I cannot emphasize enough how important and crucial that I believe the times we are living in.  I do believe that the future prosperity of the United States could be determined in the days that lay before us.  I also believe the welfare of the church in our country could revitalize or deteriorate in these crucial and changing days ahead.  The focus that is before us is the selection of new and additional leadership; and the refocusing and reenergizing of current leaders. 

For several Sunday nights we have examined what the Scriptures teach about church leaders, and in particular the function of an elder.  Tonight we want to continue to open our Bibles and let God direct us to the kind of men He wants as leaders and how they are to lead.  Let us again begin with the church of Christ in Ephesus and Paul’s beachside exhortation to the elders of the church of Ephesus.  Turn to Acts 20.

Paul had worked as an evangelist in the city of Ephesus for three years.  He had left the work there and later on a return trip to Jerusalem had requested a meeting with the church leadership.  The elders from Ephesus would meet Paul on the seashore of Miletus where Paul would address them for the last time.

After a brief update and review Paul would present the elders with instruction that were not only beneficial for them, but for every elder in the Lord’s church since then.  In verse 28 he tells them first of all, to take heed of themselves. 

A leader must be aware of his own frailties of this life and must realize that Satan loves to pull down leaders, because others will follow or become weakened.  How many church leaders can you think about, who have fallen and disgraced the work of the Lord?  It is imperative that a church leader take care of his self, so that he can be available to look after the flock. 

I shared this with you last week about how I had called my dad and told him that I was discouraged in my ability to lead as of late.  His response was that he too had experienced some depression because of the difficulties in leading people today.  His remark is that people are different today than they were just a few years ago and these times require a different type of leading.  His advice to me was two-fold: pray more and stay in the Scriptures.    

I think these two principles would meet with Paul’s approval and be universal in nature in a church leader taking heed of his self.  The church leader of the 21^st century should have a daily routine of prayer and Scripture reading.  He should always be a tune to where God is directing and that can only happen with prayer and the Word. 

Paul would later write the church at Corinth about his own experience in taking care of himself.  “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”  (1^st Corinthians 9:27)  Peter warns each of us in 1^st Peter 5:6-8 to “…humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  And Satan loves to devour church leaders. 

To take heed is to give consideration or attention to.  A church leader needs to be deliberate in examining his life.  Paul would instruct Timothy, a preacher and church leader, to “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1^st Timothy 4:16) 

The responsibility of an elder is awesome, yet God will empower that man with ability beyond his own in order to see that the flock is protected.  The shepherd is to oversee himself and the flock, the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  This is to be taken with the utmost dedication and seriousness. 

In 1^st Timothy 3:15 Paul writes to Timothy; “…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of truth.”  Ephesians 1:22-23: “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  The purchase price of the church was the blood of the Son of God and the elder today is to oversee this great body purchased at such a great price. 

Acts 20:28 also tells us that the Holy Spirit made these men elders of the church.  If the Holy Spirit has directed you to be an elder over the church, then one must be very careful in discerning what God’s will is for him.  Also, if a man has been directed by the Holy Spirit to serve, then who are the flock to question this action?  Let us proceed very cautiously in our determination of the Lord’s will. 

The first action that Paul directs the elders of Ephesus to do is to protect the flock from savage wolves.  These wolves would come from outside the church and from within the church.  These men would attempt to draw others after themselves and away from following the true head of the church, Jesus Christ.  The elder must be alert and aware of the teachings outside the church and within the church.  He must be widely read and informed on the issues and problems facing the church in his tenure.  He must be aware of the bias of others as they would attempt to attack the church of the living God.  This is no matter to be taken lightly or without preparation and prayer. 

And when confronting directly the savage wolves of Satan, the elder must be able to stand strong girded with the sword of truth and the confidence that the Lord will prevail.  Whether what he does is popular or even disruptive and divisive, the elder must protect the flock from these savage wolves.  We live in a time where the wolf population is very large and dangerous and we need elders who are equipped to protect.  One of the great weaknesses of the church of our times is poor and unqualified shepherds failing to defend the flock from the wolves without and the wolves within. 

You might say that the Holy Spirit is wanting me to listen to his call to lead, but this responsibility is well beyond my capabilities.  Remember that with the Lord all things are possible.  Where the Lord directs, He provides.  If you are being called to serve the Lord will equip you with everything you need to take care of yourself and the flock, He has assigned you. 

Those on that seashore at Miletus were told to watch, and remember the example that Paul had set for them as a leader in the church the three years he had spent with them.  He proclaimed that he did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.  Paul would show patient love and concern for each of the converts of the church.  So must the leader today. 

Paul’s exhortation was for the church leader to focus on God and to the word of His grace.  An elder should set the example in Bible study and application.  He should be aware of anything that is contrary to the teaching of Scripture.  The word is able to build up and give an inheritance with all those who are sanctified.  The elder should be the example of Colossians 3:1-2: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  If we have Godly men who practice this, leading the church, then we will all walk into a confident eternity.  May it be so!

The final directive to the Ephesian elders was to support the weak.  Sometimes it seems that the good and faithful church member is overlooked by the leadership, because he spends all of his time with those who are weak and struggling.  This is the way it should be.  Being an elder would be a very easy responsibility if you only had to deal with the faithful, mature sheep.  The challenge is dealing with those who are weak and need support.  Paul said you must support the weak.  One of the main reasons we allow people to come in and stay awhile and then leave is it is too much trouble to support them with all their problems.  It is just easier to let them leave.  The good church leader will help the weak and support them as they grow, no matter how difficult or the baggage that they may be carrying.

Romans 15:1; “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”  Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer; but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” 2^nd Thessalonians 3:13 “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”  May we have church leaders who will lead us in this!

It is an awesome responsibility to be a leader in the church.  After listening to this exhortation tonight, it might even seem impossible.  But the Lord wants men to stand forward and direct His church.  He wants men who will look after themselves, and the entire flock, with a focus on those who are weak.  The responsibilities are exceptional but the rewards are great.  “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”  1st Timothy 5:17

As we continue the process at Midway of recognizing additional leaders, let us be prayerful and thoughtful in our venture.  We need to be more deliberate in our plans for growth.  We need to be more responsible for our spiritual and physical assets.  We need to be more organized in our administration and education.  We need to be more aware of the needs of our community and the Lord’s will for us in evangelizing our neighbors.  We need a stronger fellowship among the church family.  We need visions of greater things for the Lord’s church in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.  We need a brighter outlook for the future of the Midway congregation.  We need men who will lead us forward and closer to the Lord and to one another.  May the Lord bless us in this process!

We have had a couple of names that have been suggested for elder and deacon additions.  As we take the next step we would ask you to give us your own intake concerning the future leadership of Midway.  Please give prayerful consideration about what you are doing and do not let personal bias or uninformed opinions stand between what needs to be done.  If you can present your thoughts in written form please do so, but otherwise indicate to Bud and I your thoughts about this matter of importance.  The future of the church at Midway is in our hands and the decisions we make now could very well impact the Lord’s future work in this area.  Do not take lightly what we do and do be involved in this matter. 

There is a different process involved when a church already has elders in place and when they do not.  If you will recall when we reestablished the church leadership at Midway in the winter of 2004 we appointed a committee to oversee the process.  That is not necessary when elders are already in position and are overseeing the procedure. 

Our leaders meetings have already discussed additional leadership on several occasions and we will continue to do so more adamantly as we get closer to a conclusion of this process.  When the names of men have been approved and they have agreed to serve we will present a short period of time in which Scriptural objections and positive support will be heard.  After that time is passed, we will install any new leaders that the Holy Spirit will have directed us to.

Also, as I have already stated, one does not have to have a title to serve in the leadership of the church.  We do want to encourage those men whom have gifts that can benefit the church, to meet with us in our monthly leader’s meetings.  Again, may God bless each of us as we go forward!