{"id":383,"date":"2011-09-08T19:42:00","date_gmt":"2011-09-08T19:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heavenslight.org\/?p=383"},"modified":"2011-09-08T19:42:00","modified_gmt":"2011-09-08T19:42:00","slug":"heavens-light-9-8-11-the-character-of-pastor-elders-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2011\/09\/08\/heavens-light-9-8-11-the-character-of-pastor-elders-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavens Light 9-8-11  The Character of Pastor-Elders Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt'>The Character of Pastor-Elders <\/span><\/b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>&#8211;<\/span><\/b><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt'> <\/span><\/b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Part 2<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>1 Timothy 3:2-3<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>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<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>I would like to give two additional reasons why the <b><i>pastor must be a man of Godly character. <o:p><\/o:p><\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>&middot;<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He is God&#8217;s steward and entrusted with the care of God&#8217;s family<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>&middot;<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He is God&#8217;s representative<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He is God&#8217;s steward and entrusted with the care of God&#8217;s family<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 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.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Titus 1:7 <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>&#8211; 7 For the overseer must be above reproach <b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>as God&#8217;s steward<\/span><\/b>, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Hebrews 13:17<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; <b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account.<\/span><\/b> Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>You dear pastor, will soon find yourself before the throne of God, and you will <b><i>&#8220;give an account&#8221;<\/i><\/b> 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&#8230;.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Acts 20:28<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 28 &quot;Be <b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers<\/span><\/b>, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>1 Peter 5:1-3<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 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 <b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>shepherd the flock of God among you<\/span><\/b>, 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<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He has given His life for His church and commanded us to follow in His steps. He has commanded us to <b><i>&#8220;shepherd&#8221;<\/i><\/b> His people. Let us take this charge seriously, and let us be men of Godly Character. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He is God&#8217;s representative<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 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&#8217;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&#8217;s ambassador, His envoy, the one who represents God to a watching church and world. Paul writes and says he is the <b><i>&#8220;man of God.&#8221;<\/i><\/b><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>2 Timothy 3:16-17<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the <b><u><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>man of God<\/span><\/u><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'> may be adequate, equipped for every good work<\/span><\/b>. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The <b><i>&#8220;man of God&#8221; <\/i><\/b>is equipped by being trained, reproved and corrected by Scripture, and when this training is sufficient, he will be <b><i>&#8220;adequate, equipped for every good work.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Moreover, He is to be a man of character because he is a <b><i>&#8220;man of God.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Paul writes&#8230;.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>1 Timothy 6:11<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 11 But flee from these things, <b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness<\/span><\/b>. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He is to represent God in all godly character, in <b><i>&#8220;righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> 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 <b><i>&#8220;man of God,&#8221; <\/i><\/b>God&#8217;s representative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>1 Peter 5:1-3<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> &#8211; 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 <b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>proving to be examples to the flock<\/span><\/b>. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The pastor is to <b><i>&#8220;shepherd the flock of God&#8221;<\/i><\/b>(v-2) by <b><i>&#8220;proving to be examples to the flock,&#8221;<\/i><\/b>(V-3). He is to be an example of Christ to God&#8217;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 <b><i>&#8220;man of God,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> 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? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>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. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and&nbsp;<span style='color:black'>enter&nbsp;into<\/span> eternal life&#8230;..click here to find out how&#8230;..<span style='color:#1F497D'> <\/span><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\" title=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\">http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425<\/a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>If you have comments or questions, please do respond to <\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\" title=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\"><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>shaan@heavenslight.org<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\";color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>If you would like to be added or add someone to this email list, just reply with <\/span><\/strong><strong><span style='font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\";color:red'>&quot;sign me up&quot;<\/span><\/strong><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'> and the address you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!<\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong><span style='font-family:\"Century Schoolbook\",\"serif\"'>Shaan Sloan<\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong><span style='font-family:\"Century Schoolbook\",\"serif\"'>Heritage Christian Fellowship &#8211; ABQ<\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong><span style='font-family:\"Century Schoolbook\",\"serif\"'>505-348-5092<\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong><span style='font-family:\"Century Schoolbook\",\"serif\"'>The Lord is the Strength of My Life<\/span><\/strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:\"Arial\",\"sans-serif\"'>&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Character of Pastor-Elders &#8211; 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 &nbsp; I would like to give two additional reasons why &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2011\/09\/08\/heavens-light-9-8-11-the-character-of-pastor-elders-part-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Heavens Light 9-8-11  The Character of Pastor-Elders Part 2<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}