DOES OUR FEED MATTER?
Sunday – January 21, 2018
Does our feed matter? Who selects the food, water, and shelter for these sheep in our picture? The shepherd chooses. Hopefully, we can all recognize that the quality of the wool produced by these sheep is a direct result of the quality and quantity of the water, food, and shelter provided. We all know that what we take in for natural food for the physical body is important and we avoid food that is contaminated or what is commonly called spoiled. Do we pay the same attention to our spiritual food? I believe the resounding answer is NO! not even close. I commonly ask the question: where have the Berean’s gone? Berea is a city in Greece, notice the map following our Scripture reference.
Acts 17:10-11 (KJV)
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
How many of us meditate on what we hear taught and preached in Church and prove it by Scripture? We are told in Scripture that all important facts must be established by a minimum of two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15, 2 Corinthians 13:1). Why are we picky about our physical food but not our spiritual? Do we just assume that what is being said is correct and so we will just believe it? You may very well know the consequences personally of consuming spoiled or contaminated natural food but what about spoiled or contaminated spiritual food? You are very likely experiencing the consequences of consuming spoiled or contaminated spiritual food, which is far more momentous than bad physical food. Let’s take a look at the following passage and see what the Lord has to say on this topic.
Jeremiah 23:1-4 (KJV)
1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah, a Prophet, a mouthpiece for God in the earth is speaking about the outcome of the pastors that have destroyed and scattered His flocks. Verse one starts with the word ‘woe’ and think we all intuitively know this is not a good thing. It indicates pending justice set in motion by the voice of the Prophet. Woe means grief, sorrow, misery, heavy calamity, and a curse. God continues in verse two by the mouth of the Prophet to say that the evil they brought upon the sheep (people) will be brought upon them. Then the Lord says (paraphrasing) in spite of your evil I am going to gather what is left of my flock and I am going to give them shepherds who will give them good feed.
Notice that sheep with poor water, feed, and shelter are not fruitful nor do they increase (multiply). Hmm, what about me, what about my Church? As we read on from verse three to verse four we find that with good feed the flock will not fear, be dismayed, or lacking. Hmm, what about me, what about my Church? Where there is a lack of fruitfulness, multiplication, the presence of fear, confusion, and lack the feed is poor. The flock is sick and in poor spiritual health. The water, feed, and shelter is not only what is coming from the pulpit but what is being sung?
Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
We must look for and find pastors (shepherds) who will feed us with unadulterated (unspoiled) water, feed, and shelter which is pure knowledge and understanding of that knowledge. Corruption of the Word of God with our denominational doctrines and slack attitudes is wickedness against our covenant with God.
Daniel 11:32 (KJV)
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
One cannot truly know God and fellowship with Him on contaminated feed. These who seek after the pure undefiled Word of Truth will be strong and do all the covenant requires and reap all the benefits the covenant provides.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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