A pastor is a shepherd; one who tends to, feeds, and guides the flock: According to Vine’s
Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. He or she is the third gift in the ministerial order.
However, it is also the teacher in the local church who is to aid the pastor in feeding the sheep.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The revelation of the mystery of Christ is passed down from the apostles to the other gifts in the Body. Therefore, pastors and teachers are also stewards of the mysteries of God. In this life, all who are called and taught in the faith are charged as stewards and governors of God’s Word. A steward is defined as someone who is given charge, management over; head of, or an overseer. A steward is someone who takes care of the things given to him or her.
In the scripture above, Paul describes the apostles as “managers” (stewards), of the mysteries of God. It has now become our job or profession to manage the dispensing of the Word of God. If a minister of the gospel follows the leading of the Spirit of God, then he or she will know what it is the people of God need to feast on.
In this chapter I want to show you how this stewardship of the Word rests upon the pastors of the flocks of God.
John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
I need you to remember that the people must be taught of God. This is a principle that will make or break a ministry. If the principle is upheld, then many will come to the Lord and mature as manifested sons of God. However, if pastors neglect this truth, then it will be impossible to produce true manifested sons of God. Though born again, they will be weak in the faith and given over to divers lusts and temptations. God’s plan for man is that he becomes a holy habitation for the Father to dwell in. If you shy away from teaching this mystery, then the hope of building this holy place is nil.
FAITHFULNESS
With a natural job, there are certain standards that must be met in order to be found suitable to keep our positions. The same rule applies with our positions in God. As sons, our faithfulness is not measured by man’s standards, but by the Lord. God’s concern is that His people might know His heart and His mind toward them. Those who serve in ministry are charged with teaching and demonstrating that mind and heart. These are the factors that define our faithfulness and also promote the building of a holy people. All pastors and teachers should consider very carefully the passages below.
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of
faith:
Let us look at the takeaways from the passages above: The church was established or built on the foundation laid by the apostles. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship....Acts 2:42.
Therefore, why are we to assume that some other methods or teachings will yield the same fruit as that which was mandated by the Father. The gospel, the preaching and teaching of Jesus Christ, must be according to the mystery of godliness.
Colossians 1:26-28
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles, and all who serve in the ministry of Christ, must truly embrace the teaching of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it is mandatory that we, the apostles make certain that all who serve as ministers be thoroughly equipped in the knowledge of this mystery that was kept secret until the forming of the Church. Pastors and teachers, nor any others, can ignore this commandment. The apostle’s doctrine is nothing more than their revelation of the mystery of Christ. If you open your heart, you too, will see how every error in church development trickles back to either a rejection or ignorance of the mystery of Christ. Without the knowledge of this teaching, it is impossible for all to speak the same thing.
Now turn your focus to verse 28: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: The goal of preaching and teaching is to perfect every believer in Christ. If that is not the goal of your messages to the Body, then you are in gross error. God is not trying to produce academia, or charisma in the church; but a Body of believers who have
received the knowledge of God that enables them to walk in the power of the resurrected Christ.
I Peter 5:1
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
I really like the way Peter states his assuredness that he is and will be a partaker of the high calling in Christ Jesus, when he returns. This asserted steadfastness is encouraging to the congregations of the Lord. There were more than one elder ordained in the churches in which Paul and Peter had the oversight. However, the pastor is the primary shepherd of them all. He is the set-man of the house.
Those who assist him in feeding the flock have come to be known as under-shepherds; even as all who serve in the five-fold ministry are the under-shepherds of our Lord Jesus Christ. But I must say that in the local church, a heavy weight of responsibility in this area is placed on the teachers. They are also given the oversight of the spiritual development of the flock. Nevertheless, if there is to be order in the individual churches, then these under-shepherds must respect the appointed pastor and serve with vigor the flock of God.
I Peter 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
To feed means to teach the Word of God. The sheep will live according to the words that proceed out of the mouth of God. When Jesus prepared to pass the oversight of the flock into the hands of the apostles, He said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” It is impossible for one to be a real pastor of the flock, and not feed them the Word of God.
Though there are others who work as under-shepherds, the sheep will look to the Pastor for a revelation of the Word of God. Thus it becomes most important for the pastors to firmly affix themselves to the flow of knowledge and revelation that is poured out to the apostles. Without this union the pastors, teachers, and the flock will become stagnated and eventually die spiritually. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the willingness of our Father to minister these truths and to give us an opportunity to glorify Him as we execute His mandates. If we all stay true to the vision
of apostolic order, we will produce the fruits of righteousness in the people of God.
