How to Protect Sheep (2)
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So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Introduction.
Introduction.
I Go Fishing. (Pastoral care)
Jesus literally tells Peter:
Feed my Lambs.
Shepherd my Sheep.
Feed my Sheep.
“Feed My sheep.” Now, He never said, “Drive My sheep.” He never said, “Kick My sheep.” He said, “Feed My sheep.”
56-0403 - Shepherd Of The Sheepfold
pastor (n.)
pastor (n.)
late 14c. (mid-13c. as a surname), "shepherd, one who has care of a flock or herd" (a sense now obsolete), also figurative, "spiritual guide, shepherd of souls, a Christian minister or clergyman," from Old French pastor, pastur "herdsman, shepherd" (12c.) and directly from Latin pastor "shepherd," from pastus, past participle of pascere "to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat," from PIE root *pa- "to feed; tend, guard, protect."
Example.
Example.
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
Jesus types Himself as a Pastor-Shepherd.
Jesus types Himself as a Pastor-Shepherd.
This leadership must be based on the Word.
This leadership must be based on the Word.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Not all sheep belong to this Shepherd.
Not all sheep belong to this Shepherd.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Nothing gets in or out of the fold without coming through me.
Nothing gets in or out of the fold without coming through me.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The Good Shepherd is completely commited to the care of the sheep.
The Good Shepherd is completely commited to the care of the sheep.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
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.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
We are taught that as Pastors we are under-shepherds.
We are taught that as Pastors we are under-shepherds.
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
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;
Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐπισκοπέω
ἐπισκοπέω (episkopeō). vb. to oversee, care. The act of overseeing another person.
This verb is used twice in the NT. The understanding is that a person or group of people are to oversee the spiritual state of others. The first use is in Heb 12:15, where the readers are commanded to “see to it” (episkopeō) that no one fails to lack the grace of God. The second is found in 1 Pet 5:2, where the overseer is commanded to shepherd the flock of God, “exercising oversight” (episkopeō).
Related to the Word for “Meddler”.
Related to the Word for “Meddler”.
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Lexham Theological Wordbook πρεσβύτερος
πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros). adj. older, elder, presbyter. In general, a leader whose authority comes, in principle, from the wisdom associated with age; in the church, a particular kind of leader whose responsibilities included directing churches.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
A Pastor was also known as a Bishop, Elder means he is not a novice, Bishop is the office itself.
A Pastor was also known as a Bishop, Elder means he is not a novice, Bishop is the office itself.
I’ve been reluctant to lean too heavily on a pastor’s authority, because I’ve seen it abused so many times, but as a Shepherd there are some things that must be done to protect the sheep.
I’ve been reluctant to lean too heavily on a pastor’s authority, because I’ve seen it abused so many times, but as a Shepherd there are some things that must be done to protect the sheep.
The Pastor is not just a preacher, but notice how Bro. Branham said God would work through the pastor to keep order in the church.
The Pastor is not just a preacher, but notice how Bro. Branham said God would work through the pastor to keep order in the church.
58 And then, the next thing the pastor should do then, after. If they had a real spiritual meeting, with the gifts making manifest many secrets of the people’s hearts, and things which should be done by the gifts in the meeting;
then the Spirit of God is in the meeting, and it’s very easy then for the pastor to find the Spirit of God (which is already in the meeting) on the Word of God, as he reads and starts preaching. The pastor then preach anything that the Holy Spirit would put on his heart, whatever he wishes to do, standing there.
59 But the congregation is to only…They can rejoice, as he is preaching, of course, or say “amen” when the Word comes forth. But, as far as getting up and giving messages in tongues and interpretation, while the Holy Spirit is working through the pastor, the Scripture condemns that, and said, “The spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophet.”
60 The pastor then must call this individual down, and ask them to be reverent and to keep their place. The pastor must be a man that has got a very humble way about him, but not too humble but what he could be like the Lord Jesus Christ when He seen wrong going on in the church, He platted ropes and ran them out of the church.
And now the Church of God is the house of judgment, and the pastor is the highest order in the Church. The elder is the highest thing in the apostolic Church, outside of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings His Message straight to the elder, and the elder gives It to the people.
61 The saints and their gifts shall have their place, first, to worship and come together, which brings (as I have said before) the Spirit of the Lord, in the building, for the pastor. And it makes it much easier for the Holy Spirit to work through him then, when a good spiritual meeting has just preceeded his teaching; and then the Holy Spirit gets into the Word and teaches the Word; has just been manifested by the gifts.
62 And then the altar call is being made then, afterwards, and many then will see and know, according to the working of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, which the pastor places It on, that you are the Church of the living God. And as Paul said, of old, “He’ll fall down and say, ‘Truly, God is with you.’” Now, in these things, let it be done with reverence.
63 And now to the pastor (to our Brother Neville, at this time), remember, he is the full head of the church. Brother Neville has a right to exercise any authority that the Holy Spirit would, anything the Holy Spirit would tell him to say, in other words. In the church, he has the right to anything that God would lead him to do.
He also has the right over his deacon board. He can change the deacon board, the trustees, or pianist, or any other office in the church that he desires to change, feeling led by the Holy Spirit to do so. And whatever he does, I will recognize it, as he (I believe) to be a godly man.
(obviously subject to him being a Godly man and staying with the Word.)
(obviously subject to him being a Godly man and staying with the Word.)
I’ll recognize it to be of the Lord, and will sanction the same, therefore it gives him the authority then to operate the church the way he feels led to do it. Now, or, any office in the church, if he desires to switch positions, with people, for he has the authority to do that. Which, I trust that this will always be lovely and never have to be used.
58-1007 - Church Order
The freedom as pastors to do as we feel led within the boundaries of the Word is what separates us from denominations.
There are people who think unless you have a direct quote or hear directly from God that your hands are tied.
(Quote)
And there’s many times that God doesn’t tell His prophets just what to do, because they have to make the decision. If there is no decision that we have to make, just wait every move on God, then there is no overcoming on our part.
And sometimes, they make the wrong decision. God’s anointed prophets makes the wrong decisions, and many times are deceived.
59-0611 - The Time Of Decision
(Isaac, Elisha)
So the time has been allotted to every man to make his decision whether he is a preacher, or a prophet, or a church member, or what-more, he’s got to make a decision.
59-0611 - The Time Of Decision
Bro. Branham asked the Angel, “How should I conduct my meetings?
And speaking to Him I said, “How must I hold my meetings? Some says that I don’t pray for enough people.” He said, “Just as you feel led.”
53-1110 - I Will Restore
If I’m your pastor I’m called and anointed to make those decisions in the local church. I should do as I feel led to protect the church. This is the scriptural order to protect the sheep.
(Quote)
75 Oh, God makes Himself present in His army then. Do you believe that? Now, God said, “I sent them the Word. Eve just walked right over the top of It, disbelieved It. I made It manifest, and they crucified it. I’m just getting tired. I’m coming Myself.”
So here He come: God in you. God above us, the Pillar of Fire; God with us in Jesus Christ; God in us, the Holy Spirit. What is it? The same Word, the same God. Amen.
76 Now, God fortified His army. What with? Himself, in the form of prophets, apostles, teachers, pastors. What did He do? What was God doing? Listen, did you ever think what that offices of the church is? It’s God’s dress, inside dress, an apostle, a prophet, a seer. Foresee, before Satan ever gets to it, done told it.
What is it? God dressed up in His church. These offices is God’s dress-wear. When you see those offices, pastors, teachers, evangelists, what is that? That’s God’s dress-wear, God’s Presence, God’s Spirit working through man.
And if that office denies any of this Word, then it’s not God-dressing…?…No, not that. That’s that wolf in sheep’s clothing. Watch that fellow. Beware of him.
But when he just takes what the Word says, remember, that’s God, ’cause He’s speaking His Word. See? But if he says, “Well, it isn’t…” Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, my. Get going, sheep; get going!
62-0607 - Putting On The Whole Armor Of God
The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing. (Wiki)
What are the tools of a Shepherd?
Knowledge of the Food Source.
He must constantly study for a good pasture, and one that was in season.
Voice to Call the Sheep.
He must be a preacher. His primary way of interacting with the sheep is not by beating them, but by preaching.
Rod to catch sheep and beat away predators.
When a sheep becomes a danger to himself and others he must be corrected, even if that means separating him from the flock.
According to an article in USA Today, 1,500 sheep fell off a cliff to their deaths in Turkey in 2005. One sheep fell, so the others followed suit and jumped. In the end, 450 sheep died. The ones that survived only lived because they were cushioned by landing on top of their fellow herd members.
The job of Shepherd is life and death for both the shepherd and the sheep.
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
And you don’t drive hundreds of miles, over icy roads, and spend your living, your money, just to come to the church here to, well, say, shake hands with the people (although you love to do that), and to hear the pastor and myself and other ministers speak the Word (you get that wherever you are, pastors, ministers, just like we are, servants of Christ),
but there’s something that draws you here, and to this particular place. Therefore, it’s the duty of we as pastors, to see that this flock is fed, and fed right, because God Almighty will require your blood at our hands.
At the day of the Judgment, we’ll answer for you. So, seeing this great tremendous responsibility that’s placed upon us, and God has given us people who love us and come to hear us, then we should spend our time constantly watching for your souls.
And when the first little thing we see raising up that’s not right, it’s our duty to come to that person, because we are shepherds watching that sheep.
And if I see that sheep eating on a weed that will kill it, I better drive it away from that weed; jerk the weed right away from it so it cannot get to it, because it’ll kill the sheep.
61-1231M - You Must Be Born Again
Conclusion.
Scrip Bag.
32 You know it used to be that in their little scrip bags, they carried some honey. When a sheep would get sick, they’d take this honey and put it on a limestone rock, so the sheep would go to licking on the rock.
And when he licked the honey off the rock, he got the limestone in him by licking the honey. And it healed the sick sheep. Now, that’s what we need.
Now look, brother, I’ve got a whole scrip bag full of it here, and I’m going to put this honey here on the Rock, Christ Jesus, not on something else, but on Christ Jesus. And you sick sheep go to licking.
I’m telling you, while you are licking on the honey, raise up your hands and praise Him. That’s the way you do it. And in there, you’ll get some of the limestone.
60-0607 - Hearing, Receiving, And Acting