Author Archives: Andrew Schank

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We Need Pioneering Men Of God!

History is littered with spiritual men of pioneering spirits. The giants of David Livingstone, Shubal Stearns, and Percy Ray, to mention a few. Each of these men, from a different era, serve to increase our appetite for pioneers of the faith. In our day, we must strive to blaze a path for others to follow. May God help all, who feel it their calling to sacrificially pursue this, with grace to carry that cross!

4 Proofs Of A Pioneering Pastor

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#1 – Men Of Determination

(Acts 20:24) “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”  (KJV)

Pioneering men of God have holy determination about them. It has always resounded in their ears when they wearied from the journey. Nehemiah of old was determined to build the walls of Jerusalem back or perish. Solomon was said to have been determined to build that great Temple for God. Many of today’s pastors are more determined not to hurt anyone’s feeling than they are about doing God’s will. May God help more men to have holy determination!

#2 – Men Of Faith

“To be a leader in the church has always required strength and faith beyond the merely human.” by J. Oswald Sanders From page 18 – Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders Moody Press –  ISBN # 0-8024-6799-7 (copyrights, 1967, 1980, 1994)

Abraham walked by faith. Moses walked by faith. Enoch walked by faith. The list goes on and on. God’s people are and should be people of faith. Not just saving faith, but living faith. Pioneering men of God must have this more than their necessary meals! Consider the Biblical testimony of pioneering faith…

(Hebrews 11:32-40) “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”  (KJV)

If these dear saints can walk by faith, then today’s pastors can as well!

#3 – Men Of Vision

“The church is painfully in need of leaders…I wait to hear a voice and no voice comes…I would rather listen than speak – but there is no clarion voice to listen to.” by William Sangster From page 18 – Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders Moody Press – ISBN # 0-8024-6799-7 (copyrights, 1967, 1980, 1994) Sanders noted: Quoted in Paul E. Sangster, Doctor Sangster (London: Epworth, 1962), 109.

There is a vacuum of vision even among the so-called visionaries of our day! Oh, how we need men that can see the place where God wants to pasture his people, and then lead them into it. We need pastors to lay prostrate before God until the vision is made clear and purpose is manifest. They need to heed the call of God and lift their voices aloud; rallying the troops behind them!

#4 – Men Of Unction

“Unction cannot be learned, only earned – by prayer. Unction is God’s knighthood for the soldier-preacher who has wrestled in prayer and gained the victory. Victory is not won in the pulpit by firing intellectual bullets or wisecracks, but in the prayer closet; it is won or lost before the preacher’s foot enters the pulpit. Unction is like dynamite. Unction comes not by the medium of the bishop’s hands, neither does it mildew when the preacher is cast into prison. Unction will pierce and percolate; it will sweeten and soften. When the hammer of logic and the fire of human zeal fail to open the stony heart, unction will succeed.” by Leonard Ravenhill [From page 20 – Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill Bethany House Publishers Minneapolis, Minnesota – ISBN # 0-7642-2905-2 (copyrights 1959, 1987)] 

Not much can be added to Ravenhill’s exposition of unction. All pioneering men of God had unction on their lives. Great weight was added to the words that fell from their righteous lips. These giants of old blazed new trails because of unction of the Holy Ghost! May each sage of God today desire unction upon their ministries more than anything. So much so, that they would petition God for death if they cannot have it!

Pastor, Do You Have A Pioneering Spirit?