OVERSEERS“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28 NKJVNo church can function without designated leaders. Churches are to function according to Scripture.
I understand there’s a huge flaw in the church right now and celebrity pastors, mega church pastors, prosperity pastors and the like have failed grossly in this area. I have heard so-called prophets saying, “God is doing a new thing and restructuring the church”. No. God has a plan for the organization of the church, He wrote it down and if we are to receive His blessing and safety; we are to return to His design, “Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it. ’”Jeremiah 6:16 NKJVI do not trust anyone who does not show a love and support for the local church.
You are in error and you are leading people astray when you tell them, “where two or three are gathered you are having church”. Wrong. This is a Scripture about judgment. The church and its organization is God’s design. How about you return to Scriptural authority for the church and not your own selfish definition? Many are rebellious and refuse to submit to God-given authority. We are living in the time of lawlessness, the fear of many is prevalent and agape love has grown cold. You are not your own god. You cannot do what you want to do and call it “good”. You are called to submit and obey God-given leadership. If you are not connected to a local body, then you are not under His authority. You are rebellious.
One of the major duties of overseers is to feed the flock by teaching God’s Word. They must always keep in mind that the flock given to them is the people God has purchased to Himself with His Son’s precious blood. Overseers must likewise declare to their church God’s whole will. They must preach the Word… reprove, rebuke, exhort, correct with all long suffering and doctrine and refuse to be preachers who seek to please people and say only what they want to hear.
Paul’s letter to Timothy was to an overseer, not the general assembly. “Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.”2 Timothy 4:2 AMPC
Overseers must diligently protect the sheep from their enemies. Satan has risen up false teachers within the church and infiltrated God’s flock from the outside with imposters who adhere to unbiblical doctrine, worldly thought, pagan and humanistic ideas; all which destroy the Biblical faith of God’s people. Paul calls these “grievous wolves”, meaning that they are strong, difficult to handle, ravenous and dangerous. Such draw people away from Scriptural teachings and toward themselves and their distorted gospel.
The apostle’s urgent plea to guard the faith places a solemn obligation on all leaders to guard the church and oppose all who would distort the fundamental revelation of NT faith. As a major aspect of guarding God’s church, leaders must discipline, correct, and firmly refute all within the church who teach things contrary to God’s Word. Church leaders and local pastors do well to remember that the Lord Jesus has made them responsible for the lives of the persons in their care. (If no one is in your care, you are not a shepherd. If you are not under a shepherd, you are not under God’s care). God requires face to face fellowship. Online “church” is not the fellowship of the saints.
Beware of FB preachers and prophets, who have no one under their care and no one to vouch for their character and the Biblical requirements for overseers. These do what they want and say what they want with no accountability, leading people astray. Submission to church and leadership authority is Biblical and mandatory. You are not a sheep, but a goat if you are outside His authority.
The role of an overseer is not just NT Scripture, for God spoke of a day when He would give true shepherds to take care of and guard over His people, “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15 God holds these shepherds guilty of the blood of all those who are lost because of that leader’s refusal to protect the flock from those who weaken and distort the Word of God. God has not rewritten plans for His church. Go back to the original model. It still stands as a sure and solid foundation.
The meeting place is irrelevant as long as the framework is in tact. You cannot have “church” without overseers and designated leadership over the flock of God. There are moral qualifications for overseers, for it is a high calling that comes with it strict qualifications and greater expectations. To whom more is given, more is expected. Many will fail God’s standard on the day of judgment because they refused to correct and discipline the flock, guard the faith and take care of the sheep. I pray for these pastors daily.
However, there are many God-fearing overseers who love and cherish the flock given to them. They correct and discipline with all authority, they preach the Word and will hear a “Well done good snd faithful servant”. Find one of these to be under and submit to. I can give you a list of many I know and trust. I will discuss moral qualifications in another daily. God bless saint!#runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
