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Weekly Devotional: Pastor, feed the flock of God with God’s word



SUE WEST

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Preacher, get relevant and understand what God is saying in this crucial time. Go to your prayer closet and don’t come out until you can come forth with a “thus saith the Lord” that will arrest the attention of both the young and the old.

God has given you a responsibility, a gift and a calling. He expects you to use it to its fullest extent. It is no time for quaint stories, endless genealogies and striving about the law. However, it is time for some on-time words from Scripture.

I am convinced the reason there is spiritual lethargy in the pew is because the pulpit is weak and lazy! It is presently rich, increased with goods and no longer relies on the Lord. What we fail to understand is that we are in more need of God’s grace, guidance and provision now more than ever. The night is far spent, and the hour of His return is upon us.

Things are changing. America stands on the verge of losing her national sovereignty, and much of the church is distracted with pickleball and a hundred other useless activities. John the Baptist was a man sent from God to bear witness of Christ. His ministry was short-lived. It was interrupted by a brief prison stay and a beheading as he stood his ground against Herod for refusing to compromise with the forces of darkness. His heart-cry was that the Lord would increase and he himself decrease.

Pastor, that is the key to your ministry. Stop parading your unruly flesh before the people, and pray to God that Christ would increase in your life and ministry. Bear witness of Jesus, not your own experiences.

The Methodist warrior, John Wesley, gave us a hint of his great success in the following quote, “I set myself on fire and the people come to watch me burn.” Preacher friend, catch yourself on fire with holy passion for Christ, and the people will come for miles to watch you burn.

It is so sad, boring and frustrating to listen to regurgitated internet and television sermons on Sunday mornings. Go to God, get your words and your thoughts directly from Him. The message will then be fresh, bold, direct and convicting. 

How could I proceed much further in my writing without including a quote from one of the greats? “A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by man. No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.” – Leonard Ravenhill.

The preacher who can influence his people to be alone with Christ is a true shepherd of the sheep. The preacher who resigns himself to be spent for the Lord will be highly effective. As the Apostle Peter said, “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:2-4)

Sue West is available to speak at churches and home Bible Study groups. Contact her at suewest1@yahoo.com.

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