1. Knowing the Shepherd
A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he received many requests to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause. The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. But when he finished there was not a dry eye in the room. When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he replied "I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."
2. Today we begin a three-part series on Selecting Shepherds for our congregation.
* We currently have three dedicated men caring for and leading this church as elders/shepherds
* We are seeking more men to help shepherd this flock
3. The term, "shepherds" has referred to the leaders of God's People
* Joshua was to be a shepherd of Israel -- Numbers 27.15-17
* Kings were referred to as shepherds
* God's Messiah was predicted to be Israel's Shepherd -- Ezekiel 34.23
* Jesus proved to be the Good (John 10.11) and Great (Hebrews 13.28) Shepherd
* Ultimately, God Himself is the Shepherd of His people
4. We want our shepherds to imitate the LORD's shepherding of his people -- Psalm 23.1-6
I. Our Shepherds are to Rightly Lead the Congregation
A. Defining Leadership
* John Maxwell: "Leadership can be summed up in one word, influence."
* Political leaders influence -- Ronald Reagan; FDR
* Our society is starving for godly leadership -- 1 Peter 5.1-4
I recently read the story of some sheep that followed their own way.
Back in 2005, in Eastern Turkey, 1500 sheep from various flocks were gathered together in one pasture land. The shepherds were having breakfast nearby, but it seems nobody was actually "watching" the flock.
One of the sheep wandered off from the others, and fell over a nearby cliff to the rocks several feet below. The other sheep in the flock must have figured the first sheep knew where he was going and they all followed him to bottom of the ravine.
In a matter of a few moments, 400 of the sheep lay dead at the bottom of the cliff, and the rest had suffered serious injuries. The total loss was estimated to be around $74,000.
B. Leading Sheep
1. Sheep need to be led --
a. Left to our own choices we tend to choose incorrectly -- Proverbs 14.12; 16.25: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Jeremiah 10.23
b. We need help for the right path -- John 14.6; Matthew 7.13-14
2. Shepherds lead the sheep in front of the flock during the day.
a. You must be willing to go where the shepherd (Jesus) calls you to go.
b. Even if it is difficult. There is only one path.
3. When it starts to get dark it changes. The shepherd starts to lead right in the middle of the flock.
a. The Lord leads me to green pastures; The Lord leads me to still waters;
b. Even though I walk through the valley of the darkest shadow; I will not be afraid, for the shepherd is in the flock with us. (Darkest shadow literal Hebrew)
c. Since every sheep can't see the shepherd to follow, they depend on the sheep in front of them. It is very important that you are following sheep that are following the shepherd so you don't make a wrong turn.
C. Sheep always follow the shepherd's voice
1. John 10:14-16: I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me -- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father -- and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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.
2. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Naming Sheep
The following story comes from Julie Helms in Christian Reader, "Lite Fare":
My husband and I, with our two daughters, operate a small sheep farm. One day a non-farming friend asked, "How can you bear to slaughter those cute little lambs?"
My husband explained, "We don't want to get emotionally attached to the ones we plan to eat, so we don't give them names."
Not satisfied, the friend probed, "What about your kids?"
Her husband quickly replied, "Oh, we name them!"
While very few of us are personally familiar with sheep and shepherds, the relationship between the two is one of the most powerful images in the Bible used to describe the relationship between Christ and his followers. The loving care shown by shepherds to their flock and the willingness of sheep to utterly depend on what the shepherd can provide offer a glimpse of our personal relationship with the good shepherd. While it may seem to be a small thing, our name plays a significant role in that relationship.
"He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:2-3)
"He calls his own sheep by name." Though there are many disciples of Christ around the world, we are not just "one of the masses." We are intimately known and loved by the good shepherd. He knows us by name. It tells us not only that he cares about us, but that he plans for his relationship with us to be a lasting one.
II. Our Shepherds are to Rightly Feed the Congregation
A. What do the Sheep Eat and Drink? Green Pastures and Still Water
1. A Daily phenomenon in the Middle East:
„X A strong, humid breeze from the west blew onto the stones where moisture accumulates. On the rocky hillsides overnight little tufts of grass grew on and around those stones.
„X The shepherds would lead them to the hillsides that were exposed to the breeze.
„X This is the green pasture of Psalm 23. All they have is what they need to survive at that moment. Literal translation of Hebrew: The Lord keeps on leading me into green pastures.
„X Jesus: Don't be anxious -- Matthew 6.25-34
„X "Worry is dealing with tomorrow's problems in today's pasture."
„X Faith says, "If I trust the shepherd, there will always be green pastures."
2. Our Shepherds provide Milk and meat for our maturity -- Hebrews 5.11-14
B. More examples about understanding the desert and its context in the Bible.
* Still water is water that came there other than from a flood. Water of Peace; safely drink
* The rushing water of a wadi is dangerous and frightening to sheep
o Jesus said the foolish man built his house on the sand. Matthew 7:24-27
o The rains came down and the floods came up. Just like in a wadi.
III. Our Shepherds are to Rightly Keep (Protect/Guard) the Congregation
A. We Need Protection from Predators
1. The obvious -- Lions, Wolves, and Bears, O My (Acts 20.28)
2. The unobvious -- No-See-Ums -- parasites (a purpose for anointing sheep) -- little things that destroy
B. We Need Protection from Ourselves
1. Getting Lost -- Luke 15.1-7
2. Dangers we bring on ourselves
a. Endangered Sheep
An Australian champion sheep shearer has set an unofficial world record after clipping a sheep that had become so overgrown its life was endangered. The gigantic sheep, named "Chris" by a member of the public who found it just outside Australia's capital, Canberra, could barely walk when it was found. Shearer Ian Elkins volunteered to shear the mammoth creature, which had to be sedated throughout the operation, after being contacted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Australia. He took 42 minutes to remove the 47 centimeter (18 inch) fleece, which the RSPCA said weighed 40.45 kilograms (89 pounds). An average Australian fleece in comparison weighs just five kilograms (11 pounds) and takes approximately three minutes to shear, according to Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). The RSPCA said sheep like Chris, a Merino that are bred especially for their wool, need to be shorn regularly or they can have trouble going to the bathroom and can develop serious medical issues like flystrike or infection.
b. Cast Sheep
There is an Old English shepherd's term called a "cast" sheep. This is a sheep that has turned over on its back and can't get back up again. When it happens, all the sheep can do is lie on its back, with its feet flaying frantically in the air. Sometimes it will bleat, but usually it will just kick. If the shepherd doesn't arrive within a short time, the sheep will die. That's one of the reasons why a shepherd is always looking over its flock, counting them to see if they are all on their feet.
* Cast down O my soul -- Psalm 42.5-6; 43.5 (weakened; be in despair)
* Restore my soul = restore soul, self, life, person, mind, emotion, passion
C. We Need Protection from Stress
It's not easy to get a sheep to lie down. A strange thing about sheep is that they will refuse to lie down unless four requirements are met. (1) They must be free from all fear. (2) There must be no tension between members of the flock. (3) They must not be aggravated with flies or parasites. (4) And they must be free from hunger.
1. Like sheep, we also are easily frightened. We live in an uncertain life. Any hour can bring disaster. And generally, it is the unknown, the unexpected, that frightens us most. But nothing quiets our souls like knowing that our Shepherd is near. Suddenly things are not as terrifying. Our Lord is with us. "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (I Timothy 1:7).
2. Power and status struggles
3. Parasites -- deadly "little things" that annoy and wear us down
4. Green pastures -- God's provision for each day -- if we hunger and thirst for righteousness we will be filled
1. Esther: A Shocking Reveal
In the chaos of everyday decisions and demands, it's easy to forget God is guiding us. The story of Esther reminds us that although we may not see the fruition and impact of His plans immediately, He is working on our behalf. Esther was an orphan, raised by her uncle, and became queen to a foreign king. When an evil plan to annihilate the Jews was announced, she had a choice: to believe that God had orchestrated her ascension to the throne to save the Jews or to hide her identity for the sake of self-preservation.
Although we may never experience such a shocking a revelation, we are faced with the same choice. Will we trust God or trust ourselves? Jesus frequently referred to Himself as a shepherd, and a good shepherd does not leave his sheep to fend for themselves. A good shepherd protects and leads his sheep. Will you trust Him today?
God is completely sovereign. God is infinite in wisdom. God is perfect in love. God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about. Jerry Bridges
2. As we begin thinking of the process for selecting Shepherds from within our congregation, which men do you know who will rightly:
a. Lead
b. Feed
c. Keep our congregation?
3. Please be in Prayer for this process.
