Apostolic Life ( Prayer Warriors)'s Post

THE SEVEN WALKS OF A PASTOR

Romans 13:13
"Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy."

A great challenge that faces Pastors everywhere is that they are constantly under scrutiny from the public. Such behavior by the public is to some extent warranted because Pastors are called to be examples. Any transgression by a Gospel Minister, no matter how small, can result in lots of collateral damage. It is for this reason that many fear the call to ministry. However, if a Pastor deliberately chooses to walk the following seven walks, his chances of crashing in ministry will be greatly diminished.

1. A Pastor should walk worthily.
Ephesians 4:1
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,”

Every Pastor needs to realize that he has an obligation to walk in a worthy manner. Any Pastor who ignores this admonition will inevitably end up in a ditch, crying unending tears. This aspect of a Pastor walk is so important such that Apostle Paul used the word ‘beseech’ to communicate the seriousness of this matter. The word ‘beseech’ is a strong word and it means to ask someone urgently and fervently to do something. A Pastor’s walk must be worthy of His Master.

2. A Pastor should walk differently.
Ephesians 4:17
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,”

A sad reality that we now find in the Body of Christ is that many Pastors are walking in the same paths that the unregenerate walk. The lying, cheating, stealing, and manipulating that worldly people do, Pastors do the same, if not worse. A Pastor who will survive the sharp curves and snares of ministry is the one who chooses to walk differently. Pastors should never be under pressure to conform to worldly standards but must rather possess the courage to be different.

3. A Pastor should walk affectionately.
Ephesians 5:2
“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Genuine Pastors are defined by their ability to demonstrate and share the virtue of love. Pastors must run away from bitterness, fault-finding, and carnal criticism if they are to successfully walk in love. It breaks the heart of God when Pastors refuse to walk this walk and become the source of discord in a church. Church fights and splits are rarely engineered by members of the congregation. The culprits are usually Pastors who have refused to walk in love and the result is that God’s purposes are frustrated.

4. A Pastor should walk intelligently.
Ephesians 5:8
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Navigating the long and treacherous path of Christian ministry requires high level intelligence. A Pastor must apply wisdom in the conduct of his affairs. Pastors must avoid obvious difficulties as losing a minute avoiding trouble is far better than wasting an hour trying to overcome that same trouble. It is surprising to see that many a Pastor lack such basic intelligence. Paul admonishes Pastors to “walk as children of light.”

5. A Pastor should walk circumspectly.
Ephesians 5:15
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,”

A circumspect walk is a walk whereby one is careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences. A great number of Pastors refuse this walk. Doing things in ministry with speed is critical for success but at times it pays to go slow so that you go fast in the long term. Ultimately the Pastoral journey is a matter of direction, not speed! Pastors must avoid the tendency to do things in a rushed manner, especially in cases where they have not fully considered outcomes and consequences.

6. A Pastor should walk courageously.
Ephesians 6:13
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
By: via Apostolic Life ( Prayer Warriors)