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Show A MAN WHO SHEPHERDS GOD'S WAY 'The elders which exhort, wh witness also are among you I elder, and a of the sufferings of Christ, and am an partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not forfilthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd s hall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (I Peter 5: 1-4) also a What a powerful passage and theme for the celebration of four years of 1 leading this people of The WAY! God has been so good to provide those whom He would to guide and direct His people in this world of service in wickedness and evil. We live here but pilgrims and strangers in the land. This world is not our home and we are we are not familiar with it and its rules. keep us So to bumping our heads so much, from wasting so much time in the hog pen of life, to keep us from losing our way, Jeremiah said, God gave us from pastors after His feed own heart that would with knowledge and understanding. (Jeremiah 3: 15) us So Peter has overcome the sifter of Satan and is determined to feed the flock of God. In this text Peter reminds us that God has "A MAN WHO SHEPHERDS 2 GOD'S without what to WAY," Ofttimes when we are spiritual leadership, we wonder do and try to figure out what we want. The Biblical passage you have that the pastorate of these churches is God's business. He has selected reminds us plan for His people and leader to get them where He wants them. When the a authorized men a seemed to be dropping the Word of God and the ark of God vias teetering, unauthorized Uzzah reached out taking things into his own hands to keep it from falling but when he touched it, Uzzah the Levite fell dead.(2 Samuel 6: 7) Ananias and Sapphire brought money to the church and thought they would do it like the Jones but when they short changed the house of God, The Bible say that they fell dead and some 3 men took both of them out and buried 1-11) My sisters and my brothers, I have come by to remind us that God has a plan and we must do things God's way. Notice that the text starts by identifying the characters. "The elders which are among you, I exhort, who am them side by side. (Acts 5: elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed." (I also an things to note. He is an elder among the people. He is not superior to them. He need not remind them of his authority. He is not insistent on his position. He is one of them and identifies with the people. He is a witness of the sufferings of Christ. As an eye-witness, Peter can say with John here Peter 5: 1) Three 4 is what I have seen and heard. He can speak out of the depths of his personal experience. He knows for himself the one he is trying to introduce others to. He is partaker of the glory of Christ. Not only was he there for the death but the victory is yet to come. He has faith and renewed hope. His heart carries the precious faith and the gladness of hope. Oh, what blessing it s to have a shepherd who is an elder, a witness, and a partaker with th He strives to live in holiness. Master. Then, the text tells what the shepherd will do. First, feed the flock. Be faithful in dispensing the Word of God. "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly diving the work of truth." (II 5 Timothy 2: 15) Diligently prepared, fervently pray, and deliver the Word with boldness. Then make sure you guide the sheep .. Set a good example and lead them in the way they should go. Keep them out of dangerous paths. Rebuke them and warn them of the harm that lines ahead. prophet reminded us that if the watchman see the danger and does not warn the people they may died but their blood will be required of the watchman's hands. The shepherd has to do all of this willingly, zealously, and humbly. Not by The constraint, for money, and not with not for power, not not with selfish pride, unholy motives. The job of the shepherd is to take care of the flock of God and the flock is to take shepherd. 6 care of the shepherd's reward? God's appointed under shepherd will get to see the Chief Shepherd face to face. He will experience things he has not yet Then what is the seen or heard. He will walk hand in hand with the Master. So live near the cross. Walk in the glory. Tend to His flock and neglect not His charge. Work lovingly, willingly, zealously, and humbly before God, never domineering but always in lowliness and meekness. Follow the Chief Shepherd looking for that not yet reward, but that immortal prize. Just as you have a cross here, blessed hope of His eternal you will have 58 a crown BCb ff Mcr,v UJ?'_u GCJJ /))7/ 7 there. {}A0fhr2J--ds |
