God's Call for True Shepherds in the Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Call for Shepherds

God's promise to provide shepherds according to His heart emphasizes the need for leaders who are divinely called and equipped to guide His people. This calling transcends mere titles or positions, focusing instead on embodying the heart of God in ministry. True shepherds are those who have been chosen by God to lead with compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to the truth of His Word. They are not self-appointed but are raised up by God to fulfill a vital role within the church. The scarcity of such leaders today highlights the importance of seeking God's guidance in raising up shepherds who will nurture and care for His flock. [17:18]

Jeremiah 23:4 (ESV): "I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord."

Reflection: Consider the leaders in your life who have guided you spiritually. How can you support and pray for them to continue embodying the heart of God in their ministry?

Day 2: The Heart of a Shepherd

A true shepherd's heart is aligned with God's heart, characterized by compassion, integrity, and a commitment to feeding the flock with truth. This heart is exemplified in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who serves as the ultimate model for pastoral ministry. Shepherds are called to reflect Christ's love and care, ensuring that believers are nurtured and guided in their spiritual journey. The heart of a shepherd is not self-seeking but is focused on the well-being of the flock, prioritizing their spiritual growth and maturity. [37:11]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: Reflect on how you can embody the heart of a shepherd in your own life. What steps can you take to show compassion and integrity to those around you today?

Day 3: The Role of the Holy Spirit

The anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit are essential for the ministry of a shepherd. It is through the Spirit that individuals are transformed and equipped to fulfill this divine calling. The Holy Spirit provides the wisdom, strength, and guidance needed to lead effectively, ensuring that shepherds are not relying on their own abilities but are empowered by God. This transformation is evident in the life of Saul, who was given a new heart for leadership, demonstrating the profound impact of the Spirit's work in a leader's life. [49:28]

1 Samuel 10:6 (ESV): "Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's empowerment to lead and serve others more effectively? How can you invite the Spirit's transformation today?

Day 4: The Priority of Feeding the Flock

A shepherd's primary responsibility is to feed the flock with knowledge and understanding, ensuring that believers are grounded in sound doctrine and equipped for spiritual growth. This focus on teaching and preaching the Word is critical for the health of the church. True shepherds prioritize the spiritual nourishment of their congregation, providing the foundation for believers to grow in their faith and live out their calling. The teaching of God's Word is not just an obligation but a vital aspect of pastoral ministry that sustains and strengthens the church. [54:17]

Acts 20:28 (ESV): "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

Reflection: How can you prioritize feeding yourself with God's Word daily? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are grounded in sound doctrine?

Day 5: Praying for Revival

As believers, we are called to pray for God to raise up true shepherds who will lead with wisdom and love. This involves seeking God for a revival of genuine pastoral ministry, where leaders are not only knowledgeable but also embody the compassion and integrity of Christ. Prayer is a powerful tool in seeking God's intervention and guidance in raising up leaders who will nurture and care for His people. By praying for revival, we align ourselves with God's heart and His desire for the church to be led by shepherds who reflect His love and truth. [09:28]

Ezekiel 34:23 (ESV): "And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd."

Reflection: Spend time in prayer today, asking God to raise up true shepherds in your community and beyond. How can you be a part of this revival in your own sphere of influence?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound need for true shepherds within the church, as highlighted in Jeremiah 3:15. This verse promises that God will provide pastors according to His heart, who will feed His people with knowledge and understanding. The current state of the church, despite its size and resources, is marked by a scarcity of genuine shepherds who can guide and nurture the flock. This absence has led to a scattering of believers, as many are left without direction or care.

The role of a shepherd is not merely a title or position but a divine calling that comes from God. It is a ministry that requires a heart aligned with God's own heart, characterized by compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to feeding the flock with the truth of God's Word. The heart of a shepherd is exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who is the ultimate model for all who are called to this ministry.

We are reminded that God is actively searching for shepherds who will rise up and fulfill this vital role. This is not a task that can be accomplished through human effort or training alone; it requires the anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are called to pray fervently for God to raise up shepherds who will lead with wisdom and understanding, ensuring that the church is well-fed and spiritually healthy.

The message also emphasizes the importance of feeding the flock with knowledge and understanding. A true shepherd prioritizes the teaching and preaching of God's Word, ensuring that believers are grounded in sound doctrine and equipped to live out their faith. This is a critical aspect of pastoral ministry, as it provides the foundation for spiritual growth and maturity.

In conclusion, the call for shepherds is a call for a return to the heart of God, where leaders are not only equipped with knowledge but also embody the compassion and integrity of Christ. As we seek God for a revival of true shepherds, we trust that He will fulfill His promise to provide leaders who will guide His people with wisdom and love.

Key Takeaways

1. The Divine Call for Shepherds: God promises to provide shepherds according to His heart, emphasizing the need for leaders who are divinely called and equipped to guide His people. This calling is not about titles or positions but about embodying the heart of God in ministry. [17:18]
2. The Heart of a Shepherd: A true shepherd's heart is aligned with God's heart, characterized by compassion, integrity, and a commitment to feeding the flock with truth. This heart is exemplified in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who serves as the ultimate model for pastoral ministry. [37:11]
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit are essential for the ministry of a shepherd. It is through the Spirit that individuals are transformed and equipped to fulfill this divine calling, as seen in the life of Saul, who was given a new heart for leadership. [49:28]
4. The Priority of Feeding the Flock: A shepherd's primary responsibility is to feed the flock with knowledge and understanding, ensuring that believers are grounded in sound doctrine and equipped for spiritual growth. This focus on teaching and preaching the Word is critical for the health of the church. [54:17]
5. Praying for Revival: As believers, we are called to pray for God to raise up true shepherds who will lead with wisdom and love. This involves seeking God for a revival of genuine pastoral ministry, where leaders are not only knowledgeable but also embody the compassion and integrity of Christ. [09:28]
** [09:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Jeremiah 3:15
[01:36] - Searching for Shepherds
[03:03] - The Promise of Shepherds
[05:05] - The Cry for True Shepherds
[07:39] - The Scattering of the Sheep
[09:28] - The Need for Genuine Leadership
[11:26] - The Role of a Shepherd
[14:23] - Biblical Examples of Shepherds
[17:18] - God Gives Shepherds
[20:20] - The Heart of a Shepherd
[26:22] - The Gift of Shepherding
[37:11] - The Heart of God in Shepherding
[49:28] - Transformation by the Spirit
[54:17] - The Priority in Feeding

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Jeremiah 3:15
- Matthew 9:36
- 1 Peter 5:1-4

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Observation Questions:

According to Jeremiah 3:15, what does God promise to provide for His people, and what are these leaders expected to do? [01:57]
In Matthew 9:36, how does Jesus respond when He sees the multitudes, and what does this reveal about His heart for the people? [12:57]
What instructions does Peter give to the elders in 1 Peter 5:1-4 regarding their role and attitude towards the flock? [31:34]
How does the sermon describe the current state of the church in relation to the availability of true shepherds? [05:52]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for a shepherd to be "according to God's heart," and how is this reflected in their ministry? [37:30]
How does the sermon illustrate the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming individuals into true shepherds? [49:28]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the absence of genuine shepherds affects the church and its members? [08:54]
How does the example of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in Matthew 9:36 serve as a model for pastoral ministry today? [12:57]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the qualities of a true shepherd as described in the sermon. How can you support and encourage the leaders in your church to embody these qualities? [37:30]
The sermon emphasizes the need for prayer for God to raise up true shepherds. How can you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine, and who can you invite to join you in this prayer? [09:28]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in equipping leaders. How can you be more open to the Spirit's work in your life, especially in areas where you feel called to lead or serve? [49:28]
The sermon highlights the importance of feeding the flock with knowledge and understanding. How can you take an active role in your own spiritual growth and ensure you are being fed with sound doctrine? [54:17]
Reflect on a time when you felt scattered or without direction in your faith journey. How did you find guidance, and what role did spiritual leaders play in that process? [08:54]
How can you help create an environment in your church or small group that fosters the development of future shepherds according to God's heart? [22:27]
Identify one specific way you can demonstrate compassion and integrity in your interactions with others this week, following the example of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. [41:25]

Sermon Clips

I believe the mass of sheep, I'm in genuine converts, real Born Again Believers. I believe there's a mass search across our world. I have heard the cry for years all through the decades. I've heard the cry, but it's intensified. It has got deeper. The cry has got lighter. I have had thousands upon thousands of emails from Nations around this world, cities that were big, large, prominent on people's sin. I'm searching for a Shepherd. [00:04:58]

The church has never been so large, so technical, so professional. It has never had so much money in it in the entire history of the church for two thousand years. We have never had as much ability to reach our world. We have never had as much technology to reach around the globe, and yet the great cry from sheep in every nation and every city in the world is where are the Shepherds? [00:05:52]

I believe there's a cry from the heart of God and from the spirit of God searching for Shepherds in this hour. Can you say that you may not be a Shepherd this morning, but we are caught up in this. This is our life. This is what we have just walked through and what we're gonna walk through in the days ahead. There is a cry if you can hear it, the heart of God. [00:06:29]

God gives Shepherds. You don't have man-made Shepherds, college-made Shepherds. You can't train Anan to be a Shepherd. You cannot do that. You cannot teach Shepard and what I'm reading about in Jeremiah 3:15. God says I will give you pastors, and the word pastors there is the same word as Shepherds. You know what God is doing here? He is making a promise. [00:17:34]

God has literally given you pastors or Shepherds according to his heart. That isn't left in the hands of man. That means the Shepherds that are really gifted into the church, really given by God, they're going to look like something. They can't be a thing of this world. They can't be carnal. They can't be filled with worldly wisdom. [00:38:31]

God's heart is the heart of a shepherd. I'm only an Under Shepherd. I'm a temporary Shepherd. I'm going to be held accountable for how I have Shepherd and how I have looked after your soul. One day I'm gonna stand in judgment, and my Works, my Ministry, my preaching, every sermon, every decision, every bit of counsel to you, every conversation is going to be tested by fire. [00:39:55]

The heart of a Shepherd. God gives Shepherds, but I want you to say in this verse the heart of a shepherd. Verse 15 again, and I will give you pastors according to Mine Heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and with understanding. Do you say that God says I will give you pastors according to Mine Heart? [00:37:11]

The priority in feeding. Jeremiah 3 verse 15. And I will give you pastors according to Mine Heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and misunderstanding. Notice that God will give pastors or Shepherds according to his heart, according to the ministry of Christ. They are going to literally experience his heart. They're going to receive the heart of a Shepherd. [00:54:17]

Pastoral Ministry, Shepherd and Ministry is one of feeding the Sheep Above All Else. Why is there a diminishing of the ministry of God's word in the Church of this hour? People go to churches for the worship, for the kids work. They come in watch your kids work. Where's the kids within 12 hours? They'll come and gone. What's the worship like? Is that why you go to a church? [00:55:06]

You know preaching the word makes you a prophet. I've seen this time after time after time. You know God has made me look like a prophet of times purely because you preach the word of God. I don't want to preach my opinions. I want to preach the truth of God, and this book reveals everything. This book is alive. This book is working. It is vital. The Holy Spirit Bears Witness. [00:56:31]

If you find the ministry of a real Pastor, the Sheep are well fed. They're not starving. They're not ignorant. How is it you can go into a church, they don't know what the new birth is, they don't know what sanctification is, they haven't even been grounded in the truth of the blood of the Lamb. They don't even know what it is for God to make you righteous. [00:57:14]

We need to begin to pray again for our cities and our towns and our Nations because you know what? We have lost real Shepherds, and it's disaster across the church, but we need to begin again to believe God. God give us Shepherds after your heart. Give us a certain kind of gifted Shepherd. Raise up ministry across our Nations. [01:07:01]

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God's Call for True Shepherds in the Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Call for Shepherds

Day 2: The Heart of a Shepherd

Day 3: The Role of the Holy Spirit

Day 4: The Priority of Feeding the Flock

Day 5: Praying for Revival

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Call for True Shepherds in the Church

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