Introduction: In the opening text:

1. What is being administered?
2. What is the purpose of “the brother?”

Administration:

1. ITS MEANING-Administration is the management of resources in order to accomplish the goals of the organization
1. The Administrator is a Manager
1. Resources include time, money, people, equipment and facilities
2. Faithfulness over a few things makes one a ruler over many (Matthew 25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
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3. Faithfulness in management is proven in: (Luke 16:10-12 [10] He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. [11] If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? [12] And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
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1. That which is least
2. The unrighteousness mammon
3. That which is another man’s
1. The Administrator is an Oversee
1. The title bishop means overseer (1 Timothy 3:1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
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2. Worthy elders are those who rule well (1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
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2. ITS IMPORTANCE- QUOTE: Dr. Luther Adkins used to say, “Most pastors do not fail because they cannot preach. They fail because they fail to teach and because they fail to administrate.”
1. Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
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1. The Ephesian elders are to feed the church. To feed means to teach.
2. The Holy Ghost made the elders overseers of the church
2. 1 Peter 5:2-3 [2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; [3] Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
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1. The elders are told to feed the flock of God
2. The elders are told to take the oversight of the flock
1. With a willing heart
2. With a ready mind
3. With exemplary conduct
1. ITS GIFT
1. By the Calling of God (Ephesians 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
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2. By the Enabling of God
1. His gifts are His enablings (1 Thessalonians 5:24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
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2. One of His gifts is the gift of ruling (Romans 12:6-8 [6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; [8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
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2. ITS STYLES
1. God’s Spirit Works Through Different Administrations (1 Corinthians 12:5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
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2. God Makes One Person to Differ From Another (1 Corinthians 4:7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
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1. Peter
2. Paul
3. Barnabas
4. Apollos
3. ITS LEVELS
1. In the Chain of Authority (Matthew 8:9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
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2. The Levels of Leadership (Exodus 18:21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
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1. The Follower
2. The Team Leader – “rulers of ten”
3. The Delegator – “rulers of fifties”
4. Shared Leadership – “rulers of hundreds”
5. The Leader of Leaders – “rulers of thousands”
6. The Leader of a Nation – Moses
7. God
4. ITS DILIGENCE
1. Diligence is the Key to Administration (Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
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2. Diligence Means:
1. To work hard
2. To be careful in your work
3. To persevere in your work
3. Administration Requires Diligence in Knowing the State of Things (Proverbs 27:23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
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5. ITS ACCOUNTABILITY
1. Those Who Rule Must Give Account to God (Hebrews 13:17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
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2. Administration as Stewardship
1. A steward is one who cares for that which belongs to another
2. We are stewards for God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2 [1] Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
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3. A steward must be accountable for his stewardship

CONCLUSION:

1. If you are called to spiritual leadership, you are called to administrate.
2. If you do not know how to administrate, God will enable you to learn. However, His gifts of grace are not usually immediate and painless as the apostolic gifts were. You will have to apply yourself and allow Him to teach you over a period of time.
3. Failure to administrate cannot therefore be excused by a lack of ability. It is the direct result of the sin of laziness.
4. Failure to administrate will keep you from promotion in the ranks of divine service. If you do not take care of your present duties with diligence and accountability, do not expect God to promote you.
5. We will all be held accountable for our stewardship of the resources with which God entrusts us. However, we will not be held accountable for anything not entrusted to us.
6. Therefore, our emphasis should not be on the gaining of positions or on “rising in the ranks.” Rather, we should focus on achieving full service and stewardship in the field in which God has placed us.

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines:  for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
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David Reagan