THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Written in 2013
by Tony Alamo
aka Bernie Hoffman

Why did JESUS become flesh and dwell among us?1 If we follow HIM, GOD makes us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of HIS dear SON: In whom we have redemption through HIS blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).

CHRIST said several times that HIS followers are like a flock of sheep.2 Shepherds have said that sheep are the dumbest of all animals. But we humans are not animals. We are created in the image and likeness of GOD.3 It is written that HE created us from the dust of the earth.4 The WORD of GOD became flesh because we, HIS creation, needed a shepherd to teach us the ways of GOD.5 JESUS IS THAT GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:11, 14).6

The Bible also tells us that most of the people of the world have not listened to the other shepherds that GOD called and sent to teach the ways of GOD.7 And, in most cases, the shepherds have forsaken CHRIST’S teachings and have not properly fed the flock with the WORD of GOD, but have fed only themselves.8

“The world was made by [the good SHEPHERD], and the world knew HIM not. [The shepherds, with the exception of a few, have failed GOD miserably, so] HE came unto HIS own [the Jews], and HIS own received HIM not. But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS name.… And the WORD [CHRIST] was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld HIS glory, the glory of the only begotten of the FATHER), full of grace [power] and truth” (John 1:10-12, 14).

The purpose of winning souls is to cleanse them of their former sins, bring them into a new spiritual life, and create more disciples, more branches from CHRIST, who is the true vine. They will bear much fruit, meaning they will win more souls, create more disciples, which in turn will become shepherds of souls, and will feed, support, and strengthen the flocks of CHRIST.

JESUS said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in ME, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without ME ye can do nothing.… Herein is MY FATHER glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be MY disciples” (John 15:5, 8).

Without CHRIST, without the WORD of GOD, and without a guide from GOD to explain the WORD correctly, it would be impossible for people to enter Heaven.9 Without JESUS, the good SHEPHERD, the SAVIOR of those who receive HIS soul-cleansing blood sacrifice, it would be impossible for any of us to enter Heaven, because the blood of JESUS “taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).10 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).11 No sin is permitted in Heaven.12

In John 5:39-40, JESUS said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of ME. [The entire Bible is about JESUS.] And you will not come to ME, that you might have life.”

JESUS, speaking to Ezekiel (chapter 34:1-6) in the Old Testament concerning terrible shepherds, states, “And the WORD of the LORD [JESUS] came unto me, saying, son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat [you take their money], and you clothe you with the wool [you take their goods], you kill them that are fed [you receive all good things because the people foolishly give them to you, but you kill their souls]: but you feed not the flock [all you think of is yourselves]. The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts [false prophets] of the field [the world], when they were scattered. MY sheep wandered through all the mountains [nations], and upon every high hill [every large city]: yea, MY flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”

The LORD said, “If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your FATHER which is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:12-14).

“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the WORD of the LORD; As I live, saith the LORD GOD, surely because MY flock [which I have died for from before the foundation of the world13] became a prey, and MY flock became meat [food] to every beast [false prophet] of the field [the world], because there was no shepherd, neither did MY shepherds search for MY flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not MY flock; Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the WORD of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds [today’s pastors and witnesses]; and I will require MY flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver MY flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them” (Ezekiel 34:7-10).

The LORD JESUS said, “MY flock” (HIS people) are the true believers, not the lukewarm ones which HE spues out of HIS mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). These users who feed themselves sumptuously on the tithes and offerings from the flock will not feed themselves anymore! These are those pastors and witnesses which stopped pastoring and witnessing because they began thinking they were able to serve themselves rather than the LORD, and that GOD’S WORD doesn’t mean what it says, so they became lazy and far too comfortable, lukewarm, and they became users instead of givers!

The book of Acts warns: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the HOLY SPIRIT hath made you overseers, to feed the church of GOD, which HE hath purchased with HIS own blood” (Acts 20:28). The LORD said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these MY brethren, ye have done it unto ME” (Matthew 25:40).

“For thus saith the LORD GOD; Behold I, even I, will both search [for] MY sheep, and seek them out. [False witnesses use the WORD of GOD unlawfully, and take pride in spiritually destroying both new and old converts. They do none of GOD’S work. They exalt themselves by thinking themselves to be leaders.] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out MY sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day [during persecution and demonic attacks against the children of GOD]. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land [this is wherever the LORD JESUS wants us], and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country” (Ezekiel 34:11-13).

We can see that GOD in JESUS is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). GOD said if we don’t care about HIS children, or the children we could have won unto HIM, HE will remove our church from us. Since we didn’t care to cultivate HIS people to become disciples, HE will take away our candlestick (church) (Revelation 2:4-5), and HE will take our children, because we don’t care about HIS children. We didn’t care to live a lowly and meek life, as JESUS did.14 Repent before HE does more evil unto you!15

But for those of us who will be humble and do as HE said, HE states, “I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. [They will receive abundantly of the WORD of GOD.16] I will feed MY flock, and I will cause them to lie down [in green pastures], saith the LORD GOD. I [JESUS] will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away [this does not mean to bring back those who are evil, but the good], and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

“And as for you, O MY flock, thus saith the LORD GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle [All look alike, but some are good, and some are bad. GOD doesn’t judge by the outside appearance, but by that which is within (1 Samuel 16:7).], between the rams and the he goats. Does it seem like a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? [tread underfoot the blood of the covenant, the blood of CHRIST, which was to come17] and to have drunk of the deep waters [you have learned the deepness of GOD’S WORD and the Scriptures pertaining to HIS coming], but you must foul the residue with your feet? [You tread down the WORD of GOD as those of the world, but it is far worse, because you know the TRUTH].

“And as for MY flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save MY flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and HE shall feed them, even MY servant David [JESUS is from the house of David]; HE shall feed them [the WORD of GOD. ‘Man shall not live by bread alone (from a bakery), but by every WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD’ (Matthew 4:4).18], and HE shall be their SHEPHERD.… And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land [HE will cast out devils by HIS SPIRIT (Matthew 10:8)]: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

“And I will make them and the places round about MY hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown [JESUS (John 1:14), ‘For HE shall grow up before HIM as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground’ (Isaiah 53:2)], and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the LORD their GOD am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are MY people, saith the LORD GOD. [True Israel consists of those who believe the MESSIAH and keep HIS commandments (1 John 3:23-24). ‘And hereby we do know that we know HIM, if we keep HIS commandments.’ A person who says he knows ME and keeps not MY commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him(1 John 2:3-4).] And you MY flock, the flock of MY pasture, are men, and I am your GOD, saith the LORD GOD” (Ezekiel 34:14-31).

Are you one of the LORD’S flock? If you are, then show it by doing what the Old and New Testament commands. If you haven’t accepted JESUS yet as your personal Savior, and you would like to become born of the SPIRIT of GOD, then say this prayer:

Prayer

My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11

After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Then study the King James Version Bible, and, for your benefit and the benefit of others, do what it says.13

CHRIST and GOD the FATHER now live in you through the HOLY SPIRIT. There is a way you can receive a fuller portion of the divine nature of GOD in you. The more the divine nature of GOD lives in you, the more you will be able to stand against the temptations that have so easily moved so many millions of Christians away from salvation. Pray for the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.14 For instructions on how to receive the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT and to receive more of GOD’S holy nature, ask for our literature or call. For without holiness, no man shall see GOD (Hebrews 12:14).

The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.

If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “Will a man rob GOD? Yet ye have robbed ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], and prove ME now herewith, saith the LORD of HOSTS, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).


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footnotes:

1. Isa. 9:6-7, chap. 53, 61:1-3, Matt. 4:23-24, 9:35-36, John 1:1-3, 10-14, Acts 5:30-31, Rom. 3:21-26, 1 John 2:1-2 return

2. Jer. 23:1, Ezek. 34:6, 11-12, Matt. 10:6, 16, 18:11-14, 25:31-33, Mark 14:27, John 10:1-16, 24-28, 21:16-17 return

3. Gen. 1:26-27, 5:1-2, 9:6, Col. 3:10 return

4. Gen. 2:7, 3:19, Eccl. 3:20 return

5. Gen. 49:24, Psa. 23:1-3, Isa. 40:9-11, Ezek. 34:23, John 10:11-18, 27-28 return

6. Matt. 26:31, John 10:1-16, Heb. 13:20, 1 Pet. 2:25 return

7. 2 Chron. 36:15-16, Isa. 30:10, Jer. 2:30, 7:23-28, 29:17-19, 35:15, 44:4-6, Amos 2:11-12, Matt. 23:37, Heb. 11:32-39, Rev. 16:4-6 return

8. Isa. 3:12, 9:15-16, Jer. 10:21, 23:1-36, Ezek. 34:1-10, Zech. 10:2-3, 11:17, Mal. 2:8-9, Matt. 7:15, 22-23, 15:2-14, 23:2-33, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15, 1 Tim. 4:1-3, 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 13-19 return

9. Psa. 119:105, Prov. 6:22-23, John 5:24, 6:53-56, 8:31-32, 14:6, 15:3, Acts 16:31, Eph. 4:11-15, 5:25-26, 1 Pet. 1:23-25, 1 John 5:11-13 return

10. Matt. 26:28, Rom. 3:23-26, 5:6-21, Eph. 1:7, chap. 2, Col. 1:19-23, Heb. 9:11-15, 1 Pet. 1:18-20, Rev. 5:1-10 return

11. Lev. 17:11 return

12. Psa. 24:3-5, Matt. 7:17-19, 13:24-30, 37-43, Luke 13:23-28, Heb. 12:14-17, 2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:7-8, 27, 22:12-14 return

13. Rev. 13:8 return

14. Psa. 22:26, 25:9, 37:9-11, Zeph. 2:3, Matt. 5:5, 11:28-30, 21:5 return

15. Lev. 26:14-38, Prov. 1:20-33, Ezek. 3:17-21, John 5:14, Rev. 2:16, 20-23 return

16. Isa. 25:6, 55:1, Joel 2:19, John 4:10, 14, 6:35, 53-58, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, Rev. 2:17 return

17. Heb. 6:4-8, 10:26-31 return

18. Deut. 8:1-3, John 6:31-40, 47-51 return


Prayer footnotes:

1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return

2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return

3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return

4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return

5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return

6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return

7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return

8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return

9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return

10. Heb. 11:6 return

11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return

12. Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 19:3-5 return

13. Deut. 4:29, 13:4, 26:16, Josh. 1:8, 22:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:22-25, Rev. 3:18 return

14. Isa. 28:11-12, Joel 2:28-29, Luke 3:16, 11:9-13, John 1:29-34, 7:37-39, 14:15-29, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:1-8, 2:1-18, 32-39, 5:29-32, 19:1-7, Rom. 5:3-5, 15:13 return