Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Annual Congregation Meeting and election for the Church session members will be held on the 3rd of July 2011. Nomination for session members ended two weeks ago and nominees for election will soon be announced through the weekly and letters to the members of the Church. The election of Church leaders is an important matter that concerns all. The method of identification of potential leaders of the church is not the same as the world’s to spot their leaders. However both cases do not differ much from one another as far as the understanding that the leader to lead and the follower to follow.

In the world there are millions of people waiting for opportunities to prove themselves in the business and corporate world. Employers and bosses are quick to identify them and tab their skills and talents or stand to lose the competitive edge.

And likewise many churches are identifying men and women merely because they have outstanding qualities. But to overlook the requirements that the Lord has specified as Biblical qualifications that potential leaders will be tested for, will be disastrous. The consequences of choosing our leaders based on talent and flair, favoritism and popularity and not godly characteristics and the right motivation to serve, will only bring harm and injury to the Church.

The Lord’s calling on us to be Christians, is the general calling to holiness and sanctification of the life in Christ. But the Lord calls some to special service as pastors, ministers, elders and deacons. Firstly, the call to be Christians is essential to the biblical understanding of our existence before God. Secondly, the call to serve Him as His servants as pastors, elders and deacons is also essential to the biblical understanding of our existence before God.

The gospel of Mark has it that the Lord came to Simon Peter and Andrew, John and Andrew. They were fishing and had no hint whatsoever of what was about to happen to them. The Lord said to them, “Come ye after me and I will make you to become fishers of men” The life of discipleship of Christ is not of choice but of calling.

And foremost to the calling is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. A non-Christian has no reason to follow Jesus that you and I have.

The Lord sets Himself an example for us in His life and mission. From the beginning of His earthly ministry of teaching, preaching and healing in the regions of Judea, Galilee and Samaria to the last stretch of His journey to Jerusalem to accomplish the work through His death. Likewise to answer to God’s call will not become a reality overnight but over time through an arduous journey that will often come with many challenges, fatigue, disappointments and even failures. And therefore it behoves us to pray for the returning officers and candidates that will be elected to serve God in Tabernacle BP Church.

Below is a checklist to be a guide for identifying the qualifications for an elder and deacon.

1. Do the candidates possess the spiritual gifts?

a) Luke 21:15, “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”

b) Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

c) 1 Timothy 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.”

2. Do the candidates possess the right motive or motivation?

a) 1 Timothy 3:1, “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work .”

b) Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with His own blood.”

c) Acts 6:3 and 4, “Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom we may appoint over this business.”

3) Do the candidates possess godly characteristics?

a) To be above reproach – 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6

b) To have self control in his life – 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8

c) A gentleman – 2 Timothy 2:24 -25, Galatians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:7.

d) Not prone to violence – 1 Timothy 3:3, Proverbs 3:30, 15:18, Philippians 2:3.

e) Not quarrelsome – 1 Timothy 3:2, 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:22-26, James 3:17.

f) Not greedy – 1 Timothy 6:5-10, 2 Timothy 3:6-7.

g) Not easily given to anger – Titus 1:7, Proverbs 16:32.

h) Not given to strong drinks – 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7.

i) To have humility – Titus 1:7, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5, Roman 12:3.

j) To be holy – Titus 1:8, 1 Peter 1:16, 2 Peter 3:11.

k) To have hospitality – 1 Timothy 3:2, Hebrews 13:2.

l)  To be just – Titus 1:8, Colossians 4:1, Romans 13:7.

m) A lover of good – Titus 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Hebrews 3:6.

Pastor Douglas Ho

Walking By Faith

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)

Our second hero of faith is Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 records that “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God : and he was not; for God took him.”

What a wonderful epitaph : “Enoch walked with God.” His life exemplifies the walk of faith. Adam and Eve had walked with God in the Garden of Eden, but their sin separated them from such intimacy. Enoch experienced the fellowship with God they had forfeited.

Enoch’s faithful walk pleased God greatly. And after more than three hundred years on earth, Enoch was translated to heaven without ever experiencing death. It’s as if God simply said, “Enoch, I enjoy your company so much, I want you to join me up here right now.”

Like Enoch, there is coming a generation of Christians who will never see death. Someday–perhaps soon–Jesus will return for His church, “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians. 4:17). Enoch is a beautiful picture of that great future event, which we call the rapture of the church.

As you walk with God, He delights in you. You’re His child and your praises and fellowship bring Him joy. Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Even death itself simply ushers you into His presence for all eternity.

Let the joy of intimacy with God, and the anticipation of seeing Christ face to face–either by rapture or by death– motivate you to please Him more and more each day of your life.

Suggestions for Prayer : Thank God for the promise of Christ’s return.

(Adapted from http://got-fruit.net/blog/2009/11/09/walking-by-faith-macarthur-devotional/)