 here we go. So we're continuing with John chapter 10, and the Lord Jesus is talking about Him being the good shepherd. And so we learn quite a few things there about the shepherd and about the Lord Jesus himself laying down certain things there as to what a shepherd should do and so on. And especially when the Lord talks about Himself as a good shepherd and also when He says that He is not like the higherling, so we learn from that as well, what we should not be like. Okay, so let's read from verse 11 where he says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Okay, so he's talking about the sacrificial ministry or the sacrificial way in which the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Verse 12, but a higherling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. So he's talking about in the face of danger. This is what a higherling does because a higherling does not have a sense of ownership about the sheep and therefore he does not care and leaves the sheep and flees. Verse 13, the higherling flees because he is a higherling and does not care about the sheep. Again, the Lord says, verse 14, I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep and am known by my own. As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep. Another sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring and they will hear my voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore, my Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me and so on. And let's go on to verse 25 and Jesus, this is in response to the question where they say, you know, how long do you keep us in doubt if you are the Christ? Tell us plainly and he says, I told you and you do not believe the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. Verse 26, but you do not believe because you are not of my sheep. As I said to you, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Okay, right. So we learn several things here about the good shepherd, the fact that the good shepherd speaks to the sheep, especially in verse 16 and also in verse 14 he says, you know, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and I'm known by my sheep. And he lays down his life for the sheep and he says, Verse 27, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. Okay, right. So he's talking about the sheep knowing, the sheep interacting, speaking, the shepherd knowing and the shepherd interacting, talking to the sheep, the shepherd leading the sheep and then also talks about how the shepherd or the sheep know the voice of the shepherd and how the sheep follow the voice of the shepherd. So the good shepherd cares, the good shepherd protects the sheep, nurtures the sheep, gathers the sheep and so on. And we saw earlier in the ministry gift of the teacher, the Lord Jesus being an example that he was moved with compassion. When was he moved with compassion? When he saw that the people were like sheep without shepherd. When he saw and then he was moved with compassion and you see the verse after that, in the same verse in verse 634 that he began to teach them. He began to minister to them. He began to serve them, teach them, gather them together. And in fact, he was being the shepherd. So these are some insights that we get about the Lord being the shepherd. Similarly, we learn quite a bit from here, the hard attitude of the shepherd, that the shepherd cares for the sheep, that the shepherd protects the sheep. The shepherd has a sense of ownership about the sheep. Of course, the Lord Jesus, being the creator and being the one who has purchased everyone by the precious blood, so he owns in that sense, he owns the sheep, the ones who are purchased, they are his purchased possessions. And as human shepherds, we are overseers of the flock because he is the chief shepherd and the flock belong to God. So these are some things that we learn from these verses that the Lord Jesus being our example. Okay, so we see some references in the Old Testament as well about the connection between the sheep and the shepherd. Jeremiah 3 and verse 15, and I will give you shepherds according to my heart. This is what God says, and who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. You see that the Lord, when he had compassion on the people, when he saw that they were like sheep without shepherd, he started teaching them. He started teaching them words where obviously spirit and life, he knew the deepest needs and he immediately went about satisfying that or addressing that deepest need. So he started teaching them. So similarly, the shepherd, the Lord saying, and I will give you shepherds, who will shepherd Israel, and he's referring to the spiritual leaders who will feed with knowledge and understanding, feed with knowledge and understanding. Chapter 23 and verse 4, I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they, the flock shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking, says the Lord. So what do we draw from that? The inside that we get is that the shepherd teaches or feeds the sheep, nurtures the sheep with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and that results in the flock not being fearful because they have grown in faith, not being fearful, not being disappointed or dismayed because they have grown in faith and because of the knowledge and understanding, they are grounded, rooted in something that is stronger and it says, nor shall they be lacking. They will not lack anything because of the chief shepherd, because of the words of life that feeds, that spiritually feeds and nourishes the people. So these are some things that we get when we look at what are the practical things that the shepherd or the roles and responsibilities of the shepherd, which Paul writes to Timothy, then we, when we put these together, then we understand, okay, this is what the, as a shepherd, as an overseer, this is what one is supposed to be doing, this is how one is supposed to be ministering as a shepherd, right? Okay, so in Numbers 27, we see, let's just go there, Numbers 27 and it's about Moses, the Lord instructing Moses to lay hands and pray over Joshua. Numbers 27, okay. Okay, Numbers 27 and we read from verse 15, then Moses spoke to the Lord saying, let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep, which have no shepherd, right? And the Lord said to Moses, take Joshua the son of none with you, a man in whom is a spirit and lay your hand on him, and we know the rest, you know, that he consecrates him, inaugurates him, and takes him to Elijah the priest and so on. So we see here, the Lord saying, you know, take Joshua the son of none, but the real need is this, verse 17, that the congregation, that the congregation of the Lord, that the people of the Lord may not be like a sheep which have no shepherd. So he's talking about a person who would lead the people of God, a person who would lead by example, who would lead the people of God into the promise of God, into the destiny of God, which is what Joshua did. He took them into the promised land. He took them into the destiny that God had for these people and he did that. So he heard from God, he got the strategies from God, he heard God's instruction, he received, he obeyed, and of course there were challenges and through it all, he led the congregation of the Lord, as Moses referred to the children of Israel, all the tribes, he led them into battle, he led them into their destinies. Okay, another place very interesting that we see again is in Ezekiel, which talks about the shepherd or what a shepherd should not do. Again, it talks about the irresponsible shepherds and also the true shepherd. Okay, so Ezekiel 34, I think we can just quickly go through Ezekiel 34. Okay, if you're there, verse one, and the word of the Lord came to me saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God to the shepherds, woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves, should not the shepherds feed the flocks. You eat the fat and clothe yourself with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The week you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost, but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill, yes, my flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth and no one was seeking or searching for them. Therefore you shepherds hear the word of the Lord and we see some harsh things that the Lord says. As I live, says the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey and my flock became food for every beast of the field because there was no shepherd nor did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed my flock. Therefore, oh shepherds hear the word of the Lord, thus says the Lord God, behold I am against the shepherds and I will require my flock at their hand. I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more, for I will deliver my flock from their mouths that they may no longer be food for them. So some real warning there and some very strong words from the Lord, a prophetic instruction that Jeremiah delivers and this is what he receives that says that these are the faults of the shepherd. They have not looked out or they have not carried out what they were supposed to do. They have looked after or they have fed themselves. They are just making themselves the priority. The life is centered around them and this is what they did not do. They did not strengthen the weak. They did not heal those who were sick. The broken, they have not bound and they did not bring back what was lost or gather the lost, but look at this, but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. You see the similar thing in the instruction laid out by Peter as well. Peter says that not by compulsion, not by dishonest gain and not as being lords over those who were interested. So here the Lord says by force and cruelty you have ruled them and he says that they have scattered and you have not gathered so they have become prey for all kinds of the beast and they become food and the Lord is saying, you know, I will require my flock at their hand. Again the Lord saying these are, this flock is mine. So I think that's a realization for every minister of God, for every pastor, for every shepherd that the flock is the lords and with that in mind when we interact or minister we will realize that the flock is the Lord. The flock belongs to the Lord and therefore I need to hold myself accountable. I need to do those things, serve in such a way that I give account and it's not a count to any person, any human being but it's the Lord Himself says I will require of the Lord of the flock from their hand. So it's something extremely serious and so here time and again and I think the instruction is of course it's applicable for every minister but more so for the shepherd, more so for the shepherd because here's the flock and the shepherd, the shepherd is interacting and maybe on a regular basis and interacting with the people on a regular basis and there is this tendency to either become because of the family reality, to try to rule, to try to boss over, maybe it's a cultural thing, maybe it's a wrong example in ministry, whatever it is. We look at scripture and we realize that we come to the understanding that this is how the Lord looks at this whole thing of serving His people. So this is what the Lord wants and he says that they shall, I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep which means that that's again a very strong word. One thing is that he is saying I will require from their hand, I need to receive, they need to be accountable. The other thing is that I will cause them, if this continues, I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep. So which means the end of, or the slowly, the influence, the serving and everything just comes to a stop because there is abuse and there is manipulation and force and cruelty. Okay, verse 11, for thus says the Lord God, indeed I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out and we see that in Luke 15 about the Good Shepherd, about how the Shepherd leaves the 99 and goes after the one which is lost. We see that in the parable. For thus says the Lord God, indeed I myself will search for my sheep, seek them out as a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out my sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day and I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture and their foals shall be on the high mountains of Israel and so on. They lie down and feed in good pasture. I will feed my flock and I will make them lie down, says the Lord. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken, strengthen what was sick, but I will destroy the fat and strong and feed them in judgment and so on. And then he addresses the flock also, and says, and as for you, oh my flock, thus says the Lord God, behold, I shall judge between the sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. Is it too little for you, is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture that you must tread down with your feet, the residue of your pasture and to have drunk of the clear waters that you must foul the residue with your feet. And as for you, and as for my flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet and they drink what you have fouled with your feet. Therefore, thus says the Lord God, behold, I myself will judge between the fat and lean sheep, because you have pushed with side and shoulder and buttered all the weak ones with your horns and scattered them abroad. Therefore, I will save my flock and they shall no longer be a prey and I will judge between sheep and sheep and I will establish one shepherd over them and he shall feed them, my servant David, he shall feed them and be their shepherd and I the Lord, I the Lord will be their God and my servant David, a prince among them and I the Lord have spoken. So, a word of a prophetic declaration there, like referring to the ministry, the descendant of David referring to the Lord. So we see that here that the Lord comes down on the shepherd and then he says, I myself will do this as a good shepherd and so we have that as an example that he will bind up what is broken, seek that was lost and so on. And he also judges between the sheep, I will judge between the sheep, he says. So we see all that mentioned here. Another reference that we can go to is Psalm 23, which we all know, Psalm 23, where the psalmist declares and he says, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters, he restores my soul, he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. And then of course he goes on to testify that what he will do or that he will not do, he will not fear any evil because the Lord is with him and so on. So we see the reference to the good shepherd here that the Lord is the good shepherd, the Lord is the shepherd and so because of that the psalmist saying, I will not be in any kind of, I will not lack anything, I will not be in want and these are some of the things. So we understand that as the Lord Jesus, as he ministered as the good shepherd and we see the example there and we draw a lot of insights on what needs to be done and what should not be done. And we see it's again a serious thing. And yes, we can apply this for all the ministry gifts and we can apply this for anyone who is serving, who's in any kind of spiritual ministry or spiritual leadership and we can definitely apply this, but also specifically for the shepherd, for the one who is called to the ministry of the pastor or the pastoral ministry. Any thoughts, any questions before we move on? We're going to look at some instructions in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus where Paul writes and again that is also something that is, it's a broad thing for every minister, but if you notice, the instruction is for, specifically for people who are overseers in a church, in Ephesus and who are spiritual leaders looking after the people. So we're going to look at that. So any questions so far? No? All good? Okay, fine, fine. Let's get going. Let's look at 1 Timothy and right. So the more I read about each of these gifts and the more we see the Lord Jesus being the example, you realize that he walked in it for a reason that we might follow him as well. And here we see the seriousness with which he looks at the one who is ministering. He's saying, I will require the hand, I will require of the flock at his hand. So the seriousness with which he sees this. Also the fact that the way the Lord looks at his people, whom he considers as his flock, we see that someone who are precious, someone he cares about, and he knows he sees the need, he sees the broken, and he sees the condition, the hurting, the broken, the ones who are lost, the ones who are seeking, and the fact that the Lord's heart goes out and the Lord expects the minister, they expect the one who's called to a place of spiritual leadership. Well, the call is exciting with the call is all that. Many times we tend to think it's about us. You call to the Prophet, to call to be an evangelist, to call to the pastoral, and many times we think, oh, it must be something that I've done, something good that I've done, something right that I've done. Well, yes, we've been faithful in seeking him, probably faithful in equipping ourselves, whatever, but the fact is the call comes from him. So that's one thing. But the other aspect is that invitation is so that we might serve. The word minister itself is the one who serves, that we might serve and serve in this manner, while it might go against popular trends, it might, I'm sure it definitely goes against some of the maybe unhealthy toxic things that are happening in churchianity. But this is scripture. And this is the Lord's expectation. And this is the Lord's yardstick for the minister. So anytime we attempted to think that it's about me, it's all about me, then that thing is shattered. We realize that it's not that, and every time we think that, okay, I'm in a position of leadership, therefore, I can call the shots. And of course, we have to lead, we have to be firm, we have to, all that is true with the vision and all that. But this is the expectation from the Lord that we serve with compassion, that we serve with the flock in mind and what is good and what is beneficial, that we esteem others better than ourselves and not look out for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others as well. And all that comes together. And the fact that the sense of ownership, you can misuse, it can go both ways. We'll say, okay, this is the flock that God has given me. Yes, true. But with that sense of ownership, also, you carry a great responsibility. With that sense of ownership, you also carry the mantle, which means that you serve in a way that is honorable. You serve in a way that honors God and also honors the people of God. So all this, I think it's wonderful that the Lord has put this down, very simple, very clear. So while we might be tempted by it, this is how the pastor next door does it. Or this is how they talk about in the pastor's fellowship. Or this is how popular culture and tradition is in this people group. Well, this is what the Lord looks at. This is what is close to his heart. And it's good that we defer to that and refer and fall back to that standard rather than anything else. Okay, so let's look at 1st Timothy and Paul writing to Timothy, and he's, he looks down and he says, these are the qualities, these are the qualifications. Well, if somebody wants to serve, it's a good thing. But these are some things that we want that person to have. These are some things that should need to be developed in that person, right? Okay, so let's look at 1st Timothy chapter 3 and says, this is a faithful saying. If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. Okay, so Bishop, the understanding, we might come from a background where the word bishop brings up all kinds of things to our mind. Maybe it brings a certain uniform, it brings a certain headgear, all that. The fact is that the word bishop simply means overseer, right? Presbyter, overseer, shepherd. So, you know, we need to keep that in mind. I'm just speaking, I'm just, you know, taking out that verse here. It's the old King James refers to it as over, I'm sorry, the modern King James translates this word as an overseer. And, you know, if you look at the original Greek, again, you know, episcope, okay, which means someone who is overseeing. And that is all there is to it. And then we realize, and if you look at it, right, it's not a title again, because it's a role, it's a responsibility. And he says here, you know, it's a good work, it's a good work. And one thing is that we see that, well, it's Timothy, who is actually overseeing the spiritual work, okay, who's pastoring this church. And here is Paul laying down some instructions for what are the qualifications for a bishop and overseer. So it's definitely not a title, right? It's a responsibility. It defines the work more than anything, right? So this is a faithful saying if a man desires to do the push for the position of a bishop, he desires a good work and wife, temperate, sober minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous. One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? Not a novice, meaning someone who's inexperienced or new to the work, lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside lest he fall into the approach and the snare of the devil. So this is for someone who is a bishop, who is seeking to do a bishop obviously overseeing these were people who were doing the spiritual work of leading people, teaching people, prayer, ministering and so on. Then the other list of qualifications he gives us for Deacon, the ones who are, Diaconos, the Greek word, the ones who take care of the business matters of the church. So for that also you see a similar qualification and it'll be good for us to go through that. Likewise, Deacons must be reverent and not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested. Okay, so we're saying they cannot be a novice, cannot be someone new or maybe a new believer, someone not mature. Let them first be tested and then let them serve as Deacons being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let Deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well, for those who have served well as Deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. So we see all these qualifications being mentioned here and one of the things mentioned here again is not a novice, sorry, not a novice, not someone who is new, not someone who's inexperienced, unless they fall into pride or they become arrogant and that becomes the downfall. So he's saying, set them up for success, set them up so that they thrive and do their work well and make sure. So one of the ways to do that is to test and of course testing would mean maybe a time of seeing them serve but not appointing them as a spiritual leader, seeing them serve as one among everyone and not really appointing them, not really laying hands and saying, okay, here's so-and-so and we are appointing them as a leader but seeing them serve and then that'll give an opportunity to correct as well, that'll give an opportunity for the person to change and so it's like they might do the work but not really carry the damage of not doing the work, not really inflict or create a lot of confusion. So let them be tested and he says, let them serve and being found, being found blameless, so let them first be tested. Along with that we see Timothy, Paul writing to Timothy and he's saying, because we see that Timothy is also actually, he's overseeing that particular, he's doing, he's shepherding rather, the flock of God in Ephesus and so we see some of the instructions that Paul gives to Timothy would apply to the pastoral work as well, the pastoral ministry as well. So right from the beginning he says his instruction about the doctrine, about the purpose of the commandment and the focus to be on the teaching and what he would teach and not giving heed to fables, genealogies which would create dispute and which would not result in godly edification. So that's another thing and the thing is it makes sense because the Lord says, he will feed the people with wisdom, will feed the people with knowledge and instruction and understanding and so if that is what is the objective or the end result then obviously it doesn't make sense to treat what is being taught lightly, to be, to ensure that these are words that will nurture and so Paul, again and again he would say, hold on to those patterns of the sound words that you heard from me and you commit these to others as well. So he would reiterate those instructions. So it makes sense because the end result is this, this is what is wanted, this is what is required and words or the teaching which are chord with godliness and teaching doctrine with a chord with godliness will result in that along with that of course when you lead by example. So he's saying verse 2 that charge some, remain in emphasis that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart from a good conscience and from sincere faith from which some having strayed have turned aside to idle talk. So they are desiring goes on to say they are desiring to be teachers but they don't understand nor what they say the things that they affirm and it has the law has to be used lawfully. Okay, so if it is to just to gain reputation, it is just to, if it is to just to gain social standing and then the motive is wrong and you know what is being taught is not given that importance and the weightage and it results in a group of people not really ending up how they should be right. So he goes on maybe if you look at verse 18 this charge I commit to you son Timothy according to the prophecies previously made concerning you that by them you may wage the good warfare having faith and a good conscience which some having rejected concerning the faith have shipwrecked. So you have faith and you are nourished in the words of God but also you know have a good conscience right which means that you know you're sensitive you're not searing your conscience you're not you know shutting your conscience down based on your motive or your wrong or not ending up in wrong actions and and justifying it you know when that that is when we sear our consciences right when we do something and when we try to justify it and we go against the voice of the spirit then our conscience gets seared you know like Hebrews 3 we see that the sin causes deception right exalt one yourself exalt one another while it is called day and do not be deceived by sin which which causes a hardening right so so this is the thing and then he also lays down certain instructions um inverse uh verse six sorry chapter four and also versus one onwards it's again it's about wrong doctrines and let's just go through that now this spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons speaking lies in hypocrisy having their own conscience stirred with a hot iron and you know these are some teachings forbidding to marry commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth okay some of those things right for every creature is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving for it to sanctify by the word of God and prayer okay verse six um if you instruct the brethren in these things you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ okay if you instruct your the brethren the the ones who are there if you instruct the flock in other words um you will be a good minister nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed so these are again some instructions to Timothy say saying you will be a good minister nourished in uh faith nourished in these words and also the good doctrine which you have carefully followed reject profane and old wives fables and exercise yourself towards godliness okay not only are you discerning and accepting but you also need to you know surgically reject those things which are not in accord with godliness right and exercise yourself towards godliness then he says bodily exercise profits a little but godliness is profitable in all things having promise of the life that now is and that which is to come this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance for to this end we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living god who is the savior of all men especially those who believe these things command and teach okay so there are certain things that um he says you know you command so it's a mixture of commanding and teaching so commanding is no don't do it teaching is let me explain why you should not do it you know let me explain why it is bad that command and teach right um versus 12 to 16 I think we just look at that and then we'll close um let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers in word in conduct in love in spirit in faith in purity okay so he mentions uh six things your word in conduct in love in spirit in faith in purity till I come give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine okay do not neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership meditate on these things give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all take heed to yourself and to the doctrine continue in them for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who um hear you okay um they're saying uh so not just the doctrine but be an example in all these ways in all these six ways word conduct love uh in purity in faith in spirit and also talks about you know what happened what he received from the Holy Spirit you know the gift of which was given to you bright by prophecy uh with the laying on of hands of the eldership probably at the time of commissioning him laying on our hands of the eldership don't don't neglect that gift don't neglect that uh teaching uh be strong give yourself um to to reading to exhortation so all this says that you know it goes with uh the responsibilities or the manner in which one can prepare for spiritual leadership leadership and especially of that of the pastoral ministry right so we um uh learn so much from here okay so we'll um we'll stop here um and then we'll continue in the next class uh I'm just going to shut down the recording here um