The bible says to forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, church is important, as much for you as for the people in the church. We can build each other up, hold each other up, and be blessed in the process. I don’t know what will happen when the tribulation of the world gets worse, perhaps true believers in Jesus will only meet in their houses because of persecution, but for now as I’m writing this, I still go to churches when I can. I don’t belong to any particular denomination, I have found true believers in Jesus in a lot of different denominations. I have written this section so that if you assemble yourself with a particular church, you will avoid some pitfalls that I have fallen into.
In the old testament the people followed the Lord by His Spirit. When they settled into towns though, they said, give us a king like all the other countries. It is sometimes like that with us, when things are hard, or we are ill, we seem to be able to pray hard and hear Him, and follow Him. Then sometimes something happens when things are going ok, we stop hearing Jesus and expect that He will only speak to us through a pastor. Some pastors love this, but a pastor who is following the Holy Spirit will realize that a healthy church is a church that is walking with Jesus, personally. A pastors job, the same job we all have, is to make disciples of Christ Jesus, not disciples of ourselves. The Holy Spirit uses people in the church, they get words of prophecy, words of knowledge, gifts of miracles, so that all the body will be useful, not just one or a few members. A healthy church nurtures the gift in each member, and church becomes a place to use our gifts and grow as a body. The world though, and all too often the church, tends to select a head and board that does everything. A charismatic pastor and a few gifted elders are elevated to a status unintended by God. Jesus said One is your Father, and you are all brethren. Be not called Rabbi… (teacher)
Sometimes I have seen a “lowly” member of a church that is not recognized by the members. He may have a word, or gift, for the church, usually based on the cross and Jesus redemption there, but since he is not “on the staff” no one allows the word or gift to be used. His good word from the Lord is looked upon like an interesting idea, but way too simple, and besides, he couldn’t be right they say, because he’s way too new at this. If you remember when you first gave your life to the Jesus, you’ll remember also how focused you were. You didn’t have a program, or an organization, you were just following Him, and quite happy. I think that the newest members in the body of Christ often have more pure gifts to offer the body. Their focus is still on Jesus and what Jesus is doing or asking them to do. The bible says in Timothy chapter 3 not to elevate a novice to position in the church lest he fall into pride, but that does not mean that the new believer doesn’t hear from Jesus.
When looking for a church to attend please consider that Jesus sends you to church as a member, not a servant, you are His servant and He said to be not the servants of men. You will do lots of things for other people in your walk with Jesus and you will be a servant indeed, but only because He asks you to. He hasn’t saved you and then sold you into bondage to a local organization. I say this because some church’s demand your total agreement with everything they say to do, and it is as if you are lower than them and they tell you how to lead a christian life. If your church has asked you to do something in service please take a moment and ask Jesus if it is something He wants you to do. Jesus said to go make disciples, but we are not to make disciples of ourselves or our church, we are to make disciples of Jesus, and He will do it through us. A good church will show you Jesus and lead you into a closer relationship with Him. They will not try to conform you to their ideas on what makes a good christian “worker”, using lots of scriptures to prove to you what you should be doing for them. Jesus shows us His will for our lives, if the direction comes from someone else it can be a confirmation of what the Lord has already shown us, but we are to seek Jesus’ will for our lives ourselves.
Some churches are hard to discern whether they are following the Living Jesus or the dead works of the flesh, so I pray for the gift of discernment when I am visiting churches. Sometimes churches that preach a lot of works instead of following the Living Jesus who gives daily guidance, seem to have a few absolutes but not always.
One absolute I have noticed is churches with a big emphasis on the finished work of Jesus on the cross, that they say means: everyone should be healed, wealthy, delivered instantly, and if they aren’t its because they don’t read the bible enough or have enough faith or are not willing to work hard enough at it. They also like to confess your sins for you. The hard thing about this is that you can’t show them that they are not walking in the Spirit because they back it all up with scriptures and claim the Holy Spirit is directing them. The finished work of Jesus on the cross does give us healing and deliverance and sometimes wealth, but I have found that it is not always God’s will that we be healed instantly, wealthy, and that sometimes he doesn’t clean people up instantly. The bible says:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:1-3
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thess 5:21
We must test things, sometimes we can get off into a doctrine that seems to be of the Lord but takes us away from Jesus. If this happens we can repent and return to Him who loves us, and He will restore us. I try to see the intent of the heart of people in ministry, do they really love Jesus and try to follow Him and His ways or are they building a business to advance their little (or big) kingdom? you can tell sometimes from the way they live their lives. Sometimes I can’t see their lives and I pray because it is said of Jesus that He will reveal the thoughts of hearts:
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke 2:34-35
I often hear on tv that televangelists ministries say they are there to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. I’m confident that many people have been saved this way, I have watched some honest truthful godly people share the pure gospel of Jesus on television. I have also seen as many heretical preachers on tv saying that Jesus told them to tell me things that are opposite of the gospel of Jesus. How are people to discern who is telling the truth about Jesus? By prayer and by reading the bible, I believe.
I’m not against people preaching on tv but I also wish that there was a tv ministry that had someone reading the bible on air, translated into as many languages as possible. People in other countries that don’t have bibles may have a hard time discerning whether a televangelist is preaching correct doctrine if they don’t even have bibles to compare it to.
I recently read a story of a woman in Nigeria who lives in a city that just got their first draft of a part of the bible, Johns gospel, in their language. I cannot imagine if I had had to wait until 2012 to get my own copy of the bible, even just one book of the bible, in my language. I believe it is very important that we translate the bible for every language, and distribute it in every way possible. Why don’t christian tv stations pay to have someone read the bible a book at a time to their listeners, let the people hear the whole truth of the gospel? Let the tv station (that can easily afford it) translate that with subtitles into as many languages as possible. I know it wouldn’t make money for the station but what is the purpose of christian tv? I believe people need the bible to read themselves more than any mans interpretation of it.
Even aside from tv, It is more than 2000 years since Jesus rose from the dead and we have the ability to print documents in seconds that used to take days or weeks or months. How many bibles are we printing and freely distributing? People in other countries are dying for professing faith in Jesus, people that have only a few parts of the bible, if that much. Is there a website that has the bible on it so people can read it online? An un-copyrighted one where people can download the bible for free? I can imagine the headline of a newspaper in some place saying, “joe christian was arrested yesterday for downloading a copy of the bible and distributing it because he broke the copyright law of American bible translator fred smith (not real name)”. We have an obligation as American christians to spread the gospel while it is still legal for us to do so. We have an obligation to do it without charge, because we can.
sorry, back to discerning ministries.
When I am listening to an evangelist say things about Jesus healing people it is easy for me to believe that Jesus wants to heal me, until they tell me that in order to get that faith to be healed I have to buy their cd. When they say things like that, or that I need to plant a cash seed that will turn into a physical healing, I stop even thinking of Jesus and His Awesomeness, I begin to think about the televangelist and wonder if I am being scammed. Even if they are not trying to scam me, I think automatically that they are, because on the one hand they talk to me of grace and mercy and forgiveness and miracles, and then they add a dollar bill into the conversation. That takes my mind right off all that other stuff they said. I say this about money because it is seemingly so closely tied to “healing ministries”
I underlined some of the next scriptures so I could make a point about the apostle pauls ministry and preaching for money. It is ok to receive an honest wage for being a preacher of the gospel, that is scriptural.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim 5:17-18
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1 Cor 9:7-14
The disciples did not always accept donations.
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. 3 John 1:6-8
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for thechildren ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 2 Cor 12:12-18
But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 1 Cor 9:15-18
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 2 Thess 3:8-9
Making a living of the gospel is ok, If the Lord leads people to donate money to your church or organization that is wonderful. I would note that the Lord told missionary Hudson Taylor not to ask for donations but only to let Him know his needs. The Lord provided all his needs as he founded missionary outposts in all of inland china. People donated without his having to ask them to. Jesus told Hudson that the work was His, and therefore He would take care of all of it. The Lord directed Corrie Ten Boom not to ask for donations, even though she was funding the housing and care of people that had been in concentration camps after WW2. The Lord provided for her without her having to ask for donations.
Pastors should receive pay, so that they can devote themselves to the Word of God, so that they can seek Him and have a word for you on Sunday. In the old testament even the Levites and singers were taken care of through the tithes and offerings. I wonder how many anointed ministers and singers are gone back to tentmaking just to put food on their tables and support their families. How richer we could be if we would support them so they could devote more time to Him. How richer the world would be if people in the church supported true ministers of the pure gospel of Jesus that pay for air time on tv so that they can preach the Lord Jesus without charge. It seems to me that the people that use Jesus’ name to build their own big kingdoms on earth are doing quite well, while those that devote themselves to following Jesus in sincerity and truth are struggling to make ends meet because people don’t want to donate to their ministries, they don’t manipulate or coerce people to donate to them. When giving financially to a ministry, pray about where you donate your money, remember if you have given your life to Jesus, it is His money. If it was up to me and I went to a church where the pastor, bishop, or whatever he is called today, has a very nice suit, a nice ring on his finger, and a nice expensive car, I would tell him he ought to trade his nice car with the fellow in the congregation with the mud caked boots on, or the young woman that is a waitress and has children. Why? The pastors salary is guaranteed by the tithe of the congregation. The man with the mud caked boots works hard every day to put food on his families table and he is paying the pastors salary by his tithe, that man needs a reliable car to get to work. The pastor can get by with the mans car that is held together with kleenex and spit much easier. If the pastor can’t get to church on Sunday morning because his car is broken down, he can easily get a ride from anyone in the church. They would be honored to do that, perhaps fighting over the privilege of doing it. Jesus didn’t think it awful that the apostel paul had to ride in ships that were always sinking. As to the young mother with children, who would I rather have break down on the side of the road with car troubles? The pastor who is a grown man full of faith, or a young mother with children?
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Acts 2:44-45
If you want to get together to have fellowship and church in a building other than your own home, you must help pay for that, if you can. If you want to get together to fellowship and have church in a really awesome building then you will have to pay really awesome tithes. But there is something much different than supporting a pastor or building a building to have services in when you have a ministry that is preaching for dollars, and that to believers and nonbelievers.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts 8:18-22
Another part of checking out a ministry is do the ministers we listen to have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof? This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more
than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 2 Tim 3:1-9
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Cor 4:7
Do they make merchandise of you?
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-3
When Jesus cleared the temple of moneychangers and those selling sheep and doves, they were selling the sacrifices that the people needed to offer to God. The doves were required to make atonement for the sins of the poor people. (Leviticus 5:7) Jesus cast them out.
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. John 2:16
Does the ministry imply in anyway that for forgiveness of your sins you need to learn more by purchasing their products or become a tithe paying member of their church? Or that to be healed you need to purchase teachings they have made to learn the mysteries of healing that they know? Compare that to what Jesus said to the common people when He walked in Israel.
Do they confess that Jesus is come in the flesh? Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:1-3
Can they say that Jesus is Lord?
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor 12:3
Do they believe that God raised Jesus from the dead?
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9
Do they call Him Saviour of the world? Do they confess that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God?
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:14-15
Do they confess that Jesus is the Christ? Do they love Him? Keep His commandments?
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:1-3
Do they preach redemption by the cross of Jesus?
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 1 John 5:8-9
Does the ministry do what it preaches? do they take care of the fatherless and widows or are they using the fatherless and widows to support their ministry? I don’t mean just the poor in other countries, how about the poor widows and the fatherless in their own communities. Many churches have outreaches to poor in other countries, which they should, but how do they treat the people right around them?
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:22-27
do they treat the poor differently from the wealthy?
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:1-10
Some people have ministries to the poor in america and I am very happy about that, may God bless them richly. Regarding verse two above, in average churches in america I have never seen a poor man in vile raiment. It is not because there are no poor people in vile raiment in america. I think they just know better than to go into a church where they will be looked down upon by the people in it. If they were to go, they may hear a sermon about how if they excercised their faith more the Lord would give them new clothes but still they would have to endure the lofty looks of some congregations and go home still in their vile raiment. You may say our church isnt like that, you have a food bank and a used clothing bank for people.
Are your donations to the poor still with respect of persons? The Lord dealt with that in the book of Malichi:
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. Mal 1:8
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. 14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. Mal 1:13-14
if we take this a step further to the preaching of John the Baptist:
And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Luke 3:10-11
…I think I could make an argument that I would love to see what the churches closets look like and what offering they are sacrificing for the poor. Are they giving the old coat they don’t want anymore anyway? Would they give it to the Governor? If you are tithing anything as unto the Lord, shouldn’t you give Him your best? Even if it is given unto the least of those His brethren? Are you loving your neighbor as yourself?
The pharisees in Jesus day knew all the scriptures but not the Spirit, they followed the letter of the law but not the Spirit. This caused them to follow the rules but miss the Messiah, they thought they were more righteous and important than Him, who came as a poor man with dirty feet.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. John 13:20
They didn’t receive John Baptist either, the guy with the odd clothing and weird diet. they didn’t receive the disciple John either, the disciple that Jesus loved,
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 3 John 1:9-10
There are many prophetic warnings in the old testament about shepherds, here are a few.
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. Ezek 34:7-10
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. Ezek 34:15-23
If you have been deceived by a ministry like that, take heart, Jesus knows your heart and intentions, He is still able to help you, and bring you back to Himself.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt 7:12-14
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:4
Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. Ezek 34:22-23
Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD. Ezek 34:30-31
And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:33-34
Little Sanctuary Ministries 