In Numbers 12, we see God dealing with Miriam and Aaron for murmuring against Moses.  It just seems very difficult to get this spirit and attitude out of man, doesn’t it?   The same spirit was in Korah and Dathan.  They come out and tell Moses, “You’ve taken too much upon yourself.  “All the congregation, is holy, every one of them.”  Well, I don’t agree with that statement, but that seemed to be the observation that they had of themselves.  These were people, two hundred and fifty men, famous in the congregation, men of renown.  It’s usually these people that find themselves involved in seditious behavior.  

God warns the leaders about this same spirit in Acts 20:27-30.   Who is this that Paul called to meet him at the beach?  Who are these people?  What roll were they in in the church?  They were the elders, men of renown, famous, supposedly the most mature (hence the term “elder”), the most spiritual.  He calls them together and he talks about the fact that he won’t be seeing them again, and as he goes down in this particular passage, he says in verse 27, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  Take heed therefore unto yourselves,” he is talking to the elders, “and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers…”  The Greek word episkopos means overseer, one that superintends, that manages, directs, that is the representative of authority.  Who is it that puts elders in place?  The Holy Ghost; amen?

Ultimately, the Holy Ghost is the one that ordains these men, places them, and empowers them to do the work.  “…Over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”  The word “feed” here is the word poimainō.  Poimainō is the same word used for shepherd or pastor.  So, the pastor of the church is the one responsible for feeding the congregation with the Word of God.  We can say it another way—responsible for setting doctrine, for bringing understanding.  The shepherd leads the flock beside the still waters; amen?  We eat from the green pastures that the shepherd leads us to.  Here’s one thing that some of us, in our own minds, would have trouble with, but it’s a biblical principle.  The elders determine where we eat, not us.  Amen?  It’s found in the language; it’s found in the context.  It’s found in the 23rd Psalm.  The elders set course for the local church.  

There is the universal church, but almost everything written in these epistles is to the local church.  You have a problem over here in Laodicea, there is a problem down here in Thessalonica, and we have a problem up here in Ephesus—specific words to specific churches to specific elders.  There are consequences to not fulfilling this role properly as you read the book of Revelation, “I’ll remove your candlesticks.”  It’s very real, delegated authority, by the head of the church, by the Chief Shepherd through the Holy Ghost.  “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember…”