November 11
1 Timothy 3
Spiritual leaders in the church must meet spiritual qualifications.
INSIGHT
The church is inherently a spiritual entity and must have spiritual leadership. While it is valid to have leaders who have knowledge and experience in many of the practical matters facing a church, practical leadership must be undergirded with spiritual maturity. A person who desires to be a bishop (elder) or a deacon should be a Christian with a strong track record of integrity and wisdom (see vv. 2-4, 7). These qualifications should be weighed carefully by all who aspire to lead in the church.
PRAYER
We praise Christ, the Head of the church:
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man . . . to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen
(Ephesians 3:14-16, 19-21)
Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully (Psalm 24:3-4).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes . . .
I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me (Psalm 13:3, 5-6).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
peace and contentment,
physical safety,
your activities for the day.
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
(Colossians 2:6-7)
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