KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 3:1 KJV” This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”

The call as a Bishop, a shepherd or a pastor can be described as the most difficult task when speaking from a man’s point of view. It is a call to represent God unto men and to lead men to God as you maintain a life of impeccable uprightness before God and men.2Co 4:2 KJV “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” I said that from man’s perspective it is a very tedious task, yet from the provisions of God’s divine enablement it is easy and very light, as the Lord said. Mat 11:30 KJV” For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” What on earth can make the yoke the master bore easy? No one should be a pastor by their natural abilities. It must be done absolutely by depending on the Holy Spirit. He is the Lord of the harvest( John 14:26). The first task is his relationship to the Lord. Mar 3:14 KJV” And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.” Since the Lord is the believer’s strength and guide, He must be the one leading the pastor or bishop. As Mark 3:14 said, he ordained the twelve that they should be with Him before they could be sent forth. Throughout the ministry of the pastor, he must daily seek first the face of the Lord. You are not in any ministry if your relationship with the Lord is non-existent. This is your primary and most important task as a pastor. This applies to all the ministry gifts, which include apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.

Still, in the pastor’s devotional life, prayer is a paramount work which he must diligently adhere to. A consistent prayer life is not about fighting the enemy, but it fine-tunes your spirit to be very receptive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. There is a calm confidence in God that a consistent prayer life develops in the heart of the servant of God who does it. In addition to prayer, the pastor should live a fast life. Fasting strengthens your faith to handle certain demonic cases ( Matt 17:21)

The pastor ought to be very knowledgeable. The scripture should be his first point of call. He must spend a great deal of time feeding on the word of God. A number of ministers only go to the Word to find messages to preach. This is the most dangerous. We make an impact through the overflow of the abundant word we received for ourselves. If you minister from messages you have only learnt to preach, you are like a depleted well that needs an external source of water to help it function. Such a one is a living dead pastor only waiting to be exposed in the near future. The pastor must be a good reader of books. One of the best roles of a pastor is to feed the flock of God. You cannot feed them very well if you are not very wise.

THOUGHT: YOUR SUCCESS AS A PASTOR DEPENDS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY GHOST

FURTHER STUDIES

Act 20:28 KJV” 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.”

1Ti 4:15 KJV” Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”