1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NET) This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.” The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.
But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.
Tade was appointed to the highest level of leadership of his local church assembly, but he realized that immediately after his appointment, he started facing terrible and unbearable demonic attacks. Also, he found that he didn’t have the spiritual authority that was expected to come with his ordination into that exalted church leadership office.
As he continued to inquire of the Lord, it became clear to him and the leadership in the church that he was so afflicted because he was wrongly appointed into church leadership. He was not qualified and did not have the required spiritual authority to handle such a position. He was only physically occupying a seat, but spiritually, he had no authority.
We see from today’s Bible verse the criteria for those who are to be appointed to the highest level of leadership in the church. One thing we must note is that these criteria are God’s will and not man’s idea. If a man is appointed to the highest level of church leadership but does not meet these criteria, he would only be a physical figurehead and not be able to wield the spiritual authority of his office.
So great is the authority of the church leadership that the judgment of the church should be more feared and respected than the judgment of any human court(see 1 Corinthians 6:1-4). When the church binds a thing on earth, it is bound in the heavens also(Matthew 16:18). But all of this is only possible when those who occupy the top leadership of the church are qualified for the leadership.
If a man meets these criteria mentioned in today’s Bible text, it is an indication that he has the required stature and spiritual capacity to be appointed into the highest level of leadership in the church.
Go into today remembering that the spiritual authority and capacity you have is directly a result of your submission to the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, let every aspect of my life reflect my submission to your authority. Amen.
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—Abraham Damilola Arigi
Yearly Bible Reading: Revelation 7-11 (in Devotional Audio)Audio Bible credit: Bible Experience, Zondervan
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