The Pastor's Anointing

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The purpose of the gift is to perfect the saints. It is given so that the pastor and others of the five-fold can work ministry in the church. Because the gifts are simply administrations of the Holy Ghost, the power to fulfill their purpose is also that of the Holy Ghost.

A pastor, as well as all who work the ministry, must keep in high regard the fact that real ministry begins and ends with God the Father.

You are not the power of God. Your gift from Him is the power. The gift manifested is the function of the will of the Spirit of God. All that you do in the Body of Christ must be by and through the Spirit of God. You must make no provisions for your flesh to rule the people of God. Flesh is destructive and disheartening. A shepherd’s heart is one of love and concern for the disposition of the flock. If you allow yourself to walk in the power of the gift you will have no problem loving the people of God.

Your life is not your own. Your time is not your own. It belongs to the unction of the Holy Ghost. He is the one who determines the doings of your day and night. You must be prepared to avail yourself to the people of God.

The people of God must be able to feel the love of the pastor. You must remember at all times that you are the one the people of God look to for spiritual guidance. However, your life must not be a contradiction to your calling. Sometimes these contradictions are manifested in attitudes, mood swings and spiritual exhalation. Negative attitudes, moodiness and a distasteful exhalation are sure signs of a walk that is fleshy and out of touch with the love of God. Furthermore, it is a sure sign of carnality.

If these are the attributes the membership is forced to entertain, then it becomes very hard to accept that such a one is leading the way to that place in the spirit that is pleasing to God.

Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Consequently, the people get dismayed and become frustrated not knowing how to deal with someone they are to look to for spiritual guidance. They begin to feel alienated, insignificant in the mind of the pastor and pushed aside spiritually. Eventually, they lose confidence in the pastor as someone God has ordained to lead them.

In the early years and even in the not so early years of my ministry, many of the precious saints of God were very hurt by negatives in me. Some even left the ministry. Many were reluctant to leave because they knew I was a teacher of the truth, but they were not yet spiritually able to overcome me.

I am very transparent, and I have never been one to put on a false face. What I feel is evident in my facial expressions as well as my exhalation. If someone or a situation was unpleasant to me, it showed in my disposition. I loved the people of God, but I lacked patience and forbearance. I thought carrying them in my heart was enough, but it wasn’t. They needed to see Christ in me at all times. I didn’t have the luxury of having a bad day. Such a day would cause so much discouragement in the people I was called to serve. The Lord called those days wicked. He said my ways were wicked and my thoughts concerning some of His people were evil.

I repented and purposed in my heart that I was going to change my disposition, attitude, and the whole nine yards. And that is exactly what I did. My attitude changed, and so did my disposition in dealing with offensive individuals or situations. But it didn’t last. It was a struggle and many times I failed the test miserably. The problem was I didn’t change. I was still vacillating in my spiritual walk. I needed to agree with God in the taking on of the life of Christ, rather than trying to mimic His attributes. I needed to live in His life and walk in His mind.

When I finally agreed with God, the life of Christ began to manifest itself in me and He is now able to love His people through me.

Ephesians 4:13

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

The gifts are given to establish the unity of the Faith. The gift of the pastor must work in accordance with that of the apostle, prophet, evangelist and teacher. Because these gifts are all administrations of the Holy Ghost, they have one mind, purpose and aspiration to bring the Body of Christ to the fullness of the stature of the man Jesus Christ.

The pastor constantly and consistently ministers his knowledge in the mystery of the Son of God. It is therefore imperative that he submits to apostolic order, as it allows all to speak the same thing as they pour into the Body of Christ.

The pastor’s anointing is the field in which the sheep feed. As sheep graze, they grow. If you feed the flock of God, they too will grow. You are responsible for securing the environment in which they feed, with the love and truth that flows from the shepherd’s anointing. If you are ministering the Word of God and the flock does not grow spiritually, then you must examine the environment within which they are feeding, for hindrances. As a pastor you must be aware of all things that influence the flock.

Examine this:

• Are they grazing among wolves?

• Are they victims of divisons in the leadership?

• Are they forced to overcome your negative disposition?

If members of the flock do not reach the spiritual plateaus ordained by the Holy Ghost, then it should be because they simply reject truth and love, not because one or both did not exist in their environment.

Ephesians 4: 14-15

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

Ephesians 4: 16

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love

The pastor is a nurturer. You must regard the fact that each member of your flock has been given a supply for the Body. It is your responsibility to nurture, cultivate, care for, look after and cherish the measure the Father has given to each of the flock. You must lead them in the way of the growth path the Holy Ghost has set forth. These paths are usually platforms established by the apostolic mantle. However, different natural environments may require other creative platforms of ministry. It is for you to explore these opportunities.

Your objectives:

• Bring the flock to maturity in Christ and well pleasing to the Father.
• Charge them with always being a witness for Christ.
• Continue to raise up under-shepherds for an ever-increasing population.
• Prepare and send forth those who are ready to expand the reformation.
• Let the love of God flow through you to His precious inheritance. The Father uses the pastor’s anointing to fulfill His need to raise and nurture His children, as well as their need to experience His love in their development.