A PASTOR'S THOUGHTS
1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
To KNOW them which labor in your churches, is to acknowledge them as a preacher or a teacher sent by God. We should not blindly follow anyone, no matter where they are from or what they claim to be. Who we hear preach the Gospel must be one with their message, not just to say words, but to live the words they speak. Brother Branham said it like this, quote; "The preacher’s called to preach his, and to live it too. If you can’t live it, then you stop preaching it. But you’re supposed to live your sermons."
Unquote: The more voices the congregation hears, the more confused they will become. For example, overseas, you can invite an American preacher, and everyone will come to hear him, but do you KNOW him? Do you know his life, has he come recommended by a trusted minister that you know. The Pastor, if he is a true shepherd knows his sheep, and knows what they need, and the people should know their shepherd equally so they can hold to his words. And when a pastor has someone else standing behind the pulpit if they are sent of God their message will be supportive of what the pastor has preached to his congregation.
Brother Branham as a prophet knew the importance of this and taught it, quote; "And now again, I’d like to say that, in this time, that, knowing that people holds to your words; they do, to their pastor. And, of course, I’ve been a pastor. And they hold to a pastor’s words, just like it was between death and life."
Unquote: How can you "esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake" according to the scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) if you do not know them as is required by Paul.
It is sad, people in a church, for the wrong reasons will follow quickly those that come in their own name. Perhaps it is their charisma, where they are from, even seeing a gift does not necessarily make a preacher sent to you of God. Jesus experienced the same, He came sent of God with the authority of heaven behind Him and was not acknowledge by His own. They choose to acknowledge one that came of their own name or authority.
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name , him ye will receive.
The Jewish rulers knew well enough that he was a teacher come from God; but they did not choose to acknowledge him as such, they chose from a carnal point of view.
Pastor Bill Ivy - Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri USA
Translations - Kiswahili, French, Spanish
https://www.livingwordtabernacle.com/pastors-postDetail.php?MAWAZO-YA-KUTIA-MOYO-iliyotafsiriwa-na-google-katika-lugha-ya-Kiswahili.-196
https://www.livingwordtabernacle.com/pastors-postDetail.php?PENS-ES-ENCOURAGEANTES---ENCOURAGING-THOUGHTS-106
https://www.livingwordtabernacle.com/pastors-postDetail.php?PENSAMIENTOS-ALENTADORES---ENCOURAGING-THOUGHTS-SPANISH-183