DHLC - Tagum

𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 | Tarry ta unya, Igsuon! Let's grab this opportunity nga mas mailhan pa ang Diyos na atong ginaalagaran. And be encouraged by each other's testimony of the goodness, faithfulness, righteousness and holiness of our Lord.

We'll be truly glad nga makauban ka, Igsuon.🤗

𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗗 | 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 | 𝗝𝗔𝗡. 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝘗𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘮 23:1 (𝘕𝘒𝘑𝘝)
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥; 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵.”

In the Bible, the Lord is described as a Shepherd, and we, His children, are characterized as sheep. Sheep are known to be very dependent on their shepherd. Without a shepherd, they wander, become easy prey, and eventually die from neglect because they require constant care and attention to stay healthy. In short, sheep cannot live without a shepherd—just as we cannot live without God.

In John 10:2, another shepherd is mentioned—a pastor.

𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘩 3:15 𝘒𝘑𝘝
𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘩 3:15 (𝘕𝘒𝘑𝘝)
“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

God has given us pastors—shepherds after His own heart—who are called to lead us to the safest place we could ever be: His presence. In John 10:1, Jesus speaks about the sheepfold—a place built to protect the sheep from predators and thieves, especially during the night when they are most vulnerable. In the same way, this world is covered in darkness (Isaiah 60:2), and the enemy is constantly plotting ways to sn**ch us from God’s care. But praise God for the pastors who faithfully watch over our souls, helping to keep us safe, grounded, and secure in Him.

However, just as a hungry predator will attempt to climb over a sheepfold’s fence to capture a sheep, we must remain vigilant. The devil seeks to deceive. He disguises himself as someone who appears to know and serve the Lord—even as someone who teaches God’s Word—but his purpose is to corrupt and mislead. We can discern him through his words: he twists Scripture, and instead of giving glory to God, he seeks glory for himself. Therefore, we must be watchful and discerning so we are not deceived. Listen carefully to the true voice of our shepherd.

How do we know if a pastor is from the Lord?
John 10:2 says that the true shepherd enters through the gate. A sheepfold has a narrow gate through which both the shepherd and the sheep must enter. In Matthew 7:13–14, Jesus speaks of the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Its narrowness reminds us that we cannot live however we please; there are boundaries and obedience required to enter the Kingdom of God.

In John 10:7, Jesus declares, “I am the gate.” This confirms His words that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We must go through Him—by believing in Him and in the Good News He proclaims. Only through Jesus can we enter into God’s presence—our true refuge and safe haven (John 10:9).

Therefore, to recognize a pastor according to God’s heart, we must ask: Does he enter through the Gate? Is his life rooted in faith in Jesus Christ? Does he live according to the Word of God and model obedience, humility, and integrity? A true shepherd does not lead people to himself, but through Christ. His life and teaching align with Scripture, and he sets an example for others to follow.

Indeed, we are blessed to have pastors who lead us toward God’s presence. True shepherds feed us, teach us, and help us understand Jesus and the Good News. They guide us in living according to God’s will so that we may receive the promises He has prepared for us. Reminder to not trade the blessings of God for the fleeting pleasures of this world.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨, 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧, 𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗢𝗗! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.

Preacher: Pastora Gracelle Del Puerto Canon
___________

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚, 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝟲 𝗽𝗺.

𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 | Hungry for more?
Come and feed your soul with the living Word of God. Join us tonight and be filled with bread that endures forever.

Matthew 4:4 NKJV
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

See you later, Igsuon!