1 Timothy | Ch. 3
Updated: Dec 28, 2019
From Daniel's Desk on 12/26/19
My Title: Am I Measuring UP?
My Verse: 1-2
"1The saying is trustworthy; If anyone aspires to the office overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach."
My Response:
The LIVING GOD put on flesh and walked around on earth as a man. He was vindicated (proved to be right, reasonable, proven clear of any wrong doing.) seen by angels. Proclaimed among the nations. Believed on in the world. Taken up in glory! We are now awaiting His promised return. - Until that time comes the HOUSEHOLD of the LIVING God is the Church. To lead, organize, teach... SERVE the Church it is a great and noble aspiration... but also not one to be taken lightly! As a leader, you need to be BEYOND reproach.
Serving the Lord is a responsibility that is not easy. Most often the ministries that are most successful end like John the Baptists. Completely different than where you thought you'd end up and humbly bending the knee to surrender your glory for the one who deserves it the most saying, I must decrees so that He may increase. God measures success in faithfulness NOT the number of followers you have or how big your ministry or church is.
The call to ministry is the call to pick up the servants towel to serve those around you out of LOVE for the LIVING God. All too often men will attempt to put the towel, intended for cleaning feet, atop their head like a crown. Everything in this life will pass away. Anything built for our glory is like building sand castles in the face of an approaching tide. Live beyond reproach and serve your God's church, a pillar and buttress of TRUTH, and you will gain a good standing with yourself and a great confidence in the faith.
My Notes:
It is noble to aspire to be in the office of overseer. To do so you must be beyond reproach. (It is noble to desire this for the Lord... NOT for position or title)
The character requirements to be an Overseer:
Husband of one wife.
Sober minded.
Self-controlled.
Respectable.
Hospitable.
Able to teach.
Not a drunkard.
Not violent but gentle.
Not quarrelsome.
Not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. (For is someone does not know how to manage their own house, how will he care for God's church?)
He cannot be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. < Uh oh. Watch out now. LOL... I have seen too many men pick up the servants towel and attempt to wear it as a crown. (Don't do that.)
He must be well thought of by the outsiders. (< BOOM! - Don't miss this one.) so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Requirements to be a Deacon:
Dignified & not double tongued.
Not addicted to much wine.
Not greedy for dishonest gain.
Hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Let them serve if they PROVE themselves blameless.
Their wives ALSO must be dignified.
Not slanderers.
Sober-minded.
Faithful in all things.
Deacons should also only have one wife.
Manage their children and household well.
For those who SERVE WELL... WILL GAIN... good standing AND great confidence in the faith that is IN Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Godliness:
These instructions are written so that you will KNOW how one OUGHT to behave. There are no excuses... these are behavioral qualities that must be met.
The church is the HOUSEHOLD of the LIVING God, a pillar and buttress of the TRUTH.
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. - "He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!