elder’s qualifications – ONE Can Happen

“Herein I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.”

– Paul in Acts 24:16

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1 Timothy 3
King James Version

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop [overseer – WEB], he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop [the overseer – WEB] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker [including warmongering – editor], not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree [For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing – WEB], and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 1
King James Version

4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop [the overseer – WEB] must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre [not greedy for dishonest gain – WEB]; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

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Notice how blameless is used here:

Philippians 2

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding up the word of life….

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Blameless and holy must at least mean that overseers are going-to-heaven Christians, which means they must be in the Galatians-5 “Those who are Christ’s” list and not in the “will not inherit the Kingdom” list.

Galatians 5

13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one other, that you may not do the things that you desire. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

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They must walk according to the Spirit to be in Christ, and led by the Spirit to be a child of God:

Romans 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

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Can’t be a liar

Revelation 21

8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

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No root of bitterness

Hebrews 12:14-15

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

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Pure in heart [demon-free heart?] and a peacemaker

Matthew 5

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the children of God.

Leaders must reconcile — always having a clear conscience before God and men (as did Paul – Acts 24:16) and Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24:

“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

An overseer “must be blameless”: right with God and all people — having a clear conscience — “no condemnation,” walking according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh.

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I wrote in January of 2011:

Most overseers are currently biblically disqualified.

Making sure overseers are biblically qualified will bring in real Christianity, which will be real revival!

A whole lot of healing needs to go on. “It’s time to repent.”

Let us be ONE!

Jeff Fenske
Anchorage, Alaska