~ Purpose for the shepherd ~ *** 10/27/05

What was the purpose for the shepherd? Why did God raise up shepherds? Was it to rule over his sheep? Or was it to protect, lead, teach and correct them?

1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Now there God told the shepherds to feed the flock of God. He said not to do this for filthy lucre, or pay. But what does the shepherd feed the flock? Will tales of his own life, worldly happenings, or jokes feed the sheep? No. All that the sheep can eat to have eternal life is the pure Word of God. So a shepherd must be very careful to study and receive the true revelation of the Word and feed only that to the flock.

2Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Now there is another purpose or job for the shepherds: reprove, rebuke, and exhort. These words mean a sharp, strong criticism to turn one back or a strong disapproval or reprimand. So when a man refuses to do this part of the work of the ministry, he is failing as a true shepherd. It is as a parent who refuses to correct or teach their children right from wrong. This is the lack of love or not wanting to be bothered or not to cause disapproval of one’s own self.

Mt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Lu 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Ac 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

John 10:12 But 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 sheep.

John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Now see from the above that that the false prophets are the ones God calls wolves. He said I send you forth as lambs among false prophets (wolves). Paul had said I know that after I am gone, these grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock. In other words, these false prophets will come in and lead you little lambs of God astray with their false teachings. The true shepherd is supposed to watch out for this and protect those sheep from these false prophets. But notice, he that is an hireling (the one ‘feeding�?the flock for filthy lucre (money) is not the shepherd, the sheep are not his, he cares not for the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and flees.

Now this is the one who refuses to rebuke the false teachers and their lies. He is not caring that these false prophets are leading the souls astray and will end up destroying them. He is only out for the pay, and so he does not get involved with war, or exposing these wolves for the evil men that they are. He does not care that they deceive the little lambs of God. He is only interested in self, his popularity, and his pay. He is actually the false prophet, he is the wolf, he is the hireling, he is the runaway shepherd.

Now for another purpose for the shepherd: Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Yes, God said for the shepherd to lift up their voice like a trumpet and show his people their sins. Now this is the main part no one wishes to have active. They all, with one consent, set out to stop any and all ministers of God from sounding the alarm and showing the people their sins. But unless you are shown your sins, and repent, then you will lose your soul. So then this is a job for a true shepherd. A true shepherd will perform this, for that is what God has placed into his heart. This is in fact what makes him a true minister of God. Any ‘minister�?who refuses to show you your sins is a false prophet, a false minister. He is failing to do the job of a real shepherd. He will pet you and pamper you for your money. But what good will it do either of you on that judgment day?

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

This was Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost. See that his message pricked those people in their hearts, causing them to cry out, What must I do to be saved? So then the minister or shepherd must be able to preach this same message and convert souls to Jesus. He preached the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. So unless your shepherd preaches this same message, he is cheating you of your chance of salvation. He is a hireling or a wolf, and not a true shepherd.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Ac 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Ac 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Ac 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Ac 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Ac 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Ac 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Ac 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Ac 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Ac 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Notice that Peter came against Simon and rebuked his evil. He spared no words to point out this man’s sin. He told Simon you have no part or lot in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Now was Peter some kind of wicked man because he knew this about Simon and pointed it out to him? No, Peter was being a true shepherd. He was lifting up his voice as a trumpet and showing Simon his sins. He was also revealing to the others not to trust Simon.

So what was Simon’s sin? Was he speaking evil against the Word of God or Jesus? No. He was seeking to purchase the gift of God with money. This is the mark of the beast. So Peter knew by this that the man’s heart was not right with God, even though this man had believed, been baptized and possibly even received the Holy Ghost. Yet his heart was not right with God and Peter knew it and revealed it.

Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

Ac 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Now there is part of another message Peter preached. Did he water it down and try to pet these people? No. He showed them their sins of not only denying Jesus and desiring a murderer instead, but then killed the Prince of Life. Now that is a strong message. But Peter was a true shepherd. He was rebuking these people as the Word of God says to do. This powerful preaching and rebuking caused many thousands to repent and be saved. If Peter had watered this message down and softened it, they would not have been saved.

Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the apostles' feet. Ac 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Ac 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Ac 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Ac 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

Ac 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

Ac 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Ac 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Ac 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Now, if one cannot know by the Spirit of God who is a true Christian and who is not, then how did Peter know that Ananias and his wife were lying and how did he have the power that they both fell dead at his words? Did Peter here sooth Ananias and his wife and pretend they had done nothing wrong? No. He lifted up his voice and showed them their sins. Then judgment struck them immediately.

Ok let’s see if any other Apostle had this kind of ministry:

Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

Ac 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Ac 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Ac 13:10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Ac 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Ac 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

See here that Paul was full of the Holy Ghost and therefore he could discern that this sorcerer was a child of the devil and an enemy of righteousness. Paul did not mind rebuking this wicked man, who was seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith. But when he saw what was done, he believed on the Lord. So see then that Paul was a true shepherd, who not only rebuked this wicked one, showing him his sins, but also delivered the deputy from the evil influence of this sorcerer.

Ac 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: Ac 16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. Ac 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Now this girl was praising Paul and saying he was a servant of the most high God and shows the way of salvation. So how did Paul know it was a spirit of divination? How was he able to cast it out of her? Because he was a true Shepherd and man of God. He had discernment and was not afraid to use it.

Ac 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Ac 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Notice that Paul disputed with the Jews. He was not afraid to argue. But watch the ‘mockery�?they cast at him. What will this BABBLER say? He seems to set forth strange gods. Sounds very much like what is cast at me everyday. Perhaps I am a true Shepherd!

Ac 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Ac 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. Ac 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Those are the crowning words of the great Apostle Paul. He was a true shepherd.

By: Jo Smith