How blessed we are to have a loving Shepherd who never leaves His post, but constantly watches over us at the Gate and protects us from any intruder who would seek to steal us away. We are cautioned to be on guard to any false prophet who would attempt to deceive us.  "Watch out for the false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:15-20).  False prophets produce false fruit; they offer rotten fruit that cannot last.  They do not edify people, they exploit them.  Their interests are entirely self-focused; they promote themselves, not Jesus Christ.  His kingdom is not their concern, they are interested only in building their own kingdom.  We must be on guard to their deception.  We are told to avoid them for we do not want to be participants in their fate: "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Product fruit in keeping with repentance.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:7b-8, 10).  There is a time coming, and is now upon us, "when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  Ungodly men want to do what is right in their own eyes and they don't want anyone criticizing or condemning their evil desires and pursuits.   "Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.  They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough.  They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.  'Come,' each one cries, 'let me get wine!  Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better" (Isaiah 56:10-12).  The Lord tells us we will recognize them by their fruit.  Instead of leading the flock to humility, holiness, and love, they make the sheep like themselves - arrogant, worldly, disobedient, and unloving.  They are workers of iniquity and we must have nothing to do with them.

 

How desperately today we need shepherds after God's own heart who will lead the sheep with knowledge and understanding (reference Jeremiah 3:15).  Our word "pastor" is derived from the Latin word "shepherd."  Today we need to pray for God to give us true pastor-shepherds who will take their positions as watchmen on the walls of our land.  They are the spiritual watchmen of today, just as much as they were when the foundation of this nation was laid; a foundation that was built on the Word of God (reference 1 Corinthians 3:11). The position of pastor-shepherd is a high and holy calling, and they need our prayer support and encouragement so that their personal time with the Lord is protected each week, so they can be strengthened and enabled by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word of God fearlessly and with conviction.  The fire of revival will ignite when the church pulpit is set aflame by true shepherds who are intimately connected to Christ and devoted to the Word of God and prayer and has the heart of God for His people. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions" (Matthew 24:45-47). Let us commit to praying fervently for our pastors today and every day, and for all the pastors across the land.  There are true shepherds and spiritual leaders who desire to do the will of God and to see His people properly cared for.  Our pastors have the greatest ability each week with the audience they have to influence and impact the lives of countless people for the glory of God and change the course of this nation through the Word of God.  May we be diligent in our study and meditation of the Word of God each day, and unceasing in our prayers so we will be on our guard against those who are leading the sheep astray, and have the courage to warn those around us to not follow that wide path that will only lead them to destruction.  Heavenly Father help our dear shepherds who have been sent in Your name to "Keep watch over themselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers.  [May they] be shepherds of the church of God, which He has bought with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).