Serve Your Leader with a Pure Heart

Are you serving under someone else's ministry?  If so, your number one responsibility is to serve with a pure heart.  Ephesians 4 tells us that one of the gifts Jesus gave the church is the gift of a pastor. 

When you learn to receive and appreciate this gift, you will begin to experience the contentment, peace, joy, purpose and satisfaction that should be experienced in ministry.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Pray daily for your pastor

• 2 Thessalonians 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you."
• It's difficult to have strife with someone you pray for daily.
• As you pray the Word over your pastor, you can expect to have your heart knit with his/hers in the Spirit.

2. Learn your pastor's ministry

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12 "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you."
• A good leader will always take notes and learn from his/her pastor's ministry.
• Not only will this allow you to store up some great Holy Ghost nuggets, but it will also show your pastor that you have respect for his/her ministry and desire to pull from their anointing.

3. Stay clear from all areas of strife

• James 3:16 "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
• As you assume a role of leadership in the church, you will probably have the opportunity to come across some people who are plagued by a critical spirit.
• In Hebrews 12:15 we see that a "root of bitterness defiles many."
• If God has called you to serve under this pastor, it is your responsibility and duty to remain loyal to his/her direction and vision whether you agree 100% with the way they choose to get things done or not.

4. Keep your pastor informed

• Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
• It is critical that you keep the doors of communication open to let your pastor know what is going on in your ministry.
• You should keep your pastor updated at all times on what you are doing. 
• Don't fall into the trap of thinking your pastor doesn't care about what's going on with you or your particular ministry. 
• However, remember that as you are focusing on the needs of your particular area, the pastor has the "whole picture" to be concerned with...be sensitive to that.

5. Strive to fulfill your pastor's vision and not your own

• Luke 16:12 "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"
• You must get a revelation in your spirit, as a leader, that you are called to promote someone else's ministry, not vice versa.
• You are called to be a servant and operate in the ministry of helps. (1 Corinthians 12:28)
• Your dreams will only come true as you serve faithful where God placed you.