Good question? Or an indictment? This may not apply to all, but today with the superstar status of Preachers, the question the Holy Spirit posed while I was in prayer is a valid one. Do you know your pastor? Or better question, does he or she know you? There was a time when pastors stood at the entrance of the church to greet and get to know their parishioners, but today they run, as it were, to get away from the people. They don’t care to mingle, they have done their job of delivering what they consider an anointed word, so they like any other employee leaves the building after work.
True shepherds smell like sheep. They don’t leave until the flock is cared for. They know the sheep and the sheep know them. All the sheep not just a selected few. Today you cannot get anywhere near the superstar- I mean pastor. You’ll have to speak to an associate. What has happened to the church? They know the money but they don’t know the hands that give it. Large congregations no longer represent souls they represent status and dollar signs. Jesus was all about representing the Father. They are supposed to be imitators of the True Shepherd. Let’s look at what God had to say about all this.
“AND THE word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel (America); prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel (America) who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them. And they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts of the field. My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; yes, My sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought for them. Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My sheep became a prey, and My sheep became food for every beast of the field because there was no shepherd–neither did My shepherds search for My sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not My sheep– Therefore, O you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My sheep at their hand and cause them to cease feeding the sheep, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more. I will rescue My sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”
Ezekiel 34:1-10 AMPC
You thought this was something new to the 21st century? Life comes full circle. They used to like the smell of sheep, but now they’ve become fat. Fed by a flock they haven’t taken the time to know. You cannot shepherd from a distance, no more than you can parent successfully from a distance. Both responsibilities require a hands on approach. Don’t even blame Covid! That just started in March of 2020. This behavior has been going on for a long time, and if God by His Spirit has put this on my heart, then it’s obvious that it’s on His. He dictates- I write. I don’t choose the topic. So if there are pastors in the audience, if the show fits, God is speaking to you! Philippians 2:3-8 fits perfectly here.
So where are the under-shepherds? The sheep want to know. Jesus is not getting what He paid for. He has entrusted His flock to you, but where are you? Why do you no longer greet the people? Get to know their families? God did not leave His flock to hirelings -I mean associates, He left them to you. When was the last time you actually came near to greet the people? Entertainers at least try to shake the hands of their supporters, politicians even pretend to care. Anyone can shout “I love you” from a distance. But only those who truly care come near. Are you following Jesus’ example or have you “arrived?”Continuing with the same chapter above here’s what God decided to do.
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I Myself, will search for My sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his sheep in the day that he is among his flock that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep; and I will rescue them out of all places where they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed My sheep and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which has strayed, and I will bandage the hurt and the crippled and will strengthen the weak and the sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hardhearted and perverse]; I will feed them with judgment and punishment.”
Ezekiel 34:11-16 AMPC
I must give honor where it’s due. I have observed Joel Osteen, and I know people who have visited the church. That young man, with a 10,000 plus congregation, stands and greets as many people as he can after each service. Say what you want about him, but that’s why the ministry is a success. When you show the people you care and not just say you do, the people will come. Haters will hate, but this young man has the heart of a shepherd. If you’re too famous to mingle, then God is about to step in. Those words in Ezekiel aren’t a suggestion they’re a promise. God will judge the superstars.
Jesus never avoided the sheep, He avoided the superstars. He cared for, had compassion on and lingered as long as the sheep wanted Him to. If He tried to get away and they found Him, He didn’t send out His disciples, as a matter of fact, when they tried to act like body guards, He’d move them out of the way. He was never too busy for the sheep. Let’s look at His earthly example.
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom and will gently lead those that have their young.”
Isaiah 40:11 AMPC
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. [Ps. 23.] But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them]. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me–”
John 10:11-14 AMPC
“When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick. When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves. Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.”
Matthew 14:14-16 AMPC
Jesus led by example for three years.
There are multiple scriptures that showed our Good Shepherd going towards, not running away from the sheep. Jesus always looked for opportunities to be with the sheep. Even the ones He knew didn’t like Him. He took the time to be with people. Pastors today only know their inner circle. My pastor doesn’t know who I am, not because he can’t but because he may not think it’s necessary or important. I believe it’s impossible to know every name, but not impossible to remember faces. All it takes is a decision to stand around long enough to greet and meet the sheep you claim to love. Talk is cheap, action is priceless.
Jesus stopped under a tree for one man. Luke 19
Protected an adulteress. John 8
Stopped a funeral for one widow. Luke 7
He made time for the next generation. Mark 10
He went to a graveyard for one man. Matthew 8
He showed up at a pool for one man. John 5
He went to a segregated city for one woman. John 4
There are many more instances where Jesus demonstrated what a true shepherd is willing to do. Crowds didn’t scare Him, He had an assignment. And so do our under-shepherds. You can talk at length about all the church is doing, but do the sheep know you, or just about you? Yes Jesus had the twelve, but he had others and knew them all by name. Why, he got to know them. I pray we lose the superstar status in God’s house and begin smelling like sheep once again. Watching pastors preach to an empty auditorium has lost its luster. But I’ve come to understand that, that’s how it looks from God’s vantage point. They may as well be preaching to empty pews, since they have no idea who we are. May God help us in this new era we’re in. But He will not excuse His shepherds as we’ve read in Ezekiel. Some Pastors no longer visit the sick. Been there done that, I’ve heard a preacher say. My question is, are you still pastoring God’s sheep? Then you haven’t arrived.
So where are the under-shepherds? In their lounges waiting to be announced.
Dear Jesus, Holy Father, I don’t know why you’ve given me this message on the 16th of November, 2020. But I know You do not make mistakes. This word will be confirmed shortly by two or more witnesses. You are a God of order. You have been long suffering and patient with Your leaders. You declare that judgment begins in Your house. I pray that pastors will shake off the world’s status and return to being the men and women who once cared deeply for the flock. Taking time to get to know God’s people. In Jesus Name. Amen
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant