Too many Shepherds trying to be Apostles and to many Apostles trying to be Shepherds.

If God has called you to Pastor, then you are in a stationary position, meaning God won’t have you running all over the country.

The mistake in leadership comes when we are out of our lane. As an Apostle, I am chosen to build. Whenever I start a work, I make sure to get clear understanding with the people as to who I am, and what I am called to do.

I make it clear that I build, establish, place leadership, and continue to move. I lay the foundation and then place leadership who will continue to build on the foundation.

I never give them the impression, or allow the people to put me in any lane that is outside my Kingdom responsibility. There are far too many Pastors who are now seeking platforms and not protecting the flock they are assigned by God to protect.

Understand that if you are called to Pastor, then you are placed by God in a local assembly in His Kingdom and if you are a true Shepherd, you will always have increase, because sheep will continue to be birthed into the Kingdom.

Shepherds are watchful (not controlling there is a difference in the two) and nurturing and protective (not smothering) toward the sheep. They never wander far from the flock and are highly sensitive to their surroundings listening and looking for signs of intruders.

A distracted, inattentive Shepherd will always lose sheep, because they are not paying attention to the signs that let them know wolves are lurking.

If you have been called to Pastor, then know God will not keep you from being with your sheep. There may be limited times when you are instructed by God to go and release a word to another place, but the majority of the time the LORD will have you maintaining the care of those He has assigned you to take care of.

People, know your lane!

~ Apostle Barbara R. Thomas

Apostle Barbara R. Thomas is founder of I Come to Heal Ministries, A Woman’s touch Ministry, The Next Dimension Global Outreach Ministries and Spoken Word School of Ministry and is on a mission, traveling the world, proclaiming the Gospel, for souls to be won to the Kingdom of God. She has life mandate to help bring others to their divine purpose.

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