The Ecclesiastical Relationship Between Shepherd and Sheep

LESSON TWO

The Shepherd in His Office and His Qualifications.

II Timothy 4:5

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

I. HIS OFFICE.

1. He must do the work of an Evangelist.

a. This makes “full proof of his ministry.” – Paul directed Timothy (inspired by the Holy Spirit of God) to prove his ministry through the burden of lost souls. Therefore, a Pastor is required to be a soul-winner or witness to his community. How else can he say, “be ye followers of me” if he doesn’t set the example first?

b. A man can be an evangelist without being a Pastor, but he must work by the authority of a local N.T. church. He must also be the member of a local New Testament church himself – accountable to the church as well.

2. A Pastor Must be a God-Called Minister – How gracious Christ is to bestow upon any man the honour of preaching the cross and Christ’s precious resurrection and future 2nd Coming.

Galatians 1:15-16 – But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

a. The Pastor should be separated from the old life – He must cause his life to fall into place with God’s commands. When God calls you - you know. Notice the word "separated" in vs. 15. The difference between “mama-called” and “God-called” is that there are no regrets when God calls (Romans 11:29). He must "know" and not be told.

Hebrews 5:4 – And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Romans 11:29 – For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

b. He should have a Godly Desire – God puts a desire there to do a good work. Not leisure; but to work for the Lord.

I Timothy 3:1 – This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

c. What should a Pastor do? – He is to feed the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made him overseer.

Acts 20:28 – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

d. He must give an Account – One day he will have to give an account unto God for his leading.

Hebrews 13:17 – Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

3. A Church Should Know Who is Called to Lead Them – A church should not accept someone blindly! It's foolish for a church to call a Pastor without a proper and thorough investigation. To do so, the church should acquaint herself with the 17 qualifications required of a Pastor according to Scripture and the Constitutions and By-Laws of the church.

I Thessalonians 5:12 – And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

II. HIS QUALIFICATIONS

I Timothy. 3:1-7

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One 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?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1. He Must Desire the Office of a Bishop. vs.1

a. No one can do his best for God if his heart is not in it.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

b. He must be content.

Philippians 4:11 – Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

2. He must be Found Blameless. vs.2

He must be morally clean, self-disciplined, well-behaved, and doctrinally sound (not “without fault” Romans 3:23).

3. He Must Have Only One Wife. vs.2

a. Literally "one wife" (ruled out only by death). vs.4-5

b. This rules out women who cannot be the husband of one wife.

4. He is to be a Watchman, hence the word “Vigilant”. vs.2

a. He is told to watch in all things.

II Timothy 4:5 – But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

b. Against the wiles of the Devil.

I Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

c. He is to take the oversight.

I Peter 5:2 – 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;

5. He must be a Clear Thinker, “Sober”. vs.2

a. He must pray for wisdom

James 1:5 – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

b. Wisdom is a necessity.

Matthew 10:16 – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

6. He Must Behave Himself. vs.2

He must be of good report from within and without.

I 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 devil.

7. He Must be Given to Hospitality. vs.2

a. Webster's definition of hospitality is “Entertaining... with kindness and liberality.”

b. He must do it sincerely.

Titus 1:8 – But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

I Peter 4:9 – Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

c. Available 24 hours a day

8. He Must be Able to Teach. vs.2

a. Pastor & Teacher – The Pastor looks out for, The Teacher instructs.

b. To be approved of by God:

II Timothy 2:15 – Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

9. He Must Not Drink Strong Drink. vs.3

a. Wine in the Bible was merely grape juice, not “fermented” grape juice.

Isaiah 65:8 – Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

b. However, in storing sometimes it did ferment. Therefore, to be ‘blameless’ he couldn't even touch it.

10. He mustn't be a Fighter. vs.3

He must be a peaceable man, knowing how to hold his temper is a sign of being disciplined and “sober-minded.”

I Timothy 3:2 – A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

I Peter 3:7 – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

I Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

11. He Must Not Love Money. vs.3

Money must not be his prime concern. The Bible dearly teaches that the church (the people) are to take care of the Pastor so that he can give his full time to the work of the ministry. It's not the money that is evil – but the LOVE of it.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 – Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

12. He Must be Patient. vs.3

Patience is a virtue all Christians are told to add to their faith. The Pastor, above all people, must know how to wait upon the Lord. ‘Patience’ here is waiting upon the Lord.

II Peter 1:5-7 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

13. He must not be Contentious: vs.3

a. A brawler is one who is contentious, quarrelsome over matters of little value, always looking for something over which to take issue.

II Timothy 2:23 – But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

b. This does not mean a Pastor is to run from an issue, however, or fail to fight for a principle.

Jude 3 – Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

II Timothy 4:7 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

I Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

14. He Must Not be Covetous: vs.3

a. Webster definition is “to desire, to long for, to crave, especially something belonging to another, envy.”

b. We also find it to be idolatrous.

Colossians 3:5 – Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

c. I Kings 21 tells of the sin of Ahab in coveting Naboth’s vineyard. No greater sin is mentioned in the Bible because it is idolatrous.

15. He must be the Head of his House. vs.4

a. If he cannot rule his own home, how will he be able to take care of God’s house? vs.5.

b. Joshua 24:15 must be the rule and not the exception in a man of God’s home.

c. His rule should be by leadership and example, not dictatorship.

16. He Must be Mature in the Scriptures: vs.6

a. Not a Novice - one who is unlearned or unskilled in his trade or immature. This is why Paul said, “lay hands on no man suddenly” in I Timothy 5:22.

b. This is why a Pastor is to “study, to show himself approved of God.”

17. He Must Have a Good Name: vs.7

a. A Pastor’s reputation is as delicate as a woman’s and must be guarded as closely.

b. The world will not always love a Bible preacher, but if his name is good, they will respect him.