Plant, Then Call

613 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; Continuing a look at qualifications for spiritual leaders in the New Testament church. The pastor (bishop) THEN. Important word THEN because it implies that something has to happen first before we even get to these qualifications and that something is what is known as “the call.” The call is nothing more than a God-given desire or yearning to shepherd a local congregation. In short, as we discussed last time, to be a mother hen, devoted to prayer and ministering of the Word. (Applying it to the flock) But how does one know when they are “called” of God to serve in that capacity. I wish I had a cut and dried answer for you. Perhaps we can learn from the New Testament example of Paul and Barnabas. They had been sent out as evangelists, and as they gathered believers in all the cities where they preached, before they left, they appointed elders (men who met the qualifications as set forth in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1. Ac 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. These elders served as pastors (ministers of the Word) and were not appointed lightly by Paul and Barnabas. They prayed and fasted along with the fledgling congregation, seeking guidance from the Lord as to who they should appoint. When they were satisfied with the Lord's answer they typically laid on hands and appointed them to serve in that capacity. Then commended (placed the congregation in the hands of the Lord) Paul and Barnabas did this in EVERY church. Every congregation needs an overseer, a pastor. Someone, first of all with a God-given desire to serve in that capacity, and secondly one who has been screened by the church planters and the congregation, and then selected through prayer and fasting. Remember, elders (pastors) are a gift to the church from Jesus Himself and the giver of the gift needs to be consulted This is an age old process, handed down by the Lord who is the One who builds His church. We would do well to continue to follow this procedure today. Self-appointed pastors are usually a bad accident waiting to happen. Plant, then prayerfully appoint using the criteria found in Scripture.