The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Part 7

of our study of the Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

Welcome!

Intro

√ Pastor

√ Teacher

The gift of Pastor

√ Back to what is becoming a very familiar scripture!

Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

“pastor” – Greek means…

“A shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks (not merely one who feeds them), is used metaphorically of Christian “pastors”.

Only used once in the NT, and once in the OT!

More often the person in this role is called a…

Shepherd

Elder

Bishop

Def:

A pastor is one who is supernaturally called by God to oversee a group of believers. The pastor is to be the teaching elder.

√ Pastoral duties

Shepherd! Literally that means to watch over, to care for, to guide, to feed.

I Pet. 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

I Pet. 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

I Pet. 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Feed and care for

Joh. 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

Joh. 21:16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

Joh. 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.”

So, a pastor is one who is called to serve the needs of a group of believers. Serving them, like caring for a flock of sheep, has many different aspects.

Feeding – teaching the Word of God (whole counsel of God)

Guiding – leading (not pushing!) the people in their walk with Jesus.

Protecting – watching over the people and intervening when wolves come to attack the flock.

Tending – patiently caring for whatever needs come up – from taking the trash out to hospital visitations – to representing the weak.

√ Pastoral qualifications

Found in the “pastoral epistles” in I & II Timothy, and in Titus.

Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--

Titus 1:6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

Titus 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Wow!

Let me encourage anyone who may believe that God has called them to be a pastor; you’ll never “feel” qualified – you’ll never meet these qualifications perfectly.

Rather, in all these areas there should be a good testimony and no willful areas of disobedience.

As long as your heart is soft toward the leading and correction of the Holy Spirit you can be used by the Lord.

In fact, when I meet someone who is convinced that they meet these qualifications perfectly – I know that they don’t! Pride!

Ap. The church today needs more pastors – not career ministers, but real pastors who will feed and care for God’s people.

√ Pet peeve

“Reverend”, “Most Reverend”, “The Right Reverend”, etc.!

Let’s stick with the God given titles which speak of service and humility – not Man made titles that build barriers between God’s shepherds and His people.

The gift of Teaching

√ Back to our familiar passage…

Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

And…

I Cor. 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

God has given certain people the gift of teaching!

The gift of teaching is a God-given ability to properly interpret and explain God’s Word to others. It is a gift that is given to a pastor, but it is not the same gift.

A person can have the gift of teaching and not be called or gifted as a pastor.

In a larger church there are many teaching needs – not all of which are filled by the pastor.

Ex. Hank Hanegraaf – or a person called to teach children, or new believers, etc.

We find that Paul told Timothy, a pastor, to train others who have been called to teach.

2Tim. 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2Tim. 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

√ Teaching is essential for a person to be a healthy and growing Christian.

Mat. 2:37 Jesus said to him," `You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

Those who have been called to teach God’s Word help us to embrace and love God with all of our mind.

Note that Jesus and the apostles and other leaders in the Church gave themselves to teaching.

Mt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Ac 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

So, those who have been gifted to teach God’s Word help us by instructing us about God through the proper interpretation of His Word.

Ap. Though the gift of teaching is God-given, it can be developed by the individual. In fact, a person with the gift of teaching should spend time studying the Bible.

√ Words of warning

Be faithful to teach

2Ti. 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2Ti. 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2Ti. 4:1 charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

2Ti. 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

2Ti. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

2Ti. 4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Be careful that your life reflects your teaching!

Jam. 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

Don’t use that as an excuse to not teach! Rather, it’s a warning to make sure that we don’t live like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who taught one thing and lived another!

Homework