In this post, we will continue looking at the duties and responsibilities of a shepherd in our journey to identify and be restored from unhealthy and abusive sheepfold experiences. Today, we will lay the foundation of what the word of God says about this duty and responsibility that is a matter of life and death for the sheep: A shepherd must feed the flock in all seasons and provide water even in times of drought.
In Jeremiah 3, the Lord was once again calling the children of Israel to repentance. He called the nation to return to Him and gave them this promise in verse 15:
“And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
In John 21:15-17, the resurrected Jesus met with His disciples and had this conversation with Peter:
So, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
So, in the Old and New Testaments, shepherds are given by God to feed and tend His people according to His heart. With this in mind, let’s start with the practical. As human beings, we must eat or be fed, and we must drink or be given water. Food is necessary for energy and growth, and water is essential for the body to function. Like food and water, knowledge and understanding of what God the Father has provided for us through the blood of Christ is essential for us to be effective disciples of Jesus Christ and productive citizens of the kingdom of God. We must have the leading of the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s will and plan for our lives. As believers, we must continually eat or be fed spiritual food and consume spiritual drink from Him. As Jesus Himself was being tempted by the devil, He responded “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4). The Lord Jesus also taught the following:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” (John 6:57)
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39)
As the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus gave us pastors or shepherds who are mandated to teach us how to grow up in all things into Him (Ephesians 4:11-16). As a part of His body, we must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We must be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Colossians 1: 9). We must not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17). For this to be accomplished, we must have the word of God and the Holy Spirit at the forefront of our lives, both in our private time with God (our daily devotion and study time) and in the church we attend.
In a healthy church, the pastor ensures that the body is nourished and well-watered with continual growth and increase in all seasons. In other words, the pastor has the best interest of the sheep at heart and wholeheartedly follows and obeys the Chief Shepherd and Owner of the sheep. We, as sheep, also have a responsibility for godly growth and increase. First, we must have an appetite. We must be hungry and thirsty for the things of God. We must hunger and thirst for righteousness. We must come to Christ as the bread of life and freely eat. Second, we must be cognizant of what food and water we’re consuming. Is the food edifying? Is the water clean? Third, to be considered nourished and well-watered, there must be evidence. Our lives must be overflowing with the goodness of God. This picture is perfectly painted in 2 John 1:2-3 (AMPC):
Because of the Truth which lives and stays on in our hearts and will be with us forever: Grace (spiritual blessing), mercy, and [soul] peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ (the Messiah), the Father’s Son, in all sincerity (truth) and love.
Grace, mercy, and peace, in truth and love have been provided from God Himself! As believers, every area of our lives should continually have grace, mercy, and peace, in truth and love. This should be evident in our walk with God, in our personal lives and relationships, and in the local church that we’re a part of. Since God is the provider, if any these are lacking or absent in our lives, we must examine what we’re being fed and who is feeding us. We must ask ourselves if we’re drinking living water. We must inspect the fruit of the shepherd and sheepfold we’re a part of. We must look closely at the shepherd we’re following.
In our next posts, we will discuss how pastoral leadership in unhealthy sheepfolds use God and His word to feed and water themselves while the sheep die from starvation and dehydration and how they engineer their own version of knowledge and understanding to hinder growth.
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org”
Disclaimer: Before making decisions or changes that affect your spiritual life and well-being, always personally seek God for His perfect will for your life and always follow peace.
