Sometimes a 'backdoor revival' is sent from God, so that He can pour out His Spirit and power upon a remnant that truly wants to serve Him. However, sometimes that 'backdoor revival" is the man-made working of the preacher running off those who make his work more difficult, and instead of bringing God's blessing, God's curse is placed on the preacher and his ministry.

One day, while reading Ezekiel, God arrested my attention to the first ten verses of chapter 34. When I read of God cursing the Shepherds of Israel, I immediately began to search the passage to find out what would bring such a curse upon the men of God. It began to dawn on me that God called us to shepherd people who do not agree with us, and even some people who will never amount to much for God. Notice the five-fold condemnation of God upon the shepherds.

First, the pastors have not strengthened the diseased. The truth is, there are some dear saints who will never do a blessed thing for God. For whatever reason, they are at the point of just biding their time until they get to Glory. It reminds me of some dear brethren who have wasted away with cancer. When the Hospice nurse arrives, it is readily accepted that the person will never do another productive thing. The job of the nurse and family is simply to make the person comfortable until he dies. There are some saints whose spiritual walk is so diseased all we can do is make them comfortable. Cursed be the Pastor who runs them off because he does not believe these people are worth the time. Second, there are some who are spiritually sick and need to be healed. Sometimes they appear just like the diseased, but they can be salvaged. This takes time, to accurately assess the problem and prescribe the correct spiritual medicine. It also takes patience to see the sick believer restored to spiritual health. Cursed be the Pastor that does not heal the spiritually sick.

Third, some believers have become broken m the battle. Yes, it would be great if we all had such a close walk with Jesus that we never broke, but the reality is that some do break. They need to be bound up. Remember the patience of the potter with the vessel that became marred in his hand.

Fourth some have been driven away by others, and should be brought back. This is probably the hardest group for the pastor to care for, but failure to do so brings God's curse upon the pastor.

Finally, the pastor is to seek the lost. Some pastors are so busy on the first four, they excuse away their responsibility to the lost. Others are so busy seeking the lost, they fail to care for the sheep already in their care. In verse 5, God says, "And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd." Therefore, we had better heed carefully God's solemn charge, wherefore, 0 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' (9-10).

Men of God, being a pastor requires caring for those who may take a lot of time without much prospect of seeing a great change. However, they are His sheep, and God will call us to give account.

Dr. Mike Allison, Madison Baptist Church
PastorAllison@MadisonBaptist.com

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