YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, PLEASE

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, PLEASE

Exodus 18:13-27; Acts 6:1-7

Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

September 11, 2005

For many, the fall season is a time for personal self-assessment. The Nominating Committee has been prayerfully and diligently at work, seeking to find those whom God is calling to serve, either as deacons or as elders. We need to be in prayer for the Nominating Committee as they are about this task, and also for those whom they contact, for the sake of the Church and in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Following upon the passage in Exodus, practically speaking, we need a plurality of leadership. In this event, we see that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, provided him with sound advice and counsel. Moses was doing all of the ministry in settling disputes and in clarifying how the Law was to be applied in certain specific situations. But the demand was killing him. “What you are doing is not good,” said Jethro. “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”

Moses listened to that advice. Consequently, he appointed others to help in this ministry. But they had to have certain qualifications: “ … capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain …” In so doing, the burden of ministry was shared, and the needs of the people were met to a far greater degree than ever before.

In our passage from the Book of Acts, we find the very same principle at work. The apostles were being distracted from the primary ministry of the Word and prayer, because of the urgency and the demand of the church’s increasing needs. Complaints were being raised in this large and ever growing church, that some widows were not getting as much food as were some other widows. Cultural bias may have been behind this, as well as the immensity of the task.

The office of deacon was then established for the good of all. Deacons were elected by the church and were ordained with prayer and the laying on of hands by the apostles. The fruit of employing such a principle of shared ministry is clearly to be seen in what then happened. First of all, the apostles could “give (their) attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” The word in the original has the idea of deep devotion or commitment. They could devote themselves to the God-given priorities of their ministry, while the deacons turned to theirs.

Secondly, the church could and would grow in many ways, as we are told: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Today, the very same principle applies to us. If our church is to grow in spiritual strength and number, it will not be because the pastors do all the work! Pastors have their specific calling, particularly in the varied dimensions of the ministry of prayer and the Word, but no where does Scripture say that pastors are to do it all. In fact, the Bible states that pastors are Christ’s gift to the Church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ.”[i]

Secondly, our church will grow stronger in spiritual strength, number, fellowship and mission outreach when we remember just that: that God calls each and every Christian to exercise his or her gift(s) in ministry. Rarely if ever is there any justifiable reason to be excused from such service, and there is to be no retirement in this life from serving Christ and His Church in some way.

Lastly, our church moves forward when we have leaders who meet needed qualifications. When they have these attributes, are called by God, elected by the church and ordained by the pastors, the church and the kingdom of God prosper in strength, influence and outreach. What might these qualifications be? Our text mentions three of them, and they are essential for good, solid leadership in the church.

THE FIRST QUALIFICATION

IS BEING FULL OF THE SPIRIT.

The apostles instructed the church to find among themselves those of an upstanding reputation, first of all in being under the influence and prevailing power of the Holy Spirit. This was no minor matter, for you will recall that the apostles themselves could only minister in the Holy Spirit’s enabling power.

Following His resurrection and just before His ascension, Jesus cautioned His disciples about not going too fast. “You are witnesses of these things,” He said. “I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then later, in the book of Acts, we have the key theme given: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [ii]

Likewise, for anyone who minister’s in Jesus’ name, but particularly a called leader in Christ’s vineyard, there must be a conscious dependence upon the Holy Spirit for every aspect of that ministry.

We can see such fullness of the Spirit in the life of others. We can see it in a person who has a passion for Christ and a deep commitment to know, love and obey Him. We can see it in a fervent desire to grow in knowledge and experience, and in a deeper prayerfulness about everything. We can also see the fullness of the Holy Spirit in a person when that person is active and energetic in self-denying labors that benefit others, the church, and the world. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that those of the self-indulgent type only bring mischief into the church.

Organization in the church, you see, is only a part of the picture. The kind of leadership we have is yet another! This is illustrated in a story Dr. Sam Moffett tells regarding the first Korean presbytery.

A great revival had occurred there in Korea, where people had prayed fervently and earnestly and the power of the Holy Spirit came. Not long after, the first presbytery was established with seven Korean ministers just out of seminary, and Moffet’s missionary father as the moderator.

In the midst of this meeting, the ministers realized they’d be the first pastors of the Korean church. “But a real church has more than ministers,” they said. “It has missionaries.” That’s when they looked hard at a burly young man, recognizing him as having at one time stoned the very first missionary the young man ever saw. He sadly admitted it, only to then hear them say: “You will be our first missionary.”

And he was, being ordained by Moffett’s father, who 16 years before was precisely the missionary that man had stoned! He went as their first missionary, called, ordained and empowered by the Spirit, to a small island where he himself was stoned as he stood up to preach the Gospel. [iii] Here there was organization, but it was also purposefully matched with the Holy Spirit’s power for witness, as it always should be!

THE SECOND QUALIFICATION GIVEN IS BEING FULL OF WISDOM.

This qualification comes from one’s personality, temperament and experience, but it also comes from the Holy Spirit and prayer.

In the early church, wisdom was of course required to manage the affairs connected with their office of deacon. The deacons needed good sense, discretion and prudence in managing the particular work to which God was calling them through the voice of the congregation.

Likewise, we today need such leaders, who have insight and a good sense of judgment. There is the natural side to it, to be sure. But again, such wisdom is especially birthed by the Holy Spirit in prayer.

For example, the Session in 1999 had to make a critical decision for the following year. We had proposed to us a ½ million dollar project of refurbishment, both for the sanctuary and office space as well. The cost amount was staggering, perhaps the largest ever proposed in the church’s history, and many of us were wondering if we should proceed in doing this.

Wisdom was greatly needed, and I remember calling the Session at one particular meeting to break up into groups of three, not to discuss the matter, but to bring it before the Lord in prayer. The Lord graciously answered our humble prayers, as we were led to move forward in this together.

Apparently, President Abraham Lincoln also saw the connection between prayer and wisdom. He once confessed: “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day.”

He went on to say of the Lord’s answers to prayer:

I have had so many evidences of His direction, so many instances of times when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannot doubt that this power comes from God. I frequently see my way clear to a decision when I am conscious that I have not sufficient facts on which to found it. I am satisfied that, when the Almighty wants me to do, or not to do a particular thing, He finds a way of letting me know. I talk to God, and when I do, my mind seems relieved and a way is suggested. [iv]

The demands of leadership require such a qualification, to be full of wisdom, through prayer and the working of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.

III

THE THIRD QUALIFICATION NOTED IS BEING FULL OF FAITH.

This can be found as one qualification the church saw in Stephen, and not so much as a general qualification. We are told, “They (the church) chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit …”

Now, this faith is not saving faith, although it surely includes this. One cannot be a “disciple” of Christ, that is to say a Christian, without complete faith and trust in Him, relying solely upon Him for the gift of one’s salvation and into an active, abiding relationship with God.

But it also means an open and receptive attitude towards the work of God in one’s life, as well as in the church and in the world. It is not unreasonable then that Luke joins in his description of Stephen both the fullness of faith and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Trust in the Almighty can never be separated from the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.

It is so critical here to note the difference between believing in God and believing God in a way of trusting God. We can believe everything about God in the most orthodox and traditional of terms. We can be educated thoroughly in seminary in matters of sound doctrine and give all the right answers to the questions coming our way, saying, “Yes, I believe in God!” But this is not the same as being full of faith, or living a life of faith.

In Isaiah 43:10, the LORD says to Israel: “You are My witnesses and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.” Our call is to a personal relationship with God, and to an abiding trust that He is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do.

There is a danger, dear friends, when we expect too little from God, for that is precisely what we will get! With this in mind, listen to the counsel of the following poem:

Filled with a strange new hope they came,

The blind, the leper, the sick, the lame,

Frail of body and spent of soul

As many as touched Him were made whole.

On every tongue was the Healer’s name

Throughout the land they spread His fame.

But doubt held tightly to its wooden crutch

Saying, ‘We must not expect too much.’

Down through the ages the promise came,

Healing for sorrow, sin and shame.

Help for the helpless, hope for the blind,

Healing of body, soul and mind.

The Lord we worship is still the same,

With blessings for all who will to claim.

But how often we miss love’s healing touch

By saying, ‘We must not expect too much!’ [v]

Now, I am fully aware of the danger of extremes, such as in believing God for too much “health and wealth.” But I find that this extreme isn’t found nearly as much in this congregation or many others as well, as is the extreme of expecting too little from God. That’s where too many of us are, quite frankly, for “we must not expect too much!” And yet God has so much more in mind for us, if we would only live a life of faith and trust, and this is extremely critical for leaders in the church.

Thankfully, one qualification not given here is that of perfection! Members and leaders are incapable of such, after all. But may we have leaders who are full of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, and of faith. May the Lord prepare and provide such leadership, for the sake of His Church, for the sake of His kingdom, and for the sake of His glory!