I Timothy 3:8-10
In the recent months we have established according to the Bible, the office of a bishop. A bishop is a pastor, elder, shepherd, and overseer. He has the care and oversight of the church. He looks after the Lords church by teaching the whole counsel of God's Word, rightly divided. This helps grow the church in a deeper richer understanding of the doctrines of the Bible and life principles according to the Bible. The Bible is our standard. One of the results is the people become stronger in the faith and live holy lives because the people learn of Jesus and fall more in love with Him. The more we know of Jesus and the more we love Him the more we want to please Him. Our life and our service will be for the honour and glory of God. This is why it is so important that the elders of the church teach and preach the whole counsel of God.
Here in I Timothy God has given two distinct offices for His local churches. The office of a bishop; and the office of a deacon. God has also given us qualifications for each office. Again, I want to point out that these qualifications are given to us by God. We have no right to change or add to these qualifications, and we surely shouldn't ever compromise them, and no one is the exception to the rule. A bishop and a deacon are different. A bishop is an overseer and a deacon is a servant. I do want to point this out; an elder is not a deacon. This is really pushed in our area, but it isn't biblical. An elder is an overseer, a deacon is a servant. Not a servant to the overseer, but to the Lord and to the Lord's church. In our area a deacon is seen as one who has the rule of the church. Again, this is not biblical. No doubt this will offend prideful power hungry people, but those who want to know the truth of the Word will no doubt embrace the true teaching of the Word and not follow traditions of men.
The best way to know what a deacon is and what they do is to look at the definition of a deacon. "Deacon" means to be an attendant; wait upon. This does not mean that others are attending and waiting upon deacons, but that deacons are attending to and waiting upon others. A deacon is a servant to the Lord and to the Lord's church. This is not to belittle the office of a deacon. The office of a deacon is given to us by the Lord, and it is a very important office. When a church has good biblical deacons that church will have a great impact for the cause of Christ. Not just because the deacons are serving, but in them serving the elders are able to devote their time to prayer and to the Word. The benefit here is that the people will grow in grace and knowledge and will serve correctly. When more people are serving for the cause of Christ, the church will be doing Kingdom work.
The church will be active, and it will be focused on Christ. Can a church be active but not focused on Christ? Turn to Revelation 2:1-7. Notice verses 2-4 "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." They were busy in the ministry, teaching and serving, but they were no longer ready to die and willing to live for Christ. In all things we are to search our motives. How does this apply to a deacon? It is easy for people to get focused on what needs to be accomplished than to accomplish what needs to be done for Christ. We are all to be slaves of Christ and servants of His church. If we are all serving, then no one is trying to exalt self to have the preeminence such as Diotrephes in III John who "loveth to have the preeminence among the brethren". Diotrephes was a power-hungry man who even kicked out those who preached truth. This was going on 2,000 years ago and is still going on today. This is of the flesh and the devil, not of God.
I want to stress the importance of spiritual servants in the Lords church. Someone serving for the cause of Christ is not tooting their own horn. They aren't serving to get an award from men; they are serving because they love Jesus Christ. Also, because they receive right teaching from the elders, all that they do will be biblical. Events that are planned will be Christ honouring. In other words, the elders of the church don't have to worry about the church going on a camping trip because they know the servants of the church will not allow ungodly things to be brought or going on at a camp out. When the youth get together they won't be watching movies that are ungodly or listening to ungodly music, etc… The focus of each event will be to glorify Christ. Some say this is strict and boring; this shows that the church has left its first love. The servants of the church are to plan and execute events that are Christ honouring. We are thankful for those people that do, and that these events are not boring. It is great to laugh and have a good time in the Lord.
We are all to serve, and there are those who excel in this area. Some are great at coordinating; some have great ideas for events; some are great at meeting the needs of others; some are great at fixing food for the sick and shut in; these are just a few areas how people can serve; there are many. The church needs biblically qualified and spiritual elders teaching and leading the church to be more like Christ. The church needs biblically qualified and spiritual deacons serving and leading the church to be more like Christ. We all have a part in the ministry. It is all for the honour and glory of Christ. Everyone has a part, don't desire what is not your part. There is freedom in serving Christ in His local church.
Lord willing next week we will begin to break down these verses in I Timothy concerning deacons. Send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. To God be the glory.
