WHAT IS A PASTOR?

“ And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I've been pastoring for 40+ years and have seen many leaders come and go. I've sat under some very anointed men of God who have taught me and led me and have ministered to my soul when I was in great need.

There are many types of ministers out there today.  There are the sprinters who come in for a season and are gone and then there are the plodders that faithfully pastor and lead the people God has given them day by day.

I hope that I am the latter and have proven that I am in this for the long haul.  These are the guys who end up doing marriages and baby dedications and funerals and minister from God's word to generations of families.

According to the dictionary, a pastor is a noun and it is defined as a Christian minister or a priest who is a leader of a congregation. But according to the word of God, a pastor is a shepherd, a under shepherd who leads God’s people, which is the church. The pastor is one who oversees, he leads, he guides, he protects, he teaches, he trains, he counsels, he preaches to, he prays with and for it, and He feeds the church with spiritual food which is the Word of God.

In Jeremiah 3:15, the Lord says, And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” The knowledge and understanding that the pastors are to feed us with is the Word of God.

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood —over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, the pastor is to feed the church through preaching and teaching the Word of God but what is a pastor after "God's own heart?"  Here are a few thoughts.

A pastor according to God’s heart is someone who is:

1. Called by God.

“So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭1:8-9 NLT

2. Chosen by God.

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John‬ ‭15:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

3. Anointed and Appointed by God.

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood —over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

4. Sent by God.

“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”” Romans‬ ‭10:13-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

5. Given to the church by God.

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

7. A man of prayer, not just for himself, but for his family, and for the church.

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”” Matthew‬ ‭26:41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

8. A man who studies the Word of God that he may present Jesus Christ in his preaching and teaching as the central theme of the gospel message, and that his preaching and his teaching will be considered sound doctrine.

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

9. A man who patterns his life after the life of Jesus Christ so he may be example of Jesus Christ before his congregation.

“And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” 1 Peter‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

10. A man who rules and leads well, not just in the church house, but also in his own house..

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

11. A man who loves God and who loves God’s people.

“You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.”1 Peter‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

12. A man who cares for people.  A man who is patient with people. A man who is kind and gentle with people.  A man who is humble. A man who is unselfish. A man who is peaceable. A man who has the joy of the Lord as his strength.  A man who loves praising and worshipping God and leading his people to worship God. A man who is willing and loves to serve God. A man who loves working with the youth as well as the senior citizens. A man who loves ministering to singles, as well as the married couples. A man who ministers to those in prisons as well as those in the hospitals. A man who believes in doing the right thing and being holy. A man who is courageous and strong in the Lord. A man who will stand up for righteousness, and speak out against sin. A man who is honest and truthful.  A man who doesn’t sleep with every woman in town, or steal money from the church. A man with a vision from the Lord.

“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” Proverbs‬ ‭29:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

13. Last but not least, it must be understood that a pastor according to God’s heart is not a perfect pastor. King David was a man who was after God’s heart, but he was not perfect. But yet God used him mightily to be one of the most powerful kings of Israel, and God used him to write most of the Book of Psalms that we have in our Bibles today. And like wise pastors who are according to God’s heart are not perfect, but God uses them anyway. That is why as church we should pray for our pastors, support our pastors, honor our pastors, love our pastors, take care of our pastors, obey our pastors so they can do the job that they have been called to do without the unnecessary trouble, and to do the job as a pastor with joy and not with grief.