Characteristics of a good pastor

1.   Personal knowledge: no stranger to God or gospel experiences (John 10:5; 2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:5; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Cor. 12)

2.   Divine call: not from greed, personal ambition, respect, honor, self-interests, or love of ease (John 10:2; Acts 13:3; 1 Cor. 12:28; Ephes. 4:11; Romans 11:29)

3.   Consecrated motives: God's will and glory, salvation of lost souls, and the best interests of the church and all people (John 10:9-13; Luke 19:10; Acts 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; Ephes. 4:12)

4.   Divine anointing: not human education, wisdom, polish, and effort only, but divine leading and help (Luke 11:13; Luke 24:49; John 7:37-39; John 14:12-17,26; John 15:26; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 5:32; 1 Cor. 2:1-10; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; 2 Cor. 3)

5.   Personal interest: acquaintance with his flock, private and public instruction, and helpfulness in all problems (John 10:3,9; Acts 20:26-35; Ephes. 1:15-19; Ephes. 3:13-21; 1 Thes. 2:4-13; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Hebrews 13:7,17)

6.   Good example: lead, not drive; feed, not destroy; and live what is preached (John 10:3-4; 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 4:8-18; 2 Cor. 6:1-10; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2; Titus 1)

7.   Divine success: be zealous and fearless to protect, heal, preserve, increase, visit, and sacrifice for the flock (John 10:9-18; Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-16; Luke 19:10; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Ezekiel 13:1-9; Ezekiel 34)

Healing and health (not sickness) gives God glory!

INDIVIDUALS GLORIFIED GOD FOR THEIR HEALING:

ZACHARIAS: LUK 1:64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.

LAME MAN: LUK 5:25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up that whereon he lay, departed to his own house, glorifying God.

CRIPPLED WOMAN: LUK 13:13 He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

LEPER: LUK 17:15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.

BLIND MAN AT JERICHO: LUK 18:43  Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God.

BLIND MAN IN TEMPLE: JOH 9:38 He said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

LAZARUS: JOH 11:4 This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

LAME MAN: ACT 3:8 He leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the emple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 

MULTITUDES GLORIFIED GOD FOR HEALINGS:

PARALYZED MAN: MAT 9:8 The multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

DUMB-MAIM-LAME-BLIND: MAT 15:31  The multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

MOTHERS SON RESURRECTED: LUK 7:16 There came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and that God hath visited his people.

CRIPPLED WOMAN: LUK 13:17 All the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

BLIND MAN AT JERICHO: LUK 18:43 All the people when they saw it, gave praise to God.

LAME MAN (ACTS): ACT 3:9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 4:21 All men glorified God for that which was done.

 

SEVERAL PEOPLE GLORIFIED GOD BEFORE THEY RECEIVED THEIR HEALING:

LEPER: MAT 8:2 There came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if you are willing, thou can make me clean.

JAIRUS' DAUGHTER: MAT 9:18 There came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.

WOMAN WITH DEMON POSSESSED DAUGHTER: MAT 15:25 She came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

DEMON POSSESSED MAN IN TOMBS: MAR 5:6 When he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him.

You were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's - 1Cor 6:20.

 

 

Between the impossible & possible - stands Jesus Christ!

You do the possible; God will do the impossible.

You do the natural; God will do the supernatural.

You do what you can do, and God will do what you can't do.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? – Gen 18:14.

Has the Lord’s arm been shortened? – Num 11:23.

I know the Lord can do everything. - Job 42:2.

There is nothing too hard for the Lord. – Jer 32:17

Nothing will be impossible for you – Mat 17:20.

With God all things are possible Mat 19:26.

With God nothing will be impossible – Luk 1:37.

All things, whatsoever you  ask in prayer, believing, you will receive – Mat 21:22.

All things are possible to the one who believes – Mar 9:22.

What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them – Mar 11:24.

Whatever you will ask of the Father in the Name of Jesus, He will give to you – John 15:16.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me – Phi 4:13.

Between the impossible and the possible - stands Jesus Christ!

Do you have any troubles?

The Bible tells us:
 
God has promised to deliver you --- when you are in trouble:
Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.
Psalm 91:15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.   
 
How to avoid trouble:
Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
 
Others are often helpless to help --- when you are in trouble:
Psalm 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Psalm 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain (useless) is the help of man.
 
What to do --- when you are in trouble:
Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 107:13  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
 
You must pray --- when you are in trouble:
Psalm 142:2 I poured out my complaint before him; I declared to him my trouble.
Psalm 31:9 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
 
You must testify --- about God delivering you from trouble:
Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 54:7 For he has delivered me out of all trouble.
 
God testifies about delivering you: Psalm 81:7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you.
 
You must exercise faith in God --- when you are in trouble:
Psalm 9:9 The Lord will be a refuge….in times of trouble.
Psalm 138:7 Though I live in the midst of trouble, You will revive me….and Your right hand will save me.
 
Today's the day to be delivered speedily from all your troubles:
Psalm 102:2 Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline Your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

 

Are you a friend of this world?

 

James 4:4 Whoever is a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

The Christian must: 

1. Live free from the cares of the world (Matthew 13:22; Luke 21:34-36)
2. Not gain the world at the expense of their soul (Matthew 16:26)
3. Not offend others as the world does (Matthew 18:7)
4. Not be of it (John 15:19; John 17:14,16)
5. Not love their life in the world (John 12:25)
6. Be delivered from the world (Galatians 1:4)
7. Be crucified to the world (Galatians 6:14)
8. Shine as a light in the world (Phil. 2:15)
9. Deny its lusts; live godly in it (Titus 2:12)
10. Be unspotted from the world (James 1:27)
11. Not be friends with the world (James 4:4)
12. Escape the pollution and corruption of the world (2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 2:20)
13. Not love the world, neither the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15-17)
14. Be like Christ in the world (1 John 4:17)
15. Overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5)
16. Be chosen out of it (John 15:19; John 17:6)
17. Be not conformed to it (Romans 12:2)
18. Be dead to its ways (Col. 2:20)

 

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

1. Look at circumstances  -  and be defeated.
2. Look around  -  and be distracted.     
3. Look within  -  and be afraid.
4. Look back  -  and be discouraged. 
5. Look to others  -  and be disappointed.
6. Look to Jesus  -  and see miracles – Look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith – Heb 12:2.

Some good things from a good God!

1. Food & drink are “Good Things”

LUK 1:53   He has filled the hungry with good things.

PSA 103:5  Who satisfies your mouth with good things.

 

2. Wife is a “Good Thing”

PRO 18:22  He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains blessing from the Lord.

 

3. Your home, business, income and material blessings are all “Good Things”

DEU 6:10   The Lord your God….will give you….11  houses full of all good things.

 

4. Thanking the Lord & singing praises are “Good Things”

PSA 92:1   It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto your name, O most High.

 

5. To rejoice for what you have is a “Good Thing”

DEU 26:11  Rejoice in every good thing which the Lord your God has given to you and your house.

 

6. Health is a “Good Thing!”

3JO 1:2       Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

ACT 10:38  Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

 

How to receive good things:

ROM 2:4  The goodness of God leads you to repentance.

PSA 34:10   Those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.