Florida Conference 2007. The Church of Laodicea. Part 5.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Those who are lukewarm in Laodicea also have rejected the authority of such Pastors such as Epaphras, Timothy, Mark, and John.
Peter – impulsive
Andrew – open-minded
James – fanatical
John – passionate
Philip – inquisitive
Bartholomew – composed
Matthew – humble
Thomas – pessimist
James {the son} of Alphaeus – quiet
Simon the Zealot – strong-willed
Judas (son of James) – intense
Judas – traitor.
What you want to pay attention to is character and attitude, not intellectual ability only.
They were available, they were flexible, they were teachable, and they were dependable!
“Jesus saw His men not as what they were, but as what they were to become”
The first seven verses in this passage bring out the principle that the pastor is the best qualified person to determine what men in the congregation can serve in this capacity.
“Deacons†– masculine accusative plural – diakonos = a waiter, or a minister; to render service or administration; to be a deputy in the local church.
Dignity – adjective semnous = worthy of respect, honorable, noble in character, serious, and worthy.
Double-tongued – “me dilogous†= to say one thing but to mean another.
Dilogous = deceitful, hypocritical in speech, sort of like a politician.
The higher you go in any form of leadership, the more you must be free from any form of slavery.
Too much alcohol destroys brain cells, destroys the ability to concentrate, destroys self-discipline, destroys good health and vigor, which is all necessary to fulfill leadership responsibility.
1TI 3:8 Deacons must be worthy of respect, not given to double-talk (hypocrisy and lack of integrity), not a slave to alcohol and not having an eager desire for dishonest profit.
“Mystery†– accusative singular noun musterion = the mystery doctrine of the Church-age.
a. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
b. This is the dispensation of the unique PPOG.
c. Unique Equality in the PPOG.
d. The Unique Portfolio of Invisible Assets.e. Two Unique Royal Commissions for every Church-age Believer.
f. The doctrine of the Church-age is the unique mystery doctrine.
g. The body of the Church-age believer is indwelt by each person of the Trinity.
h. The Unique Availability of Divine Power.
i. The Age of No Prophecy.
j. The Church-age is the dispensation of invisible heroes.
Clear – adjective kathara = a pure conscience, one that is clean from that which corrupts, one that is free from prejudice and also free from guilt.
PSA 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
MAT 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.â€
JAM 3:17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure.
Tested – pres-pass-imp – dokimazo = to be tested through trial and pressure.
Dignified – semnas = worthy of respect, honorable.
This phrase applies to the heathen practice as well as the Jewish practice of polygamy which is having more than one mate.
1. The former wife is dead, ROM 7:1-4.
2. Divorced for adultery, MAT 5:32.
3. Divorced for desertion, 1CO 7:15.
4. Divorced before salvation, ISA 44:22.
Managers – pres-mid-part – proistemi = to superintend, to preside over, to be the head, to govern, to manage, to rule.
One part of the cross reaches heavenward, and the other part stretches out across the horizon of earth.
The pastor-teacher must be free to concentrate on the vertical dimension of the ministry. That means that the everyday practical affairs are left to the deacons.
COL 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1JO 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Yet through this the deacon’s primary mission is to support the teaching ministry of the pastor-teacher.