This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Timothy 3:10
DailyBibleStudy.Org
10 And [de] let [dokimazo] these [houtos] also [kai] first [proton] be proved; [dokimazo] then [eita] let them use the office of a deacon, [diakoneo] being [on] found blameless. [anegkletos] KJV-Interlinear
10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. NASB
Deacon is a reference to anyone who is engaged in Christian service. Everyone who has believed in Christ is a candidate for Christian service in some aspect of their life. No one is excused from service. It is an obligation.
But being a candidate, your service is a potential, not automatic.
God uses prepared believers.
Unprepared believers become nothing more than historical filler, just as all unbelievers are.
And unprepared believers are those who decline to obey Gods mandates for spiritual preparation. Most of whom think that they can prepare themselves on their own. They are wrong.
Self preparation means failure and the perpetuation of failure because more often their self preparation is based on wrong ideas, which are perpetuated leading them to hold on to their wrong ideas, thus preventing them from making the necessary changes in their life, in order to get back on solid ground.
Therefore, testing is in order. But this testing is not a test applied by you or me, it is an ongoing test, throughout ones life, applied by God. The spiritually mature believer is tested moment by moment, day by day, for all of their life.
This is not a test whereby you can pray, ‘Lord test me.’ That is a sign of an immature believer.
The word for first, ‘proton,’ means before, and in this case, before a person can be used, they must first be prepared. Preparation always precedes testing. There is no point in testing if one has not first prepared. Without preparation, failure would be automatic.
If I told you that you were going to have an advanced test, right now, in genetics or physics, or some subject that you obviously were not prepared for, what would the test results be? Failure.
If, however, you studied your subject for many, many months, and you knew what was going to be on the test, then your preparation of learning and knowing, would insure you a passing grade.
Your relationship is with God, not man. And God uses prepared believers, regardless of what people might think of you. The Egyptians wanted to kill the Israelites, but a wall of fire prevented them and a wall of water defeated them.
God works His will in accordance with His plan. He does not depend on human means. He works without regard to human means. There is nothing in this world, that can prevent God from executing His will in accordance with His plan for you.
The believer must be spiritually mature in order to be used to the fullest in Gods plan.
The word for blameless, ‘anegkletos,’ means irreproachable, free of blemish, blameless, unaccused.
Since all people are sinners, then there is only one place of sanctuary, free from sin, and that is within the fellowship sphere, acquired by confession of ones sins.
The fourth and fifth Levitical offerings dealt with the principle of confession, 1 John explains the mechanics of confession.
And after salvation, confession is a necessary function for the believer, in order to get into fellowship, where his spiritual growth and his spiritual life function.
All spiritual activity ceases to function when one is out of fellowship.
And this testing applies to and proves beyond any doubt, the qualifications of maturity, within the spiritually mature believers life.
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
