03/03/22 GOD'S CALLING BRINGS GOD'S ENABLING

More young men need to follow fully and heed God's calling.

I am a pastor, a shepherd. My calling and gifting from God are to teach, to lead, to feed, to protect, to encourage, to serve, to withstand the enemy.

 

I love being a pastor, though sometimes there are responsibilities that are distasteful, and all of the time there are folks who hate me for being faithful in my calling.

 

My job includes...

Finding the lost and bringing new believers into fellowship with the saints;

Training soldiers of the cross and engaging the enemies of the cross;

Long, hard demanding study;

Lovingly, wisely, unashamedly preaching the whole counsel of God;

Tending my charge (from the babes in Christ to the seasoned warriors of the faith);

Contending for the faith;

Mending broken hearts, lives, families, friends, churches.

 

The office of pastor is not for the self-absorbed, lazy, unthinking, fearful, gullible, greedy, petty, arrogant, avaricious, divisive, pure, and mature.

 

This is why the Holy Spirit said,

1Timothy 3:1-7

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.