Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #26

Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #26

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

The Pastor’s Plea (II Timothy 1:7)
II Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

A pastor must be stable. If he is not, he will not only fail himself, but he will give the enemy an advantage. Stability and courage go together. The word fear comes from "deilia" and means to be "fearful or timid." Fear is produced by a lack of confidence in the Lord. The disciples' biggest problem wasn't the storm, it was their lack of faith (Mark 4:40).

The greatness of our fear shows us the weakness of our faith.

1. Fear proves a lack of confidence in God's Perfection (I John 4:18).
2. Fear proves a lack of confidence in God's Peace (John 14:27).
3. Fear proves a lack of confidence in God's Promises (Proverbs 3:25-26).
4. Fear proves a lack of confidence in God's Presence (Isaiah 41:13).
5. Fear proves a lack of confidence in God's Power (Proverbs 29:25).

If a pastor has fear in his heart, it is not God that has put it there. God has not placed fear in our hearts, but He has given us power to overcome. Satan cannot overcome the power of God. God has given us a spirit of love; God's agape love.

The pastor has also been given a sound mind in Christ our Lord. God has given us the ability to maintain ourselves and make sound decisions. Trouble and adversity will come as long as we live upon this earth. Serving the Lord will not be without difficulty, but we possess the courage and confidence we need to overcome if we will only look to the Lord and rely upon Him! The word sound comes from the Greek word "sophronismos" and carries the idea of a disciplined mind. It is a mind that is solid, Scriptural, and spiritual. It is a mind that is disciplined to think properly. Paul admonished the Philippians (Philippians 4:8). The believer's mind is to be filled with the things that please God. The mind must be right before the life can be right (Proverbs 23:7). Our actions are the fruit of our thoughts. Right thinking produces right actions.

The pastor must have a deep sense of courage that helps soothe and settle his soul in the face of opposition. In submitting to the blessed call to preach the Word of God, the man of God will encounter times that will challenge his calling. Paul pleaded with young Timothy to lean upon God in the midst of any fear that arose. The Lord has not given the man of God a spirit of fear; he has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. The man of God will not only face opposition and obstacles, but will face opportunities. In reality, we need as much courage to face opportunities as we do in facing opposition and obstacles. It takes as much courage to look forwards and is does to look backwards. In looking back, we need the courage to learn; but in looking ahead we need the courage to lead. The opportunity may arise for the man of God to launch out into the unknown, will you do it?

1. Courage in his Mind.
The battle will always be won in the mind before ever winning it in the heart. The forces of darkness will attack and invade the mind before attacking any other area. The man of God must get his mindset right to face the grand opportunities that God will give him.

2. Courage in his Ministry.
The minister must allow the courage of God to lead him in his ministry. A ministry that is based and backed upon the courage of God will allow the man of God to achieve true success.

3. Courage in his Membership.
The membership in the pews will eventually take on the personality of the man in the pulpit. The church either is, has, or will become the same as its leader in the pulpit. This statement will always be true, and it is either to the benefit of the church, or to the detriment of the church. The man of God cannot accept the status quo. If the church is not progressing forward, it is digressing backwards.

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