And There Were Shepherds
Steve Shultz
 
 

And There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field
November 24, 1998
The Lord is about to suddenly visit Pastors, the Shepherds of His People.

Luke 2:8 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." God loves Pastors. Those pastors who are truly called by Him are among those who will even lay down their life down for His sheep. Whether a pastor is from the "greatest" seminary in the land or is an obedient shepherd without "papers"- caring for elderly sheep who are shut in ----God is about to visit the shepherds of His flock.

It is "night" in the field. And "The field is the world . . ." (Matt 13:38) The Good shepherd is looking with compassion on His shepherds in the field who are guarding his sheep in the dark times coming upon the world.

Yet, amidst their caring for the sheep, accusations abound toward these shepherds. "You are guarding them too much. They are pressed in too tight. You are not letting them have enough freedom." In these accusations, the Lord is not pleased.

The Lord looks not on the outward appearance of these shepherds, but on the heart. He sees the heart to save and to protect His sheep and He will soon appear to many of His pastors, some even with angelic visitations, to bring "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)

Pastors are some of the most unfairly maligned people in the Body of Christ. Many of them would gladly give all they own, if they only had answers to some of the problems facing them and facing the church. Many constantly cry out in the night, for revelation of the plans of God. "When will You send the promised deliverer," they plead, knowing full well that it is the Savior, Jesus they are seeking. "Why do You tarry?" they ask. "My sheep---YOUR sheep-- are wounded and broken and there is nothing I can do to help them, it seems. When will you come to Your church in Power, Lord?"

The Lord's message to His shepherds is simple and yet profound, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

The Lord is so pleased with the heart of many of His shepherds to protect His sheep that He is coming to them "in the night" to bring them the message to "fear not" as the Lord is about to reveal Himself in a most unexpected way, compared to what they (and the sheep) or looking for.

"Where and how will we find you," the Lord's shepherds ask. "How will we know when it is you? How will the deliverer help us in this hour? We've prayed so long for our sheep!"

And the "Angel of the Lord" says to these good shepherds, "Fear not:

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be [good news to you and] to all [your] people.

"What is the good news, Lord?" the shepherds ask.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David [Bethlehem] a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) "Lord, why Bethlehem? And why David's City?"

Because from the least comes the greatest. Because those who have been forgiven much will love much. Because worship comes from those who are forgiven--in David's City. And because those who would be greatest among you must be the least among you--the servants of all.

"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Matt 2:6 Jesus came from the City of David. My greatest work comes from David's City. And that among the poor. From those who have no place to lay their head.

" But Lord, when we find Him our Savior Jesus, whose coming in power we so desperately need--- what will He look like? How will we recognize Him?"

"And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes [rags], lying in a manger [an animal feeding trough]." (Luke 2:12) The Lord is saying that in this hour, He will be consistent with His ways. The work of God will manifest itself in foolishness as it always has. The greatest work of God, in the Harvest, and in the church, will be initiated among the poor, the outcast, those in rags, the disenfranchised, even the homeless. His coming in Power is about to be "born" among the Poor. His healing and deliverance will come among the outcast. He is coming in foolishness.

And because of His love for His shepherds, He is announcing this to the shepherds of His flock first. He is saying, "You will find ME among the poor. When I want to receive great glory, I begin the work among the least things, in the least places, in the least ways. And I announce it first to my shepherds who are guarding the flocks by night"

There will be many shepherds who will hear, discover, and believe where the Lord's work is in this hour and they will speak to one another about it. . .

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:15-18 And the church will soon be amazed at "what it's own shepherds say to them." As this new work among the poor and outcast of the earth is announced to the shepherds, (many with angelic visitations) they will go and see and then they will go and tell others who will also go and "do." And unlike what many are saying, even prophesying, it will be the shepherds (The TRUE shepherds) who will lead the way in this work among the poor.

The Lord is cautioning and exhorting the members of His Body not to seek ways to become unattached to a pastor/shepherd, but rather, look for God's pleasure toward them and His announcements and appearing in His Glory among them. It will be His shepherds who will lead you into the work and harvest among the poor. Because they will discover that this is where the Lord is.

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matt 25:40 Steve Shultz
sshultz@worldaccessnet.com
 
 
 
 

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