God Speaks To Today’s Pastors Through Ezekiel

TRUE CHRISTIAN leaders such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are precious vessels of God entrusted with the heavenly responsibility to tend and feed disciples of Christ placed under their care.

They should do their work “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine… (Eph. 4: 13 – 14).

Christian leaders know their divine assignments with the charge to exercise oversight willingly, eagerly and being examples to the disciples. They must do this in the hope of receiving unfading crown of glory when the Archbishop of the Church, Jesus Christ, appears (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Thus, pastors are expected to care for God’s children in much the same way as parents take care of their children. Responsible parents feed their children with foods that are rich in nutrients so that they can grow well.

They make sure that their children are not injured, wounded or attacked by wicked people or wild animals. In most cases, they do not allow their children to go to the houses of strangers.

Responsible parents constantly monitor, guide, guard, discipline, praise and instruct their children in the right way they should go. They teach and instruct them to do their will. Parents continue to do these things until the children grow old or mature enough to take care of themselves.

Similarly, God expects His ministers to take care of His children (Christians) the same way or even better until they grow into maturity.

However, God knows that most of His servants today fail to properly care for His children. Just like what the leaders of Israel did in the days of Ezekiel, many pastors today care for themselves at the expense of the believers.

Therefore, God speaks to today’s irresponsible pastors through Ezekiel, the prophets: “34 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: “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.” (Ezekiel 34: 1 – 10, NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ will subject His servants to strict judgment on the last day. No one will escape. Both the faithful and unfaithful ministers will be judged according to what they have done. There shall be no favouritism, nepotism or partiality.

This calls for genuine repentance with pleadings of the blood of Jesus and the mercies of the Father

By James Quansah