Pastoral Ministry: A Good Husbandman

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.—John 17:24

I believe that a pastor who is content with a vineyard that is not at its best is not a good husbandman. It is my prayer that we may be a healthy and fruitful vineyard and that we may be an honor to the Well-Beloved, Jesus Christ the Lord, that He might go before the Father and say, "These are mine for whom I pray, and they have heard the Word and have believed on Me." I pray that we might fit into the high priestly prayer of John 17, that we would be a church after Christ's own heart so that in us He might see the travail of His soul and be satisfied.

The church should be a healthy, fruitful vineyard that will bring honor to Christ, a church after Christ's own heart where He can look at the travail of His soul and be satisfied.

"Lord, I long that Jesus Christ might indeed be satisfied with my own life and the lives of those whom He has called me to lead. Help me to be a faithful husbandman in whatever vineyard You place me. Amen."

I can only speak from my experiences, "The Church" has been over the years demonstrating their own beliefs and leaving God's out. Almost making people believe their doctrine, and making people bow to their command. But until we as believers take a stand and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, we will always be doing what we have always done. I agree with this statement from our reading, “The church should be a healthy, fruitful vineyard that will bring honor to Christ, a church after Christ's own heart where He can look at the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” It’s the question that has come to my mind, what as the people of God, “The Church doing; what does your church look like; Are we as a called people listening to hear what the Spirit is saying? Jesus took the lead to tell us in John 15 (NKJV)

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples. Another question, what our connection?

Replies

Patricia Johnson March 27, 2019 at 4:43pm

I can only speak from my experiences, "The Church" has been over the years demonstrating their own beliefs and leaving God's out. Almost making people believe their doctrine, and making people bow to their command. But until we as believers take a stand and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, we will always be doing what we have always done. I agree with this statement from our reading, “The church should be a healthy, fruitful vineyard that will bring honor to Christ, a church after Christ's own heart where He can look at the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” It’s the question that has come to my mind, what as the people of God, “The Church doing; what does your church look like; Are we as a called people listening to hear what the Spirit is saying? Jesus took the lead to tell us in John 15 (NKJV)

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples. Another question, what our connection?

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