Ezekiel
34:1-11; Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:27; John 10:12; Jeremiah 10:21; Isaiah 56:11;
Jeremiah 48:10; Proverbs 27:23; Zechariah 10:2; Isaiah 40:10-11; 1 Peter 5:2;
Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 5:17; Romans 15:1-3; Zechariah 13:9; Proverbs
24:16
Ezekiel 34:1-11 1) And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3) Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4) The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5) And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6) 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. 7) Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 8) As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; 9) Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; 10) 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; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 11) For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. Have you ever asked this question--why is the nation full of scattered sheep? Wandering sheep. Sheep that are a hungered sheep. Discouraged sheep. The Bible only has a little to say about sheep, but a whole lot to say about the shepherds who are supposed to tend to the sheep. I want you to look with me into the question of why sheep scatter. The word scatter refers to being spread loosely about, dispersed, chased away. The sheep scatter when the shepherd is smitten, Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. Jesus quoted this scripture in Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. Shepherds are smitten through the snipping and gossiping--they are attacked from without and from within. Sheep scatter when shepherds dwell on their own hurts. Shepherds that are selfish--what a picture of so many pastors today. In the passage that we read in Ezekiel 34--the spirit of self preservation, prevailed over the feeding of the flock. Jesus tell us about the hireling in John 10:12(AMP) But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. Paul was concerned about this in 2 Corinthians 12:14(AMP) Now for the third time I am ready to come to [visit] you. And I will not burden you [financially], for it is not your [money] that I want but you; for children are not duty bound to lay up store for their parents, but parents for their children. Sheep scatter because, preachers are more concerned for their own well being than that of the flock. Senseless shepherds. Jeremiah 10:21 For the shepherds [of the people] have become like brutes, irrational and stupid, and have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him or required Him [by necessity and by right of His word]. Therefore they have not dealt prudently and have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered. Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. The sheep scatter because the shepherd is without understanding, not seeking the wisdom that comes by the Holy Ghost. This not being done, can scatter the sheep. As a matter fact in Jeremiah 48:10 (AMP) Cursed be he who does the work of the Lord negligently [with slackness, deceitfully]; and cursed be he who keeps back his sword from blood [in executing judgment pronounced by the Lord]. Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Strangers in the pulpit, this is why sheep are scattering. John 10:5 (AMP)They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. Sheep do not recognize a strangers voice. They will however listen to the anointing of the Holy Spirit and an unknown visiting ministry, if the shepherd prepares the sheep. There is a difference between a shepherd who looks after the sheep and one who just looks at them. Not all who work in the shepherd fold are shepherds. Our prayers ought to be Lord, give us a shepherd who will know Your voice. Jeremiah 3:15 (AMP) And I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart [in the final time], who will feed you with knowledge and understanding and judgment. Absent shepherds, scattered sheep. There are many shepherds that are hard to be found. Zechariah 10:2 (AMP) For the teraphim (household idols) have spoken vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and the diviners have seen a lie and the dreamers have told false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people go their way like sheep; they are afflicted and hurt because there is no shepherd. Sheep need shepherds who can be located. Isaiah 40:10-11 10) Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. There are five things shepherds must do and are outlined in this scripture. Ruling, being filled with authority that Jesus gave them. Ruling is influenced by the personal touch. Ruling is not just giving an order, it is laying on of hands to impart spiritual knowledge, wisdom, help and direction and much more. Feed, if you lead! The word says we are responsible to feed God's sheep. If you lead, feed. The word says they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled! If you lead, feed! Here are some scriptures for you to look up during this weekend meditation: 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 5:17. If you lead, feed His sheep! Many shepherds are not committed to study and many feed on the wrong thing. Gather, not scattered! Be a keeper of the sheep. The Holy Spirit often leads people to the assembly but because you shepherds are not feeders or keepers, the people scatter. Carry, there are sheep that need to be carried for awhile. Romans 15:1-3 1) We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2) Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3) For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Some are defenseless against the wiles of the enemy. Shepherds must be realistic about the people's needs. If you lead, feed! Sheep need leaders or they will scatter. They need a sense of direction, a steady pace, a goal, a vision. The word of God says, feed MY sheep! So, if you lead, feed! Carry and know that God will direct you to all truth!
Hear what the word of God is saying this morning, about scattered sheep. He started us off with the church is sleeping, that judgment will come to the house of God first then--today, scattered sheep. How else could He close out this week? Woe to the pastors! The sheep are being scattered! Have you ever seen so much church hopping?! Woe to the pastors! With sheep not being feed, directed or protected they are now wandering. Especially those who had a word, a fresh--a word from the throne, they are in search for that manna to feed their spirit! All you are to do is to feed His sheep! How are they to grow and become disciples if you are not feeding them? Don't be worried about anything else but feeding the sheep. We come to lift up the churches in America--You are saying woe to the pastors! Woe to the leaders, ministers, prophets--anybody who is feeding the sheep. If it is not the word of God, then it is a lie! The sheep are tired of sugar coated and watered down word. Preach the true word of God! Be what God has called you to be! Walk in the word of God. Woe to the pastors because the sheep are scattering. God is coming with a word for us to line up and cover what He has given you. The enemy is as a roaming lion seeking who he may devour, all the while the sheep are scattered. There are some that have left the church and they don't want to return, because of being wounded in the house of worship. God is asking where are the sheep? We know this is a word from You, Lord. There are people moving from church to church, seeking God. They know the word, they study the word--you can't just bring any kind of word--bring the fire, the rhema word! Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God. We are living in a time of revelation, woe to the pastors--they that exalt themselves above their sheep looking over and past them! This is God's word--you have got to see it! People in search for a word, seeking out other churches to find what they lack in their own house. Those that have made it a requirement to have God's word and that is their primary focus! They will not remain for any other reason, they are seeking, out the Shepherd's voice not a strangers voice! The church as a whole needs to pull together and to pray, that we would turn from our wicked ways and walk this out by the word, together! Jesus is coming back--the church is sleeping, judgment will come to house of God first, woe to the pastors! The sheep are scattered and malnourished. We lift up this prayer, for every pastor, leader, prophet, minister--anyone speaking His word. Have them to turn now and lay on the alter! Seeking Your face! Cry out this morning, tell Him, it's me standing in the need of prayer! Ask God to help you! Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. We lift up prayer requests, those known and those unknown. We must pray for the pastors! We lift them up to You, God! This is a warning! We come laying on our face as leaders, evangelists, pastors, and teachers of Your word, God. We come to repent, God. We come to repent for the anyone that we have neglected, that needed to hear Your word. God we come to repent this morning! We come asking for Your forgiveness! Thank You Lord that You forgive us with no condemnation. Lord, have us to also forgive, that You would forgive us as well. We learned this week that forgiveness is actually for us not the other person. Thank You for showing us the way out of our self made prisons of unforgiveness. Wash our hearts and let us no longer walk in offense. That we are seeking to do the things that only please the Father! Amen!
We seal this prayer in His precious blood, by His Spirit: Scattered sheep--woe to the pastors! Feed MY sheep! Woe to the pastors!
Welcome to the overflow...
Hallelujah God! We need You, Lord! The churches have turned into religion and entertainment. The house of the Lord being used for their benefit--woe to the pastors! So many aren't even going to church anymore! Have you sought out those who have left? Woe to the pastors! There is a shift going on, God is raising up a people who will walk in His word! We must walk in obedience, following the leading of the Holy Spirit. There will be a time that God will pour out His spirit on all flesh! We are to pray for and love our pastors. Lift them up at every turn! Woe to the pastors! Hallelujah! Thank You for letting us know why the sheep scatter. In unity there is commanded blessings! A house divided can not stand. Have us to look at ourselves, we have to walk this our together! Thank You God! Take some time to visit us on facebook, it will encourage you! Share this word with some one. He is coming back for a church--you better line up with His word! Have a supernatural blessed weekend!
Musical Selection
Fred Hammond, Lord We Need Your Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jn_oErNLEM
Tonex, Make Me Over: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBEBEad-UKs
Smokie Norful, I Need You Now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJpWjv7UGqE
Hear It Again
Click here to listen to this powerful message from God!
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