The Pastor

FROM: APRIL 19 @ 25, 2016

TOPIC: "The Pastor" John 10:12 Last Sunday I spoke about Our Inspiration: The Holy Spirit. Today I will speak about the pastor. I will speak about the ministry of a pastor even though it is not my favorite subject, since some may see it as something I have an advantage over. But by doing so this year, we’ll start fixing things so that you start to disregard the thought of a pastor being "someone who accompanies you more than anyone else" or "someone who loves you more than anyone." Let's see what Jesus said about this in John 10:12. "He who is a hired hand and NOT A SHEPHERD, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them." The shepherd is someone totally responsible for the sheep. Let us understand the difference between a good pastor, and a bad one. If something happens to the sheep, the good shepherd has to prove that he was not at fault; that it wasn’t because of neglect. Amos 3:12 speaks of the shepherd who rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs of the sheep or the tip of an ear. "Thus says the Lord: ‘As THE SHEPHERD rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel...’" The work of a pastor is fully dedicated, arduous and painful. A shepherd rebukes a sheep (the believer); exhorts, corrects, weeps with, prays with, and delivers the message before things happen. This way, the pastor can free the sheep. But if the sheep is lost, he can prove with his efforts that the sheep died because of rebellion and not carelessness. (I Samuel 17: 34-35 "But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to KEEP SHEEP for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.’") This is how a pastor is when he sees "a lion" or "a bear" that comes to destroy the sheep he cares for. The good shepherd runs to face the evil; hurts "the bear" or "the lion", and saves the sheep. That is the strength of a shepherd! For a true shepherd the most natural thing in the world is risking his life to defend his flock. On many occasions, we must risk our life; face the thieves, and bandits who come to attack the flock. Perhaps you are oblivious to this great battle. I pray that you can see these things like the sheep that you are. The true shepherd never hesitates to take risks, and even give his own life to save his sheep from any danger that threatens. Do you know how many things want to destroy you? You have to understand that my work as a pastor is not whether I give you the strongest hug or not, or that I'm so close to you that I live with you, or have you living in my house. My job is WATCHING FOR YOUR SOUL UNTIL DEATH! The true shepherd is born, chosen in God’s eternity. For this reason a pastor cannot be made. The pastor is called upon, and placed by God to exercise the role of being in charge of caring for the sheep. The role of the sheep is to be the pastor’s colleagues and friends so that he can carry them, not as heavy weight or a load. They are not meant to be an enemy; complaining or demanding. As a pastor I have to think of the sheep before myself. The true shepherd does not hesitate to give himself. A paid pastor is the shepherd who contrives. He doesn’t work by vocation, but does it as a way to earn a living, and get as many benefits as possible. Perhaps the forged pastor thinks of it as a job, and does it. But does not appreciate the responsibilities of his job. He is nothing more than an employee! Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave the apostles; the prophets, the evangelists, the SHEPHERDS AND TEACHERS ...” To care for the sheep is a role given by God. Any good quality that the pastor may

have is a gift given by the grace of Christ. In ancient times the king who conquered received gifts. He requested them, and thus received. Unlike those kings, Christ, who is The Conqueror; offers and gives gifts to men. He gives the gift of pastoring and teaching. Reason: to prepare the saints for His work. Some say they do not need to congregate because they basically believe their pride can withstand what Jesus instituted with His death. He took, and gave gifts (Ephesians 4:8 "Therefore it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."). Biblical commentators think that these two words describe the pastor: shepherd and teacher. Shepherds have the most important task in the entire church. They are placed in a congregation. The pastor has a lot to TEACH because the newly converted come from the impure to pass on to purity. There is a lot to teach day by day! We should be grateful to those pastors and teachers, whom from the beginning of the church until today, have transmitted the Word of God in its purest form, without distortion. The pastor has to guide his flock, and keep it safe because they come from a world that as sheep they are in constant danger of returning to. The shepherd leads his flock to a safe place. God is the chief shepherd of the flock. The man called upon to be a pastor leads the people of God with his heart, feeds them the truth, searches for them when they stray, and defends them from all that could damage their souls. Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your LEADERS ..." A pastor is the authority of the church. The true leader of the church preaches about Christ, and leads people to Christ. A true preacher will have the people forget him, but never forget about the Christ, whom he has preached and taught. The pastor is a person in whom Christ lives again. The pastor reflects Christ in his own life. The true shepherd is led by Jesus Christ. Jesus has sought pastors who bring Him men, and lead men to Him. Men, who are the sheep, are not for the shepherd, but for Christ! Amen.