May 26, 2020 Wisdom for Our Shepherds

Pastors and all Church leaders have a great responsibility to shepherd their flocks.  It has always been a difficult task, because their congregations are made up of people, and the Bible often refers to us as sheep who need a shepherd!  If we do not have a good shepherd, and if we do not follow our leaders, we will go astray. 
 
This is a time when good and wise shepherd are needed in our churches.  There is much division in our leaders and in our congregations if we should we should remain in our homes or assemble together.  God is the only One who knows what is going on with the virus, because He is the one who sent this judgment, and He is the One who will bring it to an end.  There are very valid reasons for both sides – the leaders want to shepherd their flocks and encourage them in the Lord as they did before, but how can they do that in a safe and respectful manner?
 
God told us a few weeks ago a civil war was coming to the church, and I believe it is here now.  Pastors are pressured on one side to continue gathering online, and on the other side to open up all ministries in their church.  The two sides are very divided and sometimes critical of the other’s opinion.  We must understand that only God knows what the truth is. We need to be more understanding of those who have differing opinions of this matter.  We are the body of Christ, and we must KNOW that the enemy is using this virus and the mercurial nature of our governments to bring about a civil war in the church.
 
But we are not left to be victims of this war, but instead we must be diligent and humble to PRAY what is on God’s heart in this season of judgment.   And today the Lord is asking us to pray for our Pastors and Elders. 
 
Jeremiah 33:3  Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
 
What do we need to do?  First of all we must pray for our leaders to hear clearly from the Lord:

• To know what is best for their own church
• To be creative in how to meet the varied needs of all their people
• To be wise and compassionate in dealing with the opinions of the people on both sides
• To prepare and give great sermons to bring about unity in their church

Second pray for our pastors and elders:

• To walk in great humbleness, and not pride! 
• To be pure and peaceable leaders
• To have a heart for justice and wisdom in how to address injustice

 
God will answer our pure prayers for our churches.
 
Zechariah 10:6  I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
 
God makes many promises in Zechariah 10 to His people who call out to Him.  Just in this one passage the Lord says He will:

• strengthen them
• save them
• bring them back,
• have compassion on them
• not reject them

 
Zechariah 10:12  And I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk," declares the LORD.
 
As we are praying for a great awakening and renewal of the hearts of our Pastors, and let’s also pray for an atmosphere of respect and obedience to fill the hearts of all who believe in the Lord!