Do you need a Pastor/Prophet?

2 Ti 4:1-5 {THE MESSAGE}… I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.  You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food — catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.  But you — keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant.

Ephesians 4:11-15 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. NIV

Am 3:3-8 Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren't going to the same place?  Does a lion roar in the forest if there's no carcass to devour? Does a young lion growl with pleasure if he hasn't caught his supper?  Does a bird fall to the ground if it hasn't been hit with a stone? Does a trap spring shut if nothing trips it?   When the alarm goes off in the city, aren't people alarmed? And when disaster strikes the city, doesn't God stand behind it?   The fact is, God, the Master, does nothing without first telling his prophets the whole story.  The lion has roared — who isn't frightened? God has spoken — what prophet can keep quiet?(from THE MESSAGE}

I am sending this email as a forerunner of tomorrow’s email. It will be very important so look for it. 

History records a remarkable account of the destruction of an ancient town.  The watchmen on the walls would call out whenever they thought they saw a foe approaching.  Sensing that the people had begun to resent them for giving these false alarms, they decided to remain quiet.  Regrettably, not long afterward, the enemy actually did come. The city that could have been saved was assaulted and devastated, and nothing was left but smoking ruins. Later someone erected a small memorial inscribed with the following epitaph: "Here stood a town that was destroyed by silence."

Jer 4:17 [It is not only the prophet but also the people who cry out in their thoughts] My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is disquieted and throbs aloud within me; I cannot be silent! For I have heard the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war AMP

Pastor-Prophet

A minister of the gospel has mainly two offices. These two are pastor and prophet.  A pastor is the advocate of the people, and the prophet is the advocate of God and these work in tandem together.  These are the offices of “Superman” under the “Clark Kent” exterior-- not to say we are supermen, but you get the illustration that underneath is a powerful driving force of the Holy Spirit and zeal for the church and God.  Every minister is human and relates to people on the outside as friend, brother and compatriot.  Most people have more affinity for the office of the pastor as leader, feeder and comforter of God’s people.  Many, though not all pastors I know, are funny and love a good joke.  They love people and love being a pastor, love their families and their life.  People like that part of a minister in his suit and big glasses working for the Daily Planet.  Here is something to consider: ministers not only carry the load that everyone else carries like, family, children, finances, and spouse and a second job.  But they can also say like Paul did “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. “ {2 Co 11:28-29 NIV}. Pastors face what you face plus the challenges of ministry. Often the minister’s concerns are multiplied many times depending on the number of people under his care.  Still, we like that pastor because he is like us!

However, the office of prophet is often not met with the same thankfulness.  Prophets bring correction and rebuke for sin and wrongdoing. They reprimand with the goal of restoring your relationship with God that has been broken by wrongdoing.  The problem is that when a prophet appears the heart of the person is often already hardened by sin and they are, in fact, enjoying their sin or at the very least justifying their sin.   They have gotten past the bridge out signs and are heading in the wrong direction in severe spiritual danger.  They may have done it ignorantly but, “good intentions never make up for bad direction.”  You may not have meant to drive over the bridge but you did.  It makes it even worse when you were warned. The people being addressed by the prophet are often self-deceived and justifying the actions as even approved by God.  The Bible has a sobering scripture that needs to be noted here.  In this “no one is going to tell me what to do generation” a prophet is not welcomed to the party.   Jesus often rebukes the people religious leaders of his day for not respecting the prophets.

The prophet and the gift of Prophecy.

A prophet is not some mean-spirited person, who does not love you that comes to tell you off. He is someone you love and he loves you.  It is someone you know and you respect. For one moment let’s address that the “office” or function of a prophet is different than the gift of prophecy.  If you are someone who has the gift of prophecy, you are not in a place to correct anyone. The scripture states in 1 Corinthians 14:3 “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.”  If you really operate in a gift of prophecy, you are to encourage, build up and comfort people, not correct them. It is not your place unless you are the pastor or elder of the church. We have too many unqualified people running around churches correcting them. I have heard numerous occasions where strangers walk in and correct a church they do not even know.  They always have heard from God about “how evil the church is,” but they are out of order and God does not work that way.   These are usually wandering saints.   No one knows them. They want you to let them in the pulpit to preach. They have no local church that they attend consistently. They are not grounded because; I guess no church is good enough for them. I call them “Crusimatic -Charismatic’s.”  These spiritual gypsies, {no disrespect to gypsies} they never stay in one place. I am distressed by the lack of respect for the local assembly people have. I have watched people walk in with a Shofar {rams horn} to blow in the middle of a service without even asking.   It is not only funny, it is ridiculous.   When people are out of order, they need to be told to sit down or leave.  I had one catch me off guard once, but never again. 

P

astor Mike, are you holding back “the Spirit” from moving? No, I am not quenching the Spirit, I am obeying him.  When it comes to worship, correction, or music the Bible says, “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” {1 Co 14:40 NIV} It is not your place to be a prophet when you are not recognized by the local assembly. God recognizes the local assembly as the highest judicial spiritual agency on the earth.  {See Mathew 18:15-19; 1 Cor 6:1-5}

The Bible teaches that we should know and respect the people that labor among us.  1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.” They say,” Well, I have heard from God, it does not matter what men think.”  I don’t care about your opinion. Well, Paul says it best in 1 Co 14:36-38, it sates, “Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?  If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.  If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.” NIV

What is a Pastor-Elder-Prophet?

Biblically, the office of the prophet is a recognized elder in the church.  This word elder does not always  mean older person {it can include it} alone, but spiritual maturity and more like his position.  An elder is or could be a pastor. No one should take the title of elder unless he is qualified and called by God, the church and his own elders to be one.  Timothy was a young man but was told to correct people just not an older man {1 Tim 5:1}. Paul said to “Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.  You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food — catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.  But you — keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant. “

Do I need a Pastor-Prophet?

From the scripture I gave in the beginning, I want you to know that a pastor-prophet must correct, teach, and bring people into spiritual maturity. He also is commanded to speak when God speaks. Amos lists several natural reactions to several different situations.  People who walk together are in agreement. A lion roars if he has a prey. You can read it above. When God speaks, the prophet must speak.  It is only natural.  We need the pastor for guidance and growth.  We need him for accountability and authority in our life. 

Heb 13:7-8 & 17 Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all….Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them? (from THE MESSAGE:

1 Th 5:12-13 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

1 Ti 5:17-20 {NLT} Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!" 

In other words, it is the pastor’s job to “be up in your business.”  I have had many people call me “Pastor.” It was only lip service. They only listened till I crossed them or their family.  Listen, you need a pastor because it is his job to pull spiritually up in your driveway and sit in your living room and tell you the truth, like it or not.  You need to be thankful that someone takes the time and energy to not only love you, but correct you. In King David’s life the Prophet Nathan rebuked him for his adultery with Bathsheba but also supported him in everything he did after his repentance. You have no better friend than a pastor who you have listened to well.  I am a testimony that when I listen to my Pastor all went well in my life. 

I would not give you a penny for a man of God who would not tell people living in a burning building that their house was on fire.  If your doctor did an MRI and saw a large spot on your lung and said, “hey, this is nothing to worry about, let’s have lunch.”  I am sure you would say he does not care much for you.  So when a pastor sees you living in sin or sees danger ahead, do you want him to say nothing?  

I once heard of a man who had heart failure. The paramedics worked on him trying to get his heart started and broke every one of his ribs.  He revived and lives today. He stood with them in a picture smiling with a cast around his entire thoracic cavity {chest}.  He was not mad at them for breaking his ribs, he was glad he was alive!  Get the picture?  You may feel like your pastor is cranky, busting your chops and having a bad mood.  That is all possible, ask me how I know. Nonetheless, he is the oracle of God. God will use him in your life, if you listen to him. 

In our day, where the prophets are just greedy for personal gain and could care less for the sheep, we need real prophets who speak the truth in love and declare the word of God! We need men and women of God to stand up for what things are right. 

The pastor-prophet is not beyond sin himself, often God use prophets to correct the failing prophets.  It is just his job. It is not fun to have to confront people. Any pastor worth his salt will tell you the highest joy of their ministry is not being the prophet. We are all human and want to be loved and accepted. We do not want people to leave the church because they are mad.   But can we be silent about sin?  Can we be silent when people mock us and ridicule us? No, we must preach without fear of favor.

2 Ch 20:20 Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." ESV