justsayingJesusBless

Characteristic of Sheep: A good shepherd does not leave his sheep open to be attacked by predators; a good shepherd cares for the flock!

 He/She (shepherd) doesn’t just let anyone come in and scatter, stifle or contaminate (spread perversion, scandal, maltreatment, condemnation, burden the people) the sheep/flock of God.
 A good shepherd intercedes on their behalf.
 Jesus wasn’t a hireling, He was called to Shepherdize-Tend-Supervise-Feed-Provide and He is King of Kings and Lord over us!
 Hirelings may care more about what benefits them. They may come to rob the people; He doesn’t shepherd for shekels-but He voluntarily laid down His life/gave an atonement for His sheep-believers who belong to Jesus’ flock.. He came to serve; To offer salvation;

Christ the Good Shepherd/Pastor:
 God the owner/father of sheep gave his sheep to the Good Shepherd Christ (John17: 6,9,15)
 All who accepted Him would be of “One Fold” even the Gentiles (the other sheep)

Summary: In St. Johns, the 10th Chapter, Jesus communicated to religious leaders and others that He was not of their sinful nature.

 He was not legalistic, Jesus’ conviction and presence divided humanity into 2 classes-believers and non-believers! In the book of Mathew 10:34 Jesus said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” He understood that households would be torn apart between those who believed on Him and those who didn’t. In essence, He came to tell the truth!
 He understood that His message would not be received by many therefore; this would provoke war/conflict/mayhem. So the Good shepherd didn’t come to “befriend you on Facebook/tweet/ and chat about mindless activities but He came to do the WILL OF HIS FATHER-first” In other words, His mission is not to please man or make us feel comfortable in our sin, or pat us on the back/covering their sin, or get entangled in early relationships-He’s not in agreement with whatever is not pleasing to the Father! Let us not forget that the Good Shepherd was put out of synagogues for preaching and teaching the truth!

Let me share something, when our hearts are turned towards God, we will find ourselves standing more alone without the crew (posse/gang/band/entourage/“armor-bearers”). You will find out that the more you seek God, your eyes will become open to the mindlessness, sinful and compromising activities that your “friends” and “buddies” are partaking in and before you know it, you will be weaned away from them. I’m a witness!!!

Jesus distinguished Himself as the Good Shepherd:
 The Good Shepherd would never leave you nor forsake you,
 The Good Shepherd cares for the sheep/heart of compassion/99 ½ won’t do,
 The Good Shepherd came to lead humanity into God’s pasture/salvation
 The Good Shepherd came to protect us from the enemy. (John 10:12)-He said a hireling will abandon their sheep when a wolf comes because he doesn’t own them. He subjects the sheep to become divided, scattered, he runs because he really doesn’t care for the sheep, He doesn’t have a pastors/shepherd’s heart.

 John 10:14-The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and His sheep know Him.
 The constant theme in this text is that Jesus laid down His life for the sheep/flock/believers. There is a sacrificial and unconditional love here.
 The Good Shepherd said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Receive the Good Shepherd today, Let Him into your Heart, Let Him be your first pastor, as you can see, You can trust Him!

Yours truly, Cheryl Howard