Let Us Be ONE, Part 5 of 33
The Sheep Stealers Rob the Sheep/Hypocrites Cannot…Lead
The sin in the body is great. The sin in the body is evident to all who watch from afar. They don’t want to go in and see the yuck. Why should they?
There is plenty, and it will take time to clean up the mess; and many will see that you are My body. I will be glad. You will be one in Me.
The highway is great. Many travel on it: the ‘Way of Happiness,’ but it leads to destruction. They act like nothing is wrong. The sheep stealers rob the sheep, unawares. They teach them vain imaginations and lead them astray, where destruction awaits those who disobey. It is in the Word.
Read Psalm 26.* David was a man of integrity. He was in the Holy Ghost, awaiting for Me to lead him into truth, until he fell. His fall was great, because he failed to wait on Me. He let lust take over, rule his heart. He fell so hard the whole nation crumbled, aghast at what they saw, cringing, because of David’s sin.
It can happen like this. For there is hurt in the body. The hurt is great. Many hate each other and call it love. Hypocrites cannot rule. They must be in Me to lead. The sheep are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Faint not, My people. Lean on Me. Come back to where you belong, in My arms. I will hold you where you will not faint, where the wolves will not devour, but there must be love. Love conquers all. Love conquers hate, and brings life.
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* Psalm 26By David.
1 Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity.
I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.
2 Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me.
Try my heart and my mind.
3 For your loving kindness is before my eyes.
I have walked in your truth.
4 I have not sat with deceitful men,
Neither will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evil-doers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence,
So I will go about your altar, Yahweh;
7 That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard,
And tell of all your wondrous works.
8 Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house,
The place where your glory dwells.
9 Don’t gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men;
10 In whose hands is wickedness,
Their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.
Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
12 My foot stands in an even place.
In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.
© 2008 Jeff Fenske
thebigpicmin
Jeff,
I think the key verses in this psalm are 3-5:
Ps 26:3-5
3 For your loving kindness is before my eyes.
I have walked in your truth.
4 I have not sat with deceitful men,
Neither will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evil-doers,
And will not sit with the wicked.
We need to accurately discern who these deceitful men are, these hyporcrites, and the assembly of evil doers.
This is my read on who David is referring to.
http://thebigpicmin.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/the-good-shepherd-the-wolf-or-the-leopard/
Jeff Fenske
Glenn,
I’ve never thought of John 10 (which your post is largely based upon) as referring to pastors. I think it refers to following Jesus and knowing His voice, directly. I don’t think it’s biblical to put a pastor in this role.
Legitimate church leaders teach the people to hear and follow the Holy Spirit. Very few are even at peace enough to hear God themselves, let alone teach others to do so.
Jeff
thebigpicmin
Jeff,
A good shepherd, like Jesus, sacrifices his life for his sheep. He makes sure they are all being fed, all plugged directly into the vine. If vs 1 and 2 are not talking about shepherds, who are these folks that don’t enter the sheepfold via the gate[don’t come to the sheep via Jesus]?
I agree, so few are even able to hear God for themselves! The churchgoing God seeker is starving, but he looks around and thinks starvation is normal.
Jeff Fenske
Glenn,
I see where you are coming from, focusing on verses 1 and 2, but look at what I think it’s important to heavily lean on Jesus’ interpretation. I don’t think it’s safe to go beyond what He says it means.
He is clearly talking about Himself: “I am the good shepherd,” and “They will become one flock with one shepherd.”
Verses 3 and 4 would then be talking about being led by Jesus’ voice, directly. The sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.
All church leaders are supposed to teach people to learn to hear Jesus’ voice, so they follow Jesus so…
“They will become one flock with one shepherd.”
This is Jesus’ call for us to be ONE with each other in Christ, which we also see in John 17.
Church leaders should not be focused on getting people to follow their voice. Their goal should be to help the people follow Jesus’ voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit, so we can and will become ONE in Him.
Jeff