Sunday's Are Great At Grace
  • Grace Home
  • Good Words Blog
  • Online Giving
  • Our Beliefs
  • WEDNESDAY NIGHT Prayer & BIBLE STUDY
  • Upcoming Events & Church Calendar
  • Contact/Get Directions
  • FaceBook
  • Live Stream

Shepherding His Flock

12/18/2016

0 Comments

 
Good Words from God’s Word
 
A “PRIEST” in the Bible is known as someone whom God has designated and equipped to be a minister on behalf of His people. Priests were officials in Israel who represented the people before God and performed various ministries to atone for their sins. The first priests were descended from Aaron in the days of Moses. 
 
The first priest mentioned in scripture is Melchizedek, a contemporary of Abraham. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and his army following the great victory over the pagan king Chedorlaomer.
 
Melchizedek was the King of Salem who served as Priest to the God Most High (Genesis 14:18). The Bible goes on to claim that Melchizedek was eternal in nature (Hebrews 7:1-3). He became a foretaste of the coming Messiah who would give His own life as a sacrifice for the sins of the people.
 
Someone asked me recently, “What happened to the SHEPHERDING model of ministry that we once believed was so important?”
 
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
 
Jesus understood Himself to be the great shepherd because He is the one and only PRIEST born according to the order of Melchizedek.
 
There was a poor farmer who lived alone in the country accept for an old lop-eared dog on which he doted. One day the old dog passed away and the farmer went to the Baptist Preacher in town and asked, “Preacher my dog has finally died. Would it be possible for you to say a few words for the animal?”
 
The minister sharply refused, “We cannot possibly have a service for a deceased animal in this church. I’ll tell you what; there is a new church down the road of some new ideological stripe that might help you out. No telling what they believe in.”
 
The farmer replied, “I will give them a call. By the way, do you think a $1,000 would be a sufficient donation for the service?”
 
To which the preacher said, “Why didn’t you tell me your dog was a Baptist?
 
Ministry in our day has many faces, anywhere from the television evangelist, to the social media advisor, to the best-selling author, or the corporate executive at the top of a bulging staff enterprise. There are all kinds of ministries and ministers.
 
The Bible seems to favor those who Shepherd. It was the shepherds who heard the angels sing on that first Christmas night. It was the shepherd boy David that God called to become King over Israel. The coming Messiah foretold in scripture would be fashioned in the mold of a shepherd;
                     “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
                     In His arm He will gather the lambs
                     And carry them in His bosom;
                     He will gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).
 
Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, was God’s Great High Priest. He is our good Shepherd who takes care of His flock. It is Jesus who is worthy of our worship this morning. Christmas is a time for worship. It is a time for shepherding people. Maybe God is calling you to assume a PRIESTLY attitude where you joyfully serve as a shepherd to someone in need.
 
Praise God for our High Priest, Jesus, who is also our loving and caring Shepherd.  
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Pastor Mike

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

The Bible is not a book you finish reading.
It is a book that you read so that it may finish you.

(Pastor Mike)