Have you ever had a period of time (a season) when God seems to be pressing in on you to get a hold of something? Three weeks ago, God took me to a small store front ministry to meet a humble teacher of the Gospel. Actually, two humble teachers; a Pastor and his wife. Then last Sunday I heard a beautiful message on preparing the next generation of leaders. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). The young (new in any subject) submit to the elders (those that have been around a while), and all of you be submissive to one another (young to the elder and elder to the young). Why? Because God gives grace to the humble.

At the store front ministry, Pastor Powell sees the congregation as students being prepared for kingdom work. To him they are children of God being prepared to be a royal priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek. The Pastor’s wife, Tonya, was at his side, teaching and praying for the congregation. The Lord had us pray a blessing over the Pastor the way a man would his own son. It was the heart of God that prayed over the young man. Early on Tuesday morning a call came asking for prayer; Tonya Powell had had a miscarriage. She was in her first trimester and had just announced the pregnancy to her family and friends at the service on Sunday. My daughter, Amanda, and I went to the hospital and arrived, and prayed with them, as they were leaving. That evening at Bible study, they were both in attendance and serving the congregation.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away (1 Peter 5:1-4). That is what I saw at the store front ministry, leaders that served out of love. That is what I heard in the message on Sunday. It is also what I have seen from the congregations in attendance at both fellowships.

It is really a very simple thing when you hear it spoken out. Love one another. Be submissive one to another. Joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16b). It seems like a really hard thing to walk out. Peter did not end the teaching without giving us the answer. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). How easy it is to be humble under the mighty hand of God. Not under His feet, but under His hand. Elders and the young alike under the mighty hand of God. It is an exalting hand, and not an oppressive hand. It is more like the hand on the end of the arm that is hugging you to lift your spirit.

It is a wonderful thing that God is taking His time to teach us how to be servant elders in the body of Christ, under His mighty hand. If He is teaching, then He is preparing. Without the mighty hand of God lifting us up, we could not be elders. That is what I have witnessed twice this month; once in action and once taught by both word and deed. Knowing my Father, I expect to see one more example before the month ends. Maybe I already have, and the Holy Spirit will bring it to my attention. Praise God! We have a God who has humbled Himself before the Father, and God the Father has exalted Him; and we are the body the Father is using to lift up each of us into the head-Christ. When Jesus is lifted up, all are called unto Him, the head-Christ. When the Father lifts the body, the head will be lifted higher.

© 2009, Tim D. Coulter Sr.