Duties of the Elders to the Body of Christ

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: Duties of the Elders to the Body of Christ
Scripture: Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:14

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Now for some of us this might not be a surprise but to most of us this one maybe an eye opener. We want to use the relationship between Paul and Timothy to show this. Now look at this picture:

Acts 16:1-3: Then came he (Paul) to Derbe and Lystra: and behold. A certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was WELL REPORTED OF BY THE BRETHERN THAT WERE AT Lystra and Iconium. Him (Timothy) would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Now here we have Paul picking up Timothy but noticed the capitalized parts of the scripture. Before he went with Paul, Timothy was doing the work of the Kingdom of God in Lystra and Iconium. He was being observed and watched by THE ELDERS OF THOSE CITIES. This is why when Paul showed up he was ready to go with Paul and confirmed by the elders of the city because of the work he was already doing. This brings me to this very important point.
“Before anyone is ordained or someone lay hands as a form of confirmation of the work someone is called to do, that person should be doing the work already”

This is exactly why Paul would write to Timothy once he is set in the local church as an elder, Paul says this: 1 Timothy 4:14: “Neglect not THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE, BY PROPHECY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY”. So who confirmed Timothy? The presbytery? Who is the presbytery made up of? Elders!

Now one of the jobs of the elders that have authority in watching over the flock is to recognize the gifts of the people and help them come into their place in the Kingdom. Now if the elder or pastor is an orphan or has the mindset of an un-Fathered individual then guess what? To recognize the gift that someone else have is a possible threat to your provision and protection you have currently have right now. You will figure a way to utilize their gift for your benefit and security. A true elder who has been Fathered by God will recognize the gift and help the individual mature in that gift and assist them in walking in their purpose and destiny in the Kingdom. The Elders recognized the work Timothy was doing, so as a replacement for John Mark who was with Paul they recommended Timothy and look at what was done with Him, through Paul. So it required the elders at Lystra and Derbe to be watching over the flock to know Timothy was the right person for the job.

Now let’s deal with this issue of callings here. God had already called Timothy and he was doing the work. The elders of Derbe and Lystra gave this young man opportunities by which he could pursue the gifting. The laying on of the presbytery hands was simply a confirmation of what they already knew about Timothy and symbolic of him being qualified and commissioned to do the work of the gifting God had ALREADY called him to do.

Elders who have been given authority should never be selfish so that the people are not maturing in the Body of Christ. If you have a pastor who is not trying to mature the body and not recognizing gifts among the people then we need to look at whether he is truly called. You will be under the leadership of an orphan and not a son of God. If everything is about the “church” and them then you are under a orphan. If people are not being discipled and sent out to do the work then you are under a orphan. We need to wake up and allow God to show you the spirit of the leadership we are under.

In the next message we will look at the result of orphan elders and the damaging effect on the Body of Christ.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.