Four Faces of a Pastor

My friend John Carrol mentioned Ezekiel's four headed creature the other day. I have pondered and reflected upon my own pastorate and offer a few simple thoughts...rks

And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures . And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:4-11

Notice the four faces….

• Eagle
• Ox
• Lion
• A man

Every Pastor has the same four faces….

• Eagle when we lead our people in the heights of worship and faith…
• Ox when we are plodding along and leaning into the yoke…plowing deep without fanfare or flashiness…
• Lion…sometimes we approach the pulpit like a lion and roar. Every now and then the Lion has to roar to ward off any evil spirit. Not only must he roar but there are times Pastor must have the fierce and fearful bearing of the lion. That bearing that without fanfare reminds those around him of his Godly authority.
• A man….when he has to be transparent he goes just as a man…

The Eagle

• I wore the face of the Eagle for the first 12 years of our time here in Conroe
• Revival, miracles, the supernatural, perpetual growth and revival.
• It is easy to wear the face of the Eagle when things are really moving.

The Ox

• From November of 2006 until October of 2007, I had no special preachers and every service for a year I plowed deep.
• I leaned into the trace and dug the plow in.
• No fanfare or fun that year.

The Lion

• I have had to roar.
• I have had to pace in my cage
• I have had to put on the Lion face and stare down the devil and evil divisive spirits
• Thank God one does not have to do this all the time.

A Man

• Transparency is a mandate.
• To admit humanity and weakness along with the people brings everyone together.
• Pride cannot be a factor.

No pastor is without these faces...

However...

The Pastor who does not use each of them along the way....

Will sorely paralyze the growth of both his church and people...

Preacher man take this and make your own applications...

RKS