Shepherd the Flock of God in your Care...

Church leadership is complicated. It must start with acknowledging that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and ultimate head of the body (Eph 5:23). He’s in charge, and those who lead God’s Church must submit to Him in all we do.

All leaders want the flocks in their care to grow in numbers.  In some churches, the quest for the latest idea or new program is often just a means of circumventing a vastly more important issue that must never be overlooked. Is there sin in the body? Is there danger to the flock?  Paul's farewell words to the Ephesians elders said this… "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. 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. So be on your guard! Acts 20:28-31

No matter what, be champions of Holiness.  Teach by example... by living holy lives.  Holiness is beneficial now, for the journey ahead and essential for eternity.  All the flock including its leaders are to be Holy as God is Holy.

Be shepherds of the flock.  What did ancient shepherds do? They fed flocks with a view to sustaining them on the journey. They did not gorge them. They tended sick sheep with a view to making them stronger. They did not tend them in such a way that they actually became fatter and more helpless. They carried crippled sheep. They did not carry healthy ones.

Elders... evaluate what you are doing in the name of shepherding.  What things produce stronger believers? What things are you doing that may inadvertently be locking people in their weaknesses?  Shepherds must love and nurture, but they must also explain to the sheep how growth is measured.  It’s not always in the numbers.

Leadership is about sharing God’s vision and motivating the flock to move towards our common goal. YOU must have a clear sense of mission and direction. If you don't know where you are going, it doesn't matter which path you are taking, and the flock will feel abandoned.

Be a servant leader. To what end do you shepherd?  Do what God has commanded... seek lost souls...preach the Gospel with courage and boldness... feed His sheep, teaching them skills for holy living... live and lead as “light” a beacon of hope for a broken world.

Shepherding the Flock of God

Jesus' leadership style was one of the most influential and effective the world has ever seen. He succeeded in transforming a rag-tag group of 12 inexperienced men into a high-performing team that has dramatically influenced the whole world for more than 2,000 years.  

After Jesus had fulfilled His mission on the Cross... he spent valuable days preparing His followers for a momentous day... Pentecost and the coming of The Holy Spirit. Little did his 12 disciples know what was about to happen.  Peter would preach... people would listen with their minds and hearts, repent and be baptized. Christ’s Church is born... 3,000 new believers on the first day!   

The new believers would need to be cared for. They will need to be taught and nurtured and disciplined and loved.  God graciously provided a framework for governing His new-born Church... shepherds for His flock.

So God established the eldership to govern His Church. He appoints men to serve the spiritual needs of His flock. Imperfect men.  Men who make mistakes and sometimes fall victim to the sin of pride.  In the Gospel, Jesus said that those who wish to be great must be servants to others... the “first shall be last” and “the last first”... He himself washed the feet of Peter to demonstrate the degree of humility needed to be a servant of the flock. 

Jesus also confirmed the importance of coordinated teamwork. While the qualifications for the office of a pastor/elder are clearly laid down in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, the realities of serving as a shepherd are a bit more vague.  What's not left to doubt is the necessity of a plurality of men serving together in the spirit of teamsmanship.  That is Christ's way and a foundation within His Church that cannot be ignored.   

His team was initially unskilled but, with the right attitude, leadership develops in those who love the Lord.   The elders of the first century church literally worked wonders.  

Remember the axiom..."None of us is as smart as all of us". The skill of the individual will never be as effective as the combined skills of a good team. And the skilled team working independently, disconnected, will not be as effective as the unskilled team working together with the power of The Holy Spirit leading.  

Be an All-In Follower of Christ!

Being a true and passionate follower of Jesus holds the promise of eternal life.  Something so magnanimous has a cost.  As Christians, we need to understand the cost that comes with following Christ.   Cost is always grounded in absolute truth.

Following Jesus is not to be taken lightly or trivialized.  Think about what you are doing in your Christian walk and realize that following after Christ comes at a cost.  We must be willing to put God and His truth first... no matter what the sacrifices or consequences may be in our lives.  What does that mean... first?

Maybe the very best answer to that question is summarized in Matthew 16:24... "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  ²⁵ "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  ²⁶ "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

There are many so called Christians who have not really considered the cost of following Jesus. Most are only going through the motions of Christianity.  They react to emotionalism and self-serving beliefs found in the Charismatic movement, because they believe God surely must be with such groups because of the miraculous powers they believe they’re witnessing.  It’s not about truth, its about what they want... what will make them happy.  

Taking up the cross of Christ requires, trust, faith, perseverance and commitment to the truth of the Bible.  The road ahead of any Christian is fraught with many distractions.  Many of our Lord’s’ early disciples were willing to follow Him as long as things were going smoothly, but as soon as they couldn’t understand what he was saying or felt challenged by truth and reality, they simply left Him.

That is exactly what many Christians are doing today.  They will follow God’s Word until something happens in their life that makes it to hard for them to follow God’s Word.  It’s usually a “truth” they can’t accept.   Then they turn away from God, because the road ahead conflicts with their own desires... the things of this world.

Living Christian is not an easy life.  The journey with Christ is not an easy road.  Prepare yourself.  Discipline and focus you mind, as Peter did,  on one powerful undeniable reality... that Jesus has “words of eternal life” and no matter what disappointments may come from this life, we must hold fast to “those words” and follow Christ faithfully.

Jesus himself said in John 8:31 says... If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  ³² "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

It is finished. It is done.

Both phrases, ''It is finished'' and ''It is done,'' were spoken by Christ, and both were heard by John: the first when he stood near the cross and in the darkness of the ninth hour heard Jesus cry out with a great voice, ''It is finished''; the second when, in the vision of the Revelation, he stood before the throne of God at the end of the ages and heard the triumphant Christ say, ''It is done.'' The first cry, ''It is finished,'' proclaimed that the foundation for the salvation redeemed humanity had been laid; the second cry, ''It is done,'' proclaimed that the “glorious structure” had been completed. Between the two cries of Christ… stretches the history of the Church.  It was the End of the Beginning… and the Beginning of the End.

''It is finished.'' The greatest proclamation ever made to man. Yet it did not seem so when it was spoken. Just a derided, mocked, forsaken, broken, thorn-crowned, wounded, bleeding, dying Man. Who cares what He has finished? And who cares what His last cry is? Yet the world has never forgotten it. That cry, ''It is finished,'' was heard by heaven, earth, and hell.

  

What had been finished? What is the meaning of that strange cry out of the silence and darkness that gathered about the cross as Christ died? It means, first of all, that the sufferings of Christ ended. A very real part of those sufferings, although not the greatest part, was His physical suffering, for God gave Him a body, and in that body He suffered pain just like we would. 

  

The meaning is much more than his personal sufferings. “It is finished” is found only in the Gospel of John, the Greek word translated “it is finished” is an accounting term that means “paid in full.” When Jesus uttered those words, He was declaring the debt owed to His Father was wiped away completely and forever. Not that Jesus wiped away any debt that He personally owed to the Father; rather, Jesus eliminated the debt owed by mankind—the debt of sin.

Just prior to His arrest by the Romans, Jesus prayed His last public prayer, asking the Father to glorify Him, just as Jesus had glorified the Father on earth, having “finished the work you have given me to do” (John 17:4). The work Jesus was sent to do was to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10), to provide atonement for the sins of all who would ever believe in Him (Romans 3:23-25), and to reconcile sinful men to a holy God. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). No one but God in the flesh could accomplish such a task.

Also completed was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies, symbols, and foreshadowings of the coming Messiah. From Genesis to Malachi, there are over 300 specific prophecies detailing the coming of the Anointed One, all fulfilled by Jesus. From the “seed” who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, to the prediction of the “messenger” of the Lord (John the Baptist) who would “prepare the way” for the Messiah, all prophecies of Jesus’ life, ministry, and death were fulfilled and finished at the cross.

Finally... when He says from the Throne… “It is done” – The great drama of humanity will be finished, and what was intended from the beginning will finally be completed.

Life can sometimes only be endured in light of the destination.  The destination is worth the trip.  As John in Revelation 21:1-8 insists...

And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.

If you have placed faith in Christ, you know the final score.  God wins.  We win!  In Christ... we have a glorious destination and eternal future.  Thanks be to our Lord... who endured the cross for our sake.

STRENGTH in Weakness

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The word strength and its derivatives are mentioned over 360 times in the Bible, applying to both natural and supernatural strength. The Greek word katei means “power, strength, might.” In the Bible, strength is mentioned by Paul. He tells us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Paul is telling us that the unlimited power and strength of Christ are the source of strength for those who belong to Him.

As Christians, we are to be strong in the mighty power of God. This means that our strength is not our own; it is not human or fleshly. Our strength is not of the world, but our strength is found in Christ—in our having a vibrant, dynamic relationship with Him. As Paul tells us in Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). In other words, there is no other source that gives man the strength to overcome the world with its trials, its temptations, and death. It is through submission to God’s strength that we overcome the power of Satan: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). 

It is by first aligning ourselves with the strength of God through our total submission to Him that we are able to withstand the wiles of the evil one: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

Bound up in the idea of finite man relying on the strength of God to overcome, to press on and to persevere, is the reality that man can in no way save himself. Only God does that. Paul makes this abundantly clear in his letter to the Ephesians: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). These two verses are the most forceful summary of the dynamics of salvation found anywhere in the Bible. They help us to understand the contrast of man’s total helplessness with that of God’s insuperable strength.

It is a gross fallacy to believe that in our own strength we can save ourselves. The Bible makes it clear that we’re not saved by our works, by our own volition, or by the number of good things we do. But the chief reason that our salvation is not by our strength, but from God, is the utter sinfulness of man as compared with the transcending standard of the righteousness and excellence of God. It is essentially a contrast which we cannot comprehend. God’s righteousness is beyond us. His is radical.

God has taken upon Himself the responsibility for our salvation because only He has the strength to do so. He has promised to reveal to the world His power and His might. This is what happens whenever the Spirit of God comes into the heart of a sinner. 

When we finally come to acknowledge Him as our Savior and admit our total helplessness and dependency upon Him, then will we come to know of His strength, His power, and His might.

The Truth will set you free...

Committed disciples of Christ must learn to rely on God’s Word for guidance in living.  Nothing of this world, none of its collective knowledge or so called wisdom is sufficient for establishing and sustaining our relationship with God.  Only the Bible His Truth, provides the road map for following Christ.  God’s Word equips and empowers us to truly take up our cross and follow Christ.  

There are many Christian denominations today that pitch a cheap grace... that preach all you have to do is believe and you will be saved, nothing else is required.  God’s plan of salvation is not cheap, acceptance comes with personal commitment followed by a willingness to sacrifice everything for a relationship with Jesus.  Simply believing is not enough. 

God’s Holy Word, the Bible is our road map, our blueprint for living as a devoted and passionate Christian.  Living as God requires, immersed in His Truth, might not always be glamorous.  It fact, you will experience periods of your life in Christ that are mundane and boring.  All I can say to that... change your attitude... realign your perspective.  Don’t resort to seeking out things wrapped in the name of Christianity that may seem inspirational and exciting but are contrary to the teachings of truth.  

Never look back once you become a Christian.  Look first upward for guidance and downward for your path forward.  Do not sacrifice the things God has provided to strengthen and protect you.  Be in fellowship at every opportunity.  Like minded believers are our greatest asset in our journey with Christ.  There is power in the body of Christ.  Together, all Christians can strengthen one another for a life in Christ that brings honor to our God.

The apostle Paul understood what it meant to be a disciple of Christ.  Galatians 2:20 says... "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So let us never forget that the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ can be difficult but in the end it is worth it all.   

...and keep you free!  

There’s Great Power in Your Being... Use it!

There is uncommon power available to us through God, The Holy Spirit.  Uncommon faith is believing that we can receive strength when we are weak and that we can be instruments of that strength when those around us are being consumed by the the ungodly world.  

If you are a Christian, you are stronger than you think you are.  You just need to start tapping into the spiritual strength that God wants to give you!

Christians should live day-by-day, one day at a time, in God’s strength.  But often they turn their focus from living in His strength, to living in the world’s strength.   Often, unwittingly, they allow the enemy to build a fortress, a stronghold in their lives that can overpower their focus on the things of God. 

No one can live the Christian life in his own strength. Yet so many people try to do just that. They know God has saved them, but in living, they believe a life that pleases Him is possible only through their efforts. They are unwilling to give up the things of the world that hold them captive.  

Each day is a battle.  Treat each day like you are in a fight for the security of your eternal soul.  Satan wants to destroy you, but God wants you to want to let Him help you live a victorious life in Christ.

Each and every day, we should commit ourselves to God and ask Him to live through us that day. That will take a lot of work.  A lot of prayer and intense focus on the goodness, purity and holiness of God.  We will still experience temptation and adversity.  But you will grow in dependence on His power, knowing that He walks with you.  We do not have to face the things of this world in our own strength.  

Who is in charge of your life—you or Jesus Christ?  

Do you have strongholds that control you, that must be ripped apart? If you are wise, you will allow the Son of God to direct you each and every day. Let Him give you guidance, direction, and power to make godly choices. Does that mean you will escape all problems, heartaches, and burdens? Not a chance. Nor does it mean that you will never sin again. But you won’t have to struggle on your own. Instead, you can walk in the power of the living God—and that is life at its very best.