Thursday 16th July 2020 Devotion
Scripture:- 1st Timothy 6:1-12
Topic:- 12 Kinds Of Pastors [4]
Text:- Isaiah 2:14
- Wounded Pastor:
a. Description: They have experienced back-stabbing, disappointment and calamities in Ministry. Their work has dealt them a hard blow. Through some mistakes and ignorance, they have been wounded in Ministry. They are therefore bitter, sad, hurting and hateful in the Ministry.
b. Basic Motive: Vengeance, retribution and survival. They have been wounded by sin, devil, people, partners, colleagues and members. Some have lost wives, husbands, children, names, properties and health in the course of doing Ministry. Some have deep pain. due to betrayal by mentors, leaders, associates and spouses. And the wound is fresh and new.
c. Demerits: Bleeding hearts, hurtful feelings, lack of trust, discouragements, frustration and quitting the Ministry. They don’t help anybody in the Ministry again and they are always skeptical of people’s intentions. The unforgiveness in their hearts hinder the flow of God’s Spirit in them. As long as you don’t allow the Lord to heal you, your Church will always suffer the hangover of your wounded heart.
d. Prospects: Release the past; handover your hurts unto the Lord and march on in faith. Forgive and forbear. - Technology Pastors:
a. Description: They are Pastors on the move, who are always on the fast lane of life. Moving from city to city, nation to nation, making money at the expense of the souls under them. They spend weeks away from the Church. They junket from place to place in the name of doing Ministry while the Church at home is dying and scattering. They monitor by means of Audio and Video messages of Sermons.
b. Basic Motive: Money, pleasure and properties. They use God to better their lot in life. Their living standard is above the income of their Church. They always travel for ministration and business deals. While traveling, they continue to monitor the Church through phone, emails, websites, phone-in-conference. They use these technologies to conduct services on Sunday and at vigils. In some cases, they stay permanently abroad and control the Church from there.
c. Demerits: Their associates are not trusted; they are given responsibilities without authority. The Church goes through turmoil, murmuring and lack of care, nurture and empowering. Such Pastors lose their Churches, their people and they eventually capitulate to the God of mammon, pleasure and fame. They lose their God and their Ministry. God usually replace them with capable people who have a heart for things of eternal value.
d. Prospects: Genuine repentance, restoration and rediscovering the basic purpose of Ministry. - Growing Pastors:
a. Description: Very few, but these are Pastors after God’s heart. They are called and commissioned by the Lord. Pursue a God-given vision. Display high integrity, character, godliness and a heart for things of eternal value. They are not perfect, but growing everyday. They are balanced, learning, open to change and full of the Holy Spirit.
b. Basic Motive: They desire to make impact for God. They want to see lives, families, nations and cities transformed for the Lord. They have no personal empire to build; rather they want to extend the frontiers of God’s kingdom throughout the whole world. They see Ministry as opportunity to serve, help and empower others. They de-emphasize money, gain and pleasure.
c. Strengths: They invest in people; sharpen their leadership skills; maintain good relational skills; work over their weaknesses, build godly character; empower, equip and enable others to rise up to their highest potentials. They are not threatened by the gift of others. They speak the truth with grace and seek to disciple everyone for the Lord. They ensure that the Church is built on the truth, undiluted and balanced Word of God. They Pastor growing Churches where the people are genuine Christians that continually grow in the things of the Lord. They raise Leaders and equip them to carryon the work of God.
d. Prospects: Good, great and growing Churches that will go on to affect things positively for God.
e. Note: From these descriptions of twelve kinds of Pastors, you can see that only one can really lead the Church to true and sustainable growth. This is the reason why majority of our Churches are sick, stagnant, crisis-ridden and are dying today because they are being Pastored by the wrong kind of Pastors.
Where are you? You can repent, and change today to be a growing Pastor in an ramifications so as to lead the Church into the future.
Prayer Point:- Oh Lord God, break me, remold me to Your perfect image and servant of God indeed now by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Have A Glorious Thursday!
