EMBRACING THE CALL: A Pastor with a heart for God

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I Samuel 13:14; Jeremiah 3:15, 23:4

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15. A pivot key to the manifestation of God’s doings in these last days is the presence of men and women who are addicted and desperate to pursue after God’s heart. These shall be according to God’s own heart; they shall be of his own choosing and shall be qualified by himself: and in consequence they shall feed the people with knowledge. To the growth, advancement and flourishing of the church, the pastor plays a major role as the level of the move of God that the church will experience or currently experiencing is subjected to the availability of pastors who are or can give a hard chase after God’s heart.

Who are these pastors?

1. Ministers of the word; who are “pastors” or “shepherds” under Christ the great Shepherd
2. Ministers who are “gifts” of Christ to the church, and according to his heart, he chooses them.
3. Ministers who are conformable to his mind, understands His precepts and standards.
4. Ministers whom He calls, qualifies, puts into the ministry, and sends forth.
5. Ministers whom He holds in his right hand; who do his will, and feed men according to his heart.
6. Ministers who have been touched and purged by the live coals from God’s altar

Pastors who are chasing after the heart of God:

1. Possesses the knowledge of God
2. Pursues the things of God and the vision given to him
3. Places righteousness above all other things
4. Pleases the Lord at all cost
5. Preserves the vineyard of the Lord
6. Protects the interest of the saints
7. Promotes the unity of the church
8. Prevails in the place of spiritual warfare for the lord
9. Persistent and steadfast in the ways, laws and judgment of the Lord

There are so many situations currently rampaging the church that has casted a dark cloud on the authenticity of the claim many of us hold: “God called me to pastoring…” we have seen unbroken, unmolded, unsanctified and strange men mount our pulpits to day. This has left the church in great distress, turbulence and stagnant.

Reasons why pastors are without a heart for God

Getting it right is what makes ministry fruitful, impactful and successful, there are too many pastors who really do not have any business pastoring. Many pastors without a heart for God has decorated our pulpits in today’s church, men with:

1. Wrong Motives
2. Wrong Foundation
3. Wrong Standing (secret sin and compromise)
4. Wrong Knowledge
5. Wrong Attitude or Character
6. Wrong Spiritual grooming and training
7. Wrong Mentors or leaders
8. Wrong Christian Living (tradition and dogma in believes)
9. Wrong System (assimilation, retention and church administrative system)
10. Wrong leadership or service positioning. (not called into pastoring but because we have a vacuum in one of our branches, we forces them to step into it)

What God seeks after are pastors rooted and built by him, not usurpers (Hosea 8:4; Jeremiah 2:8, 10:21, 23:1-2). The life of the church is built around the capacity of the pastor at the elms:

1. An healthy pastor raises and healthy church
2. A growing pastor will grow the church
3. A prayerful pastor will raise a praying church
4. A spiritual pastor will lead a spiritual church
5. A stranded pastor will breed a stagnant church
6. A confused pastor will raised a lost church
7. A worldly pastor will produce a carnal church
8. A visionless pastor will scatter a growing church

This certifies the saying that when the pastor advances and grow the church will definitely progress and flourish. No church grows beyond the capacity of its pastor. This is why we have many dwarf spirited pastors leading a baby minded church. Words like “…and he calls himself a pastor” is commonly heard among the people of the society when referring to the atrocities committed by men whom are supposed to be pastors and shepherds.

The Attributes of a Pastor after God’s Own Heart:

Pastor after God’s heart possesses several key attributes that reflect their deep commitment to serving God and if you desire to be use by God as a pastor then the following attributes must manifest in your live:

1. Faithfulness (I Corinthians 4:2): They demonstrate unwavering faithfulness to God’s teachings, principles, and commandments, both in their personal life and ministry.
2. Holiness (Hebrew 12:14): They live a life of purity within and without; their thought and feelings are built on pure holiness. God is interested in using pure and holy vessels; there we are commanded to be holy as our heavenly father is holy
3. Humility: They approach their role with humility, recognizing that they are servants of God and acknowledging their dependence on Him for wisdom and guidance.
4. Compassion (I Peter 3:8; Jude 1:22): They genuinely care for the spiritual and emotional well-being of their congregation, showing compassion and empathy in their interactions with others.
5. Integrity (Psalms 78:72; Proverbs 20:7): They uphold high moral standards, godly principles, act with honesty, transparency, and integrity in all aspects of their life and ministry.
6. Passionate for God’s Word (John 4:34): They have a deep love and reverence for the Bible, regularly studying and applying its teachings to their own life and preaching.
7. Devotion to Prayer (Micah 3:8): They prioritize prayer and seek God’s direction, wisdom, and strength through regular communion with Him.
8. Servant Leadership: They lead by example, following Jesus’ model of servant leadership, and are willing to sacrificially serve their congregation and community.
9. Discernment (John 4:1-3): They possess spiritual discernment, enabling them to make sound decisions and provide wise counsel to those seeking guidance.
10. Spiritual Maturity: They exhibit spiritual maturity, continually growing in their relationship with God and displaying a Christ-like character.
11. Courage: They are willing to stand for truth and righteousness, even in challenging circumstances, without compromising their convictions.
12. Visionary (Act 26:18-19): They have a clear vision for their ministry, seeking to align it with God’s purposes and lead their congregation towards spiritual growth and impactful outreach.
13. Dynamic Team Player (I Corinthians 3:6): They actively work to equip and empower others within their congregation to serve and use their God-given gifts.
14. Unity (Psalms 133:1, Ephesians 4:3): They strive to foster unity and harmony among their congregation, promoting a loving and supportive church community. They invest so much in the edification, growth and unity of the saints without prejudice, bias and sentiments.
15. Zealous and Handworker (Psalm 69:9; John 2:17): they are constant and persistence in their work for God. They are tenacious as they hate it when the work of God has been dragged on the flour. They are ever ready to serve in any capacity as long as it brings honor and glory to the name of the Lord and to the Kingdom of our Christ Jesus.