Sermon Central
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A Pastor's Heart Series
Contributed by John Oscar on Apr 16, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Pastor John explores the heart of Paul and how it applies to the modern-day pastor, and to the believer.
Pastor’s Heart
CCCAG, March 16th 2023
Scripture: Colossians 2:1-3
Introduction:
As we have finished the first chapter of Colossians we learned a lot about Jesus, what He means for you and I, and how He can help us live victorious lives that bring the light of the Gospel to everyone around us. The first chapter also identified the enemy we are facing, and how to defeat it through submission to God and His ways.
As we start into the second chapter of Colossians, Paul suddenly takes a different direction.
It’s almost as if he thought- wow, I was pretty heavy in the first chapter, so maybe I need to take a step back and talk a little about how much I care for these people and cherish them, and want them to experience God in all of His fullness in their lives.
Remember- the most of the Colossians have never met Paul. They are one of the church’s that Paul pastored from afar along with Laodicea. So he takes a pause here in his teaching to remind them all that although his teaching might be a little hard to swallow at time, he is doing it out of a place of deep caring for them.
As He does so in the first few verses of chapter 2, Paul gives us a glimpse into the heart of a pastor.
That’s what we are going to look into today as we read and study God’s word together.
Let’s read what he wrote to them this morning-
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Prayer
Preposition-
There are many facets of being a spiritual leader, especially a member of what is known as the five-fold ministry of Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.
Paul is giving both the church’s he is writing to, and us today a glimpse into what should be the heart of a person who is called to be a pastor or a shepherd of Christ’s church.
The first thing you see is that you are to contend for your people.
I. Contending-
According to Webster’s, to contend means to struggle against something. In the case of a pastor, it means to struggle against many things.
The first is themselves and their own sinful nature. Unfortunately, this is where many spiritual leaders fall short. I’ve watched many pastors ruin thriving ministries because of their pride.
About 25 years ago, there was a church here in Wisconsin that was experiencing incredible growth and had a strong revival spirit within it. The pastor was charismatic, a great preacher, and a strong leader. However, he didn’t have a lot of time for people in his church that didn’t have the vision that he said God gave him, so slowly but surely he replaced the board with people he could control, leading to more growth, but also more pride on his part.
Without a restraining influence, his ego got out of control and he fell into sin, was found out, and the church collapsed when it was exposed.
That’s why spiritual leaders need your prayer. That’s also why any healthy leader should want someone close to them that has permission to stick a finger in their face and say, “You’re wrong”.
That’s true in ministry, and also true in all of our lives.
There is an interesting take on Matthew 5:44 that I heard. Jesus is giving the sermon on the mount when he said
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
I heard is said that this isn’t Jesus just saying to be nice to those who don’t like you, but pray that God does give you an enemy on earth so that you don’t bury and hide your dark side- that sinful nature that clings to us even after we follow Jesus.
If you hide that sinful nature, it’s like leaving leather lay around for a long period of time, it stiffens and loses it’s malleability. It needs to be worn or used so it stays flexible.
Your heart is kind of the same way when it comes to your enemies. Your enemies touch those areas of your heart that you hide from everyone else.
None of us like to be reminded that there are parts of you that can get really ugly really fast if you are poke in the right way.
