Woe to the Shepherds Who Feed Themselves
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ezek 34:1-2
As I look around the world of religion in our society one thing has become very clear. The masks of the false shepherds of the apostate church are coming off. More and more the false prophets of today’s religious establishment are showing themselves to be the wolves that they truly are. In years past it has taken great discernment to see and hear the little bits of leaven they have used to poison their flocks. But lately it seems the apostasy is much more open and above board.
A couple of the most blatant examples of this are Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes. Both were recently given an opportunity to boldly proclaim the gospel on the national stage. Osteen in fact was given that opportunity twice, once on the Larry King Show and again on the ABC daytime show The View. Jakes had his chance during a lengthy interview on National Public Radio. Both were asked during the course of the interview if they believed that Jesus was the only way to heaven. Neither would say that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and that no man comes to God except by him. Both of these wolves in sheep’s clothing left room for some to come to God another way.
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. Ezek 34:3
Everywhere we look today we see faithless shepherds, hirelings really who measure success by numbers rather than changed lives. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to fast and pray and seek God’s will for his life. Rick Warren has blasphemously changed that into forty days of exalting self to find your own purpose in life.
Warren and his ilk are simply following in the steps of their spiritual father, Robert Schuller who began his ministry by going door to door asking sinners and pagans what it would take to get them into church on Sunday. This is standard operating procedure in the world of business marketing. Find a need and fill it. Poll the public on what they want and give it to them. Schuller did just that, offering a false gospel of self esteem rather than the true gospel of self denial and at the same time guaranteeing himself a large congregation and the praise of men.
"What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of His children of their right to divine dignity.” Robert Schuller
Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem" Robert Schuller
The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose Rick Warren
"Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When you fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem with feeling insignificant. It proves your worth" Rick Warren
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Mat 16:24
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3
Now we see the next logical step in the process of marketing the church to the world, offer a free inducement to get them into your establishment. Put on a show, offer a free trial, give away something of value, entice them with things to get them in the door. Today it is a regular practice for churches to offer some sort of inducement for newcomers. One church recently paid for a portion of visitor’s gasoline in exchange for visiting the church. Another preacher offered any non member $20 just for sitting through a Sunday morning service. Many churches put on shows with worldly celebrities to increase their numbers.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. John 10:7-8
On top of all this we have the openly scandalous behavior of many of today’s most popular celebrity preachers. Benny Hinn recently testified in Federal Court about his role in a Ponzi scheme set up by con man Gregory Setser. Hinn was not the only preacher who was conned. The list of willing victims included Reinhard Bonnke, Marylin and Wallace Hickey, Mike Hayes, and many others.
Kenneth Copeland just took delivery of a $20 million private jet paid for by donations from his loyal disciples. But before that, it turns out Copeland had lost $1.5 million of his partners money in a failed real estate investment. The scheme left many contractors and small business owners unpaid for thousands of dollars worth of work. Copeland’s response to the claims was to refer all inquires to his attorney and force the debtors to take him to court in order to get paid. Like I said, the mask is coming off.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Math 12:35
We wrote recently about Jack Hayford’s heretical practice of inviting unbelievers to partake of communion in his church. This information was published this year in Christianity Today Magazine but it is apparently nothing new as Hayford had already written it into one of his own books released in the early nineties.
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Mal 3:15
Doyle Davidson is the pastor of Water of Life church in Plano Texas. In November of 2004, one of his disciples, Dena Schlosser took a kitchen knife and cut off both the arms of her 8 month old baby causing the child to bleed to death. This year Schlosser was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sentenced to a term in the state mental hospital. Davidson, who calls himself a prophet and apostle, often claims to cast devils out of people, especially those who regularly attend his services but it seems he either couldn’t or wouldn’t help Mrs. Schlosser with her demons.
During the past three years Davidson has been exposing himself as a liar and adulterer on his own television broadcast. When the Schlosser case first gained public attention, Davidson tried to distance himself by claiming that he didn’t really know her and that she attended only infrequently. These claims were exposed as lies when it was learned that Schlosser attended the church up to six times per week and that she and her husband had been counseled more than once by Davidson.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and cruelty ye have ruled them. Ezek 34:4
At about the same time, Davidson announced to his church that God had given him a new wife. The woman it turns out was his long time secretary. She and Davidson had been having a sexual relationship since 1987 even though she was married to another man and Doyle was married to his own wife who has since passed away. Davidson compounded his sin with blasphemy by claiming that God had ordained this adulterous relationship.
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Ezek 22:26
So, what in the world is going on? Why does it seem that sin in the church has never been more open or blatantly excused than it is today? I will tell you why. It is because God himself is exposing that sin. God is separating the sheep from the goats. God himself is searching for his lost sheep.
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Ezek 34: 6
The true sheep of God today are lost and wandering. Many stay in apostate churches because that is all they’ve known. Some stay because they don’t know what else to do. Others stay out of fear. They fear the loss of friends or family. They fear the loss of a sense of community. Many fear they will lose their way with God if the leave the religious establishment.
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 34:9-10
God says he will cause these shepherds to cease from feeding the flock. Even though some of these shepherds may have fed the flock in the past, God has caused them to cease. They no longer feed the sheep. That is why the true sheep have become sick and weak. The only ones who aren’t sick and weak are the goats. Do know why? Because goats will eat anything but sheep require good pasture.
God’s true sheep today are dissatisfied with the current religious system and even their own spiritual condition. They know deep in their hearts that something isn’t right. They know that something is missing. They are starving spiritually. After years and years of the cotton candy gospel, they are in a weakened state. The cotton candy gospel tastes good in your mouth but it is void of spiritual nutrition. A steady diet of sugar eventually produces weak and sickly Christians. Is that you today?
For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. Ezek 34:11
Are you a sheep? If you are, God is seeking you out. God is looking for you and calling you out. Do you sigh and mourn over the sin and apostasy in the church today? If you do then God is calling you out. Does this wicked generation vex your righteous spirit? If so, then God is calling you out.
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Ezek 34:12
The true sheep of God have been scattered over every hill and field. They have been driven away from the good pasture. They have been led away from the still water. But God is seeking to bring them back.
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. Ezek 34:13
Do you hear the voice of God calling you out of this wicked and untoward generation? Are you willing to follow the true shepherd wherever he goes?
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. Ezek 34:14-15
Are you tired of wandering in the wilderness of apostate religion? Are you ready to lie down in good pasture, to feed on the pure word of God? Are you tired of the leaven of hypocrisy and the fouled streams of mans tradition? Are you wounded and broken? If you are then you are one of those whom God seeks.
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. Ezek 34:16
Judgment is coming to the fat and the strong. Those wolves who feed upon the sheep will soon come to naught. Judgment has begun. Many are already given over to their own sin and wickedness. This is how God destroys the wicked. He gives them over to it. He sends them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.
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. Ezek 34:20-22
God is delivering his true sheep, the lean cattle, those who are starving for the truth. He is saving them by bringing them out of the apostate religious system where they have been prey for the wolves and merchandise for the hirelings.
If that is you then you must heed his voice. You must come out from among them. Don’t be afraid but don’t expect a mass exodus either. God’s true sheep have never been more than a remnant. Most of those populating the harlot church today are goats. Many are on the broad path that leads to death. Only a relative few find the narrow gate that leads to life. These wicked preachers won’t be preaching to empty buildings any time soon though. They are yet serving the purposes of God by gathering the goats and tares unto themselves.
But something else is happening. God says that as he removes the sheep from among these wolves, the wolves will no longer be able to feed themselves. You see, wolves eat sheep. Once the sheep are gone what will the wolves feed on? They will begin to devour one another is what they’ll do. The sin and heresy will get worse and worse. Do you think the apostasy is bad now? Brother you ain’t seen nothing yet. Once the true sheep are removed it’s going to be anything goes. Because of the abundance of iniquity, the love of many will wax cold.
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 34:23
Come out and be led by the true shepherd. David, a man after God’s own heart was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Christ who is your true shepherd. Not some man. You were never called to be the disciple of a man. You are called a disciple of the Lord Jesus.
When you leave the apostate church you are not leaving God. You are actually leaving behind the antichrist gods of idolatry, those gods who seek to take the place of Christ in your life. Don’t fear. Ask God to be your teacher. Ask God to bring you together with other true sheep who seek the true Shepherd. He is faithful who promised. And here is the rest of his promise.
And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
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 34:25-31
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Steve Lumbley 2006 www.apostasywatch.com
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