We read in Acts 14:23 –

²³ When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Here “elders” refer to the godly men responsible to lead the church as mentioned in Scripture in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.

To “commend” is to entrust the appointed elders to the care of someone else.  And who is that someone else?  The Lord.

This is the same word our Lord used in Luke 23:46 –

⁴⁶ And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.

In the same way our Lord committed Himself, His spirit, His soul to God the Father, so do we commit/entrust/commend Randy to the Lord whom this flock have believed.

Randy, I want to ask you a few questions.  Know that as you answer them you are answering the Lord in whom we are entrusting you to.

1. Will you, as a shepherd of this flock, continually seek to demonstrate sacrificial servanthood – being selfless in service and a servant to others?
2. Will you, as a shepherd of this flock, continually seek to demonstrate a genuine care for the flock of God here at Garden Valley Chapel?
3. Will you, as a shepherd of this flock, continually seek to demonstrate a man who is above reproach?
4. Will you, as a shepherd of this flock, step down from this spiritual leadership role if at any moment you are not qualified/fit for the biblical standard placed on you in 1 Tim. 3:1-7?

 

Now to the flock, a few words.

Scripture tells us in 1 Thess 5:12-13 –

¹² But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

¹³ and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

We are to know our leaders well enough to have an intimate appreciation for them and to respect them because of their value.

Randy is being entrusted with laboring/working in the ministry (to the point of exhaustion), with overseeing the flock (leading them in the way of righteousness), and is being entrusted with the task of admonishing (instructing in the truths of God’s Word).

Because of this we are called to think rightly and lovingly of our shepherds, not because of their charm or personality, but because of the fact that they work for the Chief Shepherd as His special servants (cf. 1 Pet. 5:2-4).

We are also called to submit to our leadership so that “peace” prevails in the church.  In fact these are the words given by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 13:17 –

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

I want to ask you a few questions.  Know that as you answer them you are answering the Lord in whom we have believed.

1. Will you, appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction as commanded in Scripture in 1 Thess. 5:12-13?
2. Will you, esteem them very highly in love because of their work?
3. Will you lovingly obey and submit to them as commanded in Scripture in Hebrews 13:17?

Before we pray, I believe an appropriate and fitting prayer request we as under-shepherds would ask of the church body comes from the writer of Hebrews in Heb. 13:18 –
¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

Let us Pray.