New Pastors urged to be good shepherds of Jesus' Flock

 

Newly ordained Pastors in Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide have been advised to work in the vineyard of God as good shepherd to the flock of Christ and not to become wolves in sheep clothing who now parade themselves as ministers of God.

Preaching during a re-ordination exercise which was held at the All Saints Chapel, Christ Apostolic Church General Secretariat, Basorun, Ibadan on Friday, the General Superintendent of the Church, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele said Jesus Christ placed very high premium on His Church and this was reflected in the precious names with which He described the Church.

According to him, the Church was described as the flock of Christ. He said if the Church is the flock, there must be shepherds for the flock of Jesus. “Where ever we find the sheep, there also will be shepherds and wolves. It follows therefore that there are good shepherds and there are bad shepherds”. 

He regretted that among the people of God who are called shepherds of the flock of Christ today are wolves in sheep clothing. 

Regrettably he said, the confidence of the sheep whenever it sees its shepherd is being removed by the acts of the wolves who pose as shepherds in the Church of God. 

He explained that the number one wolf in the Church today is Satan, but he has so reproduced himself in many ministers who wear collars and cassocks today.

These agents of Satan, he said have replaced the truth of the Bible with human philosophy, adding that they establish so many wrong standards.

Describing the modus operandi of wolves in sheep clothing, Pastor Oladele said their main pre-occupation is to make money from the Church. 

He explained that;"they look gentle but very proud inwardly. They are arrogant, un-submissive, unyielding, unruly and self-seeking. They have following which they lord things over and the gathering they have is for their selfish benefits. They don’t care for the salvation of souls. As wolves, their goal is to devour the sheep.

He cited the example of a Church member who brought his new car to his bishop for dedication. The bishop told him that the car was not that of the Church member yet. That God wanted the member to sew it as seed into his (Bishop’s) ministry. The member, out of fear of not willing to die untimely, had to release the car to the bishop. He asked where in the bible could that minister find that teaching.

He said the ministry is not about eating and drinking. “It’s about declaring the whole counsel of God to the Church” he added.

He therefore urged the new ordinands to choose to be the real shepherd of Jesus flock. 

Quoting from Acts 20: 28, 29 he said: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which He has purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock”. 

 

Concluding he charged the newly ordained Pastors: “choose what you want to be, a shepherd of the flock of the Lord or a wolf.” But he added a caveat: “whichever you choose, every one of us shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ…”. 

Pastor Ade Alawode, Director of Publicity, CAC Worldwide

 

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