Not A Novice

1Timothy 3:5-7 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (6) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (KJV)  

The above description is what is required of those that desire the office of a deacon in the Church, one who is an overseer of it. Those that are in Christ are those that have learned to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit; simply put, they practice what they preach. As we see in verse 6, it is pride that came before the fall, someone that should have been operating in the liberty of Christ had fallen back into the realm of the flesh, and is now open season to the devil and his workers who are seeking to make the mud stick to any of God’s people. A novice is a new convert, someone who recently gave their life to the Lord, or someone who hasn’t practiced what they preach, one who is more apt to be in the process of learning than instructing. Remember how a child is described in 1Cor 13:11, one that speaks like a child thinks like a child and then understands what they had just spoken. Those that are in Christ and have matured in Him will be the ones that take the time to understand, and then think about what they are going to speak before they do speak it into existence; thus keeping themselves out of the condemnation zone and the realm of the devil. Sometimes people are elevated into the position of bishops and deacons based more on their carnal stature rather than the spiritual one; those that maybe are the sons of the pastor or those that have the means to give more of a financial support than a spiritual one. Whatever the case, God holds the overseers to a higher standard; one which requires them to continue walking in the Spirit, being an example of the believers in walk as well as in talk.  

1 Timothy 3:8-11 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (10) And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. (11) Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (KJV)  

Doubletongued makes me think of the term ‘someone that talks out of both sides of their mouth’. ‘They smile in your face all the time they want to take your place, the backstabbers’; from an old song from the 70’s that seems quit fitting. Doesn’t it bother you to hear someone always talking negatively about others and then smiling to their face when they show up? Those that have matured in the Lord will be the ones that have learned how to tame the tongue and not let it be an unruly wildfire of slander and backbiting. If you notice in verse 11, that if the wife isn’t grave, or stable, but running around slandering; that doesn’t bode well for the husband either that is seeking to be a deacon of the Church. What it basically tells me is that if she is running a smear campaign on the brethren she obviously had that fire fueled at home, having gotten it from the husband as well. So guys if you or your wives are out there slandering others it won’t be long before you are going to take a tumble into the abyss, having fallen back into the condemnation of the devil that you were once delivered from.  

Proverbs 12:21-23 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. (22) Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. (23) A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. (KJV)  

There is no condemnation to those in Christ; no evil shall happen to those that are justified in Him. A fool will proclaim their foolishness by spreading slander against the brethren, but the wise man will conceal it and pray one for another, not prey on each other.  

Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (KJV)  

How would you like it if you had an issue that you were struggling with and rather than have it handled in the Spirit it would be brought before a congregation that was willing to stone first and take names later? Have you forgotten how you were saved and brought into the realm of God, how longsuffering and patient God is and has been with you? It’s those that are spiritual, those that are in Christ, who are the ones God is going to use to oversee His congregation; so that if someone has an issue it can be dealt with in love, and not broadcast on CNN, or a billboard. Are you more apt to pray and consider yourself and how God handled you with your shortcoming and faults, or are you standing and smoting your breast like the Pharisees, thanking God you’re not like those other sinners? When you think yourself to be something when according to your own works or righteousness you are in reality nothing, then you deceive yourself as well as others by spreading strife and contention, focusing more on the problems than the solution.  

Proverbs 26:20-22 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. (21) As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (22) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (KJV)  

You know it’s one thing that the devil is the accuser of the brethren always looking for their shortcomings and faults so that he can point the finger at them, it’s another thing if you choose to be the vessel that he uses to be a launching pad for his fiery darts that are being pointed at God’s people. Kind of like a little tattle tale, a rat, ratting out the people just to make yourself look better; like climbing the corporate ladder no matter who you use or have to step over to get on top.  

1 Corinthians 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. (KJV)  

Rather than being an asset to the body of Christ and lifting them up, you are now bringing them down and actually sinning against Christ Himself. When you do it unto them, no matter who they are, insomuch as it is done even to the least of our brethren, or those that we think are the least important in the body, Christ Himself takes it personal because we are doing it unto Him. Not a good place to be and not one that is going to gain eternal access into His kingdom.  

Proverbs 22:10-11 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. (11) He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. (KJV)  

Instead of being the first one to cast a stone why don’t you cast down those imaginations and every high thing that comes against the knowledge of God? You want to end the fire danger? Then get rid of the arsonist no matter through whom or how it manifests. Grow up Church and don’t be a novice; rather than point the finger at others, start pointing them to Christ so that they will not fall back into the condemnation they were delivered from.  

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.