Saturday, July 19, 2014
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Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Women Rising | Rogue Theologian
Women Rising | Rogue Theologian
5. Gilbert Bilezikian, Th.D. Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says About a Woman’s Place in Church and Family. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1985. ISBN: 0-8010-0885-9.
On page 248, Bilezikian writes, “It is worth noting that in 1
Corinthians more than in any of his other Epistles, Paul uses the é
particle to introduce rebuttals to statements preceding it. As a
conjunction, é appears in Paul’s Epistles in a variety of uses. But the
list below points to a predilection for a particular use of é, which is
characteristic mainly of 1 Corinthians. “The verses he listed I also
list below, in the order they appear, with a notation indicating the
appearance of the é particle, in each case translating it as “Nonsense!”
as Bilezikian did to indicate its flavor: 1 Cor. 6:1-2–”If any of you
has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for
judgment instead of before the saints? (é Nonsense!) Do you not know
that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world,
are you not competent to judge trivial cases?”
The e of which he speaks is the Greek letter “eta,” which looks like h
This device is called the “rhetorical eta,” many of my Greek
professors confirmed its use. Paul uses this device many times in 1
Corinthians. Its importance here is that it clearly marks a refutation
of the previous passage. That is what the rhetorical ate is for, it
indicates that what precedes it immediately is being refuted. Since the
Greeks did not have quotation marks, this device serves as quotation
marks and shows the injunction against women speaking was actually the
statement of the Corinthians to Paul. Apparently some faction in the
church, perhaps Judaizers, or some group the Corinthians has been in
contact with, had said this to them.
We can see this clearly in English, if we know what to look for. The
verse states: (35)”If there is anything they desire to know, let them
ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in
church.”
(36) What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached?”
Clearly that sounds like a reversal of what has been said. One can get a
sense of the refutation of the previous remark, after all, those who
want to allow women to speak are not demanding that mean be silent. Why
would they seem to come across, as thinking that they were the only
one’s to hear from God? That idea makes much more sense if they wanted
to silence someone. It makes more sense in speaking to the silencers,
because they are acting like they are the only ones to receive the word
of God.
Those sky-blue italicized words, “what” and “or” represent where
the h comes. There are two of them, grammatically two of them should
make it say “what, or” but they can also function as rhetorical and that
fits the sense of the passage much better. Otherwise it sounds like
nonsense, with Paul railing against those he supports! So the etas are
here:
h “did the word of God come only to you? h are you the only one’s it has reached?” This signals the refutation of the previous idea, the silencing of women.
5. Gilbert Bilezikian, Th.D. Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says About a Woman’s Place in Church and Family. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1985. ISBN: 0-8010-0885-9.
On page 248, Bilezikian writes, “It is worth noting that in 1
Corinthians more than in any of his other Epistles, Paul uses the é
particle to introduce rebuttals to statements preceding it. As a
conjunction, é appears in Paul’s Epistles in a variety of uses. But the
list below points to a predilection for a particular use of é, which is
characteristic mainly of 1 Corinthians. “The verses he listed I also
list below, in the order they appear, with a notation indicating the
appearance of the é particle, in each case translating it as “Nonsense!”
as Bilezikian did to indicate its flavor: 1 Cor. 6:1-2–”If any of you
has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for
judgment instead of before the saints? (é Nonsense!) Do you not know
that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world,
are you not competent to judge trivial cases?”
The e of which he speaks is the Greek letter “eta,” which looks like h
This device is called the “rhetorical eta,” many of my Greek
professors confirmed its use. Paul uses this device many times in 1
Corinthians. Its importance here is that it clearly marks a refutation
of the previous passage. That is what the rhetorical ate is for, it
indicates that what precedes it immediately is being refuted. Since the
Greeks did not have quotation marks, this device serves as quotation
marks and shows the injunction against women speaking was actually the
statement of the Corinthians to Paul. Apparently some faction in the
church, perhaps Judaizers, or some group the Corinthians has been in
contact with, had said this to them.
We can see this clearly in English, if we know what to look for. The
verse states: (35)”If there is anything they desire to know, let them
ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in
church.”
(36) What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached?”
Clearly that sounds like a reversal of what has been said. One can get a
sense of the refutation of the previous remark, after all, those who
want to allow women to speak are not demanding that mean be silent. Why
would they seem to come across, as thinking that they were the only
one’s to hear from God? That idea makes much more sense if they wanted
to silence someone. It makes more sense in speaking to the silencers,
because they are acting like they are the only ones to receive the word
of God.
Those sky-blue italicized words, “what” and “or” represent where
the h comes. There are two of them, grammatically two of them should
make it say “what, or” but they can also function as rhetorical and that
fits the sense of the passage much better. Otherwise it sounds like
nonsense, with Paul railing against those he supports! So the etas are
here:
h “did the word of God come only to you? h are you the only one’s it has reached?” This signals the refutation of the previous idea, the silencing of women.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Have all people sinned or not? | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10; Psalm 14:3 and Job 1:1; Genesis 7:1; Luke 1:6
- All have sinned
- (Romans 3:9-10)--"What
then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already
charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10as it is
written, "There is none righteous, not even one." - (Romans 3:23)--"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- (Psalm 14:3)--"They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one."
- (Romans 3:9-10)--"What
- All have not sinned
- (Job 1:1)--"There
was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was
blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil." - (Genesis 7:1)--"Then
the Lord said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household;
for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time." - (Luke 1:5-6)--"In
the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named
Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both
righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the
commandments and requirements of the Lord."
- (Job 1:1)--"There
clearly condemns all under sin. But when it mentions people like Job,
Noah, Zacharias, and Elizabeth as people who were "blameless" and
"righteous," it is not saying that they are not sinners. It is saying
that they were godly people, who kept the commandments of God; and in
that sense, they were righteous. But of course, we realize that no one
can keep the commandments of God perfectly which is why all people are
deserving of damnation (Eph. 2:3), and why we need a savior. If righteousness can come through the Law, then Christ died needlessly (Gal. 2:21).
Have all people sinned or not? | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
God does not want YOUR fruit!
Source article by Phil Drysdale
God is not interested in your fruit. He wants His fruit to be made manifest through you. Our calling as believers is not to produce fruit but rather to be branches which simply bear His fruit.
To illustrate what I’m talking about let’s look at the best fruit we can have in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit.
So often I get so wrapped up in trying to produce these wonderful fruits that I forget that they are not my fruits to produce. They are the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit I produce ends up being a cheap counterfeit. So surely it would just be a better idea to let the Spirit produce fruit in us rather than working hard to produce what ends up being a substandard produce anyway.
Below I’ve gone through the fruits and described what I have experienced in both allowing the Spirit to produce the fruit in me and trying to produce the fruit myself.
God is not interested in your fruit. He wants His fruit to be made manifest through you. Our calling as believers is not to produce fruit but rather to be branches which simply bear His fruit.
The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24)
To illustrate what I’m talking about let’s look at the best fruit we can have in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit.
So often I get so wrapped up in trying to produce these wonderful fruits that I forget that they are not my fruits to produce. They are the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit I produce ends up being a cheap counterfeit. So surely it would just be a better idea to let the Spirit produce fruit in us rather than working hard to produce what ends up being a substandard produce anyway.
Below I’ve gone through the fruits and described what I have experienced in both allowing the Spirit to produce the fruit in me and trying to produce the fruit myself.
Love
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| Overwhelming love and affection for someone bursting forth from inside – never influenced by their actions or circumstances but rather solely based on who the Spirit is and the Father heart of God. | An attempt to show affection and love for someone based on my own effort. Strongly influenced by how they perform around me or how I am feeling that day. |
Joy
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| Joy unspeakable that cannot be contained. It is not influenced by situations – death, depression, sickness, persecution, losing your job – all these things have no say in this joy which is rooted in Heaven. | An attempt to plaster a smile on every situation. When times are good it might even look and feel like the real thing but when times get hard it’s all too easy for people to see the hypocrisy – the smile is from ear to ear but behind closed doors there are tears and uncertainty. |
Peace
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| A peace that transcends understanding. This peace doesn’t care about the storms of life because it doesn’t take it’s report from Earth but rather from Heaven. This peace is not tethered in what man says but rather in what God has to say. | An attempt to find peace in every situation. On the outside it looks like you don’t panic that much, but on the inside there are constant nagging questions. It focuses on us and our ability to understand rather than leaning on God and His understanding. |
Patience
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| A confidence that God has said what He has said and it will happen. A knowledge that things are happening in the spiritual realm even if they don’t appear to be happening in the natural yet. It is a patience that doesn’t look at the surrounding circumstances but rather rests in God’s word. It waits in perfect peace. | An attempt to not get too impatient and if possible actually show patience on the outside. To many people it looks like patience but on the inside there are frustrations and a lack of peace. We may even end up getting angry and upset with God for not doing His part while we wait so “patiently”. It focuses on how long you can wait, not how well you do the waiting. |
Kindness
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| A relentlessly kind disposition to all people, not choosing to be kind to people based on if they will be kind in return, or if they have been kind to begin with. Rather choosing to be kind because you have been made kind, kindness is in your nature. | A deep down knowledge that we are supposed to be kind to everyone. This can be pretty easy to express towards those we love or who we may get something in return from but to everyone else it sure is hard work. Usually when we do manage to be kind it is met with one of two emotions, guilt for knowing we didn’t really want to, or pride and self-righteousness, thinking about how kind we are. |
Goodness
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| A general posture of good. We are good and produce good easily. We believe all things work together for the good of those who love God and that we are an active part of that. Everything we do produces good in our lives and the lives of those around us. Goodness follows us. | An attempt to do more good than bad. It’s a constant burden of knowing what is right and desperately trying to always do it. We very often manage to do it (making us proud) and yet more often fail to reach the high standards of “good”. We also know exactly what we shouldn’t do and try with all our might not to do those things… of course, we fail at that leaving us feeling guilty and full of condemnation. |
Faithfulness
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| A confidence in the goodness of God, other people, ourselves and an expectation of good in our circumstances. This allows us to see everything through God’s lenses and powerfully walk in the grace that Christ has given us. Faith is a gift and so even this faithfulness is simply a resounding “OK” to the rhema word of God in our lives. | An attempt to rustle up faith in God and to believe in something enough to change things. It always has the nagging doubt in the back of our heads “do I have enough faith?” and when we do see results leaves us feeling self-righteous about our ability to have faith. It’s utterly self-focused and not focused on the giver of faith, Jesus Christ. |
Gentleness
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| A natural disposition to think of others first and ourselves second. We are consumed with the thought of others and their wellbeing. We are other-focused in our thoughts and actions. People who have been around us feel encouraged, edified and equipped to be better people. | An attempt to be as gentle as possible. Desiring to care for people, however, ultimately failing to do so and succumbing to selfishness. It attempts to show people that you love them more than yourself but while the fruit might be there sometimes you know yourself the truth is that you love yourself more. While you are gentle more often than not, there is still definitely the “not” in your life. |
Self-control
| Spirit | Me |
|---|---|
| Because we are fully aware of our union with God we don’t find ourselves thinking of the 101 different things we shouldn’t do. The Holy Spirit doesn’t produce bad fruit and so we aren’t worried about that. Rather we are free to enjoy ourselves in Him and watch as the “flesh” gradually becomes a non-existent issue the less we think of it. Why would we worry about doing bad when God is so preoccupied with doing good through us. | We are consumed with what is right and wrong. We must consistently focus on every possible sin that we might commit and how we might avoid doing that. We of course then absolutely fail to do so like Paul explains in Romans 7 and 1 Cor 15 – the strength of sin is the law. If we focus on how not to sin we will only sin more. We live frustrated and angry because we spend so much time trying to control our behaviour and passions failing to realise that this is the problem in the first place! |
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
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Thursday, March 27, 2014
A Minister of Jesus Christ
A Minister of Jesus Christ
A Minister of Jesus Christ
A. God is the one who calls and sets into the offices.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.Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;There are many who stand behind pulpits that were not called of God; their choice was more of a career decision then a call.1. God anoints those He callsLuke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the enablement of God to fulfill God’s call.B. Some things a good minister must do1. Study to show self approvedStudy what?2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Notice what the Apostles said:2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.A good minister of Jesus Christ must be an avid student of God’s word. He or she must have that quality time in prayer and study.Notice:
2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.In order to do this, God’s servant must be rooted in God’s word.We are to preach the word, if necessary we are to reprove, rebuke and exhort, with longsuffering and doctrine.2. Have good Doctrine
The servant of the Lord must hold to good solid Christian doctrine and be able to correct others who may be in error.Please notice:1 Timothy 1:3-7 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.1 Timothy 4:12-16 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;In the times that we live, the basic doctrines of Christianity are under attack by not only the cults, and various religions of the world, but also some main line denominations are in stages of APOSTASY ( a falling away ). A falling away from the doctrines and principles that Christians through out the ages have embraced and held dear to.Many have forsaken sound biblical teachings such as the Virgin birth, the Deity of Christ, His Second Coming, He is the only way to God, The Doctrine of Sin etc. and have replaced it with the philosophies of man.Many seminaries have thrown out the Bible as the source of truth and teaching and have adopted the more acceptable philosophies of humanism. *Note (not all have)Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.Notice:2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.There are people who only want to hear the bless me message, “what is God going to give me.” Therefore they will seek out only those teachers that they want to hear. God forbid that someone would mention to them something concerning sin or personal discipline.In many churches a God fearing Pastor who seeks a God given message will be voted out and replaced with a more suitable preacher, one who seeks to please the people instead of God.It is vitally important that every Christian be rooted in good Christian doctrine, especially the basics, the foundational teachings. Every pastor should make this a priority.Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:Notice:Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;Many Christians have been tossed to and fro by the doctrines of the cults that go door to door in their efforts to convert people to their sects. They succeed because people don’t know what they believe.3. Be ConsecratedThe word consecration means, to set apart for sacred purposes. Ones heart and mindset must be: My life belongs to God, for His purposes, to fulfill the call of God. God is Holy, so also is the call of God; therefore the servant of the Lord must maintain a holy lifestyle, which is a part of consecration.4. Shun some things2 Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver; but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work.2 Timothy 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord.
2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.2 Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.1 Timothy 6:3-5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.1 Timothy 6:6-11 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.1Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.2 Timothy 2:22-23 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.5. Serve not for filthy lucre6. Must be faithful1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.Faithfulness means to be trusted, reliable. Apostle Paul says in the above scripture that they were stewards of the mysteries of God; a steward is someone who has been entrusted to oversee or manage the affairs of someone else.Paul says that it is required that a steward be found faithful. Noticed the word found, to be found faithful, comes by testing.Paul's faithfulness
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.Before God will entrust us with the riches of his grace, he may find out just how faithful we are.7. Obtain Credibility and Accountability CredibilityProverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.We all have heard the nursery rhyme story, of the boy who cried wolf; he lied so many times that when the wolf did appear, no one believed him: the boy lost his credibility.The word credibility means capable of being believed. Without credibility a person will accomplish little in the kingdom of God. We gain credibility, as our ministry is proven to be authentic, scriptural sound, and we are faithful in the things of God. Having a home church, with a Pastor and Elders adds to credibility.Acts 9:26-27 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.Paul had persecuted the church before his conversion and had no credibility with Christians up to this point. After Barnabas spoke up for Paul, the disciples began to accept him.AccountabilityAccountability means the quality of being answerable. The servants of the Lord are accountable to the Lord and to the church.
To the Lord
Romans14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.To the Church
Luke12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Acts 11:1-18 Vs.4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them..Acts 21:18-19 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.Being answerable to others, provides the checks and balances that we all need.1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three. and let the other judge.Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.It doesn’t matter who a person is, because of the flesh, a person can miss it. The scriptures say in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Lone rangers can get into trouble without checks and balances.Accountability adds to Credibility8. Show no partiality1Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.* In many churches there is a central core. This core is usually composed of people that have been with the church from it's founding and are usually the pillars of the church. The problem with this inner circle is that it can become a clique and the problem of partiality is soon evident. Partiality is show in all sorts of ways, judgments , helps etc.
James 2:1-4 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
9. Serve and not be servedJohn 13:3-7 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;10. Qualifications for Bishops – Pastors - Elders
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Luke 22:26-27 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth.Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
1Timothy 3:1-7 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, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5-8 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.For more info, see my Study Course - The Calling Of GodIn Christ's ServiceE.L. Davis__________________________
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