The Shepherd And The Sheep!

.....There are two types of references made in the New Testament concerning our Christian Walk, and maturity level today. They are as SHEEP, and EAGLES. I wish to discuss the aspect of "The Shepherd" in relationship to "The Sheep" with you this day.

.....First of all, there is the Sheep, defenseless, follows the crowd, and has no independent thought from the flock. Those that are easily lost and distracted, but costly. They need a Shepherd to watch over them, and their every move. They have an instinctive hunger and thirst within themselves to know their Master's Voice. Yet, a Sheep is all about what He or She is facing at the moment. They are temporal, and can see no further than their surroundings.

.....Jesus speaks about social outcasts in a parable, called "The Lost Sheep", to the sinners, and the religious people, in Luke 15: 4-7 saying, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

.....When a sheep gets lost, a lot of times, they will lie down helplessly and refuse to budge. And when a shepherd finds it, a lot of times he will break one of the sheep's legs. Then, he will apply a splint to the leg of the sheep an place the sheep on his shoulders. The sheep is then completely helpless, and requires the complete support of the shepherd to survive. Over the next few weeks, or months, the sheep hears the shepherd's voice, and the praising and rejoicing of the people around him, clearly, being taken care of, and provided for in every way during the time of his healing. A bond is formed, and when the sheep is released back to the fold, you will find him right along the side of his shepherd, because he has clear sense of hearing his master's voice. A truly devoted sheep, to the shepherd, that will never stray again.

.....The heart of the Shepherd, and purpose, can be found in the Book of Ezekiel, which means "God Strengthens", and is referring to a "Royal Priesthood" that will "Rise Up", because of the need, and manifest itself, taking care of their own people. It starts in Ezekiel 34, as a warning to the Shepherds, and says...

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2 Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds? Shepherds... That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes.
3 You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed.
4 The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand.
5 And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.
6 My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
8 As I live, saith the Lord God, for as much as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks:

9 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
10 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.

11 For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.
12 As the shepherd seeks out his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land.
14 I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
16 I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment.
17 And as for you, O my flocks, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I judge between cattle and cattle, of rams and of goats.
18 Was it not enough for you to feed upon good pastures? but you must also tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures: and when you drank the clearest water, you troubled the rest with your feet.
19 And my sheep were fed with that which you had trodden with your feet: and they drank what your feet had troubled.
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God to you: Behold, I myself will judge between the fat cattle and the lean.
21 Because you pushed with sides and shoulders, and struck all the weak cattle with your horns, till they were scattered abroad:
22 I will save my flock, and it shall be no more a spoil, and I will judge between cattle and cattle.

23 And I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. David... Christ, who is of the house of David.
24 And I the Lord will be their God: and my servant David the prince in the midst of them: I the Lord have spoken it.
25 And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they that dwell in the wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests.
26 And I will make them a blessing round about my hill: and I will send down the rain in its season, there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be in their land without fear: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have broken the bonds of their yoke, and shall have delivered them out of the hand of those that rule over them.
28 And they shall be no more for a spoil to the nations, neither shall the beasts of the earth devour them: but they shall dwell securely without any terror.
29 And I will raise up for them a bud of renown: and they shall be no more consumed with famine in the land, neither shall they bear any more the reproach of the Gentiles. A bud of renown... "The Royal Priesthood," Who speaks of Christ our Lord, the illustrious bud of the house of David, renowned over all the earth. See Jeremias 33:15.
30 And they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they are my people the house of Israel: saith the Lord God.
31 And you my flocks, the flocks of my pasture are men: and I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord God.

The Harvest is plentiful, and the Workers are few!

This is the Prophetic Calling, and Purpose of this Ministry!
Finding and Reaching the Lost Sheep.

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