God’s New Breed Of Super-Sheep
(Part 2)
Rock of Offence Commentary
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This is Part 2 of a four-part Bible study.
Click on the link below to continue
with this study.
Part 1
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Part 3
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Part 4
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Jesus Creates A New Breed of
Hell-Resistant “Super-Sheep”
Reminder: As stated at the beginning of this study, the term "Super-Sheep" is not in the Bible and does not represent 'sheep' in a traditional sense. We use this unorthodox terminology to help readers make the connection to an important truth. According to the New Testament, what was previously referred to as 'God's sheep' is now called "a new creation in Christ ... and sons of God" (or what we choose to call 'Super-Sheep'). We use the word 'super' to describe this "new creation in Christ", which applies to all believers who are now indwelled by God's Holy Spirit (also called 'the Spirit of Christ). This ‘super-charged indwelling’ is something that could not exist until Jesus made it possible at the cross. More information is available HERE and HERE
In the Gospels, Jesus taught about shepherds and sheep from a “Pre-Pentecost” perspective. Scripture tells us that our Lord conducted His earthly ministry under the authority of Old Testament Law, which operated before His crucifixion. As a result, Christ’s New Covenant - initiated at the cross - did not operate in Old Testament times ... which also included the time of His ministry on earth.
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
Jesus told His disciples that He couldn’t reveal many of the things that would take place following His sacrificial death. Why did He say this? They wouldn’t be able to comprehend His words without the indwelling Holy Spirit’s help – and God had not yet sent His Spirit in the unique way Jesus described. Since creation, the Holy Spirit was always present on earth. Yet, Jesus was speaking about the Spirit coming to indwell (live inside the body) and empower all those who place their faith in Him. According to the Bible, certain special individuals in the Old Testament were "filled with the Holy Spirit" for a specific purpose. But, the type of "indwelling" Jesus is speaking about is radically different. This unique "coming of the Holy Spirit" could not occur while Jesus remained on earth.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (or Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: For He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (The words of Jesus - John 16:7-14)
On the day of Pentecost following the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ - something revolutionary occurred. Our Heavenly Father sent the Holy Spirit, also called “the Spirit of Christ”, to indwell all believers - which includes those who are deficient in righteous works ... and those who possessed an abundance of righteous works. According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit was given on the basis of 'faith in Christ alone' and not according to our works or behavior (See Galatians 3:1-4, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:4-8, Titus 3:5-7). Nothing like this had ever occurred before. The apostle Paul called these powerful indwelled people, “New Creatures in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). All of a sudden, the “Chief Shepherd” Himself now dwells on the inside of each and every true believer - and remains there forever ... just as Jesus said He would (John 14:16-17).
Contrary to the teachings of
some churches, this
'indwelling' is real and not
just “symbolic”.
The previous pastor who said;
“Sheep must have a shepherd
because, by nature, sheep
are helpless creatures”
...is denying the radical
changes God initiated at
Pentecost.
In “Pre-Pentecost” times, people were truly helpless (and spiritually ignorant) without a knowledgeable shepherd to instruct, guide and protect them. Yet, the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell believers forever changed this condition. With the Holy Spirit now living inside them, God’s sheep are no longer lost, powerless and helpless. With the “Chief Shepherd” indwelling them, they are now empowered by the same Divine personage Who created the universe and everything in it. Speaking to believers, Saint John expressed this truth in the following way:
"Ye are of God, little children,
and have overcome them: Because
greater is He that is in you,
than he that is in the world."
(1 John 4:4)
Unlike this condition of helplessness that existed under the previous Old Covenant religious system, God’s New Covenant sheep (or what we call 'super-sheep' in this study), living after the cross, are empowered and Divinely guided from within.
On the same subject, another concerned pastor wrote a tract entitled, “God’s Sheep Aren’t Dumb” in order to dispel the same popular misconceptions concerning modern-day “shepherding and discipleship” held by many in the Church.
Speaking about the future arrival
of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said:
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: For He shall receive of mine, and show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you." (John 16:13-15)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Does this mean that shepherds
are no longer necessary?
Absolutely not.
Shepherds are still needed today to care for and instruct new inexperienced believers in how to allow God to rule their lives under the New Covenant. However, the shepherd's role is now different for the following reasons. The “New Covenant of Christ” is a radical departure from the previous “Old Covenant program” and requires a special kind of shepherd who is properly instructed in the “new and living way” that Jesus initiated through His blood. An alarming number of shepherds today are improperly equipped to administer the New Covenant, while, at the same time, holding a seminary degree in religion. Many hurtful problems come to the surface because some shepherds (and the seminaries that trained them) refuse to acknowledge the change our Heavenly Father initiated at Pentecost - because it negatively impacts their authority and traditions. As a result, they embrace and teach according to the old shepherding model.
This is one reason some ministers
go to extraordinary lengths to
restrict God’s people to the
powerless condition that existed
before Pentecost under the previous
Old Testament program. If God’s
sheep are tricked into believing
they are still helpless and
powerless, they can be more easily
intimidated and controlled. The
suppression of the truth
concerning the indwelling power
of 'the Spirit of Christ' by
modern-day shepherds is one reason
the Church is now in decline.
Most modern-day “shepherds” improperly interpret their calling from the Old Testament concept, where God’s sheep are still helpless, powerless, ignorant and lost without their superior knowledge and help. Most of them base their entire ministry on this now obsolete model. Yet, the near dictatorial powers they exercised over God’s people under the previous Old Testament program - is now greatly limited (but not totally removed) following the arrival of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. Their previous dominant authority, which existed during the time before Christ’s crucifixion and the day of Pentecost - is now superseded by Christ’s superior and direct internal Lordship rule. When we confess, “Jesus Christ is my Lord” - we're saying that we won't allow anyone else to hold that Lordship position in our life. A third party “mediator” between God and man (or the sheep) is no longer required as it was under Old Testament Law. Why is this so? He rules directly from His position on the inside of us. Never allow anyone to tell you that this is either not true or that it's just "symbolic". This foundational truth lies at the very heart of Christ's New Covenant salvation - and He spilled His own blood to make it possible.
If you properly understand these Divine changes and its impact on old, deeply entrenched religious authority structures and traditions - you can also understand why there is a tidal wave of wrong and twisted Bible teaching attempting to undermine and suppress this remarkable benefit of the cross. Once again, the opposition to the revelation of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not an insignificant “fringe” effort or movement. It is a mainstream influence. When we consider the fierce opposition Jesus faced when He challenged the spiritual authority of the Scribes and Pharisees - why does it surprise us when we see this same vicious battle continuing unabated today? Most Christians live in denial of the things Jesus warned about because it disturbs their comfort zone and interferes with their desire to use the Church as a type of “social club”. This is one of the hidden areas where “wolves in sheep’s clothing” operate almost without opposition. Few Christians take the time to educate themselves because they fail to discern (or they don’t want to know) that anything is wrong. Jesus, Paul, Peter and John warn us in the New Testament about these radical Divine changes - and the mainstream religious opposition that rejects the change.
"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus..." (1 Timothy 2:5)
"And He (Jesus) said to them, 'This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many'." (Mark 14:24 -- Important: Also read Matthew 26:28, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:13)
"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He (Jesus Christ) is also mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant (The Old Covenant) had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." (Hebrews 8:6)
"And for this reason He (Jesus Christ) is the mediator of the New Covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15)
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven...." (Hebrews 12:22-25)
"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherdof the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are FREELY GIVEN to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthian 2:9-14)
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
(Peter instructs New Covenant shepherds) "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples (or examples) to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5:2-3)
"But the anointing which you have received from Him (the Spirit of Christ) abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." (1 John 2:27)
Jesus gave similar instructions to His disciples when referring to the changes that were coming concerning the use of His authority:
". . . Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 42-45)
Maintaining A Delicate and
Healthy Balance
Because of the frailty and weakness of human nature, shepherds are still needed today to help feed the flock of God, instruct Christian believers in the New Covenant and to deal with overt sin in a congregation should it occur. But, under Christ’s New Covenant, God restricts most of this authority to “being an example to the flock” rather than exercising a dominating lordship-type of spiritual authority. Jesus prohibits His under-shepherds from using a dominant authority because it usurps His direct Lordship over the Christian believer, which He wants to keep totally unobstructed.
Usurping the Lordship authority
of Jesus Christ in a believer's
life is a most serious and
grievous sin after the cross.
Any minister who attempts to redefine this role in order to shift control of your life back over to them is not giving you the truth. Many modern-day church leaders are guilty of this practice. Jesus will not 'delegate' His Lordship authority to an “under-shepherd” except in situations involving certain overt sins. Why? When the Spirit of Christ lives inside you, He already has direct rule. It would be unreasonable to delegate authority to a lesser and imperfect outside authority under these conditions. As a result, an authentic New Covenant shepherd will always respect Christ’s direct rule over a believer’s life.
However, there is another important aspect to all of this. The New Testament also teaches that it is proper for us to “willingly” submit ourselves to authentic spiritual authority in the Church when we discern that it’s the type Jesus allows. Yet, much of what’s called “spiritual or ecclesiastical authority” in the Church today is actually the kind that Jesus forbids. Isn’t that strange? None of us are perfect. All of us are at different levels of spiritual maturity. We can fail to hear or even choose to ignore the instructions and guidance of the Spirit of Christ that lives in us. We can still make serious and hurtful errors in judgment. We can get blindsided by the deceitfulness of sin. For those reasons we still need helpful, loving and wise shepherds who align their ministry with Christ's New Covenant, keep watch over the Church, help equip believers for “the work of ministry” - and maintain proper order in the public assembly. Obviously, there is a very delicate balance that must be maintained in the believer's response to this authority. Our submission is 'voluntary' and should never be coerced through manipulation, fear tactics and intimidation - which are warning signs that the wrong kind of authority is in operation.
Our submission to any shepherd
must remain voluntary because,
following Pentecost - the
indwelling “Spirit of Christ”
always has the final word
concerning what we believe and
how we should conduct our lives.
Why is this important? Jesus Christ is now our only Lord, leaving no room for any other “lord”. Yet, we should be humble and teachable enough to yield to the insight of someone with greater wisdom and experience when we make mistakes or lack insight about a particular situation or decision.
A Common Misconception
About Wolves
Both Jesus and the apostle Paul addressed the subject of “wolves in sheep clothing” mainly (but not exclusively) from a “clergy-leadership” perspective. Both Jesus and Paul are warning God’s flock about wolves that operate from some position or office of “spiritual authority” or from intimidating educational credentials. The Scribes and Pharisees refused to submit to Christ’s authority as the “Messiah of Israel”. They possessed the highest educational credentials and held the top levels of spiritual authority in Israel at the time. Generally speaking, these religious leaders were the ones both Jesus and John the Baptist referred to as “wolves in sheep’s clothing”. It was these leaders who ultimately coerced the Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate, into crucifying Christ as a criminal because He challenged and threatened their ecclesiastical authority. Paul warned about certain “ministers of righteousness” that are actually stealth “undercover agents” sent by our enemy - and masquerade as apostles of Christ. Paul also sounded a warning about certain evangelists preaching "a different gospel of Christ" (Read Galatians 1:8-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:12-15). All of these represent high-level spiritual authority positions in the Church.
Well-meaning pastors and church leaders write most “sheep and wolf” commentaries about individual members of the congregation - who they view as “wolves in disguise”. We might call them “laity wolves”. One pastor mentioned the need to “manage the wolves he found in his congregation". This may be a correct response for any New Testament pastor dealing with “real wolves” - but, that's not always the case. This pastor added; "all wolves have the same driving force behind them: They all want to be leaders and will seek to “take down” an existing pastor, minister or other church authority figure". He said; "all wolves ultimately refuse to submit to leadership’s authority".
On the surface these statements sound good. Yet, these accusations are only valid - if the authority these so-called wolves are resisting is the kind that Jesus Christ, as the head of the Church, allows you to exercise. For example: From the perspective of the Pharisees, Jesus and His disciples could be called wolves because they opposed their authority as God's official representatives. Yet, Jesus opposed their teachings because the authority they claimed to have did not come from His Father. The same thing is true today. If an unbiblical lording-it-over type of authority is practiced by church leadership, which violates the directives of Christ, it is certainly acceptable to resist such efforts in a diplomatic, loving and Christ-honoring way.
However, as a believer under the
direct rule and authority of Jesus
Christ ... and in an effort to
obey God's command to walk in love,
the best solution in such cases is
to simply look for another church
to attend.
Contrary to popular discipleship doctrine, a believer is never to give unquestioned obedience to any church leader just because they say the Bible commands it. Submission should be given only if the leader respects the ultimate authority of the indwelling Spirit of Christ and yields to Christ's authority as the believer's Lord. This will cause them to "lead by example" (or as a 'servant' as Jesus stated) - rather than by decree or lording-it-over.
An extensive amount of information is cited by many of these shepherding commentaries. They clearly show the similarity between real wolves in the animal kingdom and “church wolves” in the spiritual world. Much of this information is helpful.
Yet, few of these authors focus on the most dangerous and powerful kind of wolf that exists in the Christian Church - the one that stands behind the pulpit and warns the flock about the other wolves in the congregation. These strategic “high level wolves” are nearly impossible to deal with alone. Some have a following in the congregation that number in the hundreds, or even thousands. As we previously stated, in such cases, rather than starting a fight, which is rarely God's will - you are better off finding a new church.
When you tangle with one of these high-level wolves, you also find yourself in a vicious struggle with the “congregational pack” that is protecting its beloved leader. When you discover this hidden and dangerous area of “Christian wolfism” - you can begin to understand why both Jesus and Paul gave such strong warnings.
During one of His confrontations, Jesus told these wolves, to their face, that they were of their father, “the devil” (John 8:42-45). It was these “high level religious wolves” that drove the apostle Paul to such a level of frustration that he pronounced a curse on their ministry (Galatians 1:8-9). They were the same ones that motivated both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, on several occasions, to give them more descriptive names ... such as “snakes and vipers” (See Matt. 3:7, Matt. 12:34, Matt. 23:33). John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul were not necessarily warning about your average “laity or congregational wolf”, which is where many Christian commentators focus their attention. We should also realize that all wolves use the Holy Scriptures as their authority. This adds additional confusion to an already confusing and dangerous situation.
Most commentaries about 'wolfism' have a problematic common element. The author generally assumes that the “pastor's authority” that the 'laity wolves' are seeking to resist (it could be their own authority that’s being referenced) - is the same authority that Jesus taught His leaders to practice. In many cases, much Scripture is cited to support the authority of a church leader, which is always said to originate with God. Yet, upon a closer examination, we find that their defense is often based on Scripture which has been lifted from its intended context. It’s important to understand that Scripture has two components: The actual verse - and the context that defines how the verse is to be applied and understood. Paul referred to this characteristic when he instructed his disciple Timothy to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). When we remove a Scripture from its context and reinsert it into a context of our own design, what was once God’s Word now becomes a 'doctrine of men' that can lead many well-meaning people astray in their faith (Matt. 15:3-9). Both Jesus and Paul warned about this dangerous practice in the New Testament. In these tragic situations, the average church member has no idea of what’s going on and are often tricked into defending the error of their pastor-shepherd from a perceived attack against their ministry.
Yet, the real opposition to a
pastor's authority may be coming
from "The Head of the Church",
Jesus Christ - Who is trying
to protect believers from the
doctrine of a false shepherd.
The missing piece of the puzzle is
that the ministry in question and
its objectives may be established
on out-of-context Scripture, which
makes it appear that God says things
that He does not say. This often
ignored fact changes the entire
argument.
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This is Part 2 of a four-part Bible study.
Click on the link below to continue
with this study.
Part 1
----
Part 3
----
Part 4
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