Enemies of the Sheep
It is with sorrow and shame that we must recognize that
there is much self-serving leadership in Christianity. It has always been true.
It is still one of the most serious problems in the Church worldwide. The Apostle Paul recognized this problem in
his time. "I have no one else like
Timothy, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out
for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ" (Phil 2:20, 21
niv). Of hundreds of church leaders Paul
was acquainted with, he only had one he could trust with the sheep. That was
Timothy. Timothy would serve the sheep, not himself. The other leaders would
serve their own self-interests. There
are men and women who have power ministries given by the Holy Spirit. Sadly,
instead of seeking God's face in humility, they begin to seek that which will
serve, save and promote "their ministry." They use and abuse their
spiritual gifts for their own gain and glory.
They become self-sufficient and proud. There is deception in pride. The
soulish and selfish drift is so gradual, leaders may not even realize how far
from God they have gone.
In John 10, Jesus and church leaders are likened to shepherds.
Sheep symbolize the true followers (believers) of Jesus. Jesus warns His
disciples to guard against three major enemies of the sheep.
These enemies are:
• The
thief,
• The
robber, and
• The
hireling.
1. The Thief (John
10:1,8,10) The thief is one who steals
subtly and deceitfully. The thief usually comes in the night, when all is dark
and he cannot be seen. He is sly, clever and deceitful in his ways. The thief
is the devil and those church leaders who are like him (vs 10).
2. The Robber/Wolf (John 10:1,8) The robber steals by force, violently
attacking others and taking away their goods. He will overpower anyone,
anytime, anywhere, to take what he wants. False prophets, pastors, etc. are
wolves (Matt 7:15; Acts 20:29).
3. The Hireling (John 10:12,13) The hireling is one whose only motive for
working with sheep is the money or wages. "... A hireling looketh for the
payment for his work" (Job 7:2). It is just a job for him. He is unfaithful in the discharge of his
duty. The hireling will run as soon as
he sees the wolf coming. His attitude is one of self-preservation, so he flees
when the enemy comes (John 10:12). The
hireling has no real care for the sheep of God's fold (John 10:13).
Paul refers to this problem in his second letter to the
church at Corinth: "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the Word of God for
profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men
sent from God " (2Cor 2:17 niv). Paul
did not want to be like those who make a trade or profession out of their
ministry of God's Word. He wanted to be a man of sincerity. Paul would get a job and work with his hands
to support himself before giving even the appearance of being a hireling (Acts
18:3; I Cor 4:12).
Sadly, in Western society there has been a trend towards
making a profession out of one's God-given ministry. There are those who will
minister only if large crowds and finances are promised beforehand. Those who set such self-serving conditions
are often drawn into deception and error, and lead others astray in the
process. A real man or woman of God will
not be partner to such selfish standards, but will be led only by the straight,
true, righteous sense of God's will.
They will have the courage of Peter. When tempted by Simon to sell his
gift, “Peter answered: 'May your money perish with you, because you thought you
could buy the gift of God with money'"' (Acts 8:20). The gift of God should never be available
"for hire." Ministry should not be "for sale." Preachers
should never allow themselves to be bought or sold! The direction of a true prophet must come
from a sure sense of God's will. Such a revelation can only be birthed out of a
commitment to integrity, prayer, intercession and seeking the face of the
Lord.
a. Examples of Hirelings
1) A Levite. “Dwell with me, and be unto me a priest, and I
will give thee ten shekels of silver... and a suit of apparel...So the Levite
went in " (Judg 17:10). “And he
said... thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his
priest" (Judg 18:4). Judges 17 and
18 relates the story of the pitiful Levite who sold his ministry for ten
shekels and a suit. He violated an important principle of true ministry.
"Ye are bought with a price [the blood of Jesus]; be not ye the servants
of men” (I Cor 7:23). This priest sold
himself to serve a man for money. He surrendered to the low spiritual standards
of the time. By doing so he squandered the opportunity to lift the entire tribe
of Dan into a place of purity in worship.
The young Levite (priest) burned incense before idols and
eventually corrupted a whole tribe. He
could have turned the tide against idolatry and brought a return of God's
glory. But he chose material reward over spiritual usefulness. How differently
the record could have read. But he failed — what might have been never
was! Idolatry triumphed. Judgment came,
and the nation was eventually carried away into captivity. By selling his
calling and ministry, the Levite opened the door for judgment and destruction.
Don't make this fatal mistake!
God does not call and anoint leaders for their own selfish
gain, but for the good of others and His glory.
Any other attitude or motive will only lead to our spiritual
loss — and perhaps that of others — as in our story of the Levite above.
2) Gehazi. The story of Elisha healing the Syrian general
Naaman, contains a shocking sequel. After dipping seven times in the Jordan
River, as Elisha had instructed, the general was cleansed of his leprosy. "Then Naaman and all his attendants went
back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is
no God in the entire world except in Israel.
Please accept now a gift from your servant.' "The prophet answered, 'As surely as the
LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.' And even though Naaman
urged him, he refused " (2Ki 5:15, 16).
Elisha understood it was wrong to use God's gift for selfish gain. If
Elisha had accepted money, Naaman would have known nothing of the selfless
character of God. God freely gives to us
and expects us to freely give to others. Jesus' commandment was:
"...cleanse those who have leprosy... Freely you have received, freely
give'' (Matt 10:8). Elijah had obeyed this injunction. It should be noted that the reputation and
respect for modem-day healing evangelists would be greatly enhanced if they
emulated Elijah's attitude. Unfortunately, many appear to merchandise their
gift for the maximum financial return.
How sad! In some cases, they appear to have Gehazi's spirit
rather than Elisha's. But Gehazi,
Elijah's servant, saw what Elisha had done and decided to go after Naaman's
gold and garments for his own personal gain.
"So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward
him, he got down from the chariot to meet him... “Gehazi answered... 'Please give... me a talent
of silver and two sets of clothing.' '"By all means, take two talents,'
said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them... When Gehazi returned... he took
the things... and put them away in the house...
"Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. 'Where have
you been, Gehazi? ' Elisha asked. 'Your servant didn't go anywhere,' Gehazi
answered. "But Elisha said to him,
'Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you?
' '"... Naaman's leprosy will cling
to you and to your descendants forever.' Then Gehazi went from Elisha's
presence and he was leprous, as white as snow" (2 Ki 5:20-27 niv). Gehazi got Naaman's gold, garments and —
leprosy! Such are the ways of those who want to take money for God's gifts and
are greedy of gain.
3) Balaam. "...Balaam ...loved the wages..." (2Pet
2:15). The prophet Balaam sold his ministry for position (Num 22:17) and
money. Balaam was perhaps the most
eloquent prophet in the whole Bible. His lofty words revealed most astounding
truth about God. Why then was he judged
a false prophet? Why then was he stoned to death in judgment? It was not because his prophecies were false
— it was because his motives were mixed. Balaam went after the glory and the
gold. When King Balak's representatives came to Balaam, the Lord's instructions
were clear: "And God said unto
Balaam, 'Thou shalt not go with them...' And the princes came back to Balaam,
and said to him, 'Thus saith King Balak, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee
from coming unto me: "For I will
promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto
me; come therefore, I pray thee... '" (Num 22:12,16,17). God had given the prophet Balaam clear
instruction NOT to go to King Balak to be his hired prophet. But Balaam kept
insisting that God allow him to go.
Balaam desperately wanted the money, prestige and honor that King Balak
offered. He kept pressing the Lord to permit him to go.
“... Balaam... they
slew with the sword'' (Num 31:8). The love of position and money cost Balaam
his life. His prophecies were true — his motives were false. He died under
judgment. When what we want is contrary
to His word and will, the worst judgment God can send on us is to let us have
what we insist on. Balaam was to learn this tragic lesson about God. "He
gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" (Ps
106:15). If we set up idols in our
heart, the Lord will even send prophets who "...by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom 16:18). God will deceive
those whose motives in ministry are wrong.
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Ths 2:11,12). The prophet Ezekiel explained this.
"Therefore speak to them and tell them, "This is what the Sovereign
LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked
stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will
answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry'" (Eze 14:4 niv). Going to a prophet with idols in your heart
causes God to only further confirm you in your sin and disobedience, and you
end up like Balaam. I have said to the
Lord, "Lord! I would rather you slay me than deceive me. Please do not let
me have my own way when it is contrary to Your will. Cause me to ever know Your
will and fulfill it." I hope that is your attitude and prayer as
well.
4) Judas. The Apostle Judas sold Christ for 30 pieces of
silver and never lived to spend it. He committed suicide (Matt 27:3-10). How
dangerous it is to let covetousness and the love of money get a grip on one's
life!
b. Examples of Others Motivated By Greed;
1) Ananias and Sapphira. Sapphira and Ananias lied to the
Holy Spirit over money and suffered the death penalty (Acts 5:1-11).
2) Simon the Sorcerer. Simon the sorcerer sought to buy the
power of God for imparting the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and
was judged accordingly (Acts 8:12-24).
3) Those That Make a Business of Ministry. Those who buy and
sell in the temple (trade on their gift or ministry) will face severe judgment
(Matt 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45; John 2:15). They will end up with the
mark, name and number of the Anti-Christ (Rev 13:17).
Source: The Shepherd's Staff
No comments:
Post a Comment