The Practice of Honour

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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. Okay, like my mom said, what is this

one doing today? Okay. You see what I'm doing?

All right, so let's go back to our main text,

which is 1 Timothy 5, 17 -18. 1 Timothy 5 .17

-18 It reads, Let the elders that rule well be

counted worthy of double honor, especially they

which labor in word and doctrine. For the scripture

saith, Thou shalt not mosew an ox when it traded

out the corn, for the laborer is worth his reward.

So, we're just going to do some word study on

these scriptures, two of them. So we want to

look who are the elders, who are the elders.

In verse 17, it says, let the elders that rule,

that rule all be counted worthy of double honor,

especially they that labor in word and in doctrine.

So the word that appears there for elders, the

word that appears there for elders is presbyterios.

Presbyterios in the Greek. P -R -E -S -B -Y -T

-E -R -O -S That's the word that appears there.

And it is a term of rank or office among the

Jews. They were elders in the Jewish community.

It was used for members of the Great Council.

or the Sanandrin, which were the rulers of the

people and the judges. But here as it is used

by Apostle Paul, it means those that oversee

the local assembly. The same word is used interchangeably

with the word bishop, elders, presbyterians,

and overseers. I hope you're taking note of that.

It is the same word, bishop, overseers, elders,

presbyters. We're going to see this as we are

going to do our study. So these are the men that

were made to preside over local assemblies. So

Apostle Paul was communicating to Timothy, who

happens also to be a pastor. And he's telling

him that let the elders that rule well be accounted

of double honor, especially those that labor

in word and in doctrine. So we're going to see

along the scriptures that who are these elders?

Who are they inside the church? So let's go to

Acts chapter 20. Acts 20 from verses 17 to 28.

Acts 20 · chapter mention

I believe Pastor Victor has taught this and has

gone over it exhaustively. So we're just going

to bring it back to our remembrance. Acts chapter

Acts 20 · chapter mention

20 from verses 17. to Ephesus and called the

elders of the church. We see here they are put

as the elders of the church, meaning that those

that preside over the local assembly. 18. And

when they were come to him, he said unto them,

Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia,

what manner I have been with you all seasons,

serving the Lord with all humility? There's 22.

And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto

Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall

befall me there, save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth

in every city, saying, Bones and affliction abide

thee. But none of these things move me, neither

count I myself dear unto myself, for that I might

finish my course with joy, and the ministry which

I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify

the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold,

I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching

the kingdom of God shall see my face no more.

Wherefore, I take you to record this day that

I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have

not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel

of the Lord. He says, take heed therefore unto

yourselves and unto all the flock. I want you

to pay attention to verse 28. Take heed therefore

unto yourselves and all the flock over which

the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. So we

see from verse 17, he called them elders. Now

he told them that they are to oversee, they are

overseers. So elders and overseers are the same

people. Okay, let's continue. And to feed the

church of God, which he hath purchased by his

own blood. For I know this, that after my departing

shall grievous wolves come among him, not sparing

the flock. So, what we see from our reading here,

from verse 17, it shows that these elders were

leaders over the local assembly. And they are

the same people who were called overseers. In

verse 28, it says, And the word that appears

there for overseers is the word episkopos. Episkopos.

E -P -I -S -K -O -P -O -S. E -P -I -S -K -O -P

-O -S. It means a guardian or a superintendent,

an elder and an overseer. So these are the same

people. And what they do is that they feed. Verse

8, 20, 80 says, Therefore take heed unto yourselves,

unto the flock, which the Holy Ghost hath made

you overseers, to feed the church of God. And

there we see the word poimeno, for feed, to feed,

which means to nourish. It's a verb. It means

to nourish. And the same word was used by our

Lord Jesus in John chapter 21, verse 16. Let's

John 21:16

see. John 21, verse 16. When he was talking to

John 21:16

Peter. John 21, verse 16. So why are we doing

John 21:16

this? We want to know who are the elders. John.

John 21. From verses 16. Okay, let's start from

verse 15. It says, So, okay. So when they had

dined, Jesus said unto Simon Peter, Simon, son

of Jonas, lovest thou me more than this? He said

unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love

thee. He said unto him, Feed my lambs. Feed my

lambs. And the word that appears there in 15

is the word Bosco. It's the word Bosco, which

means to keep. Then verse 16 then says, And he

said unto him again, second time, Simon, son

of Jonas, lovest thou me? And he said unto him,

Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. And

he said unto him, Feed my sheep. And we see another

word occurring here. The first one in 15 is bosko,

which means to keep. But the one that appears

here is a noun. That is poimen. The word is a

noun called poimen. P -O -I -M -E -N. A shepherd.

It means a shepherd. And it is the same exact

word that appears in Ephesians chapter 4 verse

Ephesians 4:11

11. So, we are going to see that these same men

who are called overseers, bishops, are the same

men that are called pastors. It is the same.

It's the same thing. Ephesians chapter 4 verse

Ephesians 4:11

11. Let's just go there quickly. Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:11

verse 11. Okay. He gave some apostles. He gave

some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,

some pastors. Their pastors, it appears, poor

men. Which is the same as shepherd. So, now we've

seen that the elders were the overseers. They

are the same people who are the pastors. They

are also the bishops. It's the same thing. And

we see something similar to this in the book

of Numbers. Numbers 11, verse 16. Numbers 11

Numbers 11:16

from verses 16 to 17. These were the men who

were to bear the burden with Moses. They were

also called the elders of the people, meaning

that they were overseeing the people, groups

of people. We'll see it again. Let's read from

there. Numbers chapter 11, from verse 16. And

Numbers 11 · chapter mention

the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy

men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest

to be the elders of the people. and officers

over them and bring them unto the tabernacle

of the congregation, that you may stand there

with thee, and I will come down and talk with

thee, and I will take of the Spirit which is

upon thee, and I will put it upon them, and they

shall bear the burden of the people with thee,

and thou shalt bear it not thyself alone. So,

we see that these were men that were set over

the people of Israel. We see this, it happened

in Exodus chapter 18. Let's go to Exodus chapter

Exodus 18 · chapter mention Exodus 18 · chapter mention

18. Exodus 18. Exodus chapter 18 from verses

Exodus 18 · chapter mention

14. 22. And when Moses' father -in -law saw all

that he did to the people, he said, What is this

that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou

thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee

from morning to evening? And Moses said unto

his father -in -law, Because the people come

unto me to inquire of the Lord. 16. When they

had When they have a matter, they come unto me,

and I judge between one and another, and I do

make them know the statutes of God and his laws.

And Moses' father -in -law said unto him, The

thing that thou doest is not good. Thou surely

wear away both thou and this people that is with

thee, for this thing is too heavy for thee. Thou

art not an ebb. that thou art not able to perform

it thyself alone. 19. Hearken now unto my voice,

and I will give thee counsel, and God shall be

with thee. Be thou for the people to Godward,

that thou mayest bring the causes unto God. 20.

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws,

and thou shalt show them the way wherein they

must walk and work. that they must do. Moreover,

thou shalt provide out of the people able men,

such as fear God, men of truth, hurting covetousness,

and place such to be rulers of thousands, rulers

of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of

tens, and let them judge the people at all seasons.

It shall be that every great matter they shall

bring unto thee, but every small matter they

shall judge. So shall it be easier for thyself,

and they shall bear the burden with thee. So,

what we see here is, Moses said to choose men.

They were called able men. People who had covetousness,

people who fears the Lord, and he said them to

be rulers over the people. So they were not chosen

at random. It was not just to pick and say, I

think this one, this one showed me good character

when we were still in Egypt. I'll pick this one.

No. There was a criteria of how they chose the

men. We see the same thing in Titus. Titus chapter

Titus 1 · chapter mention

1. The same pattern. of how these men were selected.

Titus chapter 1, verse 5. It says, For this cause

Titus 1:5

left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set

in order the things that were wanting, and to

ordain elders. In every city, as I have appointed

thee, if any be blameless, the husband of one

wife, having fruitful children, not accused of

unruly, for a bishop must be blameless as the

steward of God, not self -willed, not soon angry,

not given to wine, not a striker, not given to

filthy lucre. We see the same thing, the same

criteria that Moses used to choose the elders

in Exodus 18. Verse 8. So we see that it was

not just to pick. These are elders, people who

have matured in the Lord. We have now the responsibility

to oversee others. We see something from Acts

we read, Acts chapter 20. It starts from chapter

Acts 20 · chapter mention

19 when Paul was passing through Ephesus and

he found disciples there. These are the men he

trained day and night. until they grow to the

position whereby they are to oversee others.

So it is not by accident. Alright. So we see

other references. We can take this down. Other

references of the word elder. Acts 21 verse 17.

Acts 21:17

1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 1 to 2. These were

1 Timothy 5:1–2

elderly people in age. In 1 Timothy chapter 5

1 Timothy 5:1–2

verse 1 to 2. Titus chapter 1 verse 5. Those

Titus 1:5

who oversee the local church. Then James chapter

James 5:14

5 verse 14, when it talks about if there be anyone

who is sick, let him call for the elders. These

were overseers of the church. 2 John chapter

2 John 1:1

1 verse 1. 3 John chapter 1 verse 1. I'll repeat

3 John 1:1

again. Acts 21 verse 7. 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse

Acts 21:7 1 Timothy 5:1–2

1 to 2. Titus 1. Titus chapter 1 verse 5. James

Titus 1:5

5 .14. 2 John 1 .1. 3 John 1 .1. Okay. Let's

go back to Timothy. We're still in Timothy. 1

Timothy 5 .17 -18. Let's turn back quickly. 1

Timothy. 5 .17 -18 Let the elders that rule well

be counted worthy of double honor, especially

they that labor in word and in doctrine. For

the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle an

ox that traded out corn, and the laborer is worthy

of his reward. So, verse 18, it will tell you,

that what Apostle Paul is saying is not to greet

pastors, hello, hello, sir. Because 18 brings

to light that the scripture says, thou shalt

not muzzle an ox when it traded out the corn,

for the laborer is worthy his reward. Are you

following? Okay, so the word that appears there

for double, Double is the word daplus. D -I -P

-L -O -U -S. For double, it's the word D -I -P

-L -O -U -S. It means twofold. Twofold more.

Abundant. I'll repeat, it is the word daplos,

twofold more, twofold all abundant. That is what

you give to a fellow believer when it comes to

the pastor, do it double. So Apostle Paul didn't

leave us in dark. He told us the measure we are

supposed to give, that is twofold. And the word

honor there, It's not, there's a word that is

similar to it. We'll talk about it. But for now,

it is the word time. Time. T -I -M -E. I know

it sounds like time. It's the word time. T -I

-M -E. It is a valuing by which a price is fixed.

a valuing by which a price is fixed, an honor

that belongs or should be shown to one. So, by

saying, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox that shredded

the corn, and the laborer is worth his reward.

What? Apostle Paul was bringing to light here

is not that his owner, as in, I esteem Pastor

Koston. When I meet him, Pastor, how are you?

Did you sleep well? In this context, he's talking

about meeting the physical needs of the elders

of the church. We see the same, Jesus used the

same in Luke 10, verse 17. when he sent forth

Luke 10:17

the disciples to preach. Luke 10, 17. Luke 10,

17. It reads, Okay. Okay, I got this wrong. Verse

7. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Verse 7. 7

and 17, they look similar. Verse 7. And in the

same house remain. eating and drinking such things

as they give. For the laborer is worth of his

hire. Go not from house to house. So there he

was talking about taking care of the ministers.

As they go forth to preach, they were to be taken

care of. Yes. And we see a church, the church

of... The Philippian church, they met the need

of Apostle Paul. They honored Apostle Paul's

ministry and they met his needs. Philippians

Philippians 1:15–18

chapter 1 verse 15 to 18. Philippians. Let's

look at it. Philippians 1, verses 15 to 18. When

Philippians 1:15–18

they talk that they met their needs, he met his

needs. Wait. Okay. It's chapter, the last chapter,

chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4 from verses

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

15. It reads, Now ye Philippians, Know also that

in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed

from Macedonia, no church communicated with me

as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Verse 16. For even in Thessalonica ye send once

and again unto my necessity, not because I desire

a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to

your account. Verse 18. And I am full, having

received of Epaphroditus the things which were

sent from you, an order of sweet smell, a sacrifice

acceptable and well -pleasing to God. So the

church at Philippi, they met the need of Apostle

Paul. Yes, they prayed for him. But they met

the needs that he required for the work of ministry.

That is, they honored Apostle Paul's ministry

and they gave. Their honor was demonstrated in

giving out in support of his ministry. So, God

commands us to give, to meet the needs of our

pastors. And he gives us a measure that we should

do it double, twofold. That is what you give

to this person or what you give to a brother

when it comes to the pastor, do it times two,

twofold. So honoring the pastors is honoring

God. Now, what is the importance of honor? What

is the importance of honor? So honor is a constant

practice in the scripture. You see it littered

all throughout. People honored the man of God.

People honored those that ministered to them.

Meeting their physical needs and honoring them

in service, helping out. So, as believers, we

should constantly renew our minds on this. Yes,

the world defines honor in a certain direction,

but we should keep our minds, we should guide

our minds from what the world says and to follow

what God says. Let's read Romans chapter 12.

Romans 12 · chapter mention

Romans 12 from verses 1 and 2. Romans 12 from

verses 1 and 2. We should keep our minds constantly

on the word of the Lord. We should renew our

minds by the word of the Lord, not what the word

says or not what we pick from the word and come

to the church. Or some of the people who tell

us that the pastors are stealing or the pastors

are thieves, themselves are not believers. You

ask them, have you believed? They have not. So

they want to teach you, who is in church, how

to honor the pastors. No, we follow what the

word says. What the Lord says is what we do.

Romans 12, from verses 1. It reads, I beseech

you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice

wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable

service. Verse 2. Be not conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is good and acceptable

and perfect will of God. So, Apostle Paul gives

a charge that we should not conform to this world,

which is such a matizo, which is to fashion oneself

according to the world. That is, the trend that

goes in the world, that's what you go with. Today,

the world honors, you go with that. Tomorrow,

it shifts. No, but we should always stick to

what the Lord says. We should guard our hearts.

We should be transformed by the word of the Lord

in our thinking. Let's look at Proverbs 4, verse

Proverbs 4:23

23. Proverbs 4, verse 23. Keep your heart with

Proverbs 4:23

all diligence. From out of it spring the issues

of life. The word keep there, it means it's a

verb. It's a verb. You have to do it by yourself.

And how do you do it? By feeding on the word

of the Lord. That is how you keep yourself from

the influences of the world. You remain untarnished

when you read the word of God, when you study

the word of God, when the word of God is what

governs your life. When it comes to honor, don't

lose this. We are talking about honoring the

ministers of God. Let's see it. So we see that

it says, keep your hearts with all diligence

from out of it spring the issues of life. And

you see that the keep there is Nasa, N -A -S

-A -R, which means to guard, to watch over, to

preserve, to protect with all diligence. Well,

his honor is of the heart. And as a man of God,

as a child of God, you should by all means guard

what comes in your mind by the word of the Lord.

You renew your mind by the word of the Lord.

So believers, we as believers should not copy

the word. But to let our thinking, our conduct

and life be governed by the word of the Lord.

That's why week in, week out, Sunday service,

Wednesday service, Friday soul meeting, we are

always learning. Because our life is to be governed

by the word of the Lord. Not by what the world

says. Not about the trends in the world. So,

Let's see something. It is possible that if you

don't renew your mind, you walk like one of the

people in the world. You walk like them, meaning

that in your actions, you walk in the flesh.

1 Corinthians 3, verses 1 to 3. Let's read this

1 Corinthians 3:1–3

one. Yes, this will be our last reading. 1 Corinthians

3 1 Corinthians 3 It reads, And I, brethren,

could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but

unto, as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

I have fed you with milk, When he talks about

walking as men, talking about the unbelievers.

So, that is, a believer is not expected to conduct

himself as an unbeliever. That is, if an unbeliever

dishonors, it is not for you. Yes, it is not

for you. Galatians tells us that we should walk

in love. Galatians chapter 5, it talks about

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

we should walk in love. It is love that we show

for honor. It is in love whereby we recognize

the work of our pastors and give out. Love is

liberal. We give out. We see how hard they work.

I tell you, I saw it when I was preparing the

teaching. But this thing is not simple. So they

have sleepless nights. I felt the impact of catatismus.

Pastor Fred will be teaching from today until

tomorrow. They have to be honored. They have

to be honored. It's something that drove me even

to give more. Because as believers, we are obliged

to do so. And we have been given a measure on

how we should give. We should do it double. Right?

I know some of us have been ignorant of this,

but I just want us to pray. The Lord, I thank

you for the pastors. I acknowledge the work that

they are doing and I give out to support the

work of ministry. Just pray. Just pray. Father,

we thank you. We appreciate you being here today.

We hope you carry this word with you throughout

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stay blessed.