The country road in front of my house begs for any power-stroked truck to manifest its prowess in an ever-increasing, swift, thunderous, exhaust smoke-billowing fashion!
Power! When needed to winch-out another vehicle stuck in the mud, a 2023 Ram 2500 truck with 410 horsepower would get the job done! Indeed, power to burn!
There are times when power is not used correctly. Such is the possibility in the life of a pastor. Power mixed with pride and position can skew the shepherd’s ministry among God’s flock.
Misused power by a pastor . . .
- Comes as a result of pastoring out of the flesh, through the old sin nature.
- Brings unhealthy attention to the pastor because he is in control.
- Comes by forcing results due to the failure of his unmet expectations or predictions or vision.
- Possibly comes when the he has drawn a crowd of followers due to his charisma, social media presence, or success of some sort.
- Comes as a result of neglecting personal intercessory prayer.
- Is rooted in pride that idolizes self rather than glorifies God.
- Can be a result of unconfessed, hidden sin.
- Could be due to holding on to Pharisaical traditions that are not rooted in the Word.
- Comes from thinking he is owed or deserves something.
Pastor, if you are caught in this web, please let the descriptive words about the Lord Jesus Christ from the inspired pen of the Apostle Paul sink into your soul!
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
Furthermore, “put on the sandals” of Paul and listen to his heart of humility as described in 2 Corinthians 11:16 – 12:10.
Pastor friend, . . .
- you are a servant not a boss.
- you are an under-shepherd not a dictator.
- you are a student not an omniscient professor.
- you are a leader not a lord.
- you are a teacher not a tyrant.
- you are a doulos not the potentate.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)
Power is not found seated in a big chair on the auditorium platform during the services or in controlling every decision as you micro-manage the ministry, but first of all in the prayer room as you humble yourself in sight of the Lord and in living an abiding life in Christ.
Power belongs to the Lord (Psalm 62:11), and as you draw from the Holy Spirit’s enablement within you (Romans 8:11), the flock of God will see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; . . . . because those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)
Only in the Holy Spirit through Christ for God’s glory will you have “power to burn.”
And my message (words) and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom (cleverness), but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom (cleverness) of mankind, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
fromapastorsheart.com 