In New Testament days, when a person trusted Christ as his Saviour, he soon followed the Lord in baptism by immersion and became a member of the local church. Baptism and church membership were the norm for every Christian. These are still God’s plan for today. Every person who trusts Christ for salvation ought to soon seek to be baptised in a biblical church and then unite with that church in membership. Being a member of a fundamental Baptist church is very important for one’s spiritual growth.

Warren Wiersbe wisely states, “It is tragic when believers neglect or ignore the local church. No family is perfect and no local church is perfect; but without a family to protect him and provide for him, a child would suffer and die. The child of God needs the church family if he is to grow, develop his gifts, and serve God.” The Bible Exposition Commentary, 2:186

Transition

In our text today, Paul begged the Christians to fulfil two duties toward their pastors. I always feel funny preaching message about your duties toward me as your pastor, but God holds me responsible to teach you what He has said, so let’s begin.

Your first duty is to

Know Your Pastor

  1. You must learn what “know” means
    1. The basic meaning of this word is to see or to perceive.
    2. It also deals with having knowledge of something. Thayer’s Lexicon says that in this verse the word means to have regard for one, cherish, and pay attention to.
  2. You must know your pastor’s God-given job
    1. He labours among you.
      1. The word labour means to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief); to labour with wearisome effort. Thayer
      2. One of your duties is to know (i.e., to perceive, and appreciate) the work that your pastor does.
      3. It is difficult to comprehend fully what a pastor does if you have never been a pastor. A pastor’s primary job is to study the Bible, prepare sermons, and pray. (Acts 6:4) “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” A pastor’s job, especially in a very small church, includes the work of a secretary, a treasurer, a counsellor, a youth leader, a problem-solver, an administrator, a church bus driver, unlocking and locking the building, setting up before the services, and being the evangelistic outreach leader. An unseen work of a pastor, often known only by his wife, is the emotional care of the congregation, as a shepherd who cares for his sheep. When I see one of you heading a direction that I know will hurt you, it burdens my soul. Paul mentioned this at the end of his list of personal hardships. (2 Corinthians 11:28) “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”Pray for your pastor as he studies and works to build you up spiritually. Get involved in as many ways as you can to ease his work. Arrive at services early. Become a working church member. Several of you are doing this and that is a blessing.
    2. He is over you in the Lord.
      1. The word “over” comes from a word that means to be set or placed over; to superintend, preside; to protect or guard. Peter tells us that the pastor is not to be a dictator but a leader and an example to follow. (1Pet 5:2-3) “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
      2. Your pastor is over you in the Lord. He is your spiritual leader. He is the leader of the local church. He is your spiritual protector. I am responsible for the doctrine and practice of our church. I am not the leader of your home. Husbands that is your job.
      3. By knowing and submitting to your pastor’s God-given job of leading this church, you can be a help and blessing to him.
    3. He is to admonish you.
      1. The word “admonish” means to express disapproval or to warn sternly.
      2. God has given pastors the jobs of working to feed and care for his congregation and leading them in spiritual matters, but God has also given him the job of warning of danger. This pastoral job is often unpleasant.
        1. He must warn his congregation against false teachings, cults, ungodly music, worldliness, immodesty, divorce, lust, pornography, unfiltered Internet, etc.
        2. He must warn individuals when he sees potential problems like anger, bad attitudes, selfishness, rebellion, unruly children, marital tensions, etc.
      3. It will help you and your pastor if you know that God has given him the job of warning. Pray that he will have wisdom and courage to be a godly admonisher for you and your family.
        Your second duty is to

Esteem Your Pastor

  1. First, you must understand the word “esteem”
    1. The word translated “esteem” means to consider or to think. The English word “esteem” means to value, to prize, to hold in high opinion.
    2. In our text, the English definition describes well the meaning of the word. Christians must value, prize and hold their pastor in high opinion. They should address him respectfully. This is not to give him an ego trip, but to enable his ministry to be more effective in your life. If you pray for your pastor daily, love him, and value his preaching, you will be more likely to follow the godly counsel that he gives.
  2. God tells you how and why you must esteem your pastor
    1. Esteem your pastor very highly in love.
      1. The phrase “very highly” can also be translated more than exceedingly. “Love” is sacrificially giving of yourself to meet the needs of another expecting nothing in return. One commentator said, “The words in the Greek carry such an emphasis as cannot well be expressed in English, importing esteem and love to an hyperbole.” Matthew Poole Another said this is the “strongest intensive possible to the language.” Cambridge
      2. Putting these phrases together, you are to value highly your pastor more than you can possibly express by your love. Another preacher interpreted it “hold in a most extraordinary degree of love.” Ellicott
    2. Esteem your pastor for his work’s sake. The reason you are to esteem your pastor like this is not because he is a great guy, but because of his position and the work he does to build you spiritually.
    3. Esteem your pastor to promote peace. If you properly value your pastor and his position, you will not work against him or in any way make his ministry difficult. You will not undermine his ministry with criticism and gossip. You will live by the command in (Hebrews 13:17) “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Conclusion

As your pastor, I will be the first to admit that I am far from perfect. Though I have many faults, but God has elevated my position as pastor. For this reason, God has given you two duties: 1) You must know me and my God-given job to work to edify you spiritually, to lead you spiritually by example, and to warn you of spiritual dangers. 2) You must esteem me very highly in love because of the position and work God has given me. If you hear someone speaking disrespectfully of your pastor, it is your duty to correct them.

This message has not been one of complaint. I am simply preaching what God has written. If God has convicted you that you need to change an attitude or action, then I encourage you to obey God.

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337
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Duties Toward Your Pastor
17 April 2016 AM – 1Thes 5:12-13 – 1Th2016 – Scott Childs