Ministry Qualifications
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of prayer and spiritual qualifications for effective church leadership.
Steven Cole delves into the profound truth that God is light, emphasizing the purity, pervasiveness, and power of light as a metaphor for God's holiness, knowledge, and freedom from darkness. John Piper explains that in God, there is no darkness at all, signifying that drawing near to God brings freedom, hope, and joy, with no hidden agenda or disappointments. Robert Candlish beautifully describes God as the Light invading the darkness of this world, taking upon Himself the darkness of sin and offering the promise of eternal joy and safety. The contrast between light and darkness in Scripture highlights the essential nature of God as light, symbolizing moral purity, divine illumination, and the absence of darkness or evil.
Text
Leadership requires vision, and whence will vision come except from hours spent in the presence of God in humble and fervent prayer? All things else being equal, a praying woman will know the will of God for the church far better than a prayerless man.
We do not here advocate the turning of the churches over to the women, but we do advocate a recognition of proper spiritual qualifications for leadership among the men if they are to continue to decide the direction the churches shall take. The accident of being a man is not enough. Spiritual manhood alone qualifies.
?Choose seven men from among you,? commanded the apostles, ?who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them? (Acts 6:3). The men chosen as a consequence of this directive became the first deacons of the church. Thus the direction of certain church affairs was put into the hands of men spiritually qualified. Should we not maintain the same standards today?
Sermon Outline
- Importance of Prayer for Vision
- Prayer is the source of vision
- Prayerless leaders are lacking in vision
Key Quotes
“Leadership requires vision, and whence will vision come except from hours spent in the presence of God in humble and fervent prayer?” — A.W. Tozer
“All things else being equal, a praying woman will know the will of God for the church far better than a prayerless man.” — A.W. Tozer
“Spiritual manhood alone qualifies.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Prayer is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of God's will for the church.
- Spiritual qualifications are more important than gender or position when choosing church leaders.
- Church leaders should be chosen based on their spiritual wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit.