Sermon
Responsibilities of Shepherds
A prophetic message for the Church
David M. Taylor in Peshawar Cathedral, Church of Pakistan
During a significant season of transition for the church in KPK, speaker David Taylor of Free and Healed was invited to speak in Peshawar Cathedral. We believe this message is of great importance to the church worldwide in this season, so we are sharing it here for the benefit of all members, stakeholders and decision makers.
Drawing from the scheduled readings Pastor David challenged the congregation to pray for shepherds who will heal, restore, and unite God’s people. It was a call to understand and focus on the biblical calling of spiritual leaders: strengthening the weak, healing the broken-hearted, seeking the lost, and faithfully guiding the flock in the spirit of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Following the delivery of this message, the Lord confirmed it with signs and wonders on the doorsteps of the Cathedral. Pastor David and his team prayed for people in the sunshine outside the Cathedral for almost 3 hours. Many were healed of various diseases and infirmities and in a few cases demons manifested and were cast out.
Below is a brief summary of the message, the bible readings that David was given to preach on, a video of the message and a written summary of the message.
Scheduled Readings
(KJV) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 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?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 12 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.
(KJV) 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
(KJV) 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
The message
Sermon
Responsibilities of Shepherds
A prophetic message for the Church
David M. Taylor in Peshawar Cathedral, Church of Pakistan
Miracles, Healing, and the Ministry of Christ
The sermon opened with testimonies of healing witnessed during the ministry week. David Taylor spoke of blind eyes opening, stroke victims regaining mobility, and people experiencing physical restoration.
“These things happen because Jesus came to heal and set people free,” he said, explaining that the ministry’s name, Free and Healed, comes from Christ’s promise that those who follow Him and receive the Holy Spirit will continue His works.
He emphasized that healing is not separate from the mission of the Church—it is part of the ministry Jesus entrusted to His followers.
A Church in Transition
Addressing the congregation directly, Taylor acknowledged that the church in KPK is currently preparing to elect a new bishop. Though many in the congregation may not have voting rights, he reminded them that they possess something even greater: spiritual authority through prayer.
“If two or three agree on anything in My name,” he quoted from Scripture, “My Father will do it for them.”
He urged the church to recognize the importance of their prayers during this period of leadership transition, calling the cathedral congregation spiritually significant in the process.
Ezekiel’s Warning About Shepherds
Turning to Ezekiel 34, Taylor explained that God rebuked the shepherds of Israel because they failed to care for the flock.
He clarified the biblical meaning of shepherding:
- Pastors are shepherds of congregations.
- Bishops are shepherds of shepherds.
This means church leaders are not merely administrators or managers; they are caretakers of souls.
According to Ezekiel, God’s complaint against the shepherds was clear:
- They did not strengthen the weak.
- They did not heal the sick.
- They did not bind up the broken-hearted.
- They did not seek those who were lost or driven away.
Taylor stressed that these responsibilities lie at the heart of Christian leadership.
“Not one word yet about fundraising,” he observed. “Not one word about organizing worship. God first speaks about caring for people.”
Healing Beyond the Physical
The sermon moved beyond physical healing into emotional and spiritual restoration. Taylor spoke directly to those carrying wounds from rejection, disappointment, neglect, and painful words.
“Many of you grew up without a loving father,” he said. “Many hearts are broken.”
He reminded listeners that Jesus came specifically to heal the broken-hearted, and that pastors are called to participate in that healing ministry.
According to the message, true shepherds help people recover spiritually and emotionally—not merely through teaching, but through compassion, prayer, reconciliation, and presence.
The Good Shepherd in John 10
Drawing from John 10, Taylor described Jesus as the model for all Christian leadership.
“The good shepherd calls His sheep by name,” he said.
Jesus knows every struggle:
- physical illness,
- emotional pain,
- deafness,
- chronic disease,
- disappointment,
- and spiritual hardness.
Taylor recounted testimonies of healing, including a deaf ear being opened during recent ministry gatherings, and prayed openly for healing among those listening.
He contrasted Christ with “hirelings” or false shepherds—leaders who seek personal gain but abandon people in times of difficulty.
“A true shepherd stays with the flock when the wolf comes,” he said.
A Call for Unity in the Church
Echoing both Ezekiel and John’s Gospel, Taylor warned against division and self-serving leadership. He urged believers to pray for leaders who unite rather than scatter the Church.
“There will be one flock and one shepherd,” he quoted from Jesus’ words.
The congregation was encouraged to pray specifically for:
- shepherds with humility,
- leaders with healing ministries,
- pastors who seek the lost,
- and bishops with evangelistic vision.
The Great Commission and the Return of Christ
Taylor connected shepherding to the Great Commission. He reminded the church that Jesus commanded His followers to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and take the message of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth.
He challenged believers to carry the Gospel throughout KPK and beyond.
“If we do not take the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” he said, “then Jesus cannot return.”
The message framed evangelism not merely as church growth, but as participation in God’s global mission.
Forgiveness as a Path to Healing
In the closing moments of the sermon, Taylor led the congregation through an exercise in forgiveness.
He asked worshippers to close their eyes and imagine the person who had wounded them. Making a fist, they symbolized the pain and anger they had carried. Then, as they prayed forgiveness in Jesus’ name, they opened their hands as a sign of release and reconciliation.
“What was a fist becomes an open hand,” he said. “And an open hand can receive from God.”
Taylor testified that he has seen emotional and physical healing occur through acts of forgiveness, including restored hearing and relief from chronic pain.
A Final Invitation
The sermon concluded with an invitation for prayer after the service. Taylor encouraged those who were sick, hurting, or burdened to come forward for prayer and ministry.
He thanked the congregation for their openness and urged them to continue praying for faithful shepherds who reflect the heart of Christ—the Good Shepherd who heals, restores, and never abandons His flock.
