07/26/23 PASTOR/PARISHIONER CHECKLIST

07/26/23 PASTOR/PARISHIONER CHECKLIST

If your pastor is not...
Leading you into victory, light, growth, conformity to the image of Jesus, by exposing your frailties, weaknesses, errors, and your sins;

If your pastor is not...
Teaching you Biblical doctrine and equipping you to withstand false doctrine;
and
If he is not...
Reproving (better understood as, "convicting," and "rebuking," and "refuting," and "persuading," and "confronting," and "presenting evidence") concerning believer's errors, deception, misdirection, sin, in both thought and practice;
Then your pastor is not doing his job and,

If you ARE NOT...
Submitting to Biblical teaching of doctrine,
and if you ARE NOT...
Submitting to Biblical reproof and rebuking of your thoughts and actions,
Then you are not following Christ.

If your pastor is not...
Correcting (leading from darkness to light, from error to truth, from human, earthly, carnal, devilish wisdom to Divine wisdom, which conforms the believer to the likeness of Christ and conformity with the New Testament standard of holiness of life,)
Then your pastor is not a Biblical pastor.

If your pastor...
Is not training you in righteousness;
Is not leading you out of self oriented, and self serving beliefs and living, then you do not have a Biblical pastor.

If you think that your limited view of salvation is greater than the ongoing preaching, teaching and counseling of Scripture, which comes from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, then you are already blinded and headed for total darkness. 

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
God has appointed pastors to perfect believers in the faith.

If you don't think you need to be changed, led into greater light, delivered from the remains of worldliness and humanistic influences and continuously equipped to resist and reject the powers of darkness, then you are already a deceived slave of Satan. 

2 Timothy 3:17
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

If your pastor is doing his job and you are rejecting his leadership, his teaching, his example, his call for you to grow in grace and knowledge, then you are in opposition to the revealed plan of God for preparing believers and His church for spiritual worship, service and battle.

Though the following words were given to Paul, they apply to all of God's called, chosen, anointed and sent ministers of the Gospel. 

Colossians 1:25-29
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Also, we find these words in the book of Hebrews. Remember, these words are as inspired, authoritative and applicable to us as is John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8. 

Hebrews 13:7
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 

Hebrews 13:19
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
If your pastor is not doing his job, then you probably need to find a new pastor... NOW.
If you are not submitting to Biblical directives and leadership, then you need to repent... NOW.