Oversee

Recently, I was asked to serve as an overseer (Elder) at our church – Southern Hills, the church at City Station.  We are a staff led, elder protected church. I am humbled to serve the kingdom in this role. I am among a fantastic group of men who seeking the heart of God in our lives as well as in the life of this church. I’m thankful that we challenge one another to grow deeper in our faith and our understanding and appreciation of God’s Word.

I was reminded of the weight of this responsibility this morning as I read Paul’s final visit with the Elders at Ephesus. His words were precise and weighted. Check this out…

²⁸ “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. (Acts 20:28 NLT)

“Guard yourselves” – I must be careful with what I listen to and watch. The enemy wants to pollute my heart and my soul. I am at war with the devil – He wants to destroy me. He wants to harm my witness. He wants to hurt the church. I must guard myself as well as the church I serve.

“Feed & Shepherd God’s Flock” – I should teach and lead in the way of the Word of God. To be a leader, I must first be a follower of God. I must seek Him on a personal level before I lead on a public level. It’s not rocket science or some sort of secret code. It’s me and the Lord spending time together in His Word. He speaks and I listen.

I’m not some super spiritual human being who has all the answers or has an amazing testimony of coming to the Lord. I’m simply a man who wants to honor the Lord with my life. I have finally realized that this world offers nothing to compare to knowing the Lord and living for Him. The older I get, the more I realize that this is the land of the dying, BUT we have the opportunity to go to the land of the living – Heaven!  While I’m here on earth, I want to follow Him and lead others to follow Him. He’s our ONLY Hope!

Pressing On!

Dwayne