KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 3:8 ” Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

We would consider the qualifications of a deacon in detail. 1st Timothy 3:8-9 reads “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”

Acts Chapter 6 introduces the basic qualifications of the deacon. Act 6:3 KJV Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. To be full of the Holy Spirit means one is controllèd by the Holy Spirit. The full dominance of the Holy Spirit is the one who enables the Christian to manifest all the Christian virtue.

The deacon must be grave. This means they should act honourably or be honest in all their dealings. They should be men and women of strong conviction about the importance of leading an upright life.

The next virtue is that they must not be double-tongued. This means they must say the same thing at all times. They should not call a thing ‘.A’ today in the presence of Mr. D and at another time in the presence of Mr. F he says it is B. This is not a trustworthy individual. It is the character trait of a serpent. He must always speak the truth. The tendency to say the truth at all times is what makes one to be trusted.

The third qualification is that they must not be given too much wine. In the qualifications of a bishop or an Elder, the Bible said he must not be given to wine. The qualifications of a bishop or pastor are no different from that of a deacon. It therefore holds that the deacon must likewise not be given to wine. In Leviticus 10:9 the Jewish minister was not to take wine in the service of God. Why should it then be any more proper for a Christian minister to drink wine than for a Jewish priest to stay away? Shall a minister of the gospel be less holy than the Jewish minister? Wine is addictive and I will always advise Christians to stay away from it.

The next was that he should not be greedy of filthy lucre. He should not be greedy about money. The deacons, by their functions, are the ones who normally handle church monies, and therefore, it is just right that they are people who are not greedy about money. Judas, one of the disciples of our Lord Jesus, betrayed his master because of his greed for money.

He must also hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. This means he must be sincere about the teachings of the bible. 2nd Corinthians 4:2 informs us that the Apostle Paul renounced all hidden things of dishonesty and, as a result, did not walk in craftiness.

PRAYER

Father, I pray for all deacons who serve in your house. May they be committed to you and discharge their roles to honour your name in Jesus’ name I have prayed.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Corinthians 4:2 ” But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”.

1 Timothy 3:10. “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 3:8 ” Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

We continue looking at other services in the house of God. We consider deacons in this study. A deacon is defined as one who executes the command of another. Another meaning for a deacon is a servant or an attendant. Please note that no role played by anyone makes one more important or superior to another. For the sake of effective functioning and order in the body of Christ, God has instituted levels of honour. Each person must serve God and the people of God in humility and fear for God and love for God’s children.

In the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6, there arose some controversies among the brethren concerning the sharing of food. The apostles decided that they would maintain their role in ministering the word of God and prayer, while others were to be chosen who would man the affairs of the food. (Acts 6:1-10). These men were the first deacons of the church.

In 1st Timothy 3:8-12 apostle, Paul made a list of the qualifications of a deacon. They were not very different from that of the elder or pastor. These qualifications talked about the character of the individual. I do not see any of the supernatural gifts being said here. Many people are very fascinated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit without taking time to let the fruit of the Spirit bear in their lives. Please note this; in every kind of service in the house of God, the pure or real servants are those who manifest or bear the fruit of the Spirit. There are cases of those who live sinful lives, yet the gifts manifest in their lives. If you are such a one, do not take that as God’s approval for your wrong ways. God, out of love for his children would allow the gift to manifest so his children who may be praying for healing would be healed, and those who need direction may receive a word of wisdom and have that direction they need.

Remember the story of Moses in Numbers 20:8. The Lord God asked Moses to speak to the rock, to give out water so the Lord’s name would be sanctified. Moses out of anger hit the rock. He did the wrong thing, yet water came. The Lord said to Him in Numbers 12:12 that because he did not obey His instruction, he would not go to the Promised Land.

Good godly character is the only criterion to have an acceptable ministry or service before the Lord. May every servant in God’s house take heed to these things.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I pray for all servants in your house, especially the deacons. May they understand your ways and yield themselves to you to serve you uprightly with no selfish motives.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Galatians 5:22-23 ” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”.

1 Timothy 3:11 ” Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things”.