THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN LEADERSHIP

HOLY SPIRIT APPOINTMENTS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselvesand all the
flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought
with his own blood.
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Leadership BY Stephen Blandino
It’s very easyin leadershipto grow increasinglydependent on our own
abilities and skills. This tendency exists in all arenas ofleadership whether
business, education, media, or the church. Because ofthis temptation, leaders
often fail to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in leadership.
Last year I studied the Holy Spirit’s role throughout the book of Acts. During
the study, I began to understand the Holy Spirit’s role in leadershiptoo.
Unfortunately, some leaders view the Holy Spirit as spooky, weird, or even
bizarre. The truth is, people are weird, not the Holy Spirit.
Robert Morris observes, people who are weird with the Holy Spirit were
weird before they receivedthe Holy Spirit…they’re just weird people. So
regardless ofhow you view the Holy Spirit, if you want to fully embrace what
the Spirit desires to do in you and through your leadership, you may need to
unload your pre-conceivedbaggage first.

Francis Chan, author of ForgottenGod, says it like this: “No matter what
religious tradition you come from, you likely carry baggage andharbor
stereotypes whenit comes to the Holy Spirit. It’s going to require laying aside
your baggageand stereotypes so you canbe open to what God wants to teach
you. Are you willing to do that?”
Regardlessofwhat your baggage looks like, I want you to know that the book
of Acts describes the Holy Spirit in very practicalterms. While this isn’t an
exhaustive list, here are six lessons onthe Holy Spirit’s role in leadership that
I gleanedfrom Acts. Each lessonis refreshingly practical and is accompanied
by a question for reflectionand application:
1. The Holy Spirit is Active in Leadership Recruitment and Selection
Luke begins the book of Acts, “DearTheophilus, in the first volume of this
book I wrote on everything that Jesus beganto do and teach until the day he
said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosenthrough the Holy Spirit,
and was takenup to heaven.” Jesus himself was guided by the Holy Spirit in
selecting His leaders. Thatsame pattern is continued throughout Acts.
The presence ofthe Holy Spirit was a qualifier for leadershipwhen choosing
sevenleaders to care for widows (Acts 6:3-6).
The Holy Spirit guided the selectionof two leaders–Sauland Barnabas–and
commissionedthem to preach the Gospelin Salamis (Acts 13:2-5).
The Holy Spirit chose and appointed leaders to shepherd the church. Acts
20:28 says, “Keepwatch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers.Be shepherds of the church of God, which he
bought with his own blood.”
Question:What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to guide your leadership
recruitment and development process?
2. The Holy Spirit Empowers Leaders with Boldness
In Acts 4, the text acknowledgesthat Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke
to the leaders. Peterand John were empoweredby the Spirit with courage
and boldness to speak unapologetic truth to the influential leaders of their

day. Acts 4:13 records their response:“When they saw the courage of Peter
and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were
astonishedand they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”This same
boldness accompaniedStephen in Acts 6:9b: “These men beganto argue with
Stephen, but they could not stand up againsthis wisdom or the Spirit by
whom he spoke.”The Holy Spirit empowers us to embrace courageous
leadership.
Question:What bold leadershipdecisions do you need to make or actions do
you need to take? Have you askedthe Holy Spirit to empoweryou in this
crucial leadershipmoment?
3. The Holy Spirit Brings Encouragement, Strength, and Peace in Leadership
Storms
The church and its leaders experiencedplenty of suffering and persecution.
However, the Holy Spirit wasn’tabsent during these trials.
The Holy Spirit was present when Stephen was stoned(Acts 7:54-56)
The Holy Spirit warned Paul about going to Jerusalem(Acts 21:4-14)
The Holy Spirit brought seasonsofpeace and comfort to the church. Acts 9:31
says, “Thenthe church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time
of peace. It was strengthened; and encouragedby the Holy Spirit, it grew in
numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”
Question:Are you in need of the Holy Spirit’s encouragement, strength, or
peace right now? Has your leadership storm overshadowedyour ability to see
the Holy Spirit at work within you and around you? How do you need to
respond?
4. The Holy Spirit Provides Guidance, Discernment, and Directionto Leaders
When Paul encountered Elymas the Sorcerer, the Holy Spirit gave Paul the
discernment to see Elymas as a “child of the devil” and then the Lord struck
Elymas blind (Acts 13:7-12). And in Acts 16, the Holy Spirit directed Paul’s
journeys as he preachedthe Gospel.

Question:In what leadership issue do you need the Holy Spirit’s guidance,
discernment, or direction? Have you askedHim to guide you? Are you
listening for his response?
5. The Holy Spirit Helps Leaders SuccessfullyManage Conflict
In Acts 15, a conflict arose in the church where some Jews insistedthat non-
Jewishpeople must be circumcisedin order to be saved. After considerable
discussionon the issue among Paul, Barnabas, James, the apostles, andsome
believing Pharisees, a conclusionwas finally reached.
A letter was drafted and sentto Antioch with this message:“It seemedgoodto
the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the
following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificedto idols, from
blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You
will do well to avoid these things” (Acts 15:28-29). The Spirit of God was
interestedand active in the proper managementof conflictin the church.
Here’s a more thorough look at lessons in Biblical conflict resolutionfrom
Acts 15.
Question:As a leader, how do you welcome the Holy Spirit in the
managementand resolution of conflict?
6. The Holy Spirit Compels Leaders to Move Out of Their Comfort Zones
Paul was profoundly used by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel. Was it
always comfortable? Hardly! Acts 20:22-24 says, “And now, compelled by the
Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I
only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and
hardships are facing me. However, I considermy life worth nothing to me, if
only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given
me—the task of testifying to the gospelof God’s grace.” Without the Holy
Spirit’s prompting, we’ll find ourselves confined to our cul-de-sac ofcomfort.
Question:How is the Holy Spirit prompting you to lead outside of your
comfort zone? How are you responding to His prompting?

The Holy Spirit’s presence and influence in your day-to-day leadership may
be very active. Or you might find yourself doing leadership solelyin your own
wisdom and strength. As Francis Chan observes, “We allhave to answerthe
question: Do I want to lead or be led by the Spirit?” Why not start your day
with a simple but sincere prayer: “Holy Spirit, lead my leadership.”
Shepherds and Overseers
T.M. Moore October21, 2017
Facebook
Email
Print
Are we watching over the souls of God's sheep?
Healthy, Growing Churches (1)
“Therefore take heedto yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers,to shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20.28
Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 44

John Chrysostom(344-407)
“Do you see how many compelling necessitiesthere are? ‘You were ordained
by the Spirit,’ he says, for this is what ‘the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers’means. This is one. Then, ‘to care for the church of God.’ This is
another. And the third, ‘which he obtained with his ownblood.’ Through his
words [Paul] shows that a greatdeal hinges on this and that matters of no
small value are at risk, if, with the master not sparing even his ownblood on
behalf of his church, we look down upon our brothers’ salvation.”
Chrysostomdistinguished looking down on the salvationof God’s people from
looking over their salvation, which is the duty of shepherds (Heb. 13.17). We
look downon the salvation of God’s people when we don’t care enoughabout
their spiritual wellbeing to do everything we can to ensure that they are
growing in the Lord, attending to the disciplines of grace, andseeking the
Kingdom in every area of their lives. We look over their salvationwhen, as
true shepherds, we ensure that all members of the church have a loving
shepherd to encourage,equip, direct, assist, and strengthenthem for following
Jesus. Indeed, “matters of no small value are at risk” in this, since we must all
give an accounting of our salvation, and those who are called to teach, equip,
and shepherd the flock of God are more accountable, andthus subject to
more scrutiny and judgment (Jms. 3.1). On the day of this accounting, be
sure: The Lord will not ask how many members your church had, or whether
your budget increasedeachyear. He will want to know if you shepherded His
flock as He Himself would.
What would your church look like if it were organized to ensure that every
member of the flock had a loving pastoraloverseerto equip and guide them
for a fruitful walk with Jesus?
T. M. Moore

Organizing with the Spirit
The Lord Jesus is building His Church. His Word is the blueprint, His Spirit
is the GeneralContractor, and we are all builders togetherof the Body of
Christ. But are we doing our work God’s way, or ours? The Spirit has His
ways of organizing our work, and we do well to understand as much as we can
about His methods. This is the argument of Dr. Kent Miller of MichiganState
University, and you can watchour ConversationwithDr. Miller, and
download a free copy of his paper on the subject, “Organizing with the
Spirit,” by clicking here.
T.M. Moore
T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowshipof Ailbe, a spiritual fellowshipin
the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in
EssexJunction, VT.
Elders, Pastors, andOverseers:A Word Study
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Free E-mail Bible Study Disciple's Guide to the Holy Spirit

Bkmrk
If recreating church government as it was in the days of the early or primitive
church is your goal, then you'll be particularly interested in exactlywhat was
consideredan elder, a pastor, and an overseer.
I'm of the opinion that both a particular culture and the specialneeds of a
church and a denomination will affectwhat is the best type of church
government these days. But knowing what was the practice of the primitive
church is important.
Three Synonymous Terms
Let's begin by looking at two passages where allthree terms are used.
"To the elders (presbuteros)among you, I appeal as a fellow elder
(presbuteros), a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in
the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds (poimainō) of God's flock that is under
your care, serving as overseers(episkopeō) — not because you must, but
because you are willing...." (1 Peter5:1-2)
"From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders (presbuteros)of the
church.... Keep watchover yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers (episkopos). Be shepherds (poimainō) of the
church of God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:17, 28)
In this brief essayI don't intend to give full treatment to any of these key
words, though you canrefer to the endnotes for much fuller studies. My only
point is that in the early church — at leastat the time Paul and Peterwere
ministering from 50 to 65 AD — pastors, overseers, andelders were merely
different words to describe the same leaders. I think that's pretty obvious
from these two verses above. In the early church there seemto be just two
offices localchurch offices — elder/overseer/pastorand deacon(1 Timothy

3:1-13; Titus 1:5-10; Philippians 1:1). Only later, in the early secondcentury
did the church begin to take on a hierarchy of bishops, presbyters, and
deacons.
Definitions
While these words are used of the same church leaders in the primitive
church, eachof these words has its own particular flavor. Let's examine the
definitions of the Greek terms.
Elder, presbuteros
"Elder" is the Greek noun presbuteros, from which we get the word
"Presbyterian." The basic meaning is "pertaining to being relatively
advancedin age, older, old." Then it used as the title of an official, "elder,
presbyter." Among the Jews the term "elder" was used as the title of
members of localcouncils in individual cities, as well as members of a group
in the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.[1]Self-governing Jewishcomminutes, usually
had a ruling council to direct their affairs made up of respectedolder men,
generallycalled presbyteroi, elders. One elder was usually recognizedas a
presiding elder.[2] In 1 Peter"the elders ... are a college entrustedwith the
guidance of the church, that is, that they are office-bearers."[3]
Pastor, poimēn
"Be shepherds" (NIV), "feed" (KJV), and "tend" (NRSV) are the Greek verb
poimainō, "to serve as a tender of sheep, herd, tend, (lead to) pasture," then
extended figuratively to mean "to watch out for other people, to shepherd, of
activity that protects, rules, governs, fosters."[4]The word "pastor" (Greek
poimēn) occurs only once as a noun that refers to a church officer(Ephesians
4:11) The verb is used more commonly to describe the function of pastoring or
shepherding. The noun means "one who shepherds," and "one who serves as
guardian or leader."[4]
Overseers, bishops, episkopos
"Serving as overseers" (NIV) "taking/exercising the oversight" (KJV, NRSV),
is the Greek verb episkopeō, fromwhich we get our word "Episcopal." The

basic meaning is "to give attention to, look at, take care of, see to it." Here it
has a figurative meaning, "to acceptresponsibility for the care of someone,
oversee, care for."[5]In Paul's address to the Ephesianelders at Miletus, it is
used of church officers, "overseerorsupervisor" (Acts 20:28), used
synonymously with elders in 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7; and the subscriptions to
both 2 Timothy and Titus. A half century later the word is used of those who
supervise presbyters ("bishop"), as a church hierarchy begins to emerge. But
at the time 1 Peterwas written, the word isn't used in this later, specific sense.
Beyerobserves,
"The evidence of the New Testamentis clearlyto the effectthat originally
severalepiskopoitook charge ofthe communities in brotherly comity. It is
also plain that the point of the office was service, andservice alone."[6]
By the time of 1 Clement 42-44 there still seems to be an equality between
episkopos anddiakonoi with the presbuteroi.
"In Syria and Asia Minor at the beginning of the 2nd century the college of
bishops which had originally led the churches had disappeared, being
replacedby the monarchicalbishop."[7]
No matter how these words are used today to describe church officers, in the
primitive church, pastor, elder, and overseerwere usedsynonymously.
Copyright © 2019, RalphF. Wilson.
"… the Holy Spirit has made you overseers"
By Marty Kessler| February 8, 2011
The above is a quote from the twentieth chapterof the book of Acts at verse
twenty-eight. The apostle Paulis here recorded addressing the elders from the
church at Ephesus. I have often wonderedexactly what he meant when he
said this.

As I see it, there are at leastfour possibilities, neither of which is necessarily
exclusive of the others.
#1. Perhaps these men had all of their lives followed the word of Godas
revealedby God’s Spirit, and in so doing had become qualified by allowing
the Spirit’s influence to shape them into men who made goodshepherds.
#2. Perhaps Paul’s statementmeans that since the Holy Spirit is the one who
laid down the qualifications for shepherds recorded in such places as 1st
Timothy chapter three and Titus chapter one, that by these very qualifiers
they were “made”, or fit into the prescribed form, identified, if you will, as
overseers.
#3. It is entirely possible that during the years while Paul was in Ephesus
(Acts 19:8-10 & 20:31) the Holy Spirit could have revealedto him personally
and specificallywhich men were to be appointed as elders there and overseen
or supervised, so to speak, their appointment.
#4. It may be that the idea that the Holy Spirit made these men overseers
encompasses the entire scope of the Holy Spirit’s involvement from beginning
to end. In other words, perhaps it was in-deed the Spirit’s influence in their
individual lives to shape and mold them into servant shepherds, as well as the
laying down of the very qualifications fit by these men and in still in addition
to this some specific instruction to appoint them.
Which of the above explanations explains what the apostle meant? Hmmm,
maybe none of them perfectly describe what happened. But, what do we know
for certain?
· We know for certainthat the Holy Spirit made sure that the early
church had shepherds.
· We also know for certain that qualifications for men to serve as
shepherds have been recordedand preservedfor us to follow.
· We can know that we are expectedto follow the Spirit’s guidance as
provided in the revealed, written word of God to identify and appoint men to
serve as shepherds of the Lord’s people.

It is not what we don’t know that challenges us in life nearly as much as the
things we do know. But God’s challenges always leadus to something better.
“The Holy Spirit Has Made You Overseers”
A. T. Jones
AS PAUL was on a journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem, he paused at
Miletus, and “sentto Ephesus and calledfor the elders of the church” (Acts
20:17).
To these elders he said words which have been preserved by inspiration for
the instruction of the church, and of the elders of the church, for all time.
Among these words to the elders of the church are these:“Therefore take
heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers” (Acts 20:28).
Elders of the churches today, do you know that the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers ofthe flock of God? If you did not know it before, there stands the
word of God, and there it has stoodall the time, telling you that it is so.
When the Holy Spirit has placed you in the responsible position of overseers
of the flock of God, how are you discharging your responsibility to Him who
“has made you overseers”?
Do you constantly recognize, and live in the presence of, the fact that the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers?Do you constantlyrecognize your
responsibility to the Holy Spirit? Do you constantly seek to discharge that
responsibility under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and acceptablyto Him?
If not, then what are you doing in that position? Is it possible that any elder of
a church will say that the Holy Spirit has not made him an overseerofthe
flock? If such a thing be possible, then the question recurs. What can a man
be doing in a position which is under the direct supervision of the Holy Spirit,
while saying that the Holy Spirit has not calledhim to that position? If such

an attitude would not be lying to the Holy Spirit, or else entirely usurping the
place of the Holy Spirit, it would certainly be perilously near it.
The church is “built togetherfor a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” The
church is under the specialcare of the Holy Spirit. The eldership is under the
direct supervision of the Holy Spirit. And the man who occupies the position
of elder stands in that relationship to the Holy Spirit, whether or not that man
recognizes the fact. It is a dangerous, yes, a perilous, thing to occupya
position which is under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy Spirit, and at the
same time not recognize His jurisdiction.
Surely, then, it could never be that any elder of a church would saythat the
Holy Spirit has not made him an overseerofthe flock.
Very well, then, brethren, elders of the churches, as the word of God says that
“the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,” do you recognize that fact? Do you
constantly live and work in the presence ofthat solemn and thrice-blessed
fact? Do you pray in the Holy Spirit? Do you recognize the Holy Spirit in . . .
oversee the flock with eyes anointed with the Holy Spirit? Do you “feedthe
church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood”—do you feed
the church with the Breadwhich came down from heaven, through the power
and presence ofthe Holy Spirit?
Elders of the churches, wherever you are, whoeveryou are, never forgetthat
the word of God says that “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” ofthe
flock of God. Acknowledge it. Court it. Live in the presence ofit. Receive that
word; receive the truth expressedin that word; and receive the Holy Spirit,
which has given the word in which is expressedthe truth that “the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers.”
“Ask, and it will be given to you.” “Receivethe Holy Spirit.” “Be filled with
the Spirit.” www.1888mpm.org/

Paul clearly saidin the Bible: “Takeheedtherefore to yourselves, and to all
the flock, overthe which the Holy Ghosthas made you overseers,to feed the
church of God …” (Act 20:28). This proves that pastors and elders are all
anointed by the Holy Spirit. Doesn’tbeing anointed by the Holy Spirit
representbeing anointed by God? God anointed pastors and elders as
overseers to all the flock. Thatcan’t be wrong!
Answer: Some absurd people in religious circles often misuse words from the
Bible to make up rules. They claim that the hypocritical Phariseesand
religious pastors are all anointed and used by God. Isn’t this severelyresisting
and blaspheming God? Many people just don’t know how to distinguish. They
believe in the Lord but don’t magnify Him, instead advocating gifts, status
and power, and also blindly believe in and worship pastors and elders. They
can’t distinguish whether one has the work of the Holy Spirit and the reality
of the truth. They simply think as long as one has a pastor certificate and gifts
and cananalyze the Bible, it means they are approved and anointed by God,
and that they should be obeyed. Some people are even more absurd and think
obeying pastors and elders is obeying God, and that resisting pastors and
elders is resisting God. If we go according to such notions, the Jewishchief
priests, scribes, and Pharisees who were all familiar with the Bible and often
explained the Bible to others, but resistedand condemned the Lord Jesus
when He appearedand worked, and even crucified Him, were they people
anointed and used by God? If one followed the Jewishleaders in resisting and
condemning the Lord Jesus, does that mean they were obeying God? Would
you saythose who rejectedJewishleaders and followed the Lord Jesus were
resisting God? This shows that the view “Obeying pastors and elders is
obeying God, resisting pastors and elders is resisting God” really is too absurd
and fallacious!We believers of God should be clearthat if religious pastors
and elders resistGod, and the path they lead betrays the truth and opposes
God, then we should stand on the side of God, expose them, and rejectthem.
That is true obedience of God. That is forsaking darkness forlight and
satisfying God’s intentions. Therefore, whenit comes to how to deal with
pastors and elders, we should pursue the truth and understand God’s
intentions. If pastors and elders are people who love the truth and pursue the
truth, then they will surely have the work of the Holy Spirit and be able to

lead us to practice and experience God’s words, fear God and depart from
evil. Respecting and following such people accords with God’s intentions! If
they don’t love the truth and only care about explaining their Bible knowledge
and theologicaltheories to show off and build themselves up, to make us
worship and obey them, and don’t exalt God, bear witness to God, and don’t
lead us to practice and experience God’s words, then they are people who
have been condemned and cursedby God and we will be opposing God if we
still worship, follow and obey them. This would be completely againstGod’s
intentions.
Mostpeople currently in religious circles are unable to distinguish the pastors
and elders essenceofopposing God. They believe that as long as pastors and
elders understand the Bible and can explain the Bible, and that as long as
what pastors and elders say conform with the Bible and are basedon the
Bible, then people should follow and obey. Such a viewpoint sounds right, but
when we think about it, do pastors and elders really understand the Bible? Do
they really know God’s work? Does having Bible knowledge represent
knowing God? Can listening to pastors and elders explain the Bible really
guide people to understand the truth and know and obey God? I’m afraid no
one in religious circles are able to see through these questions. Let’s think
back to how the JewishPhariseesappearedto others as though they
understood the Bible and were goodat explaining the Bible, but when the
Lord Jesus worked, they did not recognize Him and instead relied on letters
and rules from the Bible to try and trap the Lord Jesus any chance they got.
They resistedand condemned the Lord Jesus, and because the Lord Jesus
expressedGod’s words, they condemned and blasphemed the Lord Jesus,
accusing His words of being blasphemy. In the end, they cruelly nailed the
Lord Jesus to the cross. Justwhat was their problem? Weren’t they arrogant
and unknowing of God? These facts are sufficient to prove that having Bible
knowledge and being goodat explaining the Bible does not mean that a person
understands the truth and knows God, and it does not mean that they know
God’s work! Those who truly experience God’s work all pay attention to
experiencing and practicing God’s words. In God’s words they see God’s
wondrous deeds, understand all the care and thought God has expended in
saving mankind, and see clearlyall the words expressedby God in the course

of His work are all the reality of truth that people should enter. They also
have true understanding of why God expresses these truths, what His
intentions are, and what He seeks to achieve through His work on people.
Only such people truly understand God’s work. Only such people truly
understand the Bible and the truth. People who truly understand the Bible all
focus on communicating God’s words in the Bible and communicating God’s
intentions, God’s requirements of man, and God’s work and His disposition,
and canlead us into the reality of the truth and make us fear God and obey
God. What do religious pastors and elders preach? Just Bible knowledge and
theologicaltheory. What is the consequence ofcommunicating such things? In
the end, it can only make people more and more arrogant. They don’t give in
to anyone just because they understand a bit of Bible knowledge. As a result,
when God becomes fleshto express the truth, they deny God, resistGod, and
oppose God! By the look of things, pastors and elders explaining Bible
knowledge and theologicaltheory is actually resisting God! Aren’t they just
like the Pharisees from before? Why aren’t these religious pastors and elders
able to communicate their knowledge andexperience of their own practice of
God’s words? Why aren’t they able to communicate their true understanding
of God’s work and His disposition? It’s preciselybecause they don’t have
genuine experience of God’s words and the truth and what they focus on is
merely studying the Bible so they canattain Bible knowledge, whichis why
they cannot possibly receive the work of the Holy Spirit. So how could their
service possibly receive God’s approval? God has become flesh as the Sonof
man and expressedthe truth to perform His judgment work of the last days,
revealing every person. Those who love the truth, hate the truth, good
servants, evil servants, those who serve God, and those who serve mammon
will all be revealed. As for those religious pastors and elders, they all take the
verses out of context and rely on their notions and imaginations to
misconstrue the Bible, even determining that “There is no utterance and work
of God outside of the Bible” and also spreading all sorts of fallacies to resist
and condemn God’s work in the last days. Is this not misleading and deceiving
people? Who knows how many believers have been harmed and ruined by
their spreading of such fallacies?How many people have lost chance to be
takenbefore God’s throne and attend the wedding banquet with God and the

rare opportunity to be made into an overcomerby God? Aren’t these pastors
and elders stumbling blocks and obstacles to people accepting the true way?
Let’s read some of Almighty God’s words and we’ll be able to discern
religious pastors and elders even better! Almighty God says:“Look at the
leaders of every denomination. They are all arrogantand self-right, and they
interpret the Bible out of context and according to their own imagination.
They all rely on gifts and erudition to do their work. If they were incapable of
preaching anything, would those people follow them? They do, after all,
possesssome learning, and can speak a little of doctrine, or know how to win
over others and how to use some artifices, through which they have brought
people before themselves and have deceivedthem. Nominally, those people
believe in God—but in reality they follow their leaders. If they encounter
those who preach the true way, some of them would say, ‘We have to consult
our leaderabout our belief in God.’They require someone’s consentto believe
in God; is that not a problem? What have those leaders become, then? Have
they not become Pharisees, false shepherds, antichrists, and stumbling blocks
to people’s acceptanceofthe true way?” (“Only the Pursuit of the Truth Is
the True Beliefin God” in Records ofChrist’s Talks).
“Those who read the Bible in grand churches recite the Bible every day, yet
not one understands the purpose of God’s work. Notone is able to know God;
moreover, not one is in accordwith the heart of God. They are all worthless,
vile men, eachstanding on high to teachGod. Though they brandish the name
of God, they willfully oppose Him. Though they label themselves believers of
God, they are ones who eatthe flesh and drink the blood of man. All such men
are devils who devour the soul of man, head demons who purposefully disturb
those who try to step onto the right path, and stumbling blocks that impede
the path of those who seek God. Thoughthey are of ‘robust flesh,’ how are
their followers to know that they are antichrists who lead man in oppositionto
God? How are they to know that they are living devils who speciallyseek souls
to devour?” (“All Who Do Not Know God Are Those Who Oppose God” in
The Word Appears in the Flesh).
Almighty God has exposedthe true essenceofpastors and elders who resist
God and deceive man while serving God very clearly! Religious pastors and

elders often take verses outof contextand misinterpret the Bible when
explaining it. They rely on the notions and imaginations to explain Bible
knowledge and theologicaltheory to show off, build themselves up, and make
people worship and follow them. But they never exalt the Lord, bear witness
to the Lord, and instead plan to place everyone under their control. Why are
there so many religious people who worship pastors and elders as well as those
who can explain the Bible, but not many people can magnify the Lord? What
is the problem here? Especiallyduring Almighty God’s work of judgment in
the lastdays, there are many people who don’t investigate and pursue the
truth. Do these people believe in the Lord or pastors? We should all self-
reflecton these problems. The Lord Jesus alreadyexposedthe religious
Pharisees’resistanceagainstGodlong ago, so how come we don’t have any
discernment when it comes to religious pastors and elders in the last days?
And there are still many people who worship and follow them. They have
unknowingly embarked on the path of resisting God, and are despisedand
hated by God like the Pharisees.Whatkind of problem is this? Isn’t this the
result of being deceivedby pastors and elders? Now, many who love the truth
and hunger for God’s appearance have seenthrough the antichrist nature of
religious pastors and elders. They have all left the religion and accepted
Almighty God’s work of the lastdays and are attending the wedding supper of
the Lamb. As for those who still worship and follow religious pastors and
elders, they will be forsakenby God’s work. The greatdisasteris about to
descend. If we don’t look into and acceptAlmighty God’s work of the last
days, all we can do is fall into the disaster, weeping and gnashing our teeth!
from the movie script of Break the Spell
Previous：Question2: That pastors and elders are all chosenand ordained by
the Lord, and that they are all people who serve the Lord. Obeying pastors
and elders is obeying the Lord. If we resistand condemn pastors and elders,
then we are resisting the Lord. Besides, Only pastors and elders understand
the Bible and caninterpret the Bible. Only they can shepherd us. As long as
what pastors and elders say conforms with the Bible and has a basis in the
Bible, we should comply and obey. As long as what pastors and elders do

conforms with the Bible, we should acceptand follow. how could that be
wrong?
Next：Question4: Pastors in religious circles are all familiar with the Bible.
They often interpret the Bible in churches and exalt the Bible. We’ve always
thought that they should be people who know God. Then why has the work of
God incarnate in the last days been furiously condemned and resistedby the
majority of pastors in the religious world? I believe what the majority of
pastors and leaders in the religious community condemn can’t possibly be the
true way!
https://www.holyspiritspeaks.org/
GOTQUESTIONS.COM
Question:"What is the biblical pattern of church leadership?"
Answer: There is a distinct pattern for church leadership in the New
Testament, although the pattern seems to be assumedrather than specifically
prescribed. The New Testament mentions two officialpositions in the church:
deacons and elders (also calledpastors or overseers).
The words elder (sometimes translated “presbyter”), pastor(which may be
translated “shepherd”), and overseer(sometimes translated“bishop”)are
used interchangeablyin the New Testament. Even though these terms often
mean different things among various churches today, the New Testament
seems to point to one office, which was occupiedby severalgodly men within
eachchurch. The following verses illustrate how the terms overlap and are
used interchangeably:

In Acts 20:17–35, Paulis speaking to leaders from the Ephesianchurch. They
are called“elders” in verse 17. Then in verse 28 he says, “Paycareful
attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers, to care for the church of God.” Here the elders are called
“overseers”and their pastoral/shepherding duties are implied as the church is
calledthe “flock.”
In Titus 1:5–9, Paulgives the qualifications of elders (verse 5) and says these
qualifications are necessarybecause “anoverseermust be above reproach”
(verse 7). In 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Paul gives the qualifications for overseers,
which are essentiallythe same as the qualifications for elders in Titus. In 1
Peter5:1–4, Petertells the elders to “shepherd the flock of God.” From these
passages, we see that the office of elder/pastor-shepherd/overseer-bishopis
one. Those who occupythis office are to lead, teach, and watch over the
church like a shepherd.
Furthermore, we see that every church has elders (plural). Elders are
supposedto rule and teach(1 Timothy 5:17). The biblical pattern is that a
group of men (and elders are always men) is responsible for the spiritual
leadership and ministry of the church. There is no mention of a church with a
single elder/pastorwho is in charge of everything, nor is there any mention of
congregationalrule (although the congregationplays a part).
While the elders are responsible for teaching and leading the flock, there is
still much that needs to be done on the physical level. The office of deacon
focuses onthe more physical needs of the church. In Acts 6, the church in
Jerusalemwas meeting the physical needs of many people in the church by
distributing food. Some of the widows came to the apostles because theywere
not getting what they needed. The apostles responded, “It is not right that we
should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables” (Acts 6:2). To
relieve the apostles, the people were told “pick out from among you sevenmen

of goodrepute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this
duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”
(verses 3–4). Although the men chosenhere are not calleddeacons, mostBible
scholars see them as the first deacons, orat leastprototypical of the position.
The word deaconsimply means “servant.” Deaconsare appointed church
officials who minister to the more physical needs of the church, relieving the
elders to attend to more spiritual ministry. Deacons are to be spiritually fit,
and the qualifications of deacons are given in 1 Timothy 3:8–13.
In summary, elders lead and deacons serve. These categoriesare not mutually
exclusive. Elders serve their people by leading, teaching, praying, counseling,
etc.;and deacons may lead others in service. In fact, deacons might be the
leaders of service teams within the church. Still, there is the basic distinction
betweenthose responsible for spiritual leadershipof the church and those
responsible for service.
So, where does the congregationfit in to the pattern of church leadership? In
Acts 6, it was the congregationwho chose the deacons, so many churches
today will have the congregationnominate and ratify the deacons ofthe
church. And, of course, the members of the congregationare to be the
primary ministers and evangelists reaching out to a lost world. The idea that
the congregationhires professionalministers to do the work of the church is
unbiblical.
There may be localvariations of church leadership because this is only a basic
pattern; every detail is not prescribed in Scripture. The basic pattern found in
the New Testamentis that every church should have a plurality of godly male
elders who are responsible for leading and teaching the church and godly
deacons who are responsible for facilitating the more physical aspects of
church ministry. A plurality of elders protects the church from the
weaknessesand possible excessesa single elder. As long as this basic pattern is

followed, the church is operating according to the biblical pattern. Having a
sole pastorwho controls the church is not the biblical pattern, and neither is
an arrangement in which the pastor works forthe deacons who really run the
church. The congregationis to follow the leading of the shepherds who follow
Christ. In their wisdom, the elders may request congregationalapprovalof
major decisions, but the congregationshould not be the final authority. The
buck stops with the elders/pastors/overseers,who answerto Christ."
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Paul At Miletus: The ProspectWhich Pains
Acts 20:28-31
W. Clarkson
Paul, pursuing his path of self-sacrificing devotion, going on to he knew not
what dangers ahead, looking a violent death in the face, was calm, tranquil,
even joyful. But the apostle, looking forward to a distractedand injured
Church, torn by false doctrine, laid waste by sinful men, was grievedat heart,
and he uses the language ofsolemn adjuration and entreaty.
I. HUMAN APPREHENSION. We oftengo forward with painful
apprehension that some ill is about to befall us; therefore with hesitating step,
with trembling heart.
1. It has been that men had an intimation from God that evil was in store for
them. This was not uncommon in Old Testamenttimes, when the purpose of
God was frequently revealed. It was the case withPaul now; it was revealedto
him that dark days were aheadin the experience of the Church at Ephesus.

2. It may be the actionof individual insight. By the use of a keenand
penetrating judgment, a man can often perceive that events are leading up to
a disaster.
3. It may be a simple and sound conclusionfrom the common heritage of man.
It is certain that dark shadows must be across the path we tread, and that we
shall be entering them before long.
II. THE SPECIAL ANXIETY OF THE CHRISTIAN PASTOR. Paul
apprehended:
1. Attack from without: "Grievous wolves entering in... not sparing the flock"
(ver. 29).
2. Mischieffrom within: "Ofyour own selves shall men arise, etc. (ver. 30).
This is what the Church of Christ has now to fear: the attacks ofinfidelity, the
invitation to immorality, from without; and the subtler and more perilous
dangers of spiritual decline, of the decay of faith, of injurious doctrines, of the
breath of worldliness, within.
III. THE ATTITUDE OF THE RESPONSIBLE. (Vers. 28-31.)Paulsolemnly
chargedthese elders, as those to whose care was committed the Church of
God - that sacredbody which the Lord had redeemed by his ownblood - to do
these three things.
1. To keepdiligently their ownhearts: "Take heedto yourselves" (see
Proverbs 4:23).
2. To watch carefully the spirit and course of their people: "And to all the
flock."
3. To sustain the life of the members by providing spiritual nourishment:
"Feedthe Church of God." If we would do what the Divine Head of the
Church demands of us, and if we would follow in the footsteps of the most
devoted of his servants (see ver. 31), we must
(1) cultivate a deep sense ofour responsibility;
(2) exercise unremitting vigilance over ourselves and our charge;

(3) supply that kind and measure of sacredtruth which is fitted to strengthen
and to purify those whom we undertake to teach. - C.
Take heedtherefore unto yourselves and to all the flock.
Acts 20:28-31
Take heed
W. W. Wythe.
I. TO YOURSELVES. To your —
1. Doctrine.
2. Walk.
II. TO THE FLOCK. To its —
1. Divine dignity.
2. Human infirmity.
III. TO THE WOLVES. Those who —
1. Threatenwithout.
2. Look within its fold.
(W. W. Wythe.)
Take heed
W. Arnot, D. D.
The logic and the theologyof the sentence are equally good. The first care of
the spiritual shepherd is for himself, the next for the flock. In some parts they
paint garden walls black, that they may absorbmore of the sun's heat and so

impart more warmth to the fruit trees that lean on them. Those who in any
sphere care for souls stand in the position of the garden wall. The more that
the teacherabsorbs for himself of Christ's love, the more benefit will others
obtain from him. It is not the wallwhich glitters most in the sunshine that
does most for the trees that are trained againstit: it is the wall which is least
seenthat takes in most heat for itself: and the wall that has most heat in itself
gives out most for the benefit of the trees. So it is not the preacherwho flashes
out into the greatestflame himself that imparts most benefit to inquirers who
sit at his feet. Those who drink in most of the Master's spirit are most useful
in the world. Those who first take heed to themselves will be most effective in
caring for the spiritual wealof those who look up to them.
(W. Arnot, D. D.)
Easternshepherds and their flocks
S. S. Times.
The work of a shepherd in the Eastis in many respects different from a
shepherd's work among ourselves. The Orientalflock does not graze within
fenced pasturages,but moves hither and thither through the wild pasture
lands, following the lead of the shepherd, and often going to a greatdistance
from inhabited places. It therefore takes all the shepherd's vigilance to keep
his flock together — to prevent one part of it from straying gradually, in
searchof pasturage, to the north, another to the south, another to the east,
and another to the west. In these remote districts, too, attacks from wild
beasts are not uncommon; a wolf or a bear will pounce suddenly upon an
unsuspecting sheep, and the shepherd must risk his ownlife, as David did, to
rescue the imperilled sheep. The shepherd, or overseer, is responsible to his
employer for the safety of the sheep, and he must render a strict accountof
that which has been lost, or which has perished. Here is an extract from
Oriental law on this point, as quoted by Paxton: "Cattle shall be delivered
over to the cowherdin the morning; the cowherdshall tend them during the
whole day with grass and water; and in the evening shall re-deliver them to
the master, in the same manner as they were entrusted to him. If, by the fault

of the cowherd, any of the cattle be lostor stolen, that cowherdshall make it
good. When a cowherdhas led cattle to any distant place to feed, if any die of
distemper, in spite of the fact that the cowherd applied the proper remedy, the
cowherdshall carry the head, the tail, the forefoot, or some such convincing
proof taken from the animal's body, to the owner of the cattle. Having done
this, he shall be no further answerable. If he neglects to actthus, he shall
make goodthe loss." Paul, therefore, compares the Ephesian Church to a
flock of sheep, seeking pasturage under the guidance of their shepherds, yet
prone of themselves to wander, and constantly exposedto peril from wild
beasts. The shepherds, he teaches,are answerable notonly for the divisions
which occur in the flock through their neglect, but also for the attacks ofwild
beasts, permitted by the same neglect.
(S. S. Times.)
Over the which the Holy Ghosthas made you overseers.
The minister in the flock
DeanVaughan.
The word "over" should be rendered "in." The minister is in the flock; he is
in no sense extraneous to it. He is part of it. Some have read the word "over"
violently and offensively, and have assertedrights of dominion over faith,
practice, and ritual such as were contrary to the whole idea of the gospel.
"One is your Mastereven Christ," etc. The minister is "in the flock" —
I. AS TO HIS PERSONALHOPE.
1. He is a sinner, and if conscientious feels himselfeven more so than others.
Negligencein him is more serious, example for evil more influential.
2. He wants a Saviour, if possible more than his people. If he is to be the
"overlooker,"he must first be the penitent and the forgiven. It is this which
gives pathos, solemnity, and authority, to every part of his ministration —
because he is in the flock and partakes with it of the refreshing streams and
free pastures.

II. AS TO ALL THE RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIESOF HIS
LIFE. Before he is anything else he must be a goodman. The ministry is not a
separate caste, living its whole life by itself, having a tariff of habits, and rules
quite different from the ordinary rules and duties of Christian men. The
ministry is exemplary before it is episcopal. Its whole idea is that of going
before and showing the way in all that is pure and beautiful and of good
report.
III. AS TO SYMPATHY. If the minister were "over" the flock he might be
sorry for its distresses andsins. Sympathy there can only be where there is
insideness to the flock. Even our Lord must incorporate Himself with us if He
would make us know and feel that He can sympathise.
IV. AS TO COMFORT.Oh the comfort of being just one of the worshippers,
of losing the official in the personal, the minister in the Christian — in
communion, in prayer, in preaching.
(DeanVaughan.)
To feed the Church of God.
The Church of God
D. Thomas, D. D.
is here regardedas a society —
I. OF PRICELESS VALUE.
1. It is a flock, a name given to the Church of the Old Testament(Isaiah
40:11;Isaiah 63:11;Jeremiah 13:17;Jeremiah 23:2; Jeremiah31:10;Ezekiel
34:3; Micah 7:14, etc., etc.), and which Christ also applied to His disciples
(Luke 12:32). It was a favourite figure with the apostle Peter(1 Peter5:2, 3).
2. This flock is incalculably precious because it has been purchased with "the
blood of God," or rather of the Lord, referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Other societies existirrespective of Christ's mediation — scientific, political,

commercial— but the Church is acquired by the sacrifice ofJesus Christ.
Had He not died, it never would have been.
II. WELL GUARDED.
1. It is put in charge of earthly shepherds. There is here —(1) Self-vigilance;
"Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves." The spiritual shepherd must take
care of himself first. He must enlighten his own judgment, discipline his own
heart, and train his own soul into Christian virtues first. He must save himself
before he can save others (1 Timothy 4:14).(2) Church vigilance. "And to all
the flock." Theyare to take heed of the Church, to instruct, guide, guard it,
and in every way promote its spiritual welfare.
2. The earthly shepherds are appointed by the Holy Ghost.
III. ASSAILED BY ENEMIES (ver. 29).
1. Those who would come from without — worldly men, malignant
persecutors.
2. Those who would spring up from within — professedmembers. The
Church's greatestenemies have sprung from her own bosom.
IV. DEMANDING THE UTMOST ATTENTION. Paul's labourwas —
1. Incessant. "Nightand day."
2. Earnest. "With tears."
(D. Thomas, D. D.)
Church membership
S. S. Mitchell, D. D.
I. THE CLAIMS OF THE CHURCH. These are founded —
1. In the language ofScripture upon the subject of the Church. The Bible ever
speaks ofthe inward as above the outward, elevates the powerof godliness
above the mere form of it, and tells us of at leastone who, without baptism or

the Church, went into paradise. Still, the Bible has some very strong language
on the subject. Take the statement of the text. Can you imagine that that for
which such a price was paid, has no claim upon your allegiance? Buttake
other testimonies (Isaiah 49:15, 16;Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 5:22-27).
2. In the relationof Christ to the Church. It is true that there is much in the
Church for which Christ gave no warrant. Church vestments and ceremonies,
and the minute ramifications of Church creeds, allcome under this head. As
upon an old vessel, so upon the Church in her navigation of the sea of Time,
many barnacles have fastened, and these, so far from being a necessarypart
of the Church, do but oppose her powerand impede her progress. But we
must take Christ's idea of the Church. He calledHis followers out from
among men into a specialrelationship to Himself and to eachother. "One is
your Master, evenChrist, and all ye are brethren." And by these words He
constituted a Church. And this brotherhood, which He so organisedin the
world, He arrangedto perpetuate, by inaugurating two rites, which, for all
time, should separate His people from the world, and bind them togetherin a
compactand visible body. Now the Church being Christ's own arrangement,
to rejectit is to rejectHim.
3. In the conduct of the apostles, who, under the direction of Christ, and in
possessionofthe Spirit, at once setup the Church and beganto use it as the
school, the home, the sanctuary of the disciples whom they called. That little
band in the upper room was the Church. And no soonerdid others, through
their words, believe on Christ than they were formally added to this
organisation(Acts 2:47). And when Peter went to preachto Cornelius he
baptized him. The believer in Jesus he enrolled as a member of the Church.
So, when Paul kneeledto Jesus, he was also baptized. And so throughout all
that early period. And shall anyone in view of this fact say, "I will be a
Christian outside of the Church"? The apostles knew of no such thing as a
Christian willingly outside the Church.
4. In the factthat there is nothing so distinctly characteristic ofthe Christian
life as the spirit of obedience. "Whatwilt Thou have me to do?" is the voice
which comes out of the very essenceofevery Christian life. "If ye love Me,

keepMy commandments." And here is the duty of Church membership,
about which the Bible speaks mostplainly.
5. In the principle that Christ gains men through men. This is in its widest
sense the ordinance of preaching. And the widest, the most continuous, and
the most forcible preaching, is by example. But how canwe thus testify for
Christ if we refuse to place ourselves in a Christian attitude before the eyes of
the world?
II. THE OBJECTIONSWITH WHICH IT IS COMMON TO MEET THESE
CLAIMS.
1. There are in the Church many who give no evidence of Christian character.
This is sadly true. But —(1) Christ never declared that His Church was to be
a perfect body, but said that the tares would grow with the wheatuntil
harvest.(2)Because anothermakes a mock of duty it is no reasonwhy you
should neglectit.
2. I canlive a goodlife outside the Church. Perhaps so. But if your hope for
eternity is in Christ, then to despise the Church is to despise the blood with
which it was purchased; and surely no one can do this, and, at the same time,
rest upon Christ for salvation.
3. I cannotagree with all the doctrines of the Church. But no Church makes
the receptionof all the articles of its creed a condition of membership.. Trust
in Christ for salvation and a Christian life, make up the one condition of
Church membership. And what is there here which you cannot receive?
4. I am not fit to be a Church member. This —(1) May be a fact. There are
those who are determined to live just as they please, without regard to Christ
or conscience, andwho do not care what lies beyond. Such, of course, are fit
only for membership with devils. In such communion they are even now.(2)
May be a plea of simulated humility in order to getrid of duty. The man says,
"I am not fit," because he is not willing.(3) May be the expressionof a true
consciousnessofimperfection. And here it is a mistake. Christ came not to call
the righteous, but sinners.Conclusion:

1. The amazing characterofmen's indifference here. Christ says, "BeholdMy
Church, for which I gave My blood!" And men pass the Church by without
notice.
2. These are words of invitation. Again the Church, through the blood by
which she has been purchased, speaks unto you, asking for your attention, for
your allegiance. Whatshall be your answer?
(S. S. Mitchell, D. D.)
Which He hath purchased with His own blood.
The infinite purchase
H. J. Van Dyke, D. D.
I. THE CHURCH OF GOD.
1. The body of His people in all ages, whomHe has calledout and separated
from the world.
2. Always has been, and always will be, representedby a visible organisation
in the world.
3. In God's apprehension not bounded by, nor identified with, the visible
organisationby which it is represented.
II. THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO GOD.
1. Belongs to Him as His purchasedpossession. His peculiar, not His odd or
eccentric people, but the people who belong to Him.
2. Under His government and instruction through officers Divinely appointed.
"Overwhich the Holy Ghosthas made you overseers."
3. To the Church God has committed the truth and treasure of the gospel,
togetherwith the sacraments,and all the means of grace, as instruments for
the conquestof the world.

III. THE PRICE GOD PAID FOR THE CHURCH EVEN HIS OWN
BLOOD.
1. The blood of Christ is the blood of God.
2. In the personof Christ the Divine and human natures, though distinct, are
so united, that His one Personmay be designatedand described by the
attributes of either nature.
3. The sacrifice of Christ derives an infinite value from His Divine nature. It
was "the Lord of glory" who was crucified (1 Corinthians 2:8). Application:
We are bound to belong to the visible Church as the representative of the
invisible; to love it, and to labour for its advancement. It is not the gospel, but
the Church, by means of the gospel, whichis to conquer and reform the
world.
(H. J. Van Dyke, D. D.)
Paul's farewell
A. H. Moment, D. D.
I. THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY(ver. 28). "To feed the Church of God."
1. Nourish, strengthen, and build up the souls of men with the doctrines of
grace. But before souls can be fed they must be converted. This can only be
done by the Holy Ghostapplying the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Church
is composedof men and womenwho have been purchased with the "blood of
the Lord."
2. To do this work we must "Take heed" —
(1)To ourselves;our own souls must first of all eachday be caredfor.
(2)To the flock.
II. THE REASONS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY(vers. 29, 30). There is great
danger ahead. Grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the
flock.

1. External foes — infidelity, intemperance, etc., are wolves.
2. Internal foes — black sheepin the flock — selfish, designing men, speaking
perverse things. Oh how Sabbath schools andchurches are destroyed by
"grievous wolves" andblack sheep!
III. THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS RESPONSIBILITYIS TO BE
DISCHARGED (vers. 31-45).
1. By watchfulness "Therefore watch.""Watchand pray" was one of the
Master's greatestexhortations.
2. Perseverance — a night and day toil and anxiety (ver. 31).
3. An unswerving trust in Godand in the Word of His grace (ver. 32).
4. Self-sacrifice— we must not covetmoney, fame, ease,oranything that man
can bestow. We must be — like our Masterand like Paul — givers, not
receivers (vers. 33-35). The concluding verses (36-38)are mostsuggestive of
the spirit we all need — prayer, love, gratitude, deep sorrow in parting with
friends, and especiallywith those who have blessedus in the Lord!
(A. H. Moment, D. D.)
Paul's farewell
S. S. Times.
I. FAITHFUL COUNSELLING. Lessons:Take heed —
1. Unto yourselves, for you can do little for others until your own heart is set
right.
2. To all the flock, for you cannot be a faithful shepherd of the Lord's sheep
unless you value their safety as your own.
3. To feed the Church of God. Christ was gladto purchase the sheepat the
costof His own life; ought you not willingly to make the slight sacrifice of
caring for those whom He purchased at such a price.

4. Against the wolves. The bark of materialism and spiritualism and
destructive criticism is a gooddeal worse than their bite, still you need to be
watchful lest it drive some of the more timid souls out of the fold.
5. Forfrom among yourselves men will arise with all sorts of perverse
religious notions, and you will have to combat them. Do it discreetly.
6. And take courage,remembering how much easieris your testifying than
was Paul's, and that your helping words and deeds, as well as his, all receive
God's approval.
II. TRUSTFULCOMMENDING. Lessons:
1. Paul commended the Ephesians unto God, and God commended Paul for
the zealwith which he laboured for the welfare of the Ephesians.
2. Paul did not covetgold or silver, but he did long for something vastly more
precious. What could have exceededhis eagernessto save souls.
3. Paul laboured for the necessities, notfor the luxuries of life.
4. Paul laboured not only for himself, but also for those who were with him.
"Every one for himself" is a motto of the devil. "Bearye one another's
burdens" is the law of Christ.
5. Paul gave to the Ephesians an active living example of what a Christian
workershould be. So doing, he gave to his words a tremendous vital force.
6. Paul workedwith his hands, and was rather proud than ashamedof the
fact. Hands hardened by honesttoil are a much nobler possessionthan a soft
head, or a heart hardened by an empty pride of birth.
III. PRAYERFUL PARTING. Lessons:Parting —
1. Loses half its bitterness when those who are about to be separatedfeelthat
they will remain united in love for the same Saviour.
2. With a beloved pastoris a sad trial, but it is one to be borne as cheerfully as
possible, if Providence is evidently calling him elsewhere.

3. Becomeseasierto those who approach the hour of separationon their
knees.
4. Is greatly saddenedif we feel that the bodily separationis to be forever, but
there may be something bitterer than that.
5. Becomeswellnigh despairing to those who must harbour the fear that it is
final, bodily and spiritually. But such separations were very scarce among
those with whom such as Paul have been labouring.
(S. S. Times.)
Paul's farewell
D. S. Clark.
The Persianhad conquered here, and the story of his triumphs, as the
tragedianpictured it, had causedan Athenian audience to burst into tears.
There are wet eyes on this Miletian shore, over a capture far more significant
than Darius evermade. Hearts have been won here and knit, so as no ties of
relationship can unite. They are soonto be separated. Spite of the excitement
of the scene, this servant of Jesus Christ is self-possessed;his vision is clear;
his advice well considered. There is review and outlook. Lessons ofhumility,
fidelity, courage, and charity are taught by a master here, in a few graphic
sentences,whichthe Christian Church still needs to ponder. They are
condensedEpistles. There is —
I. ADMONITION. Thesewere prominent members of the Church, and very
dear to him. Their trials had been his, as were their victories. Knowing that
they were in the world, he can but be solicitous now that he can no longer
personally aid them.
1. They must first "take heedunto themselves." The Church is made up of
individuals. Strength or weaknessin them is poweror feebleness init. Christ
had redeemedthem, but they must eachwork out their own salvation. The
Holy Ghosthad renewedthem, but they must eachsaywith the apostle, "I am
pure from the blood of all men." Only the savedcan save them that hear him.

The prayerless cannotinspire others to pray; nor can the ignorant, sceptical,
or trifling lead any to knowledge, faithand soberness.After the close ofthe
service in which George Herbert was inducted into the charge of Bemerton
Church, a friend, wondering at his delay in leaving the building, lookedin at a
window and found him prostrate on the ground before the altar. Then and
there he made the vow, "I will be sure to live well, because the virtuous life of
a clergyman is the most powerful eloquence, to persuade all that see it, to
reverence and love, and at leastto desire to live like him." The more precious
the treasure, the more does its keeperarm himself. The Church in its
collective capacitymust have guardianship. Our Lord's figure for it is taken
from the timid sheep. The shepherd is essentialto the flock. Did these
brethren realise the vast responsibility? Being right themselves, they might
hope rightly to perform it. They were "to feed the Church." This was to be
with food adapted to it. No more than the shepherd is obligedto make the
grass grow upon which the flock lives, were they to create spiritual supplies.
The minister has never to produce the truth for his people. He has only to find
it, in its richness and freshness, and bring them to it, or it to them. To try to
satisfy the cravings of the soul with mere moralities, humanities, philosophies,
speculations, socialities,amusements, is to enfeeble and make it ready to
perish. The Church is sound and strong, only as it incarnates the Christ.
II. PROPHECY.
1. He saw not far away"grievous wolves." Persecutionand error were only
biding their time to waste and destroy the flock. The bloody vision was
realisedwhen Aurelius and: Diocletianpublished the edict that the Christian
name be blotted out; and before a century had passed, seducers appeared. If
to be forewarnedis to be forearmed, then might these Christians be secure.
2. Is it not still true that cruelty and sophistry are the enemy's chosenmethods
of subverting the Church? Wheneverit interferes with the schemes of wicked
men they will attack it. Inquisitorial tortures are their resortwhen strong
enough. Ostracism, slander, and ridicule are their milder weapons.
III. CONFIDENCE.Thoughsuch severe trials might be in store, he knew
where they would be safe and prosperous. As was his habit he commends

them unto One, by whom he himself in full view of bonds and affliction was
able to say, "None of these things move me." The "gracious Word" which He
had given was the only means of their sanctification. Throughthis only did
they getwisdom to read their title and secure the heavenly inheritance. Has
the method changed? Over againstall guessesand denials, changing as the
lights and shadows ofa spring day, stands now as then this rock of the truth,
at once a refuge and an inspiration.
IV. SELF-DEVOTION.It is a brief rehearsal — how earnestlyand honestly
he had toiled, asking nothing of them in return. It had been reward enough
for him to preachthe gospel. And it had all been in full realisationof that
matchless saying of the Lord, "It is more blessedto give than to receive." Till
so profound a law has been discoveredand honoured by the Christian, the
advance of the heavenly kingdom must be slow.
V. PRAYER. Through this intercourse with God they had first really found
eachother. At His feet their partings must be made. How very like to that
scene, sixteenhundred years after, on the shore of Holland, where another
company of pilgrims were assembled, when, as the chroniclersays, "Ye tide
(which stays for no man) calling them awayye were thus loathe to departe,
their Reverd pastorfalling down on his knees (and they all with him) with
watrie cheeks commendedthem, with most fervent prairers to the Lord and
his blessing." So do we clasphands with our children, with our youth
departing for their life work, with our missionaries, with our dying ones.
VI. PARTING. Intelligent souls are alone capable of profound emotion. The
more brutal men become, the more indifferent are they to the breaking of
companionship; the more saintly the more sensitive.
(D. S. Clark.)
What Paul leaves behind
J. Parker, D. D.

1. When the apostle goes,will not the whole fabric which he seemedto
representand sustain go along with him? Is Christianity the heroismof one
personality? If Paul's estimation of himself had been that of an idolater or of a
superstitious person, he would have reminded the Ephesian elders that in the
removal of his personality they had themselves no longer any officialstanding,
or any claim upon public attention.
2. When Paul goes, whatwill be left? The Church! and the Church is greater
than any member of it; the Word! and the Word is infinitely greaterthan all
the ministers that preachit. The blood that bought the Church! and that
blood is alone in its meaning, energy, and grace. Theneverything will be left
when Paul goes. Thatis the mystery of Divine love. We can take nothing away
from Christ's Church. The firstborn dies, but the Church is as strong as ever;
the most eloquent tongue is silent, but the music of the Cross losesno note of
its enchantment. It is even goodfor us that the apostle should be takenaway:
it was expedient for us that Christ Himself did not remain upon the earth in
visible presence. Christianity does not depend upon its great or its little men.
Like its Lord, it is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
3. Paul's charge is Paul himself, "Take heedtherefore unto yourselves." Paul
was a severe disciplinarian. He was always undergoing the discipline of an
athlete; he kept his body under lest he himself should become a "castaway."
Self-heedis the secretof public power. "Take heedunto yourselves," andyou
will be gentle to other people. "Take heed" also "to all the flock." That is the
balancing consideration. The minister is not a monk, he is a public, a social
man with a greatshepherdly heart, that canunderstand and love a thousand
varieties of men. Paul's conceptionof the ministry was regulatedand inspired
by his conceptionof the Church. Was the Church a club, a little gathering of
men calledtogetherfor superficial purposes or for transient enjoyment? It
was a flock;it was purchased with the blood of God. Then the Church makes
the ministry. The ministry has no existence apart from the Church. The
minister — be he Paul or Apollos or Cephas — is but an upper seatholder.
4. Paul uses language full of suggestionand pathos. "The Church of God
which He hath purchased with His own blood." What grander word is there
than "blood"? Until we contaminated it, it stood next to "love." "The bloodis

the life"; the life is the blood. God purchased the Church with His own life.
When you understand sin you Will understand blood. When you see the hell
which sin deserves you will see the Cross whichGod built.
5. Why should a man care anything about the world he is going to leave? That
depends upon the quality of the man. There are those who want peace in their
time, and want to leave all thorny questions to he determined by those who
come after them. But Paul was anxious for the fortunes of the Church at
Ephesus, though he would himself see that Church no more. Christianity is
not a new way of sneaking outof responsibility; Christianity is not a cunning
method of leaving posterity to take care of itself. Christian love claims all
time, all ages, alllands. Paul — greateconomist, greatstatesman, supreme
prince of the legions of Christ — could not leave Ephesus saying, "I am glad I
shall suffer no more there"; but he caredfor Ephesus as much as if he were
going to spend the remainder of his days in the endeavourto convertits
citizens. Paul knew that after his departing "grievous wolves"should enter
into the Church, "not sparing the flock." The "wolves" couldnot come in so
long as Paul was there. God takes awayfrom us our mighty men that He may
train us as much by their absence as He did by their presence. Who would not
long to have a whole yearwith John Bunyan, or the greaterMilton, or the
fiery Baxter, or the profound Howe and Owen? Yet God is training us by
their withdrawal, and God's greatestmen are always the men who are still to
come. The ages do not live backward.
(J. Parker, D. D.)
Personalcontactwith souls
T. L. Cuyler.
As I recall my own ministerial experience I can testify that nearly all the
converting work done has been by personalcontactwith souls. Forexample, I
once recognisedin the congregationa newcomer, and at my first visit to his
house was strongly drawn to him as a very noble-hearted, manly character. A
long talk with him seemedto produce little impression; but before I left, he

took me upstairs to see his three or four rosy children in their cribs. As we
stoodlooking at the sleeping cherubs, I said to him, "My friend, what sort of
father are you going to be to these children? Are you going to lead them
towards heaven, or — the other way!" That arrow lodged. He gave himself to
Christ, and at our next communion seasonhe was at the Master's table, and
soonbecame a most useful officer in the church."
(T. L. Cuyler.)
The minister's weeping time
Thomas Toller, of Kettering, exerted an extraordinary influence overthe
feelings of his audience, while he himself remained apparently unmoved.
Being once asked, "How is it possible for you to remain calm yourself while
the people are weeping before you?" he replied, with evident emotion, "My
weeping time was yesterday."
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
Amplified - Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock
over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to
shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which
He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own
blood.
Phillips - Now be on your guard for yourselves and for every flock of which
the Holy Spirit has made you guardians - you are to be shepherds to the
Church of God, which he won at the costof his own blood.

Wuest - Be constantly maintaining a careful watchover yourselves with a
view to guarding yourselves, also do the same with respectto all the flock in
which the Holy Spirit appointed you as spiritual overseers,shepherding the
Church of God which He bought for himself through the agencyofthe blood,
the blood which is His own unique blood, possessedby Himself alone.
PAUL'S FINAL CHARGE:
“I’ve done all I canfor you. Now it’s up to you.”
John MacArthur summarizes Paul's lastwords to the Ephesianelders "to
maintain five priorities: be right with God, shepherd the flock, guard the
flock, study and pray, and be free from self-interest. (MacArthur, J: Acts 1-
12; Acts 13-28 MoodyPress)
Paul first reminds the elders of their DUTY (Acts 20:28)and then of their
DANGER (Acts 20:29ff), for as William Barclayrightly reminds us "The
infection of the world is never far away. Where truth is, falsehoodever
attacks. There was a constantwarfare aheadto keepthe faith intact and the
Church pure."
BE VIGILANT:
BE RIGHT WITH GOD
Be on guard (beware, pay or give attention to, attend to, keepa watchful eye
on) (4337)(prosecho from pros = before, toward + echo = hold) means literally
to hold to, toward or before. Originally it was followedby the word "the
mind" (nous) but at times "the mind" was omitted and yet the idea of "the
mind" was still implied. Prosecho was a naval term which meant to moor or
tie up a ship. Prosecho was also usedto mean “to remain on course”.
If you are a church leader responsible for the sheep, I would strongly
encourage youto perform a simple inductive study on prosecho -
Mt 6:1; 7:15; 10:17; 16:6, 11, 12;
Lk 12:1; 17:3; 20:46;21:34;
Acts 5:35; 8:6, 10, 11; 16:14;20:28;

1 Ti 1:4; 3:8; 4:1, 13;
Titus 1:14;
Heb 2:1;7:13;
2 Peter1:19
A T Robertsonnotes the literal sense is "hold your mind on yourselves."
Figuratively prosecho conveys the idea of holding one's mind before means to
take heed, to pay attention, to give heed, be in a state of alert, to watchout for
or to be on guard. When used in this manner prosecho warns of anger, usually
spiritual but occasionallyphysical!Prosecho is not a call simply to notice
something, but to be on guard againstit because it is so harmful The idea is to
turn one’s mind or attention to a thing by being on one’s guard againstit.
In this passageprosecho is in the present imperative which is a command to
the elders at Ephesus (and by application to elders of every church - You do
have elders don't you? If not who is overseeing the sheep? Who will recognize
the savagewolves?), the watchers ofthe God's flock, to continually be on the
look out for savage wolves Satan's "servants ofrighteousness"(2Cor11:14,
15), who craftily seek to bring in error besides truth (2Pe 2:1-note, Jude 1:4)
and thereby promote soul deceiving and deadening "doctrines" (cp 1Ti 4:1,
Eph 4:14-note)
Be on guard for yourselves - Readthis very slowly and carefully lestyou miss
what Paul is saying. What is he saying? Yourselves first, then the flock. First,
check the shepherd, then the sheep! Is he not saying in essencewhatSolomon
chargedin his proverb...
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for (Term of explanation - What is
he explaining?) from it flow the springs of life. (Pr 4:23-note)
Paul is saying to the leaders that the first order of business is to guard their
own heart and mind (cp (Mark 13:9; Luke 21:34), so that they might be better
prepared to then guard the flock entrusted to their watchcare. There are
temptations which are unique or peculiar to the position of leadership which
necessitateconstantpersonalvigilance!This begs the question dear pastor or

elder, how is your personalrelationship with God? Are you walking in the
light? Are there secretsins about which no one knows? How's your prayer
life? Are you in the Word daily (and not just for preparation of sermons or
lessons, but for personalfeeding, Mt 4:4)?
Paul gave a similar warning to Archippus...
And say to Archippus, "Take heed(blepo in the aoristimperative - a
command issuedwith a sense ofurgency; "Carrythis out now and do it
effectively!") to the ministry (diakonia) which you have receivedin the Lord,
that you may fulfill (pleroo) it.
Comment: Note that just as with the Holy Spirit's selectionofthe overseers,
the ministry Archippus had receivedwas given to him by the Lord. Beloved,
how we need to hear and heed this basic Biblical principle lest our "ministry"
be in vain, veritable wood, hay and stumble! All ministry must be from Him,
to Him and through Him! He Alone is the Head of the Body. He Alone is the
originating and sustaining Vine (Jn 15:5). Be sure your service in His Name is
indeed His service, the ministry He has graciouslygiven you!
Barnes comments on attend to yourselves first...
To your own piety (godliness), opinions, and mode of life. This is the first duty
of a minister; for without this all his preaching will be vain. Compare Col
4:17; 1Ti 4:14. Ministers are besetwith unique dangers and temptations, and
againstthem they should be on their guard. In addition to the temptations
which they have in common with other people, they are exposedto those
specialto their office - arising from flattery, and ambition, and despondency,
and worldly-mindedness. And just in proportion to the importance of their
office is the importance of the injunction of Paul, to take heed to themselves.
Guzik - The godly leader knows that effective leadership flows from a life, not
just knowledge.
Brian Bell -“Waternever rises above its level” – what we are will determine
our preaching, & what we do will never rise above what we are!Spiritual
health today is no guarantee of spiritual health tomorrow!We need to

consciouslyand consistentlysustainthe charactertraits that foster holiness.
(Sermon Notes)
W Arnot's summary on Take Heed...
The logic and the theologyof the sentence are equally good. The first care of
the spiritual shepherd is for himself, the next for the flock. In some parts they
paint garden walls black, that they may absorbmore of the sun's heat and so
impart more warmth to the fruit trees that lean on them. Those who in any
sphere care for souls stand in the position of the garden wall. The more that
the teacherabsorbs for himself of Christ's love, the more benefit will others
obtain from him. It is not the wallwhich glitters most in the sunshine that
does most for the trees that are trained againstit: it is the wall which is least
seenthat takes in most heat for itself: and the wall that has most heat in itself
gives out most for the benefit of the trees. So it is not the preacherwho flashes
out into the greatestflame himself that imparts most benefit to inquirers who
sit at his feet. Those who drink in most of the Master's spirit are most useful
in the world. Those who first take heed to themselves will be most effective in
caring for the spiritual wealof those who look up to them. (Biblical
Illustrator)
In a similar warning Paul exhorted Timothy (who most commentators think
was the pastor at Ephesus at the time of writing of the PastoralEpistles)to...
Pay close attention("Keep a close watch" = ESV) (present imperative -
command calling for continual attention!) to yourself and to your teaching
("Watchyour life and doctrine closely" = NIV); persevere ("persist" = ESV,
"continue in" = NKJ) (present imperative) in these things; for (Term of
explanation) as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for
those who hear you. (1Ti 4:16)
MacArthur commenting on 2Ti2:20-21 (note) writes that...
In a house there were vessels fordishonorable uses, such as garbage and other
waste. There were also vesselsforhonorable uses, suchas food and drink.
Only cleanones of high quality were fit for honor. Since God uses cleanand
holy instruments, vessels ofhonor, self-examinationand forsaking sin are

essentialfor leaders. Although God does bless His truth in spite of the
preacher, He does not bless the unholy leader, no matter what title, position,
or office he might hold. (Ibid)
Richard Baxter in his excellent treatise, The ReformedPastorexhorts all
leaders to...
1. See that the work of saving grace be thoroughly wrought in your own souls.
Take heedto yourselves, lestyou be void of that saving grace ofGod which
you offer to others, and be strangers to the effectualworking of that gospel
which you preach....
Take heedto yourselves, lestyou perish, while you call upon others to take
heed of perishing; and lestyou famish yourselves while you prepare food for
them.... (See link below for lengthy discussionof this point)
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade
your hearers to be, and believe that which you persuade them to believe, and
heartily entertain that Savior whom you offer to them. (Mk12:31)...
Take heedto your own judgments and affections. Vanity and error will slyly
insinuate, and seldomcome without fair presences:greatdistempers and
apostasieshave usually small beginnings. (2 Cor. 11:14)(See online book
below for more discussionof preceding "take heed" points)
2. Content not yourselves with being in a state of grace, but be also careful
that your graces are keptin vigorous and lively exercise, and that you preach
to yourselves the sermons which you study, before you preachthem to
others....(See online book below for more discussion)
3. Take heedto yourselves, lestyour example contradict your doctrine, and
lest you lay such stumbling–blocks before the blind, as may be the occasionof
their ruin; lest you unsay with your lives, what you say with your tongues;and
be the greatesthindrances of the success ofyour own labors....
Certainly, brethren, we have very greatcause to take heed what we do, as well
as what we say: if we will be the servants of Christ indeed, we must not be
tongue servants only, but must serve him with our deeds, and be “doers of the

work, that we may be blessedin our deed.” (James 1:22,25)....(Seeonline book
below for more discussionof preceding "take heed" points)
4. Take heedto yourselves, lestyou live in those sins which you preachagainst
in others, and lest you be guilty of that which daily you condemn. (Ro 2:1)
Will you make it your work to magnify God, and, when you have done,
dishonor Him as much as others? Will you proclaim Christ’s governing
power, and yet condemn it, and rebel yourselves? Will you preach His laws,
and willfully break them? If sin be evil, why do you live in it? if it be not, why
do you dissuade men from it? If it be dangerous, how dare you venture on it?
if it be not, why do you tell men so? If God’s threatenings be true, why do you
not fearthem? if they be false, why do you needlesslytrouble men with them,
and put them into such frights without a cause? Do you “know the judgment
of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death;” and yet will
you do them? “Thouthat teachestanother, teachestthou not thyself? Thou
that sayesta man should not commit adultery, or be drunk, or covetous, art
thou such thyself? Thou that makestthy boast of the law, through breaking
the law dishonourest thou God?” (Ro 1:32; Ro 2:17; Ro 2:21-24)What! shall
the same tongue speak evil that speakestagainstevil? Shall those lips censure,
and slander, and backbite your neighbor, that cry down these and the like
things in others?
Take heedto yourselves, lestyou cry down sin, and yet do not overcome it;
lest, while you seek to bring it down in others, you bow to it, and become its
slaves yourselves:‘For of whom a man is overcome, ofthe same is he brought
into bondage.’‘To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye
are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness.’O brethren! it is easierto chide at sin, than to overcome it. (Ed
comment: "Amen" or "O my!")
5. Lastly, take heed to yourselves, that you not lack the qualifications
necessaryfor your work. He must not be himself a babe in knowledge, that
will teachmen all those mysterious things which must be known for salvation.
(See online book below for more discussion)(The Reformed Pastor, Richard
Baxter - Scroll down to point #4)(Readthe Entire Book - here is the Index to
The ReformedPastor)

BE VIGILANT:
SHEPHERD THE FLOCK
Be on guard....forall the flock - Recallthis is a command which calls for
continual attention. How could they carry out this command? God's
commandments always include His enablements. When Jesus ascendedto the
right hand of the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to be the indwelling Helper
of His sheep. Jesus'human representative, the "overseer" must yield to, be
filled by and empoweredby the indwelling Spirit of Christ in order to
successfullycarry out the supernatural work of being continually on guard.
Jehovah's question to Ezekielis timeless...
"Should not the shepherds
feed the flock?"
(Ezekiel34:2)
All the flock - Don't miss the word "all." Barnes has a goodword on "all"...
All the flock the rich and the poor, the bond and the free, the old and the
young. It is the duty of ministers to seek to promote the welfare of each
individual of their charge not to pass by the poor because they are poor, and
not to be afraid of the rich because they are rich. A shepherd regards the
interest of the tenderestof the fold as much as the strongest;and a faithful
minister will seek to advance the interestof all. To do this he should know all
his people;should be acquainted, as far as possible, with their unique needs,
character, and dangers, and should devote himself to their welfare as his first
and main employment (Ed: I would add, he should be praying through his
church rosterfor eachof his sheep individually -- all of them, even the
obstreperous ones!).
Jesus said...
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Fatherhas chosengladly to give you the
kingdom. (Lk 12:32)

Flock (4168)(poimnionfrom poimen = shepherd) was literally a flock of sheep
but in the NT is applied only figuratively to spiritual sheep that make the
community of Jesus'disciples, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The OT describes Israelas God's flock (Ps. 77:20; 78:52;80:1; Isa. 40:11;
63:11;Jer. 13:17;23:2-3; 31:10;Ezek. 34:2ff.; Mic. 2:12; 5:4; 7:14; Zech.
10:3).
The NT pictures the church as a flock and the Lord Jesus Christas its
Shepherd (Luke 12:32, John 10:1ff; Heb 13:20-note;1 Pet. 2:25-note;1Pe 5:2-
4).
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a partakeralso of the glory that is to be revealed,
shepherd (aorist imperative) the flock of God among you, exercising oversight
not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not
for sordid gain, but with eagerness;3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted
to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief
Shepherd (the Lord Jesus Christ) appears, you will receive the unfading
crownof glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all
of you, clothe (aorist imperative) yourselves with humility toward one
another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO
THE HUMBLE. (1Pe 5:1-3-note, 1Pe 5:4-5-note)
CHECKLIST FOR
SHEPHERDS...
1) Shepherd the flock
2) Exercise oversight
3) Not with compulsion
4) Voluntarily
5) According to the will of God
6) Not for sordid gain

7) With eagerness
8) Not lording it over
9) Proving examples to the flock
10) Promise of an unfading crown of glory
11) Clothed with humility - God opposedto proud, gives grace to humble
The TDNT explains that
The term poímnē or poímnion is usedfor flocks or herds of sheepor cattle
numbering from 20 to over500. A mixed herd is in view in Mt. 25:32; such
herds are common in ancient Palestine. The sheepand goats pasture together
but are separatedat night because goats are more susceptible to cold. On
summer nights severalshepherds come togetherwith their flocks and watch
over them in open fields. For better protection the flock might be kept in a
walled court with the door closedand the shepherds on guard. (Kittel, G.,
Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. TheologicalDictionaryof the New
Testament. Eerdmans)
SOVEREIGN SELECTION
BY THE SPIRIT
Holy Spirit has made you overseers -These men did not apply for the position.
They did not receive this title because theywere wealthy, well liked by all,
successfulin business, etc, but because God's Spirit appointed them to the
position! What criteria does your church use in to selectthose God's Spirit has
appointed (See Scriptural "definition" of an overseer - 1Timothy 3:2-7)?
John Phillips adds that...
Elders are not chosenby popular vote. Only the Holy Spirit can equip a man
for that work and endow him with the character, compassion, and the
compulsion to undertake its arduous and time-consuming tasks. A man does
not push himself into the position of an elder. Wealth and socialposition,
business acumen, natural talent, and worldly successdo not equip a man for
the work of an elder.

Only the Holy Spirit can qualify and call a man to that work. Nor is it a work
that can be lightly assumed, flippantly discharged, and easilydropped. If
anyone thinks so let him read and read again this message ofthe greatapostle
until something of the awesomenessofthe position and responsibilities of an
elder are burned into his soul. It is easierto run a multi-national corporation
than it is to shepherd God's "little flock," and a far less responsible work as
well. (Ibid)
Overseers (bishops)(1985)(episkopos fromepi = over or upon + skopos = goal
or end one has in view = English "scope"as in microscope ortelescope)is
literally one who looks over closelyorintently, who views carefully. The
episkopos describesone who superintends, exercises oversightorwatches over
others, thus an "overseer" (one looking overanother). The Latin equivalent is
super-visus, someone who “looksover” things, a manager. From super-visus
comes the English supervisor. Oden emphasizes that "Episkopos implies
vigilance far more than hierarchy." Barclaysums up episkopos noting that it
"always implies two things; first, oversightover some area or sphere of work
and second, responsibility to some higher powerand authority."
These men are appointed to be the guardians of the church and were to care
for the sheepnot as dictators but as spiritual leaders who provided godly
examples (1Pe 5:1,2,3, 4-notes). Click for additional insights on episkopos.
Episkopos is found five times in the NT - Acts 20:28; Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:2; Titus
1:7; 1Pe 2:25.
John Trapp regarding the episkopos quipped that...
many are Aposcopirather than Episcopi, saith Espensaeus;byseers rather
than overseers.
MacArthur - Some have suggestedthat episkopos derives its sense from the
city administrator, inspector, or financial managerof Greek culture. Its New
Testamentusage, however, more closelyparallels that of the Essene Jewsof
the Qumran community. The overseers among the Essenespreached, taught,
presided, exercisedcare and authority, and enforceddiscipline. Those
functions more closelymirror that of the New Testamentoverseerthan the
more narrow use of the term in Greek culture. What are the responsibilities of

the overseer?Theyare to rule (1Ti 5:17), to preachand teach(1Ti 5:17), to
pray for the sick (Js 5:14), to care for the church (see notes 1 Peter5:1; 5:2),
to be examples for others to follow (1Pe 5:1,2-note), to setchurch policy (Acts
15:22ff.), and to ordain other leaders (1Ti 4:14).
The poem by George Liddell describes the characterofan episkopos...
Give me a man of God—one man,
Whose faith is masterof his mind,
And I will right all wrongs
And bless the name of all mankind.
Whose tongue is touched with heaven’s fire,
And I will flame the darkesthearts
With high resolve and cleandesire.
One mighty prophet of the Lord,
And I will give you peace on earth,
Bought with a prayer and not a sword.
True to the vision that he sees,
And I will build your broken shrines,
And bring the nations to their knees
Shepherd ("to care for" = ESV, "to feed" = NJB, YLT, "tend and feedand
guide" = Amp) (4165)(poimaino from poimen = shepherd) means to tend
flocks like shepherds who carried out oversight, protecting, leading,
encouraging, discipling, guarding, guiding and feeding ("feed and lead"). Paul

uses this agricultural term metaphorically to exhort church leaders to exercise
administrative and protective activity over the assembly of believers "to
promote its edification and peace." (Barnes). Englishdictionaries say that "to
shepherd" means to guide, direct or guard in the manner of a shepherd. In
short, the shepherd's role concerning the flock is to...
Graze, Guide and Guard
Jesus, the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11, cp Ps 23:1-note), the Great Shepherd
(Heb 13:20, 21-note), the Chief Shepherd (1Pe 5:4-note) gave clear
instructions regarding the role of the shepherd of the flock in some of His last
words (His words are always important, but "lastwords" are surely of very
specialimport to His shepherds)...
Tend (bosko in the presentimperative = continually feed, pasture, tend to the
needs of) My lambs...Shepherd (poimaino in the - continually take care of,
guide, look after, pasture) My sheep...Tend(bosko in the present imperative)
My sheep. (Jn 21:15, 16, 17-notes)
Spurgeoncommenting on Jesus as our Shepherd in Ps 23:1: The Lord is my
shepherd. What condescensionis this, that the infinite Lord assumes towards
His people the office and characterofa Shepherd! It should be the subjectof
grateful admiration that the greatGod allows Himself to be compared to
anything which will set forth His greatlove and care for His own people.
David had himself been a keeperof sheep, and understoodboth the needs of
the sheepand the many cares of a shepherd. He compares himself to a
creature weak, defenseless, andfoolish, and he takes Godto be his Provider,
Preserver, Director, and, indeed, his everything (Ed: Pause a moment and
praise Jesus as our All in all). No man has a right to considerhimself the
Lord's sheepunless his nature has been renewed(2Cor 5:17-note)for the
scriptural descriptionof unconverted men does not picture them as sheep, but
as wolves or goats (cp Mt 25:32, 33). A sheepis an objectof property, not a
wild animal; its owner sets greatstore by it (1Co 6:20-note, Titus 2:14-note, cp
Lev 20:26), and frequently it is bought with a greatprice. It is well to know, as
certainly David did, that we belong to the Lord. There is a noble tone of
confidence about this sentence. There is no "if" nor "but", nor even "I hope

so";but he says, "The Lord is my shepherd." We must cultivate the spirit of
assureddependence upon our heavenly Father. The sweetestwordof the
whole is that monosyllable, "My." (Ed: "Amen!") He does not say, "The Lord
is the shepherd of the world at large, and leads forth the multitude as his
flock", but "The Lord is my shepherd;" if He be a Shepherd to no one else,
He is a Shepherd to me; He cares forme, watches overme, and preserves me.
The words are in the presenttense. (Ed: In the Septuagint the Greek verb
poimaino is indeed in the present tense signifying Jesus'continual
shepherding of me, His too often unruly sheep!Thank You Jesus forYour
kindness and faithfulness to forever be My Shepherd! Hallelujah!) Whatever
be the believer's position, he is even now under the pastoralcare of Jehovah.
At the end of the letter to the Hebrews we find a soberwarning to all spiritual
leaders (and a warning to the sheep)...
Obey (To the sheep: present imperative = command to make this their
habitual practice)your leaders and submit (present imperative) to them, for
they keepwatch(agrupneo) - literally "abstaining from sleep!" ~ figuratively
= keeping awake, attentive, watchful) over your souls (Note this! Our souls!)
as those who will give (apodidomi) an account(See 2Cor5:10-note; Ro 14:10-
12-note). Let them do this with joy and not with grief (stenazo), for this would
be unprofitable for you. (Heb 13:17-note)
Brian Bell - Shepherd - Our Lord is calledthe Good Shepherd who died
(Jn.10:11);Te GreatShepherd who lives (Heb13:20); The Chief Shepherd
who is coming again(1 Pet5:4). His ministers are rightfully calledshepherds,
& their people sheep. Howard Hendricks said, “If you can't stand the smell of
sheep, you shouldn't be a shepherd.” (Sermon Notes)
Church of God - A brief technicalnote - Some manuscripts read "ofthe
Lord" and others read "ofthe Lord and God." Mosttranslations favor "of
God."
Horton writes that the church was "an assemblymade His own at a
tremendous price, the precious blood of Jesus. (See Eph 1:7; Titus 2:14; Heb.
9:12, 14;13:12-13.)His blood is the ground of the New Covenant (Mark
14:24;Luke 22:20), and the shedding of His blood put the new covenantinto

effectand brings believers into right relationship with God (Rom. 5:9; Col.
1:20; Rev. 5:9).(Acts: A Logion Press Commentary)
Church ("the assembly" = YLT) (1577)(ekklesia fromek = out + klesis = a
calling, verb = kaleo = to call; gives us our English ecclesiastical)literally
means calledout and in secularuse describedthose citizens who were called
out from their homes to be publicly assembled(e.g., a regularly summoned
legislative body or an assembly of the citizens) or gatheredto discuss or carry
out affairs of state. Ekklēsia wasusedof a generalgathering of people (Acts
19:32, 40). In most of the NT uses ekklesiadescribesa people with a shared
belief, an assembly of the Christian community (congregation, church). The
Septuagint repeatedlyused the Greek noun ekklesia to translate the Hebrew
words describing the congregationorassembly of Israel(Dt 9:10, 18:16,
31:30, Jdg 20:2, 1Sa 17:47, 1Ki 8:14), and this same "OT meaning" is found in
Hebrews 2:12 (quoting Ps 22:12)and Acts 7:38.
BDAG has this note on the Christian adoption of the word ekklesia -
(Ekklesia)apparentlybecame popular among Christians in Greek-speaking
areas for chiefly two reasons:to affirm continuity with Israel through use of a
term found in Gk. translations of the Hebrew Scriptures, and to allay any
suspicion, esp. in political circles, that Christians were a disorderly group).
He purchased with His own blood - The Greek allows forrendering it either
as "with His own blood" (NAS, KJV, ESV, et al) or "with the blood of His
own." The NET Bible favors the latter and supplies the word "Son" to clarify
by Whose blood it was purchased. New JerusalemBible is similar - "with the
blood of His own Son." How did Godaccomplishthis end? "He...did not spare
His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all...." (Ro 8:32-note) Note the word
"own" which in the Greek papyri was used as term of endearment to near
relations!The upshot is that the church is God's, not man's! The people
belong to God, not the pastor, even though he is responsible for feeding those
that are under his care.
"Godhas not only redeemed His people from bondage and death but for
Himself." (A W Pink)

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN LEADERSHIP

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN LEADERSHIP

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN LEADERSHIP

Similar to THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN LEADERSHIP (20)

More from GLENN PEASE

More from GLENN PEASE (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN LEADERSHIP