PASTOR’S APPRECIATION DAY
THE BLESSINGS OF FULFILLING THE MINISTERIAL PURPOSES
HEB. 13:17
INTRO: What is the Biblical concept relating to the Pastor? Because of the times in which we live in, we need to see the ministry of the Pastor in the Biblical approach. Many of God’s people have a wrong concept toward the Pastor, giving him a title as a “Employee of the Church.” NO, he isn’t an employee. Others give him the title of a “Team Manager” because we should work as a team. NO, he isn’t a “Team Manager.” Others, others- we won’t even mention how they call him.
If he is not all of the above; who is the Pastor? Clearly, separated from being a Husband, Father, Minister, Painter, Plumber, Electrician, Chef, Delivery Man, etc. who is he?
The Word of God talks to us of many leaders and servants, who were great models, but I would like to concentrate in King David. First, because he was a real Shepard and second, because He had the heart of God.
Let us see what the Bible tells us in relation to the Pastor and how God’s people should answer toward the Pastor.
I. WHAT THE PASTOR SHOULD BE TOWARD GOD’S PEOPLE
A. David consulted God for His people – 1 Sam. 30:1-2 “David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.”
1. His enemies had taken their women, children and everything else
2. In how many occasions has the enemy of our souls taken away the souls of God’s people
3. David didn’t reacted in His human nature
4. He consulted the Lord God
i. Vs. 8 “and David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?””
5. God gives many victories to His people through
His servant
i. Vs. 18-19 “David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.”
B. David returns God’s people to His presence – 2 Sam. 6:1 “David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. 2 He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark.”
1. We know that the Ark symbolizes the “Presence of God”
2. His enemies had taken it away from them
3. David know the importance of God’s presence among his people
4. The Pastor will always seek ways to bring God’s presence among His people – He will pray, fast, read the Bible – not because he is being paid, not because he will be rewarded, but because He knows the importance of the presence of God in this place.
C. David looks for the good things in a person – 1 Sam. 22:1-2 “David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him”
1. What the world despises – the Pastor receives
2. When everybody else only see negativism in an individual – the pastor sees the positive
3. 1 Chronicles 11:10 “These were the chiefs of David’s mighty men—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised— 11 this is the list of David’s mighty men”
i. They become chiefs
ii. The become His mighty men
iii. They give him strong support
II. WHAT GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD DO TOWARD THE PASTOR
A. The Church should fulfill the desires of the Pastor – 1 Chronicles 11:16-19 “At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. 19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men”
1. David didn’t asked for it nor requested it
2. It was a desired that just came within himself but those that were close to him were able to hear it
3. They risked their lives to fulfill the desire of their Pastor
4. How many times the Pastor does have a personal desire? How do we go about in fulfilling it?
B. They fight the spiritual battle for the Pastor – 2 Sam. 21:16 & 17 “And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”
1. The enemy was going to kill the Pastor
2. Abishai one of David’s mighty men – came to his help and struck the philistine down and killed him
3. How many times have we seen the Pastor down and being struck down by the enemy?
4. We have to come to His rescue
5. So that the “lamp of Israel not be extinguished”
C. Not permit for nobody to curse the Pastor – 2 Sam. 16:5 “As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.”
1. We should not let nobody criticize, murmur, nor talk bad about the Pastor
2. We are suppose to always be ready to defend him at any moment
i. 2 Sam. 16:9 “Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
CONCLUSION: How are we responding toward our Pastor? Is our conduct according to His Word?
