WHERE ARE ALL THE GODLY SHEPHERDS? by David Wilkerson

God told the prophet Jeremiah, “As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me” (Jeremiah 33:22). He was saying, “I give you this covenant promise that I’m going to increase the holy priesthood that will shepherd my multiplying flocks.”

You may wonder, “Where are all the godly shepherds the Lord promised us? Where are they pastoring? Are you saying we can find their righteous churches in any city, town or village? There aren’t enough Bible schools and seminaries in the world to even begin to fulfill this incredible prophecy. I know the Lord is raising up a host of godly young ministers but surely they are few and far between.”

How will God do this? We find the answer in the book of Revelation: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (Revelation 1:5-6). God has made us all His priests! Everyone who has been washed in the blood of Jesus is a member of His royal priesthood.

The apostle Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 2:5: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). God has called us to be priests who minister to Him.

You see, the Lord’s concept of “church” is much different from ours. We think of church as being a ministry to people. It is a place where all the needs of God’s people—spiritual, physical and emotional—are met. Of course, that is all part of what makes up a church. But the true Church, according to Scripture, begins with ministry to Jesus Christ. His concept of the Church is anyplace there is ministry to Him.

THE FULLNESS OF THE GLORY OF GOD by David Wilkerson

The radiance that emanated from Moses’ face and heart was the result of his having seen only a little of the fullness of God’s nature (Exodus 34:29). Even so, when the Israelites saw the change in Moses’ countenance, they knew he had had a supernatural experience. His sister, brother and the others exclaimed, “This man has been face to face with God. He has gone beyond” (see Exodus 34:29-35).

Today, we have something far more glorious than even Moses had. We actually touch and handle God’s glory. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).

John is saying here, “God revealed the fullness of His glory to us in Christ. We saw His glory embodied in a person and we talked with Him. We even touched Him!”

Today we not only see the fullness of the glory of God but it now abides in us. His glory shines forth in our hearts: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Paul is saying here, “Jesus Christ, God in flesh, embodies all that God is. And since we know God is goodness, love, mercy, grace and long-suffering, we also can be assured that this is the nature of Christ. Since Jesus lives in our hearts, we know that the glory of God isn’t merely out in the cosmos somewhere. No, the fullness of His glory is in us, through the presence of Christ!”

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). Who is this grace? It is Jesus Christ—full of mercy, kindness, love!

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (verse 12). Paul is telling us, “This grace that abides in you is the revelation of the goodness of Christ. And if you will abide in Him, His revelation will instruct you in holy living!”