The Crucified Shepherd Hero

Pastors Appreciation

Each year, as a church family, we take a moment to remember that a man and woman who freely give their lives to love and watch for others are a gift from God....

Jennifer and I are still new to this church family, but we are not new to Eric & Gena Boggs...

They have always carried with them a burden to love and watch for whoever God sends into their lives…years ago they became our friends and cared for us.

This past year we’ve been closer than ever, watching them serve the church day in and day out...

I joked with him when I first got here that despite thinking I was a high capacity leader myself, there was no chance I’d ever out-work Eric Boggs...

One of the things that struck me about Pastor Eric working with him regularly was the way whenever he would first walk in the room, or call you up on the phone, no matter where I was, he always says, “Hey! What you doin?!?”

I felt like I was supposed have a report ready…it was like every time he said it, it was a TEST! (Am I in the right place? Is there something I should be doing and I forgot???)

Eventually I realized, that is just another example of how Father Eric and Momma Gena carry the heart of a Father and Mother for those around them…every conversation is about ‘how are things in your world’ and what burden are you carrying that they can help carry with you...

Jeremiah 3:15 (CSB)

I will give you shepherds who are loyal to me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill.

Remarks & Scripture (David)

Special Presentation of flowers and Ladies Ministry Check (Alicia & Tony)

Presentation of Pastors Appreciation Gift from Church Financial Board (Brad Donald)

Presentation of Church Family thank you cards to Pastors Eric & Gena (Alicia)

Closing Remarks (David)

Series: Heroes & Villains in Scripture

I thought about asking Pastor Eric to fly in with his Superman cape and tights…but that might have been too much a distraction for Pastor Gena!!!

Open your Bible to Ezekiel 34 and keep a marker over in Psalms 23....

All of Scripture is pointing to the ultimate Hero: The Crucified Shepherd King Jesus

Growing up we are trained to always look for the HERO in the story...

Even when we start reading Scripture we tend to focus on the “Heroes of the Faith”…

But Scripture has never been about Moses, or about Joshua, or about Jonah, or Noah, or Peter, or Paul....

All of Scripture is telling the same story: Jesus is the Great Shepherd Hero who Redeems & Restores Creation

Jesus is the HERO of all Scripture…it’s all about him!

Luke 24:27 (CSB)

Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

When shepherds turn to villains in Ezekiel 34

What happens when turn our attention from Jesus and on to the gods of self and pride....[READ]

Ezekiel 34:7–10 (CSB)

“ ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—because my flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal, and because my shepherds do not search for my flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

“ ‘This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds. I will demand my flock from them and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue my flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.

Ezekiel 34:11–14 (CSB)

“ ‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

PRAY: Jesus, you are the one who keeps watch over your people…even now you are present and watching over us.

What’s happening here??

Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry begins and ends with a vision of the presence of God:

(1) First, he has a vision of the presence of God departing at the beginning of his ministry.

God’s presence departing from the Temple is a picture of a people who’s heart are no longer surrendered to God…when we say, “I don’t need anyone else, I’m going to live my life the way I want to live it!”

It’s what you experience when your heart becomes bitter, selfish, and self-serving.

It amazes me how miserable we can get, how bitter we can become, but instead of repentance, our hearts just get harder.

The peace is gone, the joy is gone, but we just keep on living with a heart of stone.

(2) Ezekiel’s vision ends with the presence of God returning back to the Temple.

God’s presence returning is a sign of PROMISE!

PRINCIPLE: No matter how far you’ve gone, no matter how hard the heart…God’s love and presence is waiting to restore what has been lost!

That’s what we call the Gospel…The one who makes all things new is still King over all!

1st Vision = Presence Leaving

2nd Vision = Presence Returning

**In the Middle, he gets a vision of the presence of God in Babylon where Israel is in exile

Principle: There’s no where you can go that the presence of God will not follow!

Psalm 139:7–8 (CSB)

Where can I go to escape your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

I Need a Hero!

Bonnie Tyler (1984) from Footloose Album.....Want me to sing it???

I know you all think I was born in the mid to late 90’s, but.....!!!

Not that I ever watched any music videos when I was a kids…I grew up holiness!!

Who are our heroes today?

Heroes of Fame and Glory that leave us feeling isolated and alone.

You can never get enough Instagram followers, FB friends, or fame to make you feel loved.

Heroes of Self that promise freedom but leave us searching for an identity.

When everything is about me, pretty soon there’s only me...

Heroes of Desire that promise to makes us happy, but leave us empty.

We live in an instant gratification world...

Heroes of Power and Wealth that corrupt our soul in exchange for a false sense of control.

We get so caught up in “having” and “controlling” that we forget the God we serve said...

Matthew 6:31–33 CSB

So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

In Ezekiel’s prophetic vision, Jesus is the Crucified Shepherd Hero that leads his sheep back into God’s Promise!

Principle: When you take your eyes off the heroes of self, and power, and control…and put your eyes on the cross you will find all the salvation you will ever need.

Watch this: Israel believed that the presence of God had left them because of their rebellion…but what Ezekiel actually saw was the presence of God going WITH THEM in their exile.

God didn’t leave his people in their rebellion…he went with them!

That’s the love of the Shepherd Hero...

In chapter 34, Ezekiel is catching a vision of the great shepherd king Jesus...

Psalm 23 (CSB)

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

How does the Shepherd Hero Save?

He Gathers the Lost and Scattered

Despite the fact that Israel was living in exile because of their disobedience God’s message was the same…

Ezekiel 34:11–12 CSB

“ ‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness.

He Makes a Place of Rest

You can stop the HUSTLE and trying to convince God to love you/bless you...

Reminds me of Jabez…God already plans to bless your life…From before you were born!!

He gives Food and Water to Restore your Soul

I don’t know what battle you’ve been through, or how long the battle has lasted…but Jesus has made provision for you.

Luke 11:11–13 CSB

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

He Gives you a New Heart for a New Life

Ezekiel 36:26–27 CSB

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.

Dry Bones: You might feel like parts of your life are like a pile of dead bones…maybe you have your church-face on the outside, but on the inside you can feel the lifeless desert of hurt and disappointment....

No Matter how Broken you are, no matter what part of your life feels lost, Jesus specializes in Making Broken things New Again...

Cracked Chinese Art

Kintsugi - two partJapanese word meaning “golden” and “repair”

Principle: It’s the imperfect (cracked) vessels that shows the beauty of salvation best.

Just when you think you’re on the outside, Jesus finds you to bring you back! ....like a “good shepherd”