BRO. SOLA, WHO'S A PASTOR?
Somebody asked me, "Bro. Sola, who's a pastor?"
I said, "Somebody who can cultivate others."
I thank God for my education - not basically and importantly the one I got in school.
Self education I mean.
I've studied.
There's no day I don't read.
And I don't mean the study of the Bible only.
If I don't have time to read, I'll watch videos - maybe sermons or whatever, listen to news and analysis of global trends or watch movies.
When I watch movies, I analyze, interpret and apply them to real life situations. My study of English Literature has made me an analyst and then an applier. That's why I'm progressing into the niche of global and geopolitical analysis, trends etc.
I hope you're not offended at my watching movies. I'm trained to watch movies and benefit from them. Watching a movie on critical themes and paying attention to lessons in them could mirror and prepare for real life.
For instance, I recently taught on Persecution, Suffering and Signs of the End Time. To complement my studies, I had to watch movies on End Time Crisis and how lawlessness is mirrored.
It's like running a simulation before the real event.
Then, I keep a good record.
I have a lot of diaries (note pads I intend) where I jot things down.
I'm not one of the people who listens to a speaker or reads and don't write things down.
I cultivated that habit before my campus days and mandated it for all the excos that served with me while I was President in TASUED.
I can bet it with you, many might have forgotten them.
A pastor is a cultivator - feeder of people with knowledge and understanding. Where you're ignorant, you'll remain a captive. A pastor frees you by the truth he teaches and the light you receive from that teaching which helps you to live in breakthrough in that area. Check Jeremiah 3:15.
"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
A pastor must be able to PROSPER his congregation in all ramifications of life. The success of a good pastor is seen in the growth of his congregation in every ramifications of their lives. For instance, when someone who's a spendthrift by teaching and counselling becomes a wise spender, now saves, invest and grows wealth; you'll say he has been prospered because he was taught.
Look at III John 1:2, KJV. See the wish, desire and pursuit of a pastor for his congregation.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Only a pastor thinks comprehsively about his congregation this way. When you want people to prosper and be in health in all things, then you teach them on how to prosper and be in health. When they abide by them (not being hearers only but doers of those taught things), then they'll have their breakthroughs and situations turned around.
See the Amplified Version.
"Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as I know your soul prospers [spiritually].”
ESV says, "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
It's a pastor who can furnish or sensitize you to everything that'll require your prospering in all things this way. He doesn't want you to lag behind or lack in anyway. He rather wants all things (make a list of things that concerns you) to go well with you. As a pastor therefore teaches you that, he also teaches you this - so that by them you may wage a good warfare and prosper. A pastor literally fulfills what Paul says here. See:
Acts 20:20 (KJV)
"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house."
Acts 20:27 (KJV)
"For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."
He wants you to be robust, all rounded and robustly attended to. He wants every areas of your life to prosper - mental/emotional, financial/economic, family, spiritual etc. Only that "profitable" as used in that Acts 20:20 only defers to spiritual growth or soundness. Yet, it carries the flavour of thoroughness and all roundedness.
I think we need to study certain Greek words in that III John 2. Let's see some good revelation so that you can decipher good pastors from those naming themselves as one.
Key Greek Words Explained
1. “Prosper” - euodoō. It means all these:
- To have a good journey
- To succeed in life’s path
- To be led along a good road
This is the breakdown of that word.
"eu" means good / well
"hodos" is road / way
The literal picture this paints is like somebody waving at you and saying, "May your journey in life go well.” This is NOT just money. It means success in decisions, favor in direction and progress without obstruction. That's what a pastor desires for you as he stands in the pulpit and teaches you.
2. "Be in Health" - hygiainō. It means to be sound, whole, healthy. It is the root of the English word, "hygiene." This is NOT just the absence of sickness but it refers to:
- Physical strength
- Wholeness of body
- Stability of condition
It also implies or means a life that is functioning properly - not breaking down.
3. "Soul" — psychē. It means inner life. It encapsulates your mind, will and emotions. We're referring to your seat of personality. Not just your "spirit" but also:
- Your thinking
- Your desires
- Your emotional state
This is your inner operating system.
4. "Prospers" (Soul prospers). The same word again - euodoō. It means your inner life is on the right path, flourishing.
All together, that verse is really saying, "I pray that your external life (health + success) will match the quality of your internal life (your soul’s alignment and growth)." Imagine that! That's all round prosperity and only one person teaches you to have such all round prosperity - a pastor! That's why you must see your local church as school. Always have writing materials - soaking everything and recording things down for later visitation. If you won't be a mere hearer, then you have to record things down in writing or you buy the tape so that you can revisit them and by them lead a prosperous life.
Why did I say that? Because every instruction you forget cannot prosper you. That's why we have many hearers and not doers. Many look at their faces in the mirror, depart and forget what they look like in a second. Such will never be prosperous because they have refused to take heed and live by the truths that are shared.
That verse sets a divine order:
1. Soul prosperity (INNER LIFE)
2. Physical health
3. External success
Now, let me ask you, "Who do you think can help you achieve all these? Who can you be accountable to - monitoring your progress, helping your discouragements and cheering you to success?" That's what a pastor does. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep by sacrificing for them in these manners that we have explained. He seeks the prosperity of his members. He wishes them well and sees to their progress.
Apart from God, he's the one who has thoughts of good towards you, seeking that you have a hope and a future (by what he teaches you and arms you to do life with) - Jer. 29:11.
So, he could acquire knowledge in all those areas of life or know something about them.
For short, he is a body of knowledge - a library or bank of information in one person. He must be able to diagnose and apply truth to your situation. Without consciously taking thought for how to do this every time, the Holy Spirit will lead him into the discovery of what is utmost that his congregation needs to hear, know or take action by. God will often give him teachings towards those areas. He could then complement that/those inspired teaching(s) with what he has gathered during his personal education and from his experiences.
He must be able to arm them with truths that are doable as he communicates spirit and life (John 6:63) while bringing in practical, life, historical and day to day events to supplement it etc.
That's why the office of a pastor is not usually alone. To a very good extent, every pastor is a teacher. He will be able to preach/teach. As a matter of fact, Ephesians 4 that talks about ministry offices or what we popularly call 5 fold offices in truth are 4. Let's see.
Ephesians 4:11, KJV
" And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers..."
Note this, "...and some, pastors and teachers."
They are together - intertwined though distinct rivers. They go hand in hand.They flow to meet into one. It is pastor and teacher. A pastor must be able to teach.
Let me say if you're serious with ministry or have your eyes on ministry (probably you're desiring the office of a bishop), you must give yourself to study and knowledge.
Because by it, your congregation will prosper.
Most of the educated people on earth are ministers - pastors especially. That's because they minister and pastor men from all walks of life, backgrounds, professions and education. Yet, they are relevant to their experiences and expectations when they teach or talk.
Imagine having a congregation of a hundred men yet when you speak, you meet their needs always. Yet, they aren't of one background, tribe, nationality, view, training or prejudice etc.
Imagine how difficult that should have been!
However, what makes them (those pastors) that relatable and important? The things we've been saying. The fact that they have or can teach what every human needs or is looking for.
At times, I wonder where all the things I know and have learnt would find application.
But what matters is to be faithful where one is.
Wider opportunities will come.
Olusola ADEJUMO,
M'Wings.
Morning Wings Ministry,
Nigeria.
+234 81 3704 6812
morningwingministry@gmail.com
11/04/2026
