A Pastor According to God's heart

What is a pastor according to God’s heart?

In Jeremiah 3:15, the Lord says .” Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with
knowledge and understanding” The knowledge and understanding that the pastors are to feed us with is the Word
of God. Acts 20:28 says, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

The pastor is a shepherd, who leads God’s people, which is the church. He is there to feed the church through
preaching and teaching the Word of God. But yet a question is still being asked: What is a pastor according to
God’s heart? Now, the key phrase is pastors according to God’s heart. And it is important to know what is a pastor
according to God’s heart because there are a lot of people who call themselves pastors, but they are not pastors
according to God’s heart. So the question is, what is a pastor according to God’s heart?

Well, a pastor according to God’s heart is someone who is:

1. Called by God. 2nd Timothy 1:8-9 says, “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his
prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a
holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given
us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,.”
Afflictions occur due to the “narrowness of the road” – the boldness of a courageous response “here is your
servant Lord, send me”. But unfortunately not all those who are called respond in this way.

2. Chosen by God. John 15:16 says, “you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you
might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
No higher calling exist for man than to be a servant messenger priest of God. Should never be taken lightly.
3. Annointed and Appointed by God. Acts 20:28 says, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
A tremendous responsibility (to preach, to teach, to maintain a good testimony in front of God and of the people)

4. Sent by God. Romans 10:13-15 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then,
can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not
heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
Sent equals being entrusted to do something. Being commissioned to a task, and this carries a constant and
overwhelming sense of duty. A holy burden.
Unlike any other occupation, this requires complete surrender, total selflessness, and the willingness to sacrifice
for the benefit of others
5. Given to the church by God. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to
the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
“be built up” 1 Corinthians 1:10
 A healthy church (Hebrews 12:15) “see to it that on one falls short of the grace of God and that
no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many”
o Roots of bitterness
 Causes trouble
 Defiles others (contaminates)
 Roots of bitterness appear due to unforgiveness.
  Unforgiveness is a sign (symptom) of a personality where the ego has not
surrendered completely to the will of God.
 Whereas the person’s (spiritual state) is not completely free to love.
 Whereas the person is not completely healthy in the spiritual sense.
 The person easily catches spiritual “colds or flus” due to its low spiritual immune
system of defense.
 Easily distracted
 Easily discouraged.
 Easily entangled into sin. i.e. gossip.

 Forgiveness is required to maintain a healthy church. This helps and pleases the shepherd.
 Forgiveness requires turning over our ego (and will) completely to the will of God.
o Renewing of the mind. Rom 12:2
o Adopting the attitude of Christ. Philippians 2:5-6
o By discipline in all spiritual prayer and scripture reading, study, and meditation.
o By simply reaching out in an attitude of forgiveness in humility and meekness.
o It will require a step of faith. Action.
 If we want a healthy church (free of bitterness) we must examine ourselves. Are we reflecting in
every way, with everyone, the forgiving, loving, selfless attitude of Christ?

7. A man of prayer, not just for himself, but for his family, and for the church.. Matthew 26:41 says to “watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

8. A man who studies the Word of God that he may present Jesus Christ in his preaching and teaching as the
central theme of the gospel message, and that his preaching and his teaching will be considered sound doctrine.
2nd Timothy 2:15 say, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to
be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Both 7 and 8 must be a challenge given the millions of distractions that we have to live with.

9. A man who patterns his life after the life of Jesus Christ so he may be example of Jesus Christ before his
congregation. 1 Peter 5:1-3 says, 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 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.
Here again we see the principle of selflessness.

10. A man who rules and leads well, not just in the church house, but also in his own house.. I Timothy
5:17 says, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose
work is preaching and teaching.”

11. A man who loves God and who loves God’s people. I Peter 1:22 says, “Now that you have purified
yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the
heart.”
“I can’t imagine any other reason why we keep doing this year after year but only because we truly love these
kids”
12. A man who cares for people.

A man who is patient with people.

A man who is kind and gentle with people.
A man who is humble.
A man who is unselfish.
A man who is peaceable.
A man who has the joy of the Lord as his strength.
A man who loves praising and worshipping God and leading his people to worship God.
A man who is willing and loves to serve God.
A man who loves working with the youth as well as the senior citizens.
A man who loves ministering to singles, as well as the married couples.
A man who ministers to those in prisons as well as those in the hospitals.
A man who believes in doing the right thing and being holy.
A man who is courageous and strong in the Lord.
A man who will stand up for righteousness, and speak out against sin.
A man who is honest and truthful.
A man who is faithful to his wife, or doesn’t steal money from the church.
A man with a vision from the Lord. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation (vision) people cast off
restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”
13. A man who is born again. John 3:3 says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless
they are born again.” To be born again, you must be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Last but not least, it must be understood that a pastor according to God’s heart is not a perfect pastor. King David
was a man who was after God’s heart, but he was not perfect. But yet God used him mightily to be one of the most
powerful kings of Israel, and God used him to write most of the Book of Psalms that we have in our bibles today.
And like wise pastors who are according to God’s heart are not perfect, but God uses them anyway. That is why
as church we should pray for our pastors, support our pastors, honor our pastors, love our pastors, take care of
our pastors, obey our pastors so they can do the job that they have been called to do without the unnecessary
trouble, and to do the job as a pastor with joy and not with grief.
A pastor is a person, a man after God’s own heart. His greater desire is that we thrive and
be everything for which God created us to be. He knows that our happiness is connected to
a live of obedience and submission to the will of God. That is the greatest gift we can give
our pastor.