Motivation For Gospel Ministry - [1 Thessalonians 2]

Motivation for Gospel Ministry in 1 Thessalonians 2

Let's turn our Bibles to 1st Thessalonians. Tonight we had a little detour. We're in the book of 1st Thessalonians found in the New Testament. While you're turning there there are three of us that I can think of now in the congregation that just about two weeks ago were at Thessalonica.

If you were at Thessalonica two weeks ago raise your hand. That's right. You are the elect for coming on a Sunday night on Mother's Day. They're the hyper elect, the super elect to go to Thessalonica to be there and so this book really warms my heart as I think about this is a real place.

This was a real church with the real God working on the people and they were very much encouraged by the ministry of Paul. But then gospel ministry has its critics. Since we aren't Jesus since we are frail and fallible people from the apostles on down to preachers and elders.

Today people are critical of leadership. How do you know your leadership is good. Can you trust your leadership. I can make it really direct. How can you trust the leaders at Bethlehem Bible Church. Mike and Steve and Harry and Scott and Perdeep.

Can you trust us. How can you trust us. Is it just a feeling. Is it a hope. See Paul was at Thessalonica and he was preaching the gospel there and then he left. And sometimes when there's a separation others can come in.

We certainly believe that Satan is real. And Satan wants to destroy what the Lord is building. And the way you destroy a church as you start pecking away at the leadership most of people who are Christian people would say oh we know God's Word is true.

We know Jesus is the only way. So Satan destroys churches by making people who are at the local church not trust their leadership. And so this is really good because I don't want you to trust trust Bethlehem Bible Church's leaders for just trusting sake.

But I want you to examine what the scriptures say and then be able to say do you know what. As these men follow the Lord. I want to follow these men as they point us to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I want to follow them friends you have to trust your pastors otherwise it's hard to sit here every week and listen to us tell you about Jesus Christ. So this is a very fascinating passage. People come and go in a local church and there are times I hate to admit it where people say you know what.

I don't know if I can trust you by either their actions or by their deeds. I'm not sure you're believable. I'm not sure you're credible. Can we trust the leadership of Bethlehem Bible Church. And first Thessalonians addresses that very issue.

Paul first writes in chapter 1 just for a quick review that Christians that are elect make progress. And he says in chapter 1 verse 2 as he writes this book we give thanks to God always for you constantly mention you in our prayers remembering before our God and father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus.

Paul just really knew the Thessalonians had progress in gospel ministry and Paul was pleased by that. He loved the Lord for that and he loved the people as well. He says in verse 4 of chapter 1 for we know brothers loved by God that he has chosen you.

And then he gives reasons why he sees the election of God manifesting itself in the life of the people. Now in chapter 2 verses 1 through all the way chapter 3 verse 13 Paul is trying to correct misinformation about himself.

People are starting to spread rumors and Paul now vindicates his ministry. He's not trying to defend himself for himself sake but because the gospel is at stake. Gospel preaching brings critics and Paul is going to try to vindicate himself before.

In chapter four and five he talks about things that will help them grow. Let me give you the outline tonight. I'm going to give you several. Let's see how do I want to work this. I want to work this a little bit differently.

I think as we go how do you recognize godly leadership at Bethlehem Bible Church. How do you recognize that. This is the right kind of leadership. How can you trust the elders and pastors here biblically gauging gospel ministry at Bethlehem Bible Church and at every church you know I could say this is kind of the leadership's report card.

You shouldn't trust me because you think I'm nice. You shouldn't trust me because you think I'm I've got a neat wife. You shouldn't trust me because the church is growing. We've got a nice budget. Should you trust me.

How can you trust me. And this is not just good for gospel ministers. This is good for lay people who serve in all different aspects. If this is how you're supposed to trust gospel ministers this is what you should be like in your own life.

Now you get a hint of what's happening in chapter 2 verse 1 for you yourselves know brothers that are coming to you is not in vain. This is one of the reasons why Paul writes is because people were saying do you know what.

What Paul did when he was here makes no difference. They're criticizing Paul trying to destroy the work that he had started. It's hard to put together the puzzle of the exact people who are doing this.

We're not told maybe Judaizers. If you look down in chapter 2 verse 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved. There are accusations hurled against Paul. You can just imagine how many people here like baseball.

Many people's favorite team is the New York. Excuse me. Is the San Francisco Giants or you by the way I told Scott walk in this. The other day I bought a Boston's Bruins shirt for the first time. And now I'm rooting for the Boston Bruins once again.

And so I'm a local. Okay. I want you to know that. But you won't see me. Wear it here. I'll wear that in California. Here I'll wear the San Francisco Giants shirt. How's that got to go with winners. You can just imagine wait till the Apostles out of town.

And then like a pitcher stands on that pitching mound coming up and ready to pitch. Just hurling. Abuse hurling. Criticism putting things in the people's minds. How can we trust Paul. And if you can't trust Paul you can't trust his message.

We don't really know exactly who is doing this. Whether it was Jews or Gentiles. It still remains a mystery. But we do know that people didn't like him. And then when Jesus builds a church Satan tries to destroy it through the use of people.

We do know if you go to Acts chapter 17 what happens. Let's flip over to Acts 17. I want to show you a little background to show you how things kind of foment you ever take an Alka-Seltzer tablet and drop it into water.

Plop plop. What. You guys are just products of your pop culture aren't you. It just fizzes and agitates. And where Paul went. The gospel of life where it went. Jesus Christ in him crucified where it went.

There was an agitation. There was trouble because Satan hates that message. You look at Acts chapter 17. It's fascinating to see what happens here Acts 16. Things didn't go so well initially as you can read on your own Acts 17 verses 1 to 10.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia they came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in as was his custom. And on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the scriptures explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.

And saying this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ. Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous and taking some of the wicked men of the rabble they formed a mob set the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

And when they could not find them they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities shouting these men who have turned the world upside down have come here also and Jason has received them.

And they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar saying that there's another King Jesus. The people in the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest they let them go.

Verse 10. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. And when they had arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. You can get the idea that the agitation and the fomenting anger is around there because Paul's preaching the truth.

And when the truth is preached people don't like it. Some of the Thessalonians were caught up in this. Paul was there and he ministered. And now he writes to them and he tells them this is how you should recognize gospel leadership.

How do you recognize gospel leadership. Let me ask you a series of questions. That's our outline tonight. Question number one. What have you personally observed in the leadership at Bethlehem Bible Church.

What have you personally observed. Now the context here is Thessalonica. What have you observed. But it works its way through other churches as well. And so you could ask yourself the question. There goes all my notes.

By the way there's a reason why you number your notes. What's the reason. That's the reason. Right there see how can I trust Mike. The guy can't even keep his notes together. I'll never forget the day.

Quite a while ago we had some missionaries from Idaho here. I think it was 1998 ish and the associate pastor from Idaho was here. He never really preached much on Sunday morning and so he came up to this pulpit to preach when it was located back there and he had a glass of water here and he was the neatest guy by the way.

I remember he stayed at our home over on the lake at Sterling there and he was up at four o 'clock working on his message and praying. And he got up and things just went from bad to worse. He dropped his notes and they weren't numbered.

He picked them up to try to rearrange them and then he took the glass of water by accident hit it and dumped all over. And I just thought you know what we might as well just sing a gaither song and close.

I mean it just needs to just be over. But mine are numbered. What have you personally observed in your leadership here. People are gonna talk. People are gonna be criticized. I've been at my wits end.

This is years ago after the big church split. Met with another pastor in the area and he said Mike you better make sure that you have your integrity before the Lord. And can you preach the gospel when no one else thinks you have integrity.

So what you have to do is when you hear things from other people. What have you personally observed at Bethlehem Bible Church. Look at verse 1 for you yourselves know brothers that are coming to you is not in vain.

Paul says to the church at Thessalonica we were there. You know us you've seen us. You mean somebody's gonna say one thing and that's gonna discount everything we've done. Look up the verses. Look at verse 1.

You yourselves know verse 2 of chapter 2 as you know chapter 2 verse 5 as you know verse 9 you remember verse 10 you are witnesses. Verse 11 for you know your own knowledge. Don't you know. Don't you know Pradeep is ministered here to you for 11 years.

Don't you know. I ministered to you for 16 years. Pastor Steve eight years. And the list goes on. Don't you know. You can see is there anything in our behavior that makes you think we've done gospel ministry the wrong way with bad motives for selfish reasons.

Paul said you know you know that it wasn't in vain. Take a look at the text again. In verse 1 that are coming to you was not in vain. It was blessed by God. That word vein there in the ESV in verse 1 means empty.

If you have a jar and it doesn't have any coins in it it's an empty jar. If you have your hand open like this with nothing in it it's empty handed. It's used of empty words. Paul says when we showed up we preached the gospel and it wasn't a failure because God blessed the message.

God blessed the ministry. Oh of spite of us. Certainly no one's perfect. But there's been a change wrought in your life. Remember who you were and now remember who you are. And God uses instruments to do that.

He's used your elders to do that very thing. There's no growth in the ministry of people that you can't trust like a false teacher 2nd Timothy 3. But they will not make further progress for their folly will be obvious to all as also that of those two who came to be Janice and Jambres.

You ask yourself the question has the ministry here been void of growth void of gospel truth. People question leaders all the time slandered all the time. I don't want to make this a big personal vindication because we don't have any big problems at the church now.

But you would not believe what I've been called. I've been called Hitler. I've been called Stalin. I've been called an adulterer. I've been called a theft. And my favorite one of all time was I was called the Unabomber.

That was so good I had to put it in the first book. Friends you know I'm frail. You know I'm not perfect but I've lived with you for 16 years. And when one person says oh what about this. Or what about that a group of people leave the church and make questions.

And what do we do our sinful minds. If we're not careful we default to. Well maybe the leaders are the problem. Maybe they've got issues. What Paul said is you know just look back at the track record.

How long have you been here. How long have we been here. We're not trying to say we're the Messiah but as the Word of God has worked in us and we try to preach it to you. You know better. You know you know number two.

How do you recognize real gospel ministry. By the way if you're in a wanted teacher or a VBS teacher or a Sunday school teacher there's something to be said for just working in the ministry year after year faithfully working.

So people go. You know what I can see that person. And they're just there they're. They're just always. Ministering doesn't mean you can't change ministries or take a break or anything like that. I'm just talking about when you're in ministry be all there where you are be all there.

Have you personally observed. What have you personally observed in your leadership question. To have your leaders boldly proclaimed you the Word of God in the gospel of Christ. Have your leaders boldly proclaimed to you the Word of God in the gospel of Christ.

Verse 2. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi remember they got thrown in jail. As you know we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

In other words Paul says in good season and in bad season we preach the gospel to you. Right. Sounds like 2nd Timothy chapter. What preach the word be ready in season and out of season. Bad leaders preach themselves.

Bad leaders preach be good. Bad leaders preach moralism. Bad leaders preach book reviews. Paul he said I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. He said that to another church. False teachers don't preach that they have an obstacle.

They have some kind of issue and they run. When there's trouble in a church. What do the leaders preach. Who do they preach. When they're defamed. When there's a church split when people are cruel to them.

Do they keep preaching Christ Jesus or do they run. They change the message. I think they change the message. You think of Jesus saying the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and that they might have it abundantly.

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks and the sheep attacks the sheep and scatters them.

Gospel ministers like Jesus get persecuted but they still keep preaching. I remember years ago in the church split. I was so reeled by everything I didn't know what to do. And so somebody told me when you don't know what to do you preach the book of Romans.

So I just said Romans 5 Romans 6 Romans 7 Romans 8. Stand up and just deliver the word counterfeit teachers. They don't want suffering. Paul distinguished himself from a lot of these people when he wrote to the Corinthians.

Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with the rod once I received a stoning. Three times I shepherd suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.

I've been on journeys many times and dangers and from rivers and dangers from robbers and dangers from my own countrymen and dangers from the Gentiles and dangers in the city and dangers in the wilderness and dangers at the sea dangers from false brothers and hard work and toil through many sleepless nights.

And he just kept preaching even though he suffered shamefully at Philippi preaching the gospel no matter what it gives you insight into Paul's pastoral heart. Question number three. How can you see and notice the real McCoy and gospel ministry.

What are Christlike ministers. One. Make sure you watch them over time to listen to what they say now. Number three. Have your leaders preach sound doctrine to you. Have your leaders preach sound doctrine to you.

Verse three. I'm not trying to say that every time a makes a decision it's always right. I'm not trying to say leaders never sin. I'm saying that if the Lord is building Bethlehem Bible Church then people are going to try to attack it.

And so how do you gauge it. Do you go on hearsay. Do you go on slander. Do you go on gossip. You call everybody who's left and say what do you think. Or do you go to the Bible. In first Thessalonians chapter 2 Paul says do your leaders preach sound doctrine to you.

Verse 3. For our appeal does not spring from error. Now it's interesting that word appeal there is a kind of preaching. There's a kind of preaching that means thus saith the Lord. It's called heralding.

Preach the word. That's what that kind of thing is. But this is a word for preaching. But it's more gentle it's more persuasive. This is Paul's preaching that's kinder more persuasive. And here he says for our persuasive preaching does not spring from error.

And the word error there is gospel error. I preach truth. In other words Paul says I don't preach error. Interestingly that word error is where we get the word planet. What do we call them planets. PL A and ET.

Is Pluto a planet. I don't know but I do know the Greek word for planet. And it means to what planets. From our perspective it looks like they do what wonder stray planet. Oh this seems like they just go off into some place.

And Paul says when I preach the Bible to you I didn't go off and teach some weird stuff to use the exact same word in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. I didn't adulterate the word pretty strong language. Paul says I'm in a long line of faithful men to steal from Steve Lawson's terminology from the prophets to Christ the baton has been passed and my job isn't to change it and to add and to subtract.

I'm supposed to just proclaim to you the truth. It's not false. It's the true truth. So you ask yourself the question. Have I heard something from Paul's mouth. Have I heard something from Bethlehem Bible Church mouth.

That is weird doctrine. Because eventually weird stuff has to come out of weird people. It's just a matter of time. Do I hear weird things. Do I hear things that like for instance Jesus really isn't God.

Do I hear there's not a trinity. Do I hear Jesus didn't have a body. Do I hear these things. Or do I hear the truths of Christianity. Do I hear substitutionary atonement. Do I hear Jesus as representative.

Do I hear bodily resurrection. Do I hear grace alone through faith alone through Christ alone to the glory of God alone through the Bible alone. False teachers don't do that. They have to try to do some funky thing.

I'll deny the physical resurrection or say it's grace plus some sacramental thing. You ought to ask yourself the question because here's how Paul said it to the Church of Thessalonica. When the attacks come just set back and say well have these men lived before me.

Have these men told me the truth. Has there been fruit in their life. And do they teach sound doctrine. Number four. Do crazy accusations stick to your leaders. Do crazy accusations stick to your leaders.

Now who would ever say this about Paul. This is why I think it's crazy verse Thessalonians 2 3. First he says for our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive. Now that word impurity can either be generally something dirty but more specifically it means sexual impurity.

And most every commentator thinks people are trying to accuse Paul of some kind of weird sexual sin. Remember everywhere you go in those days religious prostitution was characteristic of life. And here's what you do.

False teachers are known for greed. False teachers are known for power. And false teachers are known for what illicit sexual behavior. Can you imagine Paul the Apostle. Dr. Thomas my old professor and MacArthur's old theology professor said a casual reference to such in this pagan environment would have shocked no one.

Doubtless Paul's enemies were attacking him on many fronts including this sin so prevalent among traveling religious teachers. Constant use of this word impurity for sexual sins in all literature of the time is persuasive for giving it the same meaning here.

So what do you do. You can't attack the message because you know Paul's message is right. So now you say you know what. But the guy's got some girl on the side. The guy's got some kind of scam. You're trying to say you know you can't trust the guy.

Unbelieving false teachers were sexually immoral. Listen to 2nd Peter false prophets also arose among the people just as there will be false teachers among you who will secretly introduce destructive heresies even denying the master who bought them bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

And many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned. Paul also says in verse 3. Impurity or any attempt to deceive some human devised method some deceitful way of going about things something shady.

That guy's into something shady. He doesn't do God's methods God's ways. He does his own deal. He doesn't deal in a straight fashion. He's not a straight shooter. This is the same word used in 2nd Corinthians 11.

For such men are false apostles deceitful workers. Paul said I didn't just say to myself whatever works I'll do. Management business. No I'm gonna do God's methods God's ways no matter what. Because on this rock I will build my church in the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

When I think of the other elders of Bethlehem Bible Church I don't think of deceitful. I don't think of Pradeep and say shady. I don't think of Scott Brown and say he's got some kind of he's not a straight shooter.

And the list goes on with the other men. Actually I found out this week that I am a cult leader. Someone said I've been called that a lot of your cult leader. Actually in some kind of really weird way I kind of think that's nice.

Because why. Because at least people know this is a different message than they're getting someplace else. But if you call somebody a cult leader this isn't the nice part. Then you better not trust them because they're shady.

They got girls on the side. They're after the money. Don't trust them. See the thing is if I tell you the truth but you think I'm not trustworthy doesn't matter what I say. Question 5. How do you recognize real ministry.

And again there's not any big deal going on at Bethlehem Bible Church. This is not you know what if there was let me just put you at ease. If there was I wouldn't preach this Sunday night to 32 and a half people.

I would have saved this for Sunday morning so everybody could have heard. You know what. Alert alert people are questioning my authority. No but I'm just preaching through the text and here it is. And criticizes.

Criticism does come my way. Criticism does come the way of the elders. But that's just the way things go. But how do we really know these people are doing the right thing. Question 5. Are your leaders man pleasers or God pleasers.

Are your leaders man pleasers or God pleasers. Verse 4. But just as we have been approved by God tested by God you can imagine Paul being tested first. He saved on the Damascus Road and then a series of ways that God test him.

So he's capable to do this task. So we've been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. He didn't come up with the gospel. He's just gonna pass the baton of the good news about the resurrected Jesus the substance or a sin bearer.

On to the next person. So we speak false teachers like to please men so they can get them to follow them. Not to please men though this is gospel preaching but to please God who tests the hearts. How do you know if people are biblical teachers or not.

Well their desire should be to please the Lord and not to please man. That's the issue. And the word there to please God is present tense. The aim of gospel ministers is to please the Lord. I want you to be pleased with me.

But if the Lord is pleased with me and you're not pleased with me then I I can live. Because I mainly preach for the Lord and not you. Man pleasers or God pleasers. Listen to what AT Robertson said. Few temptations assail the preacher more strongly than this one to please men.

Even if God is not pleased though with a dim hope that God will after all condone our overlook. Nothing but experience will convince some preachers how fickle is popular favor and how often it is at the cost of failure to please God.

Paul says as God is my witness I tried to preach to please him and not the people. I'm not after myself. It's not lights. Camera action. Look at Paul. It's I've got guilt and grace to talk about sin and the Savior to talk about.

No wonder Paul said to Timothy in 2nd Timothy chapter 4. When you preach you reprove. You rebuke. And you exhort reprove. This is sin rebuke. You do that sin. People who are false teachers don't do that.

They want to give people what they want to hear because they want to pray on the people and get rich from the people and have an easy life. They don't want to talk about cross-bearing and crucifixion of self and lordship in the narrow way cross offends.

Norman Wells said may God help us to return to a gospel that glorifies God antagonizes Satan squelches sin convict sinners. Bruce produces repentance routes. False teachers abolishes false religions promote sound doctrine and brings about the miracle of regeneration that makes a hell-bound sinner into a new creature in Christ Jesus.

False teachers don't do church discipline. Why. Because they want people pleased. Number six. How do you recognize Christ like ministers. After all that's what we're after. Right under shepherds of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Question six. Are your leaders in it for the money. Are your leaders in it for the money. Oh that would be horrible if Christian pastors did things for money. That was their motivation. Verse 5. For we never came with words of flattery.

That was big that back then. Because if you could make people feel good as you spoke to them they would give you money. After that we didn't come with words of flattery. As you know Paul was accused of a lot of things.

But I don't think he flattered people with his words nor with a pretext for greed. God is my witness. I'm not manipulative. I'm not in it for the money. Paul says I'm not making demands on you. Although I could have as an apostle I could have said you owe me money.

Paul said I didn't do that. Should preachers get paid. Yes. Should they do it for the money. No. You can look at 1st Corinthians chapter 9 and see if pastors should get paid. Shall you not muzzle the ox while he's threshing.

No you shouldn't. Paul says I'm not in it for the money. And you know what false teachers are doesn't take you long to turn on TVN and find that out. Does it send your money to Jesus. And this is my address.

I hate that Titus 1 for there are many rebellious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision who must be silenced because they're upsetting whole families teaching things they should not teach for the sake of what sordid gain.

It's disgraceful gain improper gain filthy lucre. And they try to flatter people as a cloak to exploit them to get selfish gain. That word their pretext for greed always is a bad thing. Paul says God is my witness.

I didn't do it. What kind of leader is Paul. He's not after money. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Take a look at verse 6. Verse 5 was about financial motives.

Verse 6 is about getting praise and position and power and clapping. And yes I'm on the stage and look at me. Nor did we seek glory from people whether from you Paul said or from others. Though we could have made demands as Apostles of Christ could have demanded money but I could have never demanded applause and praise from you.

False teachers do the opposite. They want all the praise and power to go to them. Don't we want as pastors. Don't we want as elders. Don't you want as a Sunday school teacher not the praise of people but the praise of the Lord.

Of course if people encourage you that's great. But that's not what motivates a gospel oriented lay person or minister. Question 7. We have just a few more to go. Question 7. Do your leaders love you.

Do your leaders love you. How do you recognize real ministry. Real leaders. Are you at the right church. Can you trust us. Do your leaders love you. Verses 7 and 8. And okay just between us tonight since it's Mother's Day.

Here's my Mother's Day message. Here's a little verse about moms. Okay so we everybody got some stuff today. You. I didn't hear a sermon on Hannah this morning. But here's a special Mother's Day verse.

Just for you. Okay in that nice. But we were gentle among you. Takes a real man to wear pink or purple. Takes a real gospel centered minister to have these feminine like qualities that were so good in a mother that should be used in ministry to.

We are gentle among you. Like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. Just how much does a nursing mom love her child. How much is a mom lover child. How much is a mom take care of her own children.

So being affectionately desirous of you we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves. Because you had become very dear to us. Sounds like the attitude of the Lord Jesus Christ when he emptied himself taking the form of a bond slave in Philippians chapter 2.

I was gentle among you. The word mother. There is trophus which means a nurse. One who feeds or a wet nurse. A nursing mother warmly cherishing nourishing. It's used of birds that cover their young. It's used of birds that cover their eggs with their feathers.

It's used of Jesus taking care of his church. In Ephesians chapter 5. Feeding loving protecting nourishing providing. Paul said. What are those false teachers do. Those false teachers do the exact opposite.

And and I was among you. And you know it. And this is the way I lived. Paul said. And I loved you. I wanted to share everything with you. Not just the gospel but everything. You were dear to me. A deep affection knit in the hearts of the people and their leaders.

No guile that a mother has when she feeds a baby. Not selfish but selfless devoted to her little one. Did Megan have her baby today. I wonder. I think so. It's a good day to be born today. Isn't it. May 12th.

Evil shepherds are the exact opposite. Listen to Ezekiel 34 son of man prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. And say to them this is what the sovereign Lord says. Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves.

Doesn't sound like a mother. Should not the shepherds feed the flock. You eat the fat. You close yourselves with the wool. You slaughter the choice animals. But you do not feed the sheep. You've not strengthened the weak.

You're not healed the sick. You've not bandaged the injured. You've not brought back the strays or sought the lost. But with force and hardness you've ruled over them. Paul talked about false apostles in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11.

They take advantage of you. They're arrogant towards you. They strike you in the face. Now does that sound like a mother with her little baby taking advantage of the baby. Arrogant towards the baby striking the baby in the face.