A Great Promise For Deacons!

637 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ( 1 Ti 3:12,13) Wrapping up this little mini-series on the qualifications of spiritual leaders in local congregations today. I hope it has been helpful. Today we see that the same qualifications of monogamy and well ruled households that were applied to bishops or pastors also applies to those who would serve as deacons. We have already heard that those who are called to serve as bishops or pastors of local congregations “desire a good work.” (1 Tim 3:1) Now we read of a special promise for those who serve well as deacons or deaconesses. To serve well is to serve honestly and one can see how important that would be in the matter of the distribution of church funds. But let's really pay attention to God's promise to those who serve as deacons in this manner. He says deacons obtain (the word means purchase) and to purchase something is to own it. What do they purchase? Two things. First, a good standing, (that is a good grip or solid footing) If you've ever done any rock climbing, you know how important sure footing is. It gives you the confidence you need to proceed. Secondly, the deacon who serves well gains boldness, which is closely related to solid footing. Solid footing quite naturally brings forth boldness. Lest you think God is blowing smoke in this awesome promise I suggest you read the stories of Phillip and Stephen in the Book of Acts. They were two of the original deacons chosen by the church. Their lives went on to smack of spiritual boldness! Phillip was instrumental in bringing the Gospel to Samaria and it was he who led the Ethiopian eunich to faith. And who can forget the martyrdom of Stephen as he boldly proclaimed the gospel! Maybe, just maybe, the church needs to revisit the office of deacons and deaconesses. It certainly couldn't hurt to have a few more people emboldened and on fire for the Lord, and this is the promise for those who serve well as deacons!

Look For the Good Not the Bad

636 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:11 Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. It gets a little tricky here and there is dispute among biblical commentators about the word “wives.” Some take it to be the literal wife of a deacon, and others take it to be women in general and in context of the passage the specific office of deaconess. The Revised Standard version of the Bible states this passage as follows: “The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.” In other words the women who “likewise” hold this office must meet the same qualifications listed in verses 8 thru 10. It would seem strange to have deaconesses mentioned in Scripture and no qualifications listed for them to hold the office. You can be sure that the Phoebe spoken of in Romans 16:1 met these qualifications! Ro 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, Some of these qualifications are the same as for the deacons, but are repeated here for emphasis. Others are a little bit different and worth noting especially the one regarding slander. Slander is any kind of talk that can divide or separate. This is the heart of gossip and why it is so wrong. As deacons and deaconesses one becomes privy to information that others in the congregation don't need to know, and it is imperative that these details not be passed around to others, lest tongues begin to wag and a separation occur between brothers and sisters. Love of others is always diminished in the presence of slander (gossip) and this should not be so. Why are women singled out here and warned against gossip, whereas the men aren't? I mean isn't that a little bit of stereotyping? To be sure, men and women are both capable of gossiping, but if you listen carefully within their respective circles, there is a subtle difference in the way things are talked about. It's just the way we are wired. Deal with it, and the best way for men and women to deal with it, is to put a sock in it. Look for the good, not the bad in others and seek to bring that up in all conversations around the water cooler. Because the good unites in the love of Christ, and the bad tends to separate to the glee of the devil.

A Trail of Evidence

635 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. The next qualification for the person serving as deacon is they must be tested and found blameless. The idea of testing here is taking something to the assayers office to determine if it is the real deal. You wouldn't want to lay claim to a mine that had nothing but “fools gold,” and you certainly don't want a fool (a hypocrite) serving in the office of deacon. There is no testing procedure listed here for the deacon, only that he be blameless. In other words his life is such that no one could charge him with not being a follower of Christ. The deacon then is one who believes and is baptized and leaves a trail of evidence that his faith is genuine. Given the responsibilities of the office of deacon, (ministering to the needy) one can see where this evidence is vital. How did the Holy Spirit put it speaking in the Book of James? Jas 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Obviously this passage is meant for all Christians, but it is especially relevant as a test for those who would serve as deacons in the Body of Christ. Father help us all to pass the true test of faith. Let us leave a trail of evidence of love and service to others in the name of Jesus, who lives and breathes in us by Thy Holy Spirit.

A Deacon Must Believe and Be baptized

634 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. The next qualification for the person serving as deacon is they are not to be given to much wine. It's interesting to note that the qualification for a bishop says “not given to wine,” and for the deacon, it is “not given to MUCH wine.” Let's not read too much into this difference except to say a deacon must handle alcohol responsibly and a pastor even more responsibly. AND all followers of Christ must beware of the sin of drunkenness. The deacon is also not”greedy for money.” We have already covered that trait as we looked at the qualifications for the pastor. I might add that since the deacon is often in charge of the distribution of alms (the offering) this trait is a no-brainer. But what about this next qualification? A deacon is to be someone who holds the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. Simply put this person must believe and be baptized. It is the same qualification that was put on the original deacons, only worded a little differently. The original deacons were to be men “full of the Holy Spirit,” ( Ac 6:3) This filling being accomplished through baptism as we read in Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The link between a pure conscience and baptism is found in 1Pe 3:2, “ There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,,” The only thing that can produce a pure or guiltless conscience is the removal of sins, and this is still another benefit of baptism as we read in Ac 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' So you see this qualification for deacons is just another way of saying they must believe (hold the mystery of the faith, that is, have a firm grip on basic Christian doctrine) and be baptized (have a pure conscience). To be sure, it's a minimal requirement for all Christians, but no one is to serve as a deacon unless they have this business taken care of first.

Be True To Your Word

632 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, Next on the list for the servants of the church is to not be “double-tongued.” Of course this is true for all followers of Jesus, but it is especially important for those who would hold the office of deacon. Deacons are constantly interacting with other members of the congregation and by the very nature of their responsibilities to minister to the needy they will find themselves necessarily involved in conversation with others. This conversation is to be earmarked by consistency. You can't be saying one thing or promising something and then reneging on your promise or saying something else. Perhaps the best-illustration of this is found in our nation's treatment of the American Indian. In the old stereotypical western movies that many of us watched as we were growing up, we often heard the term, “white-man speak with forked tongue.” Well that pretty much sums it up. How many broken promises were given to the Indian people? Jesus said, “Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay.” Broken promises have no place in the Body of Christ, especially when ministering to the needy! With the advent of the welfare state and Social Security, the government has become the chief deacon (agent of ministering to the needs of the poor) in the nation, and sadly in the church, and let's face it, they are not beholding to the same standards that we find in the Bible, and quite frankly they have created one giant impersonal boondoggle. So, what is the church to do for the needy in our midst? Just tell them, “You have the government use them!” Or should we find ways to help them following biblical guidelines? The Bible has some important things to say about caring for the poor. Things like 1 Tim 5:8, “ But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” and, 2Th 3:10b, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” I pray all churches would take it upon themselves to once again embrace this responsibility through the work of the diaconate, and if we do, let's remember this important quality of being consistent with our word and deeds.

Be Tender Toward the Needy

632 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, The first qualification to serve as a deacon (church helper) is reverence. The word stresses a tenderness of feeling. Given the original work of deacons mentioned in Acts 6, one can see why this quality is first on the list! Ac 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; This duty of distributing the offering would require a tenderness to all in true need. This tenderness would also come into play in the caring of the sick and in-firmed! In the church of today, these kind of deacons are still needed. In many cases churches have become big businesses with multi-million dollar budgets, and huge building programs that often require taking on huge amounts of debt. The cost of operating a church today can come at the expense of helping the poor, and can even curtail the sending out of missionaries. Now I want to be careful here. I do not wish to speak evil of the so-called mega churches. No church is evil that stands on and preaches the Word of God! But I do want to say that in the midst of all these high cost operations, room must still be made for helping the poor and sending out evangelists! And that's where the deacons with the tender hearts come in. They serve on church boards and financial commissions in the congregation, maintaining that tender heart toward the poor and the unreached and see to it that these kind of expenses are not overlooked in the church! They see to, just like the very first deacons, that the widows were not “neglected in the daily distribution.”

A Gift To the Church and the World

629 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:8 Likewise deacons, Some of the qualifications for deacons will be the same as those for bishops or pastors, but before we look at these qualifications, just a little bit more about deacons. First of all, one of the qualifications that is missing for the deacon is the ability to teach. It is not necessary to be able to pontificate on the treasures of the Word of God, rather, the deacon must be willing to roll up their shirtsleeves and help wherever that help is needed. 1Co 12:28 mentions this gift of “helps” along with others as gifts given to the church by our Lord Himself! “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Deacons are given to the church to free up the pastor for his duties of praying and ministering the Word to the flock. They also minister to the sick, take care of the physical plant, and in general serve by watching over the day to day operations of the church. This office is given special mention by Paul in his letter to the Phillipians: Php 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” This tells us that the appointment of deacons was a regular procedure in the planting of churches. And in Ro 16:1, we read of a woman named Phoebe who served in this capacity. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, Healthy congregations need deacons, (servants) of this sort, or their pastors will either burn out or pay too much attention to things other than the Word of God! No wonder the early church in Acts 6, set the tone for the church forevermore in the appointing of deacons. This office has not only been invaluable to the church through the years, but to the world as well. Just think about it. How many hospitals carry the name of “deaconess.” and how many orphanages have been established through the church and people who serve in this capacity! Thank You Jesus for the gift of deacons and deaconesses to Your church!

Looking at the Office of Deacon

629 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:8 “Likewise deacons,” We continue today looking at the qualifications for spiritual leaders in the Body of Christ. With the word “likewise” the Holy Spirit reminds us that those who serve in the congregational appointed role of deacon, also must meet a set of minimal standards, and I might add, they also, like the “overseer” seek a good work! But what exactly is a deacon, and what's the difference between a deacon and a bishop or elder? The best we can say based on the Bible, is deacons did not act as pastors and spiritual leaders of the flock. Rather they assisted the bishops, (overseers or pastors) by performing minor services and attending to incidental matters such as collecting and distributing alms, looking after the physical needs of the sick, keeping the place of worship in order, etc. Of course one of their primary functions was to free up the pastor for prayer and the study of God's word for the purpose of ministering it to the flock, as we read in Ac 6:2 “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. The congregation chose these men to serve as deacons, and their office or work was set apart by Jesus Himself through the laying on of the hands of the Apostles. Churches today have all sorts of different names for these pastoral assistants, (deacons, boards, commissions, etc) but let it be known for all who serve in this capacity of helping the pastor by serving the congregation, you have taken on a good work, but it is also a holy work and because of this, there are some minimal requirements that need to be met before the appointment by the congregation. We will look at these in the days ahead.

He Must Shine Outside the Walls of the Congregation

629 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Ti 3:7) Last on this list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must have a good testimony among those who are outside. This “testimony” is evidence of the qualities of a life changed by Jesus Christ. The evidence must be such, that if he were charged with being a man of questionable character, there would not be enough evidence to convict him. This testimony must go beyond his congregation. He is to be well-thought of even among those who are not Christ followers. A pastor who has displayed evidence contrary to good moral character runs the risk of “falling into” or being overwhelmed with wagging tongues that defame him, rail against him, taunt him. These railings are an indirect railing against Christ Himself, as the pastor is a direct representative of the Good Shepherd. These railings then cause people to speak ill of Christ and this is the great snare of the devil. It is anti-christ if you will. Background checks are imperative in the world we live in today, use them before approving a pastoral candidate, lest you call someone who's behavior could cause those on the outside to reject the Savior. How much damage has been done to the cause of Christ by church bodies that have not dealt with their pastors' sexually immoral behavior, or pastors who have shown a lack of financial integrity? To bring a pastor into moral reproach is a great trap that the devil sets to keep people away from a saving relationship with Jesus. Church bodies need to “man up” in this regard. Admit the error and remove these pastors who have disqualified themselves from this good work, and if an outsider is given cause to speak evil of the church because of pastoral indiscretions, then pastor, you must find another line of work, and congregation? You need to find another pastor.

Pride Must Be Sufficiently Dealt With

628 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must not be a novice. The word means “newly planted.” In other words the pastor must have a level of spiritual maturity that comes with time and experience. This must've been very difficult in the church plants of the Apostles as the entire congregation would typically be made up of new converts! But as we have said before, the usual procedure was to prayerfully select the most qualified candidates, lay hands on them, and then commend the congregation to the Lord. The warning sign for such appointees would be the matter of pride. The appointee must have reached a point in spiritual maturity where pride has been sufficiently dealt with. This person must not be enamored with his own press clippings, but rather with the press clippings of Jesus and the cross. He must embrace the truth of Joh 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. This qualification for a spiritual leader really hits close to home for me. I remember my own conversion experience. It was dramatic, and a total 180 degree lifestyle turnaround. There was a newfound zealousness in me for anything Jesus! The congregation that I was a part of mistook this zeal and turnaround as a qualification for leadership and I was elected an elder. It wasn't long before pride took over. Pride that led to a rift between myself and the pastor, that teetered on the edge of me “falling in to the condemnation of the devil.” Never forget that pride is the great enemy of grace, and the church cannot function correctly without grace! Long story short, God arranged circumstances in such a way that I was forced to face the issue of my pride head on, (by the way it is best faced at the foot of the cross, where it is plain to see that we are all sinners in need of a Savior! I wouldn't trade my experiences from serving as an elder for anything, I learned much, but it would have been all for naught had not God dealt with my pride. Pride that was fueled by being advanced to the office of elder, before my time. Remember, a spiritual leader should not be a novice, let him first demonstrate a consistent spirit of humility, because pride really does go before the fall.

Who Wouldn't Want A Pastor Like That?

627 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must rule those under his authority in his own house well. It's not that a pastor MUST be married and MUST have children, but if he does have a spouse and children, a lot can be learned about his ability to shepherd a congregation by simply observing the actions and interactions of his family members. Simply put, the pastor must rule his own family. His wife and children are to demonstrate an acquiescence to his God-given authority. Of course this is true for every family, but especially important for a prospective pastor, because as the Holy Spirit puts it, “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” The word “rule” here means to preside. A pastor then must be one who knows how to preside over his family. This rule over family members is couched in the term, “reverence,” which means that he rules from a platform of honor and respect from his family and not ruling from a platform of fear. This DOES NOT MEAN that the pastor's children are perfect and without rebellion. (Ask any PK about their experience in that realm!) But the question is, if and when rebellion occurs, how did the pastor/father/husband handle it? Rebellion will occur in the congregation! Church discipline will likely need to be applied at some time or another, and the way a pastor/husband/father handles discipline in his own family will speak mounds about how he will handle it in God's family! As these churches were planted, I find it an amazingly sweet thought that Timothy and Titus were to look for qualified candidates among married men who presided over their families with a firmness tempered by grace and mercy. Who wouldn't want a pastor like that?

A Pastor Must Not Be Motivated By Money

626 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must not be covetous. Have you noticed that some of these qualifications almost seem redundant? I mean, “not violent” is pretty much the same as “gentle” and “not quarrelsome,” and “covetous” is pretty much the same as “not greedy for money.” In fact both terms can mean, “not greedy for filthy lucre.” We have already talked about the matter of being guilty of the greed of filthy lucre. What makes money filthy is when it is obtained by feigned spirituality. It is putting a price on “holiness.” “I will do holy things for you if you reward me financially.” Such fleecing on the part of one who would become a pastor is grounds for immediate disqualification. A pastor must not be “in it for the money!” So why introduce the matter again with this idea of being covetous? I think it is included here for the sake of the one who is hankering to be a pastor. It's a gut check. Only you, and God, know your heart! Whereas the first mention of greediness in this list of qualifications is applied to such a person who has a history of being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. This second mention serves as a warning to the prospective pastor to not even gaze wantonly at the cookie jar. So you want to be a pastor? What's your motivation? Do you see it as an easy way to make a buck? Do you find yourself desiring to build an empire like you see with some TV evangelists? Be careful! Anytime you have such thoughts the next step may be to twist the words of Scripture in order to put the squeeze on the flock. There is a warning for prospective pastors found in Tit 1:10,11, “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. The desire for dishonest gain starts in the heart, (that's where all covetousness begins) and when covetousness is acted on, a Pandora's box of sin and misery is sure to follow.

Watch That Testosterone

625 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must not be quarrelsome. Again, as we ponder the culture in which we find these new congregations, one can see where this would be a necessary qualification for a pastor. If the spiritual leader of these new church plants would be the type who is looking for a fight, he would have no trouble finding one. The lifestyles of this culture as opposed to the lifestyle of the followers of Christ was so opposite, that it would be easy for a pastor to go forth, armed with Scripture and literally wear out his fingers, as he put the Bible under the noses of new converts and jamming them into his pet “proof” passages in an attempt to correct the myriad of ungodly behaviors. The idea here is that the pastor is not to be spoiling for a fight. Fights will come soon enough when it comes to living in accordance with God's Word. The question is, “How will you handle these confrontations?” Will you amp up your testosterone level and kick in your fleshly adrenaline, or will you first of all take the matter to the Lord in prayer. In these matters, it is vital to always start at the level ground of the cross. We are all even there...sinners in need of a Savior. It is here that we can put the words of Heb 12:14 into action: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” “Many become defiled”.....think of the damage that could be done amongst the flock and beyond with a graceless approach to necessary spiritual correction. This rule of peaceable correction holds true for all of us, pastors or not! Ga 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Father, give us the Spirit of Christ in all matters of correction.

You're the Only Jesus Some Will Ever See

624 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle,” Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must be gentle. There is not one good English equivalent to this word in the Greek. It is an amazing word which has been translated as gentle, patient, considerate, and some say, “yieldingness.” Luther put it this way: “Ever filled with joy and happiness in all heavenly blessings that are ours, anything like rigorousness must be foreign to us, sweet gentleness, considerateness.” I have met such pastors and people and the best description I can come up with is they “ooze Jesus.” To be sure, we are all a work in progress but what a wonderful standard to shoot for as we “yield” to the Holy Spirit, who seeks to grow this trait in all of us. This “yieldingness must ever emanate from us so that all men with whom we come in contact with may get to realize, feel, and appreciate it! This trait is mentioned as vital for the Christian in Php 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. As we “watch and pray” waiting for the Lord's return, (He is at hand!) let us remember this trait as an evangelism tool that may lead others to Christ. One could see how very important this trait would be for the pastor's of these early churches. They would need to be gentle and considerate of the backgrounds of all these new converts and with this kind of love lead them into the new lifestyle of the followers of Christ. So let you and I ever seek to be the fragrance of Christ to a sin stenched world. I am reminded of a Gordon Jensen song that came out years ago called “You're the Only Jesus.” The chorus went like this: You're the only Jesus some will ever see. And you're the only words of life some will ever read. So let them see in you the One in whom is all they ever need. 'Cause you're the only Jesus, some will ever see.” Oh Jesus, help me to be an attract rather than repulse.

It Ought To Be the Love of Christ That Compels Us....Not the Love of Money

623 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must not be greedy for money. Again, one can see how this could be a problem in the cultures of the early church plants. In Acts 8, we read of a sorcerer named Simon whom we can assume made a pretty good living off of the supernatural. When Phillip came to town and preached the Gospel, and performed miracles and signs, Simon became a believer. Soon after-wards Peter and John arrived, and laid hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon thought that the ability to bestow the Holy Spirit was something that could be purchased and who knows, maybe he wanted to have this ability to line his pockets. But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! Jesus speaking in Mt 23:14, had something to say about those who used religion as a way to get rich. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. As the Gospel was preached in these new cultures, and is preached in new cultures today, one can easily see where someone might aspire to be a pastor because it could be an easy way to make a buck. These charlatans needed to be weeded out. Pastors are to tend the sheep, not fleece them. But it's not just “new church plants” that have improperly motivated pastors. We see it far too often in various media outlets, where men and women with a pretense of spirituality, will twist the Scriptures in an effort to line their pockets. The sad thing is, many people are snookered in by their false teachings because they too are often looking for “quick gain.”, and easy solutions. The call of a pastor is a very holy thing. And if someone thinks that entering a ministry of any kind, is simply a way to make a quick buck, I implore you....think again. Remember, it is the love of Christ that ought to compel us, not the love of money. I am thankful that God has called me into the Christian broadcasting field, and I pray that God will always keep my motivation pure, AND that as a ministry, we would never twist the Scriptures in order to twist the arms of those who give of their hard-earned finances! Father, guard our hearts from greed.

Learning To Deal With Anger

622 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:3 not given to wine, not violent, Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must not be a violent person. The King James says, “must not be a striker.” A striker is someone who flies off the handle easily, and has a chip on his shoulder, and is quick to use his fists in expressing his anger. Again, this qualifications speaks mounds about the cultures in which these early churches were planted. A shepherd would need to stand head and shoulders above the flock in the area of anger management. Church discipline is never to be carried out with your fist. I struggled with anger for years and to this day with the help of the Holy Spirit, remain on guard against it. I never struck people, but I have hit a few inanimate objects in my time, (ouch that was so dumb!) but even expressing that kind of rage can be a very frightening experience for those who witness it, and a spiritual leader should never lead from the base of fear, always from the base of love. I have come to realize that my struggle with anger and rage always erupted when some sort of inadequacy surfaced in my life. The outburst always served a useful purpose for me, it drew attention away from my inadequacies and caused people to rather focus on my rage. The truth is all of us struggle with very real inadequacies. And we all need to learn what to do with them. Paul struggled with an infirmity, and the Greek word comes from a root that means impotent, which is another way of saying inadequate. Here's what he had to say about dealing with it: 2Co 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, (inadequacies) that the power of Christ may rest upon me. What a blessing to have a pastor who understands this truth and is able to lead by example, helping those in the flock to be released from one of the major causes of anger.