What Kind Of Pastor Do I Need To Be?
INTRO: Happy New Year. I am feeling better. I truly wish you a prosperous, blessed year in the Lord. I wish I could tell you that I accomplished all I wanted to do for God this past year. It is my hope that I will do better this coming year.
Today I want to talk about something that I feel like God would have me share with you. That is, "What kind of pastor do I need to be?" I finished Black, Red, and White an interesting trilogy by Ted Dekker this past two weeks and it gave me some time of reflection.
If you want the shortened version of the message today, it would probably be… BETTER!
I need to be better. A better speaker, a better student of God’s Word, a better listener, a better prayer warrior, a better husband, a better father (and grandfather), a better son, a better brother. I could go on, but do we not all need to do those things? My desire is not to be a better criticizer, but is to be a better encourager. I am not sure if the idea fits, but a better quarterback. I realize that I am in a position to help you and others do what they are capable of. Believe me, it is not all the quarterback. It takes the defensive players and the offensive players, the special teams and even the guy that only kicks the ball when nothing else can be done. So the shortened version is, I need to do better.
The reflective version is, "Will you join with me and accomplish God’s goals for our lives?" I might even frame this as accomplishing God’s goals for not only ourselves, but those we are in contact with. In other words, we are here for a reason. We are around people for a reason. And I certainly need to remember, I am here at New Beginnings for a reason.
I don’t care if I accomplish great things and make the newspaper, but instead I do what God wants for my life. Isn’t that what we should all want? Do we not all need to do better things for God all the way and all the time.
Okay, lets get into the message. "What kind of pastor do I need to be?
Truly a man of God
Let me assure you that I do know Jesus in a personal relationship, I have been saved, born again, etc. Many times we just assume something like this, but there are many people in positions such as mine and they have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
I need to be not just a Man of God, but…
God’s man
Born of Him
Standing with Him – living a godly, holy life thorough His guidance
Standing in Him
Standing for Him
Proclaiming for Him God’s Word (As John did in Matt 14:4 when dealing with Herod, the ruler who was in a adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife)
Mat 14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
Or even like Peter and John in Acts 4:18-20
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Like them, I need to proclaim God’s Word because it is right, it is the only thing that will stand. It will stand when the world is gone – Why? It is from God. I should proclaim His Word with gladness and sureness because it is right. It is a very important even dangerous thing I handle. God’s Word.
This happened because they had been with Jesus (vs. 13)
I need to spend more time with Jesus that I can be more like Him in all things
Okay, let’s ,move on. What else do I need to be?
Of necessity a student of His Word
One who hungers for His truth
One who delights in His written Voice or Word to us
One who hears, ponders, learns from His Word
One who basks in His Word (use wife’s baked ham as an example of soaking up His Word – new class a great opportunity)
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
I also need to be…
One of character who loves God’s children and my flock
Not as a tyrant on a tirade
When I was meditating on this, I asked myself, "Do I want my flock to fear me or love me? The answer is love.
As a watchman sounds the alarm against sin
Isa 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence.
Ezek 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
As a teacher one who imparts the knowledge of God
2 Tim 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
As one who is a loving leader who truly cares for God’s flock
Not just a position or something to pass the time away
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
As well, I need to be…
One of compassion for those estranged from God
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Not as one who is better than they, but as one who was rescued by one better than we
Not as one who deserves salvation, but as one who was lifted from the dirtiness of sin and cleaned by God’s own Son when I was helpless
Not as one who was smart enough to turn to God, but as one who was touched by God’s great love, and yielded to Him
I cannot treat them, nor think of them as beneath me, less deserving, or less intelligent – I will tell you Satan tells the world that it is we who are stupid
It is not enough that I love you, and realize the plight of the lost, I also need to be…
One who shares the joy of my rescue
Regularly
Often
Every chance I get
Looking for and making opportunities to share Jesus and His love for God’s created
Asking God to make me more of a witness
Like Paul, he was God’s man, God’s servant, into God’s Word, and he certainly was a witness for God. We see him on fire for God, proclaim His truth even in dire circumstances, on his missionary journeys, even when imprisoned, he shared Christ. In the book of Acts we find him sharing Christ with Felix, Agrippa, and all he came in contact with.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Acts 22:14-15 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
{15} For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
And I need to be…
One who points to one greater than all others – Jesus
Not my accomplishments, but His
Not my greatness, but His
Not my goodness, but His
Not me, but Him!
Exo 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
1 Sam 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
So, to answer the question…
I need to be God’s man
A man of prayer and study in His Word
Living a separated holy life in front of God and man
Declaring the truth with the Gospel, and standing firm on its teachings
Caring for and reaching the lost for the cause of Christ
Oh yeah, surrounded by you, who are doing the same
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church - 010608