A Tender Shepherd: He Will Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd and Gently Lead Those Who Are with Young.

By Rosemond Opare-Kumi

Tender shepherding is the ultimate expectation of the Lord from shepherds who take care of His lambs and sheep. He is looking for tender shepherds everywhere including personal homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and in the church. Will you answer the call?
Believers in Christ Jesus are making disciples as a sure proof of their love for Him but tender shepherding which is the ordained means appears to be somewhat in crisis.
It is in this regard that “A Tender Shepherd” is a voice in time to ignite the tender shepherding spirit that inhabits believers.
Tenderness is a significant power chip of the Treasure that resides in believers of Jesus Christ without a doubt. It is the undeniable power that is relevant for the world today.
As this power becomes increasingly recognizable and used daily by believers in Christ Jesus for tender shepherding, transformation of lives will begin to be more visible and apparent in homes, families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and indeed in all spheres of human life. The world cannot deny their thirst for transformed lives in every sphere of life and hence the demand for tender shepherds.
This is the kind of shepherding that pleases the Lord and proven to be effective for His purposes in reconciling the world to Himself.
In this book you will find:
• Heaven’s perspective on shepherding
• The shepherding blue- print of Jesus Christ and illustrations; those that marked His discipleship and became His brand; discipleship by tenderness and love
• The central purpose of shepherding for the fulfillment of the Great Commission
• examples for the church from the Apostles who had first-hand and best taste of Jesus’ discipleship.
• A hypothetical classification of churches based on shepherd types and suggestions for introspection and
• Shepherding in other spheres of life
The author considers tender shepherding one of the surest means of responding to Jesus’ command of making disciples of all nations as the day of reckoning draws near. When He will say to each tender shepherd:
COME YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Feb 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781543763287

Rosemond Opare-Kumi

Rosemond Opare-Kumi (AmaRose) is a writer of christian literature and evangelist. Professionally, she is a musician and public health consultant. She has decades of social development work experience in countries including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Rwanda in various capacities as Team Leader, Resident Adviser, Consultant and UN Volunteer. Her academic background is in music, education, demography and public health. “Treasure Hunt” is her seventh published book and the fourth in “The TREASURE” series. Her first six books are: “The Lord’s Prayer: The forgotten Prayer”, “Created to Invent: A Foretaste of Paradise”, “Incense From Golden Bowls, “The TREASURE”, ‘A Tender Shepherd” and “ Hide Me”. AmaRose and husband Solomon make their home in Botswana. They are marriage counselors and active Gideons. They have four adult children; Cynthia and Yanga Kizza, Jennifer and Michael. The arrival of their first grandson Asher-Joe continues to inspire them to Treasure-hunt in more innovative ways, as well as support other Treasure-hunters.

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Copyright © 2021 by Rosemond Opare-Kumi.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5437-6327-0

                 eBook           978-1-5437-6328-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

Contents

1.   Dedication

2.   In Search For Tender Shepherds

3.   Prologue And Introduction

4.   Format And Purpose

5.   God’s Perspective On Shepherding

6.   Jesus’ Perspective Of The Good Shepherd

(a) His relationship with God

(b) His relationship with His sheep and shepherds

(c) Urgency for a cycle of good shepherds to feed and tend lambs and sheep

7.   Summary Of Heaven’s Perspective On Shepherding

8.   Discipleship By Love - Jesus’ Brand Of Discipleship

(a) Humility

(b) Focused on pursuing His Fathers business

(c) Preparation and strategy for His Father’s business

(d) On top of His calling - no one pushed Him around

(e) He did not compromise on sin and yet merciful

(f) Compassion

(g) Visiting Pastor: He had friends and made time to visit them

(h) His love for little children: Jesus the Child Evangelist

(i) Fasting and prayer life: spent time with His Father in prayer

(j) knowledge of the Word and teaching it

(k) He was not gender-prejudiced

(l) Confidence and Authority

(m) Jesus served His disciples

(n) In charge of His future:

(p) Evidence of His resurrection: Revealing Himself to many after the resurrection

(q) The Holy Spirit Baptism- empowering His followers

(r) The Great Commission- the overarching assignment for believers

(s) Ascension and promise of return

9.   A Case For The Great Commission

10.   The Apostles’ Response And Their perspectives About Shepherds, Lambs And Sheep: The Examples Of Simon Peter And Paul

11.   The Church’s Response

Compelling reasons for mutual love

Classification of churches based on shepherd types and suggested approaches to improve shepherding

Qualifications for shepherds (adapted)

Recommended list of skills and knowledge for shepherds

Outline of a Three-year Study Guide for disciples

A word to lambs, sheep and shepherds

12.   My Response To Tender Shepherding

13.   Epilogue

Dedication

TO OUR CHILDREN: CYNTHIA AND

YANGA KIZZA, JENNIFER AND MICHAEL

&

THE PHAKALANE BIBLE STUDY GROUP

YOUR DESIRE TO KNOW THE LORD

AND GROW IN HIS GRACE AND

KNOWLEDGE IS COMMENDABLE

ASPIRE TO BE TENDER SHEPHERDS

TO THE LAMBS AND SHEEP THE

LORD BRINGS YOUR WAY

DISCIPLESHIP BY LOVE IS

THE BLUE-PRINT AND

JESUS’ BRAND OF SHEPHERDING

COVET IT !

TENDER SHEPHERDS’

REWARD AWAITS YOU!!!!

In Search For Tender Shepherds

THE LORD SAYS TO HIS SHEPHERDS:

I AM YOUR SHEPHERD AND YOU ARE THE SHEEP OF MY PASTURE. I FEED AND TEND YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.

CONSIDER THE HELPLESS AND HARASSED LAMBS AND SHEEP WITHOUT SHEPHERDS. THE HARVEST REMAINS PLENTIFUL BUT THE LABORERS ARE STILL FEW

O THAT YOU WILL HEED MY COMMAND TO FEED MY LAMBS AND SHEEP AND TEND MY SHEEP.

BUT I NEED YOU TO DO SO WITH TENDERNESS.

I AM COUNTING ON YOU TO BRING EVERYONE WHEREVER THEY MAY BE INTO MY PEN

SO THAT I WILL HAVE ONE FLOCK

FEED AND TEND THE LAMBS AND SHEEP IN EVERY LAND; YOUR HOMES, FAMILIES, WORKPLACES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ARE MINE AND I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE ANYONE OF THEM.

SHEPHERD THEM TENDERLY AS I DO YOU

RESPONSE

OPEN MY EYES ONCE MORE, TO SEE THE LAMBS AND SHEEP THAT I NEED TO FEED AND TEND.

YOUR TENDERNESS LIVES IN ME TO MAKE ME A TENDER SHEPHERD LIKE YOURSELF, TO LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THEM AS YOU DID FOR ME.

A TENDER HEART OF A GOOD SHEPHERD WHICH WILL AFFECT MY EYES, EARS, HANDS, FEET, SHOULDERS AND VOICE INCLUDING MY VERBAL AND NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION.

I HATE TO BECOME A CORRUPT SHEPHERD OR A HIRED HAND; THE KIND OF SHEPHERD THAT EATS THE CURDS AND SELL THE WOOL FOR GAIN. I DO NOT WANT TO BE HARSH AND BRUTAL AT THEM OR LORD IT OVER THEM.

KEEP ME AS A BRANCH IN YOU THE VINE; FOR WITHOUT YOU I CAN DO NOTHING. PRUNE ME CONTINUALLY TOO SO I CAN BEAR MORE FRUIT THAT WILL ABIDE.

TEACH ME TO OPEN AND GUARD THE GATE OF THEIR PEN AGAINST STRANGE VOICES THAT MIGHT ENTER IT TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY.

GIVE ME A VOICE OF TRUTH THAT WILL ATTRACT THEM TO YOU SO THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE HEED TO ANY STRANGER’S VOICE.

TEACH ME TO CAUTION THEM ABOUT THE DEVIL OUR COMMON ENEMY WHO PROWLS LIKE A LION SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. AND WHEN SOME GET LOST, HELP ME LOOK FOR THEM EVERYWHERE WITH LOVE, PATIENCE, STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE. GIVE ME THE SKILLS TO BIND AND HEAL THEIR WOUNDS TOO.

I NEED THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE ALSO TO WARD OFF PREDATORS. GIVE ME THE STRONGEST BOW TO ATTACK THESE PREDATORS AS DAVID DID. AND TOUGH SHOULDERS TO CARRY THEM WHEN I FIND THE LOST OR THE INJURED.

GIVE ME THE JOY TO CELEBRATE WITH MY FRIENDS WHEN I FIND THEM.

TEACH ME TO GET THEM TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES UNDER YOU SO THAT YOU WILL LIFT THEM UP IN DUE SEASON.

YOU ARE THE ONE THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL THEIR ANXIETIES. TEACH ME THEREFORE TO HELP THEM KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME… SO THAT THEY WILL NOT DEPEND ON ME BUT WILL RELY ON YOU TOTALLY AND ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I EXPERIENCE BURN OUT THROUGH WALKING WITH THEM AND RUNNING AFTER THEM, I TRUST YOU TO RENEW MY STRENGTH. FOR THEY THAT WAIT UPON YOU SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH, THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES, THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, WALK AND NOT FAINT.

I PRAY THE SAME WAY FOR MY COLLEAGUE SHEPHERDS.

LET THEM STEP OUT TOO AND START LOOKING OUT FOR THE LAMBS AND SHEEP THAT YOU BRING THEIR WAY, WHEREVER THEY WALK; IN THEIR HOMES, FAMILIES, NEIGHBOURHOOD, WORKPLACES AND CHURCH. HELP THEM TOO TO KNOW THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE IN THEMSELVES YOUR TENDERNESS.

WE SHALL BE TENDER SHEPHERDS UNTIL YOU RETURN.

WE SHALL THEN REJOICE AT YOUR APPEARING AND NOT FUMBLE AT YOUR QUESTION:

DO YOU LOVE ME? WHO ARE YOUR DISCIPLES? DID YOU FEED AND TEND THEM?

IN CONFIDENCE WE SHALL MENTION THEM BY NAME ONE BY ONE AS YOU MENTION OUR NAMES BEFORE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

FOR WE WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY TO EACH OF US:

COME YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

Prologue And Introduction

The need for tender shepherds in the body of Christ for the end time harvest in every sphere of life in our world requires urgent emphasis. Sadly, the harvest is still plentiful but the right kind of laborers are conspicuously few.

Sheep without shepherds was the heart cry of Jesus Christ. As such, before He ascended into heaven, He gave clear instructions regarding this task of shepherding. His followers were to make disciples of all nations, baptize and teach them to obey everything He had taught. This command was to be obeyed and extended to all people.

Preceding this incident, there was an encounter with the disciples where Jesus interrogated Simon Peter whether He loved Him more than the others.

Connecting the dots….

You may be familiar with Jesus’ question to Peter after His resurrection. Peter, do you love me more than these? Jesus had asked Peter this same question three times. In the first instance, He compared him to the other disciples but the second and third times, there was no such comparison.

I choose to dwell on the importance Jesus placed on love in His question. Jesus was drawing Peter’s attention to love as a motivating factor for continuing the mission of the Great commission; a mission of partners in love as it were.

Jesus seems to be saying emphatically, demonstrate your love for me by feeding my lambs and sheep and tending the latter.

Still connecting the dots…

Again, it was as though Jesus was saying, without love for me, you will not make it. Your love for Me will be tested so watch out. This love will restrain you from going back fishing and for calling it quits. You will continue the work of reconciling the world to me because you love me. Remember who I am, what I have done for you and to you until I return.

It was the third time Jesus was appearing to the disciples after His resurrection. Present were Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John (the sons of Zebedee) and two others that the Book of John is silent about.

Just imagine the scene…

At the Sea of Tiberia. The disciples, led by Simon Peter, had gone back fishing and caught nothing. A man appears and asks them whether they had caught any fish. When they answer no, he asks them to throw their net to the right side of the boat and surprisingly, they caught 153 fish by count. John recognized that the man was Jesus.

In the interim, Jesus had prepared bread and fish for their breakfast. He invited them for breakfast and said, come and have breakfast.

Thoughtfulness and love exemplified.

After breakfast, Jesus had a conversation with them and in course of it, He asked Simon Peter whether he loved Him more than the rest of the disciples. He followed this first question with two similar questions. Do you love me?

Simon Peter answered in the affirmative to each of the questions. After each of his answers however, Jesus responded with three instructions respectively; feed my lambs, tend my sheep and feed my sheep.

Obviously, Simon Peter was disturbed that Jesus should be asking the same question three times.

I would have been disturbed too.

Does it mean that Jesus did not trust him? What was