“Then [in the final time] I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart,
who will feed you with knowledge and [true] understanding."
(Jeremiah 3:15 AMP)
In September I read a blog entry by Mario Murillo, an evangelist and pastor in California, that started with these words written to pastors:
"YOU ARE NOW A WARTIME PASTOR
"You believe you have a choice. But reality and circumstances have made the choice. You can try to stay out of the war, but you will be labeled a traitor. I am not calling you a traitor–but the situation will. Things are deteriorating fast. The battle lines are are drawn so clearly. Your silence will label you a turncoat.
"There is a powerful pull to remain a peacetime pastor. Nostalgia and the yearning for simpler times are strong temptations. But there is no going back. Like it or not, reject it or not, you are now a wartime pastor."*
His article goes on to enumerate the many challenges that pastors face today, caught in the crosshairs of a choice between a Biblically-based Christian faith and a faith that absorbs all the ideas in our culture that do not come from a Biblical worldview.
In a way, all Christians are standing in such a place. Will we believe what the world says or believe what God says? Will we choose to act like the world, or like Jesus? Will we fight for God's Truth, Justice, Righteousness, and Peace or be sucked into the world's warped understandings of those important things?
Many men and women serving in leadership capacities are strong leaders, led by Holy Spirit, and fulfilling the calling on their lives. But, there are others in leadership capacities who, truthfully, should not be - or no longer should be - leading in Jesus's Church. My words here are not to call them out or to tear them down as people. Instead, I believe the people of the Church need to be intentionally praying for our leaders in a way that lifts them up in this whole new season of ministry in this ever-changing world.
How are you praying for the pastors, teachers, and other leaders of Christ's Church?
Jesus, our Shepherd-King,
We thank you and praise you that you are the perfect example of Holy Spirit-led leadership. Thank you for caring for your flock, giving them godly leaders whose hearts and minds are set on things above, not earthly things. Thank you for the Leaders' compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, expertise, strength, and love for You and your Body. Today we pray for these leaders. We pray for the leaders to be good examples of Jesus in this world as they share your Word, correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction. Give them abundant courage and strength, reminding them that you do NOT give them a spirit of fear, or timidity, but you give a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Watch over them so they may be alert and of sober minds. Cause them to be alert to and resist the enemy of our souls and to hear only the sweet, kind, and loving voice of your Spirit. Guard and guide their marriages, child-raising, and other community activities so that these relationships honor and glorify you. Bless them as they persevere through the trials of today. Grant them overflowing discernment and remind them that you love them in the midst of hard decisions and taking unpopular, but godly, positions on today's issues. Remove from leadership all those who do not walk with you, are not humble before you, have led lives that do not honor you, or are out for selfish gain. Remove from leadership those who abuse your children or your church. Remove from leadership those who will not take a stand for You. Give these leaders your favor and blessing to persevere under trial so they may receive the rewards and blessings You have promised them. Reform your Church so that it is led by loving, unified, Spirit-led men and women who seek to make disciples and further your Kingdom. In your powerful name we pray, Amen.
“‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them." (Ezekiel 34:7-10 NIV)
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV)
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory... Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:1-4, 10-17)
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)
"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:1-11 NIV)
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 NIV)
* https://mariomurillo.org/2021/09/14/you-are-now-a-wartime-pastor/
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