-The Pastor And His Responsibilities-

[timothy10]

The guiding and helping hand of a Godly pastoris invaluable in your walk with God. Paul said:

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. ( 1 Corinthians 11:1 )

The Pastor And His Responsibilities To The Church -

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
( 1 Peter 5:4 )

Peter tells us that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. However, Scriptures teach us that God has appointed unto us pastors or undershepherds directly responsible to Christ as leaders of local assemblies.an example of an undershepherd in the old testament would be david.

He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.( Psalm 78:70-72 )

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. ( Psalm 100:3 )

The qualifications one must meet to hold a position of leadership in the Church.

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ( 1 Timothy 3:1-13 )

The responsibilities of a pastor are to satisfy the needs of his flock.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. ( Isaiah 40:11 )

He Sees that the Sheep are Fed -

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ( Acts 20:28 )

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ( 1 Peter 5:2-3 )

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. ( Jeremiah 23:4 )

He will Protect the Flock ( from distortion of the truth ) -

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. ( Ezekiel 3:17 )

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ( 2 Timothy 4:1-4 )

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,
And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. ( Isaiah 62:6-7 )

He Will Lead and guide by His experience and example -

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. ( Jeremiah 3:15 )

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ( 1 Peter 5:3 )

he will equip the Saints for the work of the ministry -

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
( Ephesians 4:12-13 )

Our Responsibility Toward The Pastor -

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
( 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 )

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. ( 1 Timothy 5:17 )

ways we can support our pastor -

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; ( Romans 15:30 )

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. ( Hebrews 13:17 )

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
( 1 Corinthians 9:11-14 )

It iis important that we respect,follow and work with the man of God chosen as our pastor. we should guard our tongues and be careful not to criticize or find fault. The pastor is accountable to God; and it is not our responsibility to reprove him. Rather, we need to always support him in our prayers and labor together for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

God Bless