Know Them . . .

Know Them

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (KJV)

We who are leaders of the Lord's flock are especially responsible to "know" [eido or oida] them which "say" they labor among us. Not everyone that looks like a shepherd is a shepherd any more than everyone that looks like a sheep is a sheep.

We are strongly admonished to "know" [eido or oida] those who declare themselves to be one of us. In the Greek we are being told to be close enough to someone to see them with our eyes and to have discovered them and discerned of what spirit they are. They are to be inspected, examined, interviewed, visited and proven.

We are to "know" those who labor for our benefit and serve as under-shepherds of the Great Shepherd because we are to honor, esteem and bless them in-as-much as they "watch over our souls" (Heb. 13:17).

Apostolic "fathers" are given to the under-shepherds (Pastors/Senior Elders) of every city to watch over, protect, advise, counsel, admonish, encourage and pray for them. They offer spiritual discerning, wisdom and understanding that can only come when it is combined with the experience of walking with God in their calling.

These are men of integrity, who know the ways of God as well as the acts of God. They are not more than any other but are given as gifts to those who are willing to be spiritual sons.

Sons may be fathers themselves but know that every great leader is also a great follower.

Do we not yet understand that we are to surround ourselves with wise counsel?

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 (KJV)

 

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. Proverbs 15:22 (KJV)