THE SHEPHERDS AND GOD'S FLOCK

Text: Ezekiel 34:1-16

Who are the Shepherds? They are the ones chosen by God to look after the church; the body of Christ. Today, God is sorrowful over the action of these people.  His spirit is weeping over the atrocities being committed against the helpless flock. God has called these pastors. He equipped them physically and spiritually to be in a good position to not only feed the flock but also take adequate care of them all round. However, in the wickedness of their hearts, they abandon the job and begin to seek shrewd means through which to skin the sheep and amass wealth to themselves. 

This is what the lord says; "you eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill them that are fed but you feed not the flock (vs 1). Then in verse 1b He asks "should not the Shepherds feed the flocks?". What a terrible representation of the modern day church. It is all commercialisation and oppression. Beginning from the highest person on the ladder; the GOs,  bishops,  Vicars/regional pastors, senior pastors etc, down to the congregation, every level and strata is watered by the blood of oppression, commercialization and greed. It has become a case of dog eat dog. It brings tears to the eyes!

Micah laments in chapter 3:11 " the heads thereof judge for reward and the priests thereof, teach for hire and  the Prophets Divine for money, yet, they lean upon the lord and say...none evil can come upon us". Shall no evil come upon you, Shepherd? No! You are wrong. Surely as the lord lives, evil will come upon you. Hear him in verse 10 "behold I'm against the Shepherds and I will require my flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the flock". Mark this warning coming to you, " if you do not repent of your evil atrocities over the flocks of God in your congregation; your place will be taken by another and you will cease from wearing the ephod. 

Nevertheless, brethren,  there is consolation from God. He is not an absentee father. Just as He chose David from the sheepfolds and brought him to feed Jacob and David fed them in the integrity of his heart (Psalm 78:70-72) so has he given Christ the sheep Shepherd, the chosen one to feed his flock, gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young ( Isaiah 40:11). He further promised in Jeremiah 3:15 "I will give you pastors according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding". God is able to keep his promise. Even in the midst of the modern day merchandise of members of the church by pastors, God has still preserved for himself a remnant who will care for the sheep with integrity of heart and satisfy them with knowledge from the lord.

Therefore, If you're among this remnant dear pastor, receive the admonition in Acts 20:28 while keeping your eyes and ears open to nip in the bud any uprising of the wolves described in vs 29-30.

NB:  in addition, the lord is strongly pointing at fathers of various family units in this warning. He has a question for you. Where is the flock entrusted to your care? Are you feeding your flock? Are you watching over them to tend the wounded and bandage the broken? Where is the wife of your youth? Who is that strange woman beside you? Where are your children? Have you made them a prey because you are working like a hireling in your own home? Put your house in order!