LET US EXPERIENCE WHOLENESS.
My life and ministry was changed forever, when I heard Dr. Frank Damazio teach on Biblical Discipleship highlighting verses 15 & 17 in John 21. In English we read Jesus said Feed my lambs and feed my sheep, in our thinking to feed is all about food, and that is why so much emphasis is put in discipleship programs on teaching and learning the “rules of the club” but when you see that the Greek word translated feed is Bosko, which has the picture, of the shepherd going through the wool of the sheep looking for cuts and scratches and bruises, and that the smell of the sheep is on the shepherd, it changes the whole concept of discipleship completely.
I have never doubted that God has called me to be a Pastor, because He gave me a SHEPHERD’S HEART, and from my teen years, I have carried a burden for God’s people, especially those that seem to carry so many cares and concerns. As I had never been discipled myself, other than care and concern I could not offer much else. We know that when we are born again, we receive forgiveness of sins, which brings that awesome awareness that it is “well with my soul” and the Gift of eternal life, but we are also aware that so much of the baggage of the past is still with us, thus the reason we need Biblical Discipleship. Without it so many Christians live an up and down life, often more defeated than victorious, and some backslide and stop attending church. I have written about this fact numerous times, but want to highlight today the ANOINTING that God wants to put on His shepherds, so that they can minister WHOLENESS to the new Believer. I am not limiting this anointing just to the Ephesian 4:11 shepherds but every one involved in Shepherding Ministry.
In Matthew 16;17-18 AMP in response to Peter’s declaration, Jesus responds and says “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. Jesus says I will build my Church through you, and will give you a set of keys to unlock the Kingdom to the world. I would suggest to you, if we want to GROW THE CHURCH IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY WE NEED THIS ANOINTING.
Dr. Luke shares the story in his Gospel of Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth being handed the scroll to read. The reading was from the Book of Isaiah 61:1-2. We read this in Luke 4:18-19 AMP. The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are OPPRESSED [who are downtrodden, BRUISSED,CRUSHED AND BROKEN DOWN BY CALAMITY.
To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the daywhen salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]
The MESSAGE simply and succinctly declares:
God’s Spirit is on me;
he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”
There is so much truth in these verses:
- We must preach the Gospel, it is part of the great Commission Mark 16:15 NKJV He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- The Gospel is to set people free John 8:36 NKJV Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
- The Holy Spirit opens a person’s eyes to see Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. He then wants to constantly give us “illumination” open our eyes and turn the light on and speak to us regularly from the Word of God.
- Then we come to this list that I have put in capital letters.
Many people when they come to Christ have been suffering from emotional mental challenges (and potentially demonic). Many new Believers have enduring numerous crushed experiences that leave them emotionally scarred, and have experienced painful and sad experiences that have left a permanent mark on them. Sadly, there are many thousands of people sitting in church every Sunday who are suffering from these effects, and these areas are never confronted and therefore never ministered wholeness. This is where BOSKO MINISTRY must begins to minister to them so that they walk in the spiritual and emotional health.
The Psalmist declares: in Psalm 147:3 NKJV He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. My heart’s desire now is, that as I understand this anointing I will be a channel of blessing and healing to God’s people, We need to pray and see God’s people emotionally6 and spiritually whole AMEN
