Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #7

Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #7

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

The Honorable Pastor (I Timothy 3:7)
I Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Pastors are a gift to the church:
1. Ambassador for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20)
2. Angel of the Church (Revelation 1:20)
3. Apostle (Luke 6:13; Titus 1:1)
4. Bishop (I Timothy 3:1)
5. Elders (I Timothy 5:17)
6. Evangelists (Ephesians 4:11)
7. Fishers of men (Matthew 4:19)
8. Laborers (Matthew 9:38; I Corinthians 6:11)
9. Messengers (II Corinthians 8:23)
10. Ministers (II Corinthians 6:4; Romans 15:16)
11. Overseers (Acts 20:28)
12. Pastors (Jeremiah 3:15; Ephesians 4:11)
13. Preachers (Romans 10:14; I Timothy 2:7)
14. Servants (Titus 1:1; Judges 1)
15. Shepherds (Jeremiah 23:4)
16. Soldiers (Philippians 2:25; II Timothy 2:3-4)
17. Stars (Revelation 1:20)
18. Stewards (I Corinthians 4:1; I Peter 4:10)
19. Teachers (Isaiah 30:20; Ephesians 4:11)
20. Watchman (Isaiah 62:6; Ezekiel 33:7)
21. Witnesses (Acts 1:9; 5:32)

Paul list’s seventeen requirements for a God called pastor of the local church. One of these qualifications is a good report. This good report carries the idea of his testimony, witness, record, or evidence given. A pastor must have a good report (testimony) with those who are outside the church. The prophet Samuel had this reputation in the Old Testament. I Samuel 9:6, “And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.” We are not just to have a testimony, but we are to have a good testimony. The pastor’s position is seen in his call, he must live humbly and must live honorably. Those that are “without” are the unsaved outside the church. The world may not and seldom does agree with a godly pastor, but his manners ought to be the kind that causes the world to respect him anyway. How he does business in the world and how he behaves in the world will not be unnoticed by the world.

He needs a good report so he will not fall into the snare of the devil. How can he make a spiritual impact on those who do not respect him? Any misconduct upon the part of the leader opens the gate for the devil to deceive the members. A God-called pastor must have a good testimony in the outside world. The man of God must live in such a way in front of the ungodly world that they respect him. That means being real and genuine at all times. A pastor desires to honor the Lord in his private life, in his public life, and in his personal life. Unbelievers must never be pushed farther away from Jesus because of the life and witness of the pastor. When a preacher falls into sin it damages the testimony of the church in the community. So many preachers have fallen into reproach by their ungodly conduct. A pastor never wants to be guilty of bringing dishonor to themselves, their family, their church, and especially to the Lord. Unbelievers are watching his life and they want to see if his practice lines up with his profession. A pastor will live humbly and honorably in the world because they have submitted under the Lordship of Christ. A God called pastor is not unaware of the snares of the devil. The Devil wants to trip up the man of God, ensnare, and destroy the life and testimony of the man of God.

Pastors make great strides and sacrifices for the flock God has called them to watch over. Encourage your pastor today and let him know how the Lord is using his teaching, his preaching, and his example in your life. A pastor puts all of his heart into his sermons as he preachers with passion to challenge the people to love the Lord and to labor for Him. When a pastor knows he has made an impact in the life of someone, it can be momentous encouragement that can help him when he faces hard times. Pastors face some of the most difficult pressures. There are days when pastors carry the weight of the world, and for reasons of confidentiality, all they can do is bottle it up. These burdens and more can mount up to make the stresses of ministry seem at times nearly unbearable. I encourage you to pray for your pastor. You will find that the more you pray for your pastor, and especially his preaching ministry, the more you will get fed from the pulpit. There are many men who have taken the role of pastor. Only those called of God of are those who truly shepherd God’s flock. If the Lord has given you a pastor, then you are truly blessed. Encourage your pastor today and let him know how the Lord is using his teaching, his preaching, and his example in your life.

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