FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
WASHINGTON, DC
A SERMON PREACHED ON SUNDAY
MAY 30, 1999
BY
THE REV. DR. GEORGE ST. ANTHONY FERGUSON, SR.
AUTHOR: Paul
THEME: Church Order
DATE: 64 AD
TEXT: 1 Timothy 5:21
All of us know something about a charge. All of us know something about having a charge. All of us know something about getting a charge. A charge is an order. A charge is a toll. A charge is something that is due. Those of us who drive know something about giving a charge to a battery. We all know about the Sears Die Hard battery. And almost all of us something about a charge card. We charge on our VISA. We charge on our MasterCard. We charge on our American Express. We say charge it. We know a charge as a cost. We know a charge as a price. We know a charge as an expense. We know a charge as a liability. But there is another charge and it is a charge from God. When God gives a charge He gives a requirement. When God gives a charge He gives a command. When God gives a charge He gives a mandate. When God gives a charge He gives an order. And so on this 5th Sunday as we head towards Memorial Day and as we are about to ordain the Rev. Leroy Long, Jr., the Lord told me to preach on the title: A Charge To Keep I Have.
We find ourselves in the 5th chapter of the book of 1 Timothy. By way of introduction, you should know that this is one of 13 epistles that Paul wrote. In this letter, Paul was writing about church order. 1 Timothy was written during the last years of Paul's life. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are known as Pastoral Epistles for pastors. And as the early church increased in number, questions of church order, soundness in the faith, and church discipline arose. And Paul wrote this letter to help Timothy bring order in the church. Timothy was Paul's son in the ministry. Timothy was much younger than Paul. Timothy was the son of a Greek Gentile father and a faithful Jewish mother. Timothy was raised by his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. The whole focus of 1 Timothy is on how a young preacher ought to conduct himself in the house of the Lord. And Paul was an educated man. Paul got his Ph.D. from the greatest Jewish rabbi to live, Rabboni Gamaliel. Paul was well connected theologically, politically, socially and economically. Paul was on the staff of the High Priest and may have been being groomed to be the successor to Rabboni Gamaliel. As a Pharisee of the Pharisees, Paul persecuted the Church. But on the road to Damascus, Jesus blinded him by the light, knocked him off his beast, and converted Paul from Judaism to Christianity. Paul asked Jesus what would you have me to do, Lord. Paul was saved by the grace of God. And by the time we get to chapter 5, Paul warned Timothy of the heresy that would come into the Church. Paul told Timothy how women were to work in the Church. Paul told Timothy the qualifications of a pastor. Paul told Timothy what was the walk of a good minister. Paul told Timothy what was the work of a good minister. And beginning in V17, Paul said, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." My first point to you is this: "Give Double Honor To Your Pastor." The Greek word that is translated elder is the word "Presbuteros." Presbuteros is transliterated into our word Presbyterian and it means elder. Presbuteros means shepherd. Presbuteros means pastor. Paul is trying to tell us that the pastor of the church who rules the church well ought to be counted as worthy of double honor. The pastor who rules the church well ought to be counted as worthy of not one but two honors. In other words, if you honor him once, you ought to honor him twice. If you bless him once, you ought to bless him twice. If you give him one gift, you ought to give him two gifts. In ancient times, the first born son was considered worthy of a double portion of blessings. Whatever the father gave to his second or other sons was to be doubled for the first born son. For example, if the second son got an acre of land, the first son got two. Joseph, the one who had the coat of many colors, was such a son. He got a double portion of everything. And when God named the 12 tribes, He made Levi the priestly tribe and put Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, among the 12 tribes of Israel. God gave Joseph a double portion of Canaan Land. And Paul understood the double portion and said the preacher is worthy of double honor. This double honor was to go to those who especially labored in the Word and in doctrine. Laboring in the Word means preparing yourself by studying the Word. Paul said to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Laboring in doctrine means to understand the truth and to teach the truth. Paul said you must have sound doctrine. In other words, the pastor's teaching must be solid. If you want to know if you have a pastor who is worthy of double honor, then he should be
BLAMELESS
THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE
TEMPERATE
SOBER MINDED
OF GOOD BEHAVIOR
GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY
APT TO TEACH
NOT GIVE TO WINE
NOT VIOLENT
NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE
PATIENT
NOT A BRAWLER
NOT COVETOUS
ONE THAT RULES HIS HOUSE WELL
ONE WHO HAS HIS CHILDREN IN SUBJECTION
NOT A NOVICE
HAVE A GOOD REPORT FROM THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
Say amen church. I'm talking about A Charge To Keep I Have.
Paul told us that God wants us to give honor to the pastor. But more than that, God does not want us to limit the pastor and tie up his hands. Paul in V18 said, "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn; and The laborer is worthy of his reward." My second point is this "Reward Your Pastor Well." God wants the man of God to be one of the freest men on earth. As the people of God, your job is not to control your pastor. As the people of God, your job is not to hog tie your pastor. As the people of God, your job is not to muzzle your pastor. Paul said for the scripture says you shall not muzzle the ox who treads out the corn. Paul was quoting from Deuteronomy 25:4. The word ox is symbolic language and it means the pastor. The word ox means the preacher. The word ox means the proclaimer of the Word. The word ox means the man who stands in John's shoes. And the word muzzle means to harness. To muzzle means to subdue. To muzzle means to control. In order to control an ox you have to muzzle it. A muzzle is a leather harness that covers the mouth of the ox, keeps it closed, and allows you to lead the ox. Paul was using agricultural language to teach us a spiritual truth. After the grain of corn was harvested, most of it was grind up to make corn meal or grits. The grain would be placed on a grits mill and then a heavy stone wheel would roll over the corn to grind it down. In ancient times, an ox was attached to the grinding stone at a 90 degree angle and walked in a circular manner around and around the mill stone. The grinding stone would roll over the grain again and again grinding it into corn meal or even finer into grits. I know something about grits and corn meal because I'm from the South. I'm talking about grits with salt not grits with sugar. I love to eat grits and eat corn bread made from corn meal. And while that ox grind out the corn, he was allowed to eat some of the corn as he worked. He was allowed to eat some of the corn in order to keep his strength up and to keep him motivated to work. And what Paul is trying to tell us is that you have to allow your pastor to receive some of the monetary and material blessings of the church in order to keep his strength up in the Lord and to keep him motivated to do the work of the Lord. This reminds me of the story of the old deacon who was praying for the new pastor of the church and he said, "Lord bless our new pastor. Keep his hands in your hands. Keep his heart in your heart. Keep his mind in your mind. Keep him in your Word. And Lord, we ask that you keep him humble because we're sure gonna keep him poor." And that is the attitude too many people in the church have. They think their job is to muzzle the ox. They think their job is to control the pastor. They think their job is to under pay the pastor. But Paul said if God takes care of the oxen then the people of God ought to take care of the pastor. Paul said if we have sown unto you spiritual things then it is no great thing if we reap your material things. Paul said they that preach the gospel ought to live of the gospel. Free up your pastor by paying him a living wage. Free up your pastor by paying him a loving wage. Free up your pastor by paying him a full time wage. Your pastor really cannot do his best unless he is full time and can live of the gospel. Pay him a just wage. Pay him a decent wage. If you want your pastor's best, them give him your best. Now, I know that some churches are too small to pay a full time pastor's price. God understands and God will provide. But this is not usually a problem with poor people in small churches. They usually do the best they can. It has been my experience that some of the best appointed churches with big budgets and large memberships and a large sanctuary are some of the least willing to pay their pastors a living wage or give a visiting preaching a love offering. One of the biggest Baptist churches in Washington, DC never paid me when I preached there. One of the biggest churches in South Carolina never paid me when I preached there. I was willing to take a love offering but they did not show me any love. And the people of God often wonder why some pastors and preachers set a fee before they would come to preach. The people of God who are represented by the deacons and trustees must know that the pastors and preachers of God must live of the gospel. God told the Jews that all the Jewish priests who ministered in the Temple of God in Jerusalem were to live of the offerings brought to the Temple. The Jews brought meat offerings and drink offering and bread offerings and grain offerings and monetary offerings; and all the ministers of God were given a portion of each and every one of these offerings. God rarely required all the offerings to be offered to Him. A portion of most of the offerings went to the priests as payment for services rendered. A Jewish priest never starved to death or went around poor. God provided their needs through the offerings. That's why God through Malachi said bring all the tithes in the storehouse that there may be meat in My house. And God wants His pastors to receive a portion of the offerings in the church as payment for services rendered. God does not want his preachers to starve to death or go around poor. Living of the gospel is God's way to provide the needs of the pastor. Paul said and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. And Paul said the laborer is worthy of his reword.
THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS HIRE
THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS PAY
THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS SALARY
THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS INCOME
YOUR PASTOR IS WORTHY OF THE BLESSING OF GOD
Pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto your bosom. Am I right about it? I'm preaching about A Charge To Keep I Have.
Make sure you treat your pastor right. David said touch not God's anointed. Paul said do not receive an accusation against a pastor unless there are two or three witnesses. Because out of the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. You cannot just listen to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who want to say something bad about your pastor. Tom, Dick and Harry might be wrong. Tom, Dick and Harry might have second hand or third hand information. Tom, Dick and Harry might just be spreading a rumor. Tom, Dick and Harry might have mean motives. You better watch out for Tom, Dick and Harry; and Thomasia, Drucilla and Henrietta too. You should seriously listen to an accusation against your pastor only when there are two or three direct witnesses, not just one. Even in a court of law, the prosecuting attorney knows that he should not go forward with a prosecution unless he has two or three direct witnesses. Shouldn't you show the love of God to your pastor and not listen to the rumors? And if the pastor has committed a sin and repents from the heart, forgive him. Give him the grace of God. Jesus said you without sin cast the first stone. Paul said for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. If the pastor repents from the heart, then treat him like Jesus treated Peter. Peter left Jesus and denied Jesus three times and Jesus died on the Cross all alone. But after his resurrection, Jesus asked Peter do you love me more than these. Peter said yes Lord you know I love you and Jesus said feed my lambs. Again Jesus asked Peter do you love me. Peter said yes Lord you know I love you and Jesus said feed my sheep. For the third time Jesus asked Peter do you love me. Peter broke down and started crying and said Lord you know all things. You know I love you and Jesus said feed my sheep. Three times Peter denied Jesus and three times Jesus loved Peter. All of us have sinned. All of us have failed God. All of us have done the wrong thing. But God is the God of the second chance and the third chance and the fourth chance and as many chances as you need chance. But if the pastor will not repent, then rebuke him before all so that other pastors and people may fear the power of God. And in V21, Paul gave Timothy a charge. Paul said, "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality." My final point is this "You Have A Charge To Keep Before God." God wants us pastors to be impartial. God wants us pastors not to show preference toward one member over another. God wants us pastors to act like Him, not because we are God, but because we serve a mighty God. God is not a respecter of persons. God is holy so we ought to be holy. Paul said be imitators of Christ. And I can't do it unless the Holy Ghost is leading me and guiding me. You can't do it unless the Holy Ghost is leading you and guiding you. Your pastor can't do it unless the Holy Ghost is leading him and guiding him. We can't do it in and of ourselves. But in God, all things are possible. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This is our hope. This is our faith. This is our charge. Well, as I head to my seat, I want you to know that God blessed me to preach this ordination sermon for my brother, the Rev. Leroy Long, Jr. Leroy, you're no spring chicken when it comes to preaching the Word. You've pastored in Lima, OH. You've pastored in Covington, KY. You' ve pastored in Hamilton, OH. You've pastored in Dayton, OH. While in Dayton, you've pastored Harris Memorial CME Church. You've pastored First Wesleyian Church. And now God has called you to pastor God's Vision Church. You need God's vision to start a church from scratch. You need God's vision to start from the ground up. You need God's vision to start from nothing. But remember, God created from nothing. God created Ex Nihilo. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. John said behold, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. Joel said your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. Solomon said without a vision the people perish. Leroy, keep on seeing the new heaven and the new earth. Leroy, keep on seeing visions. Leroy, don't let God's people perish. Leroy, I charge you this day before God and this congregation to serve the Lord with gladness. I charge you this day before Jesus and His holy angels to be ye steadfast and unmovable. I charge you this day to put on the whole armor of God. I charge you this day to preach the Word, be instant, in season and out of season. When everybody wants to follow you, preach the Word. When nobody wants to follow you, preach the Word. Because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Leroy the time has come and now is that most church folks will not endure sound doctrine. They would rather heap to themselves teachers who will scratch their itching ears. They would rather heap to themselves teachers who allow them to follow their own lust because their teachers are doing the same thing. They have turned their ears away from the truth. They would rather believe a fable and a bright shining lie. But Leroy, you watch and pray. You endure afflictions. You do the work of an evangelist. You make full proof of your ministry. You fight the good fight of faith. This is not the first time you have been ordained but this is the first time you have been ordained this way. But make sure you've been ordained by God. Make sure you've been set apart by God. Make sure you've been sent by God. Some folks were sent and other folks just went. But Jesus was sent by God. Jesus was ordained by God. Jesus was charged by God. And Leroy, you are sent and ordained and charged by God to preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. You've got a charge to keep. I've got a charge to keep. We all have a charge to keep. The song says a charge to keep I have. A God to glorify. Who sent His Son, my soul to save and fit it for the sky. Jesus died. And I don't know about you but I'm gonna keep my charge. A charge to have faith. A charge to have hope. A charge to have love. A charge to have peace. A charge to have joy. A charge to talk right. A charge to walk right. A charge to live right. A charge to love right. A charge to be right. A charge to do right. Say amen, somebody! And I just want to ask one question: "Will you keep your charge until you die?" The doors of the church are now opened.
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