ORDAIN ELDERS!

ORDAIN ELDERS!

Titus 1:5-9

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

          One of the blessings of “getting older” preachers is to witness the fruit of a long ministry. Two days ago I was invited to sit on the ordination council of a young man who is married to one of the young ladies from a former ministry. In fact, I performed their wedding ceremony about twenty years ago. Steve is now the third such affirmation of my long ministry and I am both honored and humbled.

          My advice to Stephanie was to set her destiny on God’s main road and that, one day, her life mate would join her on an on-ramp up the way. Sure enough! She and Steve met and fell in love in her freshman year at Bible College. They are now deeply involved in church ministry.

          The Greek word for “ordain,” as used in our text, is the word kathistemi and means “to place down permanently; to appoint.” When we appoint ministers they are literally shaped by the various duties involved in their work. They are God’s heart, hands and feet. They give tangible evidence to the love of God.

1 Tim 1:12

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

1 Thess 5:12-13

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know [observe and consider] them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Dear Master Shepherd, bless those men and women that have been called out of normal life to be your ministers. Give them fruit for their labor and joy in their journey. AMEN