The Pastor

The Pastor

INTRODUCTION The introduction is taken from "Christian Guardian," reprinted in Gospel Herald, January, 1947. The perfect preacher is never too long either in his prayers or sermons.

He never forgets anything that he ought to remember and he never remembers anything that he ought to forget.

He knows just when to speak and when to keep silent. His laughter is always well-timed and his tears are always shed at the precise moment of psychological correctness. His sermons are always well-prepared, well-delivered and appropriate.

He is educated enough to be a college president and unassuming enough for a humble beginner.

He never has any financial embarrassments as he always manages to live comfortably on the smallest salary.

He never quarrels and yet he is always outspoken and courageous.

He is at once an ideal visitor and an ideal student.

He is a real leader of Israel’s hosts and yet his enemies speak well of him. His wife is absolutely without fault and his children are all just like her. His theology is old-fashioned enough to please the most conservative and new-fangled enough to satisfy the most radical.

There is never any difficulty in stationing him, as any appointment is glad to get him and he is always willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all.

Perhaps that man is not born yet, nevertheless the standards set by congregations are very high and it behooves the prospective pastor to aim high. To be a pastor of a congregation is a high calling from God.

The personal life of the pastor is of prime importance for people listen to his sermons on Sundays and watch to see how they are fulfilled through the week. The pastor must be a man of piety-a pious, holy man who radiates the Lord Jesus Christ. The unbeliever expects near perfection of a minister at all times. The pastor must be a man of prayer. The Church expects him to spend considerable time in prayer daily-even hours. The pastor needs this for his own personal attainment of holiness-remaining long in the presence of God until all the dross is revealed and removed.

1 Samuel 12:23, "God forbid that 1 should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. " Samuel had a burden to pray for the flock. Each pastor ought to pray for the flock by name, person by person, if at all possible.

Colossians 1:9, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you." This was the prayer life of the Apostle Paul.

Isaiah 52:11, "... be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord." The pastor must be a man with a passion for the lost and dying.

Acts 20:31, "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. "

Matthew 9:36, "But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion. "

The pastor must be able to talk to people individually about salvation, personal problems, or to point out discrepancies in their testimony. Matthew 18:15-17. The pastor ought to learn to comfort the bereaved and all who sorrow.

He ought to be able to enter into their personal lives and become a part of the family.

Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." The pastor must remember that he is in a very special way, the under-shepherd, representing the Lord Jesus here on earth at all times.

As a pastor, his greatest ministry is to stand and preach the Gospel. This will involve education, experience and will require the blessing of God to be effective to the conversion of sinners and strengthening of believers.

He must remember to give the whole counsel of God, which will include evangelism, Bible doctrine, teaching, reproofs, exhortations and warnings.

Acts 20:27, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

He must also learn to pray publicly, which can only be learned by much private prayer in the secret place. In the pastoral prayer he lifts a congregation into the presence of God in an atmosphere of sublime worship.

He must also learn to read the Scriptures clearly, reverently and distinctly, so that all can understand.

Nehemiah 8:8, "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

He is commanded to "feed the Church of God," Acts 20:28, by preaching sermons and Bible lessons that are applicable to their individual needs.

It is also his responsibility to prepare candidates for baptism.

He is responsible for the sacraments of Baptism and holy Communion. At the conclusion of the service he has the responsibility to bless the people from God. Numbers 6:23-26; Revelation 1:4-5; Luke 1:21 (the people waited for Zacharias to come out and bless them). He is to protect the flock from false teachings and false teachers. Acts 20:29-30.

He has a special responsibility to care for the poor of his flock, Acts 11:29-30.

He has the privilege of teaching his members the need of reaching out into the unreached areas. He can best do this by example - taking them with him on trips. In all things, he is an example of the Lord and godliness to the people.

The preacher must work with a correct motive to glorify the Name of the Lord.

Paul’s motive was not money or fame, but men--their salvation and grounding.

1 Corinthians 1:15-18, the urgency and passion was on Paul and he was forced to press on.

Let the pastor be prayerful, sincere, diligent and faithful at all times. The wonderful message, the shortness of time, the nearness of death, the coming of Christ undergird his motive to do all to His glory, Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31.

1 Corinthians 9:4, Paul was willing to forego eating and drinking if men would only believe.

Paul even refused a salary at Corinth to avoid suspicion and win more souls.

Paul was willing to change eating habits, to sacrifice liberty to win souls.

Paul adapted himself to various classes of men: To the Jew he was a Jew; to those under law as one under law; to those without law as one without law; to the weak he became weak, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

Paul was willing to forbear marriage, home and children if more people would be saved.

Paul was willing to regulate his social life and customs (but not his Christian principles) to gain men and avoid unnecessary offense.

He is responsible to God for the souls of his flock, Hebrews 13:17, "... for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief." The successful pastor must be temperate and constantly Spirit-controlled. To the pastor that begins well but turns aside the Lord threatens him with being a castaway.

1 Corinthians 9:27, even the great Apostle Paul seemed to fear this.

CONCLUSION 2 Corinthians 2:16, "Who is sufficient for these things?"

1 Corinthians 3:5, "Our sufficiency is of God."

Luke 9:62, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

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