The Journey to your Prophetic Destiny as a Shepherd

Knowledge makes the distinction between leaders and the led. The way to separate the one making it big and the one who isn't is to find out what the one knows that the other doesn't.

Thousands of church workers, shepherds, and pastors from diverse backgrounds and denominations congregated at the Bread of Life Cathedral Lighthouse Chapel to partake of the Art of Shepherding Conference slated for the 30th of January, 2018 to the 2nd of February, 2018. The conference has been phenomenal as participants have been infused with words and teachings that will position them to be greater lights!

The conference, which is under the theme "The Beautiful Job" is designed to equip God's people with the requisite skills to feed, gather, carry and lead the flock of God.

Each session has heightened with intensity and power as an atmosphere saturated with the anointing to shepherd sheep is so palpable in the cathedral and its environs!

The host of this epochal conference, Bishop Edwin Morgan Ogoe, during the opening session of the conference, addressed participants, saying, "Dedicate this week to this conference."

He shared on "The Journey to your Prophetic Destiny as a Shepherd". Reading from 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, the man of God noted, "The people God calls are without education." He encouraged participants by disclosing that God knows our weaknesses and limitations. He also said that God chooses those who can't achieve much. He noted that God does not choose big people. 

Amidst many prophetic utterances concerning the magnitude of greatness of participants gathered, the man of God noted that no matter where you are God wants to lift your ministry higher.

He intimated, "We're on a journey to be made somebody so powerful that when the world looks, they will wonder."

He read from Ecclesiastes 10:15, which says, "The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city." Expounding the text, the man of God said that if you're doing something which doesn't work, you'll become very tired.

He noted that merely labouring will not necessarily yield anything.

Bishop Ogoe taught that the city is the destination of the pastor; we all begin from the village and move to the city. The city is the place of greatness in ministry.

He indicated that the reason for stagnation is a lack of knowledge. He added that the labour that leads to tiredness is the labour without the requisite knowledge.

He postulated that the ministry requires knowledge and that we need to learn. 

He indicated that no one follows Jesus and goes back to the village. He wants to take you to the city set on a hill!

Reading from 2 Timothy 2:20-21, Bishop Ogoe taught that what matters is one's ability to purge him or herself. He challenged participants to purge themselves of wrong mindsets and destructive habits. He noted that to purge means to remove violently.

He further stated that God chooses the outcasts and the downtrodden and he does not leave you the same way. God chooses the useless but he does not leave them useless.

He then zoomed into the crux of his message about what a shepherd is. Reading from Matthew 9:36, Bishop Ogoe taught that the picture of a shepherds is introduced in a picture of confusion where the people fainted (were without energy and strength).

He said that as a shepherd you are a light (John 1:4-9; John 5:35).

He noted that the influence of a true pastor must transcend the Church into the rooms, homes and offices of your sheep. He painted out, "If you are a shepherd, people must feel your brightness."

Bishop Ogoe went further to teach on how to be a greater light.

The first way to be a greater light is to be obedient. He encouraged participants to decide to be obedient, disclosing that the people who become great are those who obey.

He pointed out two signs that one knows something:

# If you know, everybody will know you know.

# If you know, the ministry you have will speak.

The second vital way to be a greater light is through humility. Reading from Matthew 23:12, he challenged participants, "You need to aggressively 'poop' out your pride." He noted that pride is due to a medical condition called 'megalomania'.

He concluded that the only people God will make great shepherds are humble, leadable people.