Tuned-In Pastors

Two Sundays in a row now, my Pastor has cut his sermon short and moved to a time of prayer at the altar.

Why? you ask. Something wrong with the message?

Nothing. In fact, they were both so "on point" you really wanted him to continue; it was that good of a message.

He cut them short, because he recognized what he prays at the opening of every message. "God, people didn't come to hear (his name here), they came to hear a word from You."

It's easy to go to church and get "caught up" in the personality and the dynamics of the pastor and the service at large. And it's tempting for the pastor to do the same.

But one that knows and understands that its God who moves on the hearts and lives of man and not the oratory skill of the finite mind, has a greater chance to experience moments such as this.

It's a matter of awareness. And the timing was perfect, as God does. People responded... not to a man; but to the work of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was an incredible moment....two Sundays in a row; that would have been missed had a pastor focused more on completing his message than hearing the direction and prompting of the Spirit.

All too often, it's easy to get caught up in position. For the one who holds it, the one who aspires to it, the one who looks up to it. If all three don't recognize it's the work of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the plans and purpose of God and not the position itself, the experience changes. Drastically.

A pastor out of tune will be as frustrating to listen to as is one's favorite instrument or radio station. Maybe it won't be that bad initially and you'll bear through it for a while, but spiritual maturity somewhere along the way will recognize something is amiss.

That's when all sorts of trouble can begin.

Pray, this #seniorPastorMonday, that trouble never begins. Pray that would pastors, in number and maturity, would increase in their awareness of the promptings of the Holy Spirit... for the power of God to work in spite of them if He can't work through them. Pray for a humbleness in pastors... may they always be willing participants, to prefer to be worked through. May their be a keen sense to the time and the place and message that God has... not a "one-size fits all" sermon or a "canned" speech as though it were an entirely different audience every week. May God do the miraculous in the lives of His church and His people, as pastors recognize their position and do their part to remain tuned-in to Heaven and in-step with their own walk with God.

Strengthen the faith of our Pastors, today. Ready. Willing. Able. For all that God is in store for their lives and their ministry.
For the cause of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Properly tuned for His glory.

- PNC

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