Understanding a Pastors Responsibility
Ezekiel 3:16-21
16 now at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me.
17. Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth give them a warning from me.
18. If I say to the wicked person. You will surely die, but you do not warn him, you - you don't speak out to warn him about his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.
19. But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn form this wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.
20. Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.
21. But if you warn the righteous person that he should not sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he listened to your warning, and you will have rescued yourself.
There are many times that the Spirit of God will place something on my heart to teach to all. There are times that I want to allow my personal feelings to interfere because I never wish to upset anyone. However, regardless of the message placed on my heart I must deliver it as the Spirt of God gave guidance. My personal feelings do not take priority over Gods word. I even know that at times some individuals are going to reject the teaching, and some will desire to learn more. I know that some may even become upset, and later question why I gave such a message. Regardless, the message must be given as instructed by the Spirit of God that dwells not only within me, but other teachers of God's Word. The most important role as a teacher of God's Word is to always be in obedience to God, simply put give it as the Holy Spirit directed.
It's always important for teachers of God's Word to understand that we may feel someone is going to be upset, or question the teaching, but regardless we should never question the Holy Spirit. It should never come down to how much and individual puts in the church offering, role in society, or feelings that may be hurt in the process of the message. If the possibility of some leaving the congregation comes to mind so be it. We must obey what the Holy Spirt gave direction to. The fact is God may already be working in someone's life, someone may be struggling in a situation, or many different reasons may be the reason the message needs to be delivered. We should never as teachers of God's Word reject, prevent, or attempt to take away what was directed to give.
Christians it is also important to understand that as teachers of God's Word we will be held to a stricter standard before God one day. We have received a calling, answered it, and are in service as servants to our Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ. There may be times that the message being given from the pulpit troubles your heart. If it does the Holy Spirit is dealing with you. Do not go getting angry at the man standing in the pulpit. He received direction to deliver a message by the Holy Spirit and is doing so. The man in the pulpit, who has a true calling from God must, and will always give the Word of God as it is written. We are unable to sugarcoat sin. We are not motivational and inspirational teachers. We are teachers of God's word, and sometimes God's Word will cut to the deepest darkness in an individual. It will bring the mightiest of men to their knees. As teachers of God's Word we understand one day when we stand before God we will be held to those stricter standards and must account for it all.
If there ever comes a time that a sermon troubles your heart, and it is the true Word of God, do not get upset with the individual behind the pulpit. It is not their works, but the Spirt of God working through them. We are the mouthpiece of God, servants to Jesus, flesh and blood, nothing more, but the Holy Spirit that dwells within us does the work, and sends the message. If the message troubles you the conversation needs to be between you and God, not an attack upon the individual who gave the message. However, the teacher of God's Word is always there to help if better understanding is needed.
Teachers and Christians, we each have a purpose to fulfill for Gods kingdom. There is more to it than setting in a church pew. We have a mission to accomplish, and part of it is getting the lost to Jesus. We must spread the Gospel of Jesus, and every word of God. There will be many that will reject the Word of God and that's okay. We can't save them all, but we can bring a few with us. If rejected keep moving, because someone, somewhere is begging to know more about Jesus.
Keep Fighting The Good Fight