elders. 766 00:36:21,044 --> 00:36:24,004 Now, when you begin to talk like this, 767 00:36:24,004 --> 00:36:26,603 people get concerned because they say 768 00:36:26,603 --> 00:36:29,883 what if the pastors are asking us 769 00:36:29,883 --> 00:36:33,231 to clearly go against Scripture? 770 00:36:33,231 --> 00:36:35,323 Are we just supposed to sit quietly by 771 00:36:35,323 --> 00:36:37,498 and do nothing? 772 00:36:37,498 --> 00:36:39,798 No. 773 00:36:39,798 --> 00:36:43,845 But I want to be honest with us. 774 00:36:43,845 --> 00:36:46,803 In these scenarios, 775 00:36:46,803 --> 00:36:49,976 for the most part, 776 00:36:49,976 --> 00:36:52,775 the issues that are brought up 777 00:36:52,775 --> 00:36:54,727 are not when a pastor or pastors 778 00:36:54,727 --> 00:36:59,303 are asking you to disregard Scripture. 779 00:36:59,303 --> 00:37:01,318 They're most likely not telling you 780 00:37:01,318 --> 00:37:03,138 there are other paths 781 00:37:03,138 --> 00:37:05,856 to forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 782 00:37:05,856 --> 00:37:07,407 They're usually not dealing with 783 00:37:07,407 --> 00:37:11,640 the person or the nature of Jesus Christ. 784 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:13,683 Usually when these things arise 785 00:37:13,683 --> 00:37:17,166 we're dealing in other matters. 786 00:37:17,166 --> 00:37:20,601 Usually it's in areas where we may disagree 787 00:37:20,601 --> 00:37:23,775 with the ways that pastors have made a decision. 788 00:37:23,775 --> 00:37:26,337 Or it's another what we might call 789 00:37:26,337 --> 00:37:28,812 a secondary issue. 790 00:37:28,812 --> 00:37:31,230 A non-salvific issue. 791 00:37:31,230 --> 00:37:34,118 Where you hold to a different understanding. 792 00:37:34,118 --> 00:37:37,414 Or even more likely - a preference. 793 00:37:37,414 --> 00:37:39,327 How we do things in the church 794 00:37:39,327 --> 00:37:41,771 that we disagree with. 795 00:37:41,771 --> 00:37:45,010 And saints, I want you to have healthy churches. 796 00:37:45,010 --> 00:37:47,731 And it's usually in these areas 797 00:37:47,731 --> 00:37:50,179 that I find people going around and saying: 798 00:37:50,179 --> 00:37:52,180 You know, I really need to share with you 799 00:37:52,180 --> 00:37:54,576 where I disagree with the elders in this area, 800 00:37:54,576 --> 00:37:56,550 and why I think they're doing this wrong, 801 00:37:56,550 --> 00:37:58,603 and why I think they're wrong. 802 00:37:58,603 --> 00:38:05,258 And we sit very often and begin to entertain these things. 803 00:38:05,258 --> 00:38:07,217 If you have an issue where you believe 804 00:38:07,217 --> 00:38:08,507 your pastor is leading you 805 00:38:08,507 --> 00:38:10,059 or your pastors are leading you 806 00:38:10,059 --> 00:38:11,707 contrary to the Word of God, 807 00:38:11,707 --> 00:38:13,962 you need to go to your pastors. 808 00:38:13,962 --> 00:38:17,550 You need to do it in a spirit of humility 809 00:38:17,550 --> 00:38:20,318 because they are over you in the Lord. 810 00:38:20,318 --> 00:38:21,856 And you need to share with them 811 00:38:21,856 --> 00:38:24,434 why you disagree with them. 812 00:38:24,434 --> 00:38:28,469 But again, most of what I see happening out there 813 00:38:28,469 --> 00:38:31,944 is not in regards to a pastor telling you 814 00:38:31,944 --> 00:38:35,723 to disregard Scripture, 815 00:38:35,723 --> 00:38:39,241 or to forsake something God's told you to do. 816 00:38:39,241 --> 00:38:41,989 Most of the time it's in regards to: 817 00:38:41,989 --> 00:38:48,681 I just disagree with the elders here. 818 00:38:48,681 --> 00:38:53,111 Are the elders not accountable then? 819 00:38:53,111 --> 00:38:56,782 What do we do if an elder does persist in sin? 820 00:38:56,782 --> 00:38:59,351 Look at v. 20. 821 00:38:59,351 --> 00:39:02,343 "As those who persist in sin, 822 00:39:02,343 --> 00:39:05,243 rebuke them in the presence of all 823 00:39:05,243 --> 00:39:11,093 so that the rest may stand in fear." 824 00:39:11,093 --> 00:39:14,832 Listen, when elders and pastors are in sin 825 00:39:14,832 --> 00:39:17,468 they are dealt with very quickly 826 00:39:17,468 --> 00:39:20,602 and they're dealt with publicly. 827 00:39:20,602 --> 00:39:23,373 When elders are in sin and presiding 828 00:39:23,373 --> 00:39:24,997 and continuing in sin, 829 00:39:24,997 --> 00:39:27,873 it goes before the church. 830 00:39:27,873 --> 00:39:29,600 God uses it redemptively 831 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:31,494 to bring fear into the church 832 00:39:31,494 --> 00:39:34,345 of how serious sin is 833 00:39:34,345 --> 00:39:36,931 in regards to these things. 834 00:39:36,931 --> 00:39:38,720 Elders are under accountability. 835 00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:40,031 They're accountable to God. 836 00:39:40,031 --> 00:39:41,875 They're accountable to the Scriptures. 837 00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:43,757 And in that sense, they are accountable 838 00:39:43,757 --> 00:39:45,018 to the congregation. 839 00:39:45,018 --> 00:39:48,445 They're accountable to the other elders there. 840 00:39:48,445 --> 00:39:50,338 God's not allowing pastors 841 00:39:50,338 --> 00:39:54,174 to not be under accountability here. 842 00:39:54,174 --> 00:40:00,240 He deals with sin in pastors very quickly. 843 00:40:00,240 --> 00:40:03,766 I want to turn to one other portion of Scripture. 844 00:40:03,766 --> 00:40:05,324 That's in the book of Hebrews. 845 00:40:05,324 --> 00:40:08,420 We looked at this verse yesterday. 846 00:40:08,420 --> 00:40:12,360 Hebrews 13:17. 847 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:17,549 If you'll turn there with me. 848 00:40:17,549 --> 00:40:25,667 One more verse. 849 00:40:25,667 --> 00:40:29,877 The writer says here, 850 00:40:29,877 --> 00:40:32,276 "Obey your leaders 851 00:40:32,276 --> 00:40:34,480 and submit to them, 852 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:36,821 for (here's the reason) 853 00:40:36,821 --> 00:40:41,073 they're keeping watch over your souls 854 00:40:41,073 --> 00:40:45,364 as those who will give an account. 855 00:40:45,364 --> 00:40:47,489 Let them do this with joy 856 00:40:47,489 --> 00:40:49,225 and not with groaning, 857 00:40:49,225 --> 00:40:55,689 for that would be of no advantage to you." 858 00:40:55,689 --> 00:40:58,577 Obey your elders. Obey your leaders 859 00:40:58,577 --> 00:41:02,482 and submit to them. 860 00:41:02,482 --> 00:41:05,682 That's clear. 861 00:41:05,682 --> 00:41:09,137 Obey them and submit to them. 862 00:41:09,137 --> 00:41:11,105 Why? 863 00:41:11,105 --> 00:41:12,916 They're keeping watch over your soul 864 00:41:12,916 --> 00:41:17,353 and they're going to give an account. 865 00:41:17,353 --> 00:41:22,420 The author is not calling you to blind obedience. 866 00:41:22,420 --> 00:41:27,357 If an elder calls you to disregard Scripture, 867 00:41:27,357 --> 00:41:33,413 you should obey God rather than man. 868 00:41:33,413 --> 00:41:35,480 But again, when we're dealing with 869 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,043 differences of preference; 870 00:41:38,043 --> 00:41:41,779 when we're dealing with a different understanding 871 00:41:41,779 --> 00:41:46,714 of maybe a portion of Scripture, 872 00:41:46,714 --> 00:41:55,381 what are you to do? 873 00:41:55,381 --> 00:41:58,088 What do I do when the elders make a decision 874 00:41:58,088 --> 00:42:00,675 I disagree with? 875 00:42:00,675 --> 00:42:02,816 When if I'm being honest, they're not asking 876 00:42:02,816 --> 00:42:06,004 me to disregard Scripture, but I just see it a different way. 877 00:42:06,004 --> 00:42:09,459 How we should live this out. 878 00:42:09,459 --> 00:42:13,150 What does he call us to? 879 00:42:13,150 --> 00:42:15,802 Submission. 880 00:42:15,802 --> 00:42:17,526 It doesn't mean you fully agree 881 00:42:17,526 --> 00:42:21,352 with what the elders have decided. 882 00:42:21,352 --> 00:42:23,287 It means you recognize the place 883 00:42:23,287 --> 00:42:26,715 that God has given them in their local church. 884 00:42:26,715 --> 00:42:29,447 And as they're striving to pastor 885 00:42:29,447 --> 00:42:31,878 in accordance with Scripture, 886 00:42:31,878 --> 00:42:34,598 you may disagree with something. 887 00:42:34,598 --> 00:42:37,423 What do I do when I disagree? 888 00:42:37,423 --> 00:42:45,673 You submit. 889 00:42:45,673 --> 00:42:50,686 Let me share something that is kind of hard for us. 890 00:42:50,686 --> 00:42:58,616 Submission is not demonstrated when you agree. 891 00:42:58,616 --> 00:43:10,939 Submission is most demonstrated when you disagree. 892 00:43:10,939 --> 00:43:14,414 When God calls you to submit to Him, 893 00:43:14,414 --> 00:43:16,546 Paul seems to think one of the ways 894 00:43:16,546 --> 00:43:19,595 that you demonstrate your submission to God 895 00:43:19,595 --> 00:43:21,890 is by demonstrating your submission 896 00:43:21,890 --> 00:43:27,411 to the authority that He's put in your life. 897 00:43:27,411 --> 00:43:28,697 In the book of Ephesians, 898 00:43:28,697 --> 00:43:30,958 he seems to say something like this: 899 00:43:30,958 --> 00:43:33,296 Are you submitted to God? 900 00:43:33,296 --> 00:43:34,723 Well, yes, I am. 901 00:43:34,723 --> 00:43:36,969 Well, then, wives, show that submission 902 00:43:36,969 --> 00:43:38,512 as you submit to your husband 903 00:43:38,512 --> 00:43:41,910 who I've put over you. 904 00:43:41,910 --> 00:43:45,367 What if I don't agree with my husband? 905 00:43:45,367 --> 00:43:49,360 You submit. 906 00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:51,380 Yes, if your husband asks you 907 00:43:51,380 --> 00:43:52,706 to forsake the Bible, 908 00:43:52,706 --> 00:43:54,298 you obey God rather than man. 909 00:43:54,298 --> 00:43:57,112 We've dealt with that. This isn't blind submission. 910 00:43:57,112 --> 00:43:59,222 But let's be honest, most of our struggles 911 00:43:59,222 --> 00:44:03,025 with submission is not because our parents, 912 00:44:03,025 --> 00:44:05,045 our husbands, our governing authorities 913 00:44:05,045 --> 00:44:08,308 are telling us to turn away and forsake Scripture. 914 00:44:08,308 --> 00:44:10,872 It's because we've come to a place of disagreement. 915 00:44:10,872 --> 00:44:12,047 And what does that mean? 916 00:44:12,047 --> 00:44:14,307 That when there's a place of disagreement, 917 00:44:14,307 --> 00:44:16,659 we recognize the order, the structure 918 00:44:16,659 --> 00:44:20,812 that God has put into place. 919 00:44:20,812 --> 00:44:25,004 God, I'm submitted to You, I just can't submit to my husband. 920 00:44:25,004 --> 00:44:26,678 What does 1 Peter 3 say? 921 00:44:26,678 --> 00:44:30,159 Even when some don't obey the Word. 922 00:44:30,159 --> 00:44:32,146 God, I'm submitted to You, 923 00:44:32,146 --> 00:44:35,170 but my parents... I just disagree with them. 924 00:44:35,170 --> 00:44:37,888 I won't submit. 925 00:44:37,888 --> 00:44:41,934 Children, you demonstrate your submission to God 926 00:44:41,934 --> 00:44:46,560 in your submission to your parents. 927 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:48,918 One brother working through this idea 928 00:44:48,918 --> 00:44:52,535 of submission in regards to your pastors 929 00:44:52,535 --> 00:44:57,876 gave an illustration I found very helpful. 930 00:44:57,876 --> 00:45:03,185 He said something to this effect: 931 00:45:03,185 --> 00:45:06,035 In your struggle to submit to imperfect elders 932 00:45:06,035 --> 00:45:09,279 because you don't always agree, 933 00:45:09,279 --> 00:45:14,535 if I was your pastor, let me ask you a question. 934 00:45:14,535 --> 00:45:16,094 What do you want me to tell 935 00:45:16,094 --> 00:45:17,693 your rebellious teenager 936 00:45:17,693 --> 00:45:20,301 when they come sit down with me? 937 00:45:20,301 --> 00:45:21,809 And they say to me: 938 00:45:21,809 --> 00:45:28,675 Pastor, I don't agree with my parents. 939 00:45:28,675 --> 00:45:32,515 Do I have to submit to them? 940 00:45:32,515 --> 00:45:34,800 What do you want your pastor 941 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:38,505 telling your teenager 942 00:45:38,505 --> 00:45:40,166 when they don't agree with you? 943 00:45:40,166 --> 00:45:42,085 Should they submit? 944 00:45:42,085 --> 00:45:45,310 I think a good pastor would say to that teenager this: 945 00:45:45,310 --> 00:45:49,351 If your parents ask you to disregard clear Scripture, 946 00:45:49,351 --> 00:45:52,851 you obey God rather than man. 947 00:45:52,851 --> 00:45:57,208 But if you come to a place of disagreement, 948 00:45:57,208 --> 00:46:00,084 you submit and demonstrate your submission to God 949 00:46:00,084 --> 00:46:04,168 as you submit to your parents. 950 00:46:04,168 --> 00:46:07,020 You don't want a pastor telling your teenager: 951 00:46:07,020 --> 00:46:09,315 hey, only submit to your parents 952 00:46:09,315 --> 00:46:12,655 when you agree with them. 953 00:46:12,655 --> 00:46:15,639 Otherwise, you're free to do whatever you want to do. 954 00:46:15,639 --> 00:46:18,355 That's not the idea of an order. 955 00:46:18,355 --> 00:46:21,729 And that's the notion given here in Hebrews. 956 00:46:21,729 --> 00:46:24,149 Submit to them. 957 00:46:24,149 --> 00:46:33,527 Submit to them. 958 00:46:33,527 --> 00:46:37,425 The writer then says this at the end: 959 00:46:37,425 --> 00:46:38,906 "Let those who watch over you 960 00:46:38,906 --> 00:46:41,933 do this with joy and not with groaning, 961 00:46:41,933 --> 00:46:47,265 for that would be of no advantage to you." 962 00:46:47,265 --> 00:46:50,675 Do you see how he reasons with us? 963 00:46:50,675 --> 00:46:54,431 Don't you realize that when you disagree 964 00:46:54,431 --> 00:46:56,191 with someone that God has placed 965 00:46:56,191 --> 00:46:59,123 in authority over you and you refuse 966 00:46:59,123 --> 00:47:01,385 to obey and submit to them, 967 00:47:01,385 --> 00:47:10,623 that you're actually making it harder on yourself? 968 00:47:10,623 --> 00:47:13,470 When pastors are having to deal 969 00:47:13,470 --> 00:47:17,315 with people who refuse to submit to them, 970 00:47:17,315 --> 00:47:19,118 they're often taken away 971 00:47:19,118 --> 00:47:21,757 from the ministry of the Word and prayer 972 00:47:21,757 --> 00:47:24,965 that could be of benefit to that very person 973 00:47:24,965 --> 00:47:26,540 who refuses to acknowledge 974 00:47:26,540 --> 00:47:28,783 the order that God has given. 975 00:47:28,783 --> 00:47:31,475 It distracts from the church. 976 00:47:31,475 --> 00:47:34,422 It takes away from the church. 977 00:47:34,422 --> 00:47:37,999 It takes away from the joy of pastoring. 978 00:47:37,999 --> 00:47:39,769 And we as pastors, this is something 979 00:47:39,769 --> 00:47:41,279 we have to go through. 980 00:47:41,279 --> 00:47:43,505 We understand that. 981 00:47:43,505 --> 00:47:45,938 And so we lay our lives down for these things. 982 00:47:45,938 --> 00:47:49,501 But the writer here wants to reason with you. 983 00:47:49,501 --> 00:47:51,761 When you don't acknowledge God's order, 984 00:47:51,761 --> 00:47:55,247 it goes worse for you. 985 00:47:55,247 --> 00:47:57,349 You're not going to agree with everything 986 00:47:57,349 --> 00:47:59,955 your pastors do. 987 00:47:59,955 --> 00:48:01,979 So in summary, if they're asking you 988 00:48:01,979 --> 00:48:04,631 to disobey and disregard 989 00:48:04,631 --> 00:48:06,991 clear teachings in Scripture, 990 00:48:06,991 --> 00:48:10,182 you obey God rather than man. 991 00:48:10,182 --> 00:48:11,866 But when they make decisions, 992 00:48:11,866 --> 00:48:13,761 arrive at different conclusions 993 00:48:13,761 --> 00:48:15,728 than you do in Scripture, 994 00:48:15,728 --> 00:48:18,774 it is not your job to go around the church 995 00:48:18,774 --> 00:48:20,426 and try to persuade others 996 00:48:20,426 --> 00:48:22,709 why your pastors are wrong 997 00:48:22,709 --> 00:48:24,458 and why you're right. 998 00:48:24,458 --> 00:48:26,966 And you're not to be on the receiving end 999 00:48:26,966 --> 00:48:28,684 of those conversations 1000 00:48:28,684 --> 00:48:31,066 in the principle we learned 1001 00:48:31,066 --> 00:48:34,234 of entertaining those things. 1002 00:48:34,234 --> 00:48:36,587 Saints, there's an order that God has given us 1003 00:48:36,587 --> 00:48:38,162 in our churches. 1004 00:48:38,162 --> 00:48:40,335 It's for our good. 1005 00:48:40,335 --> 00:48:44,189 Pray for your pastors as they make these decisions. 1006 00:48:44,189 --> 00:48:48,205 When you disagree, it's okay to go talk with them. 1007 00:48:48,205 --> 00:48:49,972 But it's not okay to say, 1008 00:48:49,972 --> 00:48:52,051 well, I'm not going to submit. 1009 00:48:52,051 --> 00:48:54,976 That's not your role. 1010 00:48:54,976 --> 00:48:57,359 Your role is one of submission. 1011 00:48:57,359 --> 00:48:59,323 And I want what's best for you. 1012 00:48:59,323 --> 00:49:01,070 So I won't apologize 1013 00:49:01,070 --> 00:49:04,156 for the clear teachings in Scripture in this area. 1014 00:49:04,156 --> 00:49:07,570 And I'm going to exhort the pastors here again 1015 00:49:07,570 --> 00:49:09,505 before we close. 1016 00:49:09,505 --> 00:49:11,500 We need to be putting these things 1017 00:49:11,500 --> 00:49:14,751 before our people regularly. 1018 00:49:14,751 --> 00:49:17,626 It's regularly in Scripture. 1019 00:49:17,626 --> 00:49:19,921 And it's uncomfortable in your own church 1020 00:49:19,921 --> 00:49:21,964 to preach and teach these things. 1021 00:49:21,964 --> 00:49:24,608 But let's not be men that apologize 1022 00:49:24,608 --> 00:49:26,770 for the Word of God. 1023 00:49:26,770 --> 00:49:35,588 Let's pray. 1024 00:49:35,588 --> 00:49:40,820 Father, we come in the name of Jesus Christ. 1025 00:49:40,820 --> 00:49:45,142 Father, we want to honor Your Word. 1026 00:49:45,142 --> 00:49:47,373 Father, we want to fulfill our roles 1027 00:49:47,373 --> 00:49:49,717 and our call. 1028 00:49:49,717 --> 00:49:52,388 We want to be faithful 1029 00:49:52,388 --> 00:49:54,279 in how we relate to one another 1030 00:49:54,279 --> 00:49:57,615 because You've given these things for our good. 1031 00:49:57,615 --> 00:49:59,823 God, help pastors to be faithful. 1032 00:49:59,823 --> 00:50:01,854 Help them to be men of the Word. 1033 00:50:01,854 --> 00:50:03,930 Help them to not be domineering 1034 00:50:03,930 --> 00:50:07,424 and lording over people. 1035 00:50:07,424 --> 00:50:12,325 But help them also not to shy away from leading, 1036 00:50:12,325 --> 00:50:15,714 which involves making hard decisions. 1037 00:50:15,714 --> 00:50:17,692 Help Your people then, God, to honor 1038 00:50:17,692 --> 00:50:20,728 the role that You've given them 1039 00:50:20,728 --> 00:50:26,545 to submit even in some areas of disagreement, God. 1040 00:50:26,545 --> 00:50:28,570 To honor You as they submit to those 1041 00:50:28,570 --> 00:50:31,067 You've put over them. 1042 00:50:31,067 --> 00:50:33,940 Help us to demonstrate our love and honor to You 1043 00:50:33,940 --> 00:50:36,086 as we demonstrate our submission to those 1044 00:50:36,086 --> 00:50:37,949 You've put over us. 1045 00:50:37,949 --> 00:50:40,024 For the good of the church. 1046 00:50:40,024 --> 00:50:42,621 For the edification of the church. 1047 00:50:42,621 --> 00:50:45,070 And for the glory of Your name 1048 00:50:45,070 --> 00:50:47,004 in these places. 1049 00:50:47,004 --> 00:50:49,408 We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ. 1050 00:50:49,408 --> 00:50:51,056 Amen.