[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″]There really are some important things that you must know about your pastor. And it isn’t for his sake alone that you need to know them, because it is mostly for your own benefit.[/x_custom_headline]
In my last blog, I wrote about how important it is for the pastor to take heed to himself before he takes heed to those under his pastoral care. (If you didn’t read that article yet, I would encourage you to do so.) And this is what we learn from Acts 20:28, where the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was instructing pastors about their ministry role.
[x_blockquote cite=”Acts 20:28 KJV” type=”left”]“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”[/x_blockquote]
The word “feed” in this verse is the same word for pastor. A true pastor will feed the flock of God, not just tend the flock. And the pastor feeds the flock at each of the services and other events held by your church.
Now clearly if the pastor is assigned to feed you the Word of God so that you can grow up spiritually, (see 1 Peter 2:2), then it stands to reason that you are responsible to show up at every feeding time. In other words, if the pastor is going to be held responsible before the Lord to feed God’s people, which he is, then doesn’t it also stand to reason that the sheep will also be held responsible before the Lord for whether or not they were in attendance when it is time to be fed?
One sarcastic individual approached their pastor and said, “I would hate to be held responsible for all of that stuff that you preach.” And this wise pastor responded, “You will be.”
God is not going to charge the pastor to work day and night to prepare to feed His sheep, while simultaneously allowing the sheep to come and go at their own choosing. Simply by examining what God expects of those He has placed in the role of a pastor reveals volumes as to what it also expected of His sheep.
So, then we understand that the pastor is responsible to feed God’s people the Word of God. That is his primary assignment. But he cannot be effective with this primary assignment if he is overwhelmed all of the time tending to menial tasks that others can do.
I have learned from personal experience, as well as from observing other pastors throughout my lifetime, that the more I am distracted by seeing to all of the natural arenas of the ministry, and having to focus on them, then the fewer supernatural things I am able to operate in to help God’s people.
In other words, if the pastor is either tending to all of the natural things involved in the ministry and church life, or if he is constantly having to chase down others to do the roles in the ministry of helps that they have committed themselves to do, his study and preparation time becomes more and more limited. And this usually results in the spiritual meals not being all that they should be. So, if you are wanting your pastor to be an extraordinary chef and not be placed in a position to have to serve frozen dinners all of the time, then you must also understand your role in the ministry of helps, and how that when you are doing your role, you are relieving his hands and his time to better prepare to feed you.
[x_blockquote cite=”Jeremiah 3:15 KJV” type=”left”]“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”[/x_blockquote]
And now we see from this verse above that a shepherd is to feed God’s people with knowledge and understanding. In other words, he is to teach the Word of God in such a way that it is easy to be grasped by those who hear it, who then can apply it to their life. Because if a believer doesn’t understand the Word and how it can work in their daily life, they will never apply it.
And in addition, when a believer doesn’t understand the Word of God, the devil can then be successful in stealing the Word of God from them, thereby defeating them. This is exactly what Jesus is telling us in the verse below.
[x_blockquote cite=”Matthew 13:19 NASU” type=”left”]”When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.”[/x_blockquote]
This is why a true pastor must feed God’s sheep, and do so in a way that they can understand it. Because if they don’t understand it, the enemy will defeat them every single time.
Allow your pastor to do his primary role in your life by feeding you the Word of God with knowledge and understanding. But you must keep in mind that if you are hit and miss in your church attendance, then there will be things your pastor taught while you were absent that you will not have the knowledge or the understanding to apply to your life. And this will cost you in ways more deeply than you may fully see right now. And I might add, cost you much more than you will want to pay for later.
For example, there are those who have need of healing who hear only bits and pieces of a sermon series on receiving healing by faith in God’s Word. And so, they attempt to act on the part they were present to hear, but unable to act on all of the other important things they missed when they were absent, so their results are limited at best.
Then, in frustration, they get mad at God and their pastor, while in reality, it was their own decisions that caused them to miss the feeding times where they would have gained the knowledge and understanding of all that was necessary to receive from God.
So, take seriously the importance of consistent church attendance. Because faith comes by hearing the Word of God taught over and over and over again (see Romans 10:17). And you never reach a place of spiritual maturity where you outgrow this.
Understand that your pastor is a feeder, and not a tender. Stop expecting him to tend to everything going on in your life, and instead be present at every feeding time, so that he can feed you with knowledge and understanding. Your life will improve and increase by leaps and bounds if you will.
