Watchmen of Our Souls
Who are the Watchmen of Our Souls?
Bishops and Elders are the Watchmen of our souls.
The Holy Scriptures outline very clearly what Bishops and elders are
and give the qualifications for each.
- Bishops
- What is a Bishop?
A Bishop is a minister of high authority in the church. He is the overseer of a city, county, state, or
other defined area.
Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ:
- What are the qualifications of a Bishop?
I Timothy 3:1-7
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop
then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality,
apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not
covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a
man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice,
lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good
report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- Elders
- What is an Elder?
The term Elder covers everything from the position of Bishop on
down to a minister who has a position as an overseer within his local assembly such as Assistant Pastor,
Minister of Outreach, Prison Minister, Street Service Minister, Retirement Home Minister, Minister of
Sunday School, etc. These will be people that are called to the ministry and could be ordained ministers
but must have at least a local minister's license.
Titus 1:5
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting,
and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
- What are the qualifications of an Elder?
Titus 1:5-9
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting,
and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,
having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of
God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover
of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath
been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
I Peter 5:1-10
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings
of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger,
submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:
for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for
you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto
his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you.
James 5:14-16
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.
- Deacons
- What is a Deacon?
Deacons are appointed over the natural things so the watchmen
can watch without distraction. A Deacon will have a job such as Head of Ushers, Head of Building
Maintenance, Head of Grounds Maintenance, among others.
Acts 6:1-3
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring
of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should
leave the word of God, and serve tables. 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.
- What are the qualifications of a Deacon?
I Timothy 3:8-13
Likewise must the deacons begrave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of
filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved;
then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives begrave, not
slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children
and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a
good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
What is required of the watchman of your soul?
Ezekiel 3:17-21 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth,
and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not
warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die
in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his
wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a
righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall
die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall
not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the
righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
What is required of church meembers?
The following Holy Scriptures outline what is required of everyone that considers themselves members of the church?
- Mark 16:17-18
- I Thessalonians 5:12-22
- Hebrews 13:17
- I Timothy 5:1-2 and 17
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