#pastoring

Shepherding God’s flock is both a blessing and a HUGE responsibility! My book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter can help. Several people have already told me that they have purchased multiple copies to give as Christmas gifts.

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26: “Her mouth speaks wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue.”

Anonymous #1 said: I used to be a Pastor before. But 3 years ago, may nagawa akong malaking pagkakamali sa Lord, sa leadership at sa church so ang ending na DA ako.Buong puso ko nmn tinggap dahil alam ko ngkamali ako at hinarap ko ng buong puso at tapang sa habag ng Lord ang mga lumipas na taon sa kabila ng salimuot at eskandalo.Fast forward today, how will I know if I was really called to be a Pastor, kung sa ngayon I can no longer see myself to be one?minsan kc pakiramdam ko naitulak lang din tlga ko dati. TIA!

Anonymous #2 said: Hi po Pastor Jade. I have question po. I was prophesied to be a pastor just this recent Youth Camp here in Canada. I'm really afraid po kase I don't have deeper knowledge and Hindi ako matalino. I don't speak well in English and I don't have any credentials po. I'm a worship leader in our church and sa youth din po. Madami po ako tanong, takot and doubt sa sarili ko kse sino banaman ako para tawagin ni Lord for pastoring. The Lord confirmed it to me through His word po in Isaiah 43. Yun lng po

Anonymous #3 said: Kuya Jade, I'm also part of the Church Teaching Staff of a Chapter in Area 10. And tumatayo na po ako every month as my initial training. Pero kuya, how will i know if being a pastor is really the Lord's will for me? Lagi po un ang tawag sa akin sa chuch. Pero gusto ko po kasi manggaling mismo sa Lord na ang calling ko ay pastor tlaga ayoko po ung inimpose lang sa akin kasi may nakikita silang talent or nakikita nila even my heart of service to God. How will i know kuya? Thank you po!

For this blog post, I’ll be responding to three different people who basically have one similar question: How do I know and make sure I am really called to be a pastor?

The helpful passage I can immediately think of is Ephesians 4. Here the Apostle Paul talks about unity in the diversity of our gifts and calling in Christ. In verse seven, he sheds light on the nature of God's call for every believer:

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

My favorite part here is "as Christ apportioned." In the Greek, "apportioned" is "metron". It literally means "measured".

Sa Filipino, puwede nating sabihing, ang mga spiritual gifts na ibibigay sa atin ni Lord ay sukat na sukat ayon sa pagkakagamit na gusto ni Kristo para sa mga buhay natin.

It is Christ who custom-fits our gifts to perfectly suit us to the level of calling He wants for us.

Sakto--walang labis at walang kulang--ang spiritual abilities na ibibigay ni Lord para ma-equip tayong gawin ang pinapagawa Niya.

Based on this verse, we could say that the determination of our calling heavily depends on what Christ has apportioned for us. If a person wants to know if he/she is for the work of pastoring, it must be confirmed to him/her by what Christ has apportioned for him/her.

Kaya napakahalaga ng divine confirmation. It is God who appoints. It is Christ who calls.

Para kay Anonymous #1, praise God dahil napagtagumpayan mo ang pinagdaanan mo. If you want to know if God is calling you back to the pastorate, it must, first and foremost, be a clear and strong conviction in your heart that Christ is calling you back--hindi dahil pinilit ka lang o dahil na-pressure ka lang ng sirkumstansiya.

Remember Ephesians 4:7. Is Christ apportioning the gift of pastoring to you? Do you know this to be true beyond any shadow of doubt--despite your feelings?

These questions can only be answered in the zone of deep communion with Jesus. So get in the zone.

That's step one. From there, God will lead you to situations and people whom He can use to further confirm His call. But the starting point must be your deep communion with Jesus, who Himself apportions the spiritual gift He desires we use for His glory.

Para naman kay Anonymous #2, praise God at nakatanggap ka ng prophetic Word, at nangusap din sa'yo ang Word ni Lord. So ano choosy pa? Gow na! Hahahah jk.

Yes, I understand that you have misgivings about your abilities and level of readiness. Pero ganiyan naman talaga. Lahat nang calling ay mas malaki pa kaysa sa atin; mas malaki kaysa sa kaya mong gawin; mas malaki kaysa sa kaya mong isipin. Dahil ang Diyos natin ay malaki, malaki rin ang kaya Niyang gawin sa pamamagitan ng buhay natin. At talagang hindi natin kaya kung dedepende lang tayo sa sarili natin.

Look at Moses (Exodus 3:11; 4:1; 4:10). Look at Jeremiah (1:6). Ugh, and there’s Gideon--self-confessed mayor of the nine realms of inferiority complex (Judges 6:15). None of these men started out as the mighty men of God they get to be introduced as in Sunday schools. And yet we know them now as mighty men of God.

Stop magnifying your disqualifications. It’s good that you have a healthy awareness of your weaknesses, but never define your future on the basis of your imperfections. Lahat nang bagay, puwedeng mapag-aralan, i-improve, at ipanalangin sa Lord. Ask for God’s grace to shape your heart and enable you to learn what you need to learn to become the pastor he wants you to be (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Of course, improvement also entails working doubly hard to upgrade your skills because God deserves our excellent service.

And finally for Anonymous #3, tama kang dapat kay Lord mismo manggaling ang pagkakatawag mo sa ministry, like I’ve said. Paano mo malalaman? keep on praying for it and preparing for it, and God will lead you it. There’s no fixed formula or systematized method of revelation para malaman mo ito. All you have to discover it is your Bible and your relationship with Christ, who sends His Holy Spirit to guide us.