Godly Men for Church Leadership

by Rev Prabhudas Koshy

Only godly men can appropriately and effectively manage the ministries of the church. The church, being a spiritual body, can only be managed by men of high spiritual credentials. Let us take note that the qualifications for church leaders are not to be determined by any human entity or individual, because God has already stipulated them. Those who do not meet all of the qualifications required by God’s Word for Elders and Deacons should not come to those positions.

In our church, the need for biblically qualified people to come to serve in the offices of Elder and Deacon are increasingly felt in these days. However, we should not hurry and carelessly appoint people to the offices of the church. My prayerful opinion is that while we continue to have the services of the present Pastor, Elder and Deacons, we must earnestly pray for God’s leading concerning who should be appointed to these offices. The early church prayed to have both the discernment concerning God’s choice of men to the leadership and also their equipping done adequately.

Pray for Godly Church Leaders

The Apostle Peter and fellow apostles prayed for God’s leading in the appointment of a man to replace Judas. “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” (Acts 1:24-25). The Scripture clearly records in another text that the prayers of the early church for godly men to lead the ministry was answered – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

We need the help of the Holy Spirit in determining the right persons for the offices of the church. The Spirit knows every man’s heart. From the example of the anointing of David as King, we know that in the selection of leaders, God is interested in the spiritual condition of the heart, rather than outside appearances. We read in 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his Holy Communion Worship Service countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” This is the reason why Peter and the rest of the Apostles prayed, “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship.” If we have to have men of God’s choice in the leadership, we must sincerely seek His mind in prayer, even in fasting.

Another reason why we must pray in the selection of godly leaders is that it is the Spirit who equips men for the offices of the church. The Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts that are necessary for the offices of the church. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). So only the Spirit can show who are the men whom He hath equipped with the appropriate gifts for the edification of the church.

Even our Lord Jesus prayed all the night long, before He chose the apostles. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6:12, 13). So let us pray for godly leaders during our Prayer Meetings on Tuesday nights and in all other prayer gatherings. God’s will must be done in the appointment of the church leaders. Like Moses, we must pray, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation” (Numbers 27:16).

Preparing Godly Church Leaders

As much as it is the duty of the church to pray for godly leaders, it is also the duty of the church to prepare men of God’s choice for the offices. This is especially the duty of the pastor(s) of the church.

Through the instruction of God’s Word, encouragement, and correction, people ought to be prepared for the offices of the church. The Apostle Paul advised Timothy that “the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

According to the instructions in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, these brethren have to be carefully examined and equipped for this highly responsible office of the church. The Scripture demands that they should be biblical in their personal, family, social and church life. As much as their personal life matters, their family’s conduct also matters that they may be worthy men to fill the office of Eldership. Paul wrote in Titus 1:6, 8, “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having  faithful children not accused of riot or unruly . . . . . a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men.”

These brethren also need to have a good knowledge of the doctrines that we hold dearly to that they may be able to teach and defend them. “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” (Titus 1:9).

– Extracted from 24/8/03 Gethsemane BPC Weekly which was reprinted in Kulai B-P Fellowship’s 19/1/05 Weekly

 

THE GOSPEL OF LIFE: Chapter XI

John 11:2-16
Unanswered Prayer?

Why did not Jesus rush to the scene of trouble? Was not Lazarus dying? He need not rush to the scene. He could have uttered a word, as He had done before in healing the nobleman’s son at Capernaum (Jn. 4:46-54). He did neither. He chose rather to delay His coming. “He abode two days still in the same place where He was” (v. 6).

This He did, not because He was afraid like His disciples who were glad in the procrastination. The disciples expressed concern when the Lord finally said, “Let us go into Judea again” (v. 7). They argued, “Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee: and goest Thou thither again?”

Jesus’ answer was one of confidence and assurance. Jesus believed in God’s timing of events. He was not afraid to meet danger face to face. If His time had not yet come, He would be safe. Therefore Jesus’ delay in going to the scene was not due to the danger facing Him.

Jesus’ delay, which seemed to result in prayer unanswered, was to the glory of God, “that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (v. 4). Jesus’ delay, while giving a little respite to the fearful disciples, serves to reveal what are the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Insofar as Thomas is concerned, he seems to adopt a stoical attitude. He said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (v. 16).

Jesus’ delay, by no means, is unanswered prayer. Not only it is to God’s glory, it is for the good of everyone He loves. The conclusion of this episode is summed up in v. 15, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe . . . .” The “ye” in this verse includes “many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did” of v. 45, i.e. friends of the Bethany Home Sweet Home.

When things don’t come our way, don’t fret! Sit still like Mary. Don’t rush about like Martha. Can you sing this song:

Trust in the Lord and don’t despair,
He is a friend so true!
No matter what your troubles are,
Jesus will see you through.
Sing, when the day is bright;
Sing, through the darkest night
Everyday, all the way,
Let us sing, sing, sing!

John 11:17-37
“Inexperienced Faith, Experienced Faith, Faith that needs no Experience”

This three-step progression of faith, as enunciated by Dr Chia Yu-Ming, China’s greatest theologian, may be seen in Martha’s quest. Martha has followed our Lord through many of His wonderful deeds. If she had not seen the miracles others had seen she believed them all the same. Believing is seeing!

Surely she had heard how Jesus healed the paralytic of 38 years, how he opened the eyes of the young man born blind by sending him to wash at the Pool of Siloam. And she must have heard of Jairus’ daughter and the son of the widow of Nain. But now her brother was dead four days. Could Jesus raise him up?

In her brother’s case, her faith in the Lord’s ability to raise him up was that which Dr. Chia calls inexperienced faith. This is reflected in v. 24, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection in the last day.” When Jesus commanded to take away the stone Martha’s inexperienced faith is expressed again, “Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he hath been dead four days” (v. 37). Inexperienced faith winces before great odds. Martha had never seen a man dead four days raised to life.

When Jesus cried with a loud voice to raise Lazarus, the same voice also raised up Martha’s sinking faith. Now that she had seen with her own eyes, she believed with all the others (v. 45). Faith in the Lord’s power to raise the dead at the last day was doubly confirmed. Experienced faith!

In the next chapter where the scene portrays a resurrected Lazarus sitting at table with his Lord and Saviour, and a serving Martha, how confident was she now in contrast with that trembling soul that she was before the event. Now she could say with a confidence as never before “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God which shall come into the world (v. 27).” Faith that needs no experience!

What we need is experienced faith that will grow to faith that needs no experience. Read the Bible everyday. The Bible is experienced faith that will so strengthen us that our faith will need no experience.