From the Shepherds to the Saints; How are you Treating your Brothers and Sisters
I greet you in the name of our Lord and personal savior Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Father God I humble myself asking your forgiveness for every thought, imagination, and every sin I have committed against you. Wash me over again and use me as a vessel that I may glorify you. I pray Lord God in the name of Jesus that I will decrease and the Holy Spirit will increase in me as your word is brought forth. Father, anoint every readers ears that they might hear with a spiritual ear, their eyes that they may see with spiritual eyes, their minds that they will gain understanding of your word, gain the mind of Christ, Father God anoint their hearts that they will receive your word into their hearts, I pray in the name of Jesus that the readers of this word will not focus on the messenger but the message in your word. I pray that repentance will take place in the heart of men; it is in the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
The scripture reading will be coming from the book of Ezekiel chapter 34 verses 1-5 and the word of God reads, “1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them”.
In this chapter the shepherds of Israel and their rulers both in the church and state are called to an account, as having been very much accessory to the sin and the ruin of Israel by their neglecting to do the duty of their place. A high charge is exhibited against them for their negligence, unfaithfulness and unskillful ness in the management of public affairs. These greedy and cruel kings and priest exploited and led astray God’s people, Ezekiel sees a vision of the future shepherd of God’s people in the coming Messiah.
What is a shepherd? A shepherd is one who tends to his flock by day and gathers the sheep into a sheepfold (a cave, a pen or an area backed by stone walls) at night for their protection. A shepherd would often sit or sleep in the opening of the sheepfold, ready to guard his sheep from harm at all times. Being quite different from a hired keep who in the face of danger might run away, a shepherd would stay and defend his sheep. A shepherd loved his sheep; he had a genuine loving concern for what was his.
Are we undercover Christians? How do we look upon sin? Do we feel one sin is greater than another? Do we feel one sin is greater than another? Do we really love the sinner but hate the sin like Christ? Do we act like we love the sinner, love the sinner conditionally and judge their sin or does it depend on what the sin is?
Would it be judging to put a tag on certain sin or do we think we can be like God in this aspect of name calling? The word of God says in Luke 5:32, “I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance”. How can we call them if we keep pushing them away with our undercover Christian righteous acts? Hiding behind the words, “I’m a Christian”, while participating in the works of the world. What kind of shepherd are you?
How are we treating our brothers and sisters? How do we respond when we can clearly see one is entangled in sin (I’m talking in as well as outside the church). James 5:15 says we are to Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And Romans 15:1 says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. To bear implies a putting up with, something that distresses, annoys or pains etc. The problem with the church is people are coming in with infirmities (somewhat like coming into a hospital sick). Instead of taking a role that of a spiritual Doctor or Nurse and doing what needs to be done to promote healing, we are killing the already wounded with that powerful little thing called the tongue! Do we even remember where we came from?
The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. We as shepherds and saints must use wisdom in everything we say and do. Sinners don’t have the same understanding as the saved. A carnal mind can’t understand spiritual things. I Corinthians 1:18 says, “18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”. It is also important not to judge one another, Romans 14:10-12 states, “10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God”.
Shepherding requires a Christ like character. These leaders found in Ezekiel 34, as so some leaders of the churches today were neglecting their people. Lets look back at Ezekiel 34:4, “4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them”.
What kind of shepherd are you? Are you strengthening the diseased or making them weaker, healing the sick or causing an infection, binding up the broken or breaking the already broken-down. Have you gone after that which was lost or are you only concerned about what’s going on in your house? What about the one that was driven away, did you even bother to find him? Wow; something to think about, right? Jesus left the ninety-nine to go after the one. The only place some of us want to go is higher. Are you ruling your house with force and cruelty? An associate of mine made a profound statement, she said, “correction without compassion is abuse”. Jesus is a man of compassion. What kind of shepherd are you?
We will all give an account for what we do; a day of judgment will come. From the shepherds to the saints, how we treat our brothers and sisters matters to God, he sees and knows all, “…………..for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known……………..Matthew 10:26-27”.
John 10:11-14 says, “11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine”. Jesus is the good shepherd, he is that loving protector and caretaker for his flock. What kind of shepherd are you?
Father God I pray in the mighty name of Jesus for your shepherds today, that they will have a heart like that of the good shepherd, I pray that they will have a true heart for their sheep, the weak as well as the strong, I pray that you will continually fill them with joy for it is our strength in you and it will carry them through every situation and circumstance placed before them. Father keep their minds stayed on you so that they won’t forget to give you the glory in everything you’re doing in their houses, Let them not grow weak in the faith but stronger in your word. It is in the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
.
The scripture reading will be coming from the book of Ezekiel chapter 34 verses 1-5 and the word of God reads, “1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them”.
In this chapter the shepherds of Israel and their rulers both in the church and state are called to an account, as having been very much accessory to the sin and the ruin of Israel by their neglecting to do the duty of their place. A high charge is exhibited against them for their negligence, unfaithfulness and unskillful ness in the management of public affairs. These greedy and cruel kings and priest exploited and led astray God’s people, Ezekiel sees a vision of the future shepherd of God’s people in the coming Messiah.
What is a shepherd? A shepherd is one who tends to his flock by day and gathers the sheep into a sheepfold (a cave, a pen or an area backed by stone walls) at night for their protection. A shepherd would often sit or sleep in the opening of the sheepfold, ready to guard his sheep from harm at all times. Being quite different from a hired keep who in the face of danger might run away, a shepherd would stay and defend his sheep. A shepherd loved his sheep; he had a genuine loving concern for what was his.
Are we undercover Christians? How do we look upon sin? Do we feel one sin is greater than another? Do we feel one sin is greater than another? Do we really love the sinner but hate the sin like Christ? Do we act like we love the sinner, love the sinner conditionally and judge their sin or does it depend on what the sin is?
Would it be judging to put a tag on certain sin or do we think we can be like God in this aspect of name calling? The word of God says in Luke 5:32, “I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance”. How can we call them if we keep pushing them away with our undercover Christian righteous acts? Hiding behind the words, “I’m a Christian”, while participating in the works of the world. What kind of shepherd are you?
How are we treating our brothers and sisters? How do we respond when we can clearly see one is entangled in sin (I’m talking in as well as outside the church). James 5:15 says we are to Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And Romans 15:1 says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. To bear implies a putting up with, something that distresses, annoys or pains etc. The problem with the church is people are coming in with infirmities (somewhat like coming into a hospital sick). Instead of taking a role that of a spiritual Doctor or Nurse and doing what needs to be done to promote healing, we are killing the already wounded with that powerful little thing called the tongue! Do we even remember where we came from?
The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. We as shepherds and saints must use wisdom in everything we say and do. Sinners don’t have the same understanding as the saved. A carnal mind can’t understand spiritual things. I Corinthians 1:18 says, “18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”. It is also important not to judge one another, Romans 14:10-12 states, “10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God”.
Shepherding requires a Christ like character. These leaders found in Ezekiel 34, as so some leaders of the churches today were neglecting their people. Lets look back at Ezekiel 34:4, “4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them”.
What kind of shepherd are you? Are you strengthening the diseased or making them weaker, healing the sick or causing an infection, binding up the broken or breaking the already broken-down. Have you gone after that which was lost or are you only concerned about what’s going on in your house? What about the one that was driven away, did you even bother to find him? Wow; something to think about, right? Jesus left the ninety-nine to go after the one. The only place some of us want to go is higher. Are you ruling your house with force and cruelty? An associate of mine made a profound statement, she said, “correction without compassion is abuse”. Jesus is a man of compassion. What kind of shepherd are you?
We will all give an account for what we do; a day of judgment will come. From the shepherds to the saints, how we treat our brothers and sisters matters to God, he sees and knows all, “…………..for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known……………..Matthew 10:26-27”.
John 10:11-14 says, “11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine”. Jesus is the good shepherd, he is that loving protector and caretaker for his flock. What kind of shepherd are you?
Father God I pray in the mighty name of Jesus for your shepherds today, that they will have a heart like that of the good shepherd, I pray that they will have a true heart for their sheep, the weak as well as the strong, I pray that you will continually fill them with joy for it is our strength in you and it will carry them through every situation and circumstance placed before them. Father keep their minds stayed on you so that they won’t forget to give you the glory in everything you’re doing in their houses, Let them not grow weak in the faith but stronger in your word. It is in the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
.
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