Shepherding- An Exhaustive Study
By D.M.M. 11/23/05
This treatise is a summarization of an exhaustive study which I did using Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (KJV). The following words and each of their occurrences in the Bible were exhaustively analyzed: “pastor”, “pastors”, “pasture”, “pastures”, “shepherd”, “shepherd’s”, “shepherds”, “shepherds’ ”, “sheep”, and “sheepgate”, “sheepcotes”, “sheepfold”, “sheepfolds”, “sheepmaster”, “sheep’s”, “sheepshearers”, “sheepskins”, “flock”, and “flocks”. While a KJV concordance was used, most of the Bible verses below are taken from the NIV.
The words were put on a grid. The grid was filled out longhand and contained the following column headings: “the bible verse used”, “office: Y/N”, “Strong’s number”, “the practice” (if any), “who practiced this”, “comment”, and “notes”.
There was a famous preacher in the days of Andrew Jackson, who was warned by the church elders that the U. S. president was in the crowd, and not to offend him. The preacher prefaced his message by stating that he’d been warned not to offend the president, but immediately stated, “That if Andrew Jackson didn’t repent and receive Christ as Savior, Andrew Jackson would be thrown into Hell”. I cannot see how I can teach what the bible teaches and not offend those claiming to be pastors and yet practicing in a manner contrary to Scripture and the apostles teaching. I cannot say that unless they repent, they’ll be thrown into Hell. But I can say that there are eternal rewards at risk for them and those who submit to such false authority. Also, resistance to the Holy Spirit is always futile and will bring some form of judgment, particularly in that such people are being warned by this treatise and other like-minded teachers. Any offense taken would be just another example of the flesh warring against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17). A Godly believer should love correction from the Lord (Proverbs 4:13, and 19:27). Incidentally, Andrew Jackson is said to have congratulated the preacher for having the mettle to stand on his convictions.
The following are points of note with references to the listing number from my original longhand grid:
“PASTOR”
1.) Pastors as a Work of the Spirit vs. a Hireling, Jeremiah 17:16 “I have not run away from being your shepherd”. As was the case in the Apostleship, Prophecy, and Evangelism sections of this Grace Study, the main correction that needs to be applied is exploding out as the first item. (Please see Apostleship Item#1, Prophecy Item #1, and Evangelism Item#1 & 3.) I didn’t arrange the order of presentation of these items, neither contrived to list the most important items first. I stuck to Strong’s order in each case, as was explained above. I don’t believe in accidents in the life of a Christian (Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:6), and so I believe my steps are being ordered by the Lord in this study. This should always be the case in the Lord’s work, else it’s our work and not the Lord’s work.
The concept that pops out immediately from this verse is the term “your shepherd”, which is saying that Jeremiah was the Lord’s shepherd, not Israel’s shepherd, not just “a” shepherd, but the Lord’s shepherd. This means he’s taking his direction from the Lord (Jeremiah 1:10, Proverbs 3:5&6). The same is true for New Testament pastors. Being a pastor is not the work of a believer. It’s the work of the Lord through that believer. This concept is brought out in John 10:11-13 (Please see Item#25 below.). The Lord Jesus owns the sheep, and a person cannot take that position away from the Lord Jesus on a financially contracted basis. A pastor can allow the Lord, as “that Great Shepherd” and “Overseer of your souls” (Hebrews 13:20, and I Peter 2:25), to shepherd His sheep through that person as a Spirit led activity. However, the Scripture doesn’t suggest that pastors should be paid a salary. In fact, John 10:11-13 says just the opposite, explaining the shortcomings of “hirelings”. Neither is “pastor” taught by Scripture to be a title or office within the local gathering. The office is to be the office of an “elder” (Titus 1:5). However, all elder/ mature believers are encouraged to practice the spiritual work of shepherding (I Peter 5:1-4). Consider, though, that the spiritual ability of shepherding is not listed as necessary to hold the office of elder. (I Timothy 3:1-7). So, all elders (that is all mature Christians, not just those that hold the office of elder) are encouraged to be pastors, while the office, and title, of “Pastor” does not exist. Who, then, is to be doing the preaching and teaching? Well the answer is obvious from Scripture: there were traveling preachers such as Paul, Barnabus, and Apollos; and the Scripture prescribes the office of elder for those “apt to teach” (I Timothy 3:2). The local gathering was to be governed by a committee of elders- Titus 1:5. Also, those with spiritual abilities, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers should be recognized through the pulpit as speakers for the Lord, as the Lord leads. (We must also recognize that the pulpit is not the only place where the Lord speaks to the local church. Preaching, teaching, prophecy, and evangelism can be accomplished by the Lord, through his servants, anywhere: in the parking lot, in believers’ homes, and especially through the choir loft. The local church is not a building, but, rather, a group of people.) I must also add that there are many local gatherings with no clergy where the elders do a majority of the pulpit preaching, and that system works excellently. These elders have full-time private employment, tithe to the Lord, administer the spiritual affairs of the church, and are still available to preach. This can be easily accomplished since the deacons and deaconesses govern the other affairs such as the Sunday school, bible seminars, building maintenance, and the budget. (For a further discussion regarding the Lord as “that Great Shepherd” of the Old Testament, please see Item #37 below.) An excellent further view into the history and the matter of biblical eldership can be found in New Testament Church Organization[1], in his Chapter entitled “Elders”. Norbie even points out that Jerome, the excellent translator of the Vulgate Bible, “acknowledged that the bishop, or overseer, and the elder were only two names for the same office”.[2] Be advised, though that in his treatise Norbie keeps to his group’s teachings in his chapter on gifts. Norbie is reverent enough, though, not to speak against the Holy Spirit by stating, “There is no reason for arbitrarily declaring that certain have died out and that others continue”[3]. Norbie also recognized, and I agree, that Scripture clearly distinguishes between offices of the Church (elder and deacon) and the Spirit’s gifts. It is my hope that serious scholars such as Norbie, after being confronted, through this Grace Study, by the irrefutable objective evidence of the Scripture and by the historical practice of gifts by Christ’s Church, will more fully understand the grace and the power of God manifested in Christ’s Church. We should seriously pray for Christian teachers throughout the world, that they might understand and preach, in a glorious manner, the true Word of God. (Another widely recognized work on this subject is Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch. Published by D&K Press of Castro Valley, Ca., it’s immediately available at www.dkpresschristianbooks.com.)
You might say: “Ah, what’s the difference”!? Good question! There’s a big difference. In fact, there’s such a huge difference that I’ve included a list as follows:
a.) Safety in plurality- The Scripture prescribes that the local church be administered by a plurality of elders. “Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). Paul instructed Titus, “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). Since I know that it’s the Lord’s intention to present his church as “faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), I won’t dwell on the failures of Church leaders. However, we should understand that a plurality of elders governing each local body presents less of an opportunity for Satan to cause schisms, or moral failures in the leadership of that local church. In other words it’s harder for Satan to score a “pot shot” at a plurality of elders than knocking out an individual leader.
b.) Elders can discipline themselves- Along with the “safety in plurality” concept stated above, is the fact that, if a moral or doctrinal problem occurs with an individual elder, the other elders can correct the problem without the problem ever coming to the public eye. Or, at the extreme, they can even force such an elder to step down if the problem is of that severity.
c.) Obedience to God’s Word- We cannot overlook the fact that we are to be obedient to the Scripture since “All Scripture is God-breathed “. Further, since a plurality of elders is what’s taught in Scripture, we dare not “give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27, II Corinthians 2:11). The government of the local church is not something that the Lord would have us, or our ancestors, redesign. We should be aware of Satan’s schemes, and be cautious knowing that these seemingly minor departures from the Bible’s teaching are actually departures from the Truth, and also from the Holy Spirit of Truth. When we aren’t walking by the Spirit of truth, then we’re walking by the flesh. We already know that discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissensions and factions are listed as manifestations of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). So we can conclude that improper local church government is the result of the old, fleshly nature working in years past amongst the believers, and we can’t discount Satan’s work in the whole situation. I say this not as an accusation, but totally with a view toward, and a hope for, correction and protection for the Church.
a.) Allows others to practice their gifts- This is a very important point! In fact I should have listed this item at the top of my list. “Practice their gifts” is not a proper description, but people understand this terminology, so I use it. A better concept is “recognizing the manifesting of the Holy Spirit’s power through others”. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Shall we then impede the work of the Holy Spirit by not allowing Him to work through others. I Corinthians 14:36&37 apply here: “Did the Word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command”. This is stating that church leaders, and all Christians, are commanded by the Lord to give place to the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in others. This is by no means an imaginary problem! There is a fairly recent movement where churches are crying out for mentors. However, there’s no scriptural basis for mentoring. These mentors are actually what the Scripture describes as pastors (I Peter 5:1-4). I visited one church where the supposed pastor had this announcement read to “his flock”, “No one is to call me at home anymore. I don’t have enough time to talk to all of you”. Item #106 in the Evangelism Section of this Grace Study brings out another important point. Since evangelists and apostles are to be subsidized according to I Corinthians 9:14, then paying salaries to supposed pastors and other workers obviously stifles the provision for the Lord’s evangelists and apostles to the mission fields.
b.) Sensible division of work- As was stated above there are already many local churches governed by a plurality of elders, and those systems work excellently. Other than safety from Satan, We can see another reason why the Scripture teaches the plurality of elders, because of the sensibility of dividing the work among the elders.
c.) Tasks for elders typically would include: preaching at major meetings, oversight of all functions and committees run by deacons, shepherding of those the Lord puts under their care, and dealing with emergencies. Rather than having all elders attend all these functions, one elder can be assigned to the various tasks, who then reports back to the other elders. Oversight of the local church is then accomplished by a committee of elders, who spread the work out evenly amongst themselves. Note that this allows that the shepherding work gets done. Sometimes I go to used car lots. I right away notice that most used car lots are all sales and no service. Well, this reminds me of many local churches- all sales and no service. This is not a minor problem because shepherding is actually the Spirit ability to help the flock walk with Christ, especially through problems. When you hear church leaders say, “Well I (or we) don’t have enough time to deal with your problem”, you’ve just encountered the major glich in the paid hireling church scenario. The shepherding tasks are not being done, and the leadership structure of that local government is the culprit. (Please see Item#20- “The Lord’s Complaint…”) The Bible teaches autonomous local gatherings governed by a committee of elders, with those on the elder/ oversight committee along with other mature Christians doing the task work of shepherding (I Peter 5:1-4).
d.) Decisions by consensus of elders- “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). Elders can usually make their decisions by unanimous decisions, if they discuss the issues until they come to a consensus. If they cannot come to consensus, then they can usually delay the decision. This item is not just something that makes sense. Acts 15:5-29 documents that this is the method for handling decisions which is taught by Scripture. The apostles and elders met privately (Acts 15:6, and Galatians 2:2). There was much discussion with pertinent statements by those involved (Acts 15:7-12). After reaching consensus, one elder, James, gave the decision (vs.13-21). Then the decision was made known to the whole local church (vs.22). So, this is an excellent example of decision by consensus of elders. We should also recognize that James’ statements were given as much weight as Peter’s, since they were both elders (although Peter was also an apostle, I Peter 5:1). Also, please don’t neglect the point that “James, Peter, and John” were “reputed to be pillars” (Galatians 2:9). Some would put Peter alone as the only pillar of the Jerusalem gathering in order to promulgate the teaching of apostolic succession through Peter. (Also see Word of Wisdom Section, Item#1d.)
e.) The bad testimony of “filthy lucre”- A somewhat famous, Hispanic preacher once gave a very insightful solution to a preacher’s constant begging for funds on TV. With his usually comical, Hispanic accent, he gave his good advice. He said, “Why don’t you just sell one of those jets you’ve been flying around in”!? To those mature Christians (not just those holding the office of elder), I Peter 5:2 tells us why we should be motivated to shepherd God’s flock under our care: “not greedy for money (filthy lucre in KJV), but eager to serve”. The sometimes meager funds of a local church are not intended by Scripture to pay a preacher to do the preaching and teaching tasks which the elders should be doing. Such misapplication of funds will obviously hinder both the funding of missionaries and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through others in the church (Please also see #d above.). A paid pastor was never intended to be the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, and the teacher in a local gathering, according to Ephesians 4:7. All of the believers in a local church are all gifted with Holy Spirit power enabling the entire church to “grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Also, please see Item #55 in the Apostleship Section and Item #106 in the Evangelism Section of this Grace Study.
To make things simpler to study, the following is a list of similar but different terms. These should be understood and carefully investigated with the goal of understanding God’s order in the local gathering.
a.) Elder- “Presbuteros” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 4245[4]). A spiritually mature Christian (I Timothy 5:1, and I Peter 5:1). Also, but not necessarily, an appointed office in the local church who meets with other appointed elders to practice the oversight of the spiritual affairs of the assembly (I Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5). In other words not all the elders will be appointed to the Oversight Committee, but they all should seek to shepherd God’s flock which the Lord put in their care (I Peter 5:2).
b.) Deacon/ deaconess- “Diakonos” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 1249) is rendered attendant, waiter, or servant. Any appointed service/ office in the local gathering, which doesn’t require service at the spiritual level of an elder. (I Timothy 3:8, Acts 6:3).
c.) Overseers/ oversight- “episkopos”/ “episkopeo” in the Greek (Strong’s Nos. 1985/ 1983) are rendered overseers. This is the same Greek word as “bishop” in #d, below. Oversight is a task that all who seek to be pastors should be doing, (Acts 20:28, I Peter 5:2) and that the appointed elders of the church must be doing (II Chronicles 18:16).
d.) Bishop- Same Greek word and usage as overseer, above (Philippians 1:1, I Timothy 3:1, etc..). Bishop (in the KJV) always means the office of elder, except in the case of I Peter 2:25, which refers to the Lord as “the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls”. In the Greek there is no distinction between bishop or overseer. The word is “episkopeo”: “epi” meaning over, “skopeo” meaning “scope out” or watch. A bishop or overseer is therefore one who oversees the affairs of the local gathering, and especially watching over those whom the Lord has placed under his care. (The historical reference to Timothy as the first Bishop of Ephesus is misunderstood. There were not many different local gatherings in Ephesus; there was only one gathering which had a plurality of elders, Timothy possibly serving on their oversight committee for a short time. Timothy was a member of Paul’s apostolic team and was therefore cited by Scripture as an apostle, (I Thessalonians 2:6). The concept of a bishop as one watching over many different local gatherings is not taught in Scripture. In fact, local gatherings, since Christ is their Head, are to remain autonomous.
e.) Hireling- “misthotos” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 3411) is rendered a wage worker whether good or bad. The word “misthotos” describes the hired workers in Zebedee’s boat, Mark 1:20, as well as the hired hand in the prodigal’s father’s house in Luke 15:17. The English word “hireling” is immediately recognized as the opposite of Christ as “the Good Shepherd”, in John 10. A hired pastor is compared to the “hireling” of John 10: 13-15 in Item #25 below. A hired pastor can never be the owner of the sheep as Jesus Christ is, and therefore, is contrary to the teaching that the Lord is the Good Shepherd of both the Old and New Testaments, per Item #37 below.
f.) Pastor- “poimen” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 4166) is rendered simply a shepherd. Shepherding is the Spirit led work of watching over, mentoring, teaching, and even protecting new believers, much as a shepherd of sheep watches over , protects, and nurtures his flock. However, the point was brought out above that it is ultimately the Lord that is “that Great Shepherd and Overseer” of our souls. This is why shepherding is considered a Spirit led ability and not an office in the local gathering.
“PASTORS”
3.) Pastors in the Millennium, Jeremiah 3:15 “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding”. This verse is striking in two ways. It tells us that the Lord is seeking shepherds after his own heart. We who are lead by the Lord as shepherds, who realize that we’re thrown into other families’ problems not as commentators, but as servants of the Lord, can conclude that quality shepherding requires not just a heart for the Lord, but also a heart like the Lord’s. Hopefully the Lord’s shepherd heart will be brought out and explained in this Shepherding Section of this Grace Study.
This verse also does something that few passages in the Scripture do. It tells us something about day to day life in the millennium period. We could ask many questions here, but I dare not get off track. We can see, though, that there will be pastors, a need for pastors, and those needing shepherding in Zion. Also, these shepherds will lead with knowledge and understanding of a different type than what was known in Jeremiah’s time.
5.) Pastors Who Don’t Care, Jeremiah 12:10 “Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field;…the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares”. I don’t believe that this verse is meant as a direct comparison to the spiritual ability of shepherding. However, since the Greek word for pastors, “poimen”, literally means shepherding, then most attributes of shepherding sheep can also be applied to shepherding believers. This is why this study of pastors also contains the study of scriptures regarding pastures, sheep, and flocks. When we look at this passage we see that the pastures and the entire land are being destroyed by people, especially pastors, who don’t care. Isn’t love the opposite of not caring? Yes, love is the opposite of not caring. This concept brings us curiously back to Paul’s position on the gifts of the Spirit, the fourth element of Paul’s position being love (per the Prophecy Section, Item#1). The point is that any Spiritual gift, especially shepherding must be motivated by love. This ought to be obvious since “God is love” (I John 4:8). Therefore, how can we say that we’re led by the Spirit if we’re not led by love (since God, the Spirit, is love as well).
Let’s look again at I Corinthians 13:4-7 and view how these attributes of love readily fit into the spiritual ability of shepherding. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” These verses somehow appear to describe specifically the attributes needed by Christian pastors, instead of general attributes of Christian love. So, we see why Paul’s position, which is indeed God’s position, and should be our position, requires love as the motivating factor in the practice of all Spiritual gifts, of which shepherding is not the least. (Also see Table of Contents Section, Item#g.g. “Paul's Position on the Spiritual Abilities”.)
8.) A Critical Passage, Pastors by the Spirit’s Power not a Title, Ephesians 4:11 Believe it or not, this is the only use of the English word “pastor” in the entire New Testament (KJV). This fact is somewhat discounted by the fact that its Greek counterpart “poimen” is used extensively throughout the New Testament to mean merely a shepherd. Then again, the English word “shepherd” is never used, even allegorically, in the New Testament to mean a shepherd of men (although shepherd is found in verb form in I Peter 5:2), other than when the word allegorically refers to the Lord (i.e. “the Good Shepherd”, John 10:11). This is still not a problem though, since there are encouragements in the New Testament urging elders to perform pastoral functions (I Peter 5:2, etc.). As well, since the task of shepherding sheep is so typologically tied to the Spirit led ability of pastors, the tasks of shepherding sheep can obviously also be studied in order to understand the spiritual ability of shepherding. So there are ample passages, both in the Old and New Testaments, with which to study shepherding.
The scarcity of use of the word “pastor” is still not the main reason why this passage is so critical. As was the case in the Apostleship, Prophecy, and Evangelism Sections of this Grace Study, this passage essentially lists pastors, along with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers as one of the “gifts to men” discussed in Ephesians 4:8 and Psalm 68:18. Psalm 68:18 explains why God gave such “gifts to men”: “That you, O Lord God, might dwell there”. So God indwells his Church through the various gifts of the Spirit, pastors being discussed herein. This fact, of God’s indwelling through gifts, has even more keenly been impressed on my mind while studying pastors, though. This impression was made by the overwhelming scriptures presenting the Lord as the Shepherd of his sheep. This was the case both for Israel and for his Church. (Please see Item#37, below.) So it’s even more blatantly clear that we’re discussing “that Great Shepherd” (Hebrews 13:20) manifesting his Father’s Spirit through pastors as a spiritual gift, and therefore, the use of the word “pastor” as a title of a church official is inappropriate.
It’s now become necessary to look at the crux of the matter regarding the use of any titles by supposed believers. In Scripture no man ever used a title, and even Jesus Christ only referred to himself as the Son of Man. However, we justifiably recognize him as the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some important points regarding the error of using a title for Christians:
a.) There’s an important point of Godly humility that applies. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Let God raise you up or lower you down as he sees fit, according to his kingdom agenda. Do you think that this is not a problem! Well, I’ve heard of people taking on all kinds of prideful titles- Most Very Reverend, Right Reverend, His Eminence, Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor, and even Reverend. None of these titles are according to the Scripture, nor do they constitute correct Christian teaching.
b.) While Jesus Christ certainly deserves his titles, and others were given descriptive titles in the Scripture, not one Christian, or Old Testament prophet, nor the Lord Jesus ever claimed a title in Scripture. Some examples are Phillip the evangelist (Acts 21:8), and “the apostles Barnabus and Paul” (Acts 14:14). As you can see these are descriptions. The 1st Century believers were never so prideful as to claim these titles themselves.
c.) One argument to the contrary that you’ll hear is regarding Peter and Paul’s claim to the title apostle in Peter and Paul’s letters. These are still not instances of the use of titles. The wording is only used as descriptors in the addressing of the letters, not as titles. In those times the sender’s name was contained in the body of the letter, rather than in a block at the top of the letter as we do nowadays. Again, the term “an apostle” merely describes who he is, as well as describing his authority in writing (as one sent by God), and also sets the stage for the remainder of the letter. Other descriptions were used in the Epistles which would never be confused as being titles, such as: servant/ bond slave in II Peter 1:1, Jude 1, Romans 1:1, etc.; “prisoner of Christ” in Philemon 1, “the elder” in II and III John. Really, if you want to use a title, use the title “bond slave”. That would be an appropriate, non-prideful, Christian title. That is, unless you were unwilling to truly serve the Lord.
d.) The use of these titles actually stemmed from the religious practices of the Dark Ages. That Dark Age world system of nations and empires requires each area to have a local magistrate to collect taxes and to minister the affairs of the next higher nobleman. The Lord Jesus foresaw these tendencies in mankind and taught against such tendencies in His Church (Mark 10:41-45). However, in that world system the next higher nobleman also has someone above him until you have a complete hierarchy of nobility leading up to the king or emperor as supreme. The Roman Catholics began setting up a similar structure in their gatherings, eventually settling upon the primacy of the Bishop of Rome (another erroneous title). The title of “pope” was first given to Boniface III by the Emperor Phocas in 610 a.d. . Well, in order to administer a denomination, the individual gatherings must be tied to an earthly supreme leader through a hierarchy. The supreme leader was given the title “pope”. As well, though, the lowest level of this hierarchy was given the title “pastor”. During the Protestant Reformation, which Roman Catholics term the Protestant revolution, believers began to restudy the ways of God as taught in the Scripture, and Christian teaching took on the brightness of the glorious gospel. Eventually the notion of saving grace by faith versus works became obvious. However, while errors regarding the gospel and saving grace were dealt with during these reforming decades, little has been said or written to bring about correction in the leadership of the local gatherings. In fact, such correction is not up to men, but up to the Lord; since He’s the Head of the Church. Because I have an unction from the Lord to proclaim his mighty power given to His Church, and since shepherding is obviously a manifestation of His power; then I am being both submissive and appropriate in seeking to correct such teachings and practices, even at the level of the local gathering. I advise the reader, though, not to seek to correct perceived errors in their local gathering’s leadership, unless they are lead to do so after much prayer and they know that such a leading is from the Lord and not from Satan (who seeks to introduce destructive heresies).
e.) A specific person with the spiritual ability of pasturing is not mentioned in Scripture. Neither do we see any other titles used except the descriptor “sent one”/ “apostle”, explained in # c. above. If we look outside of Scripture, as an example to 1st century letters, to any which were not destroyed by anti-Christian forces, then we encounter other problems. The largest problem is reliability. The following are problems with the reliability of such writings which I’ve encountered: 1.) Various factions outside the Church (the Roman pagans) and from within the nominal church (Catholics and Protestants) have burned as many dissenting documents as they could obtain. So, what’s left has been constructively edited by Satan’s forces. 2.) The remaining documents have been added to, and subtracted from, so that various people could achieve their religious goals. The use of titles, such as pastor, or overseer clearly did not come from the apostolic teaching of scripture, but rather by men’s attempts to describe individuals in the Church. A fleshly and prideful progression of errors then ensued in which, first, people began to claim such titles for themselves. Then, people began to exaggerate the title, such as, “reverend”, “very reverend”, etc. They even took the word overseer (“episcope” in the Greek), which is a function of a pastor (I Peter 5:2), and exaggerated that word into the English word “bishop”. The notion of a bishop or overseer over several local gatherings never even existed in Scripture. The overseer was always to be watching over a small group which the Lord had placed under his care, with the understanding that several of these overseeing pastors would make up the formal leadership of the local gathering (Acts 20:28). The next step in this fleshly progression of errors, which of course is completely contrary to Scripture, is to then enforce this false claim of authority upon others; even though I Peter 5:3 commands Christian shepherds not to “lord it over those entrusted to you”. We needn’t look back in history to remember all the church split-ups, individuals ostracized, beaten, and put to the rack and to the torch, all due to the supposed concern for souls by these false bishops and false pastors. However, it is profitable to remember that the flesh wars against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17) and that “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy” are all listed as manifestations of the flesh in Galatians 5:20&21. The progression of such errors goes on into wrong practices and souls being lost, and gatherings with no Holy Spirit present. However, time won’t allow me to expand that theme. I will say, though, that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth”, and failure to teach and practice the truth will lead to quenching and possibly separation from the Holy Spirit, if not for correction by the intercession/ grace of God. Praise the Lord for those servants of the King who preach and have preached correction to His Church.
“PASTURE”
10.) Typology Explained, Tasks of a Pastor- Searching for Pasture, I Chronicles 4:39 “Leaders of their clans…they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks”. Item#8 showed that there’s a scarcity of direct teachings regarding New Testament pastors. Well, since we know from Scripture that pastors are a manifestation of God’s grace, then why is there such a scarcity? The reason is plain. The Greek word that is used, “poimen”, merely means shepherd; and whatever tasks are necessary for shepherding sheep are obviously necessary for overseeing the believers, keeping in mind that ultimately “the Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23). This is why shepherding, pasturing, and things having to do with flocks of sheep were reviewed in this study to glean teachings regarding New Testament pastors. Ironically, along this line, the word “pastoring” doesn’t even exist in my dictionary, but must be replaced by either of the English words “pasturing” or “shepherding”.
One of the first tasks of pastors, then, pops up in this passage as the search for pasture. Here are some things that we can glean from this excerpt on pasturing:
a.) “The leaders of their clans”- A pastor, while not holding a church office, or title, is definitely a leader within the church: “Be shepherds of God’s flock under your care serving as overseers” (I Peter 5:2). I think that there is a great problem in local gatherings in that worldly forms of leadership have crept in and overshadowed Christian leadership. The Lord Jesus said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves….But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27). “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). I Peter 5:3 is clear when Peter wrote, “Be shepherds…not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, and when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”. Christian leadership, then, is being like Christ as one who serves (and obviously abandoning your place in any pecking order), serving as examples, not ruling over Christ’s flock. I believe it’s clearly stated that there’s a reward for true pastors that only Christ can give; and if you seek earthly recognition for your pastoral work (such as claiming the title of pastor), then you already have your reward (Matthew 6:1). As I mature as a Christian, I’m becoming cognizant that my recognition of service is part of my fellowship with the Lord (I John 1:3), and this fellowship is actually somewhat private between myself and the Lord. True fellowship with other Christians is not so much that we gather every Sunday together, or even struggle together, but rather that “we walk in the light” and are in Christ together, even though we are apart. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,…where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20&21).
b.) “Rich good pasture”- The typological meaning concerning pasture has practically nothing to do with worldly conditions such as space, price, or protection from violence. When we consider a rich good pasture we picture land with plenty of grass with which to feed the sheep. Christ said, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father that gives you the true bread from heaven….I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 10:35). People’s souls hunger for a right relationship with God, and they thirst for belief in the truth. Only Christ can fill these needs. Sheep can survive in a sparse environment or in “rich good pasture”. Likewise Christians are taught, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). I would add that the greater Christian riches are directly related to Christian service through our grace gifts. “Eagerly desire the greater gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31). It’s clear that it’s the Christian leaders’ responsibility to, through Christ, schedule and otherwise prepare Christian teaching and preaching that will build up the local assembly (Ephesians 4:11-16).
c.) “The land was spacious”- “So that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12&13). The atmosphere in the local assembly should not merely be adequate but have plenty of room for growth and Christian service. This is actually as the Lord would have it. Moses said, “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them” (Numbers 11:29). Paul wrote, “Eagerly desire the spiritual gifts especially the gift of prophecy” (I Corinthians 14:1). Peter closed his general epistles by urging each of us, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen!” (II Peter 3:18). The Lord really does want to make us rich beyond measure in spiritual and eternal blessings.
d.) “Peaceful and quiet”- “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness” (I Timothy 2:2). “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anybody” I Thessalonians 4:11&12). Since peace is one of the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22), it’s easy to see that the Lord prefers a quiet and peaceful atmosphere in which to nurture his flock.
12.) The Sheep of Your Pasture, Psalm 74:1 In full agreement with Item#37, which cites the Lord as the Good Shepherd of both the Old and New Testaments, is the recurring theme that all believers, Old or New Testament, are the “sheep of your (the Lord’s) pasture”. This verse uses this comparison to point out that Israel is totally dependant upon the Lord. Psalm 79:13 calls upon the Lord for preservation, protection, and deliverance “then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever”. Psalm 95:7 urges us to bow down and worship for “we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care”. Psalm 100:3 urges us to know and to realize that “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture”. Ezekiel 34:23-31 reminds us of that Millennium Shepherd, and that we are the sheep of his pasture. One point that sticks out to me, herein, is the reason why the Lord raises up shepherds: because without the Lord’s help through pastors, new believers are totally open to attack from every direction. This is serious to the Lord. Dare we resist the Lord’s urging in our lives to shepherd younger Christians which the Lord has put under our care?!
20.) The Lord’s Complaint Against the Pastors and Against the Flock, also the Good Shepherd of the Millennium, Ezekiel 34:1-31 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel”. Unlike Item #5, above, this is a direct comparison of shepherding sheep to the shepherding of souls. In fact, this is specifically stated in vs. 17 & 31. The following problems are brought out by the Lord through Ezekiel regarding Israel’s pastors of that day, and also His flock:
a.) They only take care of themselves, they should take care of the flock. They made use of the benefits of the flock, such as food and clothing, but don’t take care of the flock (vs. 2, also I Timothy 5:17).
b.) Regarding care, they did not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, or bind up the injured. (Also see Item#20 in the Healings Section.) They did not bring back the strays or search for the lost (vs. 4). The Lord does not lead a person into shepherding just so that they can have something to do with their time, and certainly not so they can merely make a living off of the task. The Lord gives the Spirit gift of shepherding because he’s concerned for his flock. This is the second most important point that I gleaned from this study of shepherding. The first, as stated in Item#1, is that the Lord is always that “Great Shepherd”. The second is that shepherding is very serious and is manifested out of the Lord’s serious concern and love for His sheep.
c.) They “have ruled them harshly and brutally” (vs. 5, also I Peter 5:3).
d.) “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd.” (vs. 5&6, also Item#40). I know a person who asked the Lord into his heart at 14 years old. He soon wandered into every sin you could think of, but 10 years later, he again said the sinners prayer and now walks as a Christian. He claims that he was saved the second time, at age 24. However, I perceive that he probably got saved when he was 14, and wandered around like a lost sheep until 10 years later. Well, the point is that the Lord raises up and gifts people as pastors, because he cares for His sheep and doesn’t want them in harm’s way by becoming scattered.
e.) “Because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered, and has become food for the wild animals…This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock’ “ (vs.8-10). The Lord had to step in and do, himself, the work of these spiritual shepherds of Israel (vs. 10-16), and so the Lord will hold them accountable. He immediately removes them from attending the flock (vs.10), and actually has to rescue His flock from the shepherds. I believe pastors, both Old Testament and New, will be eternally accountable before the Lord (Hebrews 13:17).
f.) “As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:” (vs.17). The Lord points out two main things that the Israelites were doing. Muddying the water is a picture of man made religion as compared to the pure spring water of the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 2:13). Do you think that this is not a problem today? Consider the problem with the understanding of I Corinthians 13, as spelled out in Item #1 of the Prophecy Section. Men are coming up with their own teachings (II Timothy 4:3). This fleshly and muddied Christian teaching has been causing problems from day one in the Church, starting with Peter; to whom the Lord said “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). I consider that this malady is do to the flesh of mankind, even believers; and the false teachings are instigated by Satan as a snare (Galatians 5:20&21). This brings up the Lord’s second problem with Israel, their obvious fleshly conduct. In other sections of this study I pointed out that pecking orders, the law of the pack, and herd instinct all constitute fleshly conduct within society. This passage is essentially saying the same thing. The Lord confronts Israel saying: “You shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns”. In Scripture, horns are a picture of power. We should never use our position in the Church culture to overpower another Christian, or to try to maintain some imaginary position in a group’s cultural pecking order. (Some perceive such overpowering of other believers as Nicolaitanism, which the Lord hates, per Revelation 2:6. The logic stems from the very word Nicolaitan. “nico” meaning conquer, and rendering Nicolaitans as those who conquer the laity. This would include clergy and all those who Lord it over other believers. Such action is spoken against in I Peter 5:3.) We should always pray and seek that the Lord’s will would be done in our lives, not the will of Satan, or of the world, or of the flesh.
After this much needed criticism, and seeking their correction through the prophet, the Lord encourages Israel by reminding them (vs. 23-31) of a Shepherd of David’s lineage that he will place over them (vs. 23). He will send down “showers of blessings”, and “they will no longer be plundered by the nations”. “You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord” (vs. 31).
25.) I am the Good Shepherd, John 10:1-18, 27-30 This is, of course, a monumental passage in Scripture. I’ve plucked out some points that the Lord has impressed upon me and that are relevant to this study. These are listed below.
a.) Let me encourage you in studying this passage or any passage concerning pastors, that in the majority of Scripture, the Father, even more so than the Son, is portrayed as “The Shepherd and overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:25, also, see Item#37 below). Even in this great passage, which obviously describes the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus explains in verse 29 & 30 that this is all done through the “Father’s hand” and that “I and the Father are one”. This is important in understanding the true spiritual ability in pastors, since even the Lord Jesus’ shepherding work is done by the Father through the Lord Jesus. Therefore, any pastor must recognize and react to urgings by the Father’s Spirit to take oversight, feed the flock, and otherwise shepherd His flock. We should realize that, in truth and for eternity, the Father is the shepherd of the sheep.
b.) Vs. 1-10 – This is obviously a picture of Christ as the Sheep Gate (the Door in KJV), the believers as the sheep, and illegitimate pastors as thieves; but let’s look closely at the comparison. The Lord Jesus describes himself as the sheep gate, however, only in verse 9 does he discuss the sheep being saved by passing through the gate. The remainder of verses 1 through 10 discusses shepherds having to pass through the gate. “The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep….He calls his own sheep by name….I am the Good Shepherd”. Is Christ both the Gate and the Shepherd at the same time? Yes! He is the Gate since He and the Father are one, verse 30. He is the Good Shepherd in partial fulfillment to Ezekiel 34:23. Note that even the Lord Jesus must pass through the Gate in order to be a shepherd. How much more so Christian pastors. This is not a statement regarding salvation of these shepherds, but rather the legitimate spiritual call to shepherding through the Father. “The man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” (The Father’s call to pastors is obviously also apportioned by the Son, per Ephesians 4:7.)
c.) Vs. 11-13 – “I am the Good Shepherd”. He is good, relative to the other shepherds described as false shepherds. This fact and the “one flock and one shepherd” statement fit exactly the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:23, where God states he will send a good shepherd from the lineage of David. Here we have the owner versus hireling (or wage worker) aspect of pastors. This is why shepherding must be a spiritual calling to allow the Lord to shepherd through a person, not a salaried office in the local gathering (“not greedy for money, but eager to serve”, I Peter 5:2). The Lord Jesus owns the sheep, and a person cannot take that position away from the Lord on a financially contracted basis. The reason is plain. There’s no vested interest by a hireling. But God has a vested interest in shepherding, since they are His sheep. True, Spirit led pastors, who have entered that calling “through the Gate”, also have a vested interest in shepherding, “a crown of glory that will not fade away” (I Peter 5:4). Also, please see Item#1 above.
d.) Vs. 14-18 – These verses discuss the ownership aspects of shepherding, versus hirelings, and also why the Lord Jesus is considered “That Great Shepherd of the Sheep” in Hebrews 13:20. It’s because he laid down his life for the sheep.
e.) Vs. 27-30 – This is, of course, an eternal security passage in that no one, even Satan, can pluck us out of the Father’s hand. This passage also helps explain that ultimately the Father is still that Great Shepherd of the sheep consistently portrayed in Scripture (“I and the Father are one.”). The verse, “My sheep listen to my voice” has historically spoken of a personal relationship with Christ in which we can pray to him, and expect an answer. We also should listen for his voice during our daily life (I Corinthians 12:8), testing the spirits (I John 4:1) as we go (Please see Item#200 below.).
“PASTURES”
27.) “The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want”, Psalm 23 This is that great shepherd’s psalm which really needs no introduction. This psalm, though, is extremely clear evidence of the Scripture’s consistent teaching that the Father, even more than the Son, is that Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:25). As well, this psalm contains practices which the Lord would like to accomplish in us, and the Lord is helped along in these tasks by Christian pastors. These are:
a.) Vs. 1, “I shall not be in want”. A pastor should be teaching those under his care that the Lord provides for us, but we need to be good stewards of his provision for us.
b.) Vs. 2, “He makes me lie down in green pastures”. Christ said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 10:35). The green grass of the pasture speaks of that right relationship with God for which every person hungers. That relationship is obtained through the gospel, and nurtured through spiritual growth within the local assembly. A pastor, then, seeks to provide a rich spiritual atmosphere for the nurturing of new believers.
c.) Vs. 2, “He leads me beside quiet waters”. I live near Lake Michigan, which can quickly become one of the most dangerous bodies of water on the planet. Recently this country (USA) has been pelted by hurricanes on it’s South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and I had to visit the perimeter of a hurricane area twice. So I know the difference between raging and quiet waters. Revelation 13:1 says, “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea”. Here the sea represents restless humanity. In Matthew 4 and Luke 8 Jesus calms the storm; and many compare this with Christ’s control over the trials and unsettling circumstances in our lives. So waters, in Scripture, have come to be understood as spiritual circumstances. Here we see quiet waters. So a pastor, like Jesus, and through the Father’s Holy Spirit, seeks to avoid the storms of life and calm the storm for the flock under his care. This is not just done through teaching, but also living out the Christian life with the flock (“Not lording it over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock”- I Peter 5:3).
d.) Vs. 3, “He restores my soul”. I was recently impressed by that verse in Matthew 11 that we all know. I was impressed because though I knew that verse by heart, there is a portion that I’d never fully considered. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” You can sleep day and knight. You can be attended by the finest psychologists and psychiatrists. You can take a truck load of valium. However, only Jesus can give you rest for your soul. “He restores my soul”. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). A pastor strives that through Christ he can bring a soul to that point in Ephesians 4:1, where each soul can “live a life worthy of that calling you have received”. The restoration of souls is strictly the Lord’s business. A pastor can teach, console, warn, be an example, and many times just listen; but ultimately the restoration of souls must come from the Lord, “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:25).
e.) Vs. 3, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake”. The story is told of a missionary making his rounds. Coming upon the villagers of one island, he was in such a hurry that he could only teach them the Lord’s prayer before he had to leave. Years later he was passing by the island on a large boat, and called out to the same men on shore explaining that he did not have time to stop and visit. The islanders said, “Don’t worry we’ll come out to you”. They all then came out to him, walking upon the water. The missionary gasped, “How did you do that”? One islander explained, “Well, you know that prayer that you taught us, which begins, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name’. We forgot the rest of the prayer, but we repeat the ‘hallowed be thy name’ part, all the time”. Oh, that we Christians could grasp the importance keeping the Lord’s name exalted through our lifestyles! The Lord has given each of us the ability to live quiet but victorious lives. A major task of pastors is to bring this about in those he shepherds. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12).
f.) Vs. 4, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me”. We are to be comforted through trials by experiencing the presence of the Lord. This is first of all accomplished by knowing that we’re saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13). The Lord’s presence is then practically applied in our lives through our daily walk with Him, part of which is His chastening of us (Hebrews 12:6), and also His authorities protecting us (Romans 13:1). The “rod”, then is a symbol of His discipline; while the “staff” is a symbol of the Lord’s authority, both of which work for our protection. Pastors and other elders are to hold the individual believers accountable for what they do and say. We Christians do this, not primarily from the pulpit, but by rebuking and correcting as the Lord leads (Galatians 6:1&2, II Timothy 3:16, &4:2).
g.) Vs. 5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. We must learn, and teachers and pastors must teach this, that we are “aliens and strangers in the world” (I Peter 2:11, 1:1&17); and that even so, the Lord will still provide for us. The financial snares of Satan are many, and I see Christians in trouble all around me. We must learn to focus on the Lord’s will in our lives, and he’ll meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19), not our wants but our needs. Make no mistake, this verse is saying that we cannot acquiesce to dependence on the world system for our financial provision. We must acknowledge that God is providing for us in the midst of an environment hostile to us. Don’t give in to the lies of “the prince of this world”, Satan, that we must perform certain worldly acts in order to make a living. “The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people” (Psalm 68:35).
h.) Vs. 5, “You anoint my head with oil”. This, to me, speaks of nothing but the Holy Spirit anointing given to the believers of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament such anointing by God was given to prophets and kings. However, in Christ we all have an anointing (Ephesians 4:7, I John 2:26&27). Of course, a pastor cannot anoint a person with the Holy Spirit. God does that. However, Christian leaders can facilitate the Spirit’s anointing by teaching correctly concerning the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in believers, and, importantly, recognizing and allowing for the Spirit’s work through others. Beware and be careful of any person speaking against the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31&32).
i.) Vs. 5&6, “My cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” These are the closing remarks by the Psalmist David, in which he acknowledges the blessings which he has in the Lord. A pastor cannot himself provide for these things, but can live as an example of goodness and overflowing Christian love, faithfully reassuring God’s eternal life promise through the power of the gospel.
“SHEPHERD”
36.) The World Hates Pastors, Genesis 46:34 “All shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians”. When I was very young, a seventh or eighth grader in a Roman Catholic school, a friend of mine was openly sinning. This was before I believed or understood the gospel. I told my friend that he really shouldn’t do that because it was a sin. I still remember his response. He said, very indignantly, “Well if you really feel that way you should consider becoming a priest”. Since Egypt is a Scriptural type of the world, Genesis 46:34 is stating that the world hates pastors. Oh, the world doesn’t hate that friendly man dressed in black, who you can avoid by not attending church, or just not pay attention to his words. The world system hates a Godly man, who exists for an extended period of time in their culture as an equal, who takes the initiative to change their lives for Christ’s sake, and who’s Christian lifestyle sticks out like a sore thumb.
The reason that the world must practice hatred against true pastors is the same reason why the world resists prophets. Must I repeat it again!? The flesh wars against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17). Here are a few examples of how that hatred exists and is practiced:
a.) The world wants a pastor to wear strange clothing, so they recognize you immediately. That way they can seek to hide their obvious sins, until the religious person leaves. I just went through that yesterday. I gave a woman a bible tract and immediately she put her lit cigarette behind her back while she was talking to me, taking a puff every so often; but acting as if the cigarette wasn’t really there because I couldn’t see it. She would have been much more comfortable had I had a black clergy suit on, so that she would know not to smoke or cuss when I’m around. Clergymen fall for this ruse of Satan, seeking to be “men of the cloth”. They’re “men of the cloth” for sure, but are they men and women of God; and are they doing God’s will?
b.) The world system will seek to reject a shepherd which isn’t a certified clergyman. Russia, after being open to evangelism, recently went back to having the Russian Orthodox Church as its official state religion. I suppose they think that spiritual matters will be much easier to deal with that way. The Lake of Fire doesn’t appear to be an easier route to me. Of course, we know about Islam, Hindu, and Buddhist clergy, or should I say shamans. For the Lord’s name sake, I shouldn’t dwell on the comparison of clergy to shamanism. However, it is extremely difficult to shepherd a new believer, who you know will probably wander over to some clergy led group and fall under the atrophied teaching of hirelings. Do you know that in Europe the persecution of John Wycliffe’s non-clergy preachers (known as the Lollards) became so intense that they were burned at the stake practically daily; and that there was a burning pit, and still is a place, in Norwich, England known as the Lollard’s Pit. (Lollard is a derogatory word meaning one who mumbles. They were called this because they had no clerical claims or credentials.) However, it’s said that the same fire that burned the Lollards at the stake became the fire of the Reformation. I would add that that same fire of God’s Holy Spirit was working in John Wycliffe when he insisted on teaching and preaching the truth. Beware if you’re a serious mature Christian, because practically everyone will attempt to get you to become a clergyman of some sort; and I know some who have been muscled or tricked into that route. But, I must say that the use of the title of clergy or reverend only goes to decry that person’s lack of understanding of God’s power and grace.
c.) As is the case with any serious Christian, worldly people will treat you as stupid, since you’ve not come to their conclusion that worldly aspirations are all that matter. This stands true for worldly believers as well as for non-believers. “The man without the Spirit does not understand the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” (I Corinthians 2:14).
37.) The Good Shepherd in the Old Testament, Genesis 49:24 “Joseph is a fruitful vine…Because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel”. The point being brought out here is that the Scripture, Old and New Testaments, consistently portray the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel, and the Shepherd of the Church since the Church is engrafted into Israel (Romans 11:17). Consider that there’s a warning in Romans 11:21 regarding New Testament believers who stumble over Israel’s relationship with the Church. This concept, of the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel and the Church, is important in understanding the Spirit’s leading in pastors, and to recognize his urgings to shepherd his sheep. Here are some of the many Old and New Testament references that qualify this point:
a.) Ezekiel 34:23, discussed in Item#20 above, describes very well the relationship between the Son and the Father in this shepherding role. The Son is the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34:23 and John 10:11, but the Father is still the Great Shepherd even above the Son. However, since the Son and the Father are one (John 10:27-30), particularly in their shepherding tasks, this becomes a very fine point which is difficult to discern or prove. One way to discern is by considering the Spirit’s manifestation in pastors. Since the Spirit is the Father’s Spirit, not the Son’s, shepherding is clearly originating from the Father. However, Ephesians 4:7 states clearly that the Son portions out the graces such as shepherding. Merely having considered this Trinity relationship in shepherding, we’ve come a long way in understanding the Spirit’s ability in pastors.
b.) Psalm 23:1, shows clearly that the Good Shepherd concept is not strictly a New Testament teaching. Some could say, though, that the working of shepherding in the Old Testament was done by the Pre-incarnate Christ. Well, I’ve never read or heard any person even approach the subject, so I’m not arguing a point herein. However, in studying pastors, it becomes clear that the Father is the owner-shepherd, and the Son is his anointed servant shepherd, just as Ezekiel 34:23 states above. So, when we study those servant shepherds known as pastors, we understand that it’s a manifestation and urging from the Father that sets a pastor on his course, and urges him to continue daily.
c.) Psalm 80:1, “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the Cherubim.” Was the Son enthroned between the cherubim at the time of this psalm’s writing? Well, since the Lord Jesus was in the bosom of the Father from the beginning (John 1:2), we could stretch our understanding and say “yes”. However, since it is Israel that is calling out to the Lord, we have to conclude that this passage is referring to God the Father as the Shepherd of Israel. However, I would must conclude that the pre-incarnate Christ, as the 2ndperson of the Godhead, was and is fully enthroned between the Cherubim, as is the Father.
d.) Jeremiah 31:10, “He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd”. This speaks of the Lord’s shepherding of Israel in the Millennial reign of Christ. However, who will gather these sheep? Wouldn’t that task be left to the Father’s Holy Spirit, since Jesus is a single person seated at God’s right hand?
e.) John 10:16, 27-30; “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd…. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” This is a beautiful passage, but what does it all mean? Well, one of the amazing things concerning this grace study is that the study, by giving a different perspective to our view of Scripture, brings understanding to these more difficult passages. When the Lord Jesus refers to different sheep pens, he’s talking of future groups of believers: “They too will listen to my voice”. What about that “One Shepherd”? Is it the Father, or the Son? At first perusal, it sounds like the Son is the Shepherd: “I give them eternal life,…no one can snatch them out of my hand”. But hold on, not so fast, the Lord Jesus then qualifies, “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one”. So, even in this passage that seems to be the strongest Scripture statement that the Lord Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the Old Testament, the Lord Jesus still qualifies his statement admitting that the Father is the actual power behind these shepherding tasks.
f.) Hebrews 13:20&21, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” This is a nugget in Scripture if you’re seeking to study shepherding. You must really study the structure of this passage in order to lay hold of all the teaching elements herein. I had to refer to my Greek Interlinear[5] to grasp the structure. The main structural question is whether “that Great Shepherd” refers to the Father as the “God of peace”, or the Son. The Greek has it, “The (one) having led up out of (the) dead the shepherd of the sheep”. This makes it clear that the “great shepherd of the Sheep” is referring to the Son. Not only that, but this passage becomes almost a paraphrase of John 10:17, which says, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life- only to take it up again”. (So the Shepherd’s greatness is not because he is that great Shepherd of the Old Testament, but rather because he layed down his life for the sheep.) The Father, the God of peace, is shown as having resurrected the Lord Jesus, and equipping believers for service through Jesus Christ. This is very similar to the teaching of Ephesians 4:7-14. Why this all comes together as a great teaching is that the Trinity is clearly seen here: the Father equipping through the Son, and the Son apportioning the grace which is the manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit in the believer.
g.) I Peter 2:25, “By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” This reference to the Shepherd must be God the Father, since we are noted as returning to the Shepherd. These believers, for the most part, never knew Jesus. So how do you return to someone you never knew. Since the Father is always seeking to shepherd us, and since in the relative innocence of our youth we were closer to him, when we are reconciled to the father through the Son (Romans 5:10) this constitutes a returning to the Father.
h.) I Peter 5:4, “Be shepherds of God’s flock….And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” Who’s flock is it? God, the Father’s! Who is the Chief Shepherd, that will appear and give crowns to under-shepherds? It is Jesus, that servant shepherd prophesied in Ezekiel 34:23. The Greek word for Chief Shepherd is “arxipoimenos”[6], or arch-shepherd. Let’s be clear here. God the father, the owner of the flock, is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. That’s been shown several times. Since, in the old nature, the Israelite leaders fell short in many areas of responsibility, the Father needed to send his Son. One of the Son’s principal reasons for coming was to be that servant shepherd descended from David, an arch-shepherd prophesied in Ezekiel 34. As well, since Christians are indwelt with the Father’s Holy Spirit, we are urged to be under-shepherds, equipped through Jesus, and powered by the Father’s Holy Spirit.
i.) Zechariah 9:14-16, “Then the lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the South, and the Lord almighty will shield them. The Lord their God will shield them on that day”. This is a nugget in the context of this study because it portrays the coming of the Lord Jesus in glory, yet describes the event as the Father saving his flock. This description summarizes where this study has led us; namely that the Father is the owner-shepherd, while the Son is the arch-shepherd prophesied in Ezekiel 34.
j.) Micah 5:4, “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,”. Micah is continuing to describe the Messiah which he qualifies as being from Bethlehem in Micah 5:2. This shepherding of the flock in the strength of the Father by the Son is in agreement with what was said in Item #a, above.
k.) Here are other verses noted as presenting the Father as the Shepherd of His flock in the Old Testament: Psalm 77:20, Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 50:6&17, Micah 2:12, and Micah 7:14.
l.) Here are other verses noted as presenting the Son as the Arch-Shepherd in Scripture: Matthew 10:6, and Matthew 15:24.
40.) Rule: No Shepherd = Sheep Scattered, II Chronicles 18:16 “Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd’ “. I don’t know much about sheep herding, whether sheep have a naturally strong herd instinct like buffalo, or not. However, since I know the Scripture is true, one thing I know concerning sheep: sheep without a shepherd will go astray and be scattered, either voluntarily or because of the elements (including predators). Of course, the same is true for a group of believers. As I get older I can look back at various groups and see this principle. Painfully, though, I can also look back at my own life and see people into which I could have put more oversight effort. Here are some of the many verses that repeat this simple principle of Holy Spirit shepherding:
a.) Ezekiel 34:7-12, “Plundered and become food for wild animals”. This is speaking of believers being plundered by false teachers, who want followers for their own money and prestige. This happens when the true God led shepherd won’t oversee the flock. Also, “I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness”. This explains why we should visit the sick and oppressed, so that they can be encouraged and not wander from the faith.
b.) Zechariah 10:2, “Diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders”. These leaders of Judah allowed idolatry and divination to replace God’s covenant through Moses. Only the true teachings of God, the Bible, should be taught by pastors. Particularly watch out for paid counselors. It is your pastor’s task from God to counsel you, or your family. If your supposed pastor tells you he doesn’t have enough time, he’ll refer you to a paid counselor, then you should really consider whether that supposed pastor is part of the problem or the solution. I know that this is hard to fathom, and that paid counselors and paid pastors are the rule, rather than the exception, in nominal Christianity today. However, the truth is that this situation did not stem from the apostle’s teaching in the Bible, but rather from the fleshly teaching of men. I know that the Holy Spirit of God is “The Spirit of Truth”, and so I can have a bold confidence and an expectation of God’s work in the minds of the readers of these truths. There is a cry for “mentoring” in the Church nowadays. I challenge you that no such mentoring was ever taught in Scripture, except in the Spiritual gift of pasturing as clearly shown in I Peter 5:1-4. This Spiritual ability is clearly encouraged to be practiced by all mature believers (elders). (The younger men were given other directions in I Peter 5:5.) If elder believers obeyed God’s appeal through Peter to “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers…because you are willing”, then the Church would be fraught with, not mentors, but true pastors of God. Then, with the Lord’s Church abounding with true pastors, I believe those paid to be pastors would resume their true calling from God (if there was one) to be traveling preachers or apostles to other lands. So this is a circular problem which can only be solved by intercession from God (grace). God called me to proclaim His power to His Church, and that’s just what I’m doing in this study of the grace of shepherding. Praise the Lord! But, what are you doing?!
c.) Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ’The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field”. The Lord is directly connecting the scattering of sheep with lack of harvest workers. You cannot be a pastor of non-believers. So, it’s clear that the Lord Jesus is calling for evangelists, pastors, and many other types of workers for the harvest which is still going on in this Church Age, the day of God’s Grace. (Also see, Mark 6:34.) Consider. Do we see helpless humanity the same way the Lord Jesus sees it? Isn’t a loving attitude and a caring perception one of the keys to Godly shepherding? I Corinthians 13 says that service done out of love is “the most excellent way” to practice any spiritual gift.
d.) Nahum 3:18, “O King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber;…Your people are scattered on the mountain with no one to gather them.” Two huge points are brought out here. First, (and I’m glad the Lord said this and not me,) “Your shepherds slumber”. When the Scripture teaches that elder Christians are to pastor and take the oversight of God’s flock, and instead they pay a hireling to do it because they are semi-drunk with the ways of the world, isn’t this the case of shepherds that are slumbering? Second, since the shepherds are slumbering and not taking the oversight, and the hireling is spread so thin that he can’t possibly take proper oversight, the “people are scattered on the mountain with no one to gather them”. We must also note that it’s a task of pastors to gather in believers that are wandering off.
e.) Luke 2:8, “There were shepherds living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night”. At night, when things are at their darkest, that’s when the shepherd really has to keep watch. Are you beginning to see why the Egyptians, as the symbol of the world, hated all shepherds (Item#36 above, Genesis 46:34)? I perceive that it’s because the Spirit led gift of pasturing is being taught through practically everything that shepherds do. And, we all know by now that the flesh wars against the Spirit of god (Galatians 5:17).
f.) Some other verses that repeat the rule of sheep scattering due to lack of a shepherd are: Psalm 44:11, Isaiah 53:6, Zechariah 13:7, and I Peter 2:25.
How about you? Is the Lord tugging at your heart to seek to straighten out some less mature Christian? I’m not talking about “giving them a piece of your mind”, or merely seeking to correct them. I’m talking about getting involved in their lives because you can see them wandering like sheep without a shepherd. I recognize such Holy Spirit nudging as the Holy Spirit grace gift of shepherding. It’s not a nudge to mentoring as clergy-minded people would have you to believe. You can receive a crown from the Chief Shepherd if you obey that nudge from the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:4). You won’t receive accolades from the clergy-minded people around you, and no one other than yourself, God, and possibly some angels and demons will recognize your work. You will not be given a title or receive a salary. However, you will be serving the Master who promises “treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). Also, you will be obeying the law of love, and you will have been used greatly by the Lord to intercede in people’s lives (and that’s the grace and power of God at work).
44.) The Lord as a Shepherd, Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Here we see the Lord paying particular close attention and tenderness to the young and to young families. Should we use this as teaching for pastors in our age? Very definitely!
57.) A Shepherd Saves from the Lions Mouth, Amos 3:12 “As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved.” As I’m considering this passage, two practical questions loom loud.
a.) How can a shepherd, without a rifle, or even a spear subdue a lion and take its prey from him. The mountain lions that we have here in America weigh at most 140 lbs, but carry off full grown men as prey. David, the young shepherd answers this question in his discourse to Saul, while preparing to fight Goliath. He discusses close combat with a lion or a bear, combat close enough to grab the beast by the hair when striking it. The weapons he uses are only a sling and his staff. David cites to Saul his experience and confidence at being able to overcome these beasts, and then extends this confidence to overcoming Goliath. The point that I see here, though, is that as a shepherd he knew and used tested techniques to overcome the lion. Since “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8), a shepherd has to develop methods to rescue believers from “the lion’s mouth”. As well, pastors must understand and deal with the power of the lion that they’re facing.
b.) Secondly, why would a shepherd go through that great peril only to rescue a couple leg bones or a piece of an ear? My only conclusion is that the shepherd lives by a code of conduct in which he won’t allow the lion to have his way with his sheep, which the shepherd owns and calls by name. Now, in Amos’ passage this is a prophetic reference to the remnant of Israel, which the Lord always saves so that the nation will never be completely destroyed. But what about a believer who has been almost totally devoured by Satan? Well, the Scripture and our own Christian instincts of love tell us that such a person is worth delivering “from the lion’s mouth”. I Corinthians 5:5 says, “Hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord”. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”.
So, the Lord allows evil in the world, and even rebellious Satan is used to do the Lord’s will. A pastor must develop a means to combat Satan, and this carefully, lest the lion consume the shepherd and the sheep. Finally, it’s obvious that the lion can do anything he wants to the sheep unless the shepherd is present (Micah 5:8).
58.) Rule: No Shepherd = Satanic Attack, Zechariah 10:2 “The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd”. Now, who is doing the oppression here? I Corinthians 10:20 says that idolatry is instigated by demons. It’s obvious in this situation that the devil is the oppressor and that idolatry and divination is a large part of the oppression. However, the rule is simply stated that “lack of a shepherd” is the real cause for the oppression in this situation. That’s why the Lord says in vs. 3, “My anger burns against the shepherds”.
75.) All Elders Should Pastor, I Peter 5:4 While this great passage on pastors has been mentioned several times before in this study, it’s necessary now to review, verse by verse, the doctrine contained in this passage. If you notice that what’s taught by Scripture is not what’s being practiced by nominal Christianity, then I hope you’ll take the position of Peter and the other apostles who said, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29). Please don’t think for a moment that I’m one of a few people who see the grace gifts in the manner rendered herein. I believe that millions of believers, here on earth now, are waking up to the need to correctly teach God’s power manifested in the Church. One such person had this to say at Moody Bible Institute’s Founder’s Week, 2/1/05: “You would be hard pressed to find in the scripture what’s being practiced in our churches today; because much of what we practice was never practiced by the early Church” (Jim Cymbala, speaking on the need for New Testament prophecy). Here then, verse by verse, is the teaching that the apostle Peter passed down to us, the believers in this age, regarding the Spirit’s manifestation in shepherding:
a.) Vs.1- “To the elders among you I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s suffering and one who will also share in the glory to be revealed:”. Peter is stating that he is a mature and experienced Christian, an elder. He’s not seeking to prove his apostleship, but rather his credentials as an elder: his experience (“a witness of Christ’s suffering”), and his sure profession of the Christian faith (“one who will also share in the glory”). The Scripture never cites Peter as taking the office of an elder (Titus 1:5) within any local gathering. However, he is definitely an experienced and mature Christian, which is the group to which he addressed his appeal (“To the elders among you”). This definition of elders is clearly the case since Peter alternately addresses the young men in the next passage starting at I Peter 5:5. This is important, since it defines who should seek to be a pastor. Those who practice clerisy would add that a person must also attend seminary, and even be ordained by that seminary in order to shepherd the flock which God would have already put under their care. Some of those who reject the clergy cite that this passage refers to those appointed to the office of elder, as described in Titus 1:5 and I Timothy 3:1-7. However, the Scripture is not talking about the office of elder, neither a clerical office of pastor, since pasturing is a spiritual gift (Ephesians 4:11). This passage encourages all mature and experienced Christians to shepherd new believers which the Lord has already put under their care. Also, guess what! If you wait until after you graduate from seminary to obey God, then you’re disobeying him by putting off your obedience to him.
b.) Vs. 2- “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers”. Please understand the semantics of this. God is realizing the maturity of individual believers, and is placing new believers under their care. God is also, by His Holy Spirit, empowering those mature believers to shepherd his flock. Excuse me, but where does the seminary or bible college fit in here? If a person is empowered by God to pastor a group and that person instead enrolls in seminary, then that’s disobedience. Please excuse any seemingly harsh inference against seminaries and bible colleges, but I’ve experienced people called by God to preach, and to pastor, and even sent off by God to foreign lands, and instead they enroll in seminary or bible college and never fulfill God’s calling. They end up as paid clergy, with the sheep still functionally without a shepherd; and as you well know the sheep get scattered just as the Scripture says they will ( Please see Item # 40 above.). “Serving as overseers” is an important task of shepherds. The one thing we all know about shepherds is that they keep watch. If we keep watch, then we can jump in and advise, nudge, or even prod when it’s necessary. But how can a shepherd do any such thing if he’s not keeping watch over the sheep.
c.) Vs. 2&3- “Not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” The Lord wants us to serve him out of love for him and concern for his flock. Truthfully, the concept of receiving pay for Christian service is not acceptable to me. The Lord has blessed me financially and over-supplies my needs. Originally I received these blessings by faith. Now I know God’s faithful support as reality. So his support is now by sight and not by faith. These verses clearly show that a pastor is not to accept a salary. I’m not saying that all who accept a salary are “greedy for money”. However, those who accept a salary are pasturing “because you must” rather than “because you are willing”. If you say such supposed pastors aren’t really forced into service because of salary, then research and consider their contract for employment, particularly reviews by the congregation’s administration. I know a few clergy, and can say honestly that there’s nothing that they do which can’t be done responsibly by others in their congregation; and can say categorically that their assembly would be better able to serve the missions and the pastor’s own family if said pastor got a regular paying job. “Lording it over those entrusted to you”, versus being an example, connotes a misuse of your position in Christ. This teaching states that it’s easier to teach by example than by forcing people to accept your decisions, even if you’re right. There are instances where discipline by the elders is necessary, but this is done by a committee of elders which are accepted by the entire gathering as the church’s governing body. Again, these teachings are not specifically for the church’s governing body, but for all mature Christians, since Peter in verse 1 is exhorting all mature believers.
d.) Vs. 4- “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”. Why is this verse in this passage? It seems obvious to me that the inclusion of this verse in the passage, says that there’ll not be glory on earth for pastors, and pastors really need to know that their reward in heaven will far outweigh the toil and rejection that they’ll face on earth. Do you think that this 1st century fisherman, who was able to prophesy the earth’s destruction by nuclear fire in II Peter 3:10, somehow missed the future earthly glory of the clergy which began circa 300 a.d. and continues until now? I perceive that this heavenly crown of glory will never be given to such clerical imposters. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal” (Matthew 6:20).
“SHEPHERDS”
92.) The Lord- Our True Pasture, Jeremiah 50:7 “They sinned against the Lord their true pasture, the Lord , the hope of their fathers. Flee out of Babylon:...”. Many, many Christians try to walk with their feet on both sides of the fence until, sometimes after decades, they realize that they can’t have it both ways. “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). While Egypt is a type of the world, Babylon is, in Scripture, a picture of the idolatrous world. We must realize that our life and work and hope are to be in the Lord. There’s plenty of work available so that we can be totally absorbed in the work and the will of the Lord. He is our pasture as well as our shepherd. This doesn’t mean that we can’t have plenty of meaningful contacts in the world, when it’s the Lord’s will. There’s an old saying that we are to be in the world, not of the world. One of the main reasons that the Lord would have people to understand his grace and power is so that new believers would pick up their cross and come follow the Lord Jesus, by practicing their grace gifts. By doing this we can turn this confused and perishing world upside down, just as Paul did in his day.
“SHEEP”
108.)Flocks as a Measure of Wealth, Genesis 12:16 “He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle”. There are many, many Scripture passages that show that the ownership of sheep and cattle was a measure of a person’s wealth in the Old Testament. A few of these are: II Kings 5:26, I Chronicles 5:21, I Chronicles 12:40, Job 1:3, Job 42:12, and many other similar passages. From a spiritual perspective, the Lord wants to show us off as trophies of his grace, according to Ephesians 2:7. So, when a person is saved it is all done to the glory of God’s grace. While in the opposite, Paul warns that, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29&30).
123.)Redemption is of First Importance, Exodus 34:19&20 “The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb… Redeem all your firstborn sons.” The Lord is teaching this to Israel in the context of when and how they were delivered from Egypt. They were to be redeemed with five shekels of silver (Numbers 18:16). Additionally, “you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Numbers 18:17). Of course, this is all a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (I Peter 1:18&19). The reason why the donkey would be killed rather than having it live an unredeemed life, is a picture of those who live without receiving Christ as Savior. Both the unredeemed donkey and the unredeemed man’s lifestyle are totally unacceptable to God, who is holy. Paul, in describing the gospel, the power of God for salvation, said this, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3&4). The point made by Paul, and the Lord, is that redemption of the lost is of paramount importance. It is the first work of God, and of Jesus Christ who sits at God’s right hand administering the Father’s affairs in this world. Jesus told us this in John 3:17, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”. Therefore the Lord Jesus still has his first work as seeking and saving the lost. Pastors, then, as well as apostles, prophets, teachers, and obviously evangelists, must realize that our primary work is that ministry of reconciliation spoken of in II Corinthians 3:9, that is the salvation of the lost. We must never lose track of the fact that salvation of a single lost soul means that person is eternally saved from the eternal lake of fire. We know from Ephesians 4:13 that the Spirit works in the Church through people’s individual ministries to build up the body of Christ until we all meet “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”. Consider, then, that Christ in his fullness always has had his primary focus on the salvation of souls. So, we should not separate the edification gifts within Christ’s body from Christ’s primary purpose, that is, saving the lost; just as we should not separate the Holy Spirit’s work from that of Jesus Christ.
126.) Jesus as Our Substitute from amongst the flock, Leviticus 22:19 “You must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf”. I don’t know how the importance of this concept will play out in our study. Nevertheless, the concept of Jesus as Our Substitute is an important one in Christianity. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). A similar concept that Jesus walked amongst us, as one of us, is what lead previous saints to exclaim with joy: “There’s a man in the glory, now!”. Some other instances of this concept are found in Exodus 12:5, Leviticus 1:2&10, Isaiah 53:7, I Corinthians 5:7, and I Peter 1:19.
139.) Every Living Thing Including Men and Cattle Are the Lord’s, Joshua 6:21 “They devoted the city (Jericho) to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it- men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys”. Many people question God’s sovereignty and the Bible’s truthfulness when they see such passages as this. They exclaim, “How can a loving God do such things”? But God is sovereign and has a plan for Israel and for humanity. He knew that the Canaanites were disgusting idolaters whose lifestyle and intrinsic hatred would be a constant attack upon his nation Israel. A similar order, as was given to Joshua, was given to Saul. God, through Samuel told Saul, “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys” (I Samuel 15:3). Saul didn’t completely obey God and spared some of the cattle, and kept what was good, including King Agag the Amalekite. Later in history, one of Agag’s descendants tried to utterly destroy Israel. His name was Haman the Agagite, whom we learn of in the Book of Esther. Some Christian historians trace even Yassar Arafat to the lineage of Haman the Agagite. Further, the general disobedience of Israel, in disobeying God in their treatment of their enemies in and around Israel, is currently being meeted out to us and them in that situation which we summarily refer to as the “Middle East Crisis”. The point herein though is that God is sovereign. He knows the end from the beginning; and every living thing, both man and animal, are his to purpose as he pleases, “For the Lord omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6).
152.) It’s Impossible for a Pastor to be Separated from Community Life, I Samuel 17:15 “David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem”. Through this situation, David ended up fighting Goliath then eventually became King, which obviously was God’s plan. However, the point must be realized that mature elder Christians, especially those partaking in the office of elder and those who actively shepherd, must have a good reputation in the community (I Timothy 3:7). “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). Not only this but the act of shepherding by its very concept includes becoming involved in the community lives and problems of the sheep. To this some clergy would disagree saying, “I don’t have time for such involvement”. To which I would say, “Exactly!”. This is why shepherding was never relegated to only a few so-called clergy, but to all mature Christians. “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder,…Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care” I Peter 5:1&2).
162.) The Following Leader, II Samuel 7:8 “I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel”. We always hear of sheep following the shepherd, but here is a shepherding concept which I’ve not noticed anywhere else in Scripture. That is, the concept of a leader following the flock. A shepherd should follow his flock closely, particularly in open pasture, to guard from straying and attacks by wolves. The same is true for shepherds of God’s flock. After getting the flock to the pasture (saved, with basic teaching and lifestyle) the lives should be followed closely to perceive any straying or attacks by false teachers. However, a shepherd or teacher should never seek to speak only those things with which his flock agrees. This would be that prophesied by Paul when he said, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (I Timothy 4:3). God driven preachers must speak for God and take the position, “if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (I Peter 4:11).
196.)Sheep Available for Slaughter, Psalm 44:22 “Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered”. This is of course that verse which is quoted in Romans 8:36, when Paul states, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”. In this verse Paul is pointing out that both Israel and the Church will suffer persecution, and though we seem to be wasting our lives, yet we are actually winning the victory by being that way. As the Christian song says, “Faith is the victory”. Satan and this world system will not have dominion over the Lord’s people.
200.) Sheep Recognize the Shepherd’s Voice, Psalm 119:176 “I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant for I’ve not forgotten your commands”. John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”. The two passages are similar, but in Psalm 119 we see the concept coming alive in the Psalmist’s life. Pastors can use this principle to understand the relationship between the Lord and His sheep, and to even seek the lost. Psalm 119 portrays a yearning for a right relationship with God, from a psalmist who knows the Lord’s commands. John 10 says that true believers recognize the Lord’s voice in their lives. The Word, through preaching, or teaching, or just Bible reading, can be used to attract, and then lead, the stray sheep back to the Shepherd; or even just to bring some closer to Him and become more familiar with His voice.
237.) If You Love Christ, Pastor His Lambs, John 21:16 “Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ “ The Greek[7] renders the phrase “Take care of my sheep” as, “poimaine ta probatia mou”- “shepherd the little sheep of me”. So, Jesus is teaching, if we love him, shepherd the lambs which he put under our care. Ironically, this is the same exhortation that Peter gives to all mature believers, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care” (I Peter 5:2). So, if you love the Lord, and are a mature Christian, then you already have the tools to be a pastor to the flock which the Lord has already put under your care. I realize that this is not what’s being practiced in nominal Christianity today. But “the proof is in the putting”, and also in the Scripture. Look around you. Are there less mature Christians which you can help along in their walk? Then, listen carefully for the Lord’s urging for you to help them. (This is just another example of how we can readily discern the true abilities of the Holy Spirit. Is it taught in Scripture and practiced in the Church? The problem, with what nominal Christians are practicing today as pastors, is that it’s not what’s taught in Scripture. It is, instead, what’s been acquiesced to, after pressure from the world system.)
“SHEEPFOLDS”
252.) Shepherding a Fleshly Flock, Psalm 78 ‘From tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” I was taught as a fairly young Bible student, that when the Lord refers to Israel as Jacob, he’s referring to his people’s fleshly conduct. When using the word “Israel”, the Scripture is referencing the people as his Godly nation and chosen people. This psalm is such a case. The psalmist cites much fleshly conduct by Jacob, including rebellion and idolatry. Then the psalm, in the same sentence, refers to the Lord’s sheep as “his people Jacob, Israel his inheritance”. The point that I glean from this is that David, had to lead some very fleshly people, even though his reign was a glorious reign; and so must pastors in this day shepherd some very fleshly people. Think of it this way, though. Would the Lord put someone under your care that is more Godly than you, or more fleshly than you? So don’t be discouraged by the fleshly believer that God has put in your midst. That’s just the way it is. You can still shepherd them through the Lord’s power “with integrity of heart, with skillful hands”. And really, “fleshly” is just a relative term, since we all have our flesh to contend with until Christ comes to give us new, changed bodies to go along with our new nature in Christ.
“FLOCK”
312.) Pastors Should Live Day to Day With Their Flock, Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night”. I’ve never heard of a shepherd who doesn’t live in the midst of or nearby his flocks, even with today’s modern technology. In regard to Christian pastors this holds true as well. A pastor needs to be in the midst of the struggles and day to day lives of the believers which the Lord put under their care. If this is not possible, then I’d conclude that that pastor is merely filling the role of a hireling (if money is involved), or the Lord didn’t really put those people under the pastor’s care, or the pastor or sheep are being disobedient and thwarting the Lord’s provision. In today’s Christian gatherings there are many hirelings, taking a lot of money, and taking the title pastor (which was never meant to be a title per Item #8 above), and worse than that they are stealing the sheep from their true God led pastors and discouraging the true pastors, evangelists, preachers and teachers which the Lord is raising up to meet His needs.
314.) Bishop Merely Means Overseer, Plurality of Elders, Pastors- Only Through the Holy Spirit’s Power, Acts 20:28 “ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the Church of God which he bought with his own blood”. This is another nugget of Scripture. Paul is actually giving shepherding advice to the Ephesian elders. Did you ever wonder why the book of “Acts” is in the Bible. Well, this excellent history of the early Church shows how the Lord wants his Church to operate. The Church organization laid out in the book of “Acts” is just one example of instructive and corrective teaching that is manifested through God’s Word in the book of “Acts”. This history book also proves out the doctrines taught in the remainder of Scripture, and should serve as a bulwark against the flood of twisted teachings prevalent since the writing of this book.
Paul even prophesies against such twisted teachings in verses 29 & 30: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and not spare the flock. Even from among your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them”. During this study I’ve investigated some of the writing of the early church fathers, Ignatius, Polycarp, and others. It’s very sad to see that these ancient documents cannot be fully relied upon, because factions (both pagan and nominally Christian) have edited these documents by burning previous copies, and also outright falsified and added-to many of these documents. But we needn’t look to the second century to see these “savage wolves” who “distort the truth”. These wolves had already appeared to the 1st Century Church, in the form of Judaizers, according to Acts 15:1 (circa A.D. 51), and in the form of antiChrists and their prophets according to I John 2:18 and 4:1 (c. A.D. 90).
Here are some facts gleaned from this excellent passage in Acts 20:
a.) “Keep watch over yourselves”. Did Paul know 200 years ago that many Christian leaders would be falling to moral temptations? Well, I don’t conclude that Paul was looking into the future, but he knew that personal temptations would constantly be thrown up against Christian leaders. He obviously had to fight such temptations in his own life (II Timothy 4:7, Romans 7:15). He probably saw many failures in leaders, since his ministry spanned approximately 34 years (my estimate based upon Paul’s conversion date and his authorship date of II Timothy, per Nelson’s Open Bible[8]).
b.) Considering both the Book of Ephesians and this detailed accounting in Acts 19 and 20, there is no sense that there is more than one Christian congregation in Ephesus. The total population of this large ancient city was approximately 250,000 at that time. However, it was a pagan city with few Jews and very few Christians when Paul arrived. After preaching three years collectively in that area, with two years focused on Ephesus, Paul had great success, but I still don’t see any evidence that the city had more than one assembly of Christians. The point, then, is that there was one gathering with a plurality of elders as its leadership. This is the organization of the believers’ assembly in Scripture: one gathering with a plurality of elders overseeing the affairs of each gathering.
c.) There is no teaching in Scripture in which one man oversees the affairs of the entire gathering, or in which one man oversees more than one gathering. You can prove this yourself by doing a word search for the terms “elder”, “bishop”, and “overseer”, and their derivative terms (See the list and definition of these terms in Item#1, above). But really, the answer is plainly already in the Bible. Throughout Jewish history, local rule by a committee of elders was prevalent. It can be traced back to Jethro and Moses in Exodus 18:12. This system of oversight was still present in the time of the early Church (Luke 22:66, Acts 4:5). In fact this system of oversight by a committee of elders was the system of governance used by the early Church (Acts 15:1-4). (Also see Word of Wisdom Section, Item#1d.) The concept of employing a clergyman, or clergymen, to try to shepherd the local assembly is not, neither was ever, taught by the apostles or the Scripture. These “teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:9). The Holy Spirit teaches that the elders are to be doing the shepherding (I Peter 5:1). These other so-called pastors and bishops, if they actually had a calling by Christ, ought to come out of their religious fog and pursue their actual calling, whether as traveling preachers, or those sent (apostles) to other lands, or some other calling. Or, as that famous television chef, Emeril Lagasse, liked to say, “Let’s step it up a notch”!
d.) “And all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers”. Comparing this with I Peter 5:2, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care serving as overseers”, we see that shepherding is indeed a gift and manifestation of the Holy Spirit; and, we see that this was obviously taught by both Peter and by Paul.
e.) Looking at this term “overseer”, there is no distinction in the Greek between bishop or overseer. The word is “episkopeo”: “epi” meaning over, “skopeo” meaning “scope out” or watch. A bishop or overseer is therefore one who oversees the affairs of the local gathering. Also, please see the definition of bishop in Item #1 above.
f.) “Be shepherds of the Church of God, which he bought with his own blood”. There’s a slight difference between keeping watch and being a shepherd. To be a shepherd you must keep watch, but shepherding involves action and caring. This caring aspect is accentuated by Paul’s description of the flock as “the Church of God, which he bought with his own blood”. We are the Church of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, more terrifying than Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:21&22). “You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ a lamb without blemish or defect” (I Peter 1:18&19).
“FLOCKS”
331.) Rule: Obedience = Blessing, Deuteronomy 7:13 “If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land- your grain, new wine and oil- the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.” As I get older I can look at people with real failures in their lives and it’s obvious where and how they disobeyed God. Somehow, though that blinder of men, Satan, manages to keep them blind to their need. So, if there’s one rule which a pastor needs to communicate to God’s flock and understand himself, this is it. It’s amazing, though, how people manage to sidestep the blessings from the Lord. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (II Chronicles 16:9, KJV).
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT POINTS
Lest someone misconstrue, or even deliberately twist, the results of what’s being concluded from this study, the following summary points are noted:
1.) Being a pastor requires first and foremost being the Lord’s shepherd, a servant working for the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. The shepherd’s “crown of glory”, promised in I Peter 5:4, will only be given to these true, Spirit led shepherds. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 25, 27, 37, 40, 44, 75, 200, 314).
2.) Shepherding (pastor) is a grace gift of the Holy Spirit. “Pastor” is not taught in Scripture to be a title or an office in the Church. The use of such titles is not the “apostles teaching” (Acts 2:42), neither the teaching of God; it is therefore a serious divergence from the truth. The work of a pastor, shepherding, is a “hands on” type work and doesn’t normally require the use of a pulpit. However, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers might require the use of the pulpit depending upon the situation. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 3, 8, 20, 27, 36, 40, 57, 75, 152, 162, 237, 252, 312, & 314).
3.) Every elder, mature believer is exhorted by God to be a pastor to those less mature Christians which the Lord places in that believer’s care. The current cry for mentoring within the Church is indicative of this. The only teaching regarding mentoring in the Scripture names this important function as shepherding, not mentoring.(See I Peter 5:1-4.) (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 10, 36, 40, 58, 75, 152, 237, 312, & 314.)
4.) No single man or even a very few men, were meant to be the only apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in a local assembly. While obviously all believers are not given each of these grace gifts, these graces will be spread out over several believers as the Lord’s needs require. Also, “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ has apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). Further, those clogging up the Church’s time and effort with work not of God are resisting God’s work and power among others in the local gathering, and in his universal Church. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, & 36.)
5.) Shepherding is a manifestation of God’s grace, and is necessary for the growth of the Church. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 8, 25, 37, 40, 237, & 314.)
6.) The shepherding of sheep as described in Scripture can and should be used to study the Spirit led ability of shepherding men. (The above items reference this: Nos. 5, 10, 20, 27, 108, 152, 162, 200, & 312.)
7.) Shepherding is to be done by the elder mature believers of the local gathering. The practice of paying a hireling pastor to do the work, that a congregation’s elders are supposed to do, is not a correct practice. It’s spoken against in Scripture. It’s not the apostles teaching, and it resists the work of the Holy Spirit in and by the local gathering. The affairs of the local gathering are to be governed by a committee of elders , with deacons and deaconesses doing the day to day tasks required. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 20, 25, 36, 40, 75, 237, 312, & 314.)
END HOME
[1] Donald L. Norbie, New Testament Church Organization (Kansas City, Kansas: Walterick Publishers) pages 35-50.
[2] Ibid, page 38.
[3] Ibid, page 69.
[4] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Company) p. 60 of his Greek Dictionary of the New Testament.
[5] Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear KJV-NIV Parallel New Testament In Greek And English (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) p. 671.
[6] Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear KJV-NIV Parallel New Testament In Greek And English (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) p. 693.
[7]Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear KJV-NIV Parallel New Testament In Greek And English (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) p. 341.
[8] The Open Bible (KJV), (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers, 1975) pages 1027 & 1134.
By D.M.M. 11/23/05
This treatise is a summarization of an exhaustive study which I did using Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (KJV). The following words and each of their occurrences in the Bible were exhaustively analyzed: “pastor”, “pastors”, “pasture”, “pastures”, “shepherd”, “shepherd’s”, “shepherds”, “shepherds’ ”, “sheep”, and “sheepgate”, “sheepcotes”, “sheepfold”, “sheepfolds”, “sheepmaster”, “sheep’s”, “sheepshearers”, “sheepskins”, “flock”, and “flocks”. While a KJV concordance was used, most of the Bible verses below are taken from the NIV.
The words were put on a grid. The grid was filled out longhand and contained the following column headings: “the bible verse used”, “office: Y/N”, “Strong’s number”, “the practice” (if any), “who practiced this”, “comment”, and “notes”.
There was a famous preacher in the days of Andrew Jackson, who was warned by the church elders that the U. S. president was in the crowd, and not to offend him. The preacher prefaced his message by stating that he’d been warned not to offend the president, but immediately stated, “That if Andrew Jackson didn’t repent and receive Christ as Savior, Andrew Jackson would be thrown into Hell”. I cannot see how I can teach what the bible teaches and not offend those claiming to be pastors and yet practicing in a manner contrary to Scripture and the apostles teaching. I cannot say that unless they repent, they’ll be thrown into Hell. But I can say that there are eternal rewards at risk for them and those who submit to such false authority. Also, resistance to the Holy Spirit is always futile and will bring some form of judgment, particularly in that such people are being warned by this treatise and other like-minded teachers. Any offense taken would be just another example of the flesh warring against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17). A Godly believer should love correction from the Lord (Proverbs 4:13, and 19:27). Incidentally, Andrew Jackson is said to have congratulated the preacher for having the mettle to stand on his convictions.
The following are points of note with references to the listing number from my original longhand grid:
“PASTOR”
1.) Pastors as a Work of the Spirit vs. a Hireling, Jeremiah 17:16 “I have not run away from being your shepherd”. As was the case in the Apostleship, Prophecy, and Evangelism sections of this Grace Study, the main correction that needs to be applied is exploding out as the first item. (Please see Apostleship Item#1, Prophecy Item #1, and Evangelism Item#1 & 3.) I didn’t arrange the order of presentation of these items, neither contrived to list the most important items first. I stuck to Strong’s order in each case, as was explained above. I don’t believe in accidents in the life of a Christian (Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:6), and so I believe my steps are being ordered by the Lord in this study. This should always be the case in the Lord’s work, else it’s our work and not the Lord’s work.
The concept that pops out immediately from this verse is the term “your shepherd”, which is saying that Jeremiah was the Lord’s shepherd, not Israel’s shepherd, not just “a” shepherd, but the Lord’s shepherd. This means he’s taking his direction from the Lord (Jeremiah 1:10, Proverbs 3:5&6). The same is true for New Testament pastors. Being a pastor is not the work of a believer. It’s the work of the Lord through that believer. This concept is brought out in John 10:11-13 (Please see Item#25 below.). The Lord Jesus owns the sheep, and a person cannot take that position away from the Lord Jesus on a financially contracted basis. A pastor can allow the Lord, as “that Great Shepherd” and “Overseer of your souls” (Hebrews 13:20, and I Peter 2:25), to shepherd His sheep through that person as a Spirit led activity. However, the Scripture doesn’t suggest that pastors should be paid a salary. In fact, John 10:11-13 says just the opposite, explaining the shortcomings of “hirelings”. Neither is “pastor” taught by Scripture to be a title or office within the local gathering. The office is to be the office of an “elder” (Titus 1:5). However, all elder/ mature believers are encouraged to practice the spiritual work of shepherding (I Peter 5:1-4). Consider, though, that the spiritual ability of shepherding is not listed as necessary to hold the office of elder. (I Timothy 3:1-7). So, all elders (that is all mature Christians, not just those that hold the office of elder) are encouraged to be pastors, while the office, and title, of “Pastor” does not exist. Who, then, is to be doing the preaching and teaching? Well the answer is obvious from Scripture: there were traveling preachers such as Paul, Barnabus, and Apollos; and the Scripture prescribes the office of elder for those “apt to teach” (I Timothy 3:2). The local gathering was to be governed by a committee of elders- Titus 1:5. Also, those with spiritual abilities, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers should be recognized through the pulpit as speakers for the Lord, as the Lord leads. (We must also recognize that the pulpit is not the only place where the Lord speaks to the local church. Preaching, teaching, prophecy, and evangelism can be accomplished by the Lord, through his servants, anywhere: in the parking lot, in believers’ homes, and especially through the choir loft. The local church is not a building, but, rather, a group of people.) I must also add that there are many local gatherings with no clergy where the elders do a majority of the pulpit preaching, and that system works excellently. These elders have full-time private employment, tithe to the Lord, administer the spiritual affairs of the church, and are still available to preach. This can be easily accomplished since the deacons and deaconesses govern the other affairs such as the Sunday school, bible seminars, building maintenance, and the budget. (For a further discussion regarding the Lord as “that Great Shepherd” of the Old Testament, please see Item #37 below.) An excellent further view into the history and the matter of biblical eldership can be found in New Testament Church Organization[1], in his Chapter entitled “Elders”. Norbie even points out that Jerome, the excellent translator of the Vulgate Bible, “acknowledged that the bishop, or overseer, and the elder were only two names for the same office”.[2] Be advised, though that in his treatise Norbie keeps to his group’s teachings in his chapter on gifts. Norbie is reverent enough, though, not to speak against the Holy Spirit by stating, “There is no reason for arbitrarily declaring that certain have died out and that others continue”[3]. Norbie also recognized, and I agree, that Scripture clearly distinguishes between offices of the Church (elder and deacon) and the Spirit’s gifts. It is my hope that serious scholars such as Norbie, after being confronted, through this Grace Study, by the irrefutable objective evidence of the Scripture and by the historical practice of gifts by Christ’s Church, will more fully understand the grace and the power of God manifested in Christ’s Church. We should seriously pray for Christian teachers throughout the world, that they might understand and preach, in a glorious manner, the true Word of God. (Another widely recognized work on this subject is Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch. Published by D&K Press of Castro Valley, Ca., it’s immediately available at www.dkpresschristianbooks.com.)
You might say: “Ah, what’s the difference”!? Good question! There’s a big difference. In fact, there’s such a huge difference that I’ve included a list as follows:
a.) Safety in plurality- The Scripture prescribes that the local church be administered by a plurality of elders. “Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). Paul instructed Titus, “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). Since I know that it’s the Lord’s intention to present his church as “faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24), I won’t dwell on the failures of Church leaders. However, we should understand that a plurality of elders governing each local body presents less of an opportunity for Satan to cause schisms, or moral failures in the leadership of that local church. In other words it’s harder for Satan to score a “pot shot” at a plurality of elders than knocking out an individual leader.
b.) Elders can discipline themselves- Along with the “safety in plurality” concept stated above, is the fact that, if a moral or doctrinal problem occurs with an individual elder, the other elders can correct the problem without the problem ever coming to the public eye. Or, at the extreme, they can even force such an elder to step down if the problem is of that severity.
c.) Obedience to God’s Word- We cannot overlook the fact that we are to be obedient to the Scripture since “All Scripture is God-breathed “. Further, since a plurality of elders is what’s taught in Scripture, we dare not “give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27, II Corinthians 2:11). The government of the local church is not something that the Lord would have us, or our ancestors, redesign. We should be aware of Satan’s schemes, and be cautious knowing that these seemingly minor departures from the Bible’s teaching are actually departures from the Truth, and also from the Holy Spirit of Truth. When we aren’t walking by the Spirit of truth, then we’re walking by the flesh. We already know that discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissensions and factions are listed as manifestations of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). So we can conclude that improper local church government is the result of the old, fleshly nature working in years past amongst the believers, and we can’t discount Satan’s work in the whole situation. I say this not as an accusation, but totally with a view toward, and a hope for, correction and protection for the Church.
a.) Allows others to practice their gifts- This is a very important point! In fact I should have listed this item at the top of my list. “Practice their gifts” is not a proper description, but people understand this terminology, so I use it. A better concept is “recognizing the manifesting of the Holy Spirit’s power through others”. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Shall we then impede the work of the Holy Spirit by not allowing Him to work through others. I Corinthians 14:36&37 apply here: “Did the Word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command”. This is stating that church leaders, and all Christians, are commanded by the Lord to give place to the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in others. This is by no means an imaginary problem! There is a fairly recent movement where churches are crying out for mentors. However, there’s no scriptural basis for mentoring. These mentors are actually what the Scripture describes as pastors (I Peter 5:1-4). I visited one church where the supposed pastor had this announcement read to “his flock”, “No one is to call me at home anymore. I don’t have enough time to talk to all of you”. Item #106 in the Evangelism Section of this Grace Study brings out another important point. Since evangelists and apostles are to be subsidized according to I Corinthians 9:14, then paying salaries to supposed pastors and other workers obviously stifles the provision for the Lord’s evangelists and apostles to the mission fields.
b.) Sensible division of work- As was stated above there are already many local churches governed by a plurality of elders, and those systems work excellently. Other than safety from Satan, We can see another reason why the Scripture teaches the plurality of elders, because of the sensibility of dividing the work among the elders.
c.) Tasks for elders typically would include: preaching at major meetings, oversight of all functions and committees run by deacons, shepherding of those the Lord puts under their care, and dealing with emergencies. Rather than having all elders attend all these functions, one elder can be assigned to the various tasks, who then reports back to the other elders. Oversight of the local church is then accomplished by a committee of elders, who spread the work out evenly amongst themselves. Note that this allows that the shepherding work gets done. Sometimes I go to used car lots. I right away notice that most used car lots are all sales and no service. Well, this reminds me of many local churches- all sales and no service. This is not a minor problem because shepherding is actually the Spirit ability to help the flock walk with Christ, especially through problems. When you hear church leaders say, “Well I (or we) don’t have enough time to deal with your problem”, you’ve just encountered the major glich in the paid hireling church scenario. The shepherding tasks are not being done, and the leadership structure of that local government is the culprit. (Please see Item#20- “The Lord’s Complaint…”) The Bible teaches autonomous local gatherings governed by a committee of elders, with those on the elder/ oversight committee along with other mature Christians doing the task work of shepherding (I Peter 5:1-4).
d.) Decisions by consensus of elders- “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). Elders can usually make their decisions by unanimous decisions, if they discuss the issues until they come to a consensus. If they cannot come to consensus, then they can usually delay the decision. This item is not just something that makes sense. Acts 15:5-29 documents that this is the method for handling decisions which is taught by Scripture. The apostles and elders met privately (Acts 15:6, and Galatians 2:2). There was much discussion with pertinent statements by those involved (Acts 15:7-12). After reaching consensus, one elder, James, gave the decision (vs.13-21). Then the decision was made known to the whole local church (vs.22). So, this is an excellent example of decision by consensus of elders. We should also recognize that James’ statements were given as much weight as Peter’s, since they were both elders (although Peter was also an apostle, I Peter 5:1). Also, please don’t neglect the point that “James, Peter, and John” were “reputed to be pillars” (Galatians 2:9). Some would put Peter alone as the only pillar of the Jerusalem gathering in order to promulgate the teaching of apostolic succession through Peter. (Also see Word of Wisdom Section, Item#1d.)
e.) The bad testimony of “filthy lucre”- A somewhat famous, Hispanic preacher once gave a very insightful solution to a preacher’s constant begging for funds on TV. With his usually comical, Hispanic accent, he gave his good advice. He said, “Why don’t you just sell one of those jets you’ve been flying around in”!? To those mature Christians (not just those holding the office of elder), I Peter 5:2 tells us why we should be motivated to shepherd God’s flock under our care: “not greedy for money (filthy lucre in KJV), but eager to serve”. The sometimes meager funds of a local church are not intended by Scripture to pay a preacher to do the preaching and teaching tasks which the elders should be doing. Such misapplication of funds will obviously hinder both the funding of missionaries and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through others in the church (Please also see #d above.). A paid pastor was never intended to be the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, and the teacher in a local gathering, according to Ephesians 4:7. All of the believers in a local church are all gifted with Holy Spirit power enabling the entire church to “grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Also, please see Item #55 in the Apostleship Section and Item #106 in the Evangelism Section of this Grace Study.
To make things simpler to study, the following is a list of similar but different terms. These should be understood and carefully investigated with the goal of understanding God’s order in the local gathering.
a.) Elder- “Presbuteros” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 4245[4]). A spiritually mature Christian (I Timothy 5:1, and I Peter 5:1). Also, but not necessarily, an appointed office in the local church who meets with other appointed elders to practice the oversight of the spiritual affairs of the assembly (I Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5). In other words not all the elders will be appointed to the Oversight Committee, but they all should seek to shepherd God’s flock which the Lord put in their care (I Peter 5:2).
b.) Deacon/ deaconess- “Diakonos” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 1249) is rendered attendant, waiter, or servant. Any appointed service/ office in the local gathering, which doesn’t require service at the spiritual level of an elder. (I Timothy 3:8, Acts 6:3).
c.) Overseers/ oversight- “episkopos”/ “episkopeo” in the Greek (Strong’s Nos. 1985/ 1983) are rendered overseers. This is the same Greek word as “bishop” in #d, below. Oversight is a task that all who seek to be pastors should be doing, (Acts 20:28, I Peter 5:2) and that the appointed elders of the church must be doing (II Chronicles 18:16).
d.) Bishop- Same Greek word and usage as overseer, above (Philippians 1:1, I Timothy 3:1, etc..). Bishop (in the KJV) always means the office of elder, except in the case of I Peter 2:25, which refers to the Lord as “the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls”. In the Greek there is no distinction between bishop or overseer. The word is “episkopeo”: “epi” meaning over, “skopeo” meaning “scope out” or watch. A bishop or overseer is therefore one who oversees the affairs of the local gathering, and especially watching over those whom the Lord has placed under his care. (The historical reference to Timothy as the first Bishop of Ephesus is misunderstood. There were not many different local gatherings in Ephesus; there was only one gathering which had a plurality of elders, Timothy possibly serving on their oversight committee for a short time. Timothy was a member of Paul’s apostolic team and was therefore cited by Scripture as an apostle, (I Thessalonians 2:6). The concept of a bishop as one watching over many different local gatherings is not taught in Scripture. In fact, local gatherings, since Christ is their Head, are to remain autonomous.
e.) Hireling- “misthotos” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 3411) is rendered a wage worker whether good or bad. The word “misthotos” describes the hired workers in Zebedee’s boat, Mark 1:20, as well as the hired hand in the prodigal’s father’s house in Luke 15:17. The English word “hireling” is immediately recognized as the opposite of Christ as “the Good Shepherd”, in John 10. A hired pastor is compared to the “hireling” of John 10: 13-15 in Item #25 below. A hired pastor can never be the owner of the sheep as Jesus Christ is, and therefore, is contrary to the teaching that the Lord is the Good Shepherd of both the Old and New Testaments, per Item #37 below.
f.) Pastor- “poimen” in the Greek (Strong’s No. 4166) is rendered simply a shepherd. Shepherding is the Spirit led work of watching over, mentoring, teaching, and even protecting new believers, much as a shepherd of sheep watches over , protects, and nurtures his flock. However, the point was brought out above that it is ultimately the Lord that is “that Great Shepherd and Overseer” of our souls. This is why shepherding is considered a Spirit led ability and not an office in the local gathering.
“PASTORS”
3.) Pastors in the Millennium, Jeremiah 3:15 “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding”. This verse is striking in two ways. It tells us that the Lord is seeking shepherds after his own heart. We who are lead by the Lord as shepherds, who realize that we’re thrown into other families’ problems not as commentators, but as servants of the Lord, can conclude that quality shepherding requires not just a heart for the Lord, but also a heart like the Lord’s. Hopefully the Lord’s shepherd heart will be brought out and explained in this Shepherding Section of this Grace Study.
This verse also does something that few passages in the Scripture do. It tells us something about day to day life in the millennium period. We could ask many questions here, but I dare not get off track. We can see, though, that there will be pastors, a need for pastors, and those needing shepherding in Zion. Also, these shepherds will lead with knowledge and understanding of a different type than what was known in Jeremiah’s time.
5.) Pastors Who Don’t Care, Jeremiah 12:10 “Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field;…the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares”. I don’t believe that this verse is meant as a direct comparison to the spiritual ability of shepherding. However, since the Greek word for pastors, “poimen”, literally means shepherding, then most attributes of shepherding sheep can also be applied to shepherding believers. This is why this study of pastors also contains the study of scriptures regarding pastures, sheep, and flocks. When we look at this passage we see that the pastures and the entire land are being destroyed by people, especially pastors, who don’t care. Isn’t love the opposite of not caring? Yes, love is the opposite of not caring. This concept brings us curiously back to Paul’s position on the gifts of the Spirit, the fourth element of Paul’s position being love (per the Prophecy Section, Item#1). The point is that any Spiritual gift, especially shepherding must be motivated by love. This ought to be obvious since “God is love” (I John 4:8). Therefore, how can we say that we’re led by the Spirit if we’re not led by love (since God, the Spirit, is love as well).
Let’s look again at I Corinthians 13:4-7 and view how these attributes of love readily fit into the spiritual ability of shepherding. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” These verses somehow appear to describe specifically the attributes needed by Christian pastors, instead of general attributes of Christian love. So, we see why Paul’s position, which is indeed God’s position, and should be our position, requires love as the motivating factor in the practice of all Spiritual gifts, of which shepherding is not the least. (Also see Table of Contents Section, Item#g.g. “Paul's Position on the Spiritual Abilities”.)
8.) A Critical Passage, Pastors by the Spirit’s Power not a Title, Ephesians 4:11 Believe it or not, this is the only use of the English word “pastor” in the entire New Testament (KJV). This fact is somewhat discounted by the fact that its Greek counterpart “poimen” is used extensively throughout the New Testament to mean merely a shepherd. Then again, the English word “shepherd” is never used, even allegorically, in the New Testament to mean a shepherd of men (although shepherd is found in verb form in I Peter 5:2), other than when the word allegorically refers to the Lord (i.e. “the Good Shepherd”, John 10:11). This is still not a problem though, since there are encouragements in the New Testament urging elders to perform pastoral functions (I Peter 5:2, etc.). As well, since the task of shepherding sheep is so typologically tied to the Spirit led ability of pastors, the tasks of shepherding sheep can obviously also be studied in order to understand the spiritual ability of shepherding. So there are ample passages, both in the Old and New Testaments, with which to study shepherding.
The scarcity of use of the word “pastor” is still not the main reason why this passage is so critical. As was the case in the Apostleship, Prophecy, and Evangelism Sections of this Grace Study, this passage essentially lists pastors, along with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers as one of the “gifts to men” discussed in Ephesians 4:8 and Psalm 68:18. Psalm 68:18 explains why God gave such “gifts to men”: “That you, O Lord God, might dwell there”. So God indwells his Church through the various gifts of the Spirit, pastors being discussed herein. This fact, of God’s indwelling through gifts, has even more keenly been impressed on my mind while studying pastors, though. This impression was made by the overwhelming scriptures presenting the Lord as the Shepherd of his sheep. This was the case both for Israel and for his Church. (Please see Item#37, below.) So it’s even more blatantly clear that we’re discussing “that Great Shepherd” (Hebrews 13:20) manifesting his Father’s Spirit through pastors as a spiritual gift, and therefore, the use of the word “pastor” as a title of a church official is inappropriate.
It’s now become necessary to look at the crux of the matter regarding the use of any titles by supposed believers. In Scripture no man ever used a title, and even Jesus Christ only referred to himself as the Son of Man. However, we justifiably recognize him as the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some important points regarding the error of using a title for Christians:
a.) There’s an important point of Godly humility that applies. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Let God raise you up or lower you down as he sees fit, according to his kingdom agenda. Do you think that this is not a problem! Well, I’ve heard of people taking on all kinds of prideful titles- Most Very Reverend, Right Reverend, His Eminence, Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor, and even Reverend. None of these titles are according to the Scripture, nor do they constitute correct Christian teaching.
b.) While Jesus Christ certainly deserves his titles, and others were given descriptive titles in the Scripture, not one Christian, or Old Testament prophet, nor the Lord Jesus ever claimed a title in Scripture. Some examples are Phillip the evangelist (Acts 21:8), and “the apostles Barnabus and Paul” (Acts 14:14). As you can see these are descriptions. The 1st Century believers were never so prideful as to claim these titles themselves.
c.) One argument to the contrary that you’ll hear is regarding Peter and Paul’s claim to the title apostle in Peter and Paul’s letters. These are still not instances of the use of titles. The wording is only used as descriptors in the addressing of the letters, not as titles. In those times the sender’s name was contained in the body of the letter, rather than in a block at the top of the letter as we do nowadays. Again, the term “an apostle” merely describes who he is, as well as describing his authority in writing (as one sent by God), and also sets the stage for the remainder of the letter. Other descriptions were used in the Epistles which would never be confused as being titles, such as: servant/ bond slave in II Peter 1:1, Jude 1, Romans 1:1, etc.; “prisoner of Christ” in Philemon 1, “the elder” in II and III John. Really, if you want to use a title, use the title “bond slave”. That would be an appropriate, non-prideful, Christian title. That is, unless you were unwilling to truly serve the Lord.
d.) The use of these titles actually stemmed from the religious practices of the Dark Ages. That Dark Age world system of nations and empires requires each area to have a local magistrate to collect taxes and to minister the affairs of the next higher nobleman. The Lord Jesus foresaw these tendencies in mankind and taught against such tendencies in His Church (Mark 10:41-45). However, in that world system the next higher nobleman also has someone above him until you have a complete hierarchy of nobility leading up to the king or emperor as supreme. The Roman Catholics began setting up a similar structure in their gatherings, eventually settling upon the primacy of the Bishop of Rome (another erroneous title). The title of “pope” was first given to Boniface III by the Emperor Phocas in 610 a.d. . Well, in order to administer a denomination, the individual gatherings must be tied to an earthly supreme leader through a hierarchy. The supreme leader was given the title “pope”. As well, though, the lowest level of this hierarchy was given the title “pastor”. During the Protestant Reformation, which Roman Catholics term the Protestant revolution, believers began to restudy the ways of God as taught in the Scripture, and Christian teaching took on the brightness of the glorious gospel. Eventually the notion of saving grace by faith versus works became obvious. However, while errors regarding the gospel and saving grace were dealt with during these reforming decades, little has been said or written to bring about correction in the leadership of the local gatherings. In fact, such correction is not up to men, but up to the Lord; since He’s the Head of the Church. Because I have an unction from the Lord to proclaim his mighty power given to His Church, and since shepherding is obviously a manifestation of His power; then I am being both submissive and appropriate in seeking to correct such teachings and practices, even at the level of the local gathering. I advise the reader, though, not to seek to correct perceived errors in their local gathering’s leadership, unless they are lead to do so after much prayer and they know that such a leading is from the Lord and not from Satan (who seeks to introduce destructive heresies).
e.) A specific person with the spiritual ability of pasturing is not mentioned in Scripture. Neither do we see any other titles used except the descriptor “sent one”/ “apostle”, explained in # c. above. If we look outside of Scripture, as an example to 1st century letters, to any which were not destroyed by anti-Christian forces, then we encounter other problems. The largest problem is reliability. The following are problems with the reliability of such writings which I’ve encountered: 1.) Various factions outside the Church (the Roman pagans) and from within the nominal church (Catholics and Protestants) have burned as many dissenting documents as they could obtain. So, what’s left has been constructively edited by Satan’s forces. 2.) The remaining documents have been added to, and subtracted from, so that various people could achieve their religious goals. The use of titles, such as pastor, or overseer clearly did not come from the apostolic teaching of scripture, but rather by men’s attempts to describe individuals in the Church. A fleshly and prideful progression of errors then ensued in which, first, people began to claim such titles for themselves. Then, people began to exaggerate the title, such as, “reverend”, “very reverend”, etc. They even took the word overseer (“episcope” in the Greek), which is a function of a pastor (I Peter 5:2), and exaggerated that word into the English word “bishop”. The notion of a bishop or overseer over several local gatherings never even existed in Scripture. The overseer was always to be watching over a small group which the Lord had placed under his care, with the understanding that several of these overseeing pastors would make up the formal leadership of the local gathering (Acts 20:28). The next step in this fleshly progression of errors, which of course is completely contrary to Scripture, is to then enforce this false claim of authority upon others; even though I Peter 5:3 commands Christian shepherds not to “lord it over those entrusted to you”. We needn’t look back in history to remember all the church split-ups, individuals ostracized, beaten, and put to the rack and to the torch, all due to the supposed concern for souls by these false bishops and false pastors. However, it is profitable to remember that the flesh wars against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17) and that “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy” are all listed as manifestations of the flesh in Galatians 5:20&21. The progression of such errors goes on into wrong practices and souls being lost, and gatherings with no Holy Spirit present. However, time won’t allow me to expand that theme. I will say, though, that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth”, and failure to teach and practice the truth will lead to quenching and possibly separation from the Holy Spirit, if not for correction by the intercession/ grace of God. Praise the Lord for those servants of the King who preach and have preached correction to His Church.
“PASTURE”
10.) Typology Explained, Tasks of a Pastor- Searching for Pasture, I Chronicles 4:39 “Leaders of their clans…they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks”. Item#8 showed that there’s a scarcity of direct teachings regarding New Testament pastors. Well, since we know from Scripture that pastors are a manifestation of God’s grace, then why is there such a scarcity? The reason is plain. The Greek word that is used, “poimen”, merely means shepherd; and whatever tasks are necessary for shepherding sheep are obviously necessary for overseeing the believers, keeping in mind that ultimately “the Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23). This is why shepherding, pasturing, and things having to do with flocks of sheep were reviewed in this study to glean teachings regarding New Testament pastors. Ironically, along this line, the word “pastoring” doesn’t even exist in my dictionary, but must be replaced by either of the English words “pasturing” or “shepherding”.
One of the first tasks of pastors, then, pops up in this passage as the search for pasture. Here are some things that we can glean from this excerpt on pasturing:
a.) “The leaders of their clans”- A pastor, while not holding a church office, or title, is definitely a leader within the church: “Be shepherds of God’s flock under your care serving as overseers” (I Peter 5:2). I think that there is a great problem in local gatherings in that worldly forms of leadership have crept in and overshadowed Christian leadership. The Lord Jesus said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves….But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27). “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). I Peter 5:3 is clear when Peter wrote, “Be shepherds…not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, and when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”. Christian leadership, then, is being like Christ as one who serves (and obviously abandoning your place in any pecking order), serving as examples, not ruling over Christ’s flock. I believe it’s clearly stated that there’s a reward for true pastors that only Christ can give; and if you seek earthly recognition for your pastoral work (such as claiming the title of pastor), then you already have your reward (Matthew 6:1). As I mature as a Christian, I’m becoming cognizant that my recognition of service is part of my fellowship with the Lord (I John 1:3), and this fellowship is actually somewhat private between myself and the Lord. True fellowship with other Christians is not so much that we gather every Sunday together, or even struggle together, but rather that “we walk in the light” and are in Christ together, even though we are apart. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,…where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20&21).
b.) “Rich good pasture”- The typological meaning concerning pasture has practically nothing to do with worldly conditions such as space, price, or protection from violence. When we consider a rich good pasture we picture land with plenty of grass with which to feed the sheep. Christ said, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father that gives you the true bread from heaven….I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 10:35). People’s souls hunger for a right relationship with God, and they thirst for belief in the truth. Only Christ can fill these needs. Sheep can survive in a sparse environment or in “rich good pasture”. Likewise Christians are taught, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). I would add that the greater Christian riches are directly related to Christian service through our grace gifts. “Eagerly desire the greater gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31). It’s clear that it’s the Christian leaders’ responsibility to, through Christ, schedule and otherwise prepare Christian teaching and preaching that will build up the local assembly (Ephesians 4:11-16).
c.) “The land was spacious”- “So that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12&13). The atmosphere in the local assembly should not merely be adequate but have plenty of room for growth and Christian service. This is actually as the Lord would have it. Moses said, “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them” (Numbers 11:29). Paul wrote, “Eagerly desire the spiritual gifts especially the gift of prophecy” (I Corinthians 14:1). Peter closed his general epistles by urging each of us, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen!” (II Peter 3:18). The Lord really does want to make us rich beyond measure in spiritual and eternal blessings.
d.) “Peaceful and quiet”- “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness” (I Timothy 2:2). “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anybody” I Thessalonians 4:11&12). Since peace is one of the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22), it’s easy to see that the Lord prefers a quiet and peaceful atmosphere in which to nurture his flock.
12.) The Sheep of Your Pasture, Psalm 74:1 In full agreement with Item#37, which cites the Lord as the Good Shepherd of both the Old and New Testaments, is the recurring theme that all believers, Old or New Testament, are the “sheep of your (the Lord’s) pasture”. This verse uses this comparison to point out that Israel is totally dependant upon the Lord. Psalm 79:13 calls upon the Lord for preservation, protection, and deliverance “then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever”. Psalm 95:7 urges us to bow down and worship for “we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care”. Psalm 100:3 urges us to know and to realize that “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture”. Ezekiel 34:23-31 reminds us of that Millennium Shepherd, and that we are the sheep of his pasture. One point that sticks out to me, herein, is the reason why the Lord raises up shepherds: because without the Lord’s help through pastors, new believers are totally open to attack from every direction. This is serious to the Lord. Dare we resist the Lord’s urging in our lives to shepherd younger Christians which the Lord has put under our care?!
20.) The Lord’s Complaint Against the Pastors and Against the Flock, also the Good Shepherd of the Millennium, Ezekiel 34:1-31 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel”. Unlike Item #5, above, this is a direct comparison of shepherding sheep to the shepherding of souls. In fact, this is specifically stated in vs. 17 & 31. The following problems are brought out by the Lord through Ezekiel regarding Israel’s pastors of that day, and also His flock:
a.) They only take care of themselves, they should take care of the flock. They made use of the benefits of the flock, such as food and clothing, but don’t take care of the flock (vs. 2, also I Timothy 5:17).
b.) Regarding care, they did not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, or bind up the injured. (Also see Item#20 in the Healings Section.) They did not bring back the strays or search for the lost (vs. 4). The Lord does not lead a person into shepherding just so that they can have something to do with their time, and certainly not so they can merely make a living off of the task. The Lord gives the Spirit gift of shepherding because he’s concerned for his flock. This is the second most important point that I gleaned from this study of shepherding. The first, as stated in Item#1, is that the Lord is always that “Great Shepherd”. The second is that shepherding is very serious and is manifested out of the Lord’s serious concern and love for His sheep.
c.) They “have ruled them harshly and brutally” (vs. 5, also I Peter 5:3).
d.) “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd.” (vs. 5&6, also Item#40). I know a person who asked the Lord into his heart at 14 years old. He soon wandered into every sin you could think of, but 10 years later, he again said the sinners prayer and now walks as a Christian. He claims that he was saved the second time, at age 24. However, I perceive that he probably got saved when he was 14, and wandered around like a lost sheep until 10 years later. Well, the point is that the Lord raises up and gifts people as pastors, because he cares for His sheep and doesn’t want them in harm’s way by becoming scattered.
e.) “Because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered, and has become food for the wild animals…This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock’ “ (vs.8-10). The Lord had to step in and do, himself, the work of these spiritual shepherds of Israel (vs. 10-16), and so the Lord will hold them accountable. He immediately removes them from attending the flock (vs.10), and actually has to rescue His flock from the shepherds. I believe pastors, both Old Testament and New, will be eternally accountable before the Lord (Hebrews 13:17).
f.) “As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:” (vs.17). The Lord points out two main things that the Israelites were doing. Muddying the water is a picture of man made religion as compared to the pure spring water of the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 2:13). Do you think that this is not a problem today? Consider the problem with the understanding of I Corinthians 13, as spelled out in Item #1 of the Prophecy Section. Men are coming up with their own teachings (II Timothy 4:3). This fleshly and muddied Christian teaching has been causing problems from day one in the Church, starting with Peter; to whom the Lord said “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). I consider that this malady is do to the flesh of mankind, even believers; and the false teachings are instigated by Satan as a snare (Galatians 5:20&21). This brings up the Lord’s second problem with Israel, their obvious fleshly conduct. In other sections of this study I pointed out that pecking orders, the law of the pack, and herd instinct all constitute fleshly conduct within society. This passage is essentially saying the same thing. The Lord confronts Israel saying: “You shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns”. In Scripture, horns are a picture of power. We should never use our position in the Church culture to overpower another Christian, or to try to maintain some imaginary position in a group’s cultural pecking order. (Some perceive such overpowering of other believers as Nicolaitanism, which the Lord hates, per Revelation 2:6. The logic stems from the very word Nicolaitan. “nico” meaning conquer, and rendering Nicolaitans as those who conquer the laity. This would include clergy and all those who Lord it over other believers. Such action is spoken against in I Peter 5:3.) We should always pray and seek that the Lord’s will would be done in our lives, not the will of Satan, or of the world, or of the flesh.
After this much needed criticism, and seeking their correction through the prophet, the Lord encourages Israel by reminding them (vs. 23-31) of a Shepherd of David’s lineage that he will place over them (vs. 23). He will send down “showers of blessings”, and “they will no longer be plundered by the nations”. “You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord” (vs. 31).
25.) I am the Good Shepherd, John 10:1-18, 27-30 This is, of course, a monumental passage in Scripture. I’ve plucked out some points that the Lord has impressed upon me and that are relevant to this study. These are listed below.
a.) Let me encourage you in studying this passage or any passage concerning pastors, that in the majority of Scripture, the Father, even more so than the Son, is portrayed as “The Shepherd and overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:25, also, see Item#37 below). Even in this great passage, which obviously describes the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus explains in verse 29 & 30 that this is all done through the “Father’s hand” and that “I and the Father are one”. This is important in understanding the true spiritual ability in pastors, since even the Lord Jesus’ shepherding work is done by the Father through the Lord Jesus. Therefore, any pastor must recognize and react to urgings by the Father’s Spirit to take oversight, feed the flock, and otherwise shepherd His flock. We should realize that, in truth and for eternity, the Father is the shepherd of the sheep.
b.) Vs. 1-10 – This is obviously a picture of Christ as the Sheep Gate (the Door in KJV), the believers as the sheep, and illegitimate pastors as thieves; but let’s look closely at the comparison. The Lord Jesus describes himself as the sheep gate, however, only in verse 9 does he discuss the sheep being saved by passing through the gate. The remainder of verses 1 through 10 discusses shepherds having to pass through the gate. “The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep….He calls his own sheep by name….I am the Good Shepherd”. Is Christ both the Gate and the Shepherd at the same time? Yes! He is the Gate since He and the Father are one, verse 30. He is the Good Shepherd in partial fulfillment to Ezekiel 34:23. Note that even the Lord Jesus must pass through the Gate in order to be a shepherd. How much more so Christian pastors. This is not a statement regarding salvation of these shepherds, but rather the legitimate spiritual call to shepherding through the Father. “The man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” (The Father’s call to pastors is obviously also apportioned by the Son, per Ephesians 4:7.)
c.) Vs. 11-13 – “I am the Good Shepherd”. He is good, relative to the other shepherds described as false shepherds. This fact and the “one flock and one shepherd” statement fit exactly the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:23, where God states he will send a good shepherd from the lineage of David. Here we have the owner versus hireling (or wage worker) aspect of pastors. This is why shepherding must be a spiritual calling to allow the Lord to shepherd through a person, not a salaried office in the local gathering (“not greedy for money, but eager to serve”, I Peter 5:2). The Lord Jesus owns the sheep, and a person cannot take that position away from the Lord on a financially contracted basis. The reason is plain. There’s no vested interest by a hireling. But God has a vested interest in shepherding, since they are His sheep. True, Spirit led pastors, who have entered that calling “through the Gate”, also have a vested interest in shepherding, “a crown of glory that will not fade away” (I Peter 5:4). Also, please see Item#1 above.
d.) Vs. 14-18 – These verses discuss the ownership aspects of shepherding, versus hirelings, and also why the Lord Jesus is considered “That Great Shepherd of the Sheep” in Hebrews 13:20. It’s because he laid down his life for the sheep.
e.) Vs. 27-30 – This is, of course, an eternal security passage in that no one, even Satan, can pluck us out of the Father’s hand. This passage also helps explain that ultimately the Father is still that Great Shepherd of the sheep consistently portrayed in Scripture (“I and the Father are one.”). The verse, “My sheep listen to my voice” has historically spoken of a personal relationship with Christ in which we can pray to him, and expect an answer. We also should listen for his voice during our daily life (I Corinthians 12:8), testing the spirits (I John 4:1) as we go (Please see Item#200 below.).
“PASTURES”
27.) “The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want”, Psalm 23 This is that great shepherd’s psalm which really needs no introduction. This psalm, though, is extremely clear evidence of the Scripture’s consistent teaching that the Father, even more than the Son, is that Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:25). As well, this psalm contains practices which the Lord would like to accomplish in us, and the Lord is helped along in these tasks by Christian pastors. These are:
a.) Vs. 1, “I shall not be in want”. A pastor should be teaching those under his care that the Lord provides for us, but we need to be good stewards of his provision for us.
b.) Vs. 2, “He makes me lie down in green pastures”. Christ said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 10:35). The green grass of the pasture speaks of that right relationship with God for which every person hungers. That relationship is obtained through the gospel, and nurtured through spiritual growth within the local assembly. A pastor, then, seeks to provide a rich spiritual atmosphere for the nurturing of new believers.
c.) Vs. 2, “He leads me beside quiet waters”. I live near Lake Michigan, which can quickly become one of the most dangerous bodies of water on the planet. Recently this country (USA) has been pelted by hurricanes on it’s South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and I had to visit the perimeter of a hurricane area twice. So I know the difference between raging and quiet waters. Revelation 13:1 says, “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea”. Here the sea represents restless humanity. In Matthew 4 and Luke 8 Jesus calms the storm; and many compare this with Christ’s control over the trials and unsettling circumstances in our lives. So waters, in Scripture, have come to be understood as spiritual circumstances. Here we see quiet waters. So a pastor, like Jesus, and through the Father’s Holy Spirit, seeks to avoid the storms of life and calm the storm for the flock under his care. This is not just done through teaching, but also living out the Christian life with the flock (“Not lording it over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock”- I Peter 5:3).
d.) Vs. 3, “He restores my soul”. I was recently impressed by that verse in Matthew 11 that we all know. I was impressed because though I knew that verse by heart, there is a portion that I’d never fully considered. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” You can sleep day and knight. You can be attended by the finest psychologists and psychiatrists. You can take a truck load of valium. However, only Jesus can give you rest for your soul. “He restores my soul”. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). A pastor strives that through Christ he can bring a soul to that point in Ephesians 4:1, where each soul can “live a life worthy of that calling you have received”. The restoration of souls is strictly the Lord’s business. A pastor can teach, console, warn, be an example, and many times just listen; but ultimately the restoration of souls must come from the Lord, “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:25).
e.) Vs. 3, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake”. The story is told of a missionary making his rounds. Coming upon the villagers of one island, he was in such a hurry that he could only teach them the Lord’s prayer before he had to leave. Years later he was passing by the island on a large boat, and called out to the same men on shore explaining that he did not have time to stop and visit. The islanders said, “Don’t worry we’ll come out to you”. They all then came out to him, walking upon the water. The missionary gasped, “How did you do that”? One islander explained, “Well, you know that prayer that you taught us, which begins, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name’. We forgot the rest of the prayer, but we repeat the ‘hallowed be thy name’ part, all the time”. Oh, that we Christians could grasp the importance keeping the Lord’s name exalted through our lifestyles! The Lord has given each of us the ability to live quiet but victorious lives. A major task of pastors is to bring this about in those he shepherds. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12).
f.) Vs. 4, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me”. We are to be comforted through trials by experiencing the presence of the Lord. This is first of all accomplished by knowing that we’re saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13). The Lord’s presence is then practically applied in our lives through our daily walk with Him, part of which is His chastening of us (Hebrews 12:6), and also His authorities protecting us (Romans 13:1). The “rod”, then is a symbol of His discipline; while the “staff” is a symbol of the Lord’s authority, both of which work for our protection. Pastors and other elders are to hold the individual believers accountable for what they do and say. We Christians do this, not primarily from the pulpit, but by rebuking and correcting as the Lord leads (Galatians 6:1&2, II Timothy 3:16, &4:2).
g.) Vs. 5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. We must learn, and teachers and pastors must teach this, that we are “aliens and strangers in the world” (I Peter 2:11, 1:1&17); and that even so, the Lord will still provide for us. The financial snares of Satan are many, and I see Christians in trouble all around me. We must learn to focus on the Lord’s will in our lives, and he’ll meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19), not our wants but our needs. Make no mistake, this verse is saying that we cannot acquiesce to dependence on the world system for our financial provision. We must acknowledge that God is providing for us in the midst of an environment hostile to us. Don’t give in to the lies of “the prince of this world”, Satan, that we must perform certain worldly acts in order to make a living. “The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people” (Psalm 68:35).
h.) Vs. 5, “You anoint my head with oil”. This, to me, speaks of nothing but the Holy Spirit anointing given to the believers of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament such anointing by God was given to prophets and kings. However, in Christ we all have an anointing (Ephesians 4:7, I John 2:26&27). Of course, a pastor cannot anoint a person with the Holy Spirit. God does that. However, Christian leaders can facilitate the Spirit’s anointing by teaching correctly concerning the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in believers, and, importantly, recognizing and allowing for the Spirit’s work through others. Beware and be careful of any person speaking against the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31&32).
i.) Vs. 5&6, “My cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” These are the closing remarks by the Psalmist David, in which he acknowledges the blessings which he has in the Lord. A pastor cannot himself provide for these things, but can live as an example of goodness and overflowing Christian love, faithfully reassuring God’s eternal life promise through the power of the gospel.
“SHEPHERD”
36.) The World Hates Pastors, Genesis 46:34 “All shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians”. When I was very young, a seventh or eighth grader in a Roman Catholic school, a friend of mine was openly sinning. This was before I believed or understood the gospel. I told my friend that he really shouldn’t do that because it was a sin. I still remember his response. He said, very indignantly, “Well if you really feel that way you should consider becoming a priest”. Since Egypt is a Scriptural type of the world, Genesis 46:34 is stating that the world hates pastors. Oh, the world doesn’t hate that friendly man dressed in black, who you can avoid by not attending church, or just not pay attention to his words. The world system hates a Godly man, who exists for an extended period of time in their culture as an equal, who takes the initiative to change their lives for Christ’s sake, and who’s Christian lifestyle sticks out like a sore thumb.
The reason that the world must practice hatred against true pastors is the same reason why the world resists prophets. Must I repeat it again!? The flesh wars against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17). Here are a few examples of how that hatred exists and is practiced:
a.) The world wants a pastor to wear strange clothing, so they recognize you immediately. That way they can seek to hide their obvious sins, until the religious person leaves. I just went through that yesterday. I gave a woman a bible tract and immediately she put her lit cigarette behind her back while she was talking to me, taking a puff every so often; but acting as if the cigarette wasn’t really there because I couldn’t see it. She would have been much more comfortable had I had a black clergy suit on, so that she would know not to smoke or cuss when I’m around. Clergymen fall for this ruse of Satan, seeking to be “men of the cloth”. They’re “men of the cloth” for sure, but are they men and women of God; and are they doing God’s will?
b.) The world system will seek to reject a shepherd which isn’t a certified clergyman. Russia, after being open to evangelism, recently went back to having the Russian Orthodox Church as its official state religion. I suppose they think that spiritual matters will be much easier to deal with that way. The Lake of Fire doesn’t appear to be an easier route to me. Of course, we know about Islam, Hindu, and Buddhist clergy, or should I say shamans. For the Lord’s name sake, I shouldn’t dwell on the comparison of clergy to shamanism. However, it is extremely difficult to shepherd a new believer, who you know will probably wander over to some clergy led group and fall under the atrophied teaching of hirelings. Do you know that in Europe the persecution of John Wycliffe’s non-clergy preachers (known as the Lollards) became so intense that they were burned at the stake practically daily; and that there was a burning pit, and still is a place, in Norwich, England known as the Lollard’s Pit. (Lollard is a derogatory word meaning one who mumbles. They were called this because they had no clerical claims or credentials.) However, it’s said that the same fire that burned the Lollards at the stake became the fire of the Reformation. I would add that that same fire of God’s Holy Spirit was working in John Wycliffe when he insisted on teaching and preaching the truth. Beware if you’re a serious mature Christian, because practically everyone will attempt to get you to become a clergyman of some sort; and I know some who have been muscled or tricked into that route. But, I must say that the use of the title of clergy or reverend only goes to decry that person’s lack of understanding of God’s power and grace.
c.) As is the case with any serious Christian, worldly people will treat you as stupid, since you’ve not come to their conclusion that worldly aspirations are all that matter. This stands true for worldly believers as well as for non-believers. “The man without the Spirit does not understand the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” (I Corinthians 2:14).
37.) The Good Shepherd in the Old Testament, Genesis 49:24 “Joseph is a fruitful vine…Because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel”. The point being brought out here is that the Scripture, Old and New Testaments, consistently portray the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel, and the Shepherd of the Church since the Church is engrafted into Israel (Romans 11:17). Consider that there’s a warning in Romans 11:21 regarding New Testament believers who stumble over Israel’s relationship with the Church. This concept, of the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel and the Church, is important in understanding the Spirit’s leading in pastors, and to recognize his urgings to shepherd his sheep. Here are some of the many Old and New Testament references that qualify this point:
a.) Ezekiel 34:23, discussed in Item#20 above, describes very well the relationship between the Son and the Father in this shepherding role. The Son is the Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34:23 and John 10:11, but the Father is still the Great Shepherd even above the Son. However, since the Son and the Father are one (John 10:27-30), particularly in their shepherding tasks, this becomes a very fine point which is difficult to discern or prove. One way to discern is by considering the Spirit’s manifestation in pastors. Since the Spirit is the Father’s Spirit, not the Son’s, shepherding is clearly originating from the Father. However, Ephesians 4:7 states clearly that the Son portions out the graces such as shepherding. Merely having considered this Trinity relationship in shepherding, we’ve come a long way in understanding the Spirit’s ability in pastors.
b.) Psalm 23:1, shows clearly that the Good Shepherd concept is not strictly a New Testament teaching. Some could say, though, that the working of shepherding in the Old Testament was done by the Pre-incarnate Christ. Well, I’ve never read or heard any person even approach the subject, so I’m not arguing a point herein. However, in studying pastors, it becomes clear that the Father is the owner-shepherd, and the Son is his anointed servant shepherd, just as Ezekiel 34:23 states above. So, when we study those servant shepherds known as pastors, we understand that it’s a manifestation and urging from the Father that sets a pastor on his course, and urges him to continue daily.
c.) Psalm 80:1, “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the Cherubim.” Was the Son enthroned between the cherubim at the time of this psalm’s writing? Well, since the Lord Jesus was in the bosom of the Father from the beginning (John 1:2), we could stretch our understanding and say “yes”. However, since it is Israel that is calling out to the Lord, we have to conclude that this passage is referring to God the Father as the Shepherd of Israel. However, I would must conclude that the pre-incarnate Christ, as the 2ndperson of the Godhead, was and is fully enthroned between the Cherubim, as is the Father.
d.) Jeremiah 31:10, “He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd”. This speaks of the Lord’s shepherding of Israel in the Millennial reign of Christ. However, who will gather these sheep? Wouldn’t that task be left to the Father’s Holy Spirit, since Jesus is a single person seated at God’s right hand?
e.) John 10:16, 27-30; “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd…. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” This is a beautiful passage, but what does it all mean? Well, one of the amazing things concerning this grace study is that the study, by giving a different perspective to our view of Scripture, brings understanding to these more difficult passages. When the Lord Jesus refers to different sheep pens, he’s talking of future groups of believers: “They too will listen to my voice”. What about that “One Shepherd”? Is it the Father, or the Son? At first perusal, it sounds like the Son is the Shepherd: “I give them eternal life,…no one can snatch them out of my hand”. But hold on, not so fast, the Lord Jesus then qualifies, “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one”. So, even in this passage that seems to be the strongest Scripture statement that the Lord Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the Old Testament, the Lord Jesus still qualifies his statement admitting that the Father is the actual power behind these shepherding tasks.
f.) Hebrews 13:20&21, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” This is a nugget in Scripture if you’re seeking to study shepherding. You must really study the structure of this passage in order to lay hold of all the teaching elements herein. I had to refer to my Greek Interlinear[5] to grasp the structure. The main structural question is whether “that Great Shepherd” refers to the Father as the “God of peace”, or the Son. The Greek has it, “The (one) having led up out of (the) dead the shepherd of the sheep”. This makes it clear that the “great shepherd of the Sheep” is referring to the Son. Not only that, but this passage becomes almost a paraphrase of John 10:17, which says, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life- only to take it up again”. (So the Shepherd’s greatness is not because he is that great Shepherd of the Old Testament, but rather because he layed down his life for the sheep.) The Father, the God of peace, is shown as having resurrected the Lord Jesus, and equipping believers for service through Jesus Christ. This is very similar to the teaching of Ephesians 4:7-14. Why this all comes together as a great teaching is that the Trinity is clearly seen here: the Father equipping through the Son, and the Son apportioning the grace which is the manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit in the believer.
g.) I Peter 2:25, “By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” This reference to the Shepherd must be God the Father, since we are noted as returning to the Shepherd. These believers, for the most part, never knew Jesus. So how do you return to someone you never knew. Since the Father is always seeking to shepherd us, and since in the relative innocence of our youth we were closer to him, when we are reconciled to the father through the Son (Romans 5:10) this constitutes a returning to the Father.
h.) I Peter 5:4, “Be shepherds of God’s flock….And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” Who’s flock is it? God, the Father’s! Who is the Chief Shepherd, that will appear and give crowns to under-shepherds? It is Jesus, that servant shepherd prophesied in Ezekiel 34:23. The Greek word for Chief Shepherd is “arxipoimenos”[6], or arch-shepherd. Let’s be clear here. God the father, the owner of the flock, is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. That’s been shown several times. Since, in the old nature, the Israelite leaders fell short in many areas of responsibility, the Father needed to send his Son. One of the Son’s principal reasons for coming was to be that servant shepherd descended from David, an arch-shepherd prophesied in Ezekiel 34. As well, since Christians are indwelt with the Father’s Holy Spirit, we are urged to be under-shepherds, equipped through Jesus, and powered by the Father’s Holy Spirit.
i.) Zechariah 9:14-16, “Then the lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the South, and the Lord almighty will shield them. The Lord their God will shield them on that day”. This is a nugget in the context of this study because it portrays the coming of the Lord Jesus in glory, yet describes the event as the Father saving his flock. This description summarizes where this study has led us; namely that the Father is the owner-shepherd, while the Son is the arch-shepherd prophesied in Ezekiel 34.
j.) Micah 5:4, “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,”. Micah is continuing to describe the Messiah which he qualifies as being from Bethlehem in Micah 5:2. This shepherding of the flock in the strength of the Father by the Son is in agreement with what was said in Item #a, above.
k.) Here are other verses noted as presenting the Father as the Shepherd of His flock in the Old Testament: Psalm 77:20, Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 50:6&17, Micah 2:12, and Micah 7:14.
l.) Here are other verses noted as presenting the Son as the Arch-Shepherd in Scripture: Matthew 10:6, and Matthew 15:24.
40.) Rule: No Shepherd = Sheep Scattered, II Chronicles 18:16 “Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd’ “. I don’t know much about sheep herding, whether sheep have a naturally strong herd instinct like buffalo, or not. However, since I know the Scripture is true, one thing I know concerning sheep: sheep without a shepherd will go astray and be scattered, either voluntarily or because of the elements (including predators). Of course, the same is true for a group of believers. As I get older I can look back at various groups and see this principle. Painfully, though, I can also look back at my own life and see people into which I could have put more oversight effort. Here are some of the many verses that repeat this simple principle of Holy Spirit shepherding:
a.) Ezekiel 34:7-12, “Plundered and become food for wild animals”. This is speaking of believers being plundered by false teachers, who want followers for their own money and prestige. This happens when the true God led shepherd won’t oversee the flock. Also, “I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness”. This explains why we should visit the sick and oppressed, so that they can be encouraged and not wander from the faith.
b.) Zechariah 10:2, “Diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders”. These leaders of Judah allowed idolatry and divination to replace God’s covenant through Moses. Only the true teachings of God, the Bible, should be taught by pastors. Particularly watch out for paid counselors. It is your pastor’s task from God to counsel you, or your family. If your supposed pastor tells you he doesn’t have enough time, he’ll refer you to a paid counselor, then you should really consider whether that supposed pastor is part of the problem or the solution. I know that this is hard to fathom, and that paid counselors and paid pastors are the rule, rather than the exception, in nominal Christianity today. However, the truth is that this situation did not stem from the apostle’s teaching in the Bible, but rather from the fleshly teaching of men. I know that the Holy Spirit of God is “The Spirit of Truth”, and so I can have a bold confidence and an expectation of God’s work in the minds of the readers of these truths. There is a cry for “mentoring” in the Church nowadays. I challenge you that no such mentoring was ever taught in Scripture, except in the Spiritual gift of pasturing as clearly shown in I Peter 5:1-4. This Spiritual ability is clearly encouraged to be practiced by all mature believers (elders). (The younger men were given other directions in I Peter 5:5.) If elder believers obeyed God’s appeal through Peter to “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers…because you are willing”, then the Church would be fraught with, not mentors, but true pastors of God. Then, with the Lord’s Church abounding with true pastors, I believe those paid to be pastors would resume their true calling from God (if there was one) to be traveling preachers or apostles to other lands. So this is a circular problem which can only be solved by intercession from God (grace). God called me to proclaim His power to His Church, and that’s just what I’m doing in this study of the grace of shepherding. Praise the Lord! But, what are you doing?!
c.) Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ’The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field”. The Lord is directly connecting the scattering of sheep with lack of harvest workers. You cannot be a pastor of non-believers. So, it’s clear that the Lord Jesus is calling for evangelists, pastors, and many other types of workers for the harvest which is still going on in this Church Age, the day of God’s Grace. (Also see, Mark 6:34.) Consider. Do we see helpless humanity the same way the Lord Jesus sees it? Isn’t a loving attitude and a caring perception one of the keys to Godly shepherding? I Corinthians 13 says that service done out of love is “the most excellent way” to practice any spiritual gift.
d.) Nahum 3:18, “O King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber;…Your people are scattered on the mountain with no one to gather them.” Two huge points are brought out here. First, (and I’m glad the Lord said this and not me,) “Your shepherds slumber”. When the Scripture teaches that elder Christians are to pastor and take the oversight of God’s flock, and instead they pay a hireling to do it because they are semi-drunk with the ways of the world, isn’t this the case of shepherds that are slumbering? Second, since the shepherds are slumbering and not taking the oversight, and the hireling is spread so thin that he can’t possibly take proper oversight, the “people are scattered on the mountain with no one to gather them”. We must also note that it’s a task of pastors to gather in believers that are wandering off.
e.) Luke 2:8, “There were shepherds living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night”. At night, when things are at their darkest, that’s when the shepherd really has to keep watch. Are you beginning to see why the Egyptians, as the symbol of the world, hated all shepherds (Item#36 above, Genesis 46:34)? I perceive that it’s because the Spirit led gift of pasturing is being taught through practically everything that shepherds do. And, we all know by now that the flesh wars against the Spirit of god (Galatians 5:17).
f.) Some other verses that repeat the rule of sheep scattering due to lack of a shepherd are: Psalm 44:11, Isaiah 53:6, Zechariah 13:7, and I Peter 2:25.
How about you? Is the Lord tugging at your heart to seek to straighten out some less mature Christian? I’m not talking about “giving them a piece of your mind”, or merely seeking to correct them. I’m talking about getting involved in their lives because you can see them wandering like sheep without a shepherd. I recognize such Holy Spirit nudging as the Holy Spirit grace gift of shepherding. It’s not a nudge to mentoring as clergy-minded people would have you to believe. You can receive a crown from the Chief Shepherd if you obey that nudge from the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:4). You won’t receive accolades from the clergy-minded people around you, and no one other than yourself, God, and possibly some angels and demons will recognize your work. You will not be given a title or receive a salary. However, you will be serving the Master who promises “treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). Also, you will be obeying the law of love, and you will have been used greatly by the Lord to intercede in people’s lives (and that’s the grace and power of God at work).
44.) The Lord as a Shepherd, Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Here we see the Lord paying particular close attention and tenderness to the young and to young families. Should we use this as teaching for pastors in our age? Very definitely!
57.) A Shepherd Saves from the Lions Mouth, Amos 3:12 “As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved.” As I’m considering this passage, two practical questions loom loud.
a.) How can a shepherd, without a rifle, or even a spear subdue a lion and take its prey from him. The mountain lions that we have here in America weigh at most 140 lbs, but carry off full grown men as prey. David, the young shepherd answers this question in his discourse to Saul, while preparing to fight Goliath. He discusses close combat with a lion or a bear, combat close enough to grab the beast by the hair when striking it. The weapons he uses are only a sling and his staff. David cites to Saul his experience and confidence at being able to overcome these beasts, and then extends this confidence to overcoming Goliath. The point that I see here, though, is that as a shepherd he knew and used tested techniques to overcome the lion. Since “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8), a shepherd has to develop methods to rescue believers from “the lion’s mouth”. As well, pastors must understand and deal with the power of the lion that they’re facing.
b.) Secondly, why would a shepherd go through that great peril only to rescue a couple leg bones or a piece of an ear? My only conclusion is that the shepherd lives by a code of conduct in which he won’t allow the lion to have his way with his sheep, which the shepherd owns and calls by name. Now, in Amos’ passage this is a prophetic reference to the remnant of Israel, which the Lord always saves so that the nation will never be completely destroyed. But what about a believer who has been almost totally devoured by Satan? Well, the Scripture and our own Christian instincts of love tell us that such a person is worth delivering “from the lion’s mouth”. I Corinthians 5:5 says, “Hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord”. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”.
So, the Lord allows evil in the world, and even rebellious Satan is used to do the Lord’s will. A pastor must develop a means to combat Satan, and this carefully, lest the lion consume the shepherd and the sheep. Finally, it’s obvious that the lion can do anything he wants to the sheep unless the shepherd is present (Micah 5:8).
58.) Rule: No Shepherd = Satanic Attack, Zechariah 10:2 “The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd”. Now, who is doing the oppression here? I Corinthians 10:20 says that idolatry is instigated by demons. It’s obvious in this situation that the devil is the oppressor and that idolatry and divination is a large part of the oppression. However, the rule is simply stated that “lack of a shepherd” is the real cause for the oppression in this situation. That’s why the Lord says in vs. 3, “My anger burns against the shepherds”.
75.) All Elders Should Pastor, I Peter 5:4 While this great passage on pastors has been mentioned several times before in this study, it’s necessary now to review, verse by verse, the doctrine contained in this passage. If you notice that what’s taught by Scripture is not what’s being practiced by nominal Christianity, then I hope you’ll take the position of Peter and the other apostles who said, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29). Please don’t think for a moment that I’m one of a few people who see the grace gifts in the manner rendered herein. I believe that millions of believers, here on earth now, are waking up to the need to correctly teach God’s power manifested in the Church. One such person had this to say at Moody Bible Institute’s Founder’s Week, 2/1/05: “You would be hard pressed to find in the scripture what’s being practiced in our churches today; because much of what we practice was never practiced by the early Church” (Jim Cymbala, speaking on the need for New Testament prophecy). Here then, verse by verse, is the teaching that the apostle Peter passed down to us, the believers in this age, regarding the Spirit’s manifestation in shepherding:
a.) Vs.1- “To the elders among you I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s suffering and one who will also share in the glory to be revealed:”. Peter is stating that he is a mature and experienced Christian, an elder. He’s not seeking to prove his apostleship, but rather his credentials as an elder: his experience (“a witness of Christ’s suffering”), and his sure profession of the Christian faith (“one who will also share in the glory”). The Scripture never cites Peter as taking the office of an elder (Titus 1:5) within any local gathering. However, he is definitely an experienced and mature Christian, which is the group to which he addressed his appeal (“To the elders among you”). This definition of elders is clearly the case since Peter alternately addresses the young men in the next passage starting at I Peter 5:5. This is important, since it defines who should seek to be a pastor. Those who practice clerisy would add that a person must also attend seminary, and even be ordained by that seminary in order to shepherd the flock which God would have already put under their care. Some of those who reject the clergy cite that this passage refers to those appointed to the office of elder, as described in Titus 1:5 and I Timothy 3:1-7. However, the Scripture is not talking about the office of elder, neither a clerical office of pastor, since pasturing is a spiritual gift (Ephesians 4:11). This passage encourages all mature and experienced Christians to shepherd new believers which the Lord has already put under their care. Also, guess what! If you wait until after you graduate from seminary to obey God, then you’re disobeying him by putting off your obedience to him.
b.) Vs. 2- “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers”. Please understand the semantics of this. God is realizing the maturity of individual believers, and is placing new believers under their care. God is also, by His Holy Spirit, empowering those mature believers to shepherd his flock. Excuse me, but where does the seminary or bible college fit in here? If a person is empowered by God to pastor a group and that person instead enrolls in seminary, then that’s disobedience. Please excuse any seemingly harsh inference against seminaries and bible colleges, but I’ve experienced people called by God to preach, and to pastor, and even sent off by God to foreign lands, and instead they enroll in seminary or bible college and never fulfill God’s calling. They end up as paid clergy, with the sheep still functionally without a shepherd; and as you well know the sheep get scattered just as the Scripture says they will ( Please see Item # 40 above.). “Serving as overseers” is an important task of shepherds. The one thing we all know about shepherds is that they keep watch. If we keep watch, then we can jump in and advise, nudge, or even prod when it’s necessary. But how can a shepherd do any such thing if he’s not keeping watch over the sheep.
c.) Vs. 2&3- “Not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” The Lord wants us to serve him out of love for him and concern for his flock. Truthfully, the concept of receiving pay for Christian service is not acceptable to me. The Lord has blessed me financially and over-supplies my needs. Originally I received these blessings by faith. Now I know God’s faithful support as reality. So his support is now by sight and not by faith. These verses clearly show that a pastor is not to accept a salary. I’m not saying that all who accept a salary are “greedy for money”. However, those who accept a salary are pasturing “because you must” rather than “because you are willing”. If you say such supposed pastors aren’t really forced into service because of salary, then research and consider their contract for employment, particularly reviews by the congregation’s administration. I know a few clergy, and can say honestly that there’s nothing that they do which can’t be done responsibly by others in their congregation; and can say categorically that their assembly would be better able to serve the missions and the pastor’s own family if said pastor got a regular paying job. “Lording it over those entrusted to you”, versus being an example, connotes a misuse of your position in Christ. This teaching states that it’s easier to teach by example than by forcing people to accept your decisions, even if you’re right. There are instances where discipline by the elders is necessary, but this is done by a committee of elders which are accepted by the entire gathering as the church’s governing body. Again, these teachings are not specifically for the church’s governing body, but for all mature Christians, since Peter in verse 1 is exhorting all mature believers.
d.) Vs. 4- “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”. Why is this verse in this passage? It seems obvious to me that the inclusion of this verse in the passage, says that there’ll not be glory on earth for pastors, and pastors really need to know that their reward in heaven will far outweigh the toil and rejection that they’ll face on earth. Do you think that this 1st century fisherman, who was able to prophesy the earth’s destruction by nuclear fire in II Peter 3:10, somehow missed the future earthly glory of the clergy which began circa 300 a.d. and continues until now? I perceive that this heavenly crown of glory will never be given to such clerical imposters. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal” (Matthew 6:20).
“SHEPHERDS”
92.) The Lord- Our True Pasture, Jeremiah 50:7 “They sinned against the Lord their true pasture, the Lord , the hope of their fathers. Flee out of Babylon:...”. Many, many Christians try to walk with their feet on both sides of the fence until, sometimes after decades, they realize that they can’t have it both ways. “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). While Egypt is a type of the world, Babylon is, in Scripture, a picture of the idolatrous world. We must realize that our life and work and hope are to be in the Lord. There’s plenty of work available so that we can be totally absorbed in the work and the will of the Lord. He is our pasture as well as our shepherd. This doesn’t mean that we can’t have plenty of meaningful contacts in the world, when it’s the Lord’s will. There’s an old saying that we are to be in the world, not of the world. One of the main reasons that the Lord would have people to understand his grace and power is so that new believers would pick up their cross and come follow the Lord Jesus, by practicing their grace gifts. By doing this we can turn this confused and perishing world upside down, just as Paul did in his day.
“SHEEP”
108.)Flocks as a Measure of Wealth, Genesis 12:16 “He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle”. There are many, many Scripture passages that show that the ownership of sheep and cattle was a measure of a person’s wealth in the Old Testament. A few of these are: II Kings 5:26, I Chronicles 5:21, I Chronicles 12:40, Job 1:3, Job 42:12, and many other similar passages. From a spiritual perspective, the Lord wants to show us off as trophies of his grace, according to Ephesians 2:7. So, when a person is saved it is all done to the glory of God’s grace. While in the opposite, Paul warns that, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29&30).
123.)Redemption is of First Importance, Exodus 34:19&20 “The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb… Redeem all your firstborn sons.” The Lord is teaching this to Israel in the context of when and how they were delivered from Egypt. They were to be redeemed with five shekels of silver (Numbers 18:16). Additionally, “you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Numbers 18:17). Of course, this is all a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (I Peter 1:18&19). The reason why the donkey would be killed rather than having it live an unredeemed life, is a picture of those who live without receiving Christ as Savior. Both the unredeemed donkey and the unredeemed man’s lifestyle are totally unacceptable to God, who is holy. Paul, in describing the gospel, the power of God for salvation, said this, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3&4). The point made by Paul, and the Lord, is that redemption of the lost is of paramount importance. It is the first work of God, and of Jesus Christ who sits at God’s right hand administering the Father’s affairs in this world. Jesus told us this in John 3:17, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”. Therefore the Lord Jesus still has his first work as seeking and saving the lost. Pastors, then, as well as apostles, prophets, teachers, and obviously evangelists, must realize that our primary work is that ministry of reconciliation spoken of in II Corinthians 3:9, that is the salvation of the lost. We must never lose track of the fact that salvation of a single lost soul means that person is eternally saved from the eternal lake of fire. We know from Ephesians 4:13 that the Spirit works in the Church through people’s individual ministries to build up the body of Christ until we all meet “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”. Consider, then, that Christ in his fullness always has had his primary focus on the salvation of souls. So, we should not separate the edification gifts within Christ’s body from Christ’s primary purpose, that is, saving the lost; just as we should not separate the Holy Spirit’s work from that of Jesus Christ.
126.) Jesus as Our Substitute from amongst the flock, Leviticus 22:19 “You must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf”. I don’t know how the importance of this concept will play out in our study. Nevertheless, the concept of Jesus as Our Substitute is an important one in Christianity. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). A similar concept that Jesus walked amongst us, as one of us, is what lead previous saints to exclaim with joy: “There’s a man in the glory, now!”. Some other instances of this concept are found in Exodus 12:5, Leviticus 1:2&10, Isaiah 53:7, I Corinthians 5:7, and I Peter 1:19.
139.) Every Living Thing Including Men and Cattle Are the Lord’s, Joshua 6:21 “They devoted the city (Jericho) to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it- men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys”. Many people question God’s sovereignty and the Bible’s truthfulness when they see such passages as this. They exclaim, “How can a loving God do such things”? But God is sovereign and has a plan for Israel and for humanity. He knew that the Canaanites were disgusting idolaters whose lifestyle and intrinsic hatred would be a constant attack upon his nation Israel. A similar order, as was given to Joshua, was given to Saul. God, through Samuel told Saul, “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys” (I Samuel 15:3). Saul didn’t completely obey God and spared some of the cattle, and kept what was good, including King Agag the Amalekite. Later in history, one of Agag’s descendants tried to utterly destroy Israel. His name was Haman the Agagite, whom we learn of in the Book of Esther. Some Christian historians trace even Yassar Arafat to the lineage of Haman the Agagite. Further, the general disobedience of Israel, in disobeying God in their treatment of their enemies in and around Israel, is currently being meeted out to us and them in that situation which we summarily refer to as the “Middle East Crisis”. The point herein though is that God is sovereign. He knows the end from the beginning; and every living thing, both man and animal, are his to purpose as he pleases, “For the Lord omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6).
152.) It’s Impossible for a Pastor to be Separated from Community Life, I Samuel 17:15 “David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem”. Through this situation, David ended up fighting Goliath then eventually became King, which obviously was God’s plan. However, the point must be realized that mature elder Christians, especially those partaking in the office of elder and those who actively shepherd, must have a good reputation in the community (I Timothy 3:7). “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). Not only this but the act of shepherding by its very concept includes becoming involved in the community lives and problems of the sheep. To this some clergy would disagree saying, “I don’t have time for such involvement”. To which I would say, “Exactly!”. This is why shepherding was never relegated to only a few so-called clergy, but to all mature Christians. “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder,…Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care” I Peter 5:1&2).
162.) The Following Leader, II Samuel 7:8 “I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel”. We always hear of sheep following the shepherd, but here is a shepherding concept which I’ve not noticed anywhere else in Scripture. That is, the concept of a leader following the flock. A shepherd should follow his flock closely, particularly in open pasture, to guard from straying and attacks by wolves. The same is true for shepherds of God’s flock. After getting the flock to the pasture (saved, with basic teaching and lifestyle) the lives should be followed closely to perceive any straying or attacks by false teachers. However, a shepherd or teacher should never seek to speak only those things with which his flock agrees. This would be that prophesied by Paul when he said, “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (I Timothy 4:3). God driven preachers must speak for God and take the position, “if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (I Peter 4:11).
196.)Sheep Available for Slaughter, Psalm 44:22 “Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered”. This is of course that verse which is quoted in Romans 8:36, when Paul states, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”. In this verse Paul is pointing out that both Israel and the Church will suffer persecution, and though we seem to be wasting our lives, yet we are actually winning the victory by being that way. As the Christian song says, “Faith is the victory”. Satan and this world system will not have dominion over the Lord’s people.
200.) Sheep Recognize the Shepherd’s Voice, Psalm 119:176 “I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant for I’ve not forgotten your commands”. John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”. The two passages are similar, but in Psalm 119 we see the concept coming alive in the Psalmist’s life. Pastors can use this principle to understand the relationship between the Lord and His sheep, and to even seek the lost. Psalm 119 portrays a yearning for a right relationship with God, from a psalmist who knows the Lord’s commands. John 10 says that true believers recognize the Lord’s voice in their lives. The Word, through preaching, or teaching, or just Bible reading, can be used to attract, and then lead, the stray sheep back to the Shepherd; or even just to bring some closer to Him and become more familiar with His voice.
237.) If You Love Christ, Pastor His Lambs, John 21:16 “Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ “ The Greek[7] renders the phrase “Take care of my sheep” as, “poimaine ta probatia mou”- “shepherd the little sheep of me”. So, Jesus is teaching, if we love him, shepherd the lambs which he put under our care. Ironically, this is the same exhortation that Peter gives to all mature believers, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care” (I Peter 5:2). So, if you love the Lord, and are a mature Christian, then you already have the tools to be a pastor to the flock which the Lord has already put under your care. I realize that this is not what’s being practiced in nominal Christianity today. But “the proof is in the putting”, and also in the Scripture. Look around you. Are there less mature Christians which you can help along in their walk? Then, listen carefully for the Lord’s urging for you to help them. (This is just another example of how we can readily discern the true abilities of the Holy Spirit. Is it taught in Scripture and practiced in the Church? The problem, with what nominal Christians are practicing today as pastors, is that it’s not what’s taught in Scripture. It is, instead, what’s been acquiesced to, after pressure from the world system.)
“SHEEPFOLDS”
252.) Shepherding a Fleshly Flock, Psalm 78 ‘From tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” I was taught as a fairly young Bible student, that when the Lord refers to Israel as Jacob, he’s referring to his people’s fleshly conduct. When using the word “Israel”, the Scripture is referencing the people as his Godly nation and chosen people. This psalm is such a case. The psalmist cites much fleshly conduct by Jacob, including rebellion and idolatry. Then the psalm, in the same sentence, refers to the Lord’s sheep as “his people Jacob, Israel his inheritance”. The point that I glean from this is that David, had to lead some very fleshly people, even though his reign was a glorious reign; and so must pastors in this day shepherd some very fleshly people. Think of it this way, though. Would the Lord put someone under your care that is more Godly than you, or more fleshly than you? So don’t be discouraged by the fleshly believer that God has put in your midst. That’s just the way it is. You can still shepherd them through the Lord’s power “with integrity of heart, with skillful hands”. And really, “fleshly” is just a relative term, since we all have our flesh to contend with until Christ comes to give us new, changed bodies to go along with our new nature in Christ.
“FLOCK”
312.) Pastors Should Live Day to Day With Their Flock, Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night”. I’ve never heard of a shepherd who doesn’t live in the midst of or nearby his flocks, even with today’s modern technology. In regard to Christian pastors this holds true as well. A pastor needs to be in the midst of the struggles and day to day lives of the believers which the Lord put under their care. If this is not possible, then I’d conclude that that pastor is merely filling the role of a hireling (if money is involved), or the Lord didn’t really put those people under the pastor’s care, or the pastor or sheep are being disobedient and thwarting the Lord’s provision. In today’s Christian gatherings there are many hirelings, taking a lot of money, and taking the title pastor (which was never meant to be a title per Item #8 above), and worse than that they are stealing the sheep from their true God led pastors and discouraging the true pastors, evangelists, preachers and teachers which the Lord is raising up to meet His needs.
314.) Bishop Merely Means Overseer, Plurality of Elders, Pastors- Only Through the Holy Spirit’s Power, Acts 20:28 “ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the Church of God which he bought with his own blood”. This is another nugget of Scripture. Paul is actually giving shepherding advice to the Ephesian elders. Did you ever wonder why the book of “Acts” is in the Bible. Well, this excellent history of the early Church shows how the Lord wants his Church to operate. The Church organization laid out in the book of “Acts” is just one example of instructive and corrective teaching that is manifested through God’s Word in the book of “Acts”. This history book also proves out the doctrines taught in the remainder of Scripture, and should serve as a bulwark against the flood of twisted teachings prevalent since the writing of this book.
Paul even prophesies against such twisted teachings in verses 29 & 30: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and not spare the flock. Even from among your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them”. During this study I’ve investigated some of the writing of the early church fathers, Ignatius, Polycarp, and others. It’s very sad to see that these ancient documents cannot be fully relied upon, because factions (both pagan and nominally Christian) have edited these documents by burning previous copies, and also outright falsified and added-to many of these documents. But we needn’t look to the second century to see these “savage wolves” who “distort the truth”. These wolves had already appeared to the 1st Century Church, in the form of Judaizers, according to Acts 15:1 (circa A.D. 51), and in the form of antiChrists and their prophets according to I John 2:18 and 4:1 (c. A.D. 90).
Here are some facts gleaned from this excellent passage in Acts 20:
a.) “Keep watch over yourselves”. Did Paul know 200 years ago that many Christian leaders would be falling to moral temptations? Well, I don’t conclude that Paul was looking into the future, but he knew that personal temptations would constantly be thrown up against Christian leaders. He obviously had to fight such temptations in his own life (II Timothy 4:7, Romans 7:15). He probably saw many failures in leaders, since his ministry spanned approximately 34 years (my estimate based upon Paul’s conversion date and his authorship date of II Timothy, per Nelson’s Open Bible[8]).
b.) Considering both the Book of Ephesians and this detailed accounting in Acts 19 and 20, there is no sense that there is more than one Christian congregation in Ephesus. The total population of this large ancient city was approximately 250,000 at that time. However, it was a pagan city with few Jews and very few Christians when Paul arrived. After preaching three years collectively in that area, with two years focused on Ephesus, Paul had great success, but I still don’t see any evidence that the city had more than one assembly of Christians. The point, then, is that there was one gathering with a plurality of elders as its leadership. This is the organization of the believers’ assembly in Scripture: one gathering with a plurality of elders overseeing the affairs of each gathering.
c.) There is no teaching in Scripture in which one man oversees the affairs of the entire gathering, or in which one man oversees more than one gathering. You can prove this yourself by doing a word search for the terms “elder”, “bishop”, and “overseer”, and their derivative terms (See the list and definition of these terms in Item#1, above). But really, the answer is plainly already in the Bible. Throughout Jewish history, local rule by a committee of elders was prevalent. It can be traced back to Jethro and Moses in Exodus 18:12. This system of oversight was still present in the time of the early Church (Luke 22:66, Acts 4:5). In fact this system of oversight by a committee of elders was the system of governance used by the early Church (Acts 15:1-4). (Also see Word of Wisdom Section, Item#1d.) The concept of employing a clergyman, or clergymen, to try to shepherd the local assembly is not, neither was ever, taught by the apostles or the Scripture. These “teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:9). The Holy Spirit teaches that the elders are to be doing the shepherding (I Peter 5:1). These other so-called pastors and bishops, if they actually had a calling by Christ, ought to come out of their religious fog and pursue their actual calling, whether as traveling preachers, or those sent (apostles) to other lands, or some other calling. Or, as that famous television chef, Emeril Lagasse, liked to say, “Let’s step it up a notch”!
d.) “And all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers”. Comparing this with I Peter 5:2, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care serving as overseers”, we see that shepherding is indeed a gift and manifestation of the Holy Spirit; and, we see that this was obviously taught by both Peter and by Paul.
e.) Looking at this term “overseer”, there is no distinction in the Greek between bishop or overseer. The word is “episkopeo”: “epi” meaning over, “skopeo” meaning “scope out” or watch. A bishop or overseer is therefore one who oversees the affairs of the local gathering. Also, please see the definition of bishop in Item #1 above.
f.) “Be shepherds of the Church of God, which he bought with his own blood”. There’s a slight difference between keeping watch and being a shepherd. To be a shepherd you must keep watch, but shepherding involves action and caring. This caring aspect is accentuated by Paul’s description of the flock as “the Church of God, which he bought with his own blood”. We are the Church of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, more terrifying than Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:21&22). “You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ a lamb without blemish or defect” (I Peter 1:18&19).
“FLOCKS”
331.) Rule: Obedience = Blessing, Deuteronomy 7:13 “If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land- your grain, new wine and oil- the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.” As I get older I can look at people with real failures in their lives and it’s obvious where and how they disobeyed God. Somehow, though that blinder of men, Satan, manages to keep them blind to their need. So, if there’s one rule which a pastor needs to communicate to God’s flock and understand himself, this is it. It’s amazing, though, how people manage to sidestep the blessings from the Lord. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (II Chronicles 16:9, KJV).
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT POINTS
Lest someone misconstrue, or even deliberately twist, the results of what’s being concluded from this study, the following summary points are noted:
1.) Being a pastor requires first and foremost being the Lord’s shepherd, a servant working for the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. The shepherd’s “crown of glory”, promised in I Peter 5:4, will only be given to these true, Spirit led shepherds. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 25, 27, 37, 40, 44, 75, 200, 314).
2.) Shepherding (pastor) is a grace gift of the Holy Spirit. “Pastor” is not taught in Scripture to be a title or an office in the Church. The use of such titles is not the “apostles teaching” (Acts 2:42), neither the teaching of God; it is therefore a serious divergence from the truth. The work of a pastor, shepherding, is a “hands on” type work and doesn’t normally require the use of a pulpit. However, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers might require the use of the pulpit depending upon the situation. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 3, 8, 20, 27, 36, 40, 57, 75, 152, 162, 237, 252, 312, & 314).
3.) Every elder, mature believer is exhorted by God to be a pastor to those less mature Christians which the Lord places in that believer’s care. The current cry for mentoring within the Church is indicative of this. The only teaching regarding mentoring in the Scripture names this important function as shepherding, not mentoring.(See I Peter 5:1-4.) (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 10, 36, 40, 58, 75, 152, 237, 312, & 314.)
4.) No single man or even a very few men, were meant to be the only apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in a local assembly. While obviously all believers are not given each of these grace gifts, these graces will be spread out over several believers as the Lord’s needs require. Also, “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ has apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). Further, those clogging up the Church’s time and effort with work not of God are resisting God’s work and power among others in the local gathering, and in his universal Church. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, & 36.)
5.) Shepherding is a manifestation of God’s grace, and is necessary for the growth of the Church. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 8, 25, 37, 40, 237, & 314.)
6.) The shepherding of sheep as described in Scripture can and should be used to study the Spirit led ability of shepherding men. (The above items reference this: Nos. 5, 10, 20, 27, 108, 152, 162, 200, & 312.)
7.) Shepherding is to be done by the elder mature believers of the local gathering. The practice of paying a hireling pastor to do the work, that a congregation’s elders are supposed to do, is not a correct practice. It’s spoken against in Scripture. It’s not the apostles teaching, and it resists the work of the Holy Spirit in and by the local gathering. The affairs of the local gathering are to be governed by a committee of elders , with deacons and deaconesses doing the day to day tasks required. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 20, 25, 36, 40, 75, 237, 312, & 314.)
END HOME
[1] Donald L. Norbie, New Testament Church Organization (Kansas City, Kansas: Walterick Publishers) pages 35-50.
[2] Ibid, page 38.
[3] Ibid, page 69.
[4] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Company) p. 60 of his Greek Dictionary of the New Testament.
[5] Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear KJV-NIV Parallel New Testament In Greek And English (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) p. 671.
[6] Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear KJV-NIV Parallel New Testament In Greek And English (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) p. 693.
[7]Alfred Marshall, The Interlinear KJV-NIV Parallel New Testament In Greek And English (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) p. 341.
[8] The Open Bible (KJV), (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers, 1975) pages 1027 & 1134.