Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
right in. Okay, like my mom said, what is this
one doing today? Okay. You see what I'm doing?
All right, so let's go back to our main text,
which is 1 Timothy 5, 17 -18. 1 Timothy 5 .17
-18 It reads, Let the elders that rule well be
counted worthy of double honor, especially they
which labor in word and doctrine. For the scripture
saith, Thou shalt not mosew an ox when it traded
out the corn, for the laborer is worth his reward.
So, we're just going to do some word study on
these scriptures, two of them. So we want to
look who are the elders, who are the elders.
In verse 17, it says, let the elders that rule,
that rule all be counted worthy of double honor,
especially they that labor in word and in doctrine.
So the word that appears there for elders, the
word that appears there for elders is presbyterios.
Presbyterios in the Greek. P -R -E -S -B -Y -T
-E -R -O -S That's the word that appears there.
And it is a term of rank or office among the
Jews. They were elders in the Jewish community.
It was used for members of the Great Council.
or the Sanandrin, which were the rulers of the
people and the judges. But here as it is used
by Apostle Paul, it means those that oversee
the local assembly. The same word is used interchangeably
with the word bishop, elders, presbyterians,
and overseers. I hope you're taking note of that.
It is the same word, bishop, overseers, elders,
presbyters. We're going to see this as we are
going to do our study. So these are the men that
were made to preside over local assemblies. So
Apostle Paul was communicating to Timothy, who
happens also to be a pastor. And he's telling
him that let the elders that rule well be accounted
of double honor, especially those that labor
in word and in doctrine. So we're going to see
along the scriptures that who are these elders?
Who are they inside the church? So let's go to
Acts chapter 20. Acts 20 from verses 17 to 28.
I believe Pastor Victor has taught this and has
gone over it exhaustively. So we're just going
to bring it back to our remembrance. Acts chapter
20 from verses 17. to Ephesus and called the
elders of the church. We see here they are put
as the elders of the church, meaning that those
that preside over the local assembly. 18. And
when they were come to him, he said unto them,
Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia,
what manner I have been with you all seasons,
serving the Lord with all humility? There's 22.
And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall
befall me there, save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth
in every city, saying, Bones and affliction abide
thee. But none of these things move me, neither
count I myself dear unto myself, for that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry which
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold,
I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching
the kingdom of God shall see my face no more.
Wherefore, I take you to record this day that
I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have
not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel
of the Lord. He says, take heed therefore unto
yourselves and unto all the flock. I want you
to pay attention to verse 28. Take heed therefore
unto yourselves and all the flock over which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. So we
see from verse 17, he called them elders. Now
he told them that they are to oversee, they are
overseers. So elders and overseers are the same
people. Okay, let's continue. And to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased by his
own blood. For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves come among him, not sparing
the flock. So, what we see from our reading here,
from verse 17, it shows that these elders were
leaders over the local assembly. And they are
the same people who were called overseers. In
verse 28, it says, And the word that appears
there for overseers is the word episkopos. Episkopos.
E -P -I -S -K -O -P -O -S. E -P -I -S -K -O -P
-O -S. It means a guardian or a superintendent,
an elder and an overseer. So these are the same
people. And what they do is that they feed. Verse
8, 20, 80 says, Therefore take heed unto yourselves,
unto the flock, which the Holy Ghost hath made
you overseers, to feed the church of God. And
there we see the word poimeno, for feed, to feed,
which means to nourish. It's a verb. It means
to nourish. And the same word was used by our
Lord Jesus in John chapter 21, verse 16. Let's
see. John 21, verse 16. When he was talking to
Peter. John 21, verse 16. So why are we doing
this? We want to know who are the elders. John.
John 21. From verses 16. Okay, let's start from
verse 15. It says, So, okay. So when they had
dined, Jesus said unto Simon Peter, Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me more than this? He said
unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love
thee. He said unto him, Feed my lambs. Feed my
lambs. And the word that appears there in 15
is the word Bosco. It's the word Bosco, which
means to keep. Then verse 16 then says, And he
said unto him again, second time, Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me? And he said unto him,
Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. And
he said unto him, Feed my sheep. And we see another
word occurring here. The first one in 15 is bosko,
which means to keep. But the one that appears
here is a noun. That is poimen. The word is a
noun called poimen. P -O -I -M -E -N. A shepherd.
It means a shepherd. And it is the same exact
word that appears in Ephesians chapter 4 verse
11. So, we are going to see that these same men
who are called overseers, bishops, are the same
men that are called pastors. It is the same.
It's the same thing. Ephesians chapter 4 verse
11. Let's just go there quickly. Ephesians 4
verse 11. Okay. He gave some apostles. He gave
some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
some pastors. Their pastors, it appears, poor
men. Which is the same as shepherd. So, now we've
seen that the elders were the overseers. They
are the same people who are the pastors. They
are also the bishops. It's the same thing. And
we see something similar to this in the book
of Numbers. Numbers 11, verse 16. Numbers 11
from verses 16 to 17. These were the men who
were to bear the burden with Moses. They were
also called the elders of the people, meaning
that they were overseeing the people, groups
of people. We'll see it again. Let's read from
there. Numbers chapter 11, from verse 16. And
the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy
men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest
to be the elders of the people. and officers
over them and bring them unto the tabernacle
of the congregation, that you may stand there
with thee, and I will come down and talk with
thee, and I will take of the Spirit which is
upon thee, and I will put it upon them, and they
shall bear the burden of the people with thee,
and thou shalt bear it not thyself alone. So,
we see that these were men that were set over
the people of Israel. We see this, it happened
in Exodus chapter 18. Let's go to Exodus chapter
18. Exodus 18. Exodus chapter 18 from verses
14. 22. And when Moses' father -in -law saw all
that he did to the people, he said, What is this
that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou
thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee
from morning to evening? And Moses said unto
his father -in -law, Because the people come
unto me to inquire of the Lord. 16. When they
had When they have a matter, they come unto me,
and I judge between one and another, and I do
make them know the statutes of God and his laws.
And Moses' father -in -law said unto him, The
thing that thou doest is not good. Thou surely
wear away both thou and this people that is with
thee, for this thing is too heavy for thee. Thou
art not an ebb. that thou art not able to perform
it thyself alone. 19. Hearken now unto my voice,
and I will give thee counsel, and God shall be
with thee. Be thou for the people to Godward,
that thou mayest bring the causes unto God. 20.
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws,
and thou shalt show them the way wherein they
must walk and work. that they must do. Moreover,
thou shalt provide out of the people able men,
such as fear God, men of truth, hurting covetousness,
and place such to be rulers of thousands, rulers
of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
tens, and let them judge the people at all seasons.
It shall be that every great matter they shall
bring unto thee, but every small matter they
shall judge. So shall it be easier for thyself,
and they shall bear the burden with thee. So,
what we see here is, Moses said to choose men.
They were called able men. People who had covetousness,
people who fears the Lord, and he said them to
be rulers over the people. So they were not chosen
at random. It was not just to pick and say, I
think this one, this one showed me good character
when we were still in Egypt. I'll pick this one.
No. There was a criteria of how they chose the
men. We see the same thing in Titus. Titus chapter
1. The same pattern. of how these men were selected.
Titus chapter 1, verse 5. It says, For this cause
left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set
in order the things that were wanting, and to
ordain elders. In every city, as I have appointed
thee, if any be blameless, the husband of one
wife, having fruitful children, not accused of
unruly, for a bishop must be blameless as the
steward of God, not self -willed, not soon angry,
not given to wine, not a striker, not given to
filthy lucre. We see the same thing, the same
criteria that Moses used to choose the elders
in Exodus 18. Verse 8. So we see that it was
not just to pick. These are elders, people who
have matured in the Lord. We have now the responsibility
to oversee others. We see something from Acts
we read, Acts chapter 20. It starts from chapter
19 when Paul was passing through Ephesus and
he found disciples there. These are the men he
trained day and night. until they grow to the
position whereby they are to oversee others.
So it is not by accident. Alright. So we see
other references. We can take this down. Other
references of the word elder. Acts 21 verse 17.
1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 1 to 2. These were
elderly people in age. In 1 Timothy chapter 5
verse 1 to 2. Titus chapter 1 verse 5. Those
who oversee the local church. Then James chapter
5 verse 14, when it talks about if there be anyone
who is sick, let him call for the elders. These
were overseers of the church. 2 John chapter
1 verse 1. 3 John chapter 1 verse 1. I'll repeat
again. Acts 21 verse 7. 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse
1 to 2. Titus 1. Titus chapter 1 verse 5. James
5 .14. 2 John 1 .1. 3 John 1 .1. Okay. Let's
go back to Timothy. We're still in Timothy. 1
Timothy 5 .17 -18. Let's turn back quickly. 1
Timothy. 5 .17 -18 Let the elders that rule well
be counted worthy of double honor, especially
they that labor in word and in doctrine. For
the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle an
ox that traded out corn, and the laborer is worthy
of his reward. So, verse 18, it will tell you,
that what Apostle Paul is saying is not to greet
pastors, hello, hello, sir. Because 18 brings
to light that the scripture says, thou shalt
not muzzle an ox when it traded out the corn,
for the laborer is worthy his reward. Are you
following? Okay, so the word that appears there
for double, Double is the word daplus. D -I -P
-L -O -U -S. For double, it's the word D -I -P
-L -O -U -S. It means twofold. Twofold more.
Abundant. I'll repeat, it is the word daplos,
twofold more, twofold all abundant. That is what
you give to a fellow believer when it comes to
the pastor, do it double. So Apostle Paul didn't
leave us in dark. He told us the measure we are
supposed to give, that is twofold. And the word
honor there, It's not, there's a word that is
similar to it. We'll talk about it. But for now,
it is the word time. Time. T -I -M -E. I know
it sounds like time. It's the word time. T -I
-M -E. It is a valuing by which a price is fixed.
a valuing by which a price is fixed, an honor
that belongs or should be shown to one. So, by
saying, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox that shredded
the corn, and the laborer is worth his reward.
What? Apostle Paul was bringing to light here
is not that his owner, as in, I esteem Pastor
Koston. When I meet him, Pastor, how are you?
Did you sleep well? In this context, he's talking
about meeting the physical needs of the elders
of the church. We see the same, Jesus used the
same in Luke 10, verse 17. when he sent forth
the disciples to preach. Luke 10, 17. Luke 10,
17. It reads, Okay. Okay, I got this wrong. Verse
7. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Verse 7. 7
and 17, they look similar. Verse 7. And in the
same house remain. eating and drinking such things
as they give. For the laborer is worth of his
hire. Go not from house to house. So there he
was talking about taking care of the ministers.
As they go forth to preach, they were to be taken
care of. Yes. And we see a church, the church
of... The Philippian church, they met the need
of Apostle Paul. They honored Apostle Paul's
ministry and they met his needs. Philippians
chapter 1 verse 15 to 18. Philippians. Let's
look at it. Philippians 1, verses 15 to 18. When
they talk that they met their needs, he met his
needs. Wait. Okay. It's chapter, the last chapter,
chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4 from verses
15. It reads, Now ye Philippians, Know also that
in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed
from Macedonia, no church communicated with me
as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
Verse 16. For even in Thessalonica ye send once
and again unto my necessity, not because I desire
a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to
your account. Verse 18. And I am full, having
received of Epaphroditus the things which were
sent from you, an order of sweet smell, a sacrifice
acceptable and well -pleasing to God. So the
church at Philippi, they met the need of Apostle
Paul. Yes, they prayed for him. But they met
the needs that he required for the work of ministry.
That is, they honored Apostle Paul's ministry
and they gave. Their honor was demonstrated in
giving out in support of his ministry. So, God
commands us to give, to meet the needs of our
pastors. And he gives us a measure that we should
do it double, twofold. That is what you give
to this person or what you give to a brother
when it comes to the pastor, do it times two,
twofold. So honoring the pastors is honoring
God. Now, what is the importance of honor? What
is the importance of honor? So honor is a constant
practice in the scripture. You see it littered
all throughout. People honored the man of God.
People honored those that ministered to them.
Meeting their physical needs and honoring them
in service, helping out. So, as believers, we
should constantly renew our minds on this. Yes,
the world defines honor in a certain direction,
but we should keep our minds, we should guide
our minds from what the world says and to follow
what God says. Let's read Romans chapter 12.
Romans 12 from verses 1 and 2. Romans 12 from
verses 1 and 2. We should keep our minds constantly
on the word of the Lord. We should renew our
minds by the word of the Lord, not what the word
says or not what we pick from the word and come
to the church. Or some of the people who tell
us that the pastors are stealing or the pastors
are thieves, themselves are not believers. You
ask them, have you believed? They have not. So
they want to teach you, who is in church, how
to honor the pastors. No, we follow what the
word says. What the Lord says is what we do.
Romans 12, from verses 1. It reads, I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice
wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. Verse 2. Be not conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is good and acceptable
and perfect will of God. So, Apostle Paul gives
a charge that we should not conform to this world,
which is such a matizo, which is to fashion oneself
according to the world. That is, the trend that
goes in the world, that's what you go with. Today,
the world honors, you go with that. Tomorrow,
it shifts. No, but we should always stick to
what the Lord says. We should guard our hearts.
We should be transformed by the word of the Lord
in our thinking. Let's look at Proverbs 4, verse
23. Proverbs 4, verse 23. Keep your heart with
all diligence. From out of it spring the issues
of life. The word keep there, it means it's a
verb. It's a verb. You have to do it by yourself.
And how do you do it? By feeding on the word
of the Lord. That is how you keep yourself from
the influences of the world. You remain untarnished
when you read the word of God, when you study
the word of God, when the word of God is what
governs your life. When it comes to honor, don't
lose this. We are talking about honoring the
ministers of God. Let's see it. So we see that
it says, keep your hearts with all diligence
from out of it spring the issues of life. And
you see that the keep there is Nasa, N -A -S
-A -R, which means to guard, to watch over, to
preserve, to protect with all diligence. Well,
his honor is of the heart. And as a man of God,
as a child of God, you should by all means guard
what comes in your mind by the word of the Lord.
You renew your mind by the word of the Lord.
So believers, we as believers should not copy
the word. But to let our thinking, our conduct
and life be governed by the word of the Lord.
That's why week in, week out, Sunday service,
Wednesday service, Friday soul meeting, we are
always learning. Because our life is to be governed
by the word of the Lord. Not by what the world
says. Not about the trends in the world. So,
Let's see something. It is possible that if you
don't renew your mind, you walk like one of the
people in the world. You walk like them, meaning
that in your actions, you walk in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 3, verses 1 to 3. Let's read this
one. Yes, this will be our last reading. 1 Corinthians
3 1 Corinthians 3 It reads, And I, brethren,
could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but
unto, as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, When he talks about
walking as men, talking about the unbelievers.
So, that is, a believer is not expected to conduct
himself as an unbeliever. That is, if an unbeliever
dishonors, it is not for you. Yes, it is not
for you. Galatians tells us that we should walk
in love. Galatians chapter 5, it talks about
we should walk in love. It is love that we show
for honor. It is in love whereby we recognize
the work of our pastors and give out. Love is
liberal. We give out. We see how hard they work.
I tell you, I saw it when I was preparing the
teaching. But this thing is not simple. So they
have sleepless nights. I felt the impact of catatismus.
Pastor Fred will be teaching from today until
tomorrow. They have to be honored. They have
to be honored. It's something that drove me even
to give more. Because as believers, we are obliged
to do so. And we have been given a measure on
how we should give. We should do it double. Right?
I know some of us have been ignorant of this,
but I just want us to pray. The Lord, I thank
you for the pastors. I acknowledge the work that
they are doing and I give out to support the
work of ministry. Just pray. Just pray. Father,
we thank you. We appreciate you being here today.
We hope you carry this word with you throughout
your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
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stay blessed.