A Christ-directed Pastor

2Corinthians 12:12 says Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

2Corinthians 12:14-15 says Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

2Corinthians 12:17-19 says Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

2Corinthians 13:5-6 says Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

2Corinthians 11:12-15 says But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Paul was an apostle,  which is 'the highest authority in the church below Christ'.  There are no apostles today but the problem that Paul had with false apostles  still exist today.  Today, the highest authority in the church, below Christ, is the pastor.  Just like in Paul's day, we have false people claiming to have authority which they do not have.  They claim titles and positions which they may or may not have and then claim that their titles and positions give them authority, which titles and positions cannot give.  They claim authority for their church and historical leaders, which those religions and leaders cannot have.

The basis of people who claim false authority is the same basis which was used by the religious leaders who led the crowd to cry crucify him  about our Lord Jesus Christ.  When they challenged His authority, Jesus did not claim the title of the Son of God  or any other title.  He did not claim any education or any other recognition from men.

However, He did say for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me  (John 5:36; 10:25, 10:32-38).  Not only that but John 14:12 says: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  Therefore, the true basis of authority is God working through the ministry of a man to do what no man can do in his own ability.  The people of this church, who have been here for some time, can personally testify of God working through the life and ministry of their pastor.  It is this working of God which gives the pastor the authority to lead the church and to teach correct doctrine.  It is the lack of God working in the lives of false teachers and false preachers and other false leaders which should be the basis for rejection all that they try to teach.

1. Pastor's Shield: What protects his authority
1. His testimony: So, when Paul said Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.  We need to look and see if the pastor has patience  while letting God work through his life and his ministry.  (2Corinthians 12:12) We also need to closely examine the results of his ministry to see if it is really the result of his letting God work through his life of is it just the result of fleshly religious works.
2. His supply: Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.  (2Corinthians 12:17-19) Yes, the church is to supply the needs of the pastor and the Bible does say that he is to be counted worthy of double honour  (1Timothy 5:17).  However, your pastor is not living a lot better than most of the church members and the truth is that a lot of his support comes from outside of the church.  False teachers are going to want the church to supply their lusts of the flesh, which your pastor does not do.
3. His suffering for the church: In the first chapter of our epistle Paul spoke of his suffering that he had and that they helped with by their prayer.  Pastor and Mrs. Nono go to America to raise support for the ministry.  The travel is hard, the culture and food different, they are often cold and have other discomforts that they would not put up with just for themselves.  But, they travel for the good of the church and other people who would want to be pastor or teacher would not suffer the same for the church.
4. His prayer life: 2Corinthians 13:7 says: Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.  His prayer life is that you receive blessings from God and avoid punishment from God.  He does not pray just so that you will think he is spiritual.
2. Pastor's Seeking: Why he does the ministry
1. What he truly seeks is you for Christ: Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.  (2Corinthians 12:14-15) He is not seeking to gain anything from the church but is seeking that the members will give their lives to the ministry so that they can be blessed.  This is not saying to quit your jobs and go full time into the ministry.  He is only seeking that you get involved in the Discipleship Ministry for your own spiritual growth and blessings.
2. He seeks your protection from doctrinal error: But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  (2Corinthians 11:12-15) He can warn you about people who teach doctrinal error, but you only have his word to use against their word and some will be led into error.  However, as he teaches this discipleship he will be showing you how you can get the truth directly from God's Holy Spirit using the word of God.  As a disciple you have the word of God to protect you from doctrinal error.  As a believer, you only have the word of your pastor.
3. Pastor's Success
1. 2Corinthians 11:20-21 says For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.  A pastor's success before God is measured by his getting God's people to grow up spiritually and stop their sinning.  Paul wrote this letter to a church full of believers who thought they were spiritual but who had refused to become disciples.  Paul was afraid that he would have to bewail  some who believed ministers of Satan who told them they did not have to become disciples.
2. He was also afraid that he would have to bewail  some who believed their lazy flesh which lied and told them there would be no suffering at the judgment seat of Christ if they refused to submit and obey.  Those who become disciples can look forward to hearing Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  (Matthew 25:21, 23) However, many will hear because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth  (Revelation 3:16) because they are spiritually poor and never became a faithful disciple.
4. Your Success
1. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  (2Corinthians 13:5-6) Jesus shows us how to live in this flesh using the power of the Holy Ghost.  Jesus prayed every day and many times all night in order to get God's direction on decisions even though He was the Son of God.  Also, Christ shows us how to grow spiritually through our ongoing personal relationship with God.  This Discipleship program is designed to help you do that.  Out verse says that if you are not willing to become a disciple, you are probably a reprobate.  It doesn't matter what you believe.  All that matters is the judgment by God.

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