The Pastor of the Church
Notes
Transcript
Introduce family
Remember to say, “Thank you,” for all they’ve done, the room, the opportunity to preach, their generosity, and their testimony for Christ in Paxton, IL.
Encourage people to allow the Word of God to work today instead of focusing on a personality or a presentation.
Turn to Hebrews 13:20-21.
We have been praying for your pastoral search since May, asking God to provide exactly what you need. It is easy to get caught up in this need because it is before you constantly, and it is such a great necessity. But I would like to turn your attention this morning away from a man being our solution to Christ.
Before Grace Baptist Church in Paxton, IL is ready for a pastor, you must recognize the leadership that God has already given you.
The word pastor in our New Testament occurs only one time in Ephesians 4:11. It points out the office of a pastor in the local church. But word pastor simply means shepherd, and shepherds are mentioned throughout the New Testament.
While praying for God to provide you a pastor, it is easy to forget an important truth; you already have a pastor!
Now remember, in Scripture, the word for pastor is translated mostly as “Shepherd.”
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, 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.
Christ is the Pastor, if you will, of this church. Follow Him! Love Him! Serve Him!
Our Pastor (Jesus Christ)
Our Pastor (Jesus Christ)
This is Jesus’ church! He is the Master, the Shepherd, the Savior, and the Bridegroom of the church. He owns it twice, once by creation and again by redeeming it. Let us never forget that Jesus Christ is central to this church!
Someone might ask, “Does that mean that we don’t need a pastor?” The point is that until you recognize the Chief Shepherd, you will not be ready to follow Christ’s under-shepherd.
Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd and all are beneath His authority. This is a wonderfully freeing truth. Because our responsibility is simply to follow Him!
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,
What you find in this verse, is a description of Jesus Christ.
As you look here you find that Jesus Christ is a unique Shepherd because He is the only Shepherd to have become a Lamb. He did so because He is our sacrifice.
He is our Sacrifice
He is our Sacrifice
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
This story does not end with Christ’s sacrifice however, it goes on to His victory!
He is our Victory
He is our Victory
Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:55ff.
Through His resurrection we have hope.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus provides the motivation for victory, but it also provides the means for victory.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
The Holy Spirit which raised up Jesus Christ from the dead indwells every believer! He gives us the ability to have victory.
This is why 1 Corinthians 15 finishes with this thought.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The third description is that He is our Shepherd.’
He is our Shepherd
He is our Shepherd
A shepherd is there to lead, to feed, and to protect the flock. Without Him, the herd would scatter, they would struggle to find pasture, and they would be vulnerable to treacherous beasts. This is the picture of the pastor in the New Testament, a shepherd who leads, feeds, and protects the flock of God.
Christ does all this for us. There is no limit to what Jesus Christ is willing to provide for His sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
How well do you know your Shepherd? Do you know Him by His voice?
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Do you follow His voice?
He is our Security
He is our Security
Christ washed our sins in His blood! Our sins are gone! And the New Testament which He established by shedding His blood is an everlasting covenant that cannot be taken away.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Our Perfecting
Our Perfecting
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,
It is God Himself that works goodness in you! It is not from yourself!
He began the good work
He began the good work
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
This work began at salvation when God regenerated your spirit and place His Holy Spirit within you! Jesus began to do something wonderful in you!
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
He continues that work
He continues that work
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,
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Our Responsibility is to cooperate
Our Responsibility is to cooperate
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
May our fruit be wellpleasing to God because of Jesus. We must follow our Shepherd to fruitful pastures, pastures that nourish and grow us.
We have talked about our Pastor (Christ), our perfecting (maturing), but I would like to finish by asking you a question about your position.
Our Position
Our Position
Just because there is a shepherd, does not mean that you are part of the flock.
There are sheep that have wandered.
There are those who have never been part of the flock. Are you one of these?
Jesus is looking for you.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
You can have a Good Shepherd, a Great Shepherd to meet your needs today. He gave His life for you. So that you could know forgiveness and cleansing from your sin. Would you be willing to let Him find you? Would you be willing to let Him cleanse you? Would you be willing to let Him be your Shepherd?
Jesus is even more than a Shepherd. He is the door to the only place of safety for your soul.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The Door of eternal life is Jesus Christ, and He invites anyone who has not, to come to Him for everlasting life.