OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 31/03/2014 - SHEPHERD OR WOLF? BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SHEPHERD OR WOLF?

MEMORISE

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:2

READ

Lamentations 4:1-5

1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.

2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

MESSAGE

Our Bible reading for today is a grim lamentation of Prophet Jeremiah. It concerns both the spiritual and physical state of affairs of the people of God of his time. This state of affairs sadly reflects the current state of affairs of God’s people in our time. The Bible says that all these were written as examples for those upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Corinthians 10:11). This state of affairs is therefore indicative of the times we live in; these are the end-times. Let us learn one or two lessons from this lamentation to deliver our soul from impending doom. In this end-time, many pastors and preachers are no longer building with precious stones on the Sure Foundation – Jesus Christ. Rather, they are building with rubble, i.e. the philosophy of men and modern ideologies in order to make Christianity “intelligible” to a 21st century audience. Even the sea monsters draw out the breast and give suck to their young ones, but the teachers of God’s people have become cruel – denying the flock the sincere milk of the Word, not even when sincere seekers of truth demand for it.

Many modern day pastors and ministers of the gospel of all categories are failing to live by the injunction of the dying Apostle Paul to Timothy, his son in the Lord, and by extension, to all ministers of the gospel in 2 Timothy 4:2&5:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

The Bible warns ministers of the gospel against negligence or dereliction of duty in Ezekiel 3:18-21. Ezekiel was also told not to consider the unfriendly countenance of his audience but rather to deliver the word as he was asked to (Ezekiel 2:6-7). The reason we have worship centres all over the place without godly impact is because God’s watchmen are not doing their duty right. Some pastors don’t consider if members of their congregation are heaven-bound or not. In as much as they keep on bringing their offerings, “all is well”. This is not right. As a Christian parent, you need to take today’s message as yours as well. Your home is your God-given flock. It is for you to nurture in the fear of the Lord. Are you a shepherd or a wolf? Think about this, and may the Lord grant you understanding in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT

Pray for all ministers of the gospel around the world, that God will grant them the grace to preach the gospel without fear or favour.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ezekiel 33-34; 
Psalm 73:18-28