The Responsibility of a Shepherd

The Responsibility of a Shepherd The job of a shepherd is a very serious responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. There are specific requirements and qualifications that a shepherd must meet. If a shepherd fails to make the correct decisions and to protect those that are under his care, the flock can be ravaged. The shepherd is responsible for those he is watching over and he has to answer to the owner of the flock. The shepherd does not own the flock; they are entrusted to his care and protection. The owner will require an accounting from the shepherd, for every member of the flock who is lost, driven off, or ravaged by wolves and other predators. The scriptures are full of examples and analogies of shepherds. In order for the body of Messiah to stay healthy and to grow, as it is supposed to, there is a need for shepherds to watch over and protect those whom YHVH is calling out and bringing to understanding. A shepherd guards and protects what is entrusted to him. There is an implicit trust and an expectation of the owner, when he entrusts his precious flock to a shepherd whom he has selected and put into that position. Shepherds cannot appoint themselves! It is the owner of the flock that places those whom he trusts and appoints, where it pleases him. Tending and caring for the flock always takes precedence and should be the utmost in the mind of a true shepherd. A shepherd must be strong, brave, courageous, patient, kind, calm, wise, knowledgeable, balanced, stable and have a sound mind. Shepherds are leaders and the flock is comforted by the presence of the shepherd; they trust him and look to him for guidance. Yeshua displayed all of the attributes of a shepherd and He referred to Himself as the good shepherd. John 10:14-15 14 I am the good shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. The sheep (called out people of YHVH) know their shepherd; they recognize the voice of the true shepherd and respond to Him. The shepherd knows His sheep and the sheep know Him. The shepherd serves His flock and He protects them even to the point of giving His own life for them. Yeshua spoke of those who tried to deceitfully come in and lead the sheep astray and sought to destroy and ravage them. John 10:1-6 1 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up by another way, that one is a thief and a robber. 2

But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The doorkeeper opens for him, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes before them. And the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 And they shall by no means follow a stranger, but shall flee from him, because they do not know the voice of יהושע strangers. 6 used this figure of speech, but they did not know what He had been saying to them. Yeshua set the example that shepherds are to follow. When Yeshua returns, He will shepherd all of Israel. Until that time occurs, He has put in place those who are to serve as shepherds for Him. Shepherds are called and placed into the body. The sheep will recognize the true shepherds, because they will follow the example and speak with the same voice as Yeshua. John 10:7-12 therefore said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the יהושע 7 door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 But the hireling, and not being a shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The shepherds have a duty to protect and defend the flock. It is their job and their responsibility to see that false shepherds and wolves do not enter in. False shepherds deceive the flock and lead them astray. Those who do not fulfill their duty and those who do not truly have the heart to be a shepherd and are just looking to receive wages will become apparent, because they will desert the flock and fail to protect them when there is danger. At the very time that they are needed the most, these shepherds leave the flock as prey. John 10:13-18 13 Now the hireling flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd. 17 Because of this the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, in order to receive it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I

have authority to receive it again. This command I have received from My Father. Those who are appointed and placed as shepherds are equipped to do the job that they are placed in. Shepherds have to use the tools that they are given, there is no excuse for failing to do the job! If someone wishes to be a shepherd and take responsibility for the flock, they had better seriously and prayerfully weigh the consequences! Luke 12:42-44 42 And the Master said, Who then is the trustworthy and wise manager, whom his master shall appoint over his household, to give the portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master shall find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he shall appoint him over all his possessions. This passage is clearly referring to those who are given the responsibility to shepherd Israel. The food in due season is the word of YHVH that is taught at the proper time and in the proper way. There will be greater responsibility for those who do their job and take care of the flock that is entrusted to them. There are also very serious consequences for those who do not fulfill the responsibility they are given and for those who have assumed the job of a shepherd for themselves, on their own authority. Luke 12:45-48 45 But if that servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat the male servants and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant shall come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour that he does not know, and shall cut him in two and appoint his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master s desire, and did not prepare, nor did according to his desire, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet did what deserved flogging, shall be beaten with few. And everyone to whom much is given, from him much shall be demanded. And to whom much has been entrusted, from him much more shall be asked. The job of a shepherd requires vigilance and commitment. Shepherds have to be fearless! Wolves are predators and they actively seek and pursue. Where there is one, there are usually more. Wolves have leaders who control the rest of the pack. It is not always the wolf who is visible that is the greatest threat, their attack is open and visible; it is those who lurk on the fringes and remain unseen until they are ready to pounce and attack, that are especially dangerous! Wolves are never satisfied, they are constantly looking to devour and prey upon the naïve and the unwary!

1 Peter 5:2-4 2 Shepherd the flock of Elohim which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but voluntarily, not out of greed for filthy gain, but eagerly, 3 neither as being masters over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you shall receive the never-fading crown of esteem. Shepherds always need to remember who the owner of the flock is and to whom they will have to answer. True shepherds will be known by their fruits. The evidence will be present in the way that they care, tend and protect the flock; not for personal gain, or benefit, but out of a sense of responsibility and in fulfilling their commitment to the Chief Shepherd. It is very important that the flock recognizes the atrributes of a true shepherd. There are false shepherds who seek to destroy and divide. Their goal is not to protect, but to tear down and lead those who are unwary onto a different path that leads to a different pasture. False shepherds are very convincing and appear to be true shepherds, those who cannot discern the difference will be lead astray. Acts 20:28-31 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Set-apart Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of Elohim which He has purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves shall come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men shall arise, speaking distorted teachings, to draw away the taught ones after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease to warn each one with tears. Wolves were a problem then and they are a problem now. They will always be lurking and waiting and that is why shepherds are necessary. There are always those who choose not to listen or heed a warning and there is nothing that a shepherd can do in those situations. They wander off, lose their way and fall victim to the wolves. A shepherd can only help and protect those who are willing to seek protection and be helped. Many people who have come into understanding, in the truth of YHVH, have come out of abusive religious systems with hierarchical structures. Those systems seek to dominate, intimidate and control everyone who attends and subjects themselves to their teachings and doctrines. It is natural for people to rebel against that type of system. There is no evidence anywhere in scripture, of a hierarchical system being the example for the set-apart ones. Yeshua spoke about those types of systems.

Matthew 23:8-12 8 But you, do not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in the heavens. 10 Neither be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Messiah. 11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. Hierarchical systems take the freedom of choice away from those people who are underneath the system. We must be free to choose for ourselves and make the decision as to who we will follow. This passage from Thessalonians is used to try and promote and justify a hierarchical system. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-13 9 Because Elohim did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain deliverance through our Master יהושע Messiah, 10 who died for us, so that we, whether awake or asleep, should live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, as indeed you do. 12 But brothers, we beg you to know those who labour among you, and are over you in the Master and admonish you, 13 and to hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. Once again, Shaul s words are used to justify something that he never intended! Why would Shaul be speaking about building up and helping one another and then suddenly change direction to promote a hierarchical structure? He IS NOT! Who is he talking about here that were laboring among them? Those who are guiding and being shepherds to them. How are these people over the rest? They are not over the rest in authority, but in understanding! Shaul is telling the Thessalonians to recognize those who were shepherds among them and to hold them in high regard and love them. Those who were laboring among them were admonishing them, or advising and explaining to them the Word of YHVH. It was still their choice! YHVH NEVER forces anything on us. It always has been and always will be our own choice whether we follow Him or not. The sent-out ones had to deal with this issue of false shepherds wherever they had been and brought The Way, to the people who became believers. Shaul warned, Kefa warned and Yochannon warned. There were those who came right along after them and began to bring false teaching and lead people astray. 2 Peter 2:1-3 1 But there also came to be false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, and deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction

on themselves. 2 And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, 3 and in greed, with fabricated words, they shall use you for gain. From of old their judgment does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber. There are false teachings circulating right now that are causing people to deny Yeshua. They are very subtle and deceptive. Slowly a person is led in the wrong direction, doubt is created in their minds and then they begin to deny the truth of Messiah! Shaul was very concerned for the people in Corinth and he was warning them. He knew that they did not have a solid foundation and that they were very susceptible to someone else coming along and bringing a false message and that they would follow after it! Shaul had a problem with the people of Corinth who were listening and putting up with false teachers coming to them. Shaul warned the Corinthians about where these false shepherds were coming from and what they were attempting to do. Shaul was trying to help and shepherd the assembly at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 13 For such are false emissaries, deceptive workers, masquerading as emissaries of Messiah. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself masquerades as a messenger of light! 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works! We need to look for the shepherds among us. I know several do you? They are the ones quietly going about their jobs and not looking for anything in return. They do what they do out of comittment to their calling and a love for the people of YHVH. Look for the TRUE shepherds they are there and have been provided for you. Copyright 2011 Jeff L Mills www.haemet.org