Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Paul warned the Ephesian
elders of two things. Number one, that the grievous
wolves would raid the flock with the intention of preaching some
other message than Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Number two,
that some of those who were numbered with them and seeming to be in
good standing would nonetheless seek places of preeminence among
the flock in order to gain a personal following. We live in an era
which is characterized by the cult of the pastor or preacher
wherein congregations depend on the ministry of individuals
rather than the ministry of the body. There is no shortage of
those who desire to fill these positions of prominence, privilege,
and honor. Just like Israel of old who desired
a king like the other nations, many today desire to have these
pastor kings, worship leaders, and all sorts of other professional
positions. They gravitate to fixed orders
of worship, preselected hymns, and scoff at the concepts laid
out by Paul to the Corinthian church, believing that human
order is the same as that of the Holy Ghost. Ezekiel brought
a very similar message to the nation of Israel. Thus saith
the Lord God unto the shepherds, Woe be to the shepherds of Israel
that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed
the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool.
Ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the flock. The diseased
have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which is
sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither
have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have
you sought that which was lost, but with force and cruelty have
you ruled them. Men willingly allow themselves
to be fleeced by hucksters and charlatans, with a Bible in one
hand and the other in the people's pockets. Those who are called
of God are not seeking the wealth of those to whom they are sent,
nor are the sons of God pursuing the world. The Lord has a vested
interest in those whom He is pleased to call My flock. He
distinguishes them from those who belong to another shepherd.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep. As I said
unto you, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me. The distinguishing characteristic of those who are his flock is
that when they are called, they will follow him. For they are
given faith to believe that he is the good shepherd who gives
his life for the sheep. They will not follow another
shepherd, because they are made to know that he alone has the
words of eternal life, as Peter confessed. They may not be able
to sufficiently explain how or why they know this to be true,
but each will make the same confession. So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. The psalmist David wrote, The
Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Many who in reality are
not his sheep often quote this verse with presumptive faith,
thinking that he is some sort of universal shepherd, trying
his best to round up as many sheep as he can get. They even
figure that they will let him be their shepherd whenever they
need him. They take comfort in this sentimental consideration,
quoting it at funerals and beside sickbeds. Those who truly are
his sheep take delight in what David said in the next verse.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside
the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth
me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. David said,
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather
be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the
tents of wickedness. The sheep have no desire to feed
in a pasture that is not His. They desire those green pastures
which He has planted and tended specifically for that flock,
which is the object of His everlasting love. Therefore, if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his. The delight of the sons of God
is not simply to find pasture, but to be led by him into his
pasture. And a stranger will they not
follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of
strangers. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord. David said, he leadeth me in
the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Lord makes
no apology for being jealous of his own glory, and well he
should, for he is the great I am, who does according to his will
in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.
He does all things for his name's sake. He has a name which is
above every name. The sheep will bow down before
him and worship at his footstool. He is the good shepherd who gives
his life for the sheep and knows his own sheep by name. He is
the great shepherd who has risen from the dead and triumphed over
it, breaking its grip as he became the firstfruits of them that
sleep. He is the chief shepherd who comes again to receive that
possession which he has purchased. Is he your shepherd? For a free
CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to
forthepoor at windstream.net.