PASTORAL THEOLOGY
LECTURE 8
SHEPHERDING
PROTECT MY SHEEP
Wolf territory
Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
The sheep are in the midst of wolves out there every day in this ‘dog eat dog’ world. The sheep needs to be very wise and harmless; they need a good shepherd helping them to survive out there. Shepherd, realize how bad it is out there for your dear sheep.
Watch out
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
The shepherd is suppose to ‘watch for the sheep’s souls’. He is to not so much watch what they are doing, but watch and protect their very souls; protect their souls from spiritual harm. It is not an easy task to watch for someone’s soul; much less the whole flock’s! Watching takes great spiritual eyes; it takes being in prayer a lot to the Chief Shepherd; it takes a sense of concern.
Fear no evil
Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
It’s dangerous out there! Be careful dear sheep. The sheep should fear no evil despite living in this wicked world; they need to trust their shepherd to protect them, and ultimately the Chief Shepherd’s protection. The shepherd needs to be ‘with them’; watching out for them…close to them…observing them…aware of what is going on in the sheep’s life. Sadly, shepherds aren’t very close to the sheep, and sheep don’t really trust their shepherd very much; definitely not with their very lives!
Lost
Luke 15:4-6 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Protect sheep from themselves; they can get lost; they can get all confused in this world and get off course; they might stop coming to church services. Go after that one that has gone astray and try and bring them home. It may require laying it on your shoulders; it may take a lot of time and effort…but it’s worth it all!
There is a commonly-held belief that shepherds in Bible times would break the legs of lambs that constantly wandered away. According to the "story," the shepherd would then set the broken leg and carry the lamb on his shoulders until the leg healed, after which time the lamb would remain by the shepherd's side for the rest of its life.
Offended
Matt 26:30-31 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
A shepherd should be aware that sheep can get ‘offended’ and can turn on the shepherd, or simply turn and run. This is especially true if something happens to the Shepherd: some trajedy, some stressor in his life, some financial difficulty, some testing, some intrafamily problem, etc.. Shepherds at times have troubles come their way; the sheep need to not scatter abroad. They need their shepherd to protect them, even if he is undergoing problems himself. Shepherd, protect your sheep even if being smitten…at all costs…Jesus surely did. And, protect them from being offended; offenses will come, just make sure it isn’t you that brings them!
Grievous wolves
Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
What you are suppose to be protecting is very, very important! So important that the One who owns ‘purchased it with His own blood’! At that price He definitely demands that you do a good job of protecting it.
A very dangerous route of attack upon sheep is from within; a grievous wolf (Christian imposter) can come into your church meeting or membership and start tearing things up. Some attempt to cause disunity, some bring false doctrine, and others try and draw away sheep after them. A Shepherd must needs be very wary about visiting ‘sheep’ and new sheep to the flock!
Shepherdless
Matt 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Just think of a baby without any one around to watch it and care for it and protect it! It is unthinkable! Well, there are hundreds, if not thousands of Baptist churches throughout America today that are currently without any shepherd! The sheep are shepherdless. Jesus Christ has special compassion on these. They are in a bad situation. They are wide open game for the ravenous wolves that are prowling around “Christendom”!
Warners
Ezek 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
Shepherd, if you don’t warn the sheep of danger, and a sheep is injured because of it, their blood will God require at your hand! Shepherds are to be Warners!
Woe to scatterers
Jer 23:1-2 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
Woe be to the pastor that doesn’t protect their sheep! They will surely be visited with evil! If you don’t protect them well, and some of them scatter, you are in deep trouble dear shepherd, deep indeed!
Greener pastures
Ezek 34:5-6, 9-10 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock;
Oh, the shepherds that leave their flock unattended! The shepherds that leave the flock to go find greener pastores! The shepherd that leaves the flock without a godly shepherd replacement! And then the sheep become prey to the beasts! These shepherds will not be allowed to shepherd the Lord’s flocks anymore.
Lions and bears
1 Sam 17:34-35 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
There are lions and bears out there that will try and take a lamb out of the flock. The shepherd needs to go after them and get the dear little lamb back safe and sound. There are evil beasts out there that appear religious, even appear Christian, and maybe even Baptist, but they are going to try to destroy the little lamb. Watch out for the Cults, for the NewAgers, for the Atheists. Attack these lions and bears and get that little lamb back!
Hirelings
Jn 10:10-13 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
If you are a good pastor, a good shepherd, then you will be willing to give your life for the sheep! Otherwise, you are an ‘hireling’; just hired to do a religious job; one who doesn’t really care much for the sheep; they don’t have the gift of pastoring; they don’t get that concerned about protecting the sheep. And when times get tough for the flock, the hireling often fleeth. Good shepherd, don’t let a thief come in and steal, kill, or destroy one of the sheep! The danger may occur away from the fold; when the sheep are at work, play, or even at home. The shepherd needs to do whatever is in his strength, even to the point of death, to protect those dear little sheepies!
Profile of a Preacher Pg. 59