Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!Here is the word for your meditation and prayer this morning! People of God storms of life and tribulations, can cause us to be cast down and devastated, as the flock of the Lord. Even at such a time as this, when people have lost hope and courage, at times they fail even to utter words of worship and praise, because of heavy burdens and suffering. ( 1 Peter 5:7-10, Matthew 11:28-30). The Bible says, " Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God............" ( Psalm 42:11) Once again I would like to share about the Good Shepherd and His sheep.
The title of my message today is: " WHAT IT MEANS FOR SHEEP TO BE CAST DOWN!" As one of the morden shepherds I would also want to describe my experiences with sheep and share what it means for a sheep to be cast down. It is interesting to discover how any of the sheep can become helpless and unable to stand on its feet without help.
The parallel between real sheep and real people is striking, to say the least.
I want to mention that: Cast or cast down is an old English shepherd's term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself. If you are like me, who grew up herding cattle, goats and sheep in the village, you will understand what I am trying to share in this message.
A cast down sheep is a very pathetic sight. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success.
Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration.
If the owner does not arrive on the scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die.
This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful shepherd to look over his flock every day, counting them to see that all are able to be up and on their feet.
If one or two are missing, often the first thought to flash into his mind is to notice that one of his sheep is missing and he must go and search for it and set it on its feet again. It is not only the shepherd who keeps a sharp eye for cast sheep but also the predators.
Buzzards, vultures, dogs, coyotes and cougars all know that a cast sheep is easy prey and death is not far off. This knowledge that any cast sheep is helpless, close to death and vulnerable to attack makes the whole problem of cast sheep serious for the manager.
Nothing seems to arouse his constant care and diligent attention to the flock as the fact that even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become cast and be a casualty. Actually it is often the fat sheep that are the most easily cast. A heavy, fat or long- fleeced sheep will lie down comfortably in some little hollow or depression in the ground. It may feel a sense of panic and start to paw frantically. Frequently this only makes things worse. It rolls over even further.
Now it is quite impossible for it to regain its feet. If the weather is very hot and sunny, a cast sheep can die in few hours. If it is cool and cloudy and rainy, it may survive in this position for several days. A shepherd would spend hours searching for a single sheep that is missing. Our Lord Jesus used to illustrate that in His ministry here on earth. As soon as the shepherd reaches the cast ewe, his first impulse is to pick it up.
Jesus says come all those who are heavy laden you will find rest. ( Matthew 11:28-30). The same Jesus is seen demonstrating His compassionate heart in the form of a Good Samaritan, who picked up a cast person on the road who had been beaten and left for dead.( Luke 10:30-37).
This is the spirit of a Good shepherd which is expected on today's shepherds. If sheep are not feeling well they can gain their strength if given proper care.
Little by little sheep would regain its equilibrium. It would start to walk steadily and surely. By and by it would dash away to rejoin the others, set free from its fears and frustrations, given another chance to live a little longer. This usually happen to many Christians, who at times backslide and when revived they gain strength to continue fellowshipping once again.
Sheep are cast down for different reasons.
1.THE SHEEP THAT CHOSE THE COMFORTABLE, SOFT ROUNDED HOLLOWS IN THE GROUND IN WHICH TO LIE DOWN VERY OFTEN BECOME CAST.
In such a situation it is easy to roll over on their backs.
In the Christian life there is a great danger in always looking for the easy place, the cosy corner, the comfortable position where there is no hardship, no need for endurance, no demand upon self- discipline.
2. HAVING TOO MUCH WOOL CAN CAUSE A SHEEP TO BE CAST DOWN.
Often when the fleece becomes very long and heavily matted with mud, manure, burrs and other debris, it is much easier for a sheep to become cast, literally weighed down with its own wool. "Wool" in Scripture depicts the old self -life in the Christian. It is the outward expression of an inner- attitude, the assertion of our own desire and hopes and aspirations. It is the area of our lives in which we are continually in contact with the world around us. Here is where we find the clinging accumulation of things, of possessions, of worldly ideas weighing, dragging and holding us down. It is significant that no high priest was ever allowed to wear wool when he entered the Holy of Holies. This spoke of self, pride and personal preference - and God would not tolerate it. When a sheep is cast because it has too long and heavy a fleece the shepherd takes swift steps to remedy the situation. He would shear it clean and forestall the danger of having the ewe lose its life. This is not a pleasant process. Sheep do not really enjoy being sheared. It also represents hard work for the shepherd, but it must be done.
3.BEING TOO FAT CAN CAUSE A SHEEP TO BE CAST. IT IS WELL- KNOWN FACT THAT OVER-FAT SHEEP ARE NEITHER THE HEALTHIEST NOR THE MOST OFTEN PRODUCTIVE.
And certainly it is the fattest that most often are cast. Their weight simply makes it that much harder for them to be agile and nimble on their feet. Once a shepherd even suspects that his sheep are becoming cast because they are too fat he takes long - range steps to correct the problem. He puts the ewes on a more rigorous ration: they get less grain and their general condition is watched more closely. The aim of the shepherd is to see that the sheep are strong, sturdy and energetic and not fat, flabby and weak.
Once again as mentioned above both real sheep and Christian believers, are often cast down, due to sicknesses and diseases and many other challenges. But the Good shepherd is always there to carry and sustain his sheep.( 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Hebrews 10:35-39, Isaiah 41:10-13, Deuteronomy 6:6, Lamentations 3:22-33, Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19, Exodus 15:26). Whatever condition you may be in right now, just cast all your cares upon the Lord and he will sustain you. ( Psalm 55:22). Be delivered and set free right now, in the name of Jesus Christ!
May God richly bless you all!
Evangelist Fanuel Masikati
Email:divinerevelations7@gmail.com
Cell :263778495363
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