He Leadeth Me
Scripture: Psalm 23:2Devotional Series: The Good Shepherd
Teaching: The Good Shepherd pt. 2 (SUN_PM 2021-03-07) by Pastor Star R Scott
God not only established five-fold ministry gifts, but it’s God’s best that there be a plurality of elders. We should be thankful for the eldership that we have in this community, the vast knowledge of the Word of God. I’m not talking about theology; I’m talking about men that can quote you the Scripture, that have memorized the Word of God and hidden it in their hearts, praise God! I draw from them, as the Scripture talks about, as it set two different roles. The local community church has a plurality of elders with a leader among equals. You say, “Can that really work?” Might I remind you that the leader of the Godhead is the Father? It didn’t say he was superior to the Son or the Holy Ghost; it didn’t say He was from different essence. But the Bible is very clear that He is revealed as the leader of the Godhead. A leader among equals.
So, we see that it’s a biblical truth that’s drawn from and revealed as He sets forth into the church. You remember that Titus was admonished to go and set elders (plural) in every church. You see the exaggeration of the priesthood of the believers ends up with what we have in certain segments of the church today, and you might even look at the Quakers, for instance. They don’t believe that there should be any hierarchy whatsoever. Everybody’s equal. You came to church, and everybody would just sit. They would all sit quietly until the Holy Spirit would move on somebody. Then, when the Holy Spirit moved on them, for a prophesy, a psalm, a doctrine, whatever—they would move out and the church would be edified. Historically, what you find is the same persons move out. We’re still talking about human nature, aren’t we? We’re still talking about what happens in a community that has no course set or any authority established. It’s a great place for heresy and people to inflict their will on others rather than a common course and a unity of which the church is to be.
We see from the Twenty-third Psalm that a good shepherd is going to see that there’s no want in the community. It goes on and says, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2) Very interesting here—we look at the term “leadeth”, in the Greek (poimainō) meaning to feed and lead, to carry as in the role of the shepherd taking the sheep upon his shoulders as in those that might me maimed, the caring of these little lambs. The restoring of the soul, it really means to turn back right, or to put right, not only the course but whatever else might be lacking in the lives of the flock. Thank God He restores our soul, amen? We have the promise that when we get off course the Lord sets us right; isn’t that His promise to us? “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” This really indicates setting on a straight path. This is a revelation of the shepherd’s heart of how God sees the needs of the flock and tends to and ministers to each and every one.
So, we see that it’s a biblical truth that’s drawn from and revealed as He sets forth into the church. You remember that Titus was admonished to go and set elders (plural) in every church. You see the exaggeration of the priesthood of the believers ends up with what we have in certain segments of the church today, and you might even look at the Quakers, for instance. They don’t believe that there should be any hierarchy whatsoever. Everybody’s equal. You came to church, and everybody would just sit. They would all sit quietly until the Holy Spirit would move on somebody. Then, when the Holy Spirit moved on them, for a prophesy, a psalm, a doctrine, whatever—they would move out and the church would be edified. Historically, what you find is the same persons move out. We’re still talking about human nature, aren’t we? We’re still talking about what happens in a community that has no course set or any authority established. It’s a great place for heresy and people to inflict their will on others rather than a common course and a unity of which the church is to be.
We see from the Twenty-third Psalm that a good shepherd is going to see that there’s no want in the community. It goes on and says, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2) Very interesting here—we look at the term “leadeth”, in the Greek (poimainō) meaning to feed and lead, to carry as in the role of the shepherd taking the sheep upon his shoulders as in those that might me maimed, the caring of these little lambs. The restoring of the soul, it really means to turn back right, or to put right, not only the course but whatever else might be lacking in the lives of the flock. Thank God He restores our soul, amen? We have the promise that when we get off course the Lord sets us right; isn’t that His promise to us? “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” This really indicates setting on a straight path. This is a revelation of the shepherd’s heart of how God sees the needs of the flock and tends to and ministers to each and every one.