HOW TO KNOW THAT YOUR PASTOR IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU GROW
This is hard to hear, but you need to hear it.
Not every Pastor is assigned to your destiny.
Some are good men, but not good for YOUR growth.
Here are 5 signs:
1. He only celebrates you when you give money, but never corrects your character.
If the only time he calls you is when offering is low, or he only praises you after a big seed — he is not pastoring you, he is using you.
A real shepherd will tell you the truth even when it will make you angry. 2 Timothy 4:2 says "reprove, rebuke, exhort."
2. He is always the only one who hears God — you can never hear God for yourself.
Every small decision, you must call him. "Daddy pray for me if I should travel." "Daddy pray if I should buy shoe."
A good Pastor teaches you how to hear God yourself. John 10:27 says "My sheep hear my voice."
If after 3 years in that church you still cannot hear God without him, he has made you dependent, not a disciple.
3. Your life has remained the same for years under him — no growth, no challenge.
You came as a beggar 5 years ago, you are still begging.
You came with no skill, you still have no skill. He never pushes you to learn, to work, to start something.
Ephesians 4:12 says Pastors are given "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry."
If you are not being perfected — being made better — you are just being gathered.
4. He is jealous when you grow or when God connects you to other anointed men.
When you mention another Pastor's teaching that blessed you, he gets angry. When God opens a bigger door for you, he feels threatened and says "you are not loyal."
A father rejoices when his son grows bigger than him. A real Pastor will release you, not cage you.
5. He never admits he is wrong and can never be corrected.
He is always right. He never says "I am sorry, I made a mistake."
Even Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. If your Pastor cannot be humble, he cannot help you become humble.
Pride at the top will produce pride or pain at the bottom.
Listen to me:
I am a Pastor and I am saying this.
Leave a church with LOVE, not with gossip.
Don't fight your Pastor. But don't let loyalty to a man kill loyalty to your destiny.
Ask God: "Who is the Pastor You assigned to help me grow in THIS season of my life?"
Sometimes God changes your Pastor because He is changing your season.
Pray well before you move. Don't move because of offense. Move because of growth.
Pst Edward Freedom
Lifeboat Rescuing Church, Bariga, Lagos.
#PastoralWisdom #Growth #Discipleship
