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Pastor Wade Burleson
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Marks of a True Pastor
"A Prisoner, a Steward, and a Minister"
Ephesians 3:1-7 (English-KJV)
- For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
- If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
- How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few
words,
- Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
- Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto
his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
- That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise
in Christ by the gospel:
- Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by
the effectual working of his power.
Paul has just explained how believers (Jews and Gentiles) form "a holy temple" unto the
Lord. It is a solemn thing to understand that the church of Jesus Christ is the "habitation"
(1:22) of God.
Remember, "if any man destroys God's temple, God will destroy him." (1 Corinthians
3:17)
"For this reason," Paul says in verse 1. . . (i.e. "since you are God's temple), "I bow
my knees," (i.e. "I pray for you" Paul says in verse 14). Notice, Paul does not continue the
thought he begins in verse 1 until verse 14. Verses 2-13 is called "an anacoluthia", which means
a sudden, radical change of direction or thought. What's important to Paul to cause a break in his
train of thought?
Paul becomes very personal and pastoral in the verses 1-13 of Ephesians 3. He describes to the
Ephesian believers the marks and the message of a true pastor. Today we examine the marks of a
true pastor.
- He is a Prisoner of Christ . . . "I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ"
(v.1)
Paul, by his own example teaches others how to face suffering, persecution, and affliction.
- Paul does not complain about his circumstances
He is a prisoner in Rome, bound in chains, sleeping in a cold, dark cell
Not one word of complaint is given, there is no spirit of discouragement in Paul
- Paul does not resign himself to trouble with a stoical attitude
He does not say, "Life is a mixture of good and bad, pleasure and pain, tough it out!"
That is what the world says--- it is paganism or the world's courage
- Paul seems to be rejoicing in the midst of his trials!
God appoints our afflictions (I Thessalonians 3:3)
God works afflictions for our good (Romans 8:28)
- He is a Steward of God . . ."the dispensation of the grace of God given to
me" (v.2)
"Dispensation" is the word "stewardship." Paul has been made of steward of
God's grace.
This same idea of a pastor being a steward is repeated in I Corinthians 4:1;
"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God"
- The grace of God is a mystery to the natural mind of man (vs.3-6)
Mystery-- a truth that cannot be attained to by the unaided human mind
A steward is responsible to the owner for all his duties
Faithfulness of the steward is all that is required of the God of grace
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" I Cor. 4:2
- He is a Minister to People . . . "I was made a minister, according to the gift of
grace" (v.7)
Minister is the word "deaconia" in the original, which means servant
A pastor serves people as the steward of God's grace with a joy in his heart in all things.
Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade
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