The role and qualifications of elders are explored, drawing heavily from 1 Timothy 3 and Acts 20. The sermon emphasizes that elders must serve the Lord with humility, teach publicly and from house to house, and remain steadfast amidst trials, mirroring the example of the Apostle Paul. A key discussion point addresses whether elders should actively seek out those who have strayed from the faith, concluding that the shepherd's heart, exemplified by Christ and Barnabas with John Mark, compels proactive pursuit of the lost. The sermon also delves into the qualifications and work of deacons, contrasting scriptural definitions with common misconceptions, and highlighting their spiritual qualifications and service to the church.
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This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. The bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one white, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given hospitality, apt to teach, not given. to wine, no striker, not greedy, a filthy looker, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, one that ruled it well his own house, having his children, in subjection with all gravity, for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God, not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Thank you very much. It was suggested that we have a brief review as to the work of the elders, the subject we took up yesterday. We'll ask our brother Ford to do it. Yesterday we had a number of questions, but believe it or not, only two came from the audience. Today we have some more, but I wish that you would... Does anybody else have any questions written out?
If not, if you would raise your hand, if you want a card, we'll provide a card for you, and then we'll give you opportunity during the discussion. Thank you. I wonder if we could just make reference also to that chapter of Acts, which has been referred to on so many times. occasions. I wonder if I may pass a little comment. A comment, I made a similar comment last week, and I think that it does bear just consideration. You see, I don't believe the Lord Jesus ever asked us to do what he himself has not done. I do not believe the Apostle Paul ever exhorted the elders of a church to do what he, in sowing the seed of that church also did.
And in the 20th chapter of Acts, he called for the elders of the church. You remember the elders in Ephesus. And from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus. By the way, this microphone is rebounding, but I. From Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Gino, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all see them, serving the Lord with all humility of mine, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying enraged of the Jews, and oh, I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.
Remember, he is talking to those elders in Ephesus. He is reminding them and instructing them. I would make this suggestion to your consideration that here are the marks of a man who as a shepherd of the flock hares for those that are in the church. These surely are the marks of any man who seeks to serve God and serve God's people in the capacity of an elder. First, he served the Lord. While he saw that he served the church, remember he spoke for the care of all the churches when he writes his second letter to the church at Corinth but first of all he saw that he was serving the Lord now brethren when we see this makes it possible for us to even deserve some that don't want to be served it can be very difficult as an elder of the church to seek to care for someone who doesn't want to be cared for as well as it's difficult to feed someone who doesn't want to be fed but we're doing this for the Lord church.
And I think that's an important part for him. And he served the Lord with all humility of mind. And I think that's lovely. Not just humility, but humility of mind. Not thinking more of himself than he ought. Not being tapped out. Not saying, I'm the elder of the church or I'm the apostle of all. You will notice he did it with many fears. Many temptations came this way. I think the heart of an elder... is seen in those people. I think the heart of a shepherd in the squad is seen in those people. I wonder how many of us, when I speak to my own heart, not as an elder, but one that labors among God's people, I wonder how many times we worship you.
Or when things had a different sort of come along, I wonder how many times he sat back and said, well, I told them what to do in that bit. Oh no. He mixed all those temptations, he turned back those temptations maybe not will serve as well as yours you serve the Lord with fear but maybe this is one of the marks of an elder and then he goes further and he says he taught publicly he said I have shown you and I have taught you publicly and I've done it also from house to house the work of an elder is not shut up to the four walls of a gospel assembly building the work of an elder is in the visiting of the home the teaching of the plant and caring for the people wherever they're at wherever they're at And then it seems to me he goes further and he dares to say this verse 24 he says that when problems come none of these things have moved me.
Neither have I counted my life dear unto myself so that I may finish my course with joy. And then verse 27 and I have not shunned with a play unto you all the counsels of God. But we thought a little of the work and the qualifications of an elder and we think a little of the work about you but I just have to cry to God oh God raise up elders among God's people raise up men who are willing to pay the price of caring for the flock caring for the flock the shepherd for the flock nothing more really than saying the credit for it in connection with the work of an elder I believe a verbal question was passed on you by the board to the effect that someone is can we just connect down just a little that someone has gotten away from the Lord I think the question was raised somewhat like this should the elder wait till that person comes forward for restoration is that the idea this was the question the question was put I can't remember it word for word marker but the question that was put to me by someone as we were coming in was that if someone has got away from the Lord maybe have heard the Lord and served
him well but has got away from the Lord has the elder to wait for that person to come and ask for fellowship again among God's people? Or is it the work of the elder to go after that person that's gone away? I think that the question answers really itself, but answers itself by this prank when we have said an elder. And we were reminded yesterday by Mr. Phillips that an elder is a shepherd. What was it that thank you for seeing? None of the rats were never new. How deep were the waters for us? or how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, ere he hanged the sheep of the flock. Could you imagine the Lord Jesus saying, look, I'm not going to go after the sinner.
I'm going to let them come after me. May I please say what I, you've heard me say, all the questions I get asked among undergraduates when I conduct the readings in Cambridge, of all the questions I get asked, right at the top of the list is this one. And therefore, what is the difference between the Christian faith and our faith. They may be the followers of this land. They may be the followers of the Hindu religions or many other religions. What is the difference between the Christian faith and all others? And there's one difference. There's one difference. And it's this. It is this difference between the Christian faith and all other faiths. Every other faith, you name it, and I will quote from their holy writings. All other faiths tell us that the sinner has to seek after God.
only thing that tells us that God came to seek after the sinner. Now if its foundation is in fact that God takes after the sinner, don't you think that if that sinner becomes by sovereign grace of faith and his heart grows cold, do you think God stopped looking? Do you think we ought to stop looking? Oh brethren, if there's someone who's gone astray, let's go after them. How many times to give? Seven now the Lord said seventy times seven and please that was in one day one day seventy times seven one no please oh it's really I can carry on don't we have a beautiful example of that in the case of John Mark when he quit when they got over to the mainland of Asia and things got past and His uncle Barnabas was beginning to take second faith to the Apostle Paul, and John Mark went back home to his mother.
And it was because of such a very serious split between the two toy servants of the Lord. They disagreed very, very hotly as to whether or not they should take John Mark the second time. Barnabas took John Mark under his wing, and he shepherded him. So much so that later on Paul himself could actually say that John Mark was responsible for the ministry, the very area in which he failed. He failed as a minister. And I think here we have a little illustration of the shepherd heart in action in the case of Barnaby. Going after John Mark and saying, well, look, you failed once, but you're not true.
You come with me. I think pursuing that, I think it's beautiful that there was a real restoration, had there not been a real restoration, the Spirit of God would never have selected Mark to write the Gospel of Mark of God's perfect servant. Very delightful. You know, the work of the elder goes behind, I think even the restoration of an elder is he should have what we call discernment. And if there is discernment, then those who are caring for the sheep will sense when there's pulling off an affection towards Christ when one is wandering away. And maybe restoration won't be necessary in that sense. And we were calling attention last week, someone did, to Eli.
was old and his eyes were dim. He couldn't see. He lacked discernment. What did he fail to discern? His sons were vile and he restrained them not. Now if Eli had discernment and restrained his sons, he may have been saved a lot of grief and his sons' lives as well as his own life. I wish one of these brethren would speak up maybe a little to this point of what we call discernment. Any thoughts on that, brethren? I think it comes to the very center that the elder himself must be in the position to be able to discern. He must have a knowledge of the Word of God and must be filled in its handling.
I think Titus has very much, at least Paul 2 Titus, has very much along that line to bring before. You cannot discern that someone's going astray unless you have a knowledge of the Word of God and the things that will lead people astray. In connection with the verses that were read from 1 Timothy 3, let's just go back into the second chapter just for a moment. I think we get the basis of everything in the second chapter. He's not speaking about elders, he's speaking about Christian men and Christian women in the congregation itself. And he says concerning the men, I will that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting, and like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame, patience, and sobriety, and so on and so on.
I think there we get the conduct of the whole congregation, the conduct of the congregation is governed by the Word of God as we've got here. It makes the work of the elder a great deal easier and more pleasant. It might be well at this point, even before we take up the qualifications of an elder, to take up some of the questions that have been handed in so that we don't leave them to the very end. I ask a pastor, and they've got the denomination, and I think it's wise, brethren and sisters, to leave out the names of denominations and so forth, because we want to deal in general and we don't want to aim at anybody. I asked the pastor, since 1 Timothy 3 gives qualifications for both elders and deacons, why do you not have elders in your church?
He said, where are your deacons? I believe he has a point that the Bible recognizes both elders and deacons. It is just as wrong for a so-called denominational church not to recognize elders as it is for an assembly not to recognize deacons. Yet I have been to several assemblies where one could name elders, but not deacons. simply because they are not recognized. Why are some assemblies inconsistent in recognizing elders but not deacons? Our main subject this week is elders but Mr. Ford always has the answer so... Oh dear. I don't have the answer on this one. I'll comment about it really.
I think first of all that we have to remember exactly what a deacon is. There is a lot of very, very weak thinking when I was a demon son some imagine that a deacon is a an unqualified elder an apprentice as an elder a man who cares for the fabric of the church and sort of sweeps the hall out a bit and does up the odd jobs that have to be done at least the word deacon is simply fervent of the church a fervent the scripture that generally referred to, of course, is the great sixth chapter of Acts, that when there arose the murmurings concerning the care of widows and how the apostles, not the elders, please, not the elders, but the apostles were so busy at that time in caring for the spiritual need, in preaching the word, that they didn't have time to do the physical work for caring.
And so men were appointed to do that particular job, and they were servants of the church amongst them was Stephen who we never even read on, waited on the church. Amongst them was Philip who never waited, who never waited on those days, who became the greatest preacher of the early church, who went down to Samaria and made this whole city glad who brought such blessing in the proclamation of the world. So let us remember that a deacon is a servant of the church. He's not just a man who is an unquantile qualified elders. The qualifications actually given for a deacon, it seems to me, are as high as for an elder. And also, if you accept the words in Timothy as the wife of the deacon, I know Mr.
Darby translates it women and not wives, but if you accept that as a wife, then the qualifications for a deacon's wife are hardly the qualifications of someone who sweeps out the hall, who washes the window who does our job the servant of the church and that servant of the church I believe I do the work of the people I may do the work of an evangelist but I serve the church I serve the church and so when sometimes it's pointed out that generally in our assembly life we don't have a diaconate a diaconate we do accept servants in the church and That's an interesting verse that they would have used the office of a deacon well purchased for themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
And as Brother Stan has pointed out, both Philip and Stephen exemplify that principle. They were set apart to be, in a special sense, servants of the Jerusalem church, but the two of them, one became the first great missionary of the church and the other the first great martyr of the church. And they both of them pledged a good degree, and great boldness in the faith. I think it's very interesting to remember the qualifications of those men in Acts 6. They were to be of good report, full of the Holy Ghost, and of wisdom. And because those men took up that service to the church, great blessing followed because the Apostle said, if you remember the scripture, we will give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
to the word we read that a number of the word of God increased the number of the disciples were multiplied at Pentecost as attitude and being a Scotsman I like multiplication rather the number of disciples was multiplied and then something else the opposition melted away a great company of the peace priests were obedient to the faith so when you've got things in the right context why great blessing follows as it did in that early church though that while the following parents or the people know that some want to say there are people who come and work for them they're thinking about what do you say that if you're certain the right of the truth and both teaching that earlier you don't even have to even if you ask me if you wrote for it could be that is not necessary to follow me even for me if someone does have to look after a lot of business matters you put on a reason You know, aren't there many other major Republicans, though, there's a vows and a family that would require another group of men who might do this very well and who might not do it.
And if it were to help, I think what we do is clear that up. That's how I'm going to write it. There is a difference in their work, isn't it? I don't have any further. Raise your voice. If you're just saying that, then we can hear you, brother. Rose Donaldson. in their first verse of their 15 and 15 woman. That's the word that you the word that used is she's a servant of the church. You noticed how I tried to dodge the question, didn't you?
Let me let me please in real love and I believe that you know me well enough to know that that's just how I would say it let me just say that I said it last week and I think it's important for us to remember that the word of God leaves us in no doubt of the independence of the local church that Christ walked between seven golden candle and not a seven branch candlestick. Each church was an individual church. Its purpose was to shine its light on Christ so everyone would see Christ.
But there was no link between one church and another. The only link was that Christ was in the center and he fed the oil, he trimmed the whip and he kept the light burning. Now I think that's an important question. And I am very nervous that somehow or the other, something that we may you will take back and say well now the brethren said it and so that's how it is I believe in the independence of the local church, that the elders of the local church are responsible for the government of that church and for the things that happen there. If in your church you feel that there should be a company of brethren who would care for the physical side of the church, that's your responsibility before God.
I would find it very difficult to translate that into the description that's given us of deacons in the Epistle to the Timothy and the Epistle to Titus. I would find it very difficult to translate that, even into the description that's given of the servants of the Lord in caring for the needs of those in Jerusalem, the widows that arose. of a deacon is a spiritual qualification. I believe that it's a qualification that is so spiritual that when you compare it with the elder, it's almost exactly the same.
And I think the work of the sermon, let's forget the word deacon, because you see, it is a little bit like with Episcopalians when you talk of bishops. They immediately begin to conjure up in their minds what they have been taught at Episcopalian here where in many of the denominational churches the deacons are real and vital people we conjure up that this is what a deacon is. Now let's look and see what the Bible deacon is. Let's turn please and see what the Bible deacon is. See what it says. Verse 8 of the third chapter of 1-2 likewise must the deacon be grey. Is that the qualification of someone who please if I say tweets out the hall, please I'm not speaking it in the disbanding.
It's the best way, you know, doing the physical work. A deacon must be grave and not double tongue, not given to much wine, not greedy as thief's filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also firstly prove, and let them use it. the office of a deacon being found blameless even so much their wives in fairness to you I must say this that there has been that there has been by scholars godly scholars of every school of law there has been some difference of opinion here it runs in actual fact it runs about equal Mr Williams wasn't it of Moody that man that gave the Moody translation was Williams' Bible, they gave...
He's the only man I know who translates this word reconnected. Now he's the only man who translates it. But there is half and half that translates it wives, and the other half would translate it women, where they say that what you're talking about here are women workers in the church. Now, our authorize says wives and, you see, clearly I am an authorize woman. But if it is wives, and I do confess there is academic difficulty here, if it is wise then we must say this that the qualification of the deacon's wife i mean it's just tremendous just tremendous let the deacons be the husbands of one wise they say that even so must their wives be grave not slanderer sober faithful in all things let the deacons be the husband of one wife ruling their children their own house well for they that have used the office of the deacon will purchase for themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is I would have thought all those qualifications are spiritual qualifications, you know.
But the only difference is not a novice. And yet it does speak of them proving themselves before they're accepted. You see the difficulty I'm taking, Dick? You see the difficulty I'm taking. I think that the word deacons is the word that chutes the servants of the church. and these qualifications, anyone who goes out and bears the stamp of your church someone comes to you and says would you preach in our assembly tonight? Now don't you forget you not only go out to preach in that other meeting but you go on behalf of the meeting, you come to you're a servant of that church but you think the record's one that's called out and he's in among you that's encouraged to take that's right, I don't mean that isn't encouraged up to me but it's correct Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.
I think that so. A servant of the church fan weighs on table, but I want to exercise it, please. I know I'm not. I'm trying to be quite French. I'm trying not to turn on court. I mean, that's what I'm trying to do. And I find that difficult, you know, with 530, it's a job. I'm trying not to turn on court. I mean, that's what I'm trying to do. And I find that difficult, you know, with 530, it's a job. I'm trying not to turn on court. I'm trying not to say something. something that you will go back and say, Sam Ford said this. I'm not concerned with what Sam Ford says. I'm concerned with what the Bible says. What I'm trying to emphasize is that while I believe the work of the deacon is preparing on table, it's not that alone. It's not that alone. It's not a company of people who are saying, now, your job is to do the physical work.
And you will not forget, will you? Yes. You will not forget that when they made the collection for the saints in Jerusalem they didn't send it to Deacon they sent it to the elders to visit so the elders have a little bit of the physical side to do as well so you can in my understanding is that there are three classes of Jesus as a local church that is what really is one or all and it's one is church that they call her to the saints which are philosophized against the bishops and deacons. They have saints, bishops and deacons. They have three classes of people.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but it seems as though you're making saints and deacons phenomenal. I mean, the fact that they're all... No, I'm not making saints and I think if I could make the suggestion, it might be interesting if some of us could get hold of vine and hoist bishops and deacons. It is dealt with in a scholarly way. I think you would see then that the academic problem behind is rather severe. What I am saying, please, is that I do accept that there are men who are servants of the church as distinct from men who are bishops in the church. I do not believe that those servants of the church, those deacons of the church, while they are recognized, I do not believe that they are a country who are limited to the cutting of the grass and the washing of the windows and the sweeping of the hall.
and the caring of the fabric. I believe that their work is bigger than that. I believe it is a spiritual work as well. A spiritual work as well. You see, I don't believe that a person has to be an elder to care for the flock. I believe we can care for the flock without being an elder. I believe that we can do a work in ministering for God to his people. Without being a deacon as well, just a saint. This is our job. it? Didn't I say this morning we're like, didn't I say yesterday, we're at all? So that will affect won't it? Not one of you brethren, please the priesthood of all believers, not only holy priest but royal priest holy priest towards God, royal priest towards the world nothing wrong with my theology brethren.
But please, I fear that we limit the work of a deepening, the work of a servant of the Lord if we just say that those seeking their work is well the cutting of the lawn and I'll tell you brethren I've done what I promised you I wouldn't do and I didn't want to do I was right of the thought no wait a minute the brother in the second row had his hand up first and then the third row that's a possible question within the assembly itself that's really really mentioned looking down whether it is a question of recognition do you feel that it's possible that many quote unquote that are designated as elders are really serving some of them in the capacity of a deacon and yet we're identifying them as an elder, an elder of the assembly but yet we have both authors of the previous one within the local assembly.
We have both authors of the previous one within the local assembly. But we as the saints fail to recognize them. Now I know that there are I'm bringing myself to light up. Could I not have to be? Could I just say this? I make practical. When I go to my home attendants, please, if I walked in, there it is, if I walked in and I saw set up in lights, there's a couple of bulbs that have gone out, I wouldn't barge in and say, brethren, some lights are out. I'd go in and look for some bulbs and put them up there. if someone came into our if someone came into our meeting and they'd never been in before I wouldn't look around and say where are the elders to go and speak to these folks I'd go out and speak to them if I saw that a work needed to be done I wouldn't say now I'm a preacher I'm a preacher I don't think any decent elder would ever refrain from doing even manual work of each of these members I'm really concerned Yes.
And a little bit. Yes. I promise I will. And they're really serving in a direct capacity, but we're not recognizing it. I don't want anyone to recognize me. I just want to get them to do a job. Yeah. And the second or third row there, brother. As long as this question is, what's not, as much as one of the law cases in the region, Is it a question of recognizing the office as an office, or is it a question of recognizing the work that should be done?
I don't believe there's anything official in this. Is there a fee for revenue generally than a thought class that will reverse your duty as well the words speak up because we can't I said you were called back quickly one month and said which was relevant and he served in Jezebel and I think we come to a family and we say that it shouldn't have been traced to the elements of Jesus that he was a new cousin but he was blessed in church did you think why don't you change the name of them change them like you think sometimes I'm seeing what I thought in a Sunday where it's always changed to say, oh, well, it's more of the outcome of our movement, you know, our movement, you know, the change over the nation.
And that shouldn't be. You've got several, at least new instances that I know of, where the Apostle Paul read, read in order of those things that are born into an ordained elder in the church. But you have one verse that says appointees. You've got follow-up cases, you've got what happened in Acts 6. But if you have instruction that the local church needs to have deacons for well-being, right there? Whether you have the verse or not, I believe they're there. And whether recognized or officially, I believe in almost every assembly you've got deacons and you've got elders. People say we don't have any elders. I think there are very few congregations, if any, where the Lord has left his people without someone to do some shepherd care.
And very often it's being done without anybody, sometimes without people knowing it. There's a great variety of opinion among the assemblies. I think there's one thing we want to be very careful of today that we don't come to some conclusion and say, people go back and say, well, now, this is it. I believe each assembly is responsible, as my brother Ford said, each assembly is directly responsible to the Lord to carry out what they see from his word. And some places would put the names up on the board. We had this last week. They put them up on the board so everybody can know. Then they were sorry they put them up on the board because they had problems afterwards. There are places where they're recognized. If you go in, you know right away who's, if you're there very long, you know who the deacons are and who the elders are.
But I think it's up to the local congregation for its own spiritual well-being and edification to decide just how they're going to handle it. We can discuss it, but I don't think we can. Yes, hold on, may I ask you? No, you don't, brother. And I think it's important to remember that the sixth chapter of Acts is before. the Apostle Paul was converted and the Apostle Paul was the Apostle of the Church. It was to him that the Spirit of God gave the doctrines of the New Testament Church. I'm not saying there was no church until the Apostle Paul came. That's not true. The Church had its birth at Pentecost. But let's remember that the Apostle Paul is the Apostle of the Church.
The Scripture says, he says quite frankly in the letter of the Spirit of God that the Lord delivered unto him the Council of the Church. I think what you have said is an important point to remember but let's remember the independence of the local assembly and the elders bill that they're at the company of folks we have in my own meeting at home we have a company of brethren who care for the fabric but they're not fordeans we don't call them brothers are there any other questions? Are there any other questions before we move on to the back? Yes. Keep your voice up.
But it is not fair to me. I thought it was like, I think a lot of others, I would hear from the friends of the idea, whether Lutheran Church is made up of pigeons and demons. I know it's a riot following around the last minute. It makes us hell with us. So why do we have... reported by the Holy Spirit of God in 1 Timothy chapter 3 of 1 Timothy. Why do we have the third chapter? Is that a fair question? I don't understand the question. I don't understand the question.
Well, where's one said that there is an office? It's in Christ's mess. In verse 10, that the office of Yeah. That's right. Yeah. According to the word that is a descendant of service made up of elders and deacons. Elders and servants. Yeah. I think we're playing on the word deacon. I think we have a conjured up feeling in our mind as to what the deacon is. A deacon is not just a monk. It doesn't say there, does it? Can you give me one verse in the qualifications of the deacon that here is a man whose qualifications makes him fit to do the manual side of assembly work?
Is that what it says? I don't think this would ever be there. These spiritual qualifications would never be there if that were true. Now I believe that every man in the assembly should strive for godliness because at the end of this chapter it says that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God. So then, are you saying that the reason that people came out here is that they thought that there are these men that need to be recognized? Oh yeah, oh yeah, most definitely. But that was to do the task about the job.
The jobs were about the whole, but they're not, that's not easy. the fabric. He didn't mean the curtains. He meant the whole building. That's just an old English word, you know. We'll forgive him for that. Oh, I'm afraid of it. Yes, I'm utterly afraid of it. Tell us why. Well, because so much is associated with it that is not scriptural. Here, I read these words, you see, the words that we have read are just as well, and the qualifications of a a deacon are spiritual qualification. Spiritual qualification. Now, the care of the fabric of a building, the business side of it, I believe that if you've got a man in your assembly who is what we would call an estate agent, what you would call a real estate man, and you are thinking indeed of maybe building another building somewhere else, you would be utterly foolish not to bring that man on.
to do the work for making some provision. He may not have spiritual qualifications, but he has intellectual ability and qualifications which would enable him to do that work. I believe that that particular work is the type of work that my own assembly, we have a company of brethren who just care for the fabric of the church, but it's not a spiritual qualification. But I would be recognized in my own assembly, I would be recognized, I believe. item as deacon. As a deacon. When certain matters arise in our assembly, my brethren call me in. I'm not an elder. I wouldn't go on the elders, right? I don't believe I have a place on the elders. But they would call me in for my advice.
I believe like Philip was appointed to wait on tables, never read, he did. But he went down into Samaria, and he so preached the gospel that revival broke out in Samaria, and the whole city was made glad. I believe there are brethren that are doing the service of the church. They are servants of the church. But, please, I said right at the beginning that there would be... I'd like to ask you, brother, and without putting you on the spot, give us your thoughts, because it may clear up some of this. Give us your own personal thoughts as to what a deacon or a servant is in view of 1 Timothy 3 that you've referred to. Well, I agree with what I've said in relation to the right in the qualification of a larger brother Well, I would be interested what scripture you would give me for doing the odd jobs around.
Acts 6 verse 2. Would you agree that that was before the Apostle Paul was converted and before the great treaties of the Christian Church was given, or not? Yes. say that they need to be free. Oh, yeah. Yes, yes, yes. But these were not elders that had to be free. These were apostles. Please, Dick, I'm not trying to win any argument. The last thing in the world is that I would want to argue. The last thing in the world. I think, Brother Ford, part of this problem hinges on this fact.
It's not just the work, but it's of official recognition in some way. And I believe that you've got to leave that to the individual congregation. I really do. We're not saying that they shouldn't be recognized or anything else. But I think Brother Ford has brought out a very important facet in connection with the work of the deacon. When you read over these spiritual qualifications, they're there because he's got a spiritual work. Now can we leave it there and can we, when we go, leave that part of it there? And when we go home? For the moment, I'm sure we won't leave it there. that they click on. Oh, no. Discuss as we move your act. But when we go home, don't say that brethren decided this. We didn't decide anything. Brethren and sisters, we're exploring in a very friendly way the word of God.
And we've got to come back to the book and back to the book. And I like what a dear friend of mine said. We can disagree without being... Disagreable. Disagreable. I'm glad you said that now. You said that. We're going in a little different direction I've got two questions, and this came up last week. Under qualifications of an elder, there's a reference to the husband of one wife. Does this view believe have reference to the elder being a practitioner of monogamy as opposed to polygamy, or does this mean that a divorced, remarried man should not be an elder?
Then I have another one here. Is a man qualified to be an elder if he was married twice before he was saved? Does God recognize both marriages or the one now? What does, I think, if we get behind this, what does this mean the husband of one wife and having his household in subjection with all gravity? It ties in together. Of course, there's disagreement, again, amongst brethren as to whether or not the husband of one wife means that he just has one wife now.
We have to remember that polygamy was practiced in the Old Testament with divine sanction, the law of Moses, allowed polygamy. it didn't God never really encouraged polygamy but he legislated for it in the law of Moses in the Christian church those who want to be an elder one of the qualifications is that they have to be the husband of one wife which obviously means that they haven't got half a dozen whether it means that some would go on to argue that if a man was married and then widowed, then married again, he has disqualified himself for being an elder because he's had two wives.
I think that's going too far, although there are some who would maintain that. It would certainly seem that the words are to be taken at their faith value that if a man is an elder in the assembly, he has to be a married man. Because how well can he prove himself? apart from being a married man, in this particular capacity. The question of whether or not a divorcee can be an elder raises a whole host of other questions. I think it connects, as our brother said, in connection with this, the husband of one wife. As he said, we must remember that there was polygamy. Let's take a place like Kahn. And I think it's an interesting assumption that that's all I'm going to make.
First of all, that the husband of one wife, if he had two or three wives, he could not be an elder, but it seems by that very fact that he was able to participate of the communion. I'm sorry, Mr. Smith, take what did you say? Participate of the very one. No, no, but you said let's take the city. Like Corinth. Oh, what did you think I said? But you said Corinth. Oh, the wicked pleiots when no man pursues. It's all right. No, you can understand what Corinth was like. And he said the husband of one wife. now I think it's a fair assumption that they were remembering the Lord they were in the congregation this happened in their unconverted days but they were disqualified from that public service as an elder now how do you feel about that brother Ford I'd rather really pass no comment that I've been finding yeah familiar well I don't want to throw the wrong idea that's all I know I think that in its context it was polygamy yeah in its context it was ligamy.
I personally am very much given that if a person is divorced then that they are not permitted to be on a notice. That is my personal. But I believe in the independence of the local church and I think that's one of the things. I think that's one of the things, rather than if I could say. It's one of the things that I feel very difficult in answering. It's a great difficulty because conditions there are local problems there are family problems that that I know nothing about and I wouldn't make a statement that someone would go and say Stanford say so-and-so I don't know the particular individual my personal feeling and a very strong one is that divorce of course is wrong in anything Jake I suppose we would say Paul was a My program was not an elder, though he appointed elders, so he said, I wish that all men were like me and could not marry and go on and serve God.
But if you feel it says it means that he should not be a single man in any case, but should always be a marriage. Is that correct? Either he could do any good work with an elder, but by his own choice, never married him. I think he could be a marriage. It goes on to say he has to rule his family. I know that. That's where he gets married. his experience I have seen some unmarried men who have a family sisters and I wonder whether Lazarus was an unmarried man cared for Mary and Martha maybe he could get a little experience along that line I think that it doesn't bar unmarried man from being an elder yes father so I recall I read a book in the Bible of the church he brings up the fact that I was at one point means that he should not censor his fetus and marry men, but if he is very, if we're going to show him what she's having, children's part of rejection, I'm going to have honest to call her a fact.
She feels that shouldn't be how to get this, it's not very good, but a lot of copies then that I know the elders that did the client's job yet are not married, but if they, it doesn't mean he must be married, definitely. He says he must be the husband of one wife. Thus, the Paul teaches that he must not be buried, like he must be the husband of one wife. And there are elders that don't have children. God just hasn't given children. How can we disband that and say, well, he's included in the elder because God hasn't given children? But if he does have children, then he should rule them well, but not that he has to have them. I'd like to give you a little suggestion.
I won't tell you what our answer was. This matter of divorce and remarriage and all... All that area is a very serious one and becoming more and more serious. We faced it in our assembly some time ago, and we got not just the elders, we got all of the brethren together, and we discussed the matter back and forth from the Word of God. And after discussing it a number of times, we came to a conclusion from the Word of God as far as our assembly was concerned, and we arrived at a decision for the assembly. And it was completely unanimous and harmonious. I'm not telling you what the decision was. I think I'd be entirely wrong, because we're in an individual lampstand, so to speak, and we're responsible to the Lord. Maybe we'll change our mind someday.
I don't know. But we arrived at what I call an assembly position in the light of the Word of God, and it was not hurried. And I think sometimes you have to do that. Now, our time is about... Not Barbara. Who's... I'm... What is it, Ms. Adams? Have you? Well, you see, I set mine up to Greenwich Mean Time. You'll be right, then, Barbara. Let us, are there any other questions quickly? How far should elders go in counseling extremely difficult cases of mental stress and depression? How much time should be given to difficult marital situations that seem to take away so much of an elder's time from others?
I think it's a very difficult question to answer on the face of it. How much time? I think, again, this depends on a local situation. People have to be born long and carried along. We had a brother here that spoke last week for us. Remember his name? What was that? The chap's name was psychiatry? George. George. And he said something. he said something and then Dr. Best reinforced it afterwards that the psychiatrists have just really blown it. They're all wrong. It's not scientific. It's not medical.
It's not anything else. And NBC had a documentary on it. And I think we want to be careful from that angle. But it's also true that, and I'm not a medical man, but it's also true with mental depression that sometimes there are physical characteristics that affect it. I think that this is something that's up to the elders themselves to weigh the particular case and how much time they should give. I don't know. Well, my sister, if we've learned anything today, we've learned it. The desperate responsibility resting on all our shoulders to pray for our elders. The desperate leaders I wonder if we could please I wonder if this was just after Luke is there anyone in the group here who before God would answer would say that you send an hour a week praying to the elders of your fellowship now in 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week is there anyone here by the raising of their hand would say and please before the Lord would say that I spend an hour
a week praying for the hours of our parish. Is there any one? I think, you know, you see this matter of mental depression. Mental depression doesn't suddenly burst on a person, does it? The matter of the breakup of marriage, and please, I want to talk of this tender. The matter of breakup of marriage, it doesn't happen all at once. It doesn't suddenly happen. And if there are any elders carrying it to the sheep, they'll see fine, won't they?
They'll suddenly see that maybe there are young couples in their meeting and there are difficulties of writing, and at least not only young couples, older couples. Older tragedy to me is that for many break up of marriages have older men. And we need to pray for them. for the elders. It isn't a matter of going when the thing suddenly has said, but it's a matter of thankfully and helping prior to that, isn't it? We need to pray for our elders. And can I say something else, and it gets a little bit onto another subject, and I'm sure maybe we'll be dealing with tomorrow, we need to pray for the sisters in the meeting, the older sisters who care for the younger ones. We need to do that. We need to pray and pray desperately, and I think we have seen, and please, I did not want, and did you know Did you notice something?
I didn't put my hand up when I asked about that hour of prayer for the elders. Did you notice that? If I've been convicted during the past few days, it's been of this. The little time I prayed for the elders of our church. The most important brethren in the meeting. And if I may link it also with the servants of the church as well, all who serve the church, all who serve the church. whether it be the PVs, the deconesses of the church, or whether it be the brethren who are working as sermons, deacons in the church, or how we need to pray. We've never prayed before. And I don't believe God's going to put his hand on us and bless us as once he did.
Once he did. And he did. You know where I live? Within a radius of five miles of my home there are thirteen assemblies. God has blessed us over the years. He has left. I don't know because when most of these assemblies came into being, I wasn't saying, I don't know how much they prayed for their elders, I know this, that maybe if we'll get down and pray for our elders a little bit more, and when I say elders please, I'm praying, speaking of the whole of those that care for us. They face problems and difficulties, and we've seen that even the most knowledgeable of us, Sometimes on points, we don't always say amen to everything that the other brothers say.
Then we go from this gathering, saying, Lord, I want my assembly, the fellowship with which I am connected. I want it to have burned to the people. I want it to be on fire for them. And Lord, I'll do my best to pray for those that care for us, watch over us, for those that minister to us. For those that serve, we want our church to be a local representative of the body universal with everyone in his place doing what God wants them to do. I would like to say a hearty amen to our brother's comment in regards to prayer. What is our divine resource?
Is it to get together and formulate the new plans, the new programs? It is not. And I just want to refer to two verses and then we'll ask our brother forward to close with prayer. If you remember in Matthew 6, the Lord tells the disciples to enter to the closet and pray. It's very interesting when you come over to Luke's Gospel, chapter 12, I believe it's verse 24. He said, the ravens have neither storehouse nor barn. And the word for storehouse there in connection with the ravens is exactly the same word as the closet. And I think it's very, very beautiful. It was written up in one of our calendars not too long ago. Our divine storehouse, our resources are in our prayer closet and we don't believe it. And I believe, brethren and sisters, that if we wait more on God, instead of forcing or pushing an issue, God will come in in great blessing.
Brother Floyd, would you close the prayer? And before you just move, before you close, tomorrow, we're going to zero in a little bit on what our brother suggested, the work of the sisters in connection with the family life, elders, deacons, and all the rest. And please write questions. Somebody, a couple of said, we didn't write, we've started.