God's expectation of a Pastor

Paul said, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" (Eph. 4:11, NKJV, emphasis added).

A Pastor is part of the "five-fold" ministry - ministry gifts to the Church. Such a ministry should not be undertaken unless one has been especially called for such a purpose. The five-fold ministers are ministers of the Lord and He alone does the choosing. Those whom He chooses, have the benefit of a personal encounter and experience resulting in a "knowing" that they are called.

To be a part of this five-fold ministry, one must not presume that because he is scholastically prepared, or because he or others decide he should pursue such a ministry; qualifies him for such a ministry. Before specialized training is pursued, he must know, by having received a personal call.

That call may come in a dramatic way like it did to Moses or the Apostle Paul. It may come by a spoken invitation like it come to the disciples, "Follow Me"; mut must be in a way tha the candidate will know beyond a shadow of doubt that he is called for that specific office. The apotle Paul invariably start his Epistles with the prefix, "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God ..." He would have never survived the opposition, persecution, and suffering, had he not known by experience that he was "called" to be an apostle.

Being "called" to be a Pastor is being called to "leadership." The Bible is exceptionally well documented with cases where God called individuals to leadership. Let us briefly examine such call - the call of Abraham.

Abraham and his call

"Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you'" (Gen. 12:1).

While Abraham's call wa clear, causing him to leave Ur and all his associations, that was not the only experience he has with God. At Shechem:

"Then the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' And ther he built an altar to the Lord, who appeared to him" (Gen. 12:7).

The Lord appeared to him in Canaan when he refused to fight with Lot over fertile pasture land.

"And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: 'Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are - northward, southward, eastward, and westward ..." (Gen. 13:14).

Personal encounters and experiences

If you take time to trace Abraham"s journey, you will find a constant repetition of , "The Lord appeared to Abraham"; "The Lord came to Abraham in a vision." In other words, he had many personal encounters personal experiences. But someone says, "Our is a walk of faith, we do not need persoal encounters in this Dispensation of Grace." If anyone understood the walk of faith it was the apostle Paul, yet his life and ministry was exceptionally punctuated by dramatic personal experiences. I do not know any twentieth century, walk-in-the-Spirit leader who has not received a definite call from God, and experience continued evidence of God's guidance and presence. He makes Himself known and real to those whom He calls.

An evangelist was heard addressing an audience: "I could do what Moses did if I would have received the call and the experience that he received."

God did not send Moses into the court of Pharaoh when Moses was first called. he gave him an experience first. Keeping the flock of Jethro in the backside of the desert, Moses was not expecting any Divine intervention; yet suddenly a bush was aflame, but not consumed. Drawing near to observe this phenomenon, he heard a voice "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here I am." (Read Ex. 3:4 - 8).

God not only called Moses, but immediately commissioned him to an impossible task. How well Moses knew the hardness of the heart of Pharaoh, and his strength, but he also knew the stubbornness of the leadership of Israel.

Personal inadequacy

As every God-called servant, Moses felt his personal inadequacy.

"But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?'" (Ex. 3:11)

There is nothing wrong with knowing for sure that you are called, the credentials of Him who is calling you, and the type and quality of the credentials being offered to you. Moses asked the questions:

"Who is calling me?" "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." "What is your name?" "I Am what I Am."

Your credentials

God did not send Moses empty-handed. He does not today send those whom He calls empty-handed; He still places into their hand a "rod." That rod is the "rod out of the stem of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1).

Moses' credential was not his university training in Egypt. It was not his military training as a great leader. It was not his adopted-son status by Pharaoh's daughter. It was not his humility and obedience as a shepherd. It was not his experience of the burning bush, as important as that was. his credential will be what happens when he stretches or utilizes the rod in his hand. The elders of Israel, along with Pharaoh, will require mor than rhetoric. They would require evidence and proof that he is called and equipped to accomplish the task for which he claims to be called.

Church members and visitors todya, have a right to see evidence from their Pastor, that he is truly called and equipped, before they offer their loyalty and allegiance to him as their leader. Does he have the "rod of jesse," the "rod that budded," the resurrected Rod Christ Jesus in his hand? And when he sues that "Rod," when he speaks in the Name of Jesus, are the sinners converted? Are the sick healed? Do the signs and wonders of Mark 16:17, 18 follow his ministry?

Just because one has a diploma or a degree from a Bible College or a Seminary, does not qualify one for candidacy to the ministry. Just because one has been approved fro the ministry by the credential's committee, does not equip him for doing the work of the ministry. The apostle Paul never appeared before any credential's committee, but he did appear before Him who was - "in the midst of the seven lampstands" (Rev. 1:13) whose "eyss like a flame of fire" (Rev. 1:14) whose "voice as the sound of many waters" (Rev. 1:15) and whose "countenance was like the sun shining in its strength" (Rev. 1:16).

Before Him Paul fell as dead enroute to Damascus. "Then he fell to the gound, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4).

In demonstration of the Spirit

Paul, a highly educated, over-zealous, arrogant Rabbi, approved by the hightest ecclesiastical authority, was disapproved by the highest authority in heaven. Similarly, you must be able to say, like Paul: "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:4, 5).

Pastors and evangelists today expect to be accepted and supported because they have a piece of paper from Bible College, and because the presbytery has ordained them. They present their man-acquired credentials, and expect the right to utilize all the authority, the benefits of support, and the respect of a called, anointed and equipped man of God.

A hireling or a God-called, God-equipped Pastor

Many Churches find themselves harnessed with a hireling rather than a God-equipped Pastor. As a man is hired for wages and punches the clock at the factory, the Church is saddled with even less, for while he demands executive wages, he doesn't even punch a clock. While the working man is on the road early in the morning to his workplace, facing the rush-hour traffic, he is still slumbering in bed. He checks in at the office when he wants to, and some of the time doesn't want to. He diligently takes a day off to be with his children or wife. If some emergency arises among the parishioners, he knows that he can always send one of his trusted hand-pick leaders. He can always ring the person up using his cell-phone later on when he is not so "busy."

As a hireling, he approves his own vacation leave (so-called sabbatical); he approves his own extended leave. An executive among the parishioners once commended that his Pastor has the best job in the world. It is true enough. His Pastor and his wife (also a Pastor) recently took nearly three months self-approved leave to visit one of his married children and in-laws in an overseas country. While away, he kept in touch with his Church's fulltime worker regularly to see if there is any problem among his parishioners. Nevertheless, to him it is more important to be with his own family members than with his spiritual family members (his sheep). Eventually he came back with a "strange" infection on the face which affected his speech. Because of this, his doctor advised him not to preach for at least three months. More vacations?

As the Church attendance declines, he fails to examine himself and accept responsibility. Someone must be blamed for the situation. It must be internal dissatisfaction, lack of staffs, a predecessor or some other elements. It is never himself; never the lack of a genuine calling and esperience and never lack the authority of the budding Rod.

Pastors with shepherd's hearts

Fortunately, that is not the plight of all Churches. That is not the state of all Pastors. There are many Abrahams, Isaacs, Jacobs, Pauls and Timothys who rise early to commune with their God and receive their instruction. There are Moses and Peters who can say: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).

There are those who as Paul will even engage in secular work to start, nurture and develop a congregation. Thereare those whose efforts have been misunderstood and became the object of character-assassination, yet have remained silent and faithful. There are those who have not sought the limelight, but rendered service as unto the Lord. There are those who having given their family necessary time, love and attention, but have not made "gods" out of them.

Praise God! There are Pastors who have a shepherd's heart. When some sheep or lambs go astray, they leave the comforts of their home, and regardless of whether it is raining, or snowing, in the unbearable heat, or the bitter cold, they are out there seeking the lost at any cost.

There are those Pastors who know that if the sheep are to be healthy and bear lambs, they must have good food. They know how to give milk to the young and meat to the mature. They do not invite pulpit clowns to preach. They do not invite entertaining dancers to entertain the Churchgoers. They do not embarrass the mature saints who have travelled some distance by some pointless little ditty they called a sermonette. Sermonettes will produce Christianettes. Blessed is the congregation who has a Pastor who knows, studies, practices, lives, and teaches the Word. Preaching the Word is not a pointless recitation of Scripture. The saints can stay at home and read the Word. How important it is that Elders and Pastors understand the purpose of public assembly - the Church!

Churches that have God-called, God-equipped Pastors, are happy, loving, growing Churches. Members of such congregations can say: "I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord" (Ps.112:1).

The latest movie or sports game will not deter these saints from Church services. Neither will they keep their joy to themselves. They will seek out neighbors, fellow-employees and business associates to share the Good News with. The back seats of their cars are not empty, for if they are not occupied with family, guests or friends, they are filled with neighborhood children who should hear the Word of the Lord.

Prove your calling as a Pastor

What kind of Pastor are you? If you are called, then prove it to youself and your parishioners. Don't live off the fat of the land, for the fat will soon be exhausted. Is the congregation prospering because of your presence? Is it bearing fruit and much fruit, or is it only cumbering the ground? If it bears no fruit, it faces being cut down. It is shameful to face the Vine-Owner when you fail to keep a fruit-producing vineyard. Better to resign before the vineyard is totally destroyed. Better yet to arise, and diligently tend to the vineyard until it produces much fruit of the Master. Only such will receive the cherished commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant; .... Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matt. 25:21).

Enablement

Those whom God choose, He gives an experience to, and enables them to accomplish the task in which they are called. Here are two examples:

God's choice of David

A typical example of this is King David. David was God's choice, whereas Saul was the people's choice. In the first place, it was not God's plan that Israel have a king, as other nations had. But Israel persisted, and chose Saul, who was head-and-shoulders above others men. They looked on the outward appearance. Tall, good-looking, the type of man Israel could be proud to have as they king. God granted their request. But he was not called by God. He was not equipped with experience, therefore was predestined to failure and disappointment (Read 1 Samuel 8 - 31; 2 Samuel 1, 2).

On the other hand, David was chosen of God and given an experience. Read about his experience against a lion, a bear and the Philistine.

God's choice of Abraham

Abraham went back to his call at Ur, back to the altars built during Divine appearances; back to Haran, to Shechem, to Bethel and Egypt; from Egypt to Hebron and Habah; from his encounter with Melchizedek to the angels appearing with the promis of a son, and news of the imminent destruction of Sodom. Experiences were his meat and strength during the arduous pilgrimage of faith.

Conclusion

The person who is called of God for a specific ministry, whether it be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, or to that of helps, giving, or other supportive ministries, will not only be called, have an experience, be enabled to perform but also be equipped with talents equal to the task.