QUALIFICATION

Titus 1:7-9

An elder is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.

Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.

He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

Some say that the teachings of scriptures are time specific, that it only applied to that period and should not be applied to the present time: they are not correct!

Jesus said:

Matthew 11:21 

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

The Lord kept comparing His time with centuries and millennials before His days in earth.

Listen, nothing happening now is strange, it had always been from time.

Matthew 12:41-42

“The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

These times Christ mentioned were two different civilizations, yet they still applied during His time.

Listen to more:

Matthew 24:37-38

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.

In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.

Let him who has ears hear!

So Paul instructs Titus on qualifications for leadership in the church, be they deacons, bishop/elders or ministers.

Is it that God does not call people? No He does.

Is it that God does not qualify people? He does qualify people.

However, a novice cannot lead the brethren, let us look at Paul. Christ called him, did He just jump into ministry, NO, listen to him:

Galatians 1:16-18

to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.

Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.

Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.

You don't just jump into ministry, you need to be trained, you need to be mature, you also need the experience.

Read through the criteria again, Paul who himself was not married (he knew he had a short time to live, and that he had already killed his sensuality) advised that he should be a man of one wife, not just that, but he must first be a good leader at home (please where did people get their mandatory celibacy from? - Religion is man-made)

You cannot tell me how spiritual you are, yet you do not have good character, for:

Galatians 5:22-25

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

For Christ said:

Matthew 7:16

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

The criteria cannot be possession of earthly wealth, tribalism, educational qualification or any other type of sentiment. For this is why we have so many churches in all streets yet corruption and all other evil vices reign.

You cannot have anointing without good character.

Remember:

1 Peter 4:17

For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?

So are you qualified? Are you a worthy servant? Are you a follower of man (no matter their title) or are you a follower of the Heavenly Father, be reminded that only Christ Jesus reveals Him.

See your talents and gifts are not for you to begin another ministry,  there are too many already because many who claim they are called are not moving to mission sites, NO, they remain in the big cities already crowded with denominations and ministries, leaving the mission field empty. Come on who is deceiving who?

Why not use that your ministry you are in to reach out to the mission areas. You are established in the comfort zone, reach out to the believers in the troubled or improvised areas. I thank God for Cathedral Youth church, that was our biyearly exercise then, others too the Lord's Labourers Fellowship International and many other ministries that I am not a part of. Are they still in these real ministries?

Wake up church. If the true word had reached out to these places, banditry, kidnapping etc may not have been this toxic. If the truth was being ministered, acclaimed believers in authority would have represented us properly.

Proverbs 14:34

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Help us Good Lord.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher