I made the comment recently to a man that my pastor preaches the Word. He said that his pastor doesn’t. He also said that he felt like he was too old to move on to another church. I assured him he wasn’t. I invited him to ours.
What is your congregation expecting from your pastor?
I think I feel something between sick and righteous anger whenever I think of a pastor that is not fulfilling the responsibility of his position.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
According to theses verses there will come a time when people will not want to hear sound doctrine. They will be flocking to hear preachers that preach what they want to hear – fables – because the do not want to hear the truth. Perhaps that time is drawing near or even now.
We need to guard our hearts and our minds. False prophets often twist the Word and even claim to have special access to God. We know there is no such thing.
As Christians, we all have access to God.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Ephesians 2:18
The Holy Spirit lives inside of the believer and makes intercession for us.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:23
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:2
Don’t be fooled by anyone who claims to have special access to God. Preachers are obligated to bring you the Word of God, and their specific message will be from God’s Word. It will be a message God has placed on their heart to bring to that specific congregation. If that is not what they are preaching, run. Do not let anyone fill your head with fables.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:42
Today’s challenge is pray that you will always be willing to hear God’s Word. Pray that you will not have itching ears. Pray that you will always be able to find a preacher that will preach the Word, and not cater to those who will not endure sound doctrine. Pray for spiritual discernment for your pastor. Pray for the message he will be bringing you at the next service.