Msg#2550 While Shepherds Watched

Msg#2550 While Shepherds Watched

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

No coincidence God sent heralding angels to pasture–ing shepherds, who were watching their flocks by night, as was done during spring lambing season when all Passover lambs were born. These pasture-ers, who came to be called pastors, had the time, curiosity, initiative, connections, and networks to be behind the scene heralds of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb of mankind. “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad, the saying which was told them concerning the child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luk.2:17–18). For 30 years, these pastors kept the countryside awash with talk about the long-awaited, highly anticipated, thoroughly prophesied, Nativity. Their primary job was feeding sheet. If sheep didn’t need fed, resurrected Jesus would not have told Peter three times, “Feed my sheep!” God concerns himself about sheep with no shepherd “Let the LORD, … set a man over the congregation, … that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Num.27:16–17). And God concerns himself with shepherds not doing their jobs and gives this pastor checklist: 1) feed-flocks, 2) strengthen, 3) heal, 4) bind up broken, 5) bring-in driven-away, 6) seek the lost, 7) not-scattering. (Ezek.34:2–6). Bad pastors do great harm, “Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, … My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray” (Jer.12:10,50:6); God holds pastors accountable, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture” (Jer.10:21,23:1–2).

On my prayer list are several NY churches in need of pastors; TV-preachers don’t make hospital visits. I pray you have a Godly Pastor. I know you should be praying for one.

An Essay for week #50, Dec 14, 25
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/
In Memory www.gsbaptistchurch.com/audio/Evang_Mike_Patterson.html
Systematic Theology www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology
Penny Pulpits in Blog https://gsbcpastorrice.wordpress.com/

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