2.  The word “ordained” occurs 43 times in its various forms in the KJV.  To “ordain” is to appoint, decree or to specify something: Acts 17:30- 31; 1 Cor. 2:7 2

4.  The word “apostle” simply means “one who is sent.”  Word is used in NT to describe more than one “office”:  A special messenger of Jesus Christ: Lk. 24:46-49; Acts 1:8, 15-26  Messengers selected and sent by another person or a local church: Jn. 13:16; 2 Cor. 8:19, 23  Christ’s apostles: Mk. 3:14; Acts 1:22  Christ is also an “apostle”: Heb. 3:1; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:8; Jn. 5:30; 12:48 4 Things God Has Ordained

5.  Paul and Barnabas established churches and appointed elders: Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5  God’s plan is for every church to have elders: Acts 14:23  Specific qualifications: 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9  A church without elders is “lacking”: Titus 1:5  It should be every congregation’s goal to appoint qualified elders. 5 Things God Has Ordained

6.  Paul wrote about this to the saints in Rome: Rom. 13:1-7  Civil government is a God-ordained arrangement: Rom. 13:5-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17  Our political leaders are not always what we would want them to be: Dan. 4:17 6 Things God Has Ordained

7.  Regardless of their competency we must recall several important things about our leaders:  God-ordained: Rom. 13:1  God will judge these powers; it’s not our call: Dan. 2:21; 4:17; Prov. 14:34; Gen. 15:16  God will judge those resisting the government: Rom. 13:2  Our duty is to obey as long as it is consistent with God’s word: Acts 5:29; Rom. 13:5, 7; Lk. 20:25  Exercise caution when criticizing government: 1 Pet. 2:17; 2 Pet. 2:10; Titus 3:2  Criticize less, complain less and pray more: 1 Tim. 2:1-3 7 Things God Has Ordained

8.  Paul makes it clear the church is responsible to support gospel preachers: 1 Cor. 9:3-14  Support of gospel preaching is one of the most important things a local church can engage in: Phil. 4:15-16; Matt. 16:26  We need to open our evangelistic vision.  Churches should want to support the preacher and vice versa: 2 Cor. 12:13 8 Things God Has Ordained

9.  Our life as a Christian is described as a “walk”: Eph. 2:10; 4:1; Titus 2:13-14  Remember Dorcas? Acts 9:36; 1 Pet. 1:23, 25  Good works characterize the faithful Christian: 1 Tim. 6:18; Titus 2:14; 3:8  Our lives are the only gospel most will ever “read”: Matt. 5:16 9 Things God Has Ordained

10.  Paul said so in 1 Timothy 2:7.  Paul charged Timothy concerning gospel preaching: 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:2  What is an ordained preacher? 2 Tim. 4:5; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 2:1 10 Things God Has Ordained

11. 11  We need to respect the things God has ordained.  Have you been “ordained to eternal life”? Acts 13:48  If you will obey the gospel then you will be “ordained to eternal life”; how about it? 2 Cor. 6:2