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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

1. While we will regret setting the bar below the standards of Scripture in recognizing men called to the eldership, we can also in our zeal set it artificially higher than the Scriptures, and fail to recognize that some of the best gifts grow in ministry. 2. Especially remember that “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:3), with its corollary of being able to “rebuke” (Tit. 1:9, i.e. to use the Scriptures for the ends for which they were given [2 Tim. 3:15-16]) does not specify an arena. Some are “able to teach” who are not suited to regular public preaching. 3. Look for men whose lives exhibit the spirit of, as well as an intellectual grasp of, sound doctrine. Orthodoxy with approachability is a great desideratum in an elder (approachability being the very least that “hospitable” means; Tit. 1:8). 4. Pose the most neglected question—”Do outsiders think well of him?” (1 Tim. 3:7)—and ponder why that question is important. 5. Choose those who are already “among” the flock, and the flock “among” them (1 Pet. 5: 2). Moral, domestic, occupational, didactic qualifications being met, ask, “Does this man love the flock and is he beloved by them?” Commitment to corporate prayer is often a litmus test. 6. Avoid appointing those who would commit to loving the flock if they were asked to be elders. Better by far to have men who love the sheep than men who love being shepherds (the former will become the latter, but not vice-versa). 7. Seek men who are simultaneously gentle but prepared to be courageous, and prepared to suffer if need be—to get in front to protect as well as behind to follow! An elder must be capable of both biblical rebuke and gentle restoration (Gal. 6:2). Quieter men, with quiet hearts, are worth their weight in gold and may astonish us by their wisdom. 8. Ask the question, “Would our church be willing, if need be, to pay this man a stipend to labor among us as an elder?” The answer may tell a great deal about his ministry in the flock and his esteem in their eyes. 9. Consider how well a man’s life echoes the principles of the Lord’s shepherding in Psalm 23.
Sinclair Ferguson

The more that God's Word is removed from our lives, the more inhibited our spiritual progress becomes. Nothing else can do the work that the truth does. There is no sanctifying power in human wisdom, intuition, insight, or experience. It is only in the Word of God. Only the truth revealed in Scripture sanctifies – sound teaching accurately interpreted, understood, and applied. As divine revelation is embraced, spiritual progress is made. There are no alternative routes to godly character and holy living.
John MacArthur

    • THANKSGIVING

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    THANKSGIVING

    THANKSGIVING

    1. Christ set an example of # Mt 11:25 26:27 Joh 6:11 11:41
    2. The heavenly host engaged in # Re 4:9 7:11,12 11:16,17
    3. Commanded # Ps 50:14 Php 4:6
    4. Is a good thing # Ps 92:1
    5. SHOULD BE OFFERED 5a) To God

      # Ps 50:14

    5b) To Christ # 1Ti 1:12 5c) Through Christ # Ro 1:8 Col 3:17 Heb 13:15 5d) In the name of Christ # Eph 5:20 5e) In behalf of ministers # 2Co 1:11 5f) In private worship # Da 6:10 5g) In public worship # Ps 35:18 5h) In everything # 1Th 5:18 5i) Upon the completion of great undertakings # Ne 12:31,40 5j) Before taking food # Joh 6:11 Ac 27:35 5k) Always # Eph 1:16 5:20 1Th 1:2 5l) At the remembrance of God’s holiness # Ps 30:4 97:12 5m) For the goodness and mercy of God # Ps 106:1 107:1 136:1-3 5n) For the gift of Christ # 2Co 9:15 5o) For Christ’s power and reign # Re 11:17 5p) For the reception and effectual working of the word of God in others # 1Th 2:13 5q) For deliverance through Christ from in-dwelling sin # Ro 7:23-25 5r) For victory over death and the grave # 1Co 15:57 5s) For wisdom and might # Da 2:23 5t) For the triumph of the gospel # 2Co 2:14 5u) For the conversion of others # Ro 6:17 5v) For faith exhibited by others # Ro 1:8 2Th 1:3 5w) For love exhibited by others # 2Th 1:3 5x) For the grace bestowed on others # 1Co 1:4 Php 1:3-5 Col 1:3-6 5y) For the zeal exhibited by others # 2Co 8:16 5z) For the nearness of God’s presence # Ps 75:1 5A) For appointment to the ministry # 1Ti 1:12 5B) For willingness to offer our property for God’s service # 1Ch 29:6-14 5C) For the supply of our bodily wants # Ro 14:6,7 1Ti 4:3,4 5D) For all men # 1Ti 2:1 5E) For all things # 2Co 9:11 Eph 5:20 6) Should be accompanied by intercession for others # 1Ti 2:1 2Ti 1:3 Phm 1:4 7) Should always accompany prayer # Ne 11:17 Php 4:6 Col 4:2 8) Should always accompany praise # Ps 92:1 Heb 13:15 9) Expressed in psalms # 1Ch 16:7 10) Ministers appointed to offer, in public # 1Ch 16:4,7 23:30 2Ch 31:2 11) SAINTS 11a) Exhorted to # Ps 105:1 Col 3:15 11b) Resolved to offer # Ps 18:49 30:12 11c) Habitually offer # Da 6:10 11d) Offer sacrifices of # Ps 116:17 11e) Abound in the faith with # Col 2:7 11f) Magnify God by # Ps 69:30 11g) Come before God with # Ps 95:2 11h) Should enter God’s gate with # Ps 100:4 12) Of hypocrites, full of boasting # Lu 18:11 13) The wicked averse to # Ro 1:21 14) Exemplified 14a) David # 1Ch 29:12 14b) Levites # 2Ch 5:12,13 14c) Daniel # Da 2:23 14d) Jonah # Jon 2:9 14e) Simeon # Lu 2:28 14f) Anna # Lu 2:38 14g) Paul # Ac 28:15

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