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Chapters 1-8

Saturday, February 8, 2014

A study on pastors, elders and overseers


     Read Jesus' charge to Peter in His three-fold restoration of the future pastor in John 21, and then compare it with one of Peter's final charges to young ministers in 1 Peter 5:1-5. In the comparison, we see some striking analogies and teachings of who are the spiritual leaders in our churches. 

Who are elders/presbyters?
As elders, pastors are to “Feed My lambs”
            Jesus’ charged first of all to “feed My lambs” or those who are young in the faith. We can see that “elder” means someone appointed to serve as a spiritual leader in the church, rather than simply the oldest men of the church, in Acts 20:17 and 18
   "From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders (presbytery) of the church...Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (episkopos). Be shepherds (poimaino=feed or rule; used also in John 21:16 and 1 Peter 5:2) of the church of God,
which he bought with his own blood."
     This passage clearly shows that elders, pastors and overseers are all interchangeable. This is also seen in Titus 1:5-7 where Paul says an elder is the same as an overseer (bishop).

          Paul charges Timothy that no one should look down upon his youthfulness, yet he was the leader of the church at Ephesus. However, elders should not be ordained ("laid hands on") too soon as they should be first proven as qualified (1 Tim. 5:22). Elders are listed alongside the apostles, as seen in Acts 15:4,6, 22-23; 16:4; 21:18, so we can see this term as emphasizing their role as devotion to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). Since that is to be their primary task, it is right that the church should pay them for the ministry ("You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages" found in 1 Timothy 5:18 means that elders who are doing a good job should get receive "double honor."
         Specifically, the term elder describes who displays good leadership skills ("rule well" 1 Tim. 5:17) as well as maturity through his labor in the word and teaching (Titus 1:9). A good elder has mature discernment of the spiritual gifts in others in the church (1 Tim. 4:4). James 5:14 emphasizes the prayer maturity of the elder.

         There are checks and balances with elders who sin; first, have more than one person making accusations against elders and if the elder is shown to be in sin, he should be rebuked in front of the church openly, regardless of who the elder may be or how prestigious  (1 Tim. 5:19-21).             To the Jews, elder had a perfectly understood meaning since it was used in Judaism as a spiritual leader, but to the Greek-speaking Gentiles, elder simply meant “older man." As a result, the Bible uses two other names of the leaders in the church interchangeably with elder -- pastors (shepherds) and overseers (also called bishops).
Who are shepherds/pastors?
As shepherds, pastors are to “Shepherd My sheep”
            Jesus second charge to Peter found in John 21:16 changes both the verb (from feeding to shepherding) and the object of the verb (from lambs to sheep). This emphasizes the protecting of the more mature flock of God.

            “Shepherd” or “Pastor” is a term used frequently by Jesus. As earlier mentioned, sheep was one of the favorite analogies Jesus used for His people, so naturally he also referred to Himself as a shepherd (John 10:11,14; Mark 14:27). Jesus appointed Peter as a pastor, among others in the church, to feed and shepherd the lambs and sheep (John 21:16). That same word used by Jesus to "shepherd the sheep" is used by Paul in 1 Cor. 9:2 about good shepherds feed the flock and should be compensated for it.

            A good combination of protecting and providing is found in the Ephesians 4:11 passage which describes the “pastor-teacher” as one of the church leaders who would equip the church for the work of service. The flock and shepherd are interrelated as the shepherd provides for the sheep so that the sheep are then equipped to do the ministry of the flock.

            There are three strong opposites or contrasts of what a shepherd should be found in the New Testament. In John 10:10, Jesus describes a thief who steals, kills and destroys. In John 10:12 he describes a hireling who flees when danger approaches. In Jude 1:12, false leaders are described as “shepherds who only feed themselves” (NIV). Contrasting that, we see the shepherds' role is to sacrifice as a leader (John 10:11), face adversity (Acts 20:29) and nourish the flock to maturity (Acts 20:28).

Who are overseers/bishops?
As overseers, pastors are to “Feed My sheep”
             Jesus final charge in John 21:17 refers to feeding and watching over the mature church (Jesus says “sheep” rather than “lambs” as He did in verse 15). The seriousness of the charge was followed by a dire prophecy that Peter’s commitment will ultimately lead him to death. In verse 19, Jesus calls Peter to “follow Me.” In that command, we see all pastors are to follow Christ as the Chief Shepherd in their role as leaders of the flock.
            The term overseer or bishop comes from the Greek word “episkopos” which means watch over or  “over” (epi) “seer” (scope). Jesus is the chief Overseer of the church (1 Peter 2:25). Under Him, the flock of God is to follow pastors, who were appointed overseers by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28).

            Overseer is a leadership term, described in Hebrews 13:17 where the flock is told to “obey your leaders and submit to their authority.” Obviously, if the leadership directs the church to go against God or His clear teachings in the Word, the church should obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).  The relationship between the pastor and the church members is clearly seen in the following charge: “They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” God will hold the pastors accountable for their leadership.

          Overseers are to “take care of the church” (1 Tim. 3:5). The picture of how God uses pastors to lead the flock is seen in Psalm 77:20:  God “led His people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” In the same way, God leads the church to be under the leadership of the overseers.

          With all humility, Peter (in 1 Peter 5:1-5) commands pastors to oversee the church voluntarily, according to God’s will, not for selfish motives and not lording it over the church but rather as an example to the flock.  The pastors are to lead, and the church is to follow God’s word, but both are to be clothed with humility toward each other.





Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Intransitive I AM statements and their significances

Seven Stand Alone
 “I AM” Statements


   (Well doesn't that title today just reach out and slap you!) Okay a  more attention grabbing title might be "Why Jesus used bad grammar".

   When I see something interesting in the Bible, because I know that it is a wonderfully inspired and holy book I look for what are the significant implications of what I see. For instance, years ago, I did a study on the I AM statements which Jesus made (see the previous post on this), in which Jesus declared, "I AM" and then listed descriptions of who He was (I am the Bread of Life, Good Shepherd, etc.)
   During that study, I also knew that sometimes Jesus simply said, "I AM" with no direct object. To say "I am" and have no direct object could be considered bad grammar. We would say, "I am tired." "I am a teacher." or "I am going to tell Jesus he used bad grammar." Both the transitive and intransitive statements are used precisely seven times each (an undoubtedly intentional purpose in John's gospel).

    I call these the Stand Alone "I AM" Statements or sometimes if I want to sound more theological, I refer to them as the intransitive I AM statements. As I pen this, I don't think I ever came up with the significance of each statement, but because I know the Bible, I am convinced that there are some, so let us explore them today. 

   The first record intransitive I AM statement is found in John 4:26 
“I AM that speaks to you.” .................... John 4:26
He is Personal in our relations.
    In the Old Testament, Jehovah God would reveal Himself and distinguish Himself from the other "so-called" gods who were made out of wood and would not speak or do anything. 
Read Ps. 115
1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. 2 Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?" 3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. 9 O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
   When Jesus came to the woman at the well, she was surprised that a Jewish man would speak  to her. Today, many would be surprised that the God of the universe would speak to them, myself included. As I write this, I am in awe that God forgave my sins and puts up with me. I love Him and He "walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own.
   Instead of His presence and his voice, we often forsake Him, the one true God, for idols that we have made and as we have made gods in our own image and likeness, they have mouths but cannot speak, ears but do not hear. Like them, we have no knowledge to speak of and no discernment with which to hear. We need to see God and His presence and His speaking to us. 

“I AM, do not fear” ................................ John 6:20
He is Perfect in love.
    The next time Jesus uses the I AM phrase (in Greek, Ego eime, but in Hebrew it is "Yahweh"), it is in the context of fear. When Adam first sinned and then heard the sound of God walking in the cool of the day, he immediately turned to fear. When an angel of the Lord appears, the first words he would say is "fear not."
   Jesus words to the disciples as he walked on the storm is "I AM, do not be afraid" (Hebrew Names Version). The significance here is that Jesus, the great I AM, is able to walk on the storms of life and provide deliverance for us.
   There is an innate fear that we should have of God, and even Proverbs states that such reverential fear is the key to all wisdom, and yet all the while, Jesus reaffirms to us that perfect love casts out all fear.

“If you do not believe that I AM.” ....... John 8:24
He is Preeminent in judgment.
   Thirdly, John's gospel reveals the "I AM" in the context of faith. The Jewish doubters cast aspersions upon Christ's physical father, not even realizing that more important than that was Who His heavenly Father was. 
   It is in fact the lack of faith, the unbelief, that Jesus was the "I AM" of old that would actually be the source of their destruction and death in their sins. By sheer faith in Christ and his blood atonement, Jesus will declare in their presence three times (8:24, 28, 58) in this singular chapter that He is "I AM", that is Yahweh God. Here, he declares that refusal to believe will cause them to miss God's presence in their lives and ultimately, their presence in the eternal life of God. 

“…you will know that I AM” ................ John 8:28
He is Prophecy fulfilled.
   The power of the cross and resurrection is the significance of the fourth I AM. The lifting up of Christ on the cross was crucial, for on that day, the true Passover took upon himself the sins of the world. Prophetically, Jesus says that on that day that He is lifted up, they will know that He is who He said He was. Some may have come to salvation on that day, while others in full knowledge, rejected Him still. 
   The Bible says today is the day of salvation. I believe in every person's life, there will be a point of decision in which they can accept or reject God. When your faith goes from believing to knowing, it is the time when you truly experience salvation.

“Before Abraham was, I AM” ............... John 8:58
He is Perpetual in existence.
    The most declarative statement Jesus made of his deity, stating that he was Yahweh even before and greater than the Jewish spiritual father Abraham, prompted the Jewish people to pick up stones to hurl at this blasphemous "prophet" as they surmised Jesus to be. And yet, He passed through their midst. 
   C.S. Lewis put it perhaps the most succinctly: Jesus was either a liar, lunatic or the Lord He claimed to be. Jesus was from the beginning and has always been the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. 

“You may believe that I AM” ............. John 13:19
He is Provider of Salvation.
   The context here is faith in times of doubt. Previously, in John 8:24, the I AM statement was doubt in times of judgment. When Judas would reveal himself as the traitor he was, Jesus wanted the disciples to know that this too was a part of God's plan. When we have times that try our souls and test our faith, God wants us to hold on to our faith in the intransitive statement of "I AM."

Jesus said to them, “I AM” .................... John 18:5
He is Power over All.
   The final I AM declarative statement shows that Jesus is more powerful than man's armies or soldiers, more powerful than betrayal and that through it all, the great I AM can cast any opposition onto their backs. God is sovereign and no one can oppose Him. He could have called more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53) can at the mere utterance of His name, I  AM, cause soldiers to fall. One day, just as Judas and the soldiers fell, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess He is Lord.



Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Jesus and the Transitive I AM statements, signs and significances


The Statements, Signs and Significance of Jesus’ I AM proclamation

 Can you imagine being the Apostle John, writing down the final eyewitness gospel? He had seen his brother James killed. Then, Andrew, his best friend from his days with John the Baptist, martyred, crucified at his request on a cross in the shape of an X, unworthy to die like Christ. John outlived and had buried the precious Mary, the mother of Jesus whom His Lord entrusted to his care. He had read the biographies penned by Matthew, Mark and Luke, pondered what they put in and more importantly what they left out.

     He reflected on others (the mythical Q perhaps) had written, seen fallacies and lies about the Lord he knew personally proliferating. He had read and even received letters from Paul, then heard of his beheading in Rome, followed by Peter's crucifixion upside down in the same Babylonian-like city. Too many deaths at the hands of his fellow Jews, only to be replaced by the Romans. He was tired. He had journeyed to heaven during his exile to Patmos and he wished he could have stayed with his now white-haired, nail-scarred handed Lord in that heavenly realm.

     He had been boiled in oil, served as pastor of Ephesus, seen faithful followers fall away. It appeared that his Maranatha cry of "Come quickly!" was not going to be answered by His Lord. So now what?

     John truly reflected on the life of Christ and contemplated on the significances of Jesus’ statements and miracles. His gospel would be fiery yes, but deep and full of theology from the years of sermons he had preached, prepared in his young, tender heart while attending the best seminary in all of human history, taught by Son of God and Son of Man Himself.
 
     That is especially true of the Seven “I AM” statements Jesus made in signifying Who He was. It is also true of the Seven Miraculous Signs John included. Over the next several days we will look at the divine revelation of Christ in John's seven depictions.
 
 
“I AM” STATEMENTS
 
 
SIGNS
 
SIGNIFICANCE
 
The Bread of Life
 
The Feeding of
The 5,000
 
 
 
The Light of
the World
 
Healing of
The Blind Man
 
 
The Door of
The Sheep
 
The Healing of
The Lame Man
 
 
The Good
Shepherd
 
Jesus Walking
On Water
 
 
The Resurrection
And The Life
 
The Raising of
Lazarus From Death
 
 
The Way, The Truth
And The Life
 
The Healing of
The Nobleman’s Son
 
 
The True
Vine
 
The Turning of
The Water Into Wine
 
Jesus is Our
Fruit-Bearing
Source
 

The significance of this study is that Jesus is who He says He is.
He is the physical manifestation of God in human form.
His words need to be heard and heeded.
His salvation must be believed and received.