Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Lord has ordained earthly
governments as a means of subduing the unruly. Yet when we look
at the order of society which is found among the saints of
God in the Church, which is the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all, we find neither example nor need for such a ruling class.
Peter describes the station of each one of those who are called
out of darkness and into the light. But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people, that
ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness and into his marvelous light, which in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. The sons of God
are ruled not by the law of sin and death from which they have
been set free, but rather by a much more powerful force not
aided by men in any way. For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. Thus we understand that those
who are given the office of ruling in the New Testament Church must
do so with a completely different mindset than those who declare
the law written in tables of stone. For as much as you are
manifestly declared to be the epistles of Christ, ministered
by us written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God, not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the
heart. The scriptures tell us of one who has come, not only
as the sin bearer and redeemer of his people, but as their example
in all things. For even here unto were ye called,
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth. Christ alone is the shepherd
of his flock. He does not turn it over to others,
but rather directs the keeping of his sheep to those who are
not instructed to be lords over his heritage, but rather examples
to them in both word and deed. Thus we return to him who is
the shepherd of our souls. He is the shepherd of his sheep
and the door by whom they go in and out, finding pasture as
he sees fit to give them. But he that entereth in by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep. Both the foal and the sheep belong
to him. Christ is the good shepherd.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his
life for the sheep. No sacrifice was too great, for
he determined to lay down his own life in order to preserve
that of his flock. He contrasts the good shepherd
with those who are but hirelings, or those appointed to tend the
flock while he is away. To a man they will fail the flock,
apart from their preservation by the Good Shepherd. Paul wept
bitter tears in reminding the Ephesian elders of this fact.
The church is his flock, which he has purchased with his own
blood. He knows them that are his. He is the Great Shepherd. Now the God of peace that brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of
the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Those priests which ministered under the old covenant could
not continue their ministry by reason of death. Yet this one
who is the Great Shepherd ever liveth to make intercession for
his sheep, having triumphed over death and led captivity captive.
His presence at the right hand of the Father demonstrates His
eternal advocacy in their behalf. For Christ is not entered into
the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer
himself often as the high priest entereth into the holy place
every year with the blood of others. For then must he often
have suffered since the foundation of the world. But now once in
the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself. He is the chief shepherd, and
when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown
of glory that fadeth not away. Christ told his disciples that
if he went away that he would come again to receive them unto
himself. Upon this testimony hangs all
of our hope for the future. Until then, Peter exhorts those
under shepherds not to do so for earthly gain, but rather
to be examples unto the flock which Christ has both purchased
and will come again to be reunited in body and soul with them. He
is the bishop, that is, the overseer of their souls. Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he
trusteth in thee. While Deuteronomy seeks and delights
in such titles, Christ is the minister of righteousness to
the sons of God, and he will lose none of those for whom he
has come to call. Have you heard the shepherd's
voice? For a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts,
send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.