Custodial Pastors

Custodial Pastors
6-11-06
Today I heard a strange thing from the Lord, and I had to look up meanings and interpretations of words to get an understanding of what the He was telling me. The Lord said “I am retiring the custodial pastors”. When I wondered what He meant, He said “They have no vision, and have not prepared the Church to be the Bride”. I came home to see what kind of pastors the Lord was referring to. Here is the definition of custodian, and pastor, from Tydale’s Bible Dictionary;

Custodian – “Servant whose responsibility was to accompany, protect, and sometimes discipline his master’s son until the boy reached maturity.” These custodians supervised their charges’ moral conduct and general behavior.

Pastor – The word literally means “shepherd”. It is used in both the OT and NT in a figurative sense for rulers and leaders. Of the 12 times the word is used in the NT as a metaphor for “leader’, it is translated as “pastor” only in Eph 4:11. Pastors and teachers together formed a group who complemented the work of apostles, prophets, and evangelists. . . . It is the pastor’s responsibility to build up the body of Christ by watching over the congregation (Acts 20:28; Heb 13:7) and countering false teaching (Acts 20:29,30). More detailed information regarding the duties and responsibilities of pastors is found in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus.

In looking up what vision some pastors might lack, I turned to the vision of the Bride from Revelation. It shows her in her splendor, and a great multitude could be saying that the Bride had made herself ready (Rev 19:7). We also read a description of the Holy City being prepared as a Bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Rev 21:2). An angel took John to see the Bride, the wife of the Lamb (Rev 21:9). In this description we read about those who have participated in the preparation of the Bride, as follows;

A great high wall with 12 gates, with 12 angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (vs 12).

The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (vs 14).

I’ve included a paragraph from an earlier lesson about the wall of the Holy City which describes some of the symbolism;

Part of what God’s people are is a priesthood. In Rev 5:8-10 we see this role as offering prayers and worship (Rev 15:2). We also are called living stones (1 Pet 2:4,5) which are built up into a spiritual house to be a royal priesthood. The Holy Spirit is consistent with this analogy, carrying it into Rev 21:17 wherein the wall around the City is measured to be “144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using.” In Rev 14 we read about 144,000 saints with harps; priests of our God. The wall is God’s people, lively stones, knit together in faith over time. These living stones are made of gold so pure it seems like glass (Rev 15:2 & 21:18). This is our faith, tried by fire, precious like gold. So, the risen Christ counseled the church to buy from Him gold, refined in the fire (Zech 13;9 & Rev 3:18). It is necessary to be purified to be a priestly wall, a kingdom of priests. The holy apostles and prophets laid a righteous foundation for our faith, suffering death to preserve it pure for us. Those who built on it with gold, silver and costly stones have built into the foundations of the walls of the City of God with eternal works (1 Cor 3:10-14 & Rev 21:19-21). It is an awesome responsibility to build with Jesus!

Measuring rod of gold to measure the city, it’s gates and its’ walls (vs 15).

I believe the measuring rod is Jesus, of Whose measure we are to grow up into (Eph 4;13). And the jewels? I believe that the Lord speaks of His people as His treasured possessions (Mal 3:17) and the truthes we hold are like jewels (KJV same verse). This fits in with the analogy of being built together into a wall of lively stones.

The description of the Bride in Rev. 21 shows that whole people groups, (the Jews and Christians) have preserved our inheritance for all of those who would come to believe in the name of Jesus. Each foundation laid had enduring and eternal works built upon them. And now that it has come down to our generation, what sort of materials should we build with? We want to build with gold, silver, and costly stones (jewels) so that our work will support the next generation which will build upon us. And for these works, we need vision.

Looking again at Rev 19:7,8 we read that the Bride is clothed in fine linen, bright and clean. This symbolizes the righteous deeds of the saints. For these works, again, we need vision. The vision of what the Lord has for us individually and as the Church comes by revelation, and is what the church is founded on. The first mention of the Church is in the gospels where Peter tells Jesus that He is the Son of God. When Jesus said “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you” He was saying that Peter knew who Jesus was by revelation. On that rock, revelation, Jesus built His Church. Later, in Ephesians 3:5 Paul tells the church that the mystery of salvation was revealed to the apostles and prophets. This is consistent with Amos 3:7 where we read that God does not do anything without revealing it first to His prophets.

In praying over the initial word about the custodial pastors, I believe the Lord is saying that we need a revelation, a fresh vision of what our inheritance is, and what works we are called to do. In reviewing the definition of “pastor” I see that they are called to work with teachers as a group which complements the work of Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists. The Lord spoke to me previously that there is a shift occurring, and an age of power which is to come. I have since read other prophetic words which say this same thing. With this in mind, those pastors who are preparing their flocks to walk in the works predestined for them to do, to use and steward the gifts given to them for the body of Christ, do well. But I believe we will also see those who lack vision will simply retire. Let us all pray for those who have rule over us in the faith that they will receive fresh vision, and be brought together with those who have the revelation which some lack. Amen.