the power of the Spirit

Aspirational Leadership

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1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. – 1 Timothy 3:1-13 ESV

Timothy was going to need help; shepherding even a relatively small congregation of new believers would not be easy, especially in an environment like Ephesus. So Paul encouraged Timothy to find qualified men to assist him in overseeing the church. It would be impossible for one man to minister to all the needs within the body of Christ and, with the Judaizers promoting their legalistic adherence to the Mosaic Law, Timothy was going to need allies in the fight of faith.

That’s why Paul recommended that Timothy develop a recruitment strategy for possible “overseers.” The Greek word Paul uses is episkopē, and he seems to use it as a synonym for another Greek word, presbuteros, which typically gets translated as “elder.” Both words convey the idea of someone with authority and responsibility for the spiritual well-being of God’s flock. Paul tells Timothy, “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position” (1 Timothy 3:1 NLT). A desire to shepherd God’s flock is a good thing.

The Greek word for “aspire” is oregō, which means “to stretch oneself out in order to touch or to grasp something, to reach after or desire something” (“Outline of Biblical Usage for [oregō / G3713].” Blue Letter Bible, edited by Larry Pierce, [URL]. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026). But, like most Greek words, oregō has another and somewhat darker meaning as well: “to give oneself up to the love of money” (“Outline of Biblical Usage for [oregō / G3713].” Blue Letter Bible, edited by Larry Pierce, [URL]. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026). In fact, Paul uses this secondary meaning in Chapter 6 when talking about an inordinate and unhealthy attraction to money.

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. – 1 Timothy 6:10 NLT

Paul declared that it was proper and appropriate for a man to aspire to be a leader in the church, but not for what he could get out of it. And the apostle Peter echoed that sentiment.

I urge the elders among you: Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. – 1 Peter 5:1-2 NLT

Leadership within the local body of Christ was never meant to be a means for attaining wealth or acquiring power. That’s why Peter and Paul compared the role of an overseer to that of a shepherd; it was meant to be a selfless, sacrificial role modeled after the life of Jesus. Paul’s emphasis was less on the role or job description than on the qualities of the kind of man who was qualified to fill it.

Paul does not provide details on the job description of an elder. Instead, he points out the required character qualities to be considered for the position. These qualities should be the aspiration of every God-fearing, Christ-following man in the church today.

Aspiration is a good thing. The desire to achieve is built into the human psyche. Every individual has goals and ambitions to which they dedicate their time, talents, and energies. For some, a successful career is their greatest ambition, and it ends up shaping their entire lives, as they spend every waking moment trying to achieve it. A few men have legitimate, realistic aspirations to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of sports. Then there are those who simply aspire to be good employees, fathers, husbands, friends, and community members. But Paul would encourage Christ-followers to have a different aspiration; to aspire to something of a higher nature. But it is a job with few perks, many responsibilities, high expectations, no income, a degree of anonymity, and some fairly lofty hiring guidelines.

In the Book of Acts, Luke records a meeting between Paul and the elders from the church in Ephesus, where Paul gave them a stern warning.

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 elders. – Acts 20:28 NLT

Elders had a high calling and a lofty responsibility to guard both themselves and God’s people. Therefore, they had to be godly men of strong character and impeccable morals. They didn’t have to be perfect, but they did have to strive to be blameless and above reproach in every area of their lives.

It’s interesting that the characteristics Paul lists cover nearly every area of a man’s life. An elder had to be a man free from compartmentalization; he could not afford to keep any area of his life hidden from the flock. His home life was to be just as important as his church life. Every one of the things that Paul lists would have been easy to assess and ascertain by anyone in the church. These qualities are visible, external, and open for anyone to see and evaluate. They reflect an inner character that flows out into every area of life.

The kind of men who were to be considered for leadership were those whose hearts were continually being transformed by God. They were men who lived under the control of the Holy Spirit, operating by His power and exhibiting the fruit He makes available.

But shouldn’t the qualities and characteristics Paul outlines be the aspiration of every man? Why wouldn’t every man of God aspire to live the kind of life Paul describes, whether he gets appointed as an elder or not? The church needs men who are above reproach, faithful to their wives, self-controlled, wise, of high repute, hospitable, moderate in all things, gentle in spirit, spiritual leaders in their homes, and respected in their communities. The local church should be filled with men who are viable candidates for eldership.

Paul told Timothy that if a man aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position. But the desire should not be focused on the position and any honor it may bring. In a world where achievement has become an obsession, it could be easy to turn the desire to become an elder into a self-serving, honor-seeking competition. But that is not what Paul is talking about. He wanted Timothy to find men who desired to display the character of an elder, not selfishly seek the role or responsibility. The position is honorable because the men who occupy it are honorable; their character is Christlike and holy. They are not perfect, but they are men who are willingly and regularly being perfected by God. The church needs more men like that today.

But Paul doesn’t stop with overseers; he also describes the role of a deacon (diakonos). This was a different, more service-oriented role within the local body of Christ. These men were intended to serve alongside the elders/overseers so that the spiritual and physical needs of the congregation were met. While Paul does not provide a detailed description of the day-to-day functions of a deacon, he does make it clear that the requirements for the position were virtually the same as those of an overseer.

The roles were different, but the character requirements were almost identical. While it might be tempting to view the role of deacon as less significant than that of an elder, Paul insists that Timothy not take it lightly.

Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. – 1 Timothy 3:10 NLT

The criterion for consideration was no less stringent or demanding; these men also had to be spiritually and morally qualified to serve. There was no dumbing down of the standards or lowering the bar of expectations. Their character was to be above reproach, and their marriages were to reflect the effectiveness of their servant leadership. If they couldn’t manage their own homes well, how could they be expected to minister to the body of Christ?

Paul wanted Timothy to surround himself with godly men who would help him lead and love God’s people. Paul knew there would be a time when Timothy had to leave Ephesus, go to the next city, and minister to yet another congregation. So, Timothy needed to prepare for that moment by finding the right men to shepherd the flock of God in his absence. The church needed leaders, and the body of Christ needed overseers and deacons to serve as “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3 NLT). The future of the church depended on godly men whom God would raise up and place as undershepherds of His flock.

In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul described the unique nature of God’s strategy for the church’s health and well-being. God had devised an assortment of roles within the local body of Christ designed to promote spiritual maturity and effective ministry.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. – Ephesians 4:11-14 NLT

God ordained that gifted individuals would help lead, feed, protect, and equip His people for the work of the ministry. He sent the Holy Spirit to provide them with spiritual gifts, supernatural power, and divine guidance. The church thrives because of the godly leadership that God ordained. He calls, equips, and commissions them for service, and their contribution to the spiritual well-being of the church is immeasurable.

Father, like everything else You do, Your plan for the church was flawless in every way. The whole concept of the global and local church was Your idea. The formation of a Spirit-filled, heart-transformed group of individuals from all walks of life and every tribe, nation, and tongue was  . Your plan from the very beginning. Paul got to see the early stages of this phenomena and played a vital part in bringing it about. He saw small, fledgling congregations spring up all over Asia Minor, Galatia, and Macedonia. He watched the gospel transform the lives of the rich and poor, males and females, and slaves and freemen. More importantly, he witnessed the rise of countless Spirit-filled leaders who stepped into the gap to help serve the rapidly expanding flock of God. And You continue to raise up leaders today. The church thrives because of godly leadership. The body of Christ remains healthy due to the Spirit-inspired commitment of those You call. Thank You for providing Your people with everything they need for life and godliness and for raising up leaders to guide, lead, and feed Your flock. Amen. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Battle Within

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13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. – Romans 7:13-20 ESV

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul had to address some pressing issues within their local fellowship. Like a loving father confronting his wayward children, Paul took them to task for their spiritual immaturity, which had led to some less-than-godly behavior.

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.  I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT

This passage is essential to understanding what appears to be Paul’s personal confession in Romans 7. There are those who would claim that Paul is speaking of his pre-conversion experience, but it seems that Paul is describing the condition all believers face every day. Even though we are set free from captivity to sin and death by Christ’s death on the cross, we still have our indwelling sin natures to deal with.

When Paul writes, “I am of the flesh,” he is saying that he still has his sarkikos or carnal nature. At salvation, we are not removed from these earthly bodies, and these earthly bodies are driven by earthly appetites. The Greek word Paul uses is sarkikos, and it refers to anyone who is “governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God” (Outline of Biblical Usage). To be governed by the flesh is to allow oneself to be controlled by one’s earthly appetites. It is the same Greek word that Paul used in his letter to the Corinthians. He wrote, “You are still sarkikos.” In other words, they were saved, but were conducting their lives as if they weren’t. Then he gave them examples of what being sarkikos looked like.

You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? – 1 Corinthians 3:3 NLT

Each believer maintains the capacity to live under the control of their sin nature or flesh. Yes, they have the Spirit of God living within them, but they must choose to live under His control or the control of their sinful nature (flesh). Paul makes this choice very clear in his letter to the believers in Galatia.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. – Galatians 5:16-17 NLT

It is a matter of control. In his letter to the churches in Ephesus, Paul used an interesting comparison to illustrate what it means to be controlled by the Spirit.

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. – Ephesians 5:18 NLT

To be drunk with wine is to allow yourself to be under the influence of the alcohol in the wine. It alters your behavior, speech, and thought processes. You act in ways that are contrary to your normal behavior, and that is exactly what happens when you allow the Holy Spirit to fill or control you. It is not a matter of getting more of the Spirit; we receive all the Spirit we need at salvation. But it is a matter of allowing the Holy Spirit to have more of us.

The dilemma we face as believers is exactly what Paul described.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. – Romans 7:18 ESV

Our flesh is sarkikos or unspiritual. But we are to live as spiritual creatures or new creations, because of Christ’s saving work and the Spirit’s presence within us. But our fleshly or sinful nature battles against our new spiritual nature. The flesh is of this earth; its appetites and desires are driven by the temporal things of this world. But we are no longer of this earth. We are citizens of heaven, which makes us aliens and strangers here. We are residents of God’s kingdom, which is not of this world. Even Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36 NLT).

As believers, we must realize that our flesh stands opposed to all that is godly. It is natural and of this world and does not desire anything that is of God. It is driven by selfish, sinful desires. That is why Paul says, “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NET). And he encourages us to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5 NET).

We must live with a constant awareness of our sinful nature. We can never allow ourselves to be lulled into a sense of complacency or overconfidence, thinking we have gained complete mastery over our sinful natures. They are always there, ready to take back control of our lives as soon as we let our guard down. So we must live in constant awareness of our need for the Spirit’s control, because while we may have the desire to do what is right, we lack the ability to carry it out on our own.

Father, it is comforting to know that even the great Apostle Paul struggled with his fleshly desires. He was not an automaton and immune from the temptations of his own indwelliing sin nature. Yet, he was able to put to death the deeds of his flesh because of his reliance on Your Holy Spirit. As Peter said, You have given us everything we need for living a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). We have Your Word, the body of Christ, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at our disposal. So, there is no reason for us to give into the desires of our flesh — except that we want to. It is a choice we have to make everyday. I want to live increasingly more dependent upon You and under the control of the Spirit. Keep me in Your Word, surrounced by fellow believvers, and keenly aware of my need for the Spirit’s power, provision, and protection from Satan, the world, and my own flesh. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.22

Out With the Old, In With the New

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9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV

Up to this point in his letter, Paul has emphasized the kind of conduct or behavior that believers should model. Their unique status as children of God came with non-negotiable expectations that their lives should reflect their Father’s character. They had been “called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:9 ESV) and had been given the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower them. And as Paul mentioned in the opening of this letter, as the body of Christ, they lacked none of the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7).

All of these factors should have resulted in demonstrable life change, and, according to Paul, it had. But they were still struggling with pride, jealousy, and a tendency to view life from their former perspective as unbelievers. Their new natures in Christ had not yet replaced their old tendencies. This is what led them to settle their disputes in court rather than within the body of Christ. They were thinking more like pagans than believers. Their focus was on this world instead of the one to come, and they were motivated more by selfishness than selflessness. At this point, their faith in Christ was little more than an add-on, a convenient option that provided them with forgiveness of sins and eternal security, but did little to change the way they lived their lives in the here and now.

This is what leads Paul to remind them, “that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV). He then describes the unrighteous as “those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT). These behaviors are characteristic of the lost. This sordid list should have resonated with the believers in Corinth, because Paul immediately reminds them, “such were some of you” (1 Corinthians 6:11a ESV).

Paul speaks in the past tense, emphasizing that this was their former condition; it was how they used to live. But something had happened. Their old way of life had been radically changed when they placed their faith in Christ. Paul reminds them that as a result of God’s gracious gift of salvation made possible through His Son, “you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11b NLT).

Again, he uses the past tense, indicating that these things have already happened. They had been cleansed by God from their former sins, declared to be righteous before Him, and set apart by Him for His use. This is exactly what Paul had written to them in the opening chapter of his letter: “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT).

But their salvation was not yet complete; God’s work in them was not finished. God had declared them to be righteous because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ; now they needed to live righteously. God had made them holy, setting them apart as His possession; now their lives needed to reflect their holy standing. He had cleansed them from sin, forever delivering them from the penalty of death under which they had lived. But through His Holy Spirit, God had given them the capacity to live free from the power of sin in their daily lives. While they were still fully capable of greed, envy, idol worship, sexual immorality, theft, drunkenness, and virtually all of the sins listed by Paul in these verses, these sins were no longer characteristic of who they were. They were sons and daughters of God who had been redeemed. They were new creations and had been provided with new natures. As Paul writes in his second letter to the Corinthians, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). This message of new life was a recurring theme for Paul. He told the believers in Rome, “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives” (Romans 6:4 NLT).

Salvation not only offers a future reward, but it also guarantees a real and radical transformation in our present lives. Our sanctification or growth in holiness is ongoing. We are constantly dying to our old way of life and being reformed into the likeness of Christ, and this will continue until, as Paul puts it, “Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19 ESV). It will not stop until we are “mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13 NLT). This transformative process will continue until we are glorified by God and given new bodies, are set free from sin, and are no longer held captive to the threat of death.

The apostle John provides us with these encouraging words:

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. – 1 John 3:2 NLT

In the meantime, we have been given the privilege, power, and responsibility to live our lives in keeping with our standing as God’s children. We are commanded to lead lives worthy of our calling by God (Ephesians 4:1). We are encouraged to live in a way that honors and pleases God (Colossians 1:10).

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. – 2 Corinthians 5:9 NLT

We were once sinners, but now we are saints. However, we must learn to live out our new identity so that our lives reflect the true nature of who we have become in Christ.

Father, for some reason, we have no problem accepting our salvation as a free gift provided by Your grace and made available through the death and resurrection of Your Son. But when it comes to our sanctification, we seem to struggle believing that we can truly live set-apart lives that reflect our new identity as Your sons and daughters and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives. Holiness seems unattainable. A life marked by righteousness appears to be unachievable. But Peter said that You have “given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3). We have the indwelling presence and power of Your Spirit and access to Your written Word. But our old sinful natures seem to be too hard to resist. The allures and attractions of this world seem too strong to deny. Open our eyes to the reality of our ongoing sanctification. We are not who we used to be. We have been redeemed and are being transformed, because You are faithful and will finish what You began. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.