Messiah Jesus' life and death was our perfect example of a the living sacrafice which pleases God as Holy and acceptable to our Father. He committed all things unto Him. In so doing, everything He did was what our Father does.
Nothing Jesus does is seperate from our Father.
This is our example in the way we walk.
This one true and living faith is not at all about getting people to change to our way of thinking in effort to make converts. What it is about is making disciples OF JESUS through our example first and foremost. Teaching and training flows out from example.
If doctrine is not through this same lifestyle in sacrafice, even as Jesus gives His life for the world, it is no true doctine at all. It may be an ideal, yet if it is not manifest in ourliving, it is no more valid than a football bat.
Teaching without the example of doing is not discipleship at all. There is no relationship with God in this. This is only mental mountain climbing, and that is all the farther it will get us... on some jagged rocks in the cloudy heights of intellection.
Jesus pointed out that what is taught must be done primarily, yet in conjunction with the teaching, Mt. 5:19.
This is all about relationship. Relationship through God making His home within us first, Jn. 14:23); and then, through proclaiming this lifestyle of relationship in God unto the world in which we live, Mt. 28:18-20.
Love Jesus, commune in Him and the Father, then take it to the streets.
Agape,
gregg
Acts20:32
FOR PASTORS TO CONSIDER:
It has been burdensome and grievous to see, often those who call themselves shepherds of God's flock are swift to feed without devoting time and attention to His sheep: hirelings that cannot be reached when trouble comes. Is it any wonder so many of HIS flock are scattered, out of fold?
Tending sheep is first by standing and walking as one to follow. In this sheep know where the best feeding is, as well.
If relationship with God in Jesus is not declared in visible example, His sheep tend to look about for food in any place that might seem it could be satisfying. This visible example is not only in prayer, but also in getting our feet dirty pulling HIS sheep from places they should not stray, and setting their stride on the right path again.
Take HIS sheep to good grazing and rest there with them.
Most of what is our (post-)modern concept of doctrine and theology encompasses today, has so little to do with just living this life in Jesus, the Christ. As such, what is not of this, has no annointing from God. This perpetuates as just so many dead words falling on deaf ears.
Without a vision, the people perish, could be stated as "Without an example to follow..."
If we are not living the proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified, we have no room to talk as though we understand, because we really have not the sleightest bit of knowledge in this at all.
The above stated things leave little to imagine why members -(, if this be the case,)- of our local assemblies are not committed.
Now, consider the words of Ezekiel in relation to these two posts:
Ezekiel 34:
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: a“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The weak 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. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 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.”
7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “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”— 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! 10 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.”
11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 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. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will 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. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”
17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 18 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? 19 And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”
20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them— bMy servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.
25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27 Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but othey shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, rnor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’ ”
31 “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.
[The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982]
God watches out for His own.
Amen?
edited: for clarity
