Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #21
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Path of the Pastor (Hebrews 13:7) Hebrews 13:7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” If the pastor is going to properly feed the flock of God he must personally walk with God. The relationship of the leader with God must be personal and not mechanical. God will not bless a life, home or church where the love has grown cold. Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” The church was sound in doctrine, but had grown cold in their heart. They put their work ahead of their walk and soon it put them in poor standing with God. Walking with God Provides: 1. Direction (Psalm 32:8). Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.” When we walk, we do so because we are headed somewhere. That is direction. God has promised to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go. That guidance is by His very omniscient eye. He who knows all and sees all knows far better than we the path to take. God will guide and direct the Christian that seeks Him. Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” When God leads us we are in a proper position to lead others. For those who do not know the Lord, but have leadership positions, will lead to tragedy. Matthew 15:14, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” God will guide the good man that loves Him. Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” 2. Dependency (Proverbs 3:5-6). Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding, and in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” When we walk, we put one foot in front of another, leaning all of our weight on one leg for each step. That is dependency. How often we are tempted to rely upon our own understanding of the issues of life. God’s advice is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. In every decision and juncture of life, God’s wisdom is to trust Him or look to Him. Life is full of forks in the road. An individual who continually seeks God’s direction for each decision will never go wrong. We often get into trouble because we rely upon our own understanding for decisions which must be made. How can we go wrong when His guidance is so readily available? 3. Dedication (Matthew 16:24). Matthew 16:24, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me". That is the way it should be for all of us if we want to live a victorious Christian life. When we walk and are attempting to go somewhere, we take continuous steps. One step is not walking, continuous steps are. You have to keep taking steps in order to get someplace. That is dedication. True disciples are few in number. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, there must be denial of self as well as a willingness to suffer even unto death. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ requires total dedication and self-denial. The word deny means to lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests. 4. Delight (II John 4). III John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” God delights in the path of the righteous. Even as a parent delights in the steps of an obedient child, so does our Heavenly Father. In the Bible, God gives us specific instructions on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. Psalm 23:3b, “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” The Holy Spirit will lead you in your daily walk with the Lord. Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Obeying and following His leading will help you immensely in living a victorious Christian life. We will be excited about the things of God and the treasures He gives us from His Word. Psalm 119:162, “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” What we get from the Word of God is far greater than the wealth of this world. When we see it that way we will rejoice in what God has given us from the scripture. The preacher should be excited about what he is teaching. When something changes your life, you want to share it with others so it will change their life also. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #20
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Work of the Pastor (II Timothy 2:15). The call of the pastor is clearly to teach and preach the Word of God with power to glorify God and build up the saints. II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” There must be concentration: We must study the Word of God and focus on it clearly in our life. There must be more than a casual reading as we need to be focused. It takes time to study scripture and we cannot be lazy about this important ministry. We must put distractions out of heart and mind so we may accurately study the truth of God's Word. Acts 8:4, Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. You cannot preach the Word of God if you do not know what it says. There must consecration: We must be dedicated to God or we cannot rightly divide or understand the Word of God. John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” The message is more than the words spoken it must be meshed in the life. Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” People will count our words as pennies and our actions as dollars. Whether in the home, church, business or government, leadership must be consecrated. Proverbs 29:21, “He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.” We should want those who follow us to be like family. There must be corroboration: The Word of God must be taken in context. We need to compare Scripture with Scripture and make sure we are properly interpreting what it says. You cannot twist the Scripture or you will destroy your life and those you influence. II Peter 3:16, “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” There must be communication: The pastor must teach the people the Word of God. The content makes the message, not the delivery. But the better we communicate, the better people listen. If we cannot hold people's attention, we cannot change their life. There must be passion and conviction in your teaching. If you do not believe what you say, no one else will either. We must teach with authority and power. Mark 1:22. “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” The pastor must major on preaching at all times. II Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” The Wisdom of the Pastor (James 3:15-17). They see the value of heavenly wisdom and living their life with eternal priorities. James 3:15-17, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (16) For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (17) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” They want their life, home and ministry to be built on the Word of God. The Wealth of the Pastor (Proverbs 1:5). They see the need to grow in their Christian life and never stop learning. Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” No one learns more about the subject than the teacher. They put far more time in the preparation of the lesson than they have to give it. There life is enriched by what they teach because they embrace it in their heart. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #19
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Passionate Pastor (John 21:15-17) John 21:15-17, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” A God called Pastor will have a deep love for the church and its members. 1. Pastor. The pastor knows that the call to pastor is a full time calling and that there is a huge difference in being a pastor and filling a pulpit. 2. Preaching. The pastor’s call consists of regularly feeding God’s people with the Word. A balanced diet of Biblical truth must be proclaimed from the pulpit of a healthy church. The pastor loves his flock well when he preaches Jesus Christ to them and persistently, prayerfully, and passionately points them away from the world and towards Jesus Christ. If a pastor fails to preach the Word of God to them, they will die spiritually. So, every faithful pastor must preach Christ to His people relentlessly. 3. Prayers. A pastor must be a man of consistent and fervent prayer. He must spend time alone with the Lord. Perhaps the greatest benefit we have in our walk with the Lord is prayer. Prayer is the most important thing we do because prayer can do anything God can do! Laziness is probably the greatest reason why we do not pray. Fervent prayer is hard work, and our flesh doesn’t like the sacrifice involved. 4. Protection. A pastor knows the dangers of our adversary, the devil. He knows that once he steps out the grievous wolves will attack the flock. He leads and guides God’s flock by warning them of the dangers of Satan, false prophets, and false teachers. He will teach them the truth of the Word of God so that when a counterfeit approaches them, they can spot the counterfeit because they are already familiar with the truth. 5. Progressions. A faithful pastor loves his people and shows this by teaching them the Word of God. God has given the pastor the opportunity to be an influence in the lives of others. The pastor takes personal interest in the lives of those he teaches .He looks for faithful people who desire to grow and he holds nothing back in sharing his heart with them, ministering the Word to them, holding one another accountable, and equipping in practical godliness, family-worship, and church-related matters. The pastor knows that the church will never rise above the spiritual maturity of the male leadership, so he gives himself happily and regularly to the training and shepherding of other men through instruction, example, and prayer. 6. Practice. A pastor understands the power of example. He knows and understands the importance of what is written in the Word of God, spoken from the house of God, needs to be lived in the man of God. He cannot preach one thing in the pulpit and unpreach what he has just said through his sinful conduct. A shepherd says to the sheep: follow me as I follow Christ. There must be a model of godliness and an example of the pursuit of Christ that the flock can find in their pastor. 7. Perfecting. A pastor loves his flock well by teaching, leading, bringing, and going out with his people in evangelizing. One way a pastor declares his love for the people is by teaching them to evangelize and taking them out to evangelize. 8. Pouring. A pastor knows that as newborn babes in Christ, the flock of God will grow and mature through a faithful feeding of God’s Word. Pastors bring Scripture to the people knowing that it is the food by which the people of God live. Speaking the truth in love constantly characterizes his daily ministry. He speaks the Word. He encourages in the Word. He guides and counsels from the Word. He prays the Word. He reproves and exhorts with the Word. He directs the people of God to the Scripture, so they rest upon the unchanging and unfailing truth of God. 9. Praising. A pastor points the hearts and affections of the people of God to the glory of God. He knows the path to true joy is when the people of God live to magnify the Lord. 10. Passion. The pastor’s heart should be overflowing with affection for his people. He cares for them by communicating to them, ministering to their needs, speaking truth to them in love, encouraging them in Christ, reminding them of their union with Christ and the future hope of the coming and immediate presence of Christ. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #18
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. Remembering Your Pastor (Hebrews 13:7, 17) Hebrews 13:7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” Hebrews 13:17, “Obey 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.” Comprehending His Love (Revelation 13:7a) Revelation 13:7a, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God…” Remember those who have the rule over us. The word "remember" means "to think of and feel for a person or thing; to keep in mind; to make mention of someone." We are to keep in mind and be concerned about those who rule, lead, or who have authority over us and speak to us the Word of God. Pray for your pastor. Pray for God's power on his life. Pray that hearts will be tender and open to God's Word. You will be amazed at what will happen in the church when the people love, encourage, and pray for the Pastor. Consider His Life (Hebrews 13:7b) Hebrews 13:7b, “…whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” We are to follow the faith of those who rule over us. The word "faith" is a reference to his Biblical beliefs and convictions about the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to copy or imitate those Scriptural beliefs in our own hearts. We are also to reflect upon the good that has come from the godly behavior, actions, and attitudes of our pastors. This is the meaning of the word "conversation" which means "manner of life." We are to consider how God has blessed and used him as he follows the Lord the best way that he can. Be patient with his faults because he is not perfect. Understand, he is patient with your faults, too. The pastor may not seem to be someone who is important in the lives of many Christians. This would be especially true if a Christian rarely attends church. Realize the pastor is on the front line of Satanic attacks. He is a prime target. Some men are overwhelmed, worn out, discouraged, defeated, and do give up. Though the pastor may be unappreciated or unimportant, God considers his labor extremely important and will reward him with a crown of glory one day. I Peter 5:1-4, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 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 examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” If the Lord considers his work to be worthy of an unfading crown from Him, the congregation should consider him to be important, too. Compliance to His Leadership (Hebrews 13:17) Hebrews 13:17, “Obey 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.” Your pastor is concerned as to what is going on in your life. He prays for you, and he will give an account for his ministry with you. This is why the wise pastor will preach the Word of God and do his best to share the truths of Scripture that will help you to be the best Christian you can be. He will caution, counsel, challenge, confront, and comfort you with the Scriptures. By obeying him and the truths of God's Word, his work and relationship with you will be a source of joy and blessing as you mature and grow in Christ. Paul spoke about the importance of having a good relationship with your pastor. I Thessalonians 5:12-13, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” I Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #17
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Prerequisites for the Pastor (I Timothy 3:1-7) I Timothy 3:1-7, “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” The pastor who shepherds’ today’s church also fulfills the New Testament role of elder and bishop (overseer), and is responsible to God for the spiritual welfare of the church (Acts 20:28). When Christ returns, He will judge and reward these pastors (elders), according to their faithfulness in leading the church to accomplish God’s will (I Peter 5:4). There are at least seven different titles for the New Testament pastor. The term elder is used over 20 times, emphasizing the pastor’s wisdom and maturity. The title bishop emphasizes the administrative function of the office. The word pastor emphasizes the responsibility of caring for the church, as a shepherd cares for the sheep. The word preacher emphasizes the ministry of publicly proclaiming God’s Word. The title teacher emphasizes that the pastor should be “apt to teach.” The pastor is also called a servant, reminding him that he is to minister to others; and he is a steward, managing the property of others (the church of Christ). You will find the terms elder, overseer, and shepherd. These are not three offices, but three different aspects of the office. Paul describes the pastor’s position as one that takes work to achieve. Three terms are used referring to the leader of the church in the New Testament. (1) The term bishop literally means ‘overseer.’ God has given him the general oversight for the local church. (2) The term elder is also used interchangeably for bishop as in Titus 1:5-6. An elder was one of authority either by age or rank. The application of the term is essentially that of authority. (3) The term pastor literally means a ‘shepherd’ and speaks of tender care and feeding of a flock. Each of these three terms refers to the same individual. The difference lies in the various aspects of leadership. This speaks of the oversight, authority, and tender care. An analogy might be found in a husband and/or father in a home. The two terms, elder and bishop, refer to the same office. They differ only in their origins. In modern terms, they are the equivalent of the ‘pastor.’ I Timothy 3 can be divided into three parts as follows: A. The Director in the Church (I Timothy 3:1-7) B. The Deacon in the Church (I Timothy 3:8-13) C. The Doctrine for the Church (I Timothy 3:14-16) 1. The Position of the man of God (I Timothy 3:1) The office of a bishop. The office of a bishop speaks of overseership, charge, the office of an elder. This demands two things. The first is responsibility; the second is accountability. For any church to be a successful church, it must have good leadership. No church rises above its leadership. Dr. Lee Roberson says, “Everything rises or falls on leadership.” In I Timothy 3, the Word of God deals with the positions and the people that fill the position of leadership in the local churches. There are two offices in the church. First, the office of pastor and second, the office deacon. The office of pastor is the highest officer in the church called by God. There is no doubt “the office of a bishop” refers to the pastor. 2. The Passion of the Man of God (I Timothy 3:1). A God-called pastor will desire this “good work”because God has placed that desire in his heart. When you hear a preacher say that God has called him to preach, that is what he is saying. 3. The Person of the man of God (I Timothy 3:2-7). There are seventeen qualifications listed for the man of God here in (I Timothy 3:1-7). None of us are perfect, but at the same time these qualifications must not be ignored. Notice I Timothy 3:1-7. The man of God is to prove himself as: a. Successful Person (I Timothy 2a). (1) blameless (3) Vigilant (4) Sober (5) Good behavior (6) Given to hospitality (7) Apt to teach (8) Not given to wine (9) No Striker (10) Not greedy of filthy lucre (11) Patient (12) Not a brawler (13) Not covetous (17) a good report of them which are without b. A Successful Partner (I Timothy 3:2b). (2) The husband of one wife c. A Successful Parent (I Timothy 3:4-5). (14) One that ruleth well his own house (15) Have his children in subjection with all gravity d. A Successful Preacher (I Timothy 3:6). (16) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #16
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Pastor Wears Many Hats (I Peter 5:4). I Peter 5:1-4, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 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 examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” What do pastors actually do? While this may seem pretty obvious, some people are actually curious. I had a person tell me once that I had the “good life”. I preach a sermon on Sunday and I play golf the rest of the week. I didn’t correct him, but all he needed to do was to see my so-called golf game and he would know real quick that my time is not spent on the greens. The truth is, there are some who really think pastors only work on Sundays. While that might be true for some, God’s pastors work on average 48-74 hours per week. It’s not easy to explain in a few short sentences, the role of a pastor and all that he fulfills. Pastors can, do, and must wear many different hats in their work. Each hat represents a role that the pastor fulfills. Here are some: A pastor is a counselor, psychiatrist, janitor, plumber, groundskeeper, maintenance man, taxi, mechanic, moving man, custodian, cheerleader, event planner, secretary, fundraiser, teacher, life coach, door greeter, usher, sound man, videographer, song leader, Sunday school teacher, advisor, web designer, preacher, friend, prayer warrior, shoulder to cry on, and so many, many more. As a minister, this exhortation is to you, and it is frank and forceful. It is as clear as can be, “to feed the flock of God." The word "feed" means not only to preach and teach the Word of God, but to tend and shepherd the flock. It means to act like a shepherd, to carry out the duties of a shepherd. The duties of the shepherd are severalfold. Here are seven: 1) to feed the sheep even if he has to gather them in his arms and carry them to the pasture. 2) to guide the sheep to the pasture and away from the rough places and precipices. 3) to seek and save the sheep who get lost. 4) to protect the sheep. The true shepherd is even willing to sacrifice his life for the sheep. 5) to restore the sheep who go astray and return. 6) to reward the sheep for obedience and faithfulness. 7) to keep the sheep separate from the goats. As the watchman over His house, your duties are twofold:
A pastor must oversee the administration of the church, setting its affairs and organization in order (Titus 1:5). Two administrative duties are being assigned to the minister (Titus). 1. He must set in order the things that are defective and left undone. No matter the church, there are still some defects and some things to be done. Every church still has a long way to go before it reaches the full stature of what it should be before its Lord. But tragically, too many churches have two serious defects and flaws: they are not adequately organized for ministry and they have allowed false teaching in their ranks. As a result they are not reaching people for Christ and, in some cases, they are facing terrible division and the destruction of their testimony. 2. He must ordain and set up whatever leadership is needed to carry on the ministry of the church (Acts 6:2-4). The pastor must make sure the church is organized and operated orderly and efficiently: so that he can give himself to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Your primary call is:
The church is to be orderly, efficiently organized, so that the pastor can be effective and bear fruit in his ministry. In all honesty, the vast majority of us waste minute after minute every hour in useless daydreaming and wandering thoughts—wasting precious time that could be spent in prayer. If we would learn to captivate these minutes for prayer, we would discover what it is to walk and live in prayer. Note a critical fact: this is your duty. It is not something God can do for you. You are the one who has to discipline yourself to pray. If you do not pray, then prayer never gets done. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #15
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Pastor’s Most Powerful Weapon (I Timothy 3:15) I Timothy 3:15, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” I was taught many years ago the importance of guarding my testimony. I remembered and wrote much from what was taught to me regarding this fact. Here are two. 1. How we behave and what we believe are both equally important. 2. What we really believe will affect how we behave. The theme of First Timothy is found in I Timothy 3:15, “…that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God…” After salvation, God desires all to go on to maturity, and to prove this: 1. He gave the Comforter to teach us (John 16:13; I John 2:27). 2. He gave the Church to train us (Ephesians 4:11-12). I Timothy 4:13-16, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” A. He must be Educated in the Book (I Timothy 4:13-15b) Notice the different steps: 1. Reading, (I Timothy 4:13) 2. Reasoning or Rehashing, Meditate, (I Timothy 4:15), -cow chewing her cud. 3. Research, Study (II Timothy 2:15) B. He must be Engaged in the Battle (I Timothy 4:13-14) 1. In Encouraging, Exhortation (I Timothy 4:13) 2. In Education, Doctrine (I Timothy 4:13) 3. In Expounding, Preaching (I Timothy 4:14) C. He must be Exemplary in his Behavior (I Timothy 4:15c-16) 1. His Deportment, Take heed unto thyself (I Timothy 4:16) 2. His Doctrine, and unto the doctrine (I Timothy 4:16) 3. His Doing (I Timothy 4:16), “for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” The pastor's most powerful weapon is his testimony. When you lose your testimony you loose: 1. The Trust of others 2. Your Effectiveness in God’s work 3. Your Salting power 4. The Touch of God upon your life 5. Your Influence with both saint and sinners 6. The Most of all that you have ever accomplished 7. The Opportunity to be used in God’s service 8. Your Neighbors and lost loved ones to hell 9. The Years that you spent building your testimony As people of God, we need to know how to conduct ourselves. Our motivation for gathering together is that we may learn how to live differently as members of His family. The problem with many Christians is that they are not living out God’s purpose for their lives. As a result, they don’t live straight. The job of the church is to bring people into configuration with God’s character. Paul was a man of God who had a great desire to see the people of God doing the will of God. It is God’s plan that the church is to learn the will of God and the Word of God from the man of God. He has entrusted the care of his flock to God called pastors to shepherd and lead them in the will of God and in the ways of God. The pastor is over the flock, and he is to love the people of God and seek to loving lead the people of God to accomplish the will of God for the glory of God. It is the will of God for His people to live a peaceable and productive life. We must work alongside of and with one another to accomplish the will of God and honor the Lord Jesus in this world. Only through the Spirit of God can we understand the Word of God, do the will of God, accomplish the work of God, properly engage in the worship of God, and display the wisdom of God. Timothy was to stay focused on the will of God, stay faithful to the Word of God, and be fruitful in the work of God. There is power in a sold out, surrendered, and Spirit-filled man of God. Points to Ponder: We can, and should, have influence for God and good in this world. The Lord Jesus has given us all that we need for life and godliness and we must seek to serve Him with all of our hearts. We are exhorted and encouraged to work out our faith and stand firm for the faith and diligently share our faith! Questions to Consider: Are we being a godly influence in this world? Is our life and witness bringing others to the Lord or driving them from the Lord? Is your life helping others or hurting others? If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #14
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. When General Booth was asked what had been the secret of his success, he replied, "I will tell you the secret—God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities, but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart, and a vision of what Jesus Christ would do for them, I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was; and if anything has been achieved, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life." It is a great privilege to be a pastor and to lead a local church. To preach the riches of God's Word to people is a thrill beyond measure. The ministry will have heartaches and trials that no man will be able to escape. There will be times of loneliness and when you are misunderstood and even sharply criticized by some in the church. You must do what is right and never bow to pressure nor develop a mean spirit toward anyone in the congregation. We must keep our eyes on the Lord who called us into ministry and never take our eyes off him. 1. The Position of the Pastor. The position of pastor is one that was instituted by God for the benefit of the local church. Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...” The pastor is not like an employee of some business in the corporate world. He has been called by God and placed in a specific local church to help lead that congregation. 2. The Power of the Pastor. The authority of the pastor for his ministry has been delegated to him by God. John 13:20, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” When someone receives authority from a higher power they act on behalf of them. Esther 9:29, “Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.” The king gave them this authority and, because of it, they were able to do what they did. When people work with God given authority instead of against it, it is for their benefit and will glorify God. When authority given by God is used for the glory of God then it will benefit everyone that is involved. 3. The Purpose of the Pastor. The pastor has been placed in the church by the Lord Jesus to lead the flock of God. It is also important that he will feed the flock and protect the flock entrusted to his care. Acts 20:28-30, “Take 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. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” The importance of this ministry is great, especially in the times in which we live before the soon return of Jesus. The world has become increasingly wicked and it is important that the Christian not pattern themselves after the philosophies of this world. 4. The Platform of the Pastor. God gives each one of us a platform to serve others and be a blessing to them. This would include sharing the Gospel and being a servant to other Christians. If we are faithful in that, God will increase our positional platform so we can serve more people. Mark 10:44, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” God does not want any leader being a dictator or strong arm people to serve them. We need to follow the example of Jesus in this area. Philippians 2:7, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men…” If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #13
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Pastor’s Perspective The minister must realize that his most precious resource is his people. People come with all sorts of issues and idiosyncrasies. The pews will be filled with various personalities and multiple problems. The people perspective has been the downfall of many a man of God. A man of God may possess all sorts of abilities; but if he does not have the ability to lead and love people he will foolishly fail. 1. Love the People. If a man of God can love his people, success may be in the future. In loving his people, he can cover up many of his flaws. Let love have its free course in your life in developing your people. 2. Listen to the People. The man of God can greatly win the hearts of his people by lending them a willing and listening ear. I have known many ministers become great pastors by simply listening. The sympathetic ears of Gods man can sooth the hurting hearts of the flock. 3. Liberate the People. The man of God must not try to carry the load himself. The successful minister fully realizes that his people are competent and worthy of helping to carry the load. The gifts of his flock must be identified and utilized. 4. Labor with the People. The greatest asset the man of God will ever utilize is his willingness to labor with his flock. The work of a man will magnify the words of a man and mobilize his people to rally around his desires. 5. Locate the People. It is been the failure of many a minister in not knowing his people. A good minister will understand his people, their nature and their needs. 6. Lead the People. "The minister that desires success must realize that leadership is not effective that is not earned." The man of God can lead if he earns his leadership. The man of God must protect his leadership as if it were gold. The day a man loses his ability to lead; that man’s days are numbered. The minister must avoid the allurement of sin. Nothing will bring a minister down as quickly as his known association with sin.
10 Concerns for the Pastor’s Family:
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October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. Pressures of the Pastor The man of God will face many obstacles as he leads the flock of God. He will need the people to pray that his courage will remain in the midst of the obstacles. The streams that we cross are not always smoothly flowing; but often they are raging and overflowing the banks. In facing obstacles the man of God must have courage. 1. The Storms of Life. It has been well stated that a person is either, "in a storm, has just came out of a storm; or will be heading into a storm." Life is full of storms and the man of God must have courage to stay in the ship as the storm rages. In the storms of life, he must not make any decisions that could harm him once the storms have passed; it will pass. The man of God must stay his hand until the storm moves beyond his territory. The man of God must settle his heart in the midst of this treacherous time. In the midst of this grievous storm God's man must secure his hope that God will take him through the storm. 2. The Sorrows of Life. The man of God will face many sorrows as he goes from day to day. In Acts chapter 9, the Lord informed his newest Plowman that his path would be filled with many sorrows. The man of God did not choose the path of sorrows, but God foresaw these sorrows. The sorrows that faced the apostle would be used to utilize the testimony of Paul. The testimony of Paul was magnified by his path of suffering. In sorrows the apostle must maintain his courage and continue serving his Lord. 3. The Struggles of Life. If the minister could see the future and realize the coming struggles that will pop up in his path, he would possibly renounce his calling. The truth of the matter is that these coming struggles will prove to be valuable occasions. The caterpillar will never evolve into a butterfly without that harsh struggle within the cocoon. The struggles of life can break the man of God that faces them without courage. The struggles of life can make the man that allows Godly courage to swell up within his soul. 4. The Silences of Life. The time will come when the voice of God is hard to discern. The quietness will become so loud that it pains the ear that has to hear it. In these painful times the man of God must cling to his inner courage. In these times he must stand firm in a courageous spirit. The man of God must not flee, nor should he fold his tent up and quit. The voice of God may be silent, but he has not abandoned any of his precious servants. 10 Helps to Relieve the Pressures from the Pastor:
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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