Staying Power                             05-08-15

28 "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials;
Luke 22:28 (NASB)

Just some musings of mine this week. I read this verse this week past and for some odd reason my mind traveled back some 40 odd years to a magazine. "New Wine," edited by Don Basham, was one of the most anointed publications that I have ever read. It was years ahead of it's time and I  just discovered that it is available online. It was the brainchild of a group of ministers in south Florida who later became known as the Ft. Lauderdale Five. These men were the cornerstones of a movement that became known as the Shepherding Movement. I won't go into details, but in the years that followed, what started as a high truth(in this writer's opinion) fell prey to abuse and corruption.

What happened, I believe, is that man took a genuine revelation of God, and degraded a truth into a grab for power and control. It took the God given "authority" placed in church leadership and turned it into an apparatus of "control," designed  to intimidate and fleece the sheep. You see in my opinion, pastors or shepherds are here to equip us and build us up. They act in our best interests.

 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some  prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:11-12 (NASB)

Before I move on, if you find "New Wine" somewhere on the internet, take a look at it and tell me where you found it. It was a killer publication.

With that little bit of groundwork, let me throw something out here. Look at Luke again.

 28 "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials;
Luke 22:28 (NASB)

In spite of the abuse and corruption that exists in  both the secular and church world, there are a "few good men" and women out there. People who take their call seriously, knowing that they, like us sheep, are accountable to God. The problem many times is now with the sheep isn't it? What do you mean Ronnie? Just this. Jesus said this concerning sheep and shepherds.

4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:4 (NASB)

We follow shepherds because we know their voice. That is what the Bible says. But these days we often see a shepherd through the eyes of the flesh don't we? Not looking beyond the natural senses, we fail to see the call that God has placed on that shepherds's life.

Our opinions are more often than not based on what we see, no, this is better, on what we perceive; NOT on what God says or to go a bit further, on what God DOES in that person's life. Circumstances, trials, tribulations, so called "lifestyles" play into our "evaluations" of this one or that one.

All the time we read about the time it takes to develop a relationship. Nothing takes the place of time spent. That's what they all say. We should apply that to the people that God has placed in our lives don't you think? If we discard those people because they don't live up to our preconceived standards, in time we will have NO ONE to turn to will we? There was only ONE perfect shepherd. Everyone else is a mere imitation. That is God's plan however. It is as simple as that. He has chosen to place folks in our lives for our encouragement and guidance. Not to control or intimidate but to gently lead and instruct.

If you know someone like that, grab on tight. They are few and far between these days. If you have been blessed enough to have developed a relationship with one of those folks, don't turn your back on them when they have troubles in their own lives. If you do that enough times there won't be any shepherds left for you will there? Amen?   

 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
Prov 27:10 (NASB)

Don't forsake those friends, e.g. pastors, shepherds that over time have proven their dedication to God and to you and yours.

 20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has violated his covenant.
Psalms 55:20 (NASB)


God Bless