Message In 1peter – Number 8 – Woe To You Lazy Ministers And Pastors Who Feed Yourselves And Not The Ones In Your Charge - 1peter 5:1-3 - Part 2 Series

MESSAGE IN 1PETER – NUMBER 8 – WOE TO YOU LAZY MINISTERS AND PASTORS WHO FEED YOURSELVES AND NOT THE ONES IN YOUR CHARGE - 1Peter 5:1-3 - PART 2

THE ROLES OF SHEPHERDS/PASTORS IN THE LORD’S SERVICE

[A]. THE INTRODUCTION

This message is PART 2 of the previous message all about shepherds/ministers/pastors in appointed offices in old Israel and in churches. This time we deal with qualifications and motivation and accountability. These concepts are serious.

The following passage is one of the key sections in the Old Testament for the neglect of the flock by false shepherds, which we also know as false pastors. These men were to pasture the flock of the Lord but failed utterly.

The flock in the Old Testament is Israel; specifically as Jeremiah uses it, the people of Judah among which, with Haggai, he ministered as a prophet. Underneath this next bible passage, I want to explain the application to Judea just a little, and then make applications from it for us in our Church age along with Psalm 23. Later on we will deal more with this Jeremiah passage.

{{Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:3 “Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and shall bring them back to their pasture; and they will be fruitful and multiply.

Jeremiah 23:4 I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.}}

Verse 1 begins with a woe, and when a verse contains a woe in the Old Testament, it expresses the great displeasure and judgement of God. This woe applies selectively to those shepherds who are wicked in their behaviour and character. Because of them the sheep of God’s pasture are being destroyed and scattered. Jeremiah bears this out in other verses, as does Ezekiel. The problem continued right through Israel's history and was severely attacked by the prophets.

The failure of the shepherds stemmed from their godless behaviour. A thorough examination of Psalm 23 analysing the points in that Psalm, is a good start for what a shepherd ought to be doing. David learned his craft on the Judean hills in the solitude between him and his sheep. That was derived from the flow on relationship between David and his Lord.

[B]. A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT PSALM 23

Let us look at the summary in Psalm 23 –

((1)). A true shepherd works to ensure none of the sheep is wanting. Of course we must understand what the word “want” means in context, but it certainly does not mean deliberate neglect. The sheep will NOT want for care and attention; for sustenance, and for protection. It might mean inconvenience for the shepherd but that is part and parcel for the shepherd’s role in supporting his sheep. (From verse 1).

((2)). A true shepherd gently leads his sheep beside quiet waters to the best pasture. Water in the bible is often a type of the word of God, and the best pasture is the feeding of the flock. One of the primary ministries of a pastor is to feed the flock with the very best nourishment from the bible (in the time of Jeremiah and David, from the Law). The bible is the spiritual food God delivers for His people. Woe to any shepherd, minister, pastor who is careless about the bible. (From verse 2).

((3)). A true shepherd will restore a tired out sheep, one fainting, or distressed, or finding the journey too hard. Many sheep feel the roughness of the road and the dryness of the journey. The true shepherd tenderly cares for those sheep. Ministering to Christians must be gentle, careful and with a full shepherd’s heart. Not to do so is to fail in responsibility given by God. One verse tells us to esteem others more than ourselves. This is proper service. Serving the sheep is NOT feeding ON the sheep for one’s own advantage, materially or financially. (From verse 3).

((4)). A true shepherd will guide in the best way for the welfare and safety of the sheep. He takes the well-travelled paths. A pastoral ministry must lead the sheep in the paths of righteousness for the Lord’s sake. A man can not lift another higher than what he has attained himself. A shepherd must NOT be driven by the world’s agenda or ideology. Righteous paths today are more difficult than in the recent past with all the liberal theology (satanic denial), WOKE, and Marxism pervading society and the church. The pastor must be skilled to lead the sheep in the correct way. If he can not do that, he must leave; the sooner the better. (From verse 3).