The Good Shepherd

Oct 27, 2019 Jeremiah 23:1-8 8|13

Government, Religion, Education, Business, Entertainment

Could this be an accurate representation of the five pointed pentagram of satan’s leadership structure? These are five areas of huge influence, when turned toward his purposes would create havoc. Are there any good leaders in each of these areas? Of course there are. But the focus in this sermon was on the fact that there are bad leaders, those who epitomize, a truly ungodly character and attitude. There exists twisted layers of falsehood within each of these significant cogs of influence in our culture. The bad or evil leaders that do exist within each of these five power bases pollute what could be realms of influence for blessing and service to the people for our common good. But other sinful motives and agendas have crept in and it is hard to sift through who’s who - some seem very obvious, others are more subtle.

It is not an overstatement to say that the demise of Judah and most every other nation that has crumbled throughout history, has fallen because of corrupted leadership. There is none of the five realms that is exempt from that corruption. And by the way, Religion is not just non-Christian leaders. Failed Christian leaders have perhaps had the most influence of them all. This is not science (haha) but the effect that fallen Christian leaders have had and their ripple effects cannot be overstated.

This is a very humbling thought. Godly people are not exempt from falling. Defending the faith of our fathers from within and from without can be a very tricky and dangerous task. Living out the faith of our fathers is equally difficult.

A seeming repeated weakness of leaders is making alliances with the wrong nations i.e. A unity with the wrong people is a disunity with God. The old testament is loaded with examples of leaders making this common mistake. In the end is simply misplaced trust. Bad leaders get us to trust in all sorts of things that would take the place of God in our lives. It may be the at the heart of what evil leadership is: distracting people away from even wanting to trust in the one true God.

This is why we must all the more diligent to remain faithful to the basic precepts of God’s word. And the best way to remain faithful to his word is to keep it before us day and night. Investing time in reading God’s word produces an appetite for wanting more. Obeying God’s word cements our faith on a firm foundation upon which all of our life can stand, and stand firm.

Avoiding God’s word creates a growing indifference to God’s word. Ignoring clear directives of God’s word (His voice) and not obeying sets us up for collapse. And the collapse will be great.

It may start as small cracks, wanting to trust leaders, giving them the benefit of the doubt. But eventually the weight of sin breaks through and exposes them and that collapse too is great. Knowing and trusting the voice of the Good Shepherd and then acting on it is wise and the key not falling for the schemes of the evil one – whatever form he takes. [John 10]