DeaconBob3
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- Jul 20, 2005
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Ephesians 4 shows us the Five fold ministry Christ taught. As we see, Ministry has a great responsibility, however, we too have responsibilities toward our minister. I hope this is enlightening and helpful
Pastor and Ministry Gifts!
The Five ministries specified in Ephesians 4:11
1: Apostles
2: Prophets
3: Evangelists
4: Pastors
5: Teachers
The purpose for which these five ascension-gift ministries are given is seen clearly in Ephesians 4:12. They were given:
• For the perfecting or maturing of saints.
• For the work of the ministry, i.e.: to bring the saints into the work of their ministry.
• For the edifying or building up the body of Christ.
We may also say that these five ministry offices are given for the balance of each other as well as the balance in the body of Christ.
The end result of these anointed ministry gifts is found in Ephesians 4:13-16
• To bring the church unto the unity of the faith, into knowledge of the Son of God.
• To bring the church unto perfect man, a full grown man, maturity.
• To bring the church unto measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
When the church arrives at that standard, the Lord will be able to present Himself as a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:23-33).
Ministry of the Pastor!
The pastor is also a bishop and elder. As such he must have the qualifications of an elder as laid down in the word of God. Without such he is disqualified from pastoring the people of God (1 Timothy3 ; Titus 1). He must have the character, domestic, and spiritual qualifications. He must not neglect his own spiritual life and relationship with the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ, if he himself is to be a good shepherd.
Jeremiah 2:8
Acts 6:2-4
Acts 20:28
1 Timothy 4:12-16
A pastor will......
...is one whose voice the sheep recognize. There will be the inner sense that he has the voice of the Spirit in him. (John 10:3)
...be sensitive to the sheep. He will "sit where they sit" and identify with them. (Ezekiel 3:15; Job 2:13)
...lead the sheep into fresh pastures of the word, which he is always searching out. (John 10:3; Psalm 23)
...go before the sheep as a leader, and the sheep are happy to follow him, knowing that he will not lead them astray. (1 Corinthians 11:1; John 10:4) .He leads by his example in attitude, word and lifestyle. (1 Peter 5:3)
...have love and compassion for the sheep. He will love them and they will love him. (Mathew 9:36-38; Mark 6:34)
...constantly care for the sheep. (John 10:13)
...recognize that he is an under-shepherd, responsible and accountable to the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ. The sheep are not his but the Lord's. (John 10:16; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Hebrews 13:7; Ezekiel 34:10)
...feed the flock of God. He will supply fresh waters. (Genesis 29:7; Exodus 2:16; Psalms 23:2; Ezekiel 34:1-3; Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:17,28-32; 1 Peter 5:1-5)
...minister healing to the flock. He will seek the lost, and bring back what is driven away, bind up the broken, heal the sick, and strengthen the diseased. (Ezekiel 34:4, 11-16; James 5:14; Jeremiah 23:1-5)
...not dominate God's flock or rule with force or a cruel hand, but will rule with love. (Ezekiel 34:4; Acts 20:17, 28-31; 1 peter 5:3)
...seek God for fruitfulness and increase. Sheep beget sheep. (Genesis 30:25-43; Genesis 31:1-6)
...watch and guard himself against all forms of attack. The enemy will seek to smite the shepherd in order to scatter the sheep. A pastor is a watchman. (Zechariah 13:7; Mathew 26:31)
...be the gatherer of God's people and not say, do, or allow things that scatter the sheep. (Isaiah 40:11; Luke 11:23; Mathew 12:30)
...protect the sheep from their enemies and will warn the sheep of such. He will not be an ignorant, careless shepherd. (Amos 3:12; 1 Samuel 17:34; John 10:11-13; Isaiah 31:4; 56:11)
...be recognized by having upon him a distinct "pastoral anointing." He is a feeder, a gatherer, a leader, a carrier of the lambs and a ruler. (Isaiah 40:10-11)
Hebrews 13:7,17
The bible teaches that God the Father turned authority over to Jesus. Jesus after His resurrection, said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." Then Jesus turned the authority over to his disciples through the five-fold ministry gifts. How we receive from our pastor - the one in authority over us - is how we receive from God Himself.
How to Receive Your Pastor!
Receive him as a gift (Ephesians 4:11) and begin to relate to him accordingly.
If you are one who will submit to and relate to your pastor spiritually, then you will reap from his ministry spiritual things. If you are one who will submit to and relate to your pastor only in a natural or religious way, you will probably reap mostly natural things. You will seldom see or draw from Jesus in him because you are looking at his personality, style, or looks, and therefore you may not recognize the spiritual.
None of us should look beyond sin, but we can look beyond styles, systems, prejudices, personalities, and personal preferences in order to tap into the gift and anointing.
Esteem your Pastor highly in Love for his works sake.
God will bless and honor you as you walk in integrity & love towards your pastor and your church. There is never a church split when people love and esteem their pastor. On the contrary, peace and love reigns.
Pray for your pastor
2 Thessalonians 3:1..pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.
Follow Him as he follows Jesus
Hebrews 6:12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become spiritual sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith by their learning of entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are now inheriting the promises. (AMP)
Pastor and Ministry Gifts!
The Five ministries specified in Ephesians 4:11
1: Apostles
2: Prophets
3: Evangelists
4: Pastors
5: Teachers
The purpose for which these five ascension-gift ministries are given is seen clearly in Ephesians 4:12. They were given:
• For the perfecting or maturing of saints.
• For the work of the ministry, i.e.: to bring the saints into the work of their ministry.
• For the edifying or building up the body of Christ.
We may also say that these five ministry offices are given for the balance of each other as well as the balance in the body of Christ.
The end result of these anointed ministry gifts is found in Ephesians 4:13-16
• To bring the church unto the unity of the faith, into knowledge of the Son of God.
• To bring the church unto perfect man, a full grown man, maturity.
• To bring the church unto measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
When the church arrives at that standard, the Lord will be able to present Himself as a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:23-33).
Ministry of the Pastor!
The pastor is also a bishop and elder. As such he must have the qualifications of an elder as laid down in the word of God. Without such he is disqualified from pastoring the people of God (1 Timothy3 ; Titus 1). He must have the character, domestic, and spiritual qualifications. He must not neglect his own spiritual life and relationship with the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ, if he himself is to be a good shepherd.
Jeremiah 2:8
Acts 6:2-4
Acts 20:28
1 Timothy 4:12-16
A pastor will......
...is one whose voice the sheep recognize. There will be the inner sense that he has the voice of the Spirit in him. (John 10:3)
...be sensitive to the sheep. He will "sit where they sit" and identify with them. (Ezekiel 3:15; Job 2:13)
...lead the sheep into fresh pastures of the word, which he is always searching out. (John 10:3; Psalm 23)
...go before the sheep as a leader, and the sheep are happy to follow him, knowing that he will not lead them astray. (1 Corinthians 11:1; John 10:4) .He leads by his example in attitude, word and lifestyle. (1 Peter 5:3)
...have love and compassion for the sheep. He will love them and they will love him. (Mathew 9:36-38; Mark 6:34)
...constantly care for the sheep. (John 10:13)
...recognize that he is an under-shepherd, responsible and accountable to the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ. The sheep are not his but the Lord's. (John 10:16; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Hebrews 13:7; Ezekiel 34:10)
...feed the flock of God. He will supply fresh waters. (Genesis 29:7; Exodus 2:16; Psalms 23:2; Ezekiel 34:1-3; Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:17,28-32; 1 Peter 5:1-5)
...minister healing to the flock. He will seek the lost, and bring back what is driven away, bind up the broken, heal the sick, and strengthen the diseased. (Ezekiel 34:4, 11-16; James 5:14; Jeremiah 23:1-5)
...not dominate God's flock or rule with force or a cruel hand, but will rule with love. (Ezekiel 34:4; Acts 20:17, 28-31; 1 peter 5:3)
...seek God for fruitfulness and increase. Sheep beget sheep. (Genesis 30:25-43; Genesis 31:1-6)
...watch and guard himself against all forms of attack. The enemy will seek to smite the shepherd in order to scatter the sheep. A pastor is a watchman. (Zechariah 13:7; Mathew 26:31)
...be the gatherer of God's people and not say, do, or allow things that scatter the sheep. (Isaiah 40:11; Luke 11:23; Mathew 12:30)
...protect the sheep from their enemies and will warn the sheep of such. He will not be an ignorant, careless shepherd. (Amos 3:12; 1 Samuel 17:34; John 10:11-13; Isaiah 31:4; 56:11)
...be recognized by having upon him a distinct "pastoral anointing." He is a feeder, a gatherer, a leader, a carrier of the lambs and a ruler. (Isaiah 40:10-11)
Hebrews 13:7,17
The bible teaches that God the Father turned authority over to Jesus. Jesus after His resurrection, said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." Then Jesus turned the authority over to his disciples through the five-fold ministry gifts. How we receive from our pastor - the one in authority over us - is how we receive from God Himself.
How to Receive Your Pastor!
Receive him as a gift (Ephesians 4:11) and begin to relate to him accordingly.
If you are one who will submit to and relate to your pastor spiritually, then you will reap from his ministry spiritual things. If you are one who will submit to and relate to your pastor only in a natural or religious way, you will probably reap mostly natural things. You will seldom see or draw from Jesus in him because you are looking at his personality, style, or looks, and therefore you may not recognize the spiritual.
None of us should look beyond sin, but we can look beyond styles, systems, prejudices, personalities, and personal preferences in order to tap into the gift and anointing.
Esteem your Pastor highly in Love for his works sake.
God will bless and honor you as you walk in integrity & love towards your pastor and your church. There is never a church split when people love and esteem their pastor. On the contrary, peace and love reigns.
Pray for your pastor
2 Thessalonians 3:1..pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you.
Follow Him as he follows Jesus
Hebrews 6:12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become spiritual sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith by their learning of entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are now inheriting the promises. (AMP)
