Obedient To Pastors

Hebrew 13:17

This is an important piece of doctrine, written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.

There are many people, saved and unsaved, that are totally unaware that there is any such direction, in the word of God.

In order to ascertain a better understanding of this text, that we have before us, it is imperative that we know , who are these persons, that Timothy is mentioning, have rule over us.

Who are they that Timothy direct us to obey and submits ourselves to them?

and finally in what sense are we to “obey and submit ourselves?

I was reading this book, “My folks’ don’t want me to talk about slavery by Belinda Hurmence. In it she interview Elias Thomas, who was a slave, he stated I quote “ we went to the white folks’ church on Sunday, the preacher told us, to obey your masters.”

Now if you took a moment, and examine this text for yourselves, it does not say anything, about obeying your master, it simply says “obey them that has rule over you” That’s not what the white preachers taught the slaves. They did not teach them the truth, they taught them a lie. There are no masters in the church, there are no big I’s nor little you’s.

The persons being mention in this text, who are they, that the rule over you?

Because you are a child of God, and you have confessed with your mouth, and believe in your heart, that God has raised Jesus from the dead, you are enjoined already, to obey those, who have rule over you.

Now to rule over you, does not imply, that your pastor, is not, the big boss man, that those in his congregation got to bow down, upon his appearance.

To rule over, from God’s prospective, is simply to guide.

This is confirmed in the seventh verse, “remember them, which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you, the word of God.

Those that have rule over you, are the same persons, who spoke unto you, the word of God, that is your pastors, the ones that is to guide, and feed you, with the word of God.

the pastors, who are suppose to go before the flock.

The pastors, who are to guide his members, in all the ways of truth and holiness.

The pastors, who are to nourish you, with the words of eternal life.

The pastors, who are to feed you, with the pure milk of the word.

The pastors, who teach the essential doctrines, for reproof, warning his congregation if they turn aside from the way, to the right hand or to the left; for correction, showing his congregation how to correct what is wrong, for instruction in righteousness, training his congregation in inward and outward holiness, until they come, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Pastors are to watch over your souls, as those, that shall give account.

As members of the church, you cannot watch over your pastor soul, as one to give account for your pastor, but your pastor is called, to watch over your souls.

Pastors must watch over the souls, that Jesus has brought with a price, those whom Jesus has purchased with His own blood.

Submit yourselves to the pastors, yield to your pastors, give up your own will.

If you do that, they will give an account of you, with joy, not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable to you.

If your pastor, was now called, to give an account of you, and it be with groans, and not joy, that will be unprofitable for you.

The lost, would fall, upon your own head.

I don’t want to wear your patience, but I desire, to leave you with this:

The most careful you obey your spiritual guides, the more powerfully, will God apply the word, which the pastors speak in His name, in your hearts.

The more plentifully, will God water, what is spoken, with the dew of His blessing; and the more proofs will you have, it is not just the pastors who speak, but the spirit of your Father, who speaketh through them.