The Lord’s Harvest Community Church

DISCOVER LIFE BIBLE STUDY
Instructor- Dr. Juan P. Barrientez II
Spiritual Characteristics of the Pastor’s Authority

Key Verse: Hebrews 13:17, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Definition:

Stewards - Oikonomos (oy-kon-om’-os)= the manager of household or of household affairs, esp. a steward, manager, superintendent (whether free-born or as was usually the case, a freed-man or a slave) to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age. (Strong #: 3623)

Biblical Truths:

1. IT IS A MINISTERING AUTHORITY–THE AUTHORITY OF A SHEPHERD (Acts 20:28; 2 Co. 13:10; 1 Pet. 5:2). The authority of a pastor is for the purpose of building up and protecting God’s people and work.
Acts 20:28, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
2 Corinthians 13:10, “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.”
1 Peter 5:2, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;”
2. IT IS A SUBMISSIVE, HUMBLE AUTHORITY–THE AUTHORITY OF A STEWARD (Mark 10:42-45; 1 Co. 3:9; 4:1; 12:7; Tit. 1:7; 1 Pet. 4:10; 5:3-5). The pastor is to rule under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, not by his own mind or will. The church is God’s property; the people are God’s people; the work is God’s work. Pastors are merely stewards or caretakers.
Mark 10:42-45- 42, But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
1 Corinthians 3:9, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”
1 Corinthians 4:1, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
3. IT IS A LOVING AUTHORITY–THE AUTHORITY OF A FATHER (1 Th. 2:7-11). The pastor is to have a godly, loving, tender, sacrificial consideration for the welfare of the people. His rule is not to be an overbearing, self-serving type of rule. He rejoices when his children mature and stand on their own feet.
4. IT IS A LIBERATING AUTHORITY–THE AUTHORITY TO BUILD UP NOT HOLD DOWN. “For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed” (2 Cor. 10:8). See also Ephesians 4:11-12.

This Week Challenge
Commit to making the pastor’s leadership duties done with a joy and not with grief.

 

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