"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:" (Titus 1:5 KJV).
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 KJV).
Hello To All:
The office of ordained elder has a unique place in God's on-going plan for His church: The Body Of Christ! It is through this office that Jesus of Nazareth seeks to manifest His glory, His honor, His authority and His power in very special ways! One of those special ways is through the "prayer of faith," as referenced in James 5:15 (please see previous four letter/essays regarding the "prayer of faith").
"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:15 KJV).
The challenge, for those of us who are ordained elders, is to find that place in our life journey, where we can have the confidence of believing that Jesus of Nazareth has empowered us and equipped us to effectively pray the "prayer of faith," in accordance with His written word. And, to make certain that there is no confusion: It needs to be stated (once again), that when this elder references Jesus of Nazareth, I am speaking of the same Jesus: who is the Christ - The Son of The Living God! Amen and Amen and Amen!
Much has been written (in previous letters) about the issue of authority and who has it and what its origins are. If we, as ordained elders, are to find that place, in our journey, where we can effectively pray the "prayer of faith," then it must be understood, that the only place where that is possible, is that place in our life journey, with Jesus of Nazareth, where the only authority that we depend upon, is the authority that comes from Jesus! His authority is the only authority that can empower us and equip us to effectively pray the "prayer of faith."
The Corinthian text, referenced in the beginning of this letter, should help us to find that place of victory, where, as ordained elders, we can effectively pray the "prayer of faith." In his letters, Paul often reminds us that the power manifested through him, is not of him; but rather, the power is always of Jesus Christ. The Corinthian text affirms this understanding, regarding the source of Paul's on-going empowerment to fully serve Jesus of Nazareth.
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 KJV).
"But our sufficiency is of God!" How many of us truly believe this? How many of us have become dependent upon, the perceived sufficiency of our education? How many of us have become dependent upon, the perceived authority and sufficiency of our institutional system? How many of us have become dependent upon, the perceived correctness of the institutional system that we are committed too? How many of us have allowed the course of our service to Jesus Christ and His church, to be controlled by the institutional system, that we have embraced?
These are hard questions; and I am compelled to believe that the Spirit of God intends for them to be hard! For the most part, the sick amongst us continue to be sick. Let me be bold to say, empowered by Jesus of Nazareth, that the principal reason that the sick amongst us, continue to be sick, is directly related to our failure, as ordained elders, to be in a position where we can effectively pray the "prayer of faith."
Our life journey is often filled with hard things. This forum seeks to help all of us to be "Victorious Disciples In Jesus Christ." The how of this process can often be the hard thing. As ordained elders, we are most often dependent upon an institutional system for our credentials, that allow us to function as an ordained elder. Our challenge is to find that place, where we can still serve the institution; while, at the same time, exercising the authority that comes exclusively from Jesus Christ. This will not be an easy thing: but, let us be reminded that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Our opening text should remind us that in the early church, all ordained elders would have been warmly welcomed in every city! The office of elder, was not limited in function by any institutional restrictions. If you were an ordained elder, then it was rightly understood that you served Jesus Christ and Him alone. It was also understood, that because of this empowerment, the ordained elder could rightly serve all of God's people. Can we say thank you Jesus?
To my brothers, who are also ordained elders, let me close this letter with one of Paul's many statements about his dependency upon God. It is written at 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 KJV:
9. "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."
10. "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
Join with me, my brothers, and let us together, embrace the truth that: "Our sufficiency is of God."
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
