The man-made religion of once saved always saved, has many deceived into thinking they can go to heaven without relationship with God. They turn relationship with God into a transaction.
KJV only is Caveman mentality
I like the King James version Bible.
In fact, one of my favorite verses is John 11:39 (KJV) “by this time he stinketh” speaking of Lazarus in the tomb. I really have to wonder when I talk with those who think that the KJV is only “inspired version who made up that rule? They really show some ignorance when they speak of inspiration. They do not understand manuscripts, languages or how the Bible was translated. Try tell a person who speaks Chinese or French that they have to read from the King James version Bible. It’s not going work. It becomes irrelevant to them.
The purpose of language is to get across an idea in a way another person can understand and relate to. The old King James language does not relate to the present day. People who try and force other people to read in King James are doing a disservice. They cannot show me any evidence of another version changing the meaning of a text substantially. They try to say people will be confused if everyone is reading a different version. Silliness at its best. I find KJ only advocates are confused as to what the text even says. I find many King James only advocates don’t even know their Bible because they don’t even understand the words they’re speaking.
Could it be they really don’t want to know what the Bible says? When they read it in old King James they skip over the words because they don’t know what the words mean and then they try and tell you that you need to read only in this version. This is ignorance at its best. I read through the Bible every year and every year I read it in a different version because I don’t want to get in the habit of skipping over words that I don’t know or don’t understand. The Bible that best for you is the one that you will read and understand. Why read a version that is antiquated and does not speak in a way you can understand. Why read something you have to translate into your own language when it’s already done for you.
These people that talk of such things are stuck in the traditions of men and limit the working of God and His Holy Spirit and teaching His Word. Their god is small and unable to help people under his thoughts and actions. They are stuck in the Stone Age and refused to listen to the spirit of God. This has become their idol and they don’t want others to grow in their relationship with God.
Many of these babes in Christ, love the traditions of men rather than the Spirit of God. So sad. The Holy Spirit is impotent. They speak arrogantly of things they do not know about.
I would say their attitude stinketh.
It’s like trying to get a caveman to use a computer. Sadly young people will not attend a church that is stuck in the caveman days. This church is in a grave and why would young people go to a graveyard. This church will not reach the youth of the community because the youth are going to go where the can understand what is being said to them This should be a wake-up call to churches stuck in prehistoric times. Be relevant or dead- Your Choice!
If you want to use KJV, fine but don’t tell me I have to teach from it. I want to give understanding to the word, not spend half my time trying to explain lasciviousness.
BTW, aren't pastors playing translator when they have to explain the words of old KJV. I don't think they are qualified to do that. That takes many years of studying Hebrew and Greek which many pastors aren't willing to do. Oh wait! I think there are some who have done the hard work for me. There are many godly men who have work extreemly hard at translating Hebrew and Greek in a way we can understand.
Here’s a friend of mine, talking about the this subject.
https://youtu.be/e0OxZ2PKv4Y?si=pOpds4HUlgo_kB73
GOD IS NOT THE MEANS TO THE END: HE IS THE MEANS AND THE END.
When things don't go as you planned; Do you give up on God?
I think one has to be careful not to fall into the wiles of Satan when this don't turn out as planned. We know Satan will try hard to get you and I to doubt God's goodness or God's working in our lives.
Three things to consider.
1) I must guard my mouth.
Ecc 5:11
"Do not be rash with your mouth and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God for God is in Heaven, and you are on earth; Therefore let your words Be few."
2) I must even take careful thought about the things I let my mind dwell upon. Obviously, the things that come out of my mouth, come from the things I allow my mind to dwell upon.
2 Cor 5:10
"...Bring EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
Someday I will regret unprofitable words that I spoke without the knowledge of God's working behind the scenes.
3) Others are watching! Both Christians and Non-Christians.
My words and actions reveal my faith and trust in God. Others can be hindered or help by my words and actions.
I think one has to be careful not to fall into the wiles of Satan when this don't turn out as planned. We know Satan will try hard to get you and I to doubt God's goodness or God's working in our lives.
Three things to consider.
1) I must guard my mouth.
Ecc 5:11
"Do not be rash with your mouth and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God for God is in Heaven, and you are on earth; Therefore let your words Be few."
2) I must even take careful thought about the things I let my mind dwell upon. Obviously, the things that come out of my mouth, come from the things I allow my mind to dwell upon.
2 Cor 5:10
"...Bring EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
Someday I will regret unprofitable words that I spoke without the knowledge of God's working behind the scenes.
3) Others are watching! Both Christians and Non-Christians.
My words and actions reveal my faith and trust in God. Others can be hindered or help by my words and actions.
Some might use use this as an excue not to "Step into" what God has for them. They might say, "See, it didn't work out for Pastor Darryl". So they would rather remain in their comfort zone on auto-pilot. Never allowing their faith to be stretched.
I am not deterred or shrinking back from what God has called me to do. In Fact this is to be expected. I prayed that God would open and close doors and He has. I am not going to complain about that. I prayed that God would show Himself strong on my behalf. I don't want this whole thing to be me trying to effect something by my own efforts. I consider this an answer to prayer as getting the house. This is NOT A FAILURE! THIS IS GOD WORKING! He is and has been showing His Faithfulness to guide and direct. I must still be listening to his voice.
Question: Are we willing to accept a 'No answer' as well as a 'Yes answer'. If we acknowledged the Lord in all of our ways, then His will is done and we worship Him regardless of how I feel or understand. GOD IS NOT THE MEANS TO THE END: HE IS THE MEANS AND THE END.
Dead Faith
As my Friend David Kirkwood says, "The church does not need to be told their dead works cannot save them. They need to be told their dead faith cannot save them." As I study First John, I see that real faith changes your actions, not just your words. If fact John says our words are meaningless without actions. We are warned over and over again not to be deceived. 1 John 3:7 "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous."
Jesus said the same thing in
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
1 John 3:10 "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God..."
Paul says the same thing in 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. "
The transformed life happens this side of Heaven; Not when I get to Heaven. I don't get a new nature, just a new body. John says in Revelation 22:11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” No change in Nature, just a new body. You and I are not all of a sudden going to turn into a lover of God if we didn't love Him during our lifetime. Holiness happens in our lifetime here on earth, if we allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives.
Many Pastors give people False Assurance they are on their way to Heaven when they continue living a lifestyle that is no different that an unbeliever. No change of heart or actions. Paul said in 2 Cor 13:5 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." Pastors are afraid to test someone, as First John clearly lays out, to see if someone is a Christian or not. They would rather give a person the false assurance they are a believer than have them "doubt their salvation." The reason people have "doubts" is because the do not pass the test. They are told, "If they prayed a pray at one point in their lives and if they were sincere their they are on their way to heaven", even though their actions prove otherwise. Pastors like to use the words, "Carnal Christian" for someone who calls themselves a "believer" yet is practicing a lifestyle of sin. Again giving that person the 'assurance" they are a "believer" so there is no real need to repent and turn to God. They have a "Dead Faith" that cannot save as James says. Sad to say many are deceived because they do not pass the tests given in First John and they are caught up in "Religion" instead of "Real Faith." Do not be deceived into thinking you have assurance when you do not pass the test!
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
Real Faith Continues in His Word Real Faith Abides in HimReal Faith continues to Trusts
Real Faith Loves and Obeys
The Idolatry of Comfort
The Idolatry of Comfort
Jonah's idol was comfort. He was only interested in being obedient to God I’d he felt it would benefit him and not inconvenience him. He refused God’s instructions like he had a right to do so. He was a rebellious man who was not interested in the things of God. A follower of God loves the things He loves and hater the things He hates. Sadly Jonah misrepresented God in his message to the Ninevites. He did not mention God, repentance, or even give them hope. God never does that. He brings the Truth in love. He talks (Warns) of judgment, but always give a remedy- Opportunity to repent, He gives hope of avoiding the judgment by repenting and turning to God.
We can have the same idol as Jonah. Our own comfort is superior to the commands of God. We don’t like to be stretched when it comes to our faith. We don’t wanna be placed in the position where we are forced to trust in God and his promises. Sadly, we’ve all been there, but my desire is to grow in my face and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I want to encourage others to do that as well.
I need to place myself in a position where I am forced to trust God to meet my needs. I need my faith to be strengthened. I need to be established in his word where I have a holy determination to be obedient to God, no matter what. That is contrary to our fleshly nature. I need to be obedient to God to see his faithfulness. I know of so many Christians, who are unwilling to do that. They fall back on their senses, what they can perceive as truth. They fall back on self-sufficiency; if only I have enough money in the bank to accomplish this thing that I want to do.
A church can fall into the same pit as well. A church can stop ministry because they want to have money in the bank for the unforeseen circumstance. They can stop reaching out or loose their passion for the lost because they want to be comfortable. I see that God tells us to seek his kingdom and his righteousness and he’ll take care of the rest.
Making Disciples – Relationship or Religion
The Great Commission is to go and make Disciples. This is not done over night. It is a process of making Obedient followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The modern day church tends to make a one time act or decision into a relationship with God. This is nothing more than “Religion.” Relationship with God involves me “Hearing His Voice and Following Him.” Man like to think he can get “into Heaven” by praying a prayer. Let’s see where he is 20-30 years down the line. Is he still an Obedient follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, then Jesus is not his Lord, and he will not find himself in heaven. The bible tell you and I we must Abide with Him. “My sheep are Hearing my voice and are Following Me.”
We are commanded to “Abide, Remain and Continue. We are warned departing from God.
Heb 10:38-39 “NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition (Destruction), but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
Heb 6:11-12 “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” The Promises of God are for those who continue in their Faith and Love for God. Those who are having Relationship with God right now.
Col 1:21-23 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…”
Rom 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Heb 3:14 “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…”
Some like to negate the warnings of Christ; “He could not possibly have meant what He just said.”
John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Decisions or Disciples?
By A.W. Tozer
“Today we need people who dare to question the status quo and say, “Wait a minute here. Where do you find this in the Bible?” The idea that all you have to do is to accept Christ and you are in is a great mistake. It leaves people with the impression that if they accept Christ they have no fight to fight, no warfare, no job to do and no temptations. They are just in. When you accept Christ rightly as your Lord and Savior you are in, but to be honest, you have just started to fight. People get converted and we do not tell them that they must fight all the way through to heaven because of the spirit of degeneration and the tendency to deteriorate. They must fight, pray through, suffer it out and live in praise and worship, because if they do not they will deteriorate. Read the history of the Christian church if you can keep your faith and keep from weeping.”
Many start off well and never finish well! Because they have been taught religion instead of Relationship. They think because of their one time words of faith they have relationship with God. The Bible says, “Cling to Him for He is your life!” We are tio have a “Living Fath” not a dead one. Religion is Dead Faith.
Instant Christianity
Quote from one of my Favorite Authors– A W Tozer 
Instant Christianity came in with the machine age. Men invented machines for two purposes. They wanted to get important work done more quickly and easily than they could do it by hand, and they wanted to get the work over with so they could give their time to other pursuits more to their liking, such as loafing or enjoying the pleasures of this world. Instant Christianity now serves the same purposes in religion. It disposes of the past, guarantees the future and sets the Christian free to follow the more refined lusts of the flesh in all good conscience and with a minimum of restraint.
By “instant Christianity” I mean the kind found almost everywhere in gospel circles and which is born of the notion that we may discharge our total obligation to our own souls by one act of faith, or at most by two, and be relieved thereafter of all anxiety about our spiritual condition. We are saints by calling, our teachers keep telling us, and we are permitted to infer from this that there is no reason to seek to be saints by character. An automatic, once-for-all quality is present that is completely out of more with the faith of the New Testament.
In this error, as in most others, there lies a certain amount of truth imperfectly understood. It is true that conversion to Christ may be and often is sudden. Where the burden of sin has been heavy, the sense of forgiveness is usually clear and joyful. The delight experienced in forgiveness is equal to the degree of moral repugnance felt in repentance. The true Christian has met God. He knows he has eternal life and he is likely to know where and when he received it.
But the trouble is that we tend to put our trust in our experiences and as a consequence misread the entire New Testament. We are constantly exhorted to make the decision, to settle the matter now, to get the whole thing taken care of at once – and those who exhort us are right in doing so. There are decisions that can be and should be made once for all. There are personal matters that can be settled instantaneously by a determined act of the will in response to Bible-grounded faith.
Instant Christianity tends to make the faith act the terminal (end) and so smother the desire for spiritual advance. It fails to understand the true nature of the Christian life, which is not static but dynamic and expanding.
By trying to pack all of salvation into one experience, or two, the advocates of instant Christianity flaunt the law of development which runs through all nature. They ignore the sanctifying effects of suffering, cross carrying, and practical obedience. They pass by the need for spiritual training, the necessity of forming right religious habits and the need to wrestle against the world, the devil and the flesh.
Jesus is Lord
Does your church teach False Doctrine?
Those who would present the Lordship of Christ as optional, stand in direct opposition to the fundamental teachings of Christ. Christ says in Luke 19:27, "But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want Me to reign over them, and slay them before Me." The false teachers call them Christians; Christ calls them His enemies. Those who reject the Lordship of Christ do not simply lose rewards in the kingdom, but will be brought before Christ and condemned.
Why do men reject the Lordship of Christ? Because they love their evil ways and refuse to come under the authority and light of God’s Word lest the wickedness of their darkened heart is exposed.
"This popular delusion of "optional" holiness is giving multitudes a false peace within their souls as they cling to a counterfeit cross and eternal destruction."
The "carnal" Christian, non-Lordship, optional discipleship, optional sanctification, teaching of this century has deceived may into thinking they can only call Christ their Savior and Reject Him as their Lord.
Curtis I. Crenshaw says of the issue,
I’m afraid many will be in hell who thought they had embraced Jesus but were only comfortable with a false faith. Just as Legalism or earning one’s justification is not the Gospel and we rightly classify those who preach such as heretics (Gal. 1:8, 9), so also license or dead faith is not the Gospel (James 2:14ff; 1 John 2:3, 4). We emphasize again that this doctrine of optional holiness in the Christian life is rank heresy, promoting a faith that has no works, and is as much a departure from the Gospel as the doctrine of justification by our works.
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Stop and Consider
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you. Whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
There is a real danger for those who call themselves pastors or teachers. The trap that they can fall into is, thinking that their responsibility is to only teach the Word. God would tell them that their actions should line up with their words. Otherwise their words are worthless and they are deceived. James 1:22 22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Please carefully consider those whom you look up to as teachers!
Are they leading by example?
Or do they simply tell YOU what to do and how to think.
Consider the end result of actually living a life of faith!
Not only is it an adventure in itself, but we can encourage so many others along the way, as they see the blessings of such a life.
Consider the outcome of such a life!
1. The person who is willing to live such a life will have a greater faith in God.
2. They will live life with excitement.
3. They will be looking forward each day, to what God is going to do.
4. They with have a far closer walk with God than the person who is only talk and no action. Their conduct speaks a whole lot louder than their teaching!
A teacher lives what he teaches.
Exhort one another
Heb 3:12-13 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "TODAY," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Oh, how we need to put this commandment into practice!
The word "Exhort" means: Greek = parakaleō
1) to call to one's side, call for, summon
2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
a) to admonish, exhort
b) to beg, entreat, beseech
1) to strive to appease by entreaty
c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
1) to receive consolation, be comforted
d) to encourage, strengthen
e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging
f) to instruct, teach
It ranges all the way from encouragement to rebuke. It is in the Imperative mood, which means we are to be doing this.
It is a command!
What keeps us from "Exhorting" on another? Fear.
Fear of what another might say or think.
Either the person we are Exhorting or others who may be around. We fear that they might look down on us or call us into account, pointing out our flaws as well. We fear that we might lose our friendship with the one we are exhorting. We fear "Confrontation." We would rather not address the issue.
Pride keeps us from receiving it!
A Humble Heart wants to know where they fail or fall short.
Yet all this does not change God's command that we exhort one another daily. The reason is given. "…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." There is a real tendency for you and I to make light of sin. To call it something else and not to address the issue at hand. We each need friends who love us enough to confront us when we say or do the wrong things. Notice the purpose is to Instruct. The exhortation is for the purpose of seeing the person DO WELL in their spiritual walk, not for putting them down. The desire for each one of us should be to Live a Holy and Godly Life. We all will fall short in that, but we do not minimize it or ignore it. The Godly person wants to hear his shortcomings so the he might be all that God wants him to be. He has the same attitude as Jesus, wanting to be submitted to God in everything.
We all, including pastors, need to be exhorted every once in a while.
We need not shrink back from this but embrace it as from friends who care and want to see me do well.
We need to be reminded we are not to be of this world or acting like this world.
We need to be reminded of the Evil Heart of unbelief.
I personally need to be reminded that I am to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
We all need to be reminded that we are to be "Holy and Blameless before Him…"
Sometimes you just have to stand alone
It is more comfortable to parrot the views of the group whose acceptance affords us a certain sense of security, but discipleship is a call to hard decisions and there are times when, as A.W. Tozer put it, “the saint must walk alone.”
Shepherd the Flock. Peter’s advice to wanta-be pastors
Ministry is not for everyone.
What are the dangers in being a pastor?
What should we look for in a pastor?
1 Peter 5:1-3
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
1 Peter 5:2-3. NLT
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 over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
Elders among you
Elders — The pastor needs to be mature in the faith. Most of the time this requires a passage of time and experience. Should not be a younger man. Life has a way of teaching us wisdom and trust in God.
Time to see the faithfulness of God. Maturity
Among you. — A shepherd is among the sheep.
Shepherd the flock of God
The sheep belong to God, not the pastor.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd that every pastor will be accountable to.
serving as overseers - a pastor's role is one of serving the people
not by compulsion but willingly
serving as overseers, not by compulsion Teaching for pay. $
George Mueller took away the pastor's salary.
nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,
NLT—-Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care
Power trip “I’m a commander in the Lord's Army.”
Seeking to rule over you. Paul says that we are helpers of your joy.
2 Corinthians 1:24. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. KJV= helpers of your joy
Desiring others to be established in the Lord.
Desiring others to do well in life.
Seeking titles or honor above the people. Reverend, Pastor.
Those in full time ministry vs those who are laity.
We are fellow Bothers and Sisters in the Lord.
We are all slaves of our Master.
Serve in Humility.
I am not better than you. We are fellow servants (Slaves of God)
A pastor needs to be approachable.
being examples to the flock
Is he an example of a believer.
Can he say as Paul said to , “follow me as I follow Christ.”
Lead by example. Hypocrisy is a killer.
Servant of all. Romaine— unplugging a Toilet
Faithfulness
Knowledge of the Word. Love for the Word. Rightly dividing the Word
God’s word had the answer. 2 Peter 1:3
Is he a man of the word? Can you tell he has been with Jesus?
Family life in order. Talk with his family. Do they think he is a Godly man.
Love for God’s people. Love for his Family.
Is he a man of prayer?
Heart for reaching out
Does His testimony match his proclamation of faith.
Does he practice what he preaches?
Worldliness.
Is he caught up in the things of the world. Covetousness.
Seeing people as family and not numbers.
A Pastor‘s goal ought to be teaching through the entire Bible.
Paul told Timothy I have not failed to clear to you the entire word of God. Exodus 18:20. Instructions
Takes years, but I want to hear well done good and faithful servant.
If I’m teaching through entire books, I don’t get to pick and choose the topics that I want to cover. The word of God addresses life in every situation.
**
A pastor needs to be convicted by his own teaching. There is a danger in thinking that I must teach others without applying these things to myself. It seems to me a lot easier to teach others of things that you were fully convinced of yourself. Preaching to others.
A pastor must not see it as his job to teach others something that he is not applied to himself.
AW Tozer said; Cattle are driven; sheep are led; and our Lord compares His people to sheep, not to cattle.
It is especially important that Christian ministers know the law of
the leader--that he can lead others only as far as he himself has
gone....
The minister must experience what he would teach or he will find
himself in the impossible position of trying to drive sheep. For this reason he should seek to cultivate his own heart before he attempts to preach to the hearts of others....
If he tries to bring them into a heart knowledge of truth which he has not actually experienced he will surely fail. In his frustration he may attempt to drive them; and scarcely anything is so disheartening as the sight of a vexed and confused shepherd using the lash on his bewildered flock in a vain attempt to persuade them to go on beyond the point to which he himself has attained....
The law of the leader tells us who are preachers that it is better to cultivate our souls than our voices. It is better to polish our hearts than our pulpit manners, though if the first has been done well and successfully it may be profitable for us to do the second.
We cannot take our people beyond where we ourselves have been, and it thus becomes vitally important that we be men of God in the last and highest sense of that term. The Price of Neglect, 151-153.
A pastor needs to let the word of God and the spirit convict.
If I can convince you to do something by emotions than someone else can convince you not to do those very same things by your emotions. The word of God establishes and make strong.
Always let the conviction of the spirit prompts us to be obedient, regardless of our feelings.
Let the Word and the Spirit of God convict. No need to yell or give impassioned pleas for people to respond. Just teach the word and let the spirit use the word to touch people‘s hearts. I’ve known some of the most mono-tone pastors have a very effective ministry just because they speak the Word and the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of the people. God‘s word is living, powerful, and effective.
DANGERS for a Pastor
Putting it in auto-pilot.
Losing their passion for God, His Word, His people.
No personal learning/study. No time with God. Busyness.
Leads to simply — Copy / Paste other “Successful Pastors”.
Simply Repeating something I have heard another pastor say.
Danger in Seeking followers.
Seeking Self Attention-”Look at me”. Look to me.
Instead of pointing people to Jesus.
Do not put your confidence in man they will let you down.
Do not follow a man but follow Jesus Christ.
Comparing with others.
Looking at numbers. Only 10 people here.
Best fed, Best Loved, Established Disciples
Be faithful in the little things.
Some are not satisfied with where the Lord has them.
Always looking for more. Not being content
On the other hand
Vision— we need to continue to reach out
Have a heart for the lost. Have God's passion.
Seeking “Success “. Seeking $Dollars.
Using worldly methods to attract people.
Comparing my flock (my Church) with others.
How big is your church? Aspirations of a BIG CHURCH
Is this just a step in your desire for a big church.
Having a goal (Agenda) different than Jesus'.
To make Disciples. Again Exodus 18:20
Pride-Look what I’ve accomplished.
Pointing people to himself, rather than Jesus.
Humility - ‘I am not worthy’ for God to use me in this position. '.
Doing ministry without the Holy Spirit. Routine.
Not letting people do ministry they are passionate about.
Using their gifts for God.
Ephesians 4:4. Trying to micro-manage everything.
Also a trap thinking the pastor is the paid one. He should do this. Acts early church growing pains. Why should we wait on tables? We will give ourselves to the study and the teaching of God‘s word.
Red Flags. Absolutely not qualified for a pastor
Asking for money Didache— Traveling teachers.
Is he in debt? A Slave. Not trusting God - covetousness. Idols
Does his hobbies consume his time.
He should be given to the study of His Word.
Acts 6:4. but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
John 17:14. I have given them Your word…
John 17:17. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Demanding respect
Lording over people. Looking down on others.
“Ministry would be all right if I didn’t have to deal with people”
Prideful. Unapproachable.
Pointing people to himself.
Unwilling to serve.
Does he have a heart and passion for God and His people.
Lack of faith in God.
He cannot take people beyond what he is experiencing.
Is he willing to teach through the entire Word of God?
Teaching the Word instead of the traditions of men.
Not focusing on one topic.
Being willing to change according to the Word.
When our traditions or beliefs are contrary to scripture.
Sometimes we can hold onto our traditions, in spite of the clear teaching of the Bible.
Legalistic— Rules and Regulations not found in the Bible.
Without biblical answers
Is he Without love for God, His people, His word.
Does he have a shepherd’s heart.
Lead sheep- Not drive the sheep.
Proverbs 27:23
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
Unwilling to step out in Faith.
Sees Ministry as a job and not a calling.
Does he feed the sheep or beat up the sheep?
Transparent—. Does he share his Weaknesses/ Struggles.
We are not looking for perfection, but honestly. Transparency.
You might ask; Where are we going to find this perfect pastor? Shepherd the Flock - High calling on God with a great responsibility.
Every shepherd (pastor) will give an account to the Chief Shepherd
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Luke 16:1-2
The Parable of the Unjust Steward
He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
Pastors have a special stewardship from God.
Romans 14:12
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
James 3:1
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
That should cause us to Fear Him.
I find many take this very lightly.
Greater influence on many people
Pastors represent God. Pastors can misrepresent God.
Every pastor should ask these questions about himself.
Do I have this heart? Do I meet these standards?
Every church should ask these questions about their pastor/teachers. If not there should be Red Flags.
The greatest qualification is humility. We are all in the process of sanctification. That is, giving our lives over to the control of the Holy Spirit.
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