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Preached by David Kautt at
Community Christian
Church, Durant, Oklahoma
Sunday morning, May 4,
2014
Matthew 9:35 – 38, “Then Jesus went about all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But
when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they
were weary and scattered, like sheep having no
shepherd. Then
He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the
laborers are few. Therefore
pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Luke 22: 24 – 27, “Now there was also a dispute among them,
as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And
He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called
‘benefactors.’ But
not so among you; on the contrary, he
who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he
who serves. For
who is greater, he who sits at
the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the
table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
A greeting card
arrived in my mailbox not long ago – that – to me – says it all when it comes
to the subject of church leadership.
Allow me to read the card’s message to you now. It goes like this: As a
church leader, I am to challenge God’s people - to SEE the WORLD with eyes of
COMPASSION – to SERVE the NEEDY with hands of MERCY – and to LOVE the SAINTS
with hearts of HUMILITY!
I AM - to see the
world that way – with eyes of compassion – I AM – to serve the NEEDY that way –
with hands of mercy – and, yes, I AM – to love the saints that way – with a
heart of humility. Yes, I – AM! But – as
God intended for every leader – MY life – and the lives of every other church
leader – every husband – every father – every family leader – MY life – OUR
lives - and MY words – OUR words – are to CHALLENGE all of you – to INFLUENCE
all of you – to see the world – to serve the needy – and to love the saints
that way, too!
Last Lord’s Day, I
opened up this Bible study time with THIS – rather provocative statement:
Remember? I said, “Today – we embark on
one of the THE MOST IMPORTANT JOURNEYS we have ever taken as a congregation –
the exciting journey down a path called the “ROAD TO CHURCH LEADERSHIP.” What did you think about that statement?
Undoubtedly, as we
travel along this road – there will be many twists and turns – some steep hills
and some very deep valleys. In fact,
likely on this journey – we will come to quite a few crucial – crossroads – as
we follow the leading of the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. And, where it will all end up, only He
knows. But, one thing is for certain –
and that is – that we MUST – we MUST walk this path. We MUST travel this exciting, frightening
road – TOGETHER – and with Jesus showing us the way – if we are to be all God
intends for us to be as a church family.
Last time we were
here to worship together, I suggested to you that – at a most critical time
like this period of time is – what we need the most – is to regularly hear from
Jesus. As HIS sheep – in need of
shepherds to do HIS work of keeping and leading His flock – we need to hear
from HIM – we do.
Matthew chapters 9,
10 and 11 – this section of Scripture is one big place – one very important,
Biblical place – where we DO hear from Jesus – the Chief Shepherd. Matthew 9:35 – 38 – our primary starting
point in this study – this exposition regarding sheep, shepherds and the Chief
Shepherd – the Good Shepherd. As we
observed last time, this text – first of all – gives us a glimpse into the Good
Shepherd’s HEART. And, what IS Jesus’
HEART – what are His thoughts and feelings with respect to His sheep? Remember?
Two things – two
very basic – but – to me – very important insights into the HEART of the Good
Shepherd. What are they?
Number one – the
Good Shepherd – Jesus – the Chief Shepherd – is AWARE of the sheep and AWARE of
the NEEDS OF the sheep!
Nothing complicated
here, is there? Nothing tremendously
deep or difficult to comprehend here, right?
But, listen – as we search the Scriptures – and as we look out across
this group of men and their wives and families – for those who might eventually
lead us – praying over this process all the way through – what kind of leaders
– what kind of shepherds – is God desirous of raising up for us here? You remember it, don’t you? Wrote it down last week, didn’t you?
God’s desire is to
raise up GOOD Shepherds – godly men – like Jesus – who are AWARE of the sheep –
and AWARE of the NEEDS of the sheep – men whose eyes are open – yes – and also
connected – directly linked to right here – [point at my heart] – their heart!
Secondly, again
rehearsing what we pointed out last time – Jesus’ eyes – they not only SAW the
multitudes – that the sheep – were weary and scattered – helpless and harassed
– SHEPHERD-LESS – sheep. More
importantly, WHAT Jesus saw – MOVED HIM – toward tender compassion FOR the
sheep – moved Him to DO something to HELP the sheep.
Once again – what
does THAT have to do with our predicament?
It’s simple, isn’t
it? We need shepherds like that, don’t
we? We need godly men – joined and
supported by their wives and families – to take the lead in TENDERLY CARING for
the sheep – to be concerned for the sheep – yes – but not just CONCERNED – but
COMMITTED ENOUGH to DO what is needful to HELP the sheep!
To put it
succinctly, we need – we are PRAYING – aren’t we – that God will raise up for
us GOOD shepherds – with EYES like Jesus’ eyes – HEARTS like Jesus’ heart – and
– perhaps most of all – with HANDS – helpful, generous hands – like JESUS’
hands!
That’s what we need
– and – interestingly – according to Matthew 9:35 – 38 – that’s what God’s
sheep in Jesus’ day needed as well. So,
what does the Chief Shepherd do?
Well, though – not
limited in POWER – in ability – per se – you know – Jesus COULD HAVE pronounced
ALL the sick – WELL – all the hurting – HEALED – all the oppressed – DELIVERED
– all at once! But – think of it. That would have been more the work of a
MIRACLE worker or maybe a KING. But, like we read earlier in Luke 22 – Jesus
was not in the midst of the helpless and hurting flock – to sort of – hold out
His SCEPTER to them – ‘Be Healed!’ Rather,
He entered the pastures – went to where the sheep were – why? To TOUCH them – (and, at times, even to be
touched BY them). Yes, Jesus – could
have waved the wand – stretched out the scepter – and said to all of them – ‘Be
healed’. But He did not come to be like
a KING – but like a SHEPHERD. He was in
the midst of the flock – like a servant/shepherd – in order to minister to each
sheep – PERSONALLY – even individually!
But, here’s the
thing – even though He was fully God – God the Son, in fact – Jesus – the Chief
Shepherd – at this point in time – was also fully man – fully man – and
therefore, bound – to some degree – by the limitations of time and space. To put it simply – THIS Shepherd – the Lord
Jesus – needed some Assistant Shepherds – to join Him in the work.
So, what does He
do? Matthew 9:37 – He not only SPEAKS to
His disciples about the NEED – the Leadership Crisis, if you will – “The
harvest is PLENTIFUL, but the laborers are few…” - He not only URGES His
disciples to petition the Lord of the harvest fields – Matthew 9:38. But, Jesus – the Chief Shepherd – takes the
next logical step – a step necessary for THERE and THEN – and, yes – a step
that I believe also points the way for us – HERE and NOW!
What step are we
talking about? Matthew 10:1 – 4 –
Matthew 10:1 – 4: You can read it – now
– up on the screen – Jesus, the Good Shepherd – the Wise Shepherd – takes the
next, strategically-important step. He
calls prospective assistant shepherds to DO what HE was doing. He calls His men – His chosen 12 – to SEE the
sheep – to see the NEEDS of the sheep – and, then what? To ENTER THE PASTURE – with Him – to HELP the
sheep!
Dr. Lynn Anderson
has written a timely book about sheep and shepherding. The title is kind of eye-opening. This important book is simply entitled, THEY
SMELL LIKE SHEEP!
Flock of God – that
title kind of lays it out on the table, doesn’t it? Men of God – prospective shepherds – that
Book title – They SMELL Like Sheep – kind of pulls back the curtain about this
task of shepherding, doesn’t it, and in doing so – it also removes whatever
thoughts of glitz and glamor we might have had about it!
THEY SMELL LIKE
SHEEP – And Jesus, the Good Shepherd – who has known this fact about sheep all
along – What does He do? He invites godly
men – men whom God is MAKING into godly men – into the pasture with Him
anyway! He does!
So, how are we to
respond?
Well, to be honest
with you – one of the things that every assistant shepherd – yes – even THIS
assistant shepherd – your preacher – wonders about – right up front – BEFORE he
enters the pasture to work with those SMELLY sheep – is what? How much is my salary? What’s my PAY for serving as an assistant to
the Chief Shepherd?
John 4 – John
chapter 4, verses 36 – 38 – we glanced over it last time – but – now, let’s
take a moment to examine it for an answer to our ‘salary of the shepherd’
question, shall we? Prospective
assistant shepherds, what IS your pay for caring for the sheep alongside Jesus?
Read it with me, will you?
John 4:36 – 38, “And he who reaps receives wages, and
gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may
rejoice together. For
in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I
sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and
you have entered into their labors.”
Jesus – the Good
Shepherd – using here the metaphor of a farmer and his harvesting crew – Jesus
informs us that those who choose to shepherd His sheep – in His behalf – YOUR
PAY – your PRIVILEGE – is that you get to enter into HIS labors AND you to get
to SHARE His JOY at the outcome of the harvest!
Speaking to his
fellow elders – the apostle Peter had this to say about the assistant
shepherd’s “PAY” – his everlasting REWARD.
1 Peter 5:4 – Peter writes, “When the Chief Shepherd appears – you shall
receive the crown of glory that never, ever fades away!”
Flock of God – you
know what we need now, don’t you? Men of
God – prospective shepherds – you know what God intends for you to be, don’t
you?
He is calling you –
inviting you – yes, I believe – MOVING MIGHTILY upon you – to lead you to be
the kind of shepherd JESUS is – One who is motivated NOT by the LOVE OF MONEY –
but motivated by the LOVE OF GOD – and the LOVE of those GOD loves – His sheep
– in view of the REWARD – an unfading, and eternally-glorious crown – that He
intends to GIVE to those who will faithfully serve Him in this way!
THEY SMELL LIKE
SHEEP! Don’t you just love that book
title? They SMELL – like sheep! I mean, what ELSE would we expect them to
smell like, right?
Beloved, there’s yet
a fourth thing Jesus sets out in this TENTH chapter of Matthew that we need to
notice as we progress down this path towards church leadership. What is it?
In this important TENTH chapter of Matthew, Jesus instructs prospective
assistant shepherds about SHEEP – about SHEPHERDING – and yes, about WOLVES.
Let’s walk down
through here and catch the high points of Jesus’ teaching – as it connects to
our situation, shall we?
First off, notice
with me what Jesus tells us about the sheep.
Matthew 10:8 – Oh, they are SMELLY, alright! Remember, THEY – ARE – SHEEP! Their lives are marked by sickness –
affliction – distress – and, yes – even by oppression. I mean, whether it be physical, emotional or
spiritual – this is the condition of the average, run-of-the-mill sheep! It is!
And, why is that? Simply, because
they are PEOPLE – affected BY sinners – and – infected WITH sinful tendencies. Furthermore, as verse 6 makes clear – some of
them – some of them – are LOST! Yes, I
said, LOST. I mean, whether they realize
it or want to admit it or not – some of the sheep are LOST!
So, what? I mean, why does a prospective shepherd need
to know all of this?
Because – as a GOOD
Shepherd – one of the Chief Shepherd’s ASSISTANT shepherds – you are there – in
the pasture – with the flock – to apply the healing ointment of the Good
Shepherd’s saving stripes – to their wounds – to their brokenness. You are there – are to BE there – because
these sweaty, smelly sheep – belong to God – because the Good Shepherd laid down
His life for them! Yes, you are there – in the middle of the pasture and in the
midst of the flock – because God CALLED YOU to be there – for them – because of
Him!
Then, there’s what Jesus
has to say here in Matthew 10 about shepherding –
Perhaps, the single
passage in this chapter that summarizes all of what Jesus wants us know about
shepherding is Matthew 10:7 and 8. Read
it together with me, will you? Jesus
says, “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead, cast out demons. FREELY YOU HAVE
RECEIVED; FREELY GIVE.”
Shepherding –
certainly there are more specifics to be found in a number of other passages
elsewhere – but listen – Jesus’ summary – in verse 8 – “Freely you have received
– freely give” says it all, doesn’t it?
As shepherds, we are
to go – to the pasture – and yes, even to the highways and hedges – to where
the sheep are – to find them – and to help them. We are to GO!
Why? Because Jesus CAME! Because He CAME!
And, we are to
preach and teach and testify – to them – to the sheep. Why?
Because we have HEARD! Because
the Living Word has spoken – to us! And,
then – think of it – we are to give – FREELY – GENEROUSLY – out of love. Why? Remember John 3:16? Because He LOVED – because HE gave!
Matthew 10:8 –
“Freely you have received – freely give!” – that verse is what shepherding is
all about!
One more thing – from
Matthew 10 – for us to consider. Flock
of God – prospective shepherds – take note with me what Jesus has to say about
WOLVES!
A couple of Sundays
ago I mentioned in passing a simple fact that – whether the sheep are aware of
it or not – EVERY GOOD SHEPHERD must know – and take seriously – and that fact
is this: WHERE THERE ARE SHEEP – THERE WILL
BE WOLVES! So, what’s a shepherd –
prospective or active – to keep in mind – in light of this?
Sheep –
shepherd-less sheep – straying, I WILL TAKE CARE OF MYSELF-minded sheep – are
DEFENSELESS – helpless prey – against wolves!
They are! Guess what? That’s why Jesus called the 12 to Himself –
and gave them the authority and the instructions that He gave them.
You know something
else? The reason why we have also
entered into this leadership training and ordaining process – is because
SHEPHERD-less sheep – is not only against God’s will – it is out and out
dangerous for the flock.
So, men of God –
prospective shepherds – what do YOU need to know about wolves – before you
enter the pasture to face them? Jot down
this verse – Acts 20:28 – as an overarching – basic principle – kind of verse
regarding this subject. Speaking to the
elders of the church in Ephesus – the apostle Paul sternly warns shepherds like
this: “Take heed – be on guard – take
heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers – in order that you may shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood.” Because
there always will be wolves – wherever there are sheep – shepherds must ALWAYS
– always – be on the alert!
But, what if – what
if the wolves try to attack the flock?
What, then?
Matthew 10:16 – 33 –
Know this – their intent – the goal of every pack of wolves – is to betray you
– try to intimidate you and silence you – and perhaps, even to kill you. Why? Because
they hate the Good Shepherd and any one working with and for the Good Shepherd! That’s the truth – plain and simple and maybe
a little hard to swallow.
So, how are you to
deal with them? Matthew 10:16 – you are
to deal with them WISELY – BLAMELESSLY – and certainly, COURAGEOUSLY. But, listen – listen to Jesus – the Good
Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep:
Matthew 10:28 – 33 – NEVER, EVER be afraid of the wolves! Never!
Why? Because – as Jesus says –
even IF they KILL you – even IF they END THE LIFE OF YOUR BODY – listen! They CANNOT – wolves CANNOT kill your
soul! No! FEAR GOD – fear God – and, in the face of
ravenous wolves – never, ever fail to STAND UP to boldly confess Jesus Christ as
YOUR Chief Shepherd! Never!
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