Leadership

1 Corinthians 12: 28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

We read in Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Mankind looks at things in a way that seems logical and appears to make sense to him. But God on the other hand looks at things a lot differently than we do and knows far better than us what is right and what is more important. A long time ago when I was a Sunday school teacher I read the first passage quoted at the top and it really blew me away. We see the order of importance in God’s eyes of the offices in the Church. We read in this order, Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracles, Gifts of Healings and so forth. As a man I’d say miracles should be way up on the list if not the first one, but it is in fourth place below being a teacher. This made me think a lot about the miracles that Jesus performed and what the Lord said about the word sign. What does sign mean? Holman Bible Dictionary defines it this way - “Sign" (semeion) in the New Testament is used of miracles taken as evidence of divine authority. Sometimes it is translated as "miracle" (Luke 23:8 NIV; Acts 4:16,22 NASB, NIV)

Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.

4  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Many including the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to see miracles (signs), but many others came to hear and be taught of the Word of God. Jesus taught His disciples and the masses, in the Temple and outside in many different locations. He spent time even talking (teaching) to individuals privately like the woman at the well or the woman taken in adultery. He looked into people’s hearts and could see their honesty or their deceit and deception like some of the Pharisees and Sadducees had. Sound teaching from the Word of God is more important than miracles which can be misleading and deceptive, as you well know if you have read the Book of Revelation. (Revelation 13:13,14)

Now let’s move onto two other positions not mentioned above, Bishops, and Deacons. I will quote from parts of 1 Timothy chapter three and focus on attributes (particular words) of the offices and because of space will omit most of the text. I encourage you to read the whole chapter in context. I don’t like doing this, but I am trying to focus on the qualities that are necessary to hold these offices.

1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2  A bishop then must be blameless, of good behaviour,

3  patient, not a brawler,

6  Not a novice,

7  must have a good report of them which are without;
8  Likewise must the deacons be grave (serious), not doubletongued,

9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10  be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Many denominations today do not have the office of Bishop in their Churches and if you don’t I will again quote from Holman Bible dictionary.

BISHOP The English word "bishop" is the normal translation of the Greek noun episkopos, which occurs five times in the New Testament (Acts 20:28; Philem. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:25).

    Prior to the advent of Christianity episkopos meant "inspector," "watchman," or "overseer." It was used of the finance officers of Greek guilds and of the officers Athens sent to its subject-states. Finance officers administered revenues for Greek temples.

    One of the five usages of episkopos in the New Testament was as a title applied to Jesus: "the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:25). The other four uniformly referred to one who had a role or office in an early Gentile Christian congregation. In addressing the elders of the church of Ephesus the Apostle Paul stated, "the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (episcopous), to feed the church of God" (Acts 20:28). In the salutation to his Epistle to the Philippians he greeted "the bishops and deacons" of the church at Philippi (1:1). In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 qualifications were given for a "bishop": reputation, marital status, character traits, hospitality, teaching ability, non-drunkenness, attitude toward money, responsible parenthood, and length of time as a Christian. A similar list of qualifications for a "bishop" appears in Titus 1:6-9.

    The noun episkope, meaning "overseership," "bishopric," or "office," appears in Acts 1:20 (a quotation from Ps. 109:8b) and in 1 Timothy 3:1

    Paul, addressing the Ephesian "elders," reminded them that the Holy Spirit made them "overseers" (episkopous) "to feed (verb which is cognate to the noun "pastor") the church of the Lord." From this many conclude that in Paul's time "elder," "bishop," and "pastor" were terms used to describe three different functions of the same Christian leader, not three distinct ministerial offices.

If we choose our own spiritual leaders, let us examine their hearts and deeds very carefully. And let us pray fervently for direction and let us be submissive and open to God’s plans for our need in having a spiritual leader, and not our want in what we think we need. Let us not make the same mistake as was made when Saul was picked as King of Israel.