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God's Words first then Bea's Attitude follows
The birth of Christ and the role, example, of who is a shepherd and what he is called to do.
Luk 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luk 2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luk 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." Luk 2:16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Luk 2:17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. Luk 2:18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
Luk 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Ezekial 34:1 The word of the LORD came to me:
Eze 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
Eze 34:3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.
Eze 34:4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. Eze 34:5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.
Eze 34:6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. Eze 34:7 "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Eze 34:8 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, Eze 34:9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Eze 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. Eze 34:11 "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. Eze 34:14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. Eze 34:15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. Eze 34:16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. Eze 34:17 "As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. Eze 34:18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? Eze 34:19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet? Eze 34:20 "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Eze 34:21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, Eze 34:22 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. Eze 34:23 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. Eze 34:24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. Eze 34:25 "I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. Eze 34:26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. Eze 34:27 And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. Eze 34:28 They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. Eze 34:29 And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. Eze 34:30 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD.
Eze 34:31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD." AMEN!
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 2Th 3:8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2Th 3:9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 2Th 3:11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 2Th 3:12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. AMEN!
1Corinthians 9:3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.
1Cr 9:4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
1Cr 9:5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
1Cr 9:6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
1Cr 9:7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
1Cr 9:8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
1Cr 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?
1Cr 9:10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.
1Cr 9:11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
1Cr 9:12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
AMEN
Read 2 Corinthians 12, 1 Thessalonians 2, and 2 Thessalonians 3 - Paul a simple man, a tent maker for income and a minister by the called will of God... payment to follow at the resurrection soon to come.
Bea's Attitude on the Pastor who is a hired hand, paid by a church body. Who is not a servant of God alone. A man who thinks he is serving God yet he serves another man. The Lord God has showed me this costly error of the dying church. I asked and I recieved... my truth to this burden upon Christ's churches today! If you are paid by the sheep to lead the sheep then you are serving two masters or... possibly just yourself. St. Paul roamed the earth like a nomad. He was a shepherd roaming and proclaiming what he had seen and heard. Once the town was told, St. Paul moved on to tell more people in other towns... just like the first shepherds to be graced with knowing Jesus was Savior and King. St. Paul was a tent maker and St. Peter a fisher - all ministers of the flock with an occupation outside of the church. They would build up a church of "followers of Christ" and leave that church of brothers to "themselves" to conduct the church under the care and conviction of the Holy Spirit and His Holy Word with Christ as the head and master of the church - His Church.
Churches back then had no need of a "pastor" or head because the Holy Word was celebrated through fellowship; so what makes us think we need a head now... pride, laziness, riches, malice? The Holy Spirit is within all believers equally so that every man can come to know God without another man between him and God. When Christ died, the curtain between sinful man and the Holy of Holies was destroyed - no longer should man need another man, a priest, to draw near to God. The human "go between" was replaced by Christ for our sake and salvation so no man may boast.
Those who are being paid to minister or teach within a congregation are nothing more than a "hired hand" ministering to the Lord's sheep. Followship in Christ is not people paying to sit together to hear one man speak - the sole responcibility "of or to" one man is the opposite of fellowship - it is anti fellowship! This was never God's plan. St. Peter was called to feed the lambs, tend the sheep and feed the sheep but he was not called a shepherd! (John 21) Peter was not paid by the sheep to feed them. Peter's payment is from God. Peter was a servant of Christ not a paid servant of the sheep. Yes Peter was asked by God, publicly and verbally, to be a hired hand; but He was to be paid by God to watch over God's sheep - Jesus spoke this so we would all know, through the reading of these verses, that He, Jesus Christ, is the only Shepherd and we are all to care for each other - ministers of the Faith, paid by and through Jesus Christ, ministers who will be paid, rewarded, crowned when God's plan is finished.
So if Christ is the Shepherd... and you're being paid by the sheep you minister to; what kind of a hired hand are you? One that feeds the sheep God's Holy Word or do you feed them your words and your opinions; leaving the gate open to the wolves and thieves of the world? (John 10) Is your pay for your service a burden on His sheep: on His church? Do you live in a paid for home, with medical insuramce, retirement and the "going rate" allowance given to you to do the very thing that we Chrisians, all of us, were called to do without being a burden to others. Are you "kept" by your church? If this is you... reflect... find an income that is not paid to you by His sheep: keep your ministry, your teaching and your prophesizing as your life's passion and faithful good works. Selah
Today's church has returned to the apostate church of the Old Testament. Man put a man at the head of Christ's people because people today are lazy and would rather pay someone to seek and tell them rather than knock and ask for themselves - fast food junkies who would rather sip sweet milk than chew tough meat. Religion is nothing more than one man's personal interpretation of God's Holy Word being feed to weak, lazy sheep. Man's pride separates himself, and all that follow him, from knowing God through themselves - this is the doorway to Hell. I asked, I sought out, I knocked and I found! I stand on my rock of Jesus Christ not on another mortal man's found truth. The Holy Spirit is my teacher and Jesus Christ is my Priest, my King, my Master and Friend - my El Shaddia! Can a sinner lead another sinner to God? No, only God draws men near (John 6:44) and no one goes to the Father except through (only through) Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Many roads lead to Christ but our Lord God Jesus Christ is the only way to fully knowing God and obtaining eternal bliss. Man was created and saved for one purpose: to praise and glorify God through good works which testify to the power and blessings that rests within all believers given to them by God. And through mutual praise and worship, fellowship in our personal testimonies, we believers become the bride and not the whore. Amen! As one body of equal value, with equal measures of His Holy Spirit. Is the pastor someone who was given a different book besides the Holy Bible we all use? Is he given secret insight or a special annointing like that of Aaron which no other man can obtain? No but he is given, in most cases, paid time to study and do the work of others. Why do people pay another man to study and do their seeking? Does this man have an inteligence reserved for just a select few? Possibly, but should it be for sale to the highest bidder? Should God's Word be seen as a mystery and too complicated for the ignorant man? No, a small child can read and understand when the Holy Spirit is upon them. Can this paid effort to study and grow in Christ be transfered to another or is this man's work his and his alone? Yes this knowledge can be shared and must be shared but it should not be bought and sold? God will pay his wage and that man who gives freely that which was God's to give will be blessed richly in this life and the one to come. What do I gain from another man's truth... from another man's wage... from another man's relationship with God?
Does Jesus Christ need anyone to replace Him as Shepherd or does He want a sinner to be the head of His body? Of course not, God is a jealous God and this is why we were not ophaned and left alone. Christ gave us His Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us all in equal fellowship with personal talents - each giving of himself: each taking a lead for a time and without pay. Foolishness and pride puts a man in pious robes and in the illusion of a higher calling with paid devotional time to study! Psalm 118 & 146 & Jeremiah 17... Read Ezekiel 34 to read the passion of our Lord Christ against the "kept" false shepherds of His church. The church is the body of all believers and the His Holy Spirit is the Power and Head of that body... not man... and not a woman either!
Fellowship has become sick and twisted - a spectator sport. The original word for fellowship is Koinonia which meant a passion filled "coming together" of people to pray, testify and plan the commission of spreading the Holy Word of God. People would all share equally in this worship. People would join together their whole body with another's whole body to become one powerful body in Christ. We are not just a hand or a foot in the body of Christ we are a whole child with equal gifts to equally share... not joined together to hear one man teach. We already have the Holy Words of one sin free Son of Man to teach us: why would we need a sinner to lead us? Read people, read or listen to the Word of Christ not to man's interpretation of what God's Holy Word should mean to you! Oh my God I cry out to the church to come back to Christ. Make Him your center - make Him your all. Open the door of the church and do away with anything the separates one person from another. Burn the robes and collars, burn the study tools made by man's mind for coin and pride and pick up the Holy Word and use His Spirit... His Holy Spirit to find Christ's Truth. Cry out "Abba Father, come sit with me and read".
Oh Lord I pray to you that someday I too will find fellowship within your people. Where no man or woman leads. Where all your children take part in true koinonia in our risen King and Master Jesus Christ. Dear Jesus hear my plea. Where are your people? Where are your sheep? Man has conviced your sheep that you are in the inner walls. Oh Lord the seasons are changing. I see your Holy Word coming to pass. How long will this go on? How long will you make us wait? Lord Jesus you know my heart and you have taught me to wait. I will wait by the means of your power and I will not grow weary for you alone hold me fast. May God's Will be done... for He is perfection.
Matthew 24:23
Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There He is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Amen Amen Amen
Let no man come between you and Jesus Christ. Beware of the mega churches and their AWE for they make the Christian grow lazy and content and cause your pulse and eyes to grow weak. Christ's Truth is not in the inner walls nor can it be found in the world. Christ's truth is always found in the wilderness and lives within the remnant of His sheep. Christ is in the hearts of His people... His children and we will soon be gathered together to praise and give honor to our Savior. This testimony is my heart and my rock. Go find your own rock! Never stand on another man's foundation until you know for certain it matches God's perfectly. And I will ask you this... What manmade religion matches any man's walk with Christ perfectly? If you have to compromise... you are not in Christ. |
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Hebrew מאמין כמו ילד >
Warning to clergy - Reflect |