8) In the gifts of the Holy Spirit and Offices set by God in His Church. The Holy Spirit sets people apart for the work that He has called them for, as in Acts 13 vs 2. Concerning overseers, apostle Paul led by the Spirit said to these men. “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God”. Acts 20 vs 27-36. Running the Church under Christ’s Authority.

A) Things we need to know. Bishops can be called pastors/overseers or elders. They are always men able to teach, set apart, called by the Holy Spirit. 1 Tim 3 vs 1-8/Titus 1 vs 5-9/James 3 vs 1. 1 Peter 5 vs 1 vs 4/1 Tim 5 vs 17-22. They are to shepherd-feed the flock of God.
Serving as overseers not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, nor as being lords over, controlling treading down, being heavy shepherds to those entrusted to them, but being examples to the flock. They must be blameless with out reproach among people. The Husband of one wife, loving his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.
A pastor must be temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous, one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. Not a novice, because of the warning in 1 Tim 3 vs 6. They must be a good testimony among those who are outside.
A lover of what is good, holy, self controlled, holding fast the faithful word of God as he has been taught, that he may be able,
by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. And when the Chief Shepherd Jesus the Jewish Messiah returns,
the faithful pastor will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Question 40. Do you agree with the whole of the above section A ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



B) Training to be a pastor. After prayer and bible study, if a man upholds these statements of belief of the Christian Church, and after seeking God’s Will, he desires the office/position of a pastor, he desires a good work. The church pastor or pastors, after prayer are to confirm whether the suggested candidate fits the criteria. If so there is a three year training program allowing for preachers preparation and bible teaching, where the right candidate will learn to teach the Word of God and to take care of the flock of God. After three years they are assessed prayerfully by the church pastor or pastors. If God’s calling is sure and His timing fulfilled.
Acts 13 vs 3. After fasting and prayer the church pastor or pastors will publicly, from the front of the church assembly under God’s authority, lay hands on the candidate and commission them as a pastor within the fellowship. Ongoing yearly assessments are to ensure that all pastors and all those in any form of leadership continue to fulfill the necessary criteria, laid out in the full council of God’s Word.
Gal 5 vs 16-26. Heretical teachings are to be openly corrected, so that the church of Jesus Christ is not misled.
Question 41. Do you agree with the whole of the above section B ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



C) Preachers and bible teachers who have God’s authority to instruct the whole church are biblically always men. Concerning the whole church assembly of both men and women, apostle Paul obediently continues to teach the Lords Command of
1 Cor 14 vs 33-40. Apostle Paul writes in 1 Tim 2 vs 11-15. “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach (men) or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression’. Rom 5 vs 12-21. Adams sin was deliberate. Eve was deceived”.
1 Cor 9 vs 21. God’s Word does not disapprove of women praying out loud and prophesying in the church, it encourages it, provided they are properly attired in godliness with head covering as a symbol of their authority to speak. 1 Cor 11 vs 1-16/2 Tim 2 vs 15.
2 Tim 4 vs 1-5/Gal 1 vs 6-12/James 2/2 Peter 3 vs 13-18 speaks of apostle Paul’s teachings. “Untaught and unstable people twist (his teachings) to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures”.
Question 42. Do you agree with the whole of the above section C ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



D) Training to be a preacher / bible teacher. If a man upholds these statements of belief of the Christian Church, and desires to preach, he can pray, then ask to join a preachers preparation program to become a better communicator. Preachers are called by the Lord and not man.
Question 43. Do you agree with the whole of the above section D ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



C) Deacons are men as women are deconesses who are official attendants who help in administration and other menial yet essential duties. Serving tables. Giving the believers in financial need their daily distributions of food if necessary. A deacon can be a treasurer. This enabled the apostles or today pastors to give themselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the Word and the preaching of God's Word. Deacons are men. Acts 6 vs 1-7. 1 Tim 3 vs 7-15. Deacons were men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Phoebe was a woman commended as a servant, a helper of many in the Church, as in Romans 16 vs 1-2. The Greek word servant is pronounced dee-ak-on-os. This word dee-ak-on-os means deacon or in Phoebe case deaconess. The Greek teaches that Phoebe was called a deaconess, she was an official servant. The Greek says this means an attendant, an aid, a relief, a helper in menial duties. Deacons are men. Deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They must be found blameless among people. Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husband of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well. Philip from Acts 6 vs 5 was a deacon and in Acts 8 vs 5 Philip is also seen as an evangelist with a signs and wonders ministry. Acts 8 vs 1-40 Philip even baptized.
Question 44. Do you agree with the whole of the above section C ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



D) Becoming a deacon or a deconess. If a Christian upholds these statements of belief, and after 3 years within the church fellowship he or she desires to become a deacon, he or she is to be first tested to see if they fit the criteria. For Commissioning Acts 6 vs 6.
Question 45. Do you agree with the whole of the above section D ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.

E) Women are called by God to teach what is good to other women and children. Raising future leaders and witnesses. Titus 2 vs 1-5. This is for all Christian women who have a measure of maturity in the faith. Titus 2 vs 3-5 this Scripture also gives licence for ‘a woman to women teaching ministry’. Women today who believe they are called to preach and teach God's Word, are in fact called to lead other women and children. If a woman upholds these statements of belief, desiring ‘a women to women teaching ministry and is called by God to do so. Then she ought to prayerfully seek the Lord, and then as led by the Holy Spirit, ask a bible believing pastor for his conformation, for her to begin training for this ministry.
Question 46. Do you agree with the whole of the above section E ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.

D) Christian men and women speak out in church, under God given conditions as the Lord gives utterance
Rev 19 vs 10. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”. In Obedience to the Lord’s Command in 1 Cor 14 vs 33-40. ‘Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak’. Vs 40. ‘Let all things be done decently and in order’ The Lord’s Command is understood in the light of His previous instruction on head covering. 1 Cor 11 vs 1-16. When praying out loud or prophesying, men are not to cover their head and women are to cover their head, as a symbol of authority. Submission to God’s word gives authority as led by the Spirit to both men and women to pray out loud and prophesies in the church assembly. Prophecy is to proclaim God’s message effectively for the edification strengthening and exhortation encouragement and comfort to the church. Prophecy can predict future events as a means of guiding God’s people. Prophecy is to be judged by others in the light of the Holy bible. Men and women of God need to learn obedience to Christ, and ought to deliver God's Word in the right attire.
Question 47. Do you agree with the whole of the above section D ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



E) Women’s Ministry. If we judge from a world view, then we see that women are able to do the same work as men. If we are politically correct then we encourage women to do any job that they wish to do. If we are Christians then we are to encourage both Christian men and women to first seek God’s Will. Obviously men and women are able to excel in virtually any job they are given, there’s a whole spectrum of jobs in the world that are morally sound and Christian men and women are used by God in them. These study notes assume that you the reader believe as we do in equality between men and women. Men and women’s equality have its roots in the bible. We have the same worth in God’s sight. God loves us all the same. But the Church of Christ is in the world, it is not meant to be off the world. Within the Church Christians have callings from the Almighty, and Christians have God’s eternal Word the bible to know God’s Will. As Jesus by His grace lives in us who are born again, we all share to a greater or lesser degree in a pastors heart, because Jesus the chief Shepherd lives in us. We each experience God's caring love for each other. Many Christian women instead of looking to the bible for their calling, they have gone by their feelings and wrongly assumed that God was calling them to be a pastor.
My heart goes out to them, but there is an urgent need for their repentance, for them to begin again to uphold the full council of God.
It is well known that women bishops/pastors/elders/ and women preachers teaching to the overall body of Christ is a new phenomenon, engulfing many churches since the 1970s.
A study of this subject opens our eyes to the times we live in and the churches that are slowly slipping further into apostate beliefs. Churches that are slowly leaving the faith due to their liberal beliefs concerning the Bible. Some liberal church leaders have used the recent unbiblical changes concerning women’s ministry, to support their other worldly belief, that its time the church also changed its views concerning homosexuals. This has led to the ordination of homosexual clergy, promoting what the bible calls in Leviticus 18 vs 22 an abomination. 1 Corinthians 5 vs 6 warns that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Meaning that a little sin a little false teaching spreads through the Church. Vs 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven. Women today need our support for them to be encouraged to fulfill God's calling and not mans will.
Question 48. Do you agree with the whole of the above section E ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.



F) Men and women are all called to be witnesses to Jesus to reach out to the lost.
As in Acts 1 vs 8. Acts 1 vs 12-14. Acts 2 vs 1-11. A woman’s authority comes by her submission to Christ’s teachings concerning male leadership.
Question 49. Do you agree with the whole of the above section F ?
As part of your Christian fundamentalist course work, you will need to answer this question.

Alpha and Omega Churches together Bible Course. .www.lifetothefullchurch.com...for prayer or spiritual advise contact Stan Earle at Stan's Gym 01708-227072



G) Help Meet.
An interesting following study submitted by Sam Cary.

“And the Lord God said, it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him”
Genesis 2:18

Help is a word frequently used in reference to the Lord in the Psalms. Thus it is not a degrading position for the woman. The verb form basically means to aid or supply that which the individual cannot provide for himself. The Septuagint translates it boethos, a word the New Testament uses in the sense of “physician”. It conveys the idea of aiding someone in need, such as the oppressed. Certainly a godly woman meets this need of man.
Meet comes from the Hebrew word meaning “opposite.” Literally it is “according to the opposite of him,” meaning that she will complement and correspond to him…(1)

“And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Genesis 2:23,24

God’s ideal plan for marriage is one man for one woman for one lifetime. God’s pattern for marital happiness is evident when a man loves and leads his family, with children who obey and reverence their parents, with a wife who respects and supports her husband’s leadership. A mutually supportive attitude must characterize both husband and wife if they are to succeed in building a harmonious home. Illustration: Marriage is so important in the mind of God that it was the first of three divine institutions and was patterned to illustrate Christ’s love for the church. Application: Christians should therefore do their part in contributing to the success of the family. (2)

Cleave is a strong verb, meaning, “join, stick to”. The two verbs “leave” and “”cleave” may be subordinated in the following way: “Let a man forsake, or abandon, his father and his mother in order that he may cleave unto his wife and in order that they might become one flesh.” If he does not leave, he cannot cleave, nor can he become or be one flesh. This is the strongest Hebrew construction to indicate a change of state, the verb “to be” (hayu) plus the preposition (le). The process of becoming one flesh, totally united in life, purpose, and pleasure is presented…(1)

“…Have ye not read, that which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Mathew 19:4-6

Have ye not read: Jesus refers them to God’s original purpose in creation, that they should be one flesh. Genesis 2:24 indicates that being one flesh is one new entity, and is not to be limited to sexual union. The Bible clearly indicates that sexual union does not itself constitute marriage, which is fundamentally a covenantal agreement between two partners for life. (1)

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” v22
As unto the Lord: This is a comparative clause. But in Greek there are two different types of comparative clauses. (1) Elucidation, which means that wives are to give their husbands the same unquestioned, absolute submission they give Christ…(2) Emphasis, which means that wives are to submit to their husbands, as submission rendered by them truly is submission rendered to Christ Himself. When the wife yields her will to that of her husband, she yields to the Lord….”(1)
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.” v23
For gives the reason why verse 22 calls for wifely submission. Just as Jesus is the divinely appointed head or authority over His church, in the same way the husband is the divinely appointed “head” or authority of his wife.
And he is the savior (or, protector of the body): As Jesus is responsible to provide for the welfare of His church, so the husband is responsible to protect his wife. In both cases the responsibility to protect is inseparably linked with the responsibility to provide spiritual leadership. (1)
“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” v24
The extent of the wife’s submission to her husband is in every thing, that is, in every area of life and in every issue that may arise… (1)
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” v25
The marital responsibility of husbands is to love your wives. The Greek word rendered “love” is agapao, which denotes the willing sacrificial giving on the husband’s part for the benefit of his wife, without thought of return. As Christ gave himself for the church, so there is to be no sacrifice, not even the laying down of his life, that a husband should not be willing to make for his wife. (1)
“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” v28
This verse develops the idea, introduced in verse 27, that sacrificial love benefits the giver as well as the receiver. The church certainly profits from Christ’s love (v.26) in that she is granted salvation, but Jesus also benefits from His love in obtaining her as a pure bride (v.27). Similarly, the husband who loveth his wife loveth himself, that is, he profits from this love, as does his wife. (1)
“For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth is, even as the Lord the church: For as we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” v29-31
…As the church is a part of Jesus’ body (v.30), so is the wife a part of her husband’s body (v.31). Thus, when the husband loves her, he loves himself…(1)
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and they two shall be one flesh...” v31
Leave his father and mother: A husband and wife have a better chance for a successful marriage if there is some independence-physically, emotionally, and financially-from parents and in-laws. (1)

The relationship between Christ’s headship, and the headship of the husband

“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
1 Corinthians 11:3

The concept of headship does not denote qualitative or essential difference. It denotes responsibility and accountability, not superiority. The prototype is seen in the persons of the Trinity. The Father and Christ are coequal, yet they fulfill different functions... (1)

Each one of us has certain responsibilities. We are bound to uphold those responsibilities by the accountability with which they are presented. If we choose to forfeit our responsibilities for a lack of willingness, we have not become un-responsible, neither are we no longer bound by that which we choose to ignore. We have simply become irresponsible and are left with two things: the product of accountability, (that being judgment), and un-fulfillment.
The husband is the divinely appointed head of the wife. And therefore has certain responsibilities toward his wife. Responsibilities such as: leadership, protection, provision, comfort, and affection, that he feels he must fulfill or else be held accountable by God. This is imbedded within mans nature. And without these things, he will inevitably live unfulfilled. However he cannot do this alone. It takes not only his will to achieve this, but also a wife who is willingly in submission to her husband’s role as head of the woman. This is a great power she possesses that she is able to fulfill the nature of man by being submissive to the call of God, that is, her husband. The husband cannot be who he was intended to be in the marriage without the help of the wife, and the wife cannot be who she was intended to be without the headship of the husband. Both the husband and the wife each have what the other needs in order to please God in their marriage. This is why it is so important that they both be of one accord, and that they be “one flesh”. This is well pleasing to God.
If we are to follow Christ’s example, then as us fulfilling our duty as a husband or wife, we should be driven primarily by an unconditional selfless love toward each other that should never have to be merited. No matter what happens we must love each other in the very same way that Christ loved us when he was being nailed to that cross.

One flesh

“I and my father are one.” John 10:30
And though they have different functions and duties, the husband and his wife are ultimately made up of one unit also. They are no longer twain. Just as Jesus is the head of the Church and we are his body, “of His flesh and of His bones”, so is the husband the head of the wife. And the wife being: “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh”, is of the man, just as we are of Christ, and just as Christ is of God.
Each one of us is expected to treat our spouse as part of our own body, to love and to cherish them with no regard for anything in return. If we spend this love out of unselfishness, and not out of want, our Father in heaven will be pleased.

“ Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 11:11
What is the husband without the wife, or the wife without the husband? The woman was taken out of man. She is: “of the man”, who is in turn “by the woman”.
It is important that we understand our divinely appointed need for one another. This is not a need we share merely to create new life. It is far more than that.
“And the Lord God said, it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18
In all that He found to be “good” throughout the first two chapters of Genesis, this was the only time God had found something to be “not good”. Given the context, this is a much more profound statement than something simply being better or worse. It is clearly much more than a negative preference.

After man and woman are completed, God said in 1:31 it was “very [exceedingly] good.” Gods plan for man was less than ideal and not complete without woman, the emphasis being on alone.

CRITICISM
by Charles R. Swindoll

Nehemiah 6:1-14

One of the occupational hazards of being a leader is receiving criticism (not all of it constructive, by the way). In fact, I firmly believe that the leader who does anything that is different or worthwhile or visionary can count on criticism. In this regard, I appreciate the remarks made by Theodore Roosevelt:

To those words I add a resounding AMEN and add the following advice: A sense of humor is of paramount importance to the leader. Many of God’s servants are simply too serious! They must have the ability to laugh at themselves.

Equally important, of course, is the ability to sift from any criticism that which is true, that which is fact. We are foolish if we respond angrily to every criticism. Who knows, God may be using those very words to teach us some essential lessons, painful though they may be.

Isn’t this what Proverbs 27:5-6 is saying? “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

And let me call to your attention the word “friend” in these verses. Friendship is not threatened by honest criticism. It is strengthened.

Leaders are not the only ones who receive criticism, of course. We all do. So just remember: When you are criticized by someone who hardly knows you, filter out what is fact . . . and ignore the rest!

Read today’s Scripture passage and notice how Nehemiah handled criticism. He kept his cool, he considered the source, he refused to get discouraged, he went to God in prayer, and he kept building the wall!

Alpha and Omega Churches together Bible Course. .www.lifetothefullchurch.com...for prayer or spiritual advise contact Stan Earle at Stan's Gym 01708-227072