The Power Of A Shepherding Heart
Over the years, having the privilege to both serve under Pastors and exercise the role of a Pastor, I have been convinced that there is not a more powerful force on the earth than someone who has a shepherding heart.
Exodus 4:20 And Moses took the rod of God in his hand
The only thing God sent Moses to Egypt with was a shepherd's rod. The only thing Moses stood in Pharaoh's court with to confront the mightiest dictator on earth was a shepherd's rod. And this shepherd's rod represents something: the shepherd's heart. It represents what is in the heart of the shepherd, which is the ability to lead, provide and protect the flock in the spirit of grace.
When the Lord sent Moses to stand before Pharaoh with only a rod, God was saying to him, "Moses, I am sending you to Pharaoh in the spirit of a shepherd. You are going to stand before Pharaoh as a simple shepherd with a simple shepherd's heart."
Likewise, when Moses stood before Pharaoh with just a rod, Moses was saying something to Pharaoh:
"I didn't come with a sword. I didn't come with a army. I didn't come to lead some kind of revolt. I have simply come with a shepherd's heart to lead the Lord's people out of captivity and into the goodness of God."
Ultimately shepherd's are not called to be "revolutionaries." They are not called to try and find good causes in the earth and then pick up the sword and go to battle. And please do not misunderstand me, it is important that Pastors lead their flock to fight for just causes in the world. Please know I am not diminishing that. I am simply saying the shepherd's supreme calling is to feed God's people with truth and knowledge, and in doing so they will win more battles and impact the world more than they can possibly know.
Understand: the shepherd's power is in his shepherd's rod.
Moses is our example: every time God performed a miracle through his life, the rod was involved.
Moses, lift up your rod. Moses, stretch out your rod. Moses, lower your rod.
Again, God is saying something in this: "This is where the power is at. A shepherd will win every battle when he is not leading with a sword, but with a staff. A shepherd will overcome every obstacle when he is not fronting with a spear, but with a rod."
And here is what I want us to really understand: the only reason why Moses shepherd's rod had supernatural, phenomenal power is because it was held by a man with a shepherd's heart. If Moses did not have a shepherd's heart, there would be no power coming from the rod. It was Moses shepherd's heart that caused the rod to convey God's power.
You know, I can't help but think about the first time Pharaoh saw Moses standing in his court. Amused, an arrogant smirk must have crossed his regal face: Who is this common, ordinary, nothing shepherd standing before me? Yet, that smirk left his countenance real quick because he learned very quickly the power a shepherd has when he is not leading with a sword, but with a staff.
For today's shepherds, Moses staff represents the bible, which is the Word of God.
I am absolutely convinced that after God has taken careful time to shape a shepherd's heart into a leader, that is when the devil considers the bible to be the most dangerous weapon in the world against him. The leader who has the shepherd's heart can open up the Word and destroy lies and strongholds in people's minds, leading them into wonderful green pastures of joy and freedom. I am convinced that the most powerful force in the world is the bible in the hands of someone who has a shepherd's heart.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the most powerful things we can do is plant ourselves under Pastors who truly have a shepherd's heart. When they open God's Word and speak from that heart, there is incredible freedom in the Word. Tragically, we are living in an age where so many Christians have taken on a mindset that says, "Being faithful to church is not important. I will go when I feel like it, and stay home when I don't." There is no true commitment to the house of God. Sadly, it shows in their spiritual walk with the Lord: ignorance of truth, compromise with sin, and spiritual bondage. Let's recognize God's Pastors as the priceless gift that they are, and allow the shepherding heart to lead us into the green pastures the Lord has for our lives.
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