BRO. SOLA, WHO'S A PASTOR?

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 where I jot down things. 

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. 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.  Look at III John 1:2, KJV.

“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. 

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].”

It's a pastor who can furnish or sensitize you to everything that'll require your prospering. He doesn't want you to lag behind or lack in anyway. 

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. 

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. 

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 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. 

What makes them 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. 

@ M'Wings.