Men of God - Men Who Administrate

Introduction: In the opening text:

1. What is being administered?
   
2. What is the purpose of the brother?
   

Administration:

1. ITS MEANING-Administration is the management of resources in order to accomplish the goals of the organization
1. The Administrator is a Manager
1. Resources include time, money, people, equipment and facilities
2. Faithfulness over a few things makes one a ruler over many (Matthew 25:21)
3. Faithfulness in management is proven in: (Luke 16:10-12)
1. That which is least
2. The unrighteousness mammon
3. That which is another mans
2. The Administrator is an Oversee
1. The title bishop means overseer (1 Timothy 3:1)
2. Worthy elders are those who rule well (1 Timothy 5:17)
2. ITS IMPORTANCE- QUOTE: Dr. Luther Adkins used to say, Most pastors do not fail because they cannot preach. They fail because they fail to teach and because they fail to administrate.
1. Acts 20:28
1. The Ephesian elders are to feed the church. To feed means to teach.
2. The Holy Ghost made the elders overseers of the church
2. 1 Peter 5:2-3
1. The elders are told to feed the flock of God
2. The elders are told to take the oversight of the flock
1. With a willing heart
2. With a ready mind
3. With exemplary conduct
3. ITS GIFT
1. By the Calling of God (Ephesians 4:11)
2. By the Enabling of God
1. His gifts are His enablings (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
2. One of His gifts is the gift of ruling (Romans 12:6-8)
4. ITS STYLES
1. Gods Spirit Works Through Different Administrations (1 Corinthians 12:5)
2. God Makes One Person to Differ From Another (1 Corinthians 4:7)
1. Peter
2. Paul
3. Barnabas
4. Apollos
5. ITS LEVELS
1. In the Chain of Authority (Matthew 8:9)
2. The Levels of Leadership (Exodus 18:21)
1. The Follower
2. The Team Leader rulers of ten
3. The Delegator rulers of fifties
4. Shared Leadership rulers of hundreds
5. The Leader of Leaders rulers of thousands
6. The Leader of a Nation Moses
7. God
6. ITS DILIGENCE
1. Diligence is the Key to Administration (Proverbs 12:24)
2. Diligence Means:
1. To work hard
2. To be careful in your work
3. To persevere in your work
3. Administration Requires Diligence in Knowing the State of Things (Proverbs 27:23; Philippians 3:20)
7. ITS ACCOUNTABILITY
1. Those Who Rule Must Give Account to God (Hebrews 13:17)
2. Administration as Stewardship
1. A steward is one who cares for that which belongs to another
2. We are stewards for God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
3. A steward must be accountable for his stewardship

CONCLUSION:

1. If you are called to spiritual leadership, you are called to administrate.
   
2. If you do not know how to administrate, God will enable you to learn. However, His gifts of grace are not usually immediate and painless as the apostolic gifts were. You will have to apply yourself and allow Him to teach you over a period of time.
   
3. Failure to administrate cannot therefore be excused by a lack of ability. It is the direct result of the sin of laziness.
   
4. Failure to administrate will keep you from promotion in the ranks of divine service. If you do not take care of your present duties with diligence and accountability, do not expect God to promote you.
   
5. We will all be held accountable for our stewardship of the resources with which God entrusts us. However, we will not be held accountable for anything not entrusted to us.
   
6. Therefore, our emphasis should not be on the gaining of positions or on rising in the ranks. Rather, we should focus on achieving full service and stewardship in the field in which God has placed us.

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines:
 for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15