You can see from NT epistles that the letters reflect men who were closely related to God and the Church. Personal letters that addressed current spiritual concerns. These brothers had a heart burdened for the sheep and they never took advantage of them. They had received revelation of the Church of God and for the Church of God. And the Chief Shepherd was their example, who laid down His life for the sheep not like the Gentiles which Lord over men and not as the Pharisees who put burdens on men that they themselves will not carry.
The Early Church was not run as a business, corporation or tax exempt institution and the elders did not have pressure on them to "perform" once or twice a week for their salary and benefits and to keep the structure intact and "running". In fact, the Church of Jesus Christ is not a structure that has to be kept running, it is the Body of Jesus Christ and receives life from Jesus as each member abides in Him (the Head). "sheep" have been conditioned to be enablers (co-dependent) of the religion business and so they continue even as the Lord continues to call them out.
The religious system is a professional sheep herding system and those driving the herds do it for pay.
Reminds me of the 5 Caananite kings that hid in the cave of Makkedah which is called the "herdsman's place" or "place of shepherds". More like the "place of false shepherds".
Many false shepherds are "hiding" within the Church. They have created nice little "caves" (kingdoms) for themselves.
False shepherds herd (drive) and damage the sheep while true shepherds lead the sheep and bring healing through the ministry of the Word.
If someone does not have a heart for the Church or for the Lord, and are required in their "herding" job to spit out sermons on a regular basis to support the system then look for sermons that drive the sheep into works of performance including sustaining the "false kings of the sheepfold", and the works of THEIR HANDS, financially. They borrow "sermons" from one another on a regular basis.
And these false shepherds will always come together to persecute the people of God.
Jos 10:4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
Jos 10:5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
For revival in your life, are you being "herded" or shepherded?
Shepherds do not drive the sheep for their own gain.
There is a difference between tending the flock of God and herding the flock of God
Do not fear or associate with them, instead "expose the untruthful works of darkness".
The false shepherds hide themselves behind "Christianese" talk and conduct and they detest being exposed.
Jos 10:16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
Only a great stone (Rock) can stop them.
Jos 10:18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
Leave them to God, and make sure you are building the right kingdom and being shepherded by the Chief Shepherd.
No revival if you have the wrong Shepherd.
A most important book for our day and time which exposes the the "religious kings of the sheepfold".
The Hope of Israel
http://www.messianicgoodnews.org/hope-of-israel-philip-mauro/