Proclaimer’s Appreciation

Proclaimer’s Appreciation

Honoring Those Who Teach The Word of God

According to the Book of Ephesians chapter four, Jesus gave pastors to the Body of Christ to prepare them for works of service, so they mature in their faith and be unified in the work of the Lord. Pastoral Appreciation month has been established so Christians may honor those who are called to pastor or shepherd (Greek: p??µ?? poim?n) the people of God. In hope of honoring their pastors, church attenders often use a world approach by taking their pastor and their families to dinner or purchasing an appreciation card or taking time during the Sunday morning service to give recognition. Other expressions of appreciation have been given to pastors and their families over the years. As wonderful as these expressions of appreciation are, we have not seen the trend of pastors moving from pulpit to pulpit put in good order. Often pastors leave before seeing their work through to a healthy completion. According to three different Church Leadership websites, the tenure of a pastor is three to seven years. One fact is, the pastorate tenure of twenty to thirty years is not a common occurrence. Another fact is, this trend is a sign of the church universal being unhealthy, thus ineffective in addressing the culture around her.

Church attendees need to understand, pastors are not CEO’s who come up with the most intriguing programs and outreaches. Christians avoid following individuals, (1 Corinthians 3:4) they appreciate and honor the gift to “prophesy” which is exercised through sacrificial love by individuals who are led of the Lord to preach and teach God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul gives this exhortation, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1) The people of God are told, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies (p??f?te?a propheteía).” 1 Corinthians 14:3-4 says, “…the one who prophesies speaks to the people for their up-building, encouragement and consolation…. The one who prophesies build’s up the church.” Many have been edified, consoled and moved to service for the Lord by someone exercising their gift to preach and teach the written Word of God.

What Is Prophecy

Christians are told to eagerly desire the “gift of prophecy” (p??f?te?? propheteúo) The Lord’s proclaimer is one who preaches and teaches the counsel of God with clearness, energy and authority which comes from the awareness of speaking in God’s Name and having received a direct message from Him to teach. Keeping in context with this message, the person exercising this gift has been taught of God and has the authority to speak out His will with the help of Divine inspiration. (Deuteronomy 18:18; Isaiah 1; Jeremiah 1; Ezekiel 2; 1 Cor. 14:3). - Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.) The person with the gift of New Testament prophecy proclaims the word of the Lord for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. (“Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, p. 184). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

In 1994 at the North American Conference of Evangelist, the Billy Graham team put together a great number of Proclaimers, to Preach the Word to encourage a new generation of preachers. They were taught the message to proclaim, the character of the messenger, and the new methods to use. Logos Bible software and SermonCentral are host websites with Biblical teachings which build up and equip others to preach the Word of God around the world.

Biblical Exhortation

True Biblical honoring of the person who has the call to publically read the Scriptures, the “gift of prophecy” (p??f?te?? propheteúo) is to enable that person to devote themselves to that task. (1Timothy 4:13) The Apostle Paul told Timothy, …devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have.” (1 Timothy 4:13) The world view and influence of honoring pastors every October has not fixed the tragic results of preachers leaving the ministry of preaching the Word. Of those who would give me an answer to my question, “What is your greatest frustration in the ministry?” The number one answer was, family and the congregation they serve not protecting their time to fulfill the ultimate call of “Preach the Word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

The testimony of a state correction’s Chaplin gives us understanding of the world view which has made its way into the church. The Chaplin testified, when came time for him to get ready for the Biblical message for the prison’s church service, he had to get up early or stay up late into the night to get Sunday’s message ready. He spent forty hours per week on the prison’s paper work, incentive programs and regulations, he did not have time during his work hours to read his Bible nor prepare for Biblical teachings. Pastors who can come with the most intriguing programs and outreaches are replacing Bible teachers who know the exegesis of Scripture and hermeneutics of teaching God’s word. Eloquent speakers are more popular than true proclaimers of God’s Word.