Grace Fellowship Church January 6, 2008

Support for the Pastor-Teacher The relationship between the Right Pastor-Teacher and his Right Congregation

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Pastoral responsibilities 1 Tim 3:2-4 An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity. Titus 1:9 “Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

The congregation must support & obey the Pastor-Teacher First: Pray for the Pastor on a daily basis!! The Pastor is our spiritual leader and therefore is a lightning rod to spiritual attacks from the enemy. (Satan) Congregational responsibilities

Look at it from Satan’s point of view; if he could cause someone to stumble, who would he rather have it be? The person who comes to church once a week or once in awhile, or the Pastor who studies the Word of God and prepares himself daily in order to be able to fulfill 1 Timothy 3:2-4 & Ephesians 4:11+12

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastor-teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

First and foremost pray for your Pastor on a daily basis. It will provide protection for: 1.Himself 2.His family 3.His congregation 4.His peers In addition those who have not yet made a decision for Christ.

As we saw earlier in Hebrews 13:7 the Pastor- Teacher has the responsibity of standing before God to account for all of those in care while on earth. It is an awesome responsibility. God gives us a responsibility as well; and that is to support & obey the Pastor. What does it mean to obey the Pastor? Are we to take everything a pastor says and run with it?

No. In fact we are warned to test what We hear: 1 John 4:1-3 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus, is not from God; this is the spirit of antichrist of which you have heard is coming and now it is already in the world.”

If your Pastor is rightly teaching God’s word and caring for you spiritual needs and growth, then you have the responsibility to obey his authority in the church. What does it mean to support the Pastor? As we have already discussed, first we are to pray daily for the Pastor-Teacher. Second we are to obey our Pastor-Teacher.

Proverbs 3:13-15 “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man that gains understanding. 14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her gain better than that of fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that can be desired cannot be compared to her.”

The third thing we are commanded to do is to provide financial support for our Pastor-Teacher. This includes: (those present, listening online, or listening to tapes) not only the opportunity to freely give but also the obligation. (Based on the word of God) 1 Corinthians 9:14, 16:1 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-13 Galatians 6:6+7 Philippians 4:15 1Timothy 5:17+18

“The elders (Pastor-Teacher) who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and the laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Proverbs 3:5+6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:9+10 “Honor the Lord from your wealth and with the first of all your production; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.”

The Pastor-Teachers remuneration 1 Corinthians 9:7,11,+14 9 “who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of it? 11 If we sow spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things FROM you? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel, to get their living from The gospel

Galatians 6:6 “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.”

The support that is provided should not be limited to just basic needs, but should the source of all over and beyond blessings in life. God the Holy Spirit brings the P-T together with a local church. Acts 20:28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the HS has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

The P-T has a responsibility to: Be the authority of his church To study and teach God’s Word To exhort and admonish when necessary To edify (build up) the body of Christ To account for his flock before God

The Congregation has the responsibility to: Obey the Pastor-Teacher Pray daily for the Pastor-Teacher Provide financial support for the Pastor- Teacher

Types of giving 1. Grace-Driven Giving: Our giving is to be a response to the grace God has shown to us 2 Corinthians Love-Driven Giving: Our giving is to be a demonstration of our love 2 Cor 8:8 (cf Phil 4:15-20) 3. Details of Giving: Every believer should give 1 Cor 16:2 (cf Rom 1: 20 & 21) 4. Systematic Giving: Give on a regular basis 1 Cor 16:2

“For God so loved the world, That He gave His uniquely born Son, that whoever believes in Him Shall not perish, but have eternal Life.” John 3:16

Acts 4: Timothy 6: Thessalonians 5:

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, January 6, 2008 Special Presentation by: Deacon Stephen Rickard Support for the Right Pastor Teacher from the Right Congregation Tape # 08S-001 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008