ELDERS
Part1
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1)
“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” (Titus 1:5).
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 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; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away (1 Pet. 5:1-4).
Serving as an elder is an awesome responsibility. Many prayers are prayed for elders and generally a part of that will be, “Lord, we ask your blessing upon our elders. Help them to make the right decisions. Guide them as they oversee the congregation.” Don’t stop praying for the elders.
Elders are to watch for the flock. A shepherd (elder) has a flock. Think of the literal shepherd who is responsible for a flock of sheep. He has been out with the grazing sheep for a month, caring for them and keeping the wolves away, watching that they don’t fall over a precipice, seeing that they don’t wonder away from the fold; he makes sure they graze in green pastures and have plenty of water. After a period of time the shepherd brings the sheep in and the owner is there to greet him; he surveys the flock and notes, “When you went out there were ninety nine sheep in the fold and there is only ninety two now. What happened? The answer must not be “I don’t know.”
Your elders love you and are concerned about your spiritual life. When you are away your elders are interested in you. When you are not eating spiritual food your elders are concerned as to why. When a wolf is after you the elders want to try to keep that wolf at bay.
You are a part of the fold.
Larry