The Pastor Gifting is a vital gift to the church, characterized by deep compassion and a desire to gather, care for, and recover God’s people. This role extends beyond the pulpit, as true pastors may be found within congregations, bringing peace and comfort to the flock. The pastor’s heart yearns to keep people together, smoothing over difficulties and preventing scattering. Jesus, referred to as the Good Shepherd, exemplifies the ideal pastor, willing to lay down His life for the sheep. A good pastor knows their flock intimately and can distinguish between sheep and goats. The role involves not only spiritual guidance but also practical care, such as hospital visits and support during times of grief.
THE PASTOR GIFTING
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
The one gift we think we know about is the pastor gift. Most likely, we do not know as much about the pastor as we believe. We call the church leader “Pastor,” no matter what his or her actual gifting. If the leader’s gift is teaching, does the leader remain a pastor? The term “pastor” has become more of a governmental title than a gifting and anointing title as it was intended. Hopefully, we can recognize some pastors in our very own congregations who never stand behind a pulpit.
Compassion moves the pastor, which is especially true when the pastor observes the scattering of the sheep.
The pastor is continuously attempting to gather back people who scattered from the flock. Years may pass, but the shepherd continues trying to bring back to the fold those who scattered.
In the church congregation, or outside of the walls of the church, the pastor can bring peace to people.
The opposite is true when there is no person around with the pastoral gift anointing. They comfort in vain. Everyone goes their own way without the pastor.
The pastor desires peace among the flock. It is when unrest and tension come into a flock, the flock will scatter. The faithful pastor knows this and will do anything to gain peace.
The Pastor Gifting
The Lord gives many warnings to worthless pastors who scatter the sheep and expects shepherds to care for the flock.
The focus of the worthless or false pastor is not people. The focus of a worthless or false pastor is their greed. They come to rob, steal, and destroy. Isaiah spoke about the pastors of Israel saying,
The Lord will take His sheep away from worthless shepherds.
I. RECOGNIZED BY
A. The pastor is recognized by a deep desire to gather, care for, and recover God’s people. We are told when Jesus “saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Mat 9:36). A person’s compassion level is the key to identifying authentic pastors. They are compassionate people with a tremendous concern for the well being of the people.
B. The pastor continues seeking scattered sheep. He or she will never rest nor be satisfied until the sheep come back into his flock.
II. THE GREEK
The Greek word translated pastors (Eph 4:11) is poimen (poy-mane’). Though the King James Version only translates poimen as “pastor” once (Eph 4:11), the Greek word is found eighteen times in our New Testament. It is translated as shepherd (15 times), shepherds (2 times), and pastor (1 time). The Greek word poimen translated “pastor” means shepherd.
As a shepherd cares for his flock of sheep (Luk 2:8), the pastor/shepherd cares for his flock of people. The apostle will establish a foundation as the prophet edifies and the evangelist preaches to bring people into the kingdom. However, the pastor will perform the shepherding and care for God’s people.
The Pastor Gifting
We are able to draw much from the Old Testament concerning the pastor/shepherd. There is no apostle in the Old Testament. The Old Testament prophet’s view is entirely opposite the New Testament. There are no evangelists in the Old Testament. However, the pastor or shepherd remains the same.
III. JESUS THE SHEPHERD
We learn much about pastoring from Jesus. Jesus said He is the good shepherd (Joh 10:11) and would lay down His life for the sheep. Also, He said He knew His sheep, and His sheep knew him. Hebrews 13:20 says Jesus is “that great shepherd of the sheep.” This is a reference to several Old Testament prophecies of the shepherd Messiah to come. There would be “one shepherd over them” who would come through the lineage of David (Eze 34:23). This shepherd would lead the sheep in the ways of the Lord (Eze 37:24). A pastor will lead his people in the ways of the Lord.
There is also the prophecy of the smiting of the shepherd and the sheep being scattered (Zec 13:7). The Lord said this prophecy fulfilled the night He was arrested (Mat 26:31).
Over and over the scriptures refer to the Lord as a shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd (Psa 23:1). He is the shepherd who dwells between the cherubim (Psa 80:1). The Lord feeds His flock, gathers the lambs, and leads those with young (Isa 40:11). He is the shepherd who led His people through the sea (Isa 63:11). The Lord delivers His sheep out of the places they scattered (Eze 34:12) and is the shepherd after which all other shepherds must pattern.
IV. GATHER AND KEEP TOGETHER
A. The pastor’s heart is to gather people and keep them together. This gift carries the anointing to do this and will smooth over difficulties and bring peace. A good pastor brings rest and tranquility to the people of God.
The Pastor Gifting
The opposite is the effect with no good pastor or with the removal of the pastor. On the night Judas betrayed Jesus, Jesus quoted from Zechariah 13:7. He said, “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Mat 26:31; Mar 14:27). As do sheep without a shepherd, people will go their own way without a good pastor. Good pastors (plural) will stop church splits and church problems. The Lord anointed them with the pastor gift to do this. Without the pastor gift, the flock will scatter. This scattering happened to the flock of Jesus. It will happen to any flock.
B. People with a pastoral gift anointing become distraught when something happens in the church body causing the sheep to scatter. Not understanding their gift, they could find themselves caught up in gossip and choosing sides in an attempt to re-gather the sheep. They want everyone together no matter what the cost. Naturally, this can cause more harm than good if the pastor cannot distinguish between the sheep and the goats.
V. FALSE OR WORTHLESS PASTORS
A. There are probably more scriptures giving warnings about, or judgment upon, inferior and false pastors (shepherds) than scriptures instructing the good pastors. In the parable Jesus told about the door to the sheepfold (Joh 10:1-10), Jesus said that anyone can claim they are a shepherd. However, if they came into the sheepfold any other way than through the door, the person was a thief and a robber (Jon 10:1, 8). Jesus went on to say He is the door. The true shepherds will come through the door to the sheep, Jesus, and call the sheep by name (Joh 10:2-4). Notice, the Lord did not say false pastors could not enter. He said they come in some other way and are thieves and robbers.
Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees after healing the man born blind (Joh 9). The Pharisees and Jewish leaders were terrible pastors who did not come through the door of Jesus. The Old Testament addressed the poorness of the Jewish leaders in shepherding God’s people emphatically.
The Pastor Gifting
The focus of the worthless or false pastor is not people. The focus of worthless or false pastors is their greed. They come to rob, steal, and destroy. Isaiah spoke about the pastors of Israel saying,
Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Jesus followed the parable of the door to the sheep with the parable about the Good Shepherd. Jesus told about the hirelings who do not care about God’s people. This fact is proven as they run when trouble comes. One of the saddest observations today is today’s religious system makes hirelings out of people who the Lord genuinely called to pastor. Instead, the religious system trains them to be hirelings.
B. There is a judgment upon the false and inferior pastors. Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy against the corrupt shepherds of Israel (Eze 34:2). From that prophecy, we learn how the Lord rewards inferior pastors. The Lord said, “Woe to the shepherds” when the pastors are more interested in their own prosperity than the wellbeing of the flock (Eze 34:2-3). The Lord expects His pastors to strengthen, heal, bind up the broken, bring back those driven away, and seek those lost (Eze 34:4). Inferior pastors attempt to rule God’s people with force and cruelty. The Lord says, “Woe to these shepherds.” Zechariah 11:17 tells about this Woe spoken to idle shepherds who desert the flock.
Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
(NIV) Zechariah 11:17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!” An Oracle
The Pastor Gifting
I don’t know all Zechariah 11:17 means, but I know it’s not good. Paralysis and blindness are awaiting worthless shepherds. Is it spiritual or natural paralysis and blindness? I don’t know. All I know is the Lord promises worthless pastors horrible times.
If people would truly study the scriptures concerning what will happen to the worthless pastors before they attempt to pastor, they would make sure the Lord called them and gave them the pastor gift. Pastoring God’s people is a grave matter to the Lord. He loves His sheep and entrusts them to the care of men and women. Judgment is severe upon those who pastor haphazardly.
There is no avoiding the judgment of the Lord for the worthless shepherd. There is nowhere to flee (Jer 25:35).
Jeremiah 25:35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee, the leaders of the flock no place to escape.
The Scriptures speak of the crying and howling worthless pastors will experience (Jer 25:34). There is a time of woe for them.
Jeremiah 25:34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
The Pastor Gifting
The Lord is against the worthless shepherds. He will take their flock from them and stop them from feeding His people.
Ezekiel 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
VI. GOOD PASTORS
A. In the parable of the Good Shepherd (Joh 10:11-21), the Lord said a good pastor would sacrifice for the sheep (Joh 10:11). Faithful pastors will lay their lives down for the sheep. This saying does not mean they will be required to die but does indicate what the pastor’s desire to do must wait if personal desires interfere with ministering to the sheep contrasting to the hireling. The hireling does not care about the sheep. The good pastors will also lay down their lives to defend the sheep. Hirelings will run when trouble comes.
B. Jesus also said a good pastor would know his sheep and his sheep will know him (Joh 10:14). The pastor spends time with the sheep. It is impossible to know someone without spending time with the person. The pastor cannot know the sheep and neither can the sheep know the pastor without time together. There must be some depth of the relationship.
C. A good shepherd will also separate the sheep from the goats (Mat 25:32). All day the sheep and the goats graze together. At night the shepherd separated the sheep from the goats. The reason is goats are unruly. Also, the goats tend to butt and run the sheep when enclosed. The pastor must know how to separate the sheep from the goats. This separating requires wisdom, tact, and prayer.
The Pastor Gifting
VII. SHEEP SHEARING
Shearing sheep must happen. Shearing God’s people doesn’t sound good, does it? That is unless you understand the principle from the sheep’s perspective. If a pastor does not shear the sheep, they will have problems. Its wool will become matted. It will also tangle with brush and burs. The sheep’s wool becomes cumbersome causing the sheep to become hot. If not sheared, the sheep could become diseased. Initially, the sheep do not enjoy the shears. However, the after-effects of the process are well worth it. After the shearing, the wool is converted into money or garments making the sheep fruitful.
Shearing the sheep at least once a year, and, if possible twice per year, will produce about ten pounds of wool per sheep.
God’s people need shearing. Giving is a part of the production process. If we never donate, we become matted and tangled with all manner of things. We become diseased in that we become greedy. The love of money is the root of all evil (1Ti 6:10). We are not especially happy about shearing type offerings, but the fruits of it for the kingdom’s sake are well worth it. We need to make sure we give the tenth. This giving is especially true when we remember Father God brought Jesus Himself as a lamb to be slain” (Isa 53:7).
Shearing time in the scriptures was a festive time. It would be related to harvest time for a grain farmer. It was a time when friends and neighbors were invited to celebrate and gave a reason for fellowship and a reason to party.
2 Samuel 13:24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
1 Samuel 25:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
The Pastor Gifting
(NIV) 1 Samuel 25:7 “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing.
The pastor is a gift given to the church. No other ministry gift has the compassion for people as does the pastor as he longs for peace and desires the church to gather together.
The pastor must keep the flock together and must be in constant contact with the people. People need to be visited in the hospital by those with the pastor gift to bring peace and hope. Pastors should do this without being asked to do it. Also, in a time of grief, the pastor should be there. The flock may not remember last week’s message from the pulpit, but they will remember who came to see them in the hospital. They will remember a time of grief and tragedy and who was there and who wasn’t. When the sheep are injured, the pastor must be there.
Have people left the church that you know should be in the church? Are you sure they are not goats? If so, then the pastor should search for them and do all possible to bring the sheep back to the sheepfold.
The pastor is gifted and anointed to do these things. Pastors radiate the mercy and love of God. Their presence brings peace and a confidence everything will be alright. We all need pastors to pastor.
The Pastor Gifting
Other Related Messages:
The Apostle Gifting – How to Empower Believers
The Prophet Gifting: How to Cultivate Your Gift
The Evangelist Gifting: How to Reach the Lost
Also see: