Latest / The Daily Word / June 23 – Leadership and Accountability
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Good morning, good day, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you're at, Lakeshore family. I'm so glad you joined us today. Welcome to the Daily Word Podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and alongside my wife, Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors at our Gastonia location. This podcast is a simple space we share each day to slow down, open God's Word, and pay attention to what He's saying. As a church family, we're committed to meeting with God daily, not out of a religious routine, but out of our relationship, through scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is stirring in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. We're walking together through the Life Journal Reading Plan, and today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. When I invest time with the Lord, I Try to keep things uncluttered. My Bible, my journal, something to write with, and a highlighter to mark what stands out. Most of the time, I like to lean on a couple of trusted study tools to help me go a little bit deeper and stay grounded in the text, not to replace God's word, not to replace the Holy Spirit whispering and speaking to my heart, but to help me understand and listen more clearly. We also follow the soap method, scripture, observation, application, prayer. It's a simple tool and a very practical way that we can engage God's word, not just reading it, but responding to God after we read it. Now, before we jump into today's passage, let's take just a moment. Let's pray and open our hearts and prepare our hearts before the Lord. Lord, as we open your word, we ask that you would open us by your Spirit. Make your word come alive in us. Give us ears to hear, hearts to receive, and courage to respond. Speak, Lord. We are listening. In Jesus' name, everybody said, Amen. Remember, we're using soap. Scripture, observation, application, prayer. That's basically the outline that I'm going to share with you right now. So today's passage for June 23rd comes out of our New Testament reading, 1 Timothy chapter 5. And I journaled from verses 19 through 22. Let me read it to us out of the New King James Version. This is how it reads. Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins. Keep yourself pure. In other words, when Paul says don't lay hands on anyone hastily, don't put anyone in a leadership role or an eldership role, a prominent role in leading too quickly. Because when you do, and you haven't done it this discerning and being led by the Spirit and having that confirmed, you could unwillingly take part in the sins that they may be walking in because you are too hasty. Well, listen. This is a Syriop subject. So I I've given it a title. Let me share that with you. Here's the title of my journal entry: How to Treat a Sinning Leader. Here's my observations. In these verses, the Apostle Paul is giving instructions to the young pastor Timothy on how to treat or deal with a sinning leader. Tough subject for sure, but something that needs to be addressed and understood. According to the Blue Letter Commentary, Blue Letter Bible, Paul struck a balance between believing every bit of gossip that comes along about a leader in the church and ignoring serious sin in a leader's life. Either extreme is wrong. According to William Barclay, who was a Scottish minister and professor of the New Testament studies at the University of Glasgow, And one of the most widely read Bible commentators of the 20th century, he says, nothing does more harm than when some people are treated as if they could do no wrong and others as if they could do no right. Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. An accusation against a leader should not be automatically received. The accusation should be carefully verified by two or three witnesses, not just two or three others who may have heard about it. Timothy should not receive or promote unsubstantiated accusations about church leaders. That makes sense, right? How about this part? Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest may fear. Paul is saying, however, if leaders are in sin, it must be addressed forthrightly, with public rebuke or correction, to promote a fear of sin among the leadership and the entire church. Now, I will say, I don't know if this is an automatic. I think case by case needs to be considered very sensitively and with the leading of the Holy Spirit and counsel from other leaders and elders around you. The commentary goes on to say that many congregations have had great trouble because sin in leadership was not dealt with forthrightly. It's important that everyone understands that leadership in the church does not shield one from accountability, it makes one even more accountable. Wow. Powerful truths, powerful scripture, important insight. Here's the application. In other words, how does this apply to my life? This is what I wrote. This applies to my life at least in a couple of different ways. To start, as a pastor and leader, I'm reminded of God's sacred call on my life, which includes living for Him and guarding my life against sin. Just reading these scriptures makes me afraid of sin and the consequences of it. All of us need to guard against sin, but as a leader and pastor, I am especially held to a higher, stricter standard. In addition, as a pastor of a small congregation, I'm also reminded that some parts of ministry roles are not pleasant at all. I hope I never have to administer this kind of correction to another leader. That being said, I also can see from scripture that these measures are needed at times, but if it ever has to happen, I will make sure that I know that I know that I know and run it by my pastor and other leaders first. So here's my prayer. Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. I love your word. I'm grateful for your word. Help me by the power of your word, Spirit, and a Christian accountability to guard my life from sinful behaviors and That can lead to bondage and a sinful lifestyle. Help me lead and love our church family to guard their lives from sin as well. Help me to love, train, and disciple our leaders so that we are developing strong, godly leaders who love you and serve you with all their heart, soul, and strength. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Lakeshore family. As you go about your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and His Word like you've never had before. As you do, God will open your heart and your eyes to the riches of his word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God has called you to be. Fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you, and we'll catch you again tomorrow.