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Today, I am exhorting you to esteem your pastors highly in love. They are no ordinary strangers. Your pastors are a gift to the church. They are given to you by God to feed you with knowledge and understanding. Your pastor plays such an important role in your life.
(Jeremiah 3:14-17 KJV) “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord ; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord , they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord : neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.”
“At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord ; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord , to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.”
Indeed, it is true that the pastor does not have dominion over your faith. You have dominion over your faith. Without a pastor in your life, you may be able to do all things; but you will lack the helper of your joy. A sheep without a shepherd lacks joy.
“Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” (2 Corinthians 1:23-24)
Your pastor is a helper of your joy. He or she has the responsibility to publish the whole counsel of God; reach out to you in your afflictions; care for you as a sheep and equip you for life. Your pastor’s responsibility, therefore, gives him some authority. The authority to;
- Speak the truth to you
- Exhort you by the truth
- Rebuke you by the truth.
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:15)
It is important to understand that your pastor is an undershepherd appointed to watch over your soul as one who will account of you to the chief shepherd when He returns. It is your pastor’s responsibility to watch over your soul and to help you find joy as you serve the Lord and fulfill your purpose.
Your pastor, therefore, does not need your permission to speak, exhort or rebuke you. He is appointed to feed you with knowledge and understanding. In any case, whether he speaks, exhorts, or rebukes, it must all be on the basis of the truth of God’s word. When your pastor speaks, exhorts, or even rebukes you, you must be humble and thank him. He is the shepherd of your soul to guide you by the truth.
You will go far if you are able to submit to your pastor’s authority. You will find joy when you submit to your pastor’s authority. Your pastor is your helper; he or she is appointed and charged to help you. Give him or her full control. Let him or her lead and shepherd you with joy. That is how you will find joy in this walk of faith.
Your pastor will guide you through thick and thin by a staff and a rod. The shepherd has both a rod of correction and a staff of comfort. These two go hand in hand.
Stay blessed; I love you.
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