Taught at Bible Study on 10-21-2019
GOD GAVE
US PASTORS
And I
will give you pastors according to mine heart,
which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:15
October
is Pastor Appreciation month….a time when we recognize the work and sacrifice
of Pastors and give them honor.
Many do
not fully realize what all their pastor does for them and the Church. They spend countless hours and even sleepless
nights praying for various ones in the congregation.
They cry,
pray, and fast for souls they see going astray.
They visit the sick, make hospital calls (sometimes in the middle of the
night), and emergency runs during a crisis (thankfully the police are
understanding most times).
They
counsel and advise. They try to lead and
guide.
They
grieve when someone does not listen to their words and ends up in a mess. Then tries to comfort and help them work
things out when they come back to the Pastor in tears pleading with him to fix
it.
The
Pastor makes house calls trying to reach out to lost souls or backsliders,
working outreach in an effort to see Church growth as souls are birthed into
the Kingdom.
Sometimes,
he is the one running to pick people up for Church and then getting them back
home afterward. All while trying to
prepare for the service.
The
Pastor is usually the first one at Church trying to get things ready for the
Service and he is usually the last one to leave: making sure the sound system
and audio are turned off, turning off lights, turning off the AC/Heat units,
making sure doors are locked because there is no one else available to do it.
The
Pastor is sometimes the janitor as well because there are few or none who are
able or willing to help with repairs around the Church. In 2018, on Pastor Appreciation Day, our
pastor was up on a ladder changing a light bulb and adjusting the projector
screen because there was no one else available to do it. (Bro. Robert helps where and when he can – and
does a lot – but he can’t do everything)
The
modern day mindset of a Pastor’s duties
The
modern day mindset is that the Pastor should also be there not just to feed
them spiritually but also to mow their lawn, make repairs around the house,
babysit, help pay bills or buy groceries, run errands for them or take them
here or there when asked, etc and do it all for free with a smile…which are misconceptions
of a pastor’s duties.
We live
in a day when people only want to hear a motivational, feel-good message. Anything less is considered harsh and labeled
unloving, uncaring, and judgmental. That
is unbiblical thinking.
A
resigned Pastor was invited to come back and preach at a Church that he
formerly pastored. He preached the clear
Word and named sins that people needed to get out of their lives. Some heeded the preached Word and with tears,
came to the altar to repent.
One
particular man rose up indignant and responded, “How dare he?! He
knows better than to preach like that!” I
was shocked that he would speak against the man of God like that and didn’t
respond but wish I had said, “No, sir, he knows better than to not
preach like that.”
People
today do not fear to speak against Man of God like they used to. People have lost their fear of God and
respect for the office of the Pastor.
God has set
Pastors as the watchman over our souls
Pastors
have a fearful responsibility. They’re
human and don’t like to or want to deal with people getting angry with their
words but God has mandated for them to warn against sin.
Ezekiel
3:17-21
When I
say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die;
and thou givest him not warning,
nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way,
to save his life;
the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet, if
thou warn the wicked,
and he turn not from his wickedness,
nor from his wicked way,
he shall die in his iniquity;
but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Again,
when a righteous man
doth turn from his righteousness,
and commit iniquity,
and I lay a stumblingblock before him,
he shall die:
because thou hast not given him warning,
he shall die in his sin,
and his righteousness which he hath done
shall not be remembered,
but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless,
if thou warn the righteous man,
that the righteous sin not,
and he doth not sin,
he shall surely live,
because he is warned,
also, thou hast delivered thy soul.
If the
Pastor does not warn against sin, that person’s blood will be required of the
Pastor at judgment day. (see also Ezek
33:1-9 + Ecc 12:9-12)
That’s a
heavy and fearful responsibility!
Especially, in this day and time when people do not feel that is the
Pastor’s place.
Paul
admonished Timothy (a young Pastor) to not only PREACH the Word, but he was
also to REPROVE (tell a fault) and REBUKE (forbid, charge, admonish). THEN he followed up by instructing him to
EXHORT (intreat, beseech) with all long-suffering and doctrine.
Sometimes
the Pastor has to speak clearly and reprove and rebuke a sin – not that he
wants to but because we are living in a time when people do not want to hear
that what they’re doing is contrary to the Word of God and is a sin. Instead, they are turning their ears away
from the Truth.
2 Timothy
4:2-4
Preach
the Word;
be instand in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.
For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth,
and shall be turned unto fables (a falsehood).
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Paul also
admonished Timothy that those who sin were to be rebuked before all (publicly).
(1 Timothy 5:20) This is contrary to
current modern theology, but it is Bible.
Pastors
are not trying to humiliate someone and rarely has our Pastor ever had to address
a sin publicly. The goal is
repentance and restoration, but sometimes sins have to be addressed.
Paul
actually named names and called out sins – he would be considered judgmental
and unloving by today’s standards – but he was warning against false doctrines,
false prophets, and wolves in sheep’s clothing and trying to stop sins that
were spreading like a cancer.
Paul
issued some strong teaching to the churches and instructions to the
Pastors. After, he concluded with
“Brethren, pray for us.” (1 Thess 5:25)
Pastors
face and deal with things many most likely will never know about.
Paul
listed many of the perils (dangers) he faced that most did not think
about. He was stoned, beaten, thrown in
prison, shipwrecked, faced robbers, made many journeys which wearied his
body. But he also faced dangers from his
own countrymen and false brethren.
He was
weary, tired, and in pain at times.
There were times he was hungry and thirsty. There were times he was cold
and not properly clothed. He would fast
often to see strongholds broken and those who were captive to sin set free. Not
to mention the things he had to deal with daily and also the care of the
Church. (2 Cor 11:23-28)
There are
many things Pastors deal with but will never mention it.
Our
Pastor needs our prayers. We need to pray for our Pastor and all Pastors – they
carry a heavier load than we realize or can comprehend.
We need
to thank God for Pastors who are more concerned about our soul than about
hurting our feelings in an effort to get us ready for Heaven.
Romans
10:14-15, 17
How then
shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heart?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how
shall they preach except they be sent?
as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
So then
faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God.
Hearing
the preached Word of God helps to increase our Faith and develop us into mature
Christians in Christ.
And I
will give you pastors according to mine heart,
which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 3:15
The
Pastors goal is to help us grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s
Word. But we have to do our part by
showing up for feeding times.
The
Gospel only works on the hungry and thirsty.
Thank God
for Pastors! Thank God for our Pastor!
And I
know he’s thankful for those who love God, love His Word, and are faithful to
prayer and Church attendance…it makes his job a little easier. 😊
