Evaluating Yourself as an Elder

Watch for Frustration, Faultfinding, Cynicism, Doubt and

Fear

Lessons to Remember• Do not complain – Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all

things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

• Hurting God’s people hurts God.– Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havoc of the

church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”

Lessons to Remember

• Hurting God’s people hurts God.– Acts 9:1-4. “Then Saul, still breathing threats

and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem….and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”

Frustration Impedes Progress

• Job 9:32-33 “For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both.”

• 1 Kings 18:21 “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word.”

The Solution to Frustration

• God gave a solution to a frustrated Elijah.– 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah was frustrated and ready

to give up on life.– 1 Kings 19:5-6 God wanted him to refresh his

body (compare Genesis 2:2; Mark 6:31).– 1 Kings 19:11-12 Elijah was then directed to

look and listen for God (compare Psalm 42:5; Lamentations 3:22-24).

The Solution to Frustration

• God’s solution continued.– 1 Kings 19:14-16 God gave him a new

responsibility.– 1 Kings 19:17-18 Elijah was urged to rely on

the all-powerful, all-knowing God.• Paul’s solution for Timothy is found in 2

Timothy 4:5 “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Faultfinding Is Contagious

• John 12:4-5 “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’”

Faultfinding Is Contagious

• Mark 14:4-5 “But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.’ And they criticized her sharply.”

Faultfinding Is Destructive

• Galatians 5:13-15 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

Cynicism• Cynics were a group of philosophers founded

by Antisthenes in the 4th Century B.C.– They believed virtue is the only good, with its

core being self-control and independence.– They also believed human conduct is motivated

by self-interest.

• A cynic is one who believes human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary).

• One who is cynical "is contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives."

The Bible and Cynicism

• The devil expressed cynicism.– Job 1:6-12, especially 9-11 “So Satan

answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’”

The Bible and Cynicism• The devil expressed cynicism.

– Job 2:1-6, especially 3-5 “Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’ So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’”

The Bible and Cynicism• Beware of cynicism.

– Acts 17:18 “Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.”

– Romans 3:9-18, esp. 13-14 “‘Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit’; ‘The poison of asps is under their lips’; ‘Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.’”

The Bible and Cynicism

• Beware of cynicism.– Hebrews 12:14-15 “Pursue peace with all

people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

– Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

Overcoming the Temptationto be Cynical

• Place your trust in God.– 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves

under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

– Philippians 4:6-7– Matthew 11:28-30

Overcoming the Temptationto be Cynical

• Fight cynicism– Ephesians 4:32– 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent

love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

– 1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

– Philippians 4:4; 2:5-8

Focusing on Anything but the Lord Produces Doubt

• Psalm 73:1-3 Focus on the wicked caused stumbling

• Psalm 73:4-6 Strong despite being proud and violent

• Psalm 73:7-9 Abundance despite scoffing at heavens

• Psalm 73:10-12 Ungodly, but always at ease

• Matthew 14:22-33 Peter took his eyes off the Lord

The Psalmist Wrestledwith Doubt

• Psalm 73:13-14 Tried to do good but was punished

• Psalm 73:15 If he had joined the wicked in their mocking words, he would have faithlessly left the children of God.

• Psalm 73:16 Doubt leads to confusion and apostasy

Focusing on God’s Working Erases Doubt

• Psalm 73:17-18 God, in time, would cause the wicked to reap what they sowed.

• Psalm 73:19-20 God had been patient with them, appearing to be sleeping, but now, as if awakened, he contemptuously casts them away.

• Psalm 73:21-24 God will provide.

• Psalm 73:25-26 He realized God was his support

• Psalm 73:27-28 Trust God and declare his works to others

Fear Discouragesand Leads to Defeat

• Deuteronomy 1:19-33 (Numbers 13-14)– Moses told the people God was giving them the

land.– The spies said it was a good land.– They rebelled and accused God of bringing them

to the land of the Amorites to be destroyed.– The spies made their hearts melt by saying the

people were greater and giants lived there.– Though Moses said God would fight for them,

they would not believe.

Fear Discouragesand Leads to Defeat

• Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

• Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.’”

Elders Need to Help Elders• Acts 20:28-32 “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. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears….”

Elders Need to Help Elders

• “…‘So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.’”

• Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”