1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV) Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine.
God has called individuals to establish the different ministries in church in order to fulfil His purposes, and everyone has a special calling and gift to do that. God called Moses to deliver the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Likewise, the church’s mission today is to save souls until Jesus returns. For this purpose, He has called the Pastor to be the spiritual authority in the church. The teaching from the Word is to give double honour to those who labour among us, especially those who preach and teach the Word of God, and we are to honour them in speech and action.
Just like leaders of any company, the Pastor needs supporters, diligent workers, and team players. It is God who has appointed governing authorities over us—in governments, churches, and businesses, and because He is a holy God, He despises rebellion against leadership, which is what Lucifer committed against God. Just like Miriam and Aaron, we could easily engage in divisive work that will disrupt the plan of God.
Numbers 12:1-2 (NKJV) Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it.
Therefore, we need to check whether we are speaking evil of the leaders who are put in place by God because our divisive words can destroy a Pastor and the church ministry. Engaging in such behaviour is unhealthy for the individuals, their families, jobs and businesses, and they are also stepping into the devil’s playground by opening the door for demons to fire shots at them as they walk out of God’s protection. The Word says that such a person will not enjoy good days.
1 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV) For “He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
The secret to seeing good days is to refrain our tongue from speaking evil and deceit. We could see good days if we clean up our words regarding what we say about spiritual authorities. Just like God heard when Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, God is listening to every conversation, comment, remark, sarcasm, and attack against those whom He has called and set apart to serve Him full time.
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign (Session 3)
上帝守护祂的仆人
提摩太前书5:17 那善于管理教会的长老，当以为配受加倍的敬奉；那劳苦传道教导人的更当如此。
上帝呼召人在教会中建立不同的事工来成就祂的旨意，同时每个人都有自己特定的呼召和恩赐来为主服侍。上帝呼召摩西把以色列人民带出埃及并带他们进入应许之地。同理现在教会的任务是拯救人们的灵魂直到耶稣再来。为此，祂呼召牧师们在教会里作属灵权威。圣经给我们的教导是要加倍尊荣那些在我们中间劳苦的人，尤其是那些传讲和教导神的话语的人，我们要在言行上尊荣他们。
就像公司里的领袖一样，牧师需要支持者，勤勉的工人和团队合作者。上帝已经在政府、教会和企业中任命了我们的管理权柄，因为祂是圣洁的神，祂轻视那些不服带领的人，就好像路西法对上帝所行的。如同米利暗和亚伦，我们有时也很容易卷入分裂性的事务从而扰乱了上帝的计划。
民数记12:1-2 摩西娶了一位埃塞俄比亚的妻子所以米利暗和亚伦就反对他。他们说：“难道上帝只是同摩西讲话了吗？难道他没同我们讲话吗？”上帝听到了他们的谈话。
因此我们要检讨一下自己是否对上帝所立的领袖口出恶言，因为我们离间的话语会毁掉一个牧师及其教会事工。人若卷入这样的行为对他们个人，家庭，工作和业务来说都是不健康的也是无益的，也使他们便踏入了魔鬼的游乐场，敞开门户使自己曝露于魔鬼的枪口之下，因为他们走出了上帝的遮庇。圣经说这样的人是享受不到美福的。
彼得前书 3:10-12 因为圣经上说“人若爱生命愿享美福，他需管好自己的舌头，不出恶言，嘴里不说诡诈的话。也要离恶行善；寻求和睦并一心追随。因为主的眼看顾义人，主的耳倾听他们的祈祷；唯有行恶的人，主对他们变脸。”
享受美好生活的秘诀就是要克制我们的舌头不说恶言和诡诈的话。如果我们清理我们关于属灵领袖们的言辞，我们便可享有福乐。上帝听到了米利暗和亚伦对摩西的诋毁，上帝也一样在倾听针对祂所呼召全职侍奉祂的仆人们的每一次对话，评价，评论，讽刺和攻击。
讲章系列：细胞小组活动（第三部分）
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