THE GREAT SHEPHERD PART 1
THE SHEEPFOLD
The Lord is referred to as the shepherd while His people are referred to as the sheep. In this lesson, we want to see why believers are referred to as the sheep. What is it about the sheep that makes it an ideal representation of a follower of Christ. Why is the sheep a perfect figure to illustrate discipleship?
On studying the flock of sheep, I found out that the sheep are defenceless. Goats have their horns, lions have their claws and sharp teeth, birds have their wings, claws and long beak, dogs have their sharp canine, every other animals have one form of defense or the other against predators but the sheep have no defense mechanism against predators. The only defense the sheep has is the shepherd. They total depend on the shepherd. No matter how young or Old the shepherd is, the sheep totally depend and trust in him.
"But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it." 1 Samuel 17:34-35 NIV
David being a shepherd boy protected his sheep from a lion and a bear. The sheep have so much confidence in the shepherd that they follow him wherever he leads. They have no will of their own, their will is totally dependent on the will of the shepherd, they follow him wherever he goes, their lives depend on him, their feeding depends on him, their protection and survival lies in his hands, at the stretch if his rod, they gather around him, they know him, they recognize his voice, they answer whenever he calls.
"Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47 NIV
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27 NIV
The sheep recognizes the voice of the shepherd, understands his mode of communication. The understand him when he stretches his rod, they know what it means when he points it forward. They hear him, understand and obey him whenever he calls.
"As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 1 Corinthians 12:20-21 NIV
Another notable fact about the sheep is that they move in flocks. That denotes walking in unity. Any sheep that strays away from the flock or shepherd becomes a meal for the predators. Their strength lies in their number. They move together, feed together, follow and obey the shepherd together. One do not reject the other, they live in unity.
For the Lord to be your shepherd, you must be willing to be a sheep. Evaluate you life today, are you a part of God's sheepfold, are you completely dependent on Him, are you abiding in and with Him. It is those that dwells in His secret place that abide under His shadows. Is the Lord God Almighty your shepherd?
..........GOD BLESS YOU
The Lord is referred to as the shepherd while His people are referred to as the sheep. In this lesson, we want to see why believers are referred to as the sheep. What is it about the sheep that makes it an ideal representation of a follower of Christ. Why is the sheep a perfect figure to illustrate discipleship?
On studying the flock of sheep, I found out that the sheep are defenceless. Goats have their horns, lions have their claws and sharp teeth, birds have their wings, claws and long beak, dogs have their sharp canine, every other animals have one form of defense or the other against predators but the sheep have no defense mechanism against predators. The only defense the sheep has is the shepherd. They total depend on the shepherd. No matter how young or Old the shepherd is, the sheep totally depend and trust in him.
"But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it." 1 Samuel 17:34-35 NIV
David being a shepherd boy protected his sheep from a lion and a bear. The sheep have so much confidence in the shepherd that they follow him wherever he leads. They have no will of their own, their will is totally dependent on the will of the shepherd, they follow him wherever he goes, their lives depend on him, their feeding depends on him, their protection and survival lies in his hands, at the stretch if his rod, they gather around him, they know him, they recognize his voice, they answer whenever he calls.
"Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47 NIV
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27 NIV
The sheep recognizes the voice of the shepherd, understands his mode of communication. The understand him when he stretches his rod, they know what it means when he points it forward. They hear him, understand and obey him whenever he calls.
"As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 1 Corinthians 12:20-21 NIV
Another notable fact about the sheep is that they move in flocks. That denotes walking in unity. Any sheep that strays away from the flock or shepherd becomes a meal for the predators. Their strength lies in their number. They move together, feed together, follow and obey the shepherd together. One do not reject the other, they live in unity.
For the Lord to be your shepherd, you must be willing to be a sheep. Evaluate you life today, are you a part of God's sheepfold, are you completely dependent on Him, are you abiding in and with Him. It is those that dwells in His secret place that abide under His shadows. Is the Lord God Almighty your shepherd?
..........GOD BLESS YOU
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