WE ARE CALLED TO BE TRUE SHEPHERDS OF GOD'S PEOPLE RIGHT NOW

It took me a long time as I look back on my life to make a True Commitment to Abide In Christ and Do Kingdom Purposed Work .It was a true Maturing Process that required learning and wanting a Deeper Faith, and Close relationship with Jesus. Looking back on my life, I realize that Following Jesus and Picking Up The Cross beside Him goes Far Beyond simple Belief and Salvation. WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE HIM AND RECOGNIZE HIS AUTHORITY AS OUR LORD, KING, AND ALSO OUR SAVIOR. It is the decision and process to GO ALL IN FOR HIM. It is so important that we understand that in doing so, WE PUT OURSELVES LAST in so many ways. JESUS CHANGES OUR HEARTS ! The many things that we have been taught to strive for and desire in our fleshly lives ultimately need to and WILL take a back seat to God and His Purpose. The changes in oneself are Massive ! It is a difficult path to get on and stay on because IT IS SO HARD TO GIVE UP SELF INTEREST AND LOOK AT OTHERS AND THEIR NEEDS FIRST ! When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was seeking Him to help me find someone I could rely on for help and guidance. A mere 17 year old, trying to figure things out and innately knowing in MY HEART that HE WAS MY ANSWER ! I had great and loving parents and they were truly my source for so many things….and yet, Jesus was different for me. HE WAS MY SHEPHERD, and I often heard His Voice. Early prayers were pretty self motivated, and the battle against Sin, Flesh, and Materialism was seemingly constant. I sinned, I made mistakes, I hurt peoples feelings, broke some hearts, but God was sharpening me….and HE STILL IS ! Baptized by Water as a Believer, Holy Spirit Indwelled, Gaining Knowledge slowly. I splashed around in the milk for a long time. THEN I WENT ALL IN ! Deep into God’s Word, and it became ALIVE FOR ME. CONSTANT PRAYER…awakened every morning between 4;00am and 5:00am to Intercede For Others. Still today….every single morning. Holy Spirit Baptism by Fire…..a deep experience that truly defies words. Profound Identity Change into Abiding In and Surrendering All To Jesus. Confession, Repentance, A Changed Heart….AND HE SHOWED ME WHY. SO Simple and yet for all of us difficult to comprehend the exact FOCUS IT REQUIRES….And Jesus told me, “FEED MY SHEEP”. Be a SHEPHERD TO MY FLOCK. BE A SPIRITUAL FATHER TO MEN AND SHOW THEM THE TRUE NATURE OF ME, AND MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.

BE SHEPERDS OF GODS FLOCK THAT IS UNDER YOUR CARE, WATCHING OVER THEM- NOT BECAUSE YOU MUST, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE WILLING, AS GOD WANTS YOU TO BE; NOT PURSUING DISHONEST GAIN, BUT EAGER TO SERVE; NOT LORDING IT OVER THOSE NETRUSTED TO YOU, BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK. AND WHEN THE SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT WILL NEVER FADE AWAY. 1 Peter 2-4

PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK, IN WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS MADE YOU OVERSEERS, TO CARE FOR THE CHURCH OF GOD, WHICH HE OBTAINED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. Acts 20:28

WHEN THEY HAD FINISHED BREAKFAST, JESUS SAID TO SIMON PETER, ‘SIMON, SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?’ ‘YES, LORD,YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.’ JESUS SAID TO HIM, ‘FEED MY LAMBS’. HE SAID TO HIM A SECOND TIME, ‘SIMON, SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME?’ PETER SAID TO HIM, ‘YES LORD, YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.’ HE SAID TO HIM, ‘TEND MY SHEEP.’ JESUS SAID TO PETER THE THIRD TIME, ‘SIMON, SON OF JOHN, ‘DO YOU LOVE ME?’PETER WAS GRIEVED BECAUSE HE SAID TO HIM THE THIRD TIME, ‘DO YOU LOVE ME?’AND HE SAID TO HIM, ‘LORD, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING; YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.’ ‘JESUS SAID TO HIM ‘FEED MY SHEEP.’John 21:15-17

The beauty of Salvation in Christ is that it “Opens Our Heart To Others, And God’s Kingdom. It takes us away from Self Focus. It is so easy to spend time seeking self pleasure, self fulfillment, and self accomplishment. I think even as Christians we can elevate our “self worth” and “self righteousness” to a place that Jesus does not want us to be settled in. “Look At Me”. I serve more than others, my wisdom and knowledge is way above average, I am blessed in so many areas of my life….surely I am so good in God’s eyes. Perhaps; or are we like the Pharisees that Jesus had so little patience with ? Even the Church today seems like more of a battleground for ideology than a place of Worship and Unity. The very beginnings of Faith and Understanding as Jesus brought His Teaching and Holy Presence to earth saw a broad and diverse group of people put their focus on HIM ! Over time, those humble and incredible beginnings gave way to MEN seeking to espouse THEIR understanding. We see today the result of a constant battle to establish Superiority and Wisdom. Hundreds of Denominations full of theological nuances that promote division, arrogance and PRIDE ! “ My way is right, and if you don’t see it and embrace it, you are not invited into the fold.” As Solomon explained so well in Ecclesiastes, “There truly Is Nothing New Under The Sun.” In the Book Of Ezekiel, God made it so perfectly CLEAR that HE WANTED US TO BE SHEPHERDS ! Open the Book Of Ezekiel and read Chapter 34. God is chastising the Shepherds of Israel; religious leaders who spend all their time taking care of themselves and leaving the people to fend for themselves. Focusing on Themselves and building up Self Worth as others suffered ! God makes sure that they understand…HE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE ! AND HE WILL RESCUE HIS FLOCK ! God shows them the DIFFERENCE IN HIS CARE VERSUS THEIR MISGUIDED EFFORTS. HE shows them the Blessings and Beauty that awaits all who are HIS SHEEP:) It is a direct word spoken to us as well. Jesus is OUR SHEPHERD if YOU ARE HIS. As He abides in us, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE to tend our brothers and sisters. WE TAKE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE AND THE WAYS OF GOD TO THEM ! It is to be Who We Are….

THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME: SON OF MAN, PROPHESY AGAINST THE SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL; PROPHESY AND SAY TO THEM: ‘THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: WOE TO YOU SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL WHO ONLY TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES ! SHOULD NOT SHEPHERDS TAKE CARE OF THE FLOCK ?’ Ezekiel 34: 1-2

FOR THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: I MYSELF WILL SEARCH FOR MY SHEEP AND LOOK AFTER THEM. AS A SHEPHERD LOOKS AFTER HIS SCATTERED FLOCK WHEN HE IS WITH THEM, SO WILL I LOOK AFTER MY SHEEP. I WILL RESCUE THEM FROM ALL THE PLACES THEY WERE SCATTERED ON A DAY OF CLOUDS AND DARKNESS. Ezekiel 34: 11-12

I MYSELF WILL TEND MY SHEEP AND HAVE THEM LIE DOWN, DECLARES THE SOVERIEGN LORD. I WILL SEARCH FOR THE LOST AND BRING BACK THE STRAYS. I WILL BIND UP THE INJURED AND STRENGTHEN THE WEAK, BUT THE SLEEK AND THE STRONG I WILL DESTROY. I WILL SHEPERD THE FLOCK WITH JUSTICE. AS FOR YOU MY FLOCK, THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: I WILL JUDGE BETWEEN ONE SHEEP AND ANOTHER, AND BETWEEN RAMS AND GOATS. Ezekiel 34: 15-17

I WILL PROVIDE FOR THEM A LAND RENOWNED FOR ITS CROPS, AND THEY WILL NO LONGER BE VICTIMS OF FAMINE IN THE LAND OR BEAR THE SCORN OF NATIONS. THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I, THE LORD THEIR GOD, AM WITH THEM AND THAT THEY THE ISRAELITES, ARE MY PEOPLE, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD. YOU ARE MY SHEEP, THE SHEEP OF MY PASTURE AND I AM YOUR GOD, DECLARES THE SOVERIEGN LORD. Ezekiel 34: 29-31

The message in this Prophesy seems very clear. God is not going to be happy with Shepherds who are supposed to tend His Flock and yet FOCUS ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMFORTS, REPUTATIONS, AND NEEDS. God will judge them, and He will also judge His Sheep. Living a life as a lukewarm Christian and not being concerned about the well being of others will not bode well. God Is Just and He Will Not Tolerate Indifference, Laziness, Nor Pride. Our current world is Chock Full of men and women who seek only to bask in their riches and power. Striving to push Their Will upon the Sheep, and caring not for the lost, the weak, nor the injured. JESUS CALLS OUT. HIS SHEEP KNOW HIS VOICE ! False Shepherds abound, and Hirelings sneak in and infiltrate the Church and it’s pulpits to spread a False Gospel, False Teachings, and Destruction. SEEK JESUS AND HIS VOICE. KNOW HIS WORDS. DO HIS BIDDING AND TEND HIS SHEEP. Followers of Christ are meant to stand on the wall and watch over His Sheep. Stand for the TRUTH. Stand for RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE JUSTICE. Our time to stand for God Is NOW ! WILL YOU ? BE A SHEPHERD/JAA

FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD; I WILL STRENGHTEN YOU, I WILL HELP YOU, I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY RIGHT HAND. Isaiah 41:10