According to the prophet Ezekiel,⁴⁰ the job of the pastor is to seek Jesus for the sheep, to confirm what Jesus is saying to the sheep individually, and to seek Jesus as to what he wants preached in the pulpit so that the sheep can be fed corporately.

When a pastor speaks in the pulpit out of the initiative of Jesus only, he is guaranteed that it will meet the needs of the sheep where they are at at present, and assure their growth at the greatest possible speed with the greatest possible results. This is because Jesus knows what are in the hearts of the sheep and what their present needs are.

The pastor-shepherd represents the great shepherd Jesus, and so his shepherding should represent Jesus’ shepherding. This can only be guaranteed as the pastor spends time before the Lord during the week in worship and praise, and in Spirit and truth so that Jesus can free him of his own ideas and his own strife, so that Jesus can then break his heart with the things that are breaking His heart concerning his congregation’s needs at the moment. Finally, so that Jesus can then lead the pastor as to how to communicate in the pulpit what presently is concerning Jesus in regards to his congregation.

This applies to pastoral counseling as well as to any other aspect of a pastors job in the church. Jesus is the answer to men’s needs and problems, and so we want to minister Jesus in our pastoral endeavors. This can only be accomplished when what we do or say comes out of Jesus’ initiative through love-relationship with Him through worship and praise in Spirit and truth when taken in the context of the rest of the principles of discernment taught in this textbook.

Paul states in Ephesians,

"Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph 5:15-17).

Jesus created us. He knows our person and psychology intimately. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows where we best fit into life because He created and designed us to fit into that place that He has for us. Therefore if we want to be fulfilled and happy in our vocation, then it is best that we start off by finding out what vocation in life He wants us to be occupied in.

This is accomplished by first taking all the objective facts into consideration.

One of the ways to know what Jesus’ will for your life is, is by finding out what your weaknesses and strengths are. Jesus created what you are, therefore what you are is what he wants you to be.

When I was a senior in high school and when I started college I took every kind of aptitude test I could get my hands on. The scores showed that I was strong in math, dexterity, journalism, and spiritual matters.

Second, take it to the Lord in prayer subjectively. When I went to the Lord in prayer he showed me he wanted me to complete a degree in electronic technology. Math and manual dexterity applied here. After I finished my degree in electronics He then led me to complete my studies in pastoral and theological training.

Third, check it with the word of God. I knew when I was a junior in high school Jesus called me to the ministry, but my parents wanted me to get a practical degree in a trade before I went into theology. The Bible tells us to honor our mother and father in Ephesians 6:1-3 and it will go well with us. The Bible confirmed to me that getting a practical degree was his first step for me before going on to theology and what was his present call in my life.

Fourth, check it with facts not mentioned in the Bible. In the case example given above this was already fulfilled in the first step through the aptitude tests I took concerning electronics. Theology was also confirmed through the aptitude tests and with field work and the witness of the Church.

Once you discover your vocation, Jesus then wants to be your partner in it. Are you an artist? If you are, then Jesus wants you to seek Him to lead you into the subject of your art. Not only does He want you to seek Him about the subject of your art, but He wants you to seek Him about the exact details of the geometry, geomancy, and use of color in your art, and what ever else may be involved in your art work.

Are you a musician and writer of music? Jesus wants you to look to Him to break your heart with the things that are breaking His heart and then allow Him through His Holy Spirit to lead you in what to write about in your music and the best arrangement of the melody to accompany the message.

Are you an architect? Electronic engineer? Etcetera? Jesus wants you to look to Him in your engineering and design and subject matter to pursue, or how best to design the subject matter assigned to you by your employer.

Let Jesus have His way in your life in the area of vocation and how you operate in your vocation. He designed and created you and thus knows how best you can function in life. He wants to be your partner in whatever He leads you to pursue.

If you have felt led to start a group Bible study with others, the first step to having a successful group Bible study is to take a survey of the group as to what their needs are in studying the Bible. Second once this information is accumulated, to then take it to Jesus through worship and praise and in Spirit and truth to find out from Him what approach and topic of Scripture He wants you to take in light of this information. Third, it is the Scripture and Jesus wants us to study the Scripture so no Scriptural confirmation needed here. Fourth, the objective facts would be the response of the group to the study chosen and the fruit that follows.

If you follow Jesus’ instruction in the leading of the Bible study, and Jesus’ instructions only, the end result will be that Jesus will bless and inspire the subject matter pursued and what is taught will be ministered in Spirit and power and will minister life to the hearers.⁴¹

Have you considered Jesus in how He wants you to approach your study of the Word? How He wants you to plan your study of the Word? How He wants you to plan your education? Vocation? Marriage? Family planning? How best to love and relate to your wife or husband? What church He wants you to worship in? Etcetera?