Eldership | Pastors Daniel Batarseh & Daniel Banna | The Ordination Service of Pastor Mark Griffin

If you turn with me to the book of Acts chapter 20, we'll be looking, this afternoon, at verses 25 to 35 very briefly. It would not be verse by verse. Otherwise, it would not be brief. The apostle Paul was in a hurry. He desired to be in Jerusalem at Pentecost, the feast of weeks.

He does not have much time, but there is something of a great importance in his mind and in his heart he must do before he leaves Asia Minor, knowing he shall not return again to the same area. He must meet the elders of the church of Ephesus. Now it's important to note that the scripture makes it clear that Christ's local church is always ruled by plurality of elders. That makes the ministry more effective, less burdensome. And as the number of the flock increases, just to note, the number of wolves also increases within, so it become necessary that the number of shepherds to increase.

Paul, for the last time, wants to meet in person with his elders to give them some final exhort exhortations, necessary instructions, serious warnings. Remember again, he will not see them in person again. Now he knows if he visits Ephesus, he's going to be delayed there, and he will not be able to make it on time in Jerusalem. Now he calls the elders of the church to meet him at the city of Miletus, which is approximately 30 miles away. Now Paul began his speech, and beginning in verse 25 of acts 20, we read, and now behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pray pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisty things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years, I did not seize night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You ourselves know that these hands minister to my necessities and to those who are with me. In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of our lord Jesus, how he himself said it's import it is more blessed to give than to receive. Paul has set example to all how to live by his teaching and by his life.

We see him first reminding them of the time he spent with them. In verse 27, we read, speaking of his ministry, he says, I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. This is the example I set for you, never to shrink, never to waver, never to hesitate from preaching the whole counsel of God. Now the whole counsel of God means not to leave any scripture untouched, and this often means offending some people. The gospel offends.

The truth offends. But regardless of how uncomfortable the subject might be to the preacher, a faithful pastor will never hesitate or shy away from talking about it in a spirit of a of Christ. Every teaching pastor is to become acquainted with the whole counsel of God in order to be able to teach it to others. In verses 35 33 to 35, the apostle Paul reminds them of his life and his conduct when he was among them. He lived an exemplary life.

First, we see him saying he did not seek earthly gains or riches. Verse 33, I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Money, riches can be a snare and many are caught in it. Many Christians pastors have fallen into this trap of riches. A whole movement is established on what the scripture calls, and I like the King James version.

The Bible calls it filthy looker, shameful gain. When money becomes the motivation for service, when the paycheck becomes the motivation for the ministry, it is no longer ministry. You are no longer a minister of the gospel. You are an employee of the church. You're no longer a shepherd.

You are a higher hand. Paul is speaking of the qualifications of an elder. He says in first Timothy three one, an elder must be not a lover of money. So we see Paul first set an example to others not to seek earthly gains or riches, but secondly, we see him. He is diligent.

Look at verse 44. Paul says, you yourselves know that these hands these hands, the hands of Paul, ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. Paul says, I wasn't idle. I wasn't lazy. I did not say I deserved better than that.

I was content in doing manual work knowing that others should have done it, yet I did it. I did it. I did it because I did not want to be a burden to anyone. I did it because I didn't want to be a burden to any church. I did it because of my calling.

I did because I love you. I did it because I love the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, he's telling them, pastors, do not despise working with your own hands. And I believe it's important that every pastor should sometime practice working with his own hands. We reach a point, unfortunately, in many churches that almost every church ministry became a paid position.

Paul did not quit the ministry because the churches did not always support him financially. He did not move to another church because the paycheck was bigger, but he humbly worked with his own hands and setting a beautiful example to all of us and all the pastors and all the ministers of the gospel. Now sandwiched between these two examples of teaching and living the Christian doctrine and life, we see Paul's stern warning. Verses 28 to 31, in the middle. And this is first.

Paul says, pay careful attention to yourself. Keep watch over yourself. Take heed, you pastors. It begins with you leaders to be example to the flock, to watch your teaching, to watch your conduct, to watch your words. You have sat under my teaching, Paul says.

You have listened to my sermons. You have heard my answers and my arguments. You have watched my life. Now it's your job to watch, to pay careful attention when you stand stand up to teach to others, when you lead bible study at home. You must pay careful attention to your teaching.

Always comparing scripture with scripture. Do not be smart in your own eyes. Pastors can be smart, can become smart in their own eyes. Don't be smart in your own eyes. Do not come up with conclusions to please the crowds, to receive an applause.

Don't work hard, by the way, to come up with a joke. Don't come up to work so hard to make people laugh or cry. You'll be surprised how many pastors work so hard not to study the scripture, but to work so hard to find a joke to suit the message. Oh, we want to break the ice. Oh, we want to break the you want to break the ice?

They don't need the joke. They need the heat up. They need the fire of God's word to break the ice and melt the hardened hearts. People don't need jokes. They don't need jokes.

They need God's word. Do not stuff your worldly your messages with worldly quotes and personal stories. Do not do that. Now one of the things bother me most about some American preachers is giving so much illustrations from Hollywood movies. It bothers me so much.

And, unfortunately, we teaching we are teaching other pastors around the world to do the same by our example. I don't care about Hollywood. I don't care about their production. It is shameful to bring Hollywood to the church. We rather need to bring God's word to Hollywood and to the other most places of the world.

Pastors must submit to scripture. It is the only authority to live by. Watch carefully your life. Always remember, it's a privilege to serve. It's the most rewarding thing in life to serve others, to see others grow and mature under your guidance.

So pay attention to yourself, but secondly, the second part of the verse, pay attention, careful attention to all the flock, to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which you obtained with his own blood. Paul is saying the elders, it is not Barnabas and I who made you overseers. It is not Timothy who made you overseers. It is the holy spirit. It is the holy spirit.

In acts 13, we read while the local church of Antioch was worshiping and fasting. The holy spirit said, sit apart for me, Barnabas, and Saul for the work to which I have called them. The Holy Spirit spoke, and the immediate response of the church was what? It says, and then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. They listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

They submitted. They laid their hands on them, and they sent them off. You see, where there is spiritual maturity, there is a clear guidance from God. There is a clear unity in the body, and, yes, unanimous decision can be easily made. Shepherds is to care for the flock, to feed them, to care for their well-being, to guard them, to protect them.

They are overseers. They are to keep watch over the flock anticipating danger. Danger. The predators are many. They are overseers.

The overseers are to check for any injury and to provide the cure needed. The shepherds are to provide the shade for a weary lamb, water for a thirsty sheep, shelter from the ravaging wolves. Now in verse 29 to 30, Paul gives us the heart of the warning. The most dangerous thing a sheep may face. What is the most dangerous thing?

A wolf. A wolf. The wolf has only one purpose, to destroy, to kill, and to scatter. That's the purpose of the wolf. Remember, it's a wolf.

It has a wolf nature. It has never been a sheep. It might have pretended for a while to be a sheep, but it is a wolf, an enemy, a devourer, a destroyer of sheep, a killer. Paul tells these elders to pay special and careful attention to these wolves, And he says they will be coming from two different directions, from the outside of your congregation, and some will arise from within. Now this is scary, but not when the shepherds have watchful eyes and when the flock is bright enough to recognize a wolf.

In almost every book of the New Testament, there is such stern warning against false teachers and false teaching. Many don't get it. Many don't understand the danger of false teachings. It is destructive. It sends people to hell.

That's why in this church, we will continue steadfastly to preach God's word verse by verse to equip the saints. When they see a wolf, when they hear a false doctrine, they'll be able right away to discover it and stand against it and stand for the truth. Now the teaching of wolves often comes in very attractive packaging. Paul understood that. Paul knew deception is coming, and he feared that many in the church will become prey to these ravaging wolves, and he was right.

He was right. He told the Corinthians in second Corinthians eleven three, but I'm afraid that as a serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ, the old serpent. Satan has succeeding in deceiving so many in the name of love, in the name of unity, in the name of compromise, in the name of avoiding conflict. Unity with whom? Unity at what cost?

At the cost of forsaking the truth or any essential part of it? Paul did not for a moment compromise of God's truth for the sake of the so called unity. Never. In speaking to teaching pastors, Paul says in Titus one verses nine to 12, he, the pastor, must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke. We don't like this word today, do we?

Oh, don't rebuke. Oh, talk love and unity. No. They ought to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceiver, especially those of the circumcision party.

They must be silenced. And the other translation says their mouths must be stopped. To the Galatians, Paul writes in Galatians two verses four and five. He say, yet because of false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into slavery. To them, we did not yield in submission even for a moment so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

This is the example Paul sets for us. This is the example we must follow. There is no unity apart from the truth of the gospel of grace. There is no unity apart from the clear teaching of God's word. This is a stern warning to everyone.

Now, again, Paul speaks to the Galatians in one eight, and he says, as we have said before, Paul writes, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be anathema. Let him be accursed. False doctrine, divisiveness, wokeness, prosperity gospel, social gospel, work gospel, any other gospel or teaching that is contrary to the grace gospel of Jesus Christ must be rejected and if not be allowed to be advanced. And as we acknowledge today and recognize a new leader, a new elder, we give glory and thanksgiving to God, who by his grace provided for this local assembly, a man with a shepherd heart, to continue with the rest of the elders to do God's work in advancing his kingdom. It is to God we give the glory.

It is the preeminence of Christ that we seek. It is the Holy Spirit guidance we will always pursue, and it is the salvation of souls and the equipment of the saints will always work hard to do. Let us let us pray. Almighty God, savior and Lord, our great and good shepherd, we thank you. We thank you for your goodness and for your mercy, for your everlasting and and enduring love.

We thank you for your faithfulness and for your unchanging eternal word, which is light and life, applicable to us today as much as it was for those who first received it firsthand. We thank you for this great occasion, an occasion of acknowledging, Lord, and and and recognizing your choice of an under shepherd among us. We pray the name of Christ will continue to be exalted among us in everything in everything we do as a church. And, Lord, as undershepherds, help us be faithful. Continue to serve in humility and meekness.

Always always upholding the gospel of truth and always striving together for Christian unity. In your name, we pray. Amen.

You may be seated again. I'm part two. And, I will try to us. As, we've just been seeking the Lord together concerning this opportunity for him to take up a position that is so crucial to the health and the direction of the local church. And in those discussions, we talked about the responsibilities.

We talked about the rewards. We talked about the forecast of spiritual warfare. We talked about the adjustments that will come to life, practically speaking. And by God's grace, through all of that, we are here gathered together to witness someone who has answered that call. And it's a wonderful thing when somebody answers the call to the best of his ability knowing what it is that he is embarking on in terms of a journey and new position and way of life, really.

Moment that we're enjoying together, the thought came to me and it was nagging almost. As much as we are here to celebrate what the Lord is doing in one man's life and what's gonna happen to his family, what's gonna happen, see things differently in some sense and experience the Lord. I wonder how much of the church realizes, how there is a direct implication into your own life. I wonder how we as a a family in the faith realize what the Lord does in us and to us when he raises somebody up as a pastor. This isn't something separate from us.

This isn't something that doesn't correlate with us. This is something that the Lord designed to actually deal with us as individuals and, more importantly, as a family, as a whole. And I just kinda step back and just throughout the past few days wondered, in what ways are we blessed when the Lord raises up a man of God? In what ways are believers touched and rewarded when the Lord does raise up an under shepherd? And so very briefly, I wish I can take my time on this, but I can't.

I just want to give you five ways that a God ordained pastor blesses the church. Five ways that a God ordained pastor blesses the church. Now I'm fully aware that for somebody who might occupy the position of an elder to come up and share about how much of a blessing elders are might seem unsavory. Right? And you have every right to be suspicious if my Bible is closed as I deal with this subject.

But by God's grace, my Bible will be opened and will stay opened because my desire and this my prayerful ambition is that you would simply perceive the goodness of God in a moment like this. Perceive it not just for our dear brother Mark, but perceive it even for yourself. You heard me leading up to this moment quote Ephesians four many times where we are told that Christ ascended on high and that he gave gifts unto men, and those gifts are offices in the church, and one of them being the pastor. So he gives that for the sake of the building up of the church. There's something that the Lord wants to do to his people when he selects somebody to occupy this responsibility.

And so I I'm just gonna give you five brief ways, not all the ways, but just five ways, and I hope that you see God's grace in every single one. Number one, when God raises up a pastor, he raises up somebody to discover and distribute spiritual treasures. He raises somebody up who will discover and distribute spiritual treasures. Here's my text for you if you'd like to follow in Matthew 13 verse 51. In Matthew 13 verse 51, Jesus says, after a series of parables about the kingdom of heaven, he asks his disciples, have you understood all these things?

They said to him, yes. And he said to them, therefore, every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. Whenever God raises up an elder and let me remind you, an elder is synonymous with a pastor. When he raises up a pastor, not every pastor in a local church will share the same time and devotion to the teaching ministry. Nonetheless, according to first Timothy three, every elder should be capable, should be able to teach.

And Jesus here, when he's speaking to his disciples in training, he provides a beautiful picture of what a teacher in the church is like. Again, he gives these series of parables, and then he asked them, did you did you understand all this? And they admitted, yeah. We we did understand you. And then he goes on to explain what a person who receives revelation from Christ is like when he pursues a teaching ministry because that's what these disciples were from the foundational aspect of the church.

He says he's like a master of the house who who's able to, out of his treasure, provide what is old and what is new. A master of the house at this time had a responsibility, and that responsibility was to supervise a household. And the way he would supervise a household is that he would have a stockpile. And that stockpile would be filled with resources and it would be continually managed. It would

be

continually well kept so that whenever the family was in need, he would be able from that stockpile provide food, provide clothing, any any other resource that would demand and provide and meet a specific request. And Jesus says that's what a teacher is like. A teacher, a pastor, an elder is committed to excavating, committed to creating a reservoir of truth so that he is able to, with the people who are providentially under his leadership, nourish them and give to them what they need. And though each of us have a responsibility to engage with the word of God personally, what an elder does is additionally furnish and equip and encourage and excite you to behold deeper things in God. You know, the Lord said in Jeremiah three fifteen that I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Shepherds after my own heart. We heard it briefly. Not shepherds for hire, but shepherds who long to know me intimately and long to reflect me personally. And these shepherds will sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ primarily to worship him and adore him and love him. And then from that place, receive from the chief shepherd what it is that that local body needs for their growth.

And so when you have an elder in your life, you have somebody who has been called to, like a master of the house, be ready to supply something that you might need, might not be aware that you need, but ultimately will leave you leaving this place full. Leaving this place knowing that you've been energized in the things of God by the most important thing, and that is the word of God itself. When God raises up a pastor, he raises up somebody who will discover and distribute spiritual treasures. Number two, when God raises up a pastor, he raises up somebody to inspire our faith, to inspire our faith. You know this text well in Hebrews thirteen seven.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God, consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Imitate their faith. Now you read this and you think to yourself, we're not only reminded that leaders of somebody who give you the word of God, who deliver the word of God to you, but they model the word of God. They actually walk it out, and when they walk it out, they cause you to realize that there is instruction to be known from practical examples. So not just from pulpit to pew, but life on life.

And so shepherd shepherd is amongst the people. Right? He's in the midst of them. He doesn't stand above them. He's not distanced from them.

No. He is with them. And this assumes then that elders, if they are to live a life that is inspiring, elders are chosen among the mature and the consistent, and then they are selected from that place to be consecrated to demonstrate here, this is so important, to demonstrate that it's possible to live this thing out. That's what they do. Sometimes when we look at ministers, we admire them, but we admire them as though they are behind this clear glass wall of holiness, and they they don't seem relatable.

They seem like they're they're Christians. They're human. They're flesh and blood. But I joke, like, they go to they they wake up with a suit. They go to bed to they don't they don't eat food.

They just prepare sermons. They don't do anything else, and they don't seem human. That's how much that's how we admire certain people who occupy the place of pastor or teacher. But that's not God's design for leadership. That's not how he wants us to even perceive leaders.

No. He stations elders with the people of God, and he smells like the sheep. And as he's stationed there with the people of God, they are able to witness through living encouragement. It is actually possible that whatever the word of God demands to be actually experienced and to be lived out. And there's something that from there should excite us.

It should excite us because when you have elders in your life who have been called to sacrificially open their lives to others, and that's not easy in itself. They open up their lives. They're willing to say, Lord, I'm willing to open my home. I'm willing to open my my my marriage in a way, my family life for all to see. And as they do that, what happens to the people of God is they say, that's what a prayer life looks like.

That's how I should treat my spouse. That's what it means to have hobbies in life, but to esteem Christ as your greater treasure still. That's what it looks like to handle difficult people. That's what it looks like to endure suffering. That's what it looks like to admit when you're wrong.

And so Christ sets up these models through these elders for the people to be able to behold and say, this is what it looks like, and that's an exciting thing. It's not theoretical anymore. It's not just messages. It's actually manifest, and God raises up certain men to live and consecrate their lives for such a purpose. Pray for your pastors.

We're not perfect, but that is the goal that God has in mind for them. God raises up pastors to inspire faith, but thirdly, God raises up pastors to pray for us with unique authority. God raises up pastors to pray for us with unique authority. I get that from James chapter five thirteen to 14. If anyone among you is suffering, let him pray.

Is anyone among you cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Now I I've read that and you've know that scripture and it's always intrigued me because James is gonna follow that by saying that we should actually pray for one another, confessing our sins to one another and then praying for one another for the prayer of a righteous man is is powerful as it is working.

And so I always wondered, I mean, if we're encouraged as Christians to pray for one another, even confess to one another, why this separate exhortation for those who are desperately sick to call for specifically the elders and to invite them into the place of suffering to receive prayer and that prayer being honored by God. Why didn't you just lump that in with the instruction just pray for one another? And some would say, well, it's because the elders represent the church. So when they when they come to pray for a beloved brother or sister who is suffering ailment, they're they're doing so on behalf of the assembly that they are representing. That could be true, but then you can also make that case for believers who are part of that same church as well.

And what came to mind, I believe, is hopefully helpful explanation. And I think it's this, because elders have been called to care for the sheep. The Lord bestows upon them a level of spiritual authority to more effectively channel the compassion and love of the chief shepherd for those who are in need of his touch. Meaning, for the sake of fulfilling their God given role, the Lord will assist under shepherds with a unique empowerment when the time requires it, which can include many healing graces. And what saddens me is that what this text says in James implies that every single Christian follower of Christ should be able to identify and recognize elders in their lives that they can call upon and say, brother, I need help.

Can you pray for me? Can you pray for me? And when people don't see the value of the local church and they don't see the importance of an elder in their lives, they, in essence, forfeit a measure of care, sometimes supernatural care because of unbelief, because this, sense of, independence that is never a part of God's design for each of us as members of his body. So so pastors and elders are called to a prayer life, and they are called to assist the sheep when they are hurting not just spiritually, emotionally, but even sometimes physically. And the Lord is ready there to help those shepherds be the shepherds and ultimately reflect the loving care of the chief shepherd for those that he has purchased with his blood.

Pastors have been raised up to pray for the people of God with a unique authority. Fourthly, God raises up pastors to watch us closely. Now I don't know if people are excited about this one, but hear me out. Okay? In Hebrews 13 excuse me.

Acts twenty twenty eight, pay careful attention, we heard it, to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Not just yourself, Daniel emphasized on that, but to all the flock. Now, again, when you hear about anybody who's watching you carefully, generally, that's an uncomfortable reality. I am one who is not too fond of somebody watching me carefully. It's not an exciting thought Depending on who's the person.

Right? Depending on the person that is supervising and studying me, that makes all the difference. And I'll give you a very easy illustration to calm any nerves about this exhortation for for elders to watch over the souls of the people. We have no problem with doctors watching us, do we? We have no problem doctors studying us.

We have no problem paying somebody who is a fitness instructor to keep our files on record and to keep an update on our progression or on our decline. We're we're willing to submit to that. We're willing to gladly and joyfully even purchase that to be part of our world. And the role of an elder who oversees and watches is no different. If anything, they occupy a more precious position and responsibility.

Your soul, Not just your body, not just your aesthetics, not just your health, not just the longevity of of your not just that talking about the part of you that will continue with you beyond this life. And shepherds have been called to with loving eyes and tender hearts and great wisdom to carefully examine and to ensure that those that the Lord has brought to him are in right standing with the Lord, are healthy, are okay. So shepherding, we kind of hear shepherding a pastor and we interpret his responsibility in a very macro sense or general sense. Right? He preaches sermons to you.

He might write some blogs for you. He he might have q and a sessions, and he might be available from time to time. And that's true, but that's it's more than that. There is a level of shepherding that is impossible apart from knowing you and asking you from time to time, brother, how are you? Sister, we haven't seen you here for a few weeks.

Are you okay? I'm getting a text, getting a call. Right? Meeting with you, praying with you, letting your heart open up so that these doctors can do their part, do their job more effectively. And so we're called not to obsessively, not to legalistically, but to lovingly watch.

And sometimes, most of the times, we don't realize where we're at, and God has raised up men with hopefully discernment to be able to to know where the people are and then to help them be where God wants them to be. Lastly, told you it was gonna be short. Right? This is like a miracle. If you come here week out of week, it's like, are you serious?

You're actually done. I know. It's harder for me than you can imagine. God raises up pastors, lastly, to fuel our joy. If you haven't turned anywhere while I've been speaking, turn to this scripture.

In second Corinthians one twenty four, God raises up elders to fuel our joy. Paul as a leader speaking to a very troubled church, I joke. People say, we need to go back to the the early church. We need to go back to the church of the book of Acts. We need to go back to the church that Paul and John and Peter were supervising and raising up.

Have you read the Corinthian church? I have yet to meet a church. I know no church is perfect, including this one. But I have not yet met a church or been a part of a church or seen a church like this church, the Corinthian church. Just read first Corinthians and you'll understand what

I mean. He speaks to

this church, to this group of believers in his second epistle, and he writes to them, not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. We work with you for your joy. We're not abusing our authority. We're not manipulating you. You don't work for us.

You don't, in a sense, serve the purpose of God for us and our lust for power and position. You're not any of that, and we're not working against you. It's so sad to see sometimes people seeing their pastors as enemies. We're not working against you. You're not working for us.

We're with you. It's a partnership. I love how the the King James puts it, we are helpers for your joy. Helpers for your joy. And that's an important truth to remember when there are those moments that perhaps a strong word has to be delivered or sometimes intense sessions in the office where there might be conflict or disagreement, and there has to be intervention from the elders.

This is something to also remember when pastors are not they're not perfect, so they might slip here and there, not in a moral sense, not in a major sense, but maybe attentively or whatever the case may be to always remember. And I pray that you would know this that it's always for your joy. You're joy in the Lord. You're joy in the faith. And so to have elders in your life is to add joy to your life, not to take it, not to challenge it, but to help you in it.

How is that lived out? Well, by the way, as I just mentioned, when you see lived out faith, when you know that there's somebody who wants to love you, pray for you, care for you, laugh with you, cry with you, answer the phone when most people are asleep, That's what God does when he raises up pastors. So I I leave you one more charge before we continue with the service. It's in the same same book, second Corinthians seven two to three. Paul says to the same group of believers in the ESV, it reads this way.

If you if you have the NASB, you'll read this way. If you have the New King James, if you have the King James, you might not read it this way. But he says in second Corinthians seven verse two, make room in your hearts for us. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one.

We have corrupted no one. We have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you for I said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. What a pastor. What a pastor.

He's telling this church, you are in our hearts. Now would you make room in your hearts for us? And I make that same charge. As we are being reminded today somewhat of what an elder is supposed to do, we're so grateful to God that here at Maranatha Bible Church, we are confident that in many of your hearts, you have already made room. But I say to you now as we are about to see another man added to our leadership, and we have no doubt that your hearts are already ready because the great excitement when you heard the news.

But if you are new to this, if you if you if you are if you never understood how significant the relationship between a church and an elder is, oh, would you open your heart today? Would you open your heart and make room for our dear brother and ask the Lord to give you the grace to help him serve you well, ultimately, for our joy in the Lord. Amen? Amen. Amen.

God is good. And at this time, we're gonna invite brother Mark to come to the pulpit. And as he comes to the pulpit, he's going to read to you members of Maranatha Bible Church, different covenants, different promises as an elder. And we take this seriously. That's why we have a whole service dedicated to this.

And so if you're a member here, if you're planning to be a member, realize that these these declarations are tailor made for you ultimately before God, but also for the people that Mark believes God has placed in his life and under his care. And once he finishes, I'm going to invite the members to stand and to agree with the church to receiving Mark in the presence of God. And so, brother Daniel, pastor Daniel, if you can approach the pulpit as well. Mark, whenever you're ready, brother, you can do that.

It is a great privilege and a deep, deep honor to be here with you today. Brothers and sisters, for many years now, this church, this congregation, this people, all of you have been such a tremendous blessing to me and my family, and we are grateful to God, very, very grateful to God for each one of you. So it is with profound joy and reverence and humility and eager expectation Before God and by his grace, one, I affirm my calling by God to the pastoral ministry of the word and ordinances. Two, I affirm my belief in God the father, the son, and holy spirit, confessing Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. Three, I affirm my belief in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God.

Totally trustworthy, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, the supreme final, and only infallible rule of faith and conduct. Four, I promise to study, preach, and use God's word correctly, to instruct, encourage, and admonish God's people with patient and careful instruction without fear or hesitation.

Five, I

make a covenant to watch for and pray for the people of God entrusted to my care. Setting a godly example through my daily activities, conduct, and witness, living in a manner pleasing to the Lord both privately and publicly. Six. I promise to be zealous and faithful in defending the truths of the gospel and the purity and peace of the church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise on that account. Seven, I promise to strive for the unity among my fellow elders as I seek the glory of god in the interest of others above my own.

Eight, I promise to maintain a good reputation in the community as I am able while remaining faithful to God. Nine, I promise to love and serve my wife, to raise my children in the training and instruction of the Lord, to manage my own household well. And to my family, my wonderful wife, Grace,

Bakhti Hayi,

and to my precious girls, Sarai, Sophie, and Shushan, you are my first ministry. And I promise that I will not declare Corban. That's what God has assigned to you, which rightfully belongs to you first. My love, my time, my attention. We will make sacrifices for the sake of the Lord and for this ministry, and that is good.

But we will do that as a family together. So brothers and sisters, these things I covenant before God asking his grace that I may fulfill them all the days of my life.

If I can ask every standing member here at Maranatha Bible Church to please stand. And as you stand, please pay careful attention to these two simple questions, and I pray that you would mean them from all your heart as you respond to them. And all I'm asking after the first question and the second question is that you say we do. Question number one. Do you, the members of Maranatha Bible Church, acknowledge and publicly receive Mark Griffin as an elder and as a gift of Christ to this church?

Number two, would you love him and pray for him in his ministry and work together with him humbly and cheerfully that by the grace of God, you may accomplish the mission of the church, giving him all due honor and support in his leadership to which the Lord has called him to the glory and honor of God. You may be seated. It's at this time that we pray for our dear brother who will, exemplify and model his humility before the Lord, kneeling before him. And pastor Danny and I will lay hands on him, and we will pray for him.

Let's pray. Oh, Lord, with thankful hearts and with the humility, we come before you as our head, the head of your church, the head of this church. Lord, we do not recognize any head but Jesus. We do not recognize any authority but your word. Lord, with joy and thanksgiving, we receive your gift to us, Mark, as a lo as a co laborer in the work of the gospel.

Though we thank you that you have heard our prayers and you have given us a man with a shepherd heart, a man to do with us this work of the ministry. Lord, we know that the ministry is not always easy. We know that difficult decisions sometimes might need to be made, confronting sin and evil, spending hours and hours in preparation, counseling, visitation, doing the work of the Lord, listening to others, Lord, to set example for the flock. Lord, we know that we need your grace. Our brother Mark needs your grace to accomplish this work of the ministry.

Lord, we pray that you will give him the grace needed to accomplish this work. Lord, we pray you give him wisdom, wisdom that's beyond any earthly wisdom, and we know and we believe that you give generously. Now we pray that you will give him a spiritual discernment. Lord, we look around as we see how lack of discernment there is today, but we pray for a per particular special discernment, spiritual discernment be given to our brother Mark to do the work of the ministry. I will pray that you will give him boldness to continue standing for your truth and even confront confronting error if needed.

I pray that you will continue to be gentle and meek as his Lord is. Lord, we thank you for Mark. And first of all Lord God we pray that Mark will continue to be the husband and the father you want him to be, an example to the flock in how he treats his wife and how he raises his children. God, I pray that this man will have even greater desire to study your word, to dig deeper and deeper in order to be able to share it and teach others. I pray, God, you give him a heart open every day to receive your truth.

And Lord, I pray you will continue to enlighten his mind even more by the washing of your word. We ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Let's pray again. Father, we're overjoyed that you have been good to us through Mark and his family throughout these years that we've known them. And now, lord, by your spirit's leading, you have selected him to be a co laborer and an under shepherd of this congregation. Lord, we pray that he would know a special grace from this moment on. A grace to love, a grace to teach, a grace to model, and that Lord, he would be all done with a explosive joy.

A joy not dependent upon circumstances, a joy that is fueled by the truth of who you are, the truth of who you are in his life. And, Lord, we just pray, and we echo everything that our brother Daniel prayed. But we also pray that moving forward as there are added responsibilities and tasks that he would never lose his delight in the person of Jesus Christ and that he would prioritize his intimacy with the Lord and that he would know you as friend, know you as father, know you as counselor. And so, Lord, we pray that Mark would know greater heights in the secret place, greater heights in his personal reading of the word, greater heights in prayer. We thank you for him again.

Empower him. Empower him with all that is necessary to be found faithful in your sight. Lord, at this time, we even pray for the congregation. And Lord, that You would help us all together work together for our corporate joy in Christ. And we pray, and we lift up Mark's family.

We pray for Grace and the girls. That you would also equip them, and that Lord, they would, with joy, work with Mark, partner with him. That Lord, you would give them a wisdom to know how to navigate through life in this new season. And, Lord, we pray that in times of temptation and warfare that you would mute the voice of the evil one, that you would silence him, and that you would cancel all his assignments and plans against them. May they be living continually in the shadow of the almighty.

Oh, lord, we give you maximum glory for Mark. We thank you that you have added yet another shepherd in this place. Be glorified in this. Be glorified through Mark from now for the rest of his days. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Why don't we give a hand clap to the Lord? Well, at this time, we're gonna we're gonna sing one more song.

And until you're instructed, you can just remain seated. And as you remain seated, just enjoy the lyrics. And at the right time, we will stand together and sing unto the Lord. And we're just so grateful for every visitor here. And we we pray and hope that even what you experience in this place would cause you to know a deeper gratitude and even an expressed appreciation for the pastors that God has placed in your lives and the faithful local assemblies that he has brought you to.

And so, that's our desire even in this. For those who might not be plugged into this church that you would leave this place thanking God for other faithful ministers in this state, in this city, and maybe even outside of this state. And to continue to pray for your pastors and encourage them and partner with them for the glory of Jesus Christ. Amen? Amen.

Amen.

My comforter, my all in all, here in above Christ, I said.

Lord, we give you all the praise and the honor. We're overwhelmed today of what you're doing here. Thank you for showing mercy to imperfect people who realize their need of a perfect savior. Lord, moving forward from this place, would you help all of us serve you with zeal, with conviction, with consistency. Help us, Lord, not hinder or destroy the work that you're doing in this place.

But may we, by your grace, hand in hand, stir up one another to love and good works. Encourage one another daily as long as it is called today to honor one another, submit to one another, and ultimately have your glory as our goal in all things. And so, Lord, even as we celebrate and fellowship, may your presence be manifest. May it be known. May the joy of the Lord be our strength and our song even as we eat and feast together.

We thank you for what you're doing here at Maranatha Bible Church. We thank you for the different churches represented here this afternoon. Lord, we pray that you would strengthen pastors across the land who are faithful to your word, who might be depleted, who might feel as though there is no fruit. Lord, may they hear your voice even now to keep going and to keep striving. We pray that you would strengthen every ministry that's represented here, that you would help the people to partner with their elders and to utilize their gifts, and to know that it's the small things that encourage ministers, their attendance, their prayers, their smiles, their participation.

Lord, and all in all, may you be pleased with what you've seen here in our lives. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen and amen. Amen. Amen.

Don't you leave now because a lot of hard work went into a feast downstairs. And I assure you, not the boast, not because it's Maranatha Bible Church, but it's the best food. You're gonna enjoy it, I'm sure. And so make your way down in the basement. If you're if you're new, we wanna say hello to you at least.

And so don't be intimidated. God bless you. May the Lord be with you, and may you know his joy. We'll see you soon. Take care now.

Meet us downstairs to eat.