EPISODE 258 – GOD PUTS YOU UNDER A SHEPHERD

Saturday 7th October, 2023

GOD PUTS YOU UNDER A SHEPHERD

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jeremiah 3:15 (NLT)

To delve more into the gleanings from Psalm 23, we need to understand these few things.

Yesterday, we looked into why you must remain in the fold.

And it was also established that:

– the Lord’s sheepfold is the Church. (The community of the saints).

– as the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4); he has also given His sheep trained-gifted men (who are after His heart) to be Shepherds of His fold (1 Peter 5:2).

There are some within the Church who don’t see their Pastors as the visible shepherds, our Lord Jesus has given them.

They go like, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, therefore I don’t need any man to be my physical shepherd.”

That is ignorance; total ignorance. Those with such mentality don’t know how the system of God works.

The Lord God, was the Shepherd of Israel (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 80:1; Psalm 23:1).

Yet the Lord gave them shepherds.

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15 (NLT)

Through Moses (as Shepherd) the Lord God (who is the chief Shepherd), led Israel out of Egypt (Hosea 12:13).

The Lord chose David to be a shepherd of Israel.

“He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” Psalm 78:70-72 (NKJV)

The word Pastor is from the Greek word “Poimēn”, which means shepherd. Our Lord Jesus is the “Chief Shepherd” (from the Greek word “Archipoimēn).

The Lord Himself gave some to be Pastors (Ephesians 4:11).

The Lord has put the saints (as flocks) under each shepherd. There is no fellow in Christ who is not entrusted to a shepherd (Pastor).

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you…” 1 Peter 5:2 (NLT)

He has given to the Church Pastors who are to Shepherd the saints.

They have the authority and responsibility to:

– watch over you and to care for you with Christ as their example.

– feed you and teach you with knowledge and understanding.

– lead you by their own good example of faith and love.

– instruct, direct and build you through the word.

And this is your responsibility:

“In the same way, you must accept the authority of the leaders set over you. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another. “God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5).

You are not to be isolated from the fold the Lord has placed you.

Enjoy the Leadership of the Good Shepherd (through the personal relationship with the Lord Jesus) and submit to the authority the Lord has entrusted you to, as you are nurtured and equipped for the work of the ministry.

Shalom.