Throughout the Bible, the people of God are often referred to as “sheep.”
– Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”
– Matthew 9:36 – “When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
– Mark 6:34 – “Jesus had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things.”
Also, throughout the Bible, Jesus Christ Himself is the Shepherd of the sheep.
– John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
– John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
– Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want …”
After Jesus had finished His work on earth and had ascended back to Heaven, He entrusted the care of His “flock” to elders/pastors who were to “shepherd” His people. (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Our background photo for today is not quite a sheep-pen gate, but it is somewhat close … a horse-area gate. When it comes to caring for sheep or horses, it takes a lot of work! So also, in the same way, caring for the “flock” of God’s people is a lot of work!
Caring for sheep/or horses is a thankless job. There are stalls to be shoveled out … regularly. So also, elders & pastors who care for Jesus’s “flock” must deal with a lot of unpleasant business. People’s lives are messy. There is sin which must be “shoveled out” … regularly.
Sheep and horses must be fed! This is a lot of work! Food doesn’t just automatically show up. Summer might bring a good crop of hay … but the hay must be harvested! The hay must be handled appropriately so that it won’t mold during the wet rainy months of winter.
So also, elders & pastors must put in work to provide food for God’s “flock.” It takes work to dig in deep to the Word of God! Then the truths of God’s Word must be handled appropriately as they are fed to God’s people.
Sheep and horses must also be watered! Once again, it takes work!
Protection.
This is yet another role of the shepherd/ or the one who cares for horses. Our area does not present danger from wolves. However, there is certainly cause for concern regarding bobcats, cougar, bear, and coyote.
When it comes to Jesus’s “flock” there is much to be concerned about when it comes to “wolves.”
The Apostle Paul expressed this very concern when he said farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus:
Acts 20:28-31 – “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!”
We open the book of 1 Timothy to see that this is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to his dear friend Timothy, who was at the time, the pastor of the church at Ephesus. (1 Timothy 1:2-3) Indeed “wolves” had infiltrated the church at Ephesus. (1 Timothy 1:3-7)
The book of 1 Timothy is an instruction manual specifically for elders & pastors who have been given the charge to care for God’s “flock.”
* Watch out for “wolves”! – 1 Timothy 1:3-7
* Hang in there! Don’t lose heart! – 1 Timothy 1:18-19
* Instructions for worship – 1 Timothy chapter 2
* Qualifications for elders & pastors – 1 Timothy chapter 3
* Preach the Truth! – 1 Timothy 4:6
* Don’t get sidetracked by foolish matters – 1 Timothy 4:7
* Regularly train yourself in godliness! – 1 Timothy 4:8
* Set an excellent example! – 1 Timothy 4:12
* Teach God’s people the Word of God! – 1 Timothy 4:13
* Be diligent in your task! – 1 Timothy 4:14-15
* Live a life that is above reproach – 1 Timothy 4:16
* Advice about Widows, Elders, Slaves – 1 Timothy chapter 5
* Advice about money – 1 Timothy 6:3-19
Jesus Christ in 1 Timothy
– Jesus is the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God – 1 Timothy 1:17
– Jesus is the Mediator between God and people – 1 Timothy 2:5
– Jesus is the ransom for all – 1 Timothy 2:6
– Jesus came to earth as God in flesh, with a human body – 1 Timothy 3:16
