1 Timothy 3 Pt. 5 Spiritual Qualifications For Pastors: Is Your House In Order?

1 Timothy 3:1-3  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2)  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3)  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 

We are making progress through a very detailed list of spiritual qualifications for a man desiring the office of a bishop, elder, or pastor. 

This man must have a definite call of God upon his life, for the role of spiritual oversight in God's church. 

God called Abram to leave his homeland and family, in order to follow Him to the promised land (Genesis 12:1-5).

Jehovah called Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian slavery, at the burning bush (Genesis 3-4). 

Jehovah called Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land, as to assume the mantle of leadership when Moses died (Deuteronomy 1). 

God called Gideon to fight against the oppressive Midianites (Judges 6:11-17). 

Jesus called Peter, James and John to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22). He later called Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13). 

Jesus called Philip and Nathaniel (John 1:43-51). He called Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).

These are just a few of numerous examples from both the Old and New Testament, of God calling people to serve Him.

We see that a bishop, elder, or pastor, must be blameless, having never divorced and remarried, and that his moral conduct is consistently above reproach.

Setting a God honoring direction in our homes. 

1 Timothy 3:4-5  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5)  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?.

The bishop, elder, or pastor must have his family in proper order. His children must be brought up in love and with right discipline, such that his children are well mannered and obedient, respectful of those in authority. 

The idea here is that a man who cannot set his own family in the right spiritual order, is just not fit to oversee the church of Christ. 

Children must be taught the ways of God. 

Genesis 18:19  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.  

God appeared to Abraham prior to the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is what God knew to be true of Abraham. He knew that the patriarch would command his children and his household, to keep the way of God, so that they live according to His truth.  

Fathers must determine that their family will serve Jehovah. 

Joshua 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

The bishop, elder, or pastor must determine that the direction and activities of his family, will be set by the Word of God. He will not allow cultural trends and fleshly lusts to seduce his children.

Joshua did this by boldly declaring that he and his family would serve Jehovah, and seek to honor Him with their lives. 

Children must be molded and shaped to obey their parents and God. 

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The bishop, elder, or pastor must be an excellent example of maintaining family order in a manner that pleases and honors God. 

This necessarily involves training up his children so that they learn at a young age to obey and submit to those whom God has placed in authority over them.

When church leaders (and Christian fathers) fail at this all important task, the result is moral decay into the societal degradation and depravity that we see today. 

Church leaders must be well grounded, not immature believers. 

1 Timothy 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 

There is something very special when a new believer begins to study the Bible, and learns about God.

God grows us up at the rate and manner that He knows is best for me or you, as individual Christians. 

In my life, I experienced a prolonged period of Bible reading and study, where the Lord laid in my heart, a solid foundation from scripture. 

As I reflect upon the goodness of God in giving me that time of growth, I see His hand in it, preparing me for future ministry opportunities. 

He does this for countless new Christians, seeking to conform us to the image of His dear Son, and to equip us to serve Him and minister to others. 

The continuum of spiritual growth from milk to meat. 

1 Peter 2:1-3  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2)  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3)  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

All new Christians begin as "babes" in Christ. Like an infant, we must be fed the milk of God's word, for this promotes spiritual growth, just as an infant receives nutrition from mother's milk that helps him grow. 

An infant develops into a toddler, to a teenager, to a young adult, on the way to becoming physically and emotionally mature. 

In like manner the spiritual life of a Christian, is expected to progress from using the milk of God's Word as a babe, to consuming the strong meat of scripture, reflecting spiritual growth and maturity. 

Hebrews 5:11-14  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

The writer of Hebrews takes certain people to task for experiencing spiritual regression in their lives. They began on the path of spiritual growth, but they must have stalled out. 

Perhaps they loved the world too much and got mired in worldly distractions. 

When it might have been expected that certain believers were ready to teach other new Christians, these had drifted to the point of needing to be fed the milk of scripture again. 

They were not ready for the strong meat of scripture, nor were they prepared to serve God and others.  

A church leader cannot be a novice or inexperienced. 

1 Timothy 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 

This is why Paul warns Timothy that those seeking the office of a bishop, elder, or pastor, must have demonstrated spiritual growth and maturity in their faith. 

A novice or newly converted Christian, is not ready to assume spiritual leadership. A new believer in Christ may become filled with pride as he or she begins spiritually grow. 

Pride is a potential problem for all Christians. 

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Each one of us has the potential to be filled with pride, which is why it is addressed so many times in the Bible. 

1 Corinthians 3:1-3  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 

Paul warned the Corinthian church about their lack of spiritual growth. He began feeding the the milk of God's Word (basic truths and essential doctrines). 

Yet, they battled with pride that manifested itself in causing strife, discord, and division in the church. 

Therefore, they regressed and were not able to mature in their walk with the Lord. They still needed milk and were unable to digest the strong meat of scripture 

The pictures of spiritual growth or lack thereof,  painted by Paul and Peter, is very much like a man who wants to become a journeymen machinist. 

To achieve this certification, one must enroll in a training program. All enrollees begin as an apprentices (like the novice). 

They must learn how to use the various tools, what the safety procedures are, how to solve problems, and learning how to make the complex calculations.

An apprentice is not ready to do any machining work independently. Rather, they follow a skilled machinist to observe what he does and how he does it. 

As time passes, they may be permitted to do some simple machining tasks.

As the master machinist observes their progress, he gradually allows them to take on more complex ones. 

After years of training, the apprentice (or novice) will finally receive certification as a journeyman machinist. 

Church leaders must maintain a good testimony among all people. 

1 Timothy 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the de

I know there are many church leaders in churches who fit the characteristics that Paul has laid out for us. 

Eli was a priest but his sons were grievous sinners. 

1 Samuel 2:22-25  Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23)  And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24)  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 25)  If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 

The sons of Eli the priest, were men of bad reputation. They refused to listen to their father when he rebuked them. Eli said "It is no good report that I hear." 

Paul is telling us the same thing. The bishop, elder, or pastor must have a good reputation, a good report from people in the church and in the community. 

A Roman centurion was known as a God fearing man. 

Acts 10:21-22  Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22)  And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 

A certain Roman centurion was a God fearing man and he saw a vision from the Lord, telling him to send for the apostle Peter. 

He sent some of his trusted servants to find Peter. This text is their description of Cornelius' moral integrity and fear of God. He was "of good report among the Jews" even though he was not a Jew. 

Demetrius also had a good report.

3 John 1:11-12  Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12)  Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. 

The apostle John also knew of some men of whom it could be said that have a "good report." Demetrius was one of those men noticed by the apostle as living right before God and man. 

1 Corinthians 10:31-33  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32)  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33)  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 

Paul himself, was a model of living out the Christian faith by loving God and others. He devoted his life to serving Christ Jesus, who saved him from self destruction. 

May we seek to do whatever we do or say, for the glory of God. May our testimony lift high the Lord Jesus Christ, so that others are drawn to the Savior. 

We do not want those who may have a bad testimony repel people from saving faith in Christ. 

Bob