I – DEFINITION AND IMPLICATION
Act 9 v 32 / James 1 v 27
A visit is defined as going to see someone at home, as for the saints, it is all of those who have been washed by the Blood of Jesus and who attend the same congregation.
Visiting the Saints is therefore the act of going to the home of a Christian to see him.
The Greek word: Episkeptomai, translated into English as Episcope or Bishop, literally means one who visits and watches over.
Two essential roles therefore form the function of the bishop, namely:
- visit the saints
watch over the Lord’s church
These two pastoral and didactic roles translate in a practical and pragmatic way into:
– Resolve the practical “needs” of the disciples (Act 11 v 27-30), resolve doctrinal problems (Act 15 v 6-20), supervise and shepherd the flock (Act. 20 v 28/1 Peter 5 v 2).
– Remain vigilant against dangers (Act 20 v 31), exercise biblical discipline in times of disorder (1 cor 5 v 4 to 11), recognize, encourage and control spiritual gifts (1 cor 12 v 31/14-29) . Teaching, exhorting and refuting heresies (1 th 5 v12/Titus 1 v 9 /1Tim 3 v 2/5-17).
II – SOME EXAMPLE OF A VISIT TO THE SAINTS
Act 7 v 22-25 / Ex 2 v 11-12: The example of Moses (AT)
It was while Moses was visiting his brothers, the sons of Israel, that he saw the outrage that was being done to the people of God and resolved to support and help them.
Act 9: 32-35/36-37: The Example of Peter (N.T)
It was during the visits to the saints that Peter’s ministry experienced unfailing brilliance.
Peter in Lydde, was invited to Joppa and then to Caesarea where he performed extraordinary miracles by the Holy Spirit, namely the deliverance from the paralysis of Aeneas, ill for 8 years, resurrection of Tabitha, after her recorded death. Which resurrection brought about many conversions to Christ, and finally the manifestation of the power of God to Cornelius, a Roman centurion through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a gift from God which led to the conversion of several of his loved ones (Act 10 v 27).
Act 15 v36/ v40-41/ Act 16:1-3: Paul’s example
Timothy’s call to ministry was furthered by Paul’s visit to the faithful at Lystra. Because it was during this visit that he received from the brothers of this region, the good testimony of Timothy. Paul took him with him and was associated with his missionary team (Act 19 v 22).
His call to ministry was triggered by the practice of working in the field with his guide Paul (1Tim 4:14/2Tim 1:6).
It was during the visits to new souls that Paul’s ministry developed.
For after Paul and Barnabas were sent by the Holy Spirit to go on a missionary journey, intended to preach the gospel to the lost (Acts 13:1-4); They decided for themselves some time later to go visit them to see what state they were in their faith in Christ Jesus, hence the 2nd and 3rd missionary journey of the apostle Paul’s team. (Act 15:36/Act 18:23).
Timothy’s visit to the Thessalonians (1Th3:1-6), and to the Philippians (2 Cor 11:9/Phil 4:15-18) as well as that of Silas on the instructions of the apostle Paul, did good to these local churches in Macedonia which were going through painful trials, namely troubled periods of persecution. The presence and the Exhortation of Paul’s collaborators did them so much good, that despite their difficulties and their afflictions, they supported financially and materially the ministry of the apostle, founder of these local churches of Macedonia.
Let us point out that the elect come to worship, and rare are those who express their needs and their trials to pastors. But once at home; the steward of God discovers with surprise, the difficulties, the trials and the weaknesses with which certain faithful are confronted and exposed and can help them to emerge victorious and to be delivered from these burdens which assail them, and this, by the ways provided by the Bible for this purpose (1Tim5:4,8/Act 12:27-30 /Jas 2:14,17 etc.)
It is by visiting elected officials that we collect their testimony from their immediate surroundings. If this testimony is good and edifying we can encourage them to persevere on this path (see the case of Timothy: Act 16:1-3 and the case of the children of ancient Kyria: John1:4/ read 3 John 1:3 -4).
If this testimony is shameful for the disciple and risks infecting the church or affecting it, we rebuke with rigor and love the person concerned so that he leaves this path of perdition on which he is navigating (3 John 1: 9- 10/1 Cor 5:1-2). Visits to the saints contribute to the spiritual and numerical growth of the local church. It is therefore important that the servant of God does not neglect this aspect in the service of the Lord, but seeks to improve it by engaging the whole church to conform to it.
III – THE RESPONSIBILITY DEVOTED TO THE PASTOR AND LOCAL LEADERS
a. What they must do (1 Peter 5: 2-3/ Ez 34: 3-8)
The pastor and leaders must restore strength to the weakened faithful and heal those who are spiritually sick with the word of God.
. They must lift up those who are morally, physically and spiritually broken down and wounded.
. They must bring back those who go astray and those who have strayed from the way of salvation as well as those who have turned away from the flock of God.
. They must seek it from those who were lost without exercising their power with violence and harshness; but with love.
. They must prevent the disciples from falling prey to wild animals: that is to say, false prophets.
. They must ensure that the elect do not get lost on the hills and mountains and be scattered across the face of the earth; that is, sects and secret societies.
. They must go and collect them all where they were scattered on a stormy day, and this involves them traveling around visiting them in their homes, and if necessary in their places of work (Acts 20:28-31 / Zech 11:16-17).
. The pastor and leaders must know the sheep and the sheep must know their local pastor. This calls for reciprocal visits (Jn10:14).
b. What the pastor and spiritual guides should not be:
1.Micah 3:1-4/Jn10:11-13.
The Lord severely condemns leaders and spiritual guides who flee from adversity, incapable of acting according to law and justice. This means that they are aware of the weakness and compromises in which some faithful live and are without the strength to warn them or rebuke them with authority. This situation ended up weakening several disciples and therefore plunged the church into the abyss of desolation. Corrupt servants of God who lead the flock only because they profit from it are called to order by the Lord who called them.
2 – Isaiah 56: 10-12 /57: 1-2/ Ezech22: 26-27
The God of heaven reproaches the servants of God and leaders of the people for their inability to watch over the flock because they are addicted to spiritual and physical sleep. They are perverted by alcohol and the pleasures of the world. They cannot put themselves in the breach so that the Lord reveals to them his will for his people and defends them from external attacks. These blind leaders do not take their task seriously and act according to their own interest and advantage and show little concern for the social and spiritual well-being of God’s people. No program of fasting and prayer, evangelism and edification… is organized to keep the church awake (Col 4:2/1Pe 5:8).
- Zech10:2
The Almighty is indignant against spiritual guides who make false revelations to the people and seduce them into these shameful ways. The dreams they tell have no biblical basis and do not emanate from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and his seal. This is why the interpretations they make of these dreams are unfair and the conclusions they draw from them remain unfulfilled; thus plunging the people into confusion and misfortune.
- Zechariah 11:17
. Threats and punishments from the Lord against these guides who have become apostates, blind and insensitive to the Lord.
The Eternal God makes the decision to invalidate these shepherds through blindness and physical paralysis of their limbs in order to remove them from the priesthood.
Conclusion
It is important to pay attention to the work with which the Lord in his goodness has associated us. We must fulfill our ministry with fear and trembling.
Visiting the Saints therefore participates in this divine charge in order to be closer to the faithful.
Let us know, the pastor and leaders must know his own (the sheep) and it is by visiting them at home at work or at their places of residence that they perfectly fulfill these words.
Jesus, our Master knew his sheep (Jn 10:14), because he often went to their homes to comfort them, heal them and support them spiritually and materially (Read Math 8:14-15/Jn11:20- 28).
– Math 8:14-15.
In this text, Jesus goes to his disciple Peter to bring him compassion and support. It was during his visit that the miracle of healing the fever was manifested for the apostle’s mother-in-law.
Pateur Baudoua Kouadio
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