Elders Letters

Elders Letters Elvis Iverson http://www.elvisiverson.com The qualifications of elders begins with sound character, those who walk in sound character walk in sound doctrine, although wrong doctrine is worst then wrong belief, for we are saved and we live the Christian life by grace. However elders must meet the qualifications of an elder. –(1 Tim. 3:1-7, 8-13) Ordination process begins with there first steps as a Christian, they are first go through discipleship, then are equipped, they begin to minister with the other believers, in the one another ministry in the church in the home, they begin to learn and flow in their spiritual gifts and those who are faithful and being a good model Christian, the believers see his or her gifts and soundness of walk, then begin to recognize and set apart, as they remain faithful, then the elders after the recognition of the believers among home churches, thus are ordain as ministers of grace, as they mature over time then become elders, then appointed as elders by the apostles. All five-fold ministers of grace should be ordained, but only apostles, prophets, and teachers can be one day be elders, pastors and evangelists are called minister in the home church, between the homes churches and among the home churches. Apostles, prophets and teachers can minister in the home church, and minister in the congregation Center, as they mature and are faithful, and proven they are then appointed as elders by apostles. Meaning office apostles have the last word when dealing with appointing of elders, dealing with false doctrine, dealing with church division, dealing with sexual immorally, and financial accountable, all other things are open for discussion. The main task of the five ministers of grace is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, the five ministries of grace are to do only 2% and the common believers are to do 98% of the work of the ministry. –(Eph. 4:11) The Elders are mature Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, they are council and team that minister in unity, and there is a set leader who is an apostle, that leads the elders with vision and unity, and the elders along with senior elder leads the congregation with unity, anointing and wisdom. –(Acts 11:20, 13:1-3, Acts 20:28) Elders are to lead with example, they are not to be lords in the house of God, they are not to control, rule, put fear in the saints. –(1 Pet. 5:1-4) Bishops and Elders are the same and on the same level, elders both overseer and give council in wisdom. Bishop is not an office, there is no such thing. Deacon is not an office, this is for younger ministers who are being train to be elders some day, deacon means minister, this is not a position; instead it is young minister still in training. There is no senior pastor; pastor’s ministry is in the home church, instead there is a senior elder he is an apostle. Leading the council of elders. The Pastoral Epistles are not Pastoral Epistles, instead they are apostolic epistles. To rule over means: it simply means to guide or go before, this word carries the thought of those who guide you rather than those who rule over you. It carries the idea of standing in front of, superintending, guarding, and providing care for. It rather points to their capacity to supervise, manage, and nurture others. In all these passages, the basic thought is that of watching rather than bossing. Superintending rather than dominating. Facilitating rather than dictating. Guiding rather than ruling. The Greek text conveys an image of one who stands within the flock, guarding and caring for it (as a leading-servant would). It’s reminiscent of a shepherd who looks out for the sheep-----not one who drives them from behind or rules them from above. –(Acts 20:28, 1 Thess. 5:12, 1 Tim. 5:11, Heb. 13:7, 17, 24) There is the gift of administration, the gift of administration is not to oversee the elders, the apostles, the prophets, even the congregation, or apostolic networks. Those who have the gift of administration are to serve the congregation, elders, apostles, etc. – (Rom. 12:8) There is no such thing as clergy leadership, clergy ministers, you can’t be a five fold grace minister, or a spiritual elder, and be a clergy member, the clergy are an ungodly order of religion, and it has no place in a true apostolic congregation. True ministers of grace that want to be real and true to Christ in their calling they must be set free from the clergy spirit, for it is a demon. Likewise those who are believers need to be free and no longer apart of the laity, the laity is an ungodly order of religion, laity is an unclean spirit, it is a demon that believers need to be set free from, and then begin to obey their call as priests and kings in Christ. First Corinthians 12:28 is the divine order of church government, and the new apostolic congregation, it begins first with apostles, then second prophets, and then third teachers, and so on, and administrations are down on the list, they have no part in the eldership of the congregation. In Hebrews 13:17 means not to be lords and control the house of God, instead means to persuade or to win over, it is passive leadership. Copyright © 2009 Elvis Iverson All Rights Reserved