When I thought of what to share with you, a lot of things came to mind. Above all, this one stuck with me: The Pastor.
Thinking of pastors, what comes to your mind? Is it Pastor E.A Adeboye of RCCG or Myles Munroe or your local church pastor?
WHO IS A PASTOR?
Credit: Genesis United Methodist Church
Wikipedia says a Pastor is someone who is an ordained leader of the church that gives advice and counsel to their congregation.
According to the Bible, a Pastor is:
- Someone chosen by God to feed us with knowledge and understanding
‘And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.’ Jeremiah 3:15
- A person who lives according to the Gospel of God
‘Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.’ I Corinthians 9:14
I believe that a Pastor is just as human as we all are. In contrary to us, he’s on a higher level with God and is in the right position to pull us up to the required level.
We’re going to look at who our Pastor is, how he/she shapes our mind and helps us in our journey to Heaven (The final destination for the children of God who remain steadfast on the journey).
Human just like you
Credit: Google
Many times, we forget our Pastor is just as human as we are. He/She gets tired, frustrated and takes impulsive decisions sometimes.
Yes, they are supposed to help us become better in our journey to God. It’s not easy dealing with all kinds and manner of people. We all expect them to be perfect (well I used to) and yes, sometimes they aren’t.
Just as we expect them to pray for us through our difficulties, do you ever pray for your Pastor and ask God to help them through theirs?
Leading you on the right path
The right path means a lot of different things to many people. The path I am talking about is the one that leads to Heaven.
Often, your pastor is the one you rely on to lead you on the right path. Don’t you think that your pastor also needs God to show him/her the right path so that he can also show you the right one?
In addition:
‘The elder and honourable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.’ Isaiah 9:15-16
It’s not one person’s job
Credit: Google
‘For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ‘ Romans 12:4-5
In Christ, everyone has a duty to carry out, not just your Pastor. When your Pastor moves you to the right path, it’s your duty to make sure you develop yourself and stay on the path that is true to God .
‘And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ‘ Ephesians 4:11-12
God’s Messenger
Your Pastors are the ones God uses to speak to you a lot of times, because we may not be at the level in which God can freely speak to us.
God also uses other people not only our Pastors to talk to us depending on what He(God) wants to tell us.
What should we do/not do to our pastor?
Appreciate (Give to) your Pastors
A lot of times, we often forget to give to our pastors and this should not be so because they should be appreciated for the work they do.
I hear some people argue about: Why should they give their Pastors anything ? I am not asking you to give all your money and/or properties, I am asking you to appreciate your pastor either with a compliment about the work he/she does or a gift that you can afford conveniently.
‘If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. ‘ I Corinthians 9:11-12
Please. do not wait till the pastor is leaving or retiring to appreciate them.
Your Pastor is not God
In the Bible verse below, there is an order: First you believe God then you believe your prophet/pastor.
Likewise, you cannot prosper (flourish) if you aren’t established (growing well).
‘Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” ‘ II Chronicles 20:20
Appreciating your Pastor does not mean you should put God and your pastor on the same level.
We’re going to compare this situation to an analogy:
“A” prayed for God to bless her with money because she needs to settle a debt. “B” decides that the next time he sees “A”, he will give her the exact money she needs without knowing that “A” needs the money.
When “A” gets the money, she’s grateful and feels indebted to “B”, hence she worships and is at his beck and call whenever he needs her.
God uses your pastor to prophesy and pray for you concerning what you need. Your pastor cannot answer the prayer only God can. When the blessing comes, don’t over appreciate your pastor so that you forget that it’s God who actually answered your prayer.
Correct them, Don’t judge
I have witnessed people talk and criticise their pastors that I start wondering if they actually hear any other thing in church.
‘Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I , the Lord , make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord . Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”’ Numbers 12:6-8
When Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses, God disciplined them as they deserved.
It’s easier to tell people that they erred than it is to keep talking about them behind their backs.
Funmi
In the UK, the eye catching theme of the transport system police is :
See it, Say it, Sorted
If you see something about your pastor you do not like, don’t hesitate to tell him/her in order to help them improve themselves.
‘Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ‘ Galatians 6:1
Please do not cast a blind eye to the fault so that it doesn’t affect you.
Confirm first
‘that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ‘ Ephesians 4:14-15
The Bible says that in this perilous times, doctrines will keep originating from everywhere. When someone shares the word of God with you, the least you can do is to check that it’s in line with what God is also saying:
‘Test all things; hold fast what is good. ‘ I Thessalonians 5:21
‘O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.’ I Timothy 6:20-21
End Note
In conclusion, your pastor is there to help you up and strengthen you on the journey to God. They are responsible for you and accountable to God about your growth.
They can only encourage and pray for you to grow. It’s up to you to decide if you want to grow or not.
Credit: Google
5 Responses
Very insightful Funmi. Am very proud to be associated with your family. I have always admired Your mum, whom I fondly call Mummy Odunowo. She has always inspired me since our paths crossed. Am not surprised at this calling of yours. May God continue to use you as a worthy tool in His hands. Congratulations!
From Aunty Franca (Mummy Chiamaka) Army Estate, Kubwa, Abuja.
Thank you very much ma, I’m grateful. Amen ma
Fumi is been a long time though I was out of service. Your topic as about who our pastor is and what they should do is very interesting. Yes , they also need us as much as we need them in our daily lives/prayers. That is why Jesus Christ called Simon Peter if he love Him let him feed His sheep. I thank God for using you to encourage other as you are also doing the work of an evangelist. Ride on child of God.