Biblical Pastoring
a Personal Perspective
Compiled by Pastor Leonard Roy Harris
Introduction
Jeremiah 3:15 " Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. He will or has given us. Give is the hebrew word nathan. It is very broad because he gives his shepherds to the flock in such unique ways. GIVE = A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.):-add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.
Shepherd is pastor which is another comprehensive word which allows for the uniqueness of Christ to express itself. It means a man who does a number of things. A primitive root; to tend a flock, that is, pasture it; intransitively to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension to associate with (as a friend):- X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep [sheep] (-er), pastor, + shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. I like the part that says to keep company with and make friendship. I personally respond to the relational aspect of pastoring. I believe this is related to God's design in my personality, temperment, giftedness and passion. After God's heart means we do it from our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to get right to the "bare bones" of biblical pastoring as our Chief Shepherd has chosen to work with me since October 31st 1976. I believe that pastoring is an intensely personal matter between the undershepherd and the Chief Shepherd. Each undershepherd in a unique way expresses the shepherding of Jesus. No two undershepherds shepherd in the same way. Each one is a unique reflection of the shepherd's heart of Christ. A major qualification of every undershepherd is that he has to be after the shepherds heart of Christ. He has to be willing to allow the Chief Shepherd to fashion and craft him into that one of a kind unique expression of His shepherding heart to the unique flock that He crafts it to fit.
One thing that every unique undershepherd has in common is a call to feed the sheep and to be a unique instrument of shepherding in the hands of the Chief Shepherd. The biblical responsibility is the same but the fulfillment of it is in a different unique style for each undershepherd. Each undershepherd is a unique blend of background, experiences, training, giftedness, family upbringing, drives, thinking, emotions, temperment, relationships, passions etc which are forged in the cauldron of Christ in the hot burning of life to fashion that man suited and fitted to be established with a flock over time that he will give an account of to the Chief Shepherd.
I want to approach this in a style for the shepherd on the go. I want to fashion this like apprenticeship training. I want to be brutally practical. I want to address the real and the day to day. My goal is to share about my personal discoveries as a template for your personal discovery. I do not want to promote your shepherding like I do but I would like to promote your discovery of the unique form of shepherding that Jesus the Chief shepherd has been forging in you through the joys and sunshine of life as well as the hurts and darknesses of the same.
I believe this forging begins from the call which I believe the scriptures teach is from the womb Galatians 1:15. I believe this call from the womb takes into account the physical appearance of the shepherd as well as his inate mental, emotional and behavioral uniqueness which taken together best fits him for his call and the sheep Jesus will care for through him during his life span. We see additional biblical insight on this in Psalms 139:14-16 where the Lord through the psalmist describes the initial fashioning of each one for God's purpose occuring in the womb which is described as " curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth" It is the raw ingredients which will be put in the grinders of everyday life to fit and fashion, mold and make into the man or woman of God and the servant of Christ.
Biblical Pastoring Chapter 1
OUR INNER LIFE AND THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.
It is through our inner life that we have connection with the spiritual world and it is through our outer life that we have connection with the physical world. Our means of connection to the spiritual world is our spirtual senses which is our spirtual eyes, ears, and sense of touch and taste and smell. Our means of connection to the physical world are our physical senses through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and sense of touch. God the Father exists in the spiritual world in heaven and his son Jesus lives with him in heaven as well as in the spirit of each one who has received him as Savior and Lord. From his place of residence in our spirit he seeks to become lord in every area of our soul that is our mind and its thoughts, and world view and attitude etc. Our heart with its emotions and feelings and passions etc. Our will with its habits and choices and decisions and "ways".
To be led by the Spirit, to walk in the Spirit, to be spiritual, to walk in newness of life, to be filled with the Spirit etc. in a practical sense means to fellowship with Jesus in our spirit and to communicate with Jesus in our spirit and to cooperate with Jesus in our spirit and to be directed by Jesus in our Spirit in His ongoing work of working on our heart to make it his home and to work through us to show love to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to work together with them to advance God's kingdom on earth through spreading the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples of Christ which means followers of the indwelling Christ. This can only be done as we explain the inner man and the inner life and the indwelling Christ to the new believer! We must explain to them how to establish close fellowship and communication and intimacy with the indwelling Christ so that they can begin to hear his voice and see his movement and manifestation in the physical world and pick up on his guidance and direction for their lives.
This sets us up for a relational approach to pastoring and not just a technique approach. The way to develop leaders is to practically apply the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 and 1 Peter 2:21-25 where Paul says follow my example as I follow the example of Christ and Peter explains what the example of Christ is. We lead by example. We cannot lead spiritually until we discern the specific, taylor-made, personal example of suffering that Jesus has set for us. In discerning that and following that we can lead others. We often find ourselves trying to following some external example which may be a good example but we need to find that internal example of the indwelling Jesus who personally applies the bible to each of us personally and intimately. There can be no true spirituality without a true ability to discern and follow the leadership of the indwelling Christ. That leadership is often against our will and costly.
The scriptures give us ways of discerning and testing the leadership of the indwelling Christ. Also remember Matthew 5:19 where Jesus said " 19 Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." All that Jesus wants us to do`and be outwardly comes from our inner relartionship with him as the indwelling Christ. Even 1 John 1:7 says`"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Daily devotion is daily communing with the indwelling Christ.
We must spend time in our inner man, in the spirit because it is from there that we fellowship with the indwelling Jesus! Let's now look at 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 and 1 Peter 2:21-25 as our Primer from Paul and Peter on biblical pastoring.
Biblical Pastoring Chapter 2
OUR INNER LIFE AND THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.
KEEP IN MIND ALWAYS THE CONSTANT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE OUTER MAN AND THE INNER MAN. GALATIANS 5:16-18 SAYS "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
" ROMANS 8:4-9 TELLS US THAT WE MUST SURRENDER CONTROL TO THE SPIRIT IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE LIFE AND PEACE. IN ORDER TO SURRENDER WE MUST FOCUS ON THE INNER MAN AND THE INNER LIFE AND THE INDWELLING CHRIST AND THE INDWELLING SPIRIT AND SUBMIT OUR WILL TO HIS WILL. "in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."
THE SOURCE OF OUTER CONFLICT BETWEEN PEOPLE WHICH RESULTS IN JUDGING PEOPLE WITH A SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT RATHER THAN WITH A SPIRIT TO RESTORE WHICH BLOCKS UNITY AND HARMONY AND ONENESS.IS THE UNRESOLVED INNER BATTLE WITHIN EACH OF US BETWEEN THE OUTER AND THE INNER MAN. THE OUTER MAN HAS A FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD AND EVEN LOVES THE WORLD LOOK AT JAMES 4:1-12 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?"
OUR OUTER MAN MUST BE DENIED HIS CONTROL AND CRUCIFIED DAILY AS WE PUT HIM ON THE CROSS DAILY SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW THE INDWELLING JESUS THROUGH THE INNER MAN. LUKE 9:23 TELLS US THIS 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Galatians 2:20 says " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This Galatians 2:20 is a major part isn't it?" My outer man has been crucified with Christ and I no longer live in my outer man but Christ lives in me. The life I live now I live in my inner man for Christ, rather than in my outer man for myself."
Biblical Pastoring
Chapter 3
The life I live in this physical body I live by faith in the indwelling Christ who loves me and gives himself for me."
" So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1).THE FIRST PHASE IN DEVELOPING AS A PASTOR IS TO CHECK OUR MOTIVE IN LEADERSHIP. THE PRIME DIRECTIVE HERE IS THAT OUR MOTIVE MUST ALWAYS BE TO GLORIFY GOD. PAUL MENTIONS THIS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 4:5 " For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake." WE MUST MOVE PAST A NEED TO: a). Promote ourselves b). Be first c) Be right. c). Be in control. d) Be recognized e) Be the center of attention Humility is really the means to reaching the prime directive to glorify the Lord. This is why the Lord has a taylor-made pattern of suffering for each of us so that he might sift the impurities of the fesh out and keep is broken and humbled and weak in ourselves so that we will be strong in him. Paul mentions this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 as he describes something of his daily cross. Now stop right here because I have an assignment for you. Take a moment and write a description of your personal cross from God and what you know of his reasons for fashioning it as he has.
ONE WHO STILL HAS PERSONAL STRUGGLE AND ISSUES IN THESE AREAS OF SELF IS NOT YET READY FOR SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND NEEDS TO BE BROKEN SO THAT THE FRUIT OF A LEADERSHIP EXAMPLE CAN BE DEVELOPED. IT IS NOT JUST THE ACADEMIC AND SKILL QUALIFICATIONS SUCH AS PREACHING, TEACHING ETC BUT THE CHARACTER QUALITIES PARTICULARLY HUMILITY THAT IS NEEDED SO THAT UNCRUCIFIED SELF WILL NOT CAUSE THE LEADER TO FALL INTO THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL AS MENTIONED IN I Timothy 3:6 an 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
WE MUST ALWAYS SEEK TO BE SERVANTS OF CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF SAID " I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. in John 12:24 In 2 Corinthians 4: We in a sense find our leadership when we find our sufferng because that is where the footsteps of Jesus are in our life. 2 CorIinthians 4 says For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
INSIGHT ONE-WE MUST NOT PREACH OURSELVES AS LORD BUT JESUS AS LORD. INSIGHT TWO-WE MUST SEE OURSELVES AS THE BOND SERVANTS OF OTHERS FOR JESUS' SAKE. WE ARE DEALING HERE WITH THE ISSUE OF PRIDE AND SELF LORDSHIP. JESUS GAVE A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE HIMSELF FOR HIS FLEDGLING LEADERS AT HIS LAST SUPPER.
THIS EXAMPLE IS PROBABLY THE FIRST MAJOR EXAMPLE FOR JESUS' SPIRITUAL LEADERS. IT IS FOUND IN John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them."You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. JESUS SAYS
THAT HE HAS SET AN EXAMPLE THAT WE SHOULD DO AS HE HAS DONE FOR US. HE LOVES US SO MUCH AND SERVES US SO MUCH THAT HE WASHES OUR FEET. WE SHOULD WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET THAT IS, WE MUST WALK IN DEEP HUMILITY WITH ONE ANOTHER! NOT SEEKING TO LORD IT OVER ONE ANOTHER OR TO CONTROL ONE ANOTHER OR DOMINATE ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS MENTIONED TO ELDERS IN 1 PETER 5:2-3 "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
IT IS ALSO MENTIONED AGAIN IN THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDER IN 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 THAT" HE MUST NOT BE OVERBEARING OR QUARRELSOME." IT IS MENTIONED IN 2 TIMOTHY 2:23-26 23 "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
WHAT I HAVE POINTED TO SO FAR ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERVANT IN WASHING ONE ANOTHER'S FEET 6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. INSIGHT NUMBER THREE JESUS IS THE ONE WHO HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US PERSONALLY IN OUR HEART. HE LIVES IN OUR SPIRIT BUT HE IS TRYING MORE AND MORE TO DWELL IN OUR HEART BY OUR FAITH IN HIM.
Ephesians 3:16-17 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. HE STRENGTHENS US WITH POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN OUR INNER BEING THAT IS IN OUR SPIRIT SO THAT JESUS MAY DWELL IN OUR HEART THAT IS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AND WAYS BY OUR FAITH IN HIM AS THE INDWELLING, "MOVING IN" JESUS.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be ……nifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
