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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Pastor (11/30/06)
What is the role of a pastor? What does the Lord require of such a leadership position?

The church today is too dependent upon pastors and leaders. Most of the body of Christ today wants the pastor and leaders to do everything.

Church mentality says, "Pastor, you need to go and do hospital visitation every week. Pastor, you need to spoon feed us because we are not hungry enough to feed ourselves. Pastor, you need to fix all my problems because I don't really want to take the time to pray to God myself. I enjoy my drive through Christianity."

I pray that God will deliver us from "church mentality" and move us into "kingdom mentality". It's time for the body of Christ to arise and understand who they are in Christ. It's time for the body to wake up and position themselves to be used by God.

We are all called to move and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are all called to walk in the supernatural just as Jesus did. He was our example. It's time for the body of Christ to bring the kingdom of God to earth. How do we do that? By doing God's will in the earth. When the church begins to not only hear, but do that which God has spoken to them, God will be pleased.

God is looking for a body of believers that will BELIEVE Him. He's looking for a body of believers who know who they are in Christ and understand that they were created for such a time as this. It's not the pastor's job to do everything. The pastor's job is to love, lead and guide the sheep to do the will of God in the earth. Every joint must supply that which God has given to them.

We, as a church, have put too much of a demand upon pastors and leaders. They are not God. They are men and women who have responded to the call of God and want to obey Him. They are men and women who want to see others raised up and sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit. They are men and women who see the gifts of God in ordinary people and pull those gifts out of those people so Jesus can be glorified. They are men and women who realize that they are "servants" who are willing to do whatever it takes to minister the kingdom to those who will listen.

God never intended the pastor to do all the work in the church. The pastor is just a shepherd leading the sheep, training the sheep, equipping the sheep to step out and do what God created them to do.

I pray that we, as the body of Christ, will be delivered from a church mentality and begin to walk in kingdom mentality realizing that God wants to use all of us to release His glory in the earth. God wants to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Are you ready to respond to that call?
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Esther Phillips
12/07/06
Good job. I really liked the phrase in the 2nd paragraph about liking my drive through Christianity. Your thoughts are right on for far too many people. Thanks for writing.
Jan Ackerson
12/08/06
Well-thought out and organized, good writing.

I didn't know what this sentence meant: Every joint must supply that which God has given to them.

Thanks for putting your earnest thoughts to paper.