Jesus: Chief Shepherd
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1 Peter 5:1–4 (NASB95) Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
One of the highlights of District Council is the Ordination service.
So it was for the 2022 GA District Council.
13 mostly young, men and women, were ordained as ministers in the Assemblies of God.
Including the now former District Superintendent’s daughter Regan.
And Dr. Merrill gave a wonderful message to challenge these newly ordained ministers.
Realize that in the Assemblies of God, you can be a minister, even a pastor without being ordained.
Ordination is the 3rd and highest level of AG credentials.
The first level is Certified Minister.
Then, Licensed
And then Ordained.
To receive ordination in the AG is quite a challenging process in itself.
But I appreciate that Dr. Merrill really encouraged these newly ordained, all us old ordained and indeed everyone present remember a few things about the call of Jesus on our lives.
Preaching from Ephesians 4:1-3 Dr. Merrill called on all of us to “Walk it Out.”
Ephesians 4:1–3 (NASB95) Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
I would further encourage all of us tonight who follow Jesus to see Him as our text tonight calls Him:
The Chief Shepherd
Who, if we are faithful to Him will give us unfading crown of Glory.
Yes, He was the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.
He submitted to severe suffering for the sake of His flock and secured salvation and liberty at great cost and care.
His sympathy for the flock surpasses all other shepherds who have come before.
According to His Father’s will, Jesus steadfastly determined to safeguard the life of His people forever.
Jesus said in: John 10:12–15 (NASB95) “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
In His capacity as Chief Shepherd Jesus has pledged to gather His own and share with them the fadeless laurels of His greatest triumph.
So, let us gather tonight and seek to serve the Chief Shepherd.
Yes, serve Him because He is worthy.
But to do so as our text says, voluntarily — not because serving Him will bring us fame, or power or wealth.
Let us serve Him with eagerness — not out of a sense of drudgery or duty.
Let’s serve Him as examples to others — especially those younger sheep the Lord is entrusting to us.
Let us show the children and young adults God has sent our way, great patience and love.
Let us show generosity.
Let us show them all the characteristics of Our Great Shepherd.
The characteristics He has lavished on us.
As Charles Rolls reminds us:
The final portrayal of Christ’s leadership of His sheep and lordship of His people given in the Scripture is that of leading His fair and formidable flock by living fountains of water in the thornless fields of a pleasurable paradise, where the tombless landscape of Emmanuel’s land is eternally free from the grief of graves, and where the tearless heritage of abiding bliss abounds with everlasting joy as revealed in …
Revelation 7:15–17 (NASB95) “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
Rolls goes on the say:
The Caretaker of this great concourse of emancipated peoples is the Lamb. How very significant that this title should occur here. The fact reveals that the King in authority is the kinsman Associate, the Lord in superiority is the Lamb in sympathy, the Mediator in majesty is the Man in mercy, the Chief in command is the Comrade in companionship and the Sovereign in government is the Shepherd in guidance.
In this realm He has prepared, the sheep neither hunger nor thirst; for the celestial benefits and blessings satiate the souls of His redeemed. His resources are replete and His provision complete. The sun is no longer a menace to the comfort and welfare of the flock. Perfect harmony exists between the heavenly hierarchy and the host of the Lord. Furthermore, He wipes away all tears. Even the choicest and saintliest have borne the heaviest physical burdens, sickness and pain, and the scythe of death spares not the choicest friends that are cherished most.
The charm and calm of the rest He gives is not endangered by harm of any kind. These cherished hosts are satisfied with His wondrous grace, gratified with His precious gifts and beautified with His spacious glory. The entire company enjoys the grace and employs the gifts to promote the praise of His goodness and glory. No unsatisfied desires remain, no unsuited delights exist and no unsecured dwellers reside in Emmanuel’s land.
Until we experience that reality, let us seek to serve the Chief Shepherd tonight.
To the end that many others will join us in that day.
To that end let us pray and seek the Lord.
Rolls, C. J. (1984). The Indescribable Christ: Names and Titles of Jesus Christ: A-G. Loizeaux Brothers.