Poem: Here in the Midst of the Church of Wells

Here in the midst of the Church of Wells
Of good fruit, brotherly love, the doctrine of Christ I must tell:
Stronger than ever I have clung to His atonement by grace through faith...
Holding fast to Christ, laying hold of eternal life, ready lamps garnished with oil we do make.
Forsaken, buried under heaps of Satanic slander we do pray
for reawakening of the sleeping bride, for revival of the New Covenant among the regenerate, yes, before Him these we lay.
Righteous judgments, mercy and love, these do we seek to render.
Tenderly and violently slay the carnal soul of the pretender
that in the end the flesh may be destroyed and the spirit spared.
The eternal Lordship of the only Potentate who dwells in unapproachable light these saints have declared.
His peace and love within me do daily grow, no mistake have I made in coming here.
There is no where else I would rather be than with His disciples who have counted the cost for Him alone must I fear.
Poor and needy lost souls, and distressed, discontented, and indebted saints do stream to this city
for the great Shepherd of the sheep, starved and scattered on the hills, He does lead with great pity.
Among the princes of His people, His elders over His flock, we see Him exulted and ascended
for these do watch over our souls, laboring to present every man perfect, yes, it is possible, for His Spirit has descended.
We call out for judgment, we bear the burden of the LORD
that this generation of saints may not perish in the way but return by the power of His WORD.
   

Spiritual Mourning

Spiritual Mourning

     Dear Beloved, consider a time in the Scriptures when God’s people were told not to mourn: towards the end of their exile in Babylon, the people of Israel gathered together and contributed to the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. After the wall was rebuilt, the people gathered together with their families, and Nehemiah and Ezra, the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, “This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law”. Then Nehemiah said unto me, “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is sacred unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength”. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for this day is holy; neither be ye grieved”. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. (Neh 8:9-12) The people had heard the Word of God, understood It, that is, It was unsealed to them, and were filled with a kind of Godly repentant sorrow. But the joy of the LORD was their strength in their repentance, and thus the LORD commanded them not to mourn, but to rejoice before the LORD. For in returning and rest they were saved; in quietness and in confidence was their strength (Is 30:15)! The heart change that they underwent was prophesied by Jeremiah and Ezekiel:

“³⁷ Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in Mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: ³⁸ And they shall be My people, and I will be their God:³⁹ And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:⁴⁰ And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me.⁴¹ Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and with My whole soul.” (Jer 32:37-41)

“²⁴ For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.²⁶ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.²⁷ And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.” (Ez 36:24-27)

     The fulfillment of true repentance, of the genuine washing of regeneration and ongoing renewal of the Spirit, manifested specifically in the aforementioned account of the Israelites during the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, was essentially a fulfillment of God’s New Covenant promises to His people. God’s Covenant had come to pass, the people had been revived, enlightened, Spiritually awakened, and thus, they could rejoice. They ought to rejoice.

     But, dear saints, we have yet to see this type of Spiritual revival among the majority of the true church of Christ, who now remain in faulty states of slumber, carnality, deception, and blindness to much of the Spiritual reality of Scripture. You say this is not possible? But we are truly comparable to those states of the churches mentioned in Revelations, to which the Spirit said, “I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent”.

     We have committed adultery against the LORD our God, and thus become a friend of the world, at least temporarily, in so doing (James 4:4). And thus the LORD tells us, “draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He shall lift you up”. (James 4:8-10)

When the New Covenant promises are fulfilled before our eyes, the Lord tells us, “Do not grieve or mourn, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”, and yet, when we have committed adultery with the world, the LORD tells us, “Let your laughter and joy be turned to mourning and heaviness”.

     When Nehemiah heard that the remnant that were left of the captivity there in the province were in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also was broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire, he sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. (Neh 1:3-4) May the joy of our heart cease; may our dance be turned into mourning. For the crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. Thou, O LORD, remainest forever; Thy throne from generation to generation. Wherefore dost Thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn Thou us unto Thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. But (or lest) Thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wrought against us. (Lam 5:15-22)

     May our heart cry unto the LORD, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: may we give ourselves no rest, nor let the apple of our eye cease. May we arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out our heart like water before the face of the LORD: lift up our hands towards Him for the life of our young children that faint for hunger in the top of every street. (Lam 2:18-19).

     Saints, do you believe that the state described in the book of Amos has befallen us?: The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, surely I will never forget any of their works. Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? And it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: and I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the LORD: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. (Amos 8:7-13) Surely this state will overtake us lest we repent!

     We, as the people of God in this generation have drifted from our first love. The Lord is calling us to mourn and repent. For it is better to go the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. (Ecc 7:2-5) Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted (Matt 5:4)!

     Consider the blessed Spirit of grace and of supplications that will be poured out upon the house of David. And they shall look upon Him Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, and as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zech 12:10-14) This is blessed familial mourning without which there would be certain damnation!

     What is the essence of this Spiritual mourning? The LORD shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His Word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth is He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God?” Then will the LORD be jealous for His land, and pity His people. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto His people. “Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.” (Joel 2:14-19)

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.” (Hos 10:12)

     The Spiritual mourning we endure is unto Godly sorrow characterized by our earnest desire, our mourning, our fervency of mind, and is to repentance. For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Cor 7: 7-10) There is surely hope dear saints! Even in the midst of our mourning may we expect from the LORD to carry us unto the day when the sun shall no more go down; neither shall our moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended (Is 60:20). Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away (Is 51:11)!

^“9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.¹⁰ Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:¹¹ That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.¹² For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.¹³ As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.¹⁴ And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.¹⁵ For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.¹⁶ For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” (Is 66:9-16)

Dear saints, we must mourn with God until His Spirit revives His church, until His New Covenant is fulfilled in us and among us in our time!

Sermon: Patient in Tribulation 

Leonard Ravenhill: The Presentation of the Bride

Perfection or Damnation

Perfection or Damnation

     Dear Beloved, here I pray that the Lord will show you through His Word that if we do not maintain, through His grace alone, a perfect heart before the Lord, we will not be ready to stand before the Son of man on the Day of Judgment. Surely, it is impossible to reach a state of the true perfection of God here in this world. For it is indeed when we see Him face to face that we shall become like Him for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2), when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 Cor 13:10), and it is not as though we have already attained, or are already perfect, but we follow after, if that we may apprehend, or understand, that for which also we are apprehended of Christ Jesus. We do not count ourselves to have apprehended: but one thing we do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. We press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be PERFECT, be thus minded: and if in anything we be otherwise minded, may the LORD reveal even this unto us. (Phil 3:12-15)

     Everyone who has been counted worthy to stand before the Son of man throughout history has maintained a perfect heart towards him from the moment of conversion until the end. This is not to suggest that there were never any temporary straying, drifting, and slumber periods, but these were kept by the power of God though faith for the salvation that is to be revealed (1 Pet 1:5). The Greek word for perfect, "Teleios" means complete, brought to its end, perfect, wanting NOTHING necessary to completeness. Consider King David's whose heart was called as perfect with the LORD his God (1 Kings 15:3), Asa whose heart was perfect with the LORD all his days (1 Kings 15:14), and Hezekiah who walked before the LORD in Truth and with a perfect heart, doing that which is good in His sight (Is 38:3). Dear saints, the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him (2 Chron 16:9)! Examine the perfection of David: he said, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart" (Ps 101:2). Read his words:

"⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.¹¹ Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.¹² Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.¹³ Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be UPRIGHT, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression." (Ps 19)

This Psalm portrays the state of perfection within King David's heart:

* He trusted in the atonement of secret faults (for if the Lord should mark iniquity, who shall stand? (Ps 130:3)).

* He relied upon and utilized the power of God to be kept from presumptuous sins; they had no dominion over him.

     Thus, he was UPRIGHT, and INNOCENT from the great transgression in the eyes of God, and in his own conscience. The Lord had thoroughly purged his conscience. We who have seen the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6), who have believed and experienced the Gospel, know that such a good conscience can ONLY be wrought by the blood of Christ. For how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, PURGE OUR CONSCIENCES from dead works to serve the living God (Heb 9:14)? And thus we may draw near with a TRUE HEART in FULL ASSURANCE of faith, having our hearts SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE, and our bodies washed with pure water. O how thoroughly does the blood of our Lamb perfect us in every sense! Positionally, Christ alone is our righteousness, and not only this, but His blood truly cleanses our consciences in the very moment that we are believing, and thus we may not serve the prince of the power of the air, but rather we may serve the living God! We who are believing the Gospel, we who are dead with Him, surely do serve the living God! If we do not maintain this state of perfection, that is, the state of true belief in the eternal Gospel that results in loving obedience to Him, until the end, we will not be saved. That very burning and slaying of the carnal soul through the loving-kindness of the Lord, the mortification of the flesh, must continue. O it must continue! If it is not continuing at the present time, we have no security.

     Consider Christ's command to be therefore perfect, even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect (Mat 5:48) and His Words to the rich young ruler that if he would be perfect, he must go and sell that he had, and give to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven: and to come and follow Him (Matt 19:21)! Christ is the One Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col 1:28). Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of the world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought (1 Cor 2:6). For strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb 5:14). We must labour fervently in our prayers, that the saints may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Col 4:12). Night and day we must pray exceedingly that we might see the faces of God's people and perfect that which is lacking in their faith (1 Thess 3:10). We must let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4).

     Dear saints, we must hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience (1 Tim 3:9). A guilty conscience is unworthy in His sight! For herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is NOT MADE PERFECT in love. O, we love Him, because He first loved us! (1 John 4:17-19). We maintain a clear conscience by abiding in Him, that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (1 John 2:28), and by girding up the loins of our mind, being sober, and hoping to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:13). We have need of patience, that, after we have done the will of God, we might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, His soul shall have NO pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb 10:36-39).

     Christ's teachings are plenteous with regard to watching that we may be ready to stand before the Son of Man. He commands His disciples to WATCH and PRAY, that we enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt 26:41). He tells us that heaven and earth shall pass away: but His Words shall not pass away. He tells us to take heed to ourselves, lest AT ANY TIME our heart be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon us unawares. For as a SNARE shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. And thus, He tells us to WATCH therefore, and PRAY ALWAYS, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:33-36)

"⁴² WATCH therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ³ But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.⁴⁴ Therefore BE YE ALSO READY: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ⁴⁵ Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.⁴⁷ Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.⁴⁸ But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming;⁴⁹ And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;⁵⁰ The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,⁵¹ And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt 24:42-51)

"⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.¹³ WATCH therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matt 25)

"³⁴ For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.⁵ WATCH ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you SLEEPING.⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH." (Mark 13)

"³⁵ Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;³⁶ And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find WATCHING: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.³⁸ And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.³⁹ And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.⁴⁰ BE YE THEREFORE READY also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12)

    Dear saints, we must watch, stand fast in the faith, quit ourselves like men, be strong, watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of our ministry (1 Cor 16:13, 2 Tim 4:5). We must REMEMBER how we have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If we do not watch, He will come upon us as a thief, and we shalt not know what hour He will come upon us (Rev 13:3). Behold, He comes as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garment, the righteous robe of Christ, by faith, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (Rev 16:15). We keep our garment by continuing in the Gospel, by holding on to charity out of a pure heart, unfeigned faith, and a good conscience (1 Tim 1:5). We must keep His commandments without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim 6:14). We must be patient, therefore, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. We must also be patient; stablishing our hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh! (James 2:7-8)

"⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. ⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." (1 Thess 5:4-10)

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." (1 Pet 4:7)

Pastors According to Thine Heart

Pastors According to Thine Heart

     Dear beloved, the sheep are scattered because there is no shepherd: and they are meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. They wander through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, His flock is scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none do search or seek after them. (Ezek 34:5-6) True elders, true pastors, true under-shepherds are scarce. The diseased have not been strengthened. The sick have not been healed. The broken have not been bound up. Those who were driven away have not been brought back. Those who are lost have not been sought. (Ezek 34:4) But with force and cruelty false shepherds mingle and rule among the famished sheep. The gates of His people are sunk into the ground; He hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find NO vision from the LORD. Still other elders of the daughter of His people sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of His people hang down their heads to the ground. (Lam 2:9-10)

    As today’s intercessors pray, their eyes do fail with tears, their bowels are troubled, and their livers are poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of His people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. They say to their mothers, “Where is the corn and wine”, for the Chief Shepherd has said, “I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35) and “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53) What thing shall the LORD take to witness for us? What thing shall He liken to us? What shall He equal to us, that He may comfort us. For our BREACH is great like the sea: who can heal us? Our prophets have seen vain and foolish things for us: and they have not discovered our iniquity, to turn away this captivity; but have seen for us false burdens and causes of banishment. (Lam 2:11-14)

You say, “No, there is a risen Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd! What more need we?”

     Yes, indeed the sovereign Chief Shepherd, when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having NO shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest”. (Matt 9:36-38)

     The LORD has so chosen to exercise His sovereignty by leading His people through under-shepherds after His own heart. When His hand is extended in favor upon us, He will set up shepherds over us which shall feed us: and we shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall we be lacking (Jer 23:4). O that He would give us pastors according to His heart, which shall feed us with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15)!

“The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one Shepherd.” (Ecc 12:11)

     Christ is sufficient, and may we not fail to remember that when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the PERFECTING of the saints, for the WORK of the ministry, for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT MAN, unto the MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the TRUTH in LOVE, may grow up into Him in all things, Which is the Head, even Christ: from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:8-16)

We need these under-shepherds for our perfecting, the work of our ministry, the edifying of ourselves. We need them. 
Lord, have mercy!

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. ²³ For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ²⁴ Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; ²⁶ That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” (Phil 1)

     If He rends the heavens and comes down, that which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities therefore, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass under the hands of him that telleth them. (Jer 33:12-13) For behold, a King shall reign in righteousness, and PRINCES SHALL RULE IN JUDGMENT. And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. For the vile person will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice HYPOCRISY , and to utter ERROR against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. The instruments also of the churl, the mean-spirited man, are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. Yes, this is the state of the present day. But the liberal, the generous, deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. (Is 32:1-8)

Beloved, there are two breaches of our day (in addition to others):

1. We have not understood the Counsel of the Word of God with regard to our need to continue in the eternal Gospel.

     We think that we see, but our eyes are dim. We think that we hear, but we do not hearken. We think that we understand knowledge, but we are rash. We think that we speak plainly, but we stammer. For we have largely misunderstood, forsaken, and ignored the Scriptures warnings from falling away from the true faith that we have had in the past. Most have not even understood that they could fall away from the faith. And as we approach this great falling away, this plaque of apostasy, we are horrendously unprepared, for we do not see falling away as a possibility. And because of this specific blind-spot, much of the Counsel of the Word of God that commands us to lay hold of eternal Life now, to add to our faith, knowledge, virtue, temperance, patience, Godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (2 Pet 1:5-7), to labor to enter His rest, to guard the faith entrusted to us, to ABIDE IN HIM watchfully and prayerfully until the end, for we know not when the end will come...,because we do not believe that we can fall away, we do not understand the urgency nor experience the force of much of the Scriptures. For this doctrine should compel us to utterly rely upon the power and Word of God, the working and outpouring of His Spirit, and should rush our souls to the throne of grace: into the very life of Christ…relentlessly and constantly!

2. There is a severely scare number of elders (under-shepherds) who are both anointed and who understand the whole Counsel of the Word.

     In Spiritual view of our potential to fall away and our need to attain to perfection, that is, the state of having a conscience purged by the blood of Christ from dead works to serve the living God (Heb 9:14), the state in which all the faculties are consciously subjected to one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, falling short of true perfection, but nevertheless devoid of continual willful sin and containing faith in the present atonement of hidden sin, we may understand the need for true under-shepherds who will watch over our souls.

The heart of a true under-shepherd is described in Paul’s last words to the Ephesian elders:

²² And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: ²³ Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. ²⁵ And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. ²⁶ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL the counsel of God. ²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departing SHALL grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also OF YOUR OWN SELVES shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I CEASED NOT TO WARN EVERY ONE NIGHT AND DAY WITH TEARS ³² And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the WORD OF HIS GRACE, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. ³³ I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. ³⁴ Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. ³⁵ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:22-35)

Ponder upon these aspects of a true under-shepherd:

·       Experiences bonds and afflictions

·       Bound in the Spirit to finish his course with joy

·       Has received the ministry from the LORD Jesus to testify to the Gospel of grace

·       Does not count his life dear to himself

·       Pure of the blood of all men (a faithful watchman; see Ezek 3:17-21)

·       Feeds the church of God, which Christ has purchased with His own blood

·       KNOWS that after his departure grievous wolves SHALL enter in NOT sparing the flock, and of their own selves false prophets would arise

·       For three years, warns EVERYONE day and night with tears

·       Covets no mammon

·       SHOWS them all things: how to labour to support the weak

     Even when the people fail to listen, the true pastor speaks. When the people said to Jeremiah, “Where is the Word of the LORD? Let It come now”, he did not hasten from being a pastor to follow God: neither had he desired the woeful day that the apostate people deserved: God knew that what came out of his lips was right before Himself. He said to the LORD, “Be not a terror unto me: Thou art my hope in the day of evil. Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.” (Jer 17:15-16)

     A true elder may say, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor  11:1) and “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). Consider Epaphras, the dear fellowservant of the Colossians, a faithful minister and servant of Christ, who always labored fervently for them, that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Such great zeal he had for them! (Col 4:12-13) Consider again Paul: he rejoiced in his sufferings for God’s people, and filled up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh FOR HIS BODY’S  SAKE, which is the church: whereof he was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given to him, to fulfil the Word of God (Col 1:24-25) He longed to see his people, that he may impart unto them some Spiritual gift, to the end that they be ESTABLISHED (Rom 1:11).

Specifically with regard to the Scriptures doctrine of keeping the faith, lest we fall away, Paul exercised his authority as an under-shepherd:

^“2 For I am JEALOUS OVER YOU with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. ³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Cor 11:2-3)

“’I am AFRAID OF [for] YOU, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Gal 4:11)

Finally, the true under-shepherd views God’s people as his JOY and CROWN!

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” (Phil 4:1)

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thess 2:19) 

     O beloved, will you cry out to the Lord with me for God to anoint, teach, and raise up for us men of God who will lead us in this narrow way? O that we would have men who rule over us that we may obey and submit to them: for they would watch for our souls as those who will give account to our LORD (Heb 13:17)! Such elders that rule well are counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine. For the Scripture saith that we shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: the elder who studies to shew himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15)! And the labourer is worthy of his reward (1 Tim 5:17-18).