Is Your Pastor "Perfecting the Saints"?

Is your Pastor “Perfecting the saints”?

     The word Pastor only appears once in the N.T. Although there are three letters called "The Pastoral Epistles" the word Pastor is not found in any of the three. But, the key verse where the word Pastor is found is Ephesians 4:11.

"And He gave some Apostles; and some Prophets, and some Evangelists; and some Pastors and teachers"

     The Pastor is listed as one of the gifts God has given to the church "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). These verses clearly describe the work of the Pastor/teacher, and the Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists.

     Although some might debate what the phrase "Work of the ministry" means these three connected phrases show that the saints need perfected because they are expected to do the work of the ministry which includes the edifying of the body of Christ. 

     The Pastor/teacher must recognize that his main business is "Perfecting the saints" which is a never-ending work for as the saints do "The work of the ministry" which is primarily evangelizing the lost there will be a never-ending supply of saints who need perfecting.

     When God's Army is equipped by those men He calls to be "Gifts" to the church then when the Army of Saints goes out into "The highways and hedges "They will "bring forth fruit", "Souls for Jesus" must be their battle-cry and primary purpose for existence just as it was for our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ as He came "To seek and to save that which was lost." If we are to be Christ-like we will be soul-seekers and soul-winners for Jesus said: “Come ye after Me and I will make you to become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17). 

     If the Pastor is not focused and balanced upon these two branches of ministry: Edification or building up of the saints, and Evangelism of the lost, he will not be fulfilling God's call to "Perfect the saints to do the work of the ministry". A successful Pastor will have as his fruit successful saints doing the work of the ministry for a Pastor who is a soul-winner will reproduce!

Chaplain LEWolfe  www.btmi.org  I-85 Exit 35 SC   McPilot    Stop in, and please pray for our ministry!