Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #23 - Understanding the Undershepherd

Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #23

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.
Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you.

Understanding the Undershepherd (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.”

1.The Pastor’s Authority.
Two times in Hebrews 13, the word rule is used to describe the Pastor's authority in the local Church. In Acts, we find the term overseer is used in relation to the Pastor's work. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers...” (Acts 20:28). The Bible describes the Pastor as being “over you in the Lord” (I Thessalonians 5:2). Peter spoke of the Pastor's as “taking the oversight” (I Peter 5:2). The office of the pastor requires that he be the spiritual overseer of the Church. We understand that Christ is the head of the Church. However, since God is a God of order, He has set the local Church up in such a way that it is an organized body. The Pastor's authority is a delegated authority. When God places a Pastor in a local Church, He is placed there with the God-given authority to lead that Church in the right ways of the Lord. This does not imply that the Pastor is to be a dictator. It must be understood that the office of Pastor is administrative, not legislative! Peter said, “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; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (I Peter 5:2-3). Pastoring a church is tending to the Lord's flock. A pastor taking the oversight and exercising his God-given authority is not wrong, but lording over God's heritage is. The pastor will accomplish nothing by strong arming the flock. A lot of God's people are scattered because they've been driven instead of led.

2. The Pastor Appeal.
“...who have spoken unto you the word of God…” (Hebrews 13:7). Certainly, the Pastor's work involves many responsibilities but preaching the Word is at the top of the list. This ought to be the greatest desire of every preacher. To make the Word of God known to others is the supreme priority of the preacher. God handpicked the preacher and made him an overseer “to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). Here again, we see that the Pastor's job is to “feed the flock with knowledge and understanding.” The word knowledge speaks of being acquainted with facts, truths, and principles. The word understanding carries the idea of "instructing or guiding." Pastor must do more than simply filling people's heads with knowledge. He must go beyond educating people; he must instruct and guide them in the truth. Timothy was instructed to “Preach the word” (II Timothy 2:3-4). We believe in the priority of preaching—that preaching is supreme. Paul said, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:24-27). A faithful Pastor will declare the whole counsel of God. Paul was free from the blood of all men because he was faithful in preaching the Word of God. A pastor must be faithful in preaching the Word of God. Churches and Christians are starving because more and more pastor’s are neglecting the Scriptures when they are in the pulpit. The call is to preach and the content is the Word of God.

3. The Pastor’s Actions.
“…whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (Hebrews 13:7). The Pastor's faith ought to be evident in his life. People should be able to look at the Pastor and say, "That is what my life should be like." Our faith, as it is lived out in our life, becomes something that people can follow. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you” (II Thessalonians 3:7). The word conversation carries the idea of "behavior or conduct." There are two kinds of conversation. First, there is that which we say with our lips. Secondly, there is that which we say with our life. He is talking about how we live from day to day. Paul said that a Pastor must be blameless (I Timothy 3:2). However, this does not mean that the pastor is to be perfect. The word blameless comes from a word that means "not able to be held." It is a judicial term that describes a lack of evidence in a court preceding. Therefore, the defendant can't be held. The man who is blameless may be charged with a crime, but in the end there will not be sufficient evidence to hold him. He must be blameless according to the standards of the Word of God, not blameless according to man's standards and accusations.

4. The Pastor’s Appointment.
“…for they watch for your souls…” (Hebrews 13:17). This is a solemn verse. The pastor watches for the souls of men. He stands between God and man in the sense that he deals largely with the eternal part of man.

5. The Pastor’s Accountability.
“…as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). This principle stands especially true in the case of God's man. “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1). Those who teach and lead God's people will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged more strictly than others.

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