Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Here is the word for your meditation and prayer! Once again today I feel an urge and push to share on the subject of the Good shepherd and His sheep.
The title of message is: " KNOW YOUR SHEEP TO BE KNOWN BY THE SHEEP"
The Bible says," I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.................My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.( John 10:14-27) It is important for you to always know your sheep as a shepherd, and the sheep must also know you. Become a good shepherd by being known by your sheep.
The confidence of the sheep is built up the more they know their shepherd. Knowing Christ more, helps you build your faith and confidence in the Lord. The Bible also says, " Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. .........." ( James 4:8). You cannot pastor a congregation by being a mystical figure. The sheep want to participate in your victories, defeats, sorrows and joys.
All these help them to realize that you are genuine and that your words can be trusted. Become a good shepherd by knowing the Father. Becoming intimate with the heavenly Father is key to developing spiritual power. The presence of God rests on the person who abides in the secret place of the Most High. ( Psalm 91:1-2) Shepherding is a spiritual job and closeness to the Father is essential. Be a prayerful and Spirit filled shepherd. Pray without ceasing! ( Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1)
The scripture also says" As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." ( John 10:15). Become a good shepherd by being known by the Father. Being open and frank with God is part of the spiritual development necessary to be a good shepherd. God knows everything, but you must come to Him and bare your soul before Him.( Hebrews 4:16) In so doing, you will draw close to the presence of God. Being close to the presence of God makes you a good shepherd.
Become a good shepherd by having other sheep in other folds.
Part of the natural development of a shepherd's work is to develop sheep in other folds.
Having congregations in different locations is an important development in your shepherding profile. Do not be afraid to establish branches. Your members will move away, anyway.
You might as well develop congregations in different locations so that when they travel they will have somewhere to worship.
The scripture says, " And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."( John 10:16).
Become a good shepherd by bringing in other sheep through evangelism. Being a good shepherd means you must do the work of an evangelist. This is exactly what Paul admonished Timothy to do when he left him in charge of the flock. " But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." ( 2 Timothy 4:5) Become a good shepherd by pulling together your sheep from other folds.
This speaks of regularly gathering your congregations in different places into one large fold so that you speak to them and so that they can hear your voice. ( these gatherings are commonly known as( " Big Sundays" or " Combined services") It is important that the different congregations which are linked to you are assembled frequently to listen to your voice. You must fight those who oppose these gatherings because it is the will of God to gather the sheep from other folds into one singular purpose of them hearing yours.
Become a good shepherd by being the one shepherd in charge of the fold. It is important for the sheep to recognize one leader. As it is also important for all Christian believers to recognize one Leader, who is our Savior, Jesus Christ. There cannot be two captains on one ship. Do not allow ambiguity to develop in your leadership. Let everyone be sure about who the leader is.
Allowing the sheep to recognize one shepherd in one fold only serves to bind us together in unity and to fight confusion in the body.
Become a good shepherd by taking up your life again after you have laid it down. A good shepherd must not only know how to sacrifice but also how to take up the benefits due him as the shepherd of the sheep. This is exemplified by Christ who lay down His life, but also took it again.( John 3:16-21) These two activities are completely opposite to each other, but there is a time and a season for each of them. ( Ecleasiastes 3:1) The Bible says, " Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again." ( John 10:17).
Become a good shepherd by giving up your life freely and of your own initiative. A good shepherd needs no one to tell him when and how to make the necessary sacrifices. Sacrifice is necessary all the time, but sacrifice looses its power when you are forced to sacrifice by circumstances. Sometimes, people decide to work for the Lord only after a serious illnesss strikes them. Before this illness, they were unwilling to make certain sacrifices, but when they sensed the inevitable, they seemed very willing to do anything for the Lord. But we all know that being forced to do something is different from doing it willingly. Serving the Lord at gunpoint, is obviously diferent from serving Him willingly. At gunpoint , you will run, jump and smile but we all know that your smiles are fake? Decide to lay down your life freely and willingly.
Don't also take up the shepherd's role as employment, but as a sacrifice for God's calling in His vineyard. Do it when you are strong. Do it when you are well! God is not a man. He is not deceived by things that are not real! Finally, John 10:18 says, " No man taketh it from me, but lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. "
Become a good shepherd by recognizing the power you have to affect lives.
When you are a good shepherd, God will entrust you with much authority.
This authority gives you the power to bring life or bring death to many lives.
Use the power wisely.
God will judge you for everything He gives you. Be a good shepherd who knows his sheep and who is also known by the sheep. Jesus Christ the Good Samaritan and chief shepherd is always ready to take care of all your needs and concerns.
Psalm 23:1 says, " The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. " A good shepherd always ensures that His flock does not lack anything. Whatever it is, come to the Lord in prayer He shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 4:19, Matthew 11:28-30.
Be a good shepherd, who is loving and caring all the time! The Holy spirit just gave this apostolic teaching revelation to teach about shepherding. I hope it will empower us as a body of Christ.
May God richly bless you all!
Evangelist Fanuel Masikati
Email:divinerevelations7@gmail.com
Cell:263778495363
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