Time2BCounted
25th September 2007, 06:33 PM
Hello
I hope you dont mind a little study on something which imho is so very important
Lately we have seen a loit of discussion concerning the 'SHEPHERDS' representing this board, to people seeking a pastor. Concerning the roles and responsibilities of someone who assumes a role as a leader of part of the flock of God... a pastor... a shepherd, i believe there is more than meets the eye on the surface, and there are serious considerations to be made.
There has been some disagreement as to their responsibilities, in particular can they lead a soul astray? By astray, I refer to someone losing his or her souls because of unsound teaching, or being led to a Christ that cannot save through unorthodox teaching.
First... we do know that there will be a falling away of the church.... and not WILL BE... it already IS fallen to a large degree, and is in an inevitable spiral down the drain of apostacy.
1Tim.4
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
NOW... the question is can a pastor be the demise of a soul??? The scripture says YES THEY CAN...
Jer.50
[6] My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
[44] Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
So yes GOD says the shepherds can lead the people astray, and if we die in our sins we die in our sins, period. If a shepherd leads a soul astray, neglects their duties and do NOT warn the flock of God, and they die in their sin... the MOST TRAGIC RESULT is not the punishment of the shepherd, but rather the death of the soul. There will be a punishment upon that shepherd as well, we see BOTH the loss of souls and the punishment of the shepherds.
Ezek. 3
[17] Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. [18] When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[19] Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
[2 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[21] Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
We cant get it any plainer than that, and we are to live by and believe the word of God because we say we are believers. ESPECIALLY if we take a role as a leader of the church... a pastor... a shepherd... We are held by God to standards.
But wait!!! ...we have not exhausted the resources of the fruits of a hireling... a false shepherd... or a watchman that becomes slack... we have much more scripture concerning this and here's just a few....
Jer.10
[21] For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jer.22
[22] The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
Jer.23
[1] Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
[2] Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jer.12
[1 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Num.27
[17] Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
Jer.25
[34] Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
[35] And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
[36] A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.
Amos.1
[2] And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
So can we just write all these off?
or how about this one?....
Jas.3
[1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
We have specific guidelines as to what is a shepherd and what is a haphazard hireling... or even a SLOTHFUL shepherd... and here’s another question... should an unlearned babe lead a flock? It is a DEADLY responsibility to lead souls. It is something that should be approached as fearfully as seeking out our own salvation. We are PLAYING with souls or we are LEADING AND PROTECTING souls. Paul told Timothy to take heed to the doctrines of God for in doing so he is delivered AS WELL AS those who hear him.
What is a shepherd??? Someone who it surely isnt everyone because we have money mongers we have cult leaders, we have those who preach gospels not handed down, but new and departing from the word and orthdoxy.
A shepherd... a TRUE shepherd leads... but even MORE, they FEED the flock of God... and just as importantly they PROTECT the flock with their own lives if need be... we are as in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel and as in the Days of Christ, Jesus looked and saw the masses as sheep with no shepherd. Yhe flocks were led astray by the hirelings leading them... eating poison for food and being protected by nothing....
Matt.9
[36] But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
But God will give them shepherds, though it will be far too late for many that are damned for following hirelings and false teachings imho.
Jer.23
[4] And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
The difference between shepherds and hirelings???
...It’s this...
John.10
[2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
[11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
[12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
[14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
[16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
So let us seek to save souls... let us follow the command, which says that OUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN
Jer.3
[15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
I know that we all here love the flock of God as Christ did to die for it and save it and guard it with His life. Thanx for bearing with a long winded study, and hearing my heart on the matter.
God bless you
I hope you dont mind a little study on something which imho is so very important
Lately we have seen a loit of discussion concerning the 'SHEPHERDS' representing this board, to people seeking a pastor. Concerning the roles and responsibilities of someone who assumes a role as a leader of part of the flock of God... a pastor... a shepherd, i believe there is more than meets the eye on the surface, and there are serious considerations to be made.
There has been some disagreement as to their responsibilities, in particular can they lead a soul astray? By astray, I refer to someone losing his or her souls because of unsound teaching, or being led to a Christ that cannot save through unorthodox teaching.
First... we do know that there will be a falling away of the church.... and not WILL BE... it already IS fallen to a large degree, and is in an inevitable spiral down the drain of apostacy.
1Tim.4
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
NOW... the question is can a pastor be the demise of a soul??? The scripture says YES THEY CAN...
Jer.50
[6] My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
[44] Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
So yes GOD says the shepherds can lead the people astray, and if we die in our sins we die in our sins, period. If a shepherd leads a soul astray, neglects their duties and do NOT warn the flock of God, and they die in their sin... the MOST TRAGIC RESULT is not the punishment of the shepherd, but rather the death of the soul. There will be a punishment upon that shepherd as well, we see BOTH the loss of souls and the punishment of the shepherds.
Ezek. 3
[17] Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. [18] When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[19] Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
[2 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
[21] Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
We cant get it any plainer than that, and we are to live by and believe the word of God because we say we are believers. ESPECIALLY if we take a role as a leader of the church... a pastor... a shepherd... We are held by God to standards.
But wait!!! ...we have not exhausted the resources of the fruits of a hireling... a false shepherd... or a watchman that becomes slack... we have much more scripture concerning this and here's just a few....
Jer.10
[21] For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jer.22
[22] The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
Jer.23
[1] Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
[2] Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jer.12
[1 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Num.27
[17] Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
Jer.25
[34] Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
[35] And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
[36] A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.
Amos.1
[2] And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
So can we just write all these off?
or how about this one?....
Jas.3
[1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
We have specific guidelines as to what is a shepherd and what is a haphazard hireling... or even a SLOTHFUL shepherd... and here’s another question... should an unlearned babe lead a flock? It is a DEADLY responsibility to lead souls. It is something that should be approached as fearfully as seeking out our own salvation. We are PLAYING with souls or we are LEADING AND PROTECTING souls. Paul told Timothy to take heed to the doctrines of God for in doing so he is delivered AS WELL AS those who hear him.
What is a shepherd??? Someone who it surely isnt everyone because we have money mongers we have cult leaders, we have those who preach gospels not handed down, but new and departing from the word and orthdoxy.
A shepherd... a TRUE shepherd leads... but even MORE, they FEED the flock of God... and just as importantly they PROTECT the flock with their own lives if need be... we are as in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel and as in the Days of Christ, Jesus looked and saw the masses as sheep with no shepherd. Yhe flocks were led astray by the hirelings leading them... eating poison for food and being protected by nothing....
Matt.9
[36] But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
But God will give them shepherds, though it will be far too late for many that are damned for following hirelings and false teachings imho.
Jer.23
[4] And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
The difference between shepherds and hirelings???
...It’s this...
John.10
[2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
[11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
[12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
[14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
[16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
So let us seek to save souls... let us follow the command, which says that OUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN
Jer.3
[15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
I know that we all here love the flock of God as Christ did to die for it and save it and guard it with His life. Thanx for bearing with a long winded study, and hearing my heart on the matter.
God bless you