23/01/2023 - SUCCESSFUL SHEPHERDS

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And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.   Jeremiah 3.15

It is clear in the eyes of the Lord that pastors endowed with knowledge and understanding are beneficial for the divine work. Therefore, those who have the ministerial calling should seek to have these two virtues; this way, they will please God and His people. The following statement is not against anyone: to be a leader capable of pointing the way of Truth to the lost, one must be clothed with the ability and heavenly anointing to care for the flock as Jesus did.

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, spoke about evil shepherds in the following way: Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord (Jeremiah 23.2). Therefore, every shepherd of God’s flock must seek divine knowledge and understanding, or he will do his work without power!

The example of a shepherd after God’s own heart is seen in David, king of Israel (Acts 13.22). His job was to shepherd Jacob’s sons, and to do this, he had to go to war when any nation rose up against his country. When he was fleeing from Saul, and wasn’t yet the king, he learned that Keilah had been plundered by the Philistines. When he received the green light from the Lord, he took his band of warriors and they defeated the Philistines (1 Samuel 23:1-5).

In that battle, David proved to fear God. Upon hearing the bad news, he prayed asking the Lord if he could fight against his opponents. God said yes, and he went. Every Christian should have the same concern and be willing to go out against the enemy and not return until he has done the job thoroughly (Psalm 18.37). Knowledge and understanding will lead us to victory. Seek to take note of what the Almighty speaks about your participation.

David acted wisely in consulting the One who knows the things that have not yet come to light, and that in their smallest details, to know whether the battle was for them or not. If it was not for them, they would never enter it. The Bible directs one to flee from the snares, saying: It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows (Proverbs 20.25). The Most High will never refuse to tell you whether a certain task is for you or for someone else. Pray!

A pastor’s ministry is holy and should be carried out with full dedication under the Lord’s guidance. But those who do not see it this way and do as they please must be ready. They will be held accountable in the judgment of eternity: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord (Jeremiah 23.1). The sheep belong to the High Shepherd, who bought them with His blood (Hebrews 13.20). We are His representatives!

Whoever has been commissioned to the ministry has achieved an excellent thing, but he must be aware that he will answer to the righteous Lord for what he has done with His flock. Those who serve willingly will see that their example will be followed by others. Those who do not love the Lord’s sheep, on the other hand, will do badly at the return of the King of kings. May your ministry be faithfully fulfilled!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares