21/10/09

My sheep, My sheep, where are My sheep?

Isaiah 40:11 - He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.


Like in today's scripture the Lord shows His profound love for the lambs (little ones of the sheep) but Jesus always maintained that He came for the sheep not for the lambs.

God's heart goes out for the little ones and does every thing for them but He would not be pleased if they refuse knowing Him / His Kingdom and continued to remain little ones. Children although have the right to inheritance they are never directly given their inheritance it is only those who mature are given inheritance. God wants us to inherit from Him therefore wants us to mature into spiritual sons (irrespective of our physical gender).

When Jesus handed over (temporarily) the reins to Peter to lead, He gave him clear instructions:

[ASV]
John 21:15 .... Feed my lambs.
John 21:16 .... Tend my sheep.
John 21:17.... Feed my sheep.

Spiritual maturity comes when the Word (Living water) gets rooted in us and becomes a part of us. Giving the Good News is just the trailer, the real picture starts when the Word starts working in us. Jesus therefore said that He had come to give Living Water and then He also said that out of those who receive this Living Water will flow streams of Living Water.

To just give Good News we do not need the Spirit of Truth (Helper). It is the Helper Who helps us to root the Word within us and helps the Word to grow in us.

This is the reason I feel sad when I see people years and years working in the Lord and still lambs. They may have grown in some areas like love, patience, etc. but one can not ignore knowledge of God. It is the knowledge of God in us by which the Holy Spirit helps us discern our direction.

Hypothetically, God has the power to change stones into people but won't it be a waste of time we sitting and preaching to stones. It is the knowledge of God which helps us discern to whom, how and when.

Therefore please, please do not ignore studying the Word of God, and just not studying the Word but also building your relationship with the Holy Spirit, Who helps us understand and grow in the Word.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord God, You gave us the Word, which is the book of Instructions for our salvation. The sacrifice of your Son You opened the door for us and by His grace we are now able to receive. Lord, we pray that your children seriously understand the importance of knowing your Word and being of clear understanding of it. Let not their flesh fool them into being simple minds and thus becoming casualties to the deceiver...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
John 10:14-16,25-28
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 21:14-17 [ASV]
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 4:10-14
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Proverbs 2:1-6
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Hosea 4:6-10
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

Romans 11:33-36
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)