10th February 2026

10th February 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Jude 1v11-13) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


The last of Jude's three Old Testament examples was Korah and if most of us don't quite remember what Balaam got up to, even more have no recollection of Korah. Who was he? In Numbers 14 the people started to grumble against God and they made the decision to choose a new leader and head back to Egypt (Numbers 14v4). Isn't that extraordinary? They had seen the Lord do amazing things but in their sinfulness they believed slavery in Egypt was to be preferred over following Moses through the wilderness.


Needless to say the Lord was not pleased with the people and He vowed that they would die in the wilderness (Numbers 14v29). Eventually the grumbling took on a more dangerous form when Korah initiated a rebellion against the leadership of Moses (Numbers 16v1) accusing him of exalting himself over the people (Numbers 16v3). The next day Korah's rebellion came to an end when the Lord caused the ground to open up beneath him sending him to his death (Numbers 16v31).


Brothers and sisters, we may not believe it and we may not like it but the Lord rules His Church and He has appointed officers and given them authority within the fellowship. In our case spiritual authority resides with the Elders of Edengrove and make no mistake, this is a huge task and privilege. Let me remind you of what Scripture requires of an Elder "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." (1 Timothy 3v1-7).


It is an extraordinary calling to be an Elder and I promise that it is one that I take incredibly seriously. But what is your responsibility to your Elders? I think the Apostle sums it up well in Hebrews 13v17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." In this day of rights and privileges, the Christian is called and required by Jesus to obey their leaders and to willingly submit to their authority.


This doesn't mean that I can act like a monster - I will be called to give an account before God for my leadership. No. I am to lead well and in a Christlike manner but equally you have no mandate to be a pain in the neck. The work of the leader is supposed to be joyous and this in turn would be to your advantage. But is this the reality in Edengrove? Are you making the job of leadership easier or harder? Are you stirring up rebellion? Are you praying for your leaders or opposing them? Are you willingly following or aggressively obstructing?


None of these questions are trivial. Korah led a rebellion against Moses and we are to beware anyone who works in the shadows to undermine any fellowship's leaders. It doesn't matter if the trouble makers look like Cain, Balaam, Korah or a mixture of all three. They are to be avoided and opposed. Why? Because the Church belongs to Jesus and she is precious in His sight.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q94 What is Baptism? Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.
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