The Character of Pastor-Elders – Part 2

1 Timothy 3:2-3

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. NASB

 

I would like to give two additional reasons why the pastor must be a man of Godly character.

 

·      He is God’s steward and entrusted with the care of God’s family

·      He is God’s representative

 

He is God’s steward and entrusted with the care of God’s family – God has entrusted the pastor with the care of the very souls of His dear family. And for this stewardship, they will give an account.

Titus 1:7 – 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, NASB

Hebrews 13:17 – 17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. NASB

You dear pastor, will soon find yourself before the throne of God, and you will “give an account” of how you cared for His people and carried out the ministry of service that He has appointed you to. This charge is from God brothers, and we must recognize how serious this matter is. Will you stand before the Almighty and give excuses for the poor and miserable way in which you cared for his treasure, the Church? May it never be! Let us take heed to His Word to us….

Acts 20:28 – 28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. NASB

1 Peter 5:1-3 – 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. NASB

He has given His life for His church and commanded us to follow in His steps. He has commanded us to “shepherd” His people. Let us take this charge seriously, and let us be men of Godly Character.

 

He is God’s representative – The church and the world look to him to learn about God and to understand what God is like and what His purposes are in the world. He is the beacon of holiness to the church and to the world. He is the preacher of Christ and the in the pulpit he is the prophet of God, speaking God’s Words to all who will hear. Therefore He must be a man who knows the Scripture very well, and represents God with His life in such a way as to be an example of God. He is God’s ambassador, His envoy, the one who represents God to a watching church and world. Paul writes and says he is the “man of God.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. NASB

The “man of God” is equipped by being trained, reproved and corrected by Scripture, and when this training is sufficient, he will be “adequate, equipped for every good work.” Moreover, He is to be a man of character because he is a “man of God.” Paul writes….

1 Timothy 6:11 – 11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. NASB

He is to represent God in all godly character, in “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” In every facet of His life is to represent God so that people get an accurate depiction of who God is, and that no reproach is brought upon the Gospel, but rather the Gospel is adorned by the godly character of the “man of God,” God’s representative.

1 Peter 5:1-3 – 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. NASB

The pastor is to “shepherd the flock of God”(v-2) by “proving to be examples to the flock,”(V-3). He is to be an example of Christ to God’s people so that his preaching will come with power and full conviction of the holy Word about a holy God. Shall we put a pervert or a drunk or a thief in the pulpit of the Holy Word? Or shall we instead have a “man of God,” who represents God by the power of a godly life, one who adorns the doctrine of God by the way he lives and by his reputation?

 

In being His representatives, He has commanded us to be men of godly character. Let us take this charge seriously, and let us be men of Godly Character.

 

 

 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and enter into eternal life…..click here to find out how….. http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org