The Shepherd and the Sheep

Good morning church.

I like to start by bringing greetings to also from the Lord, who has brought us here today, I'm sure that he has a lot in store for us and then I shall proceed, is going to bless our hearts with his word today. In Jesus name, I want to appreciate Pastor for this opportunity to preach in the past few months has been my Bible College to top and his being patient is demonstrated so much faith in me constantly. Reminding me to walk in Victory and encouraging me to stir up the gift of God which is in me. Thank you for that also. And I appreciate the Church of God, this family care about t-shirt Boston. Since my family has been to, I've been in UK VHS back to become a home. In the UK, we are proud to belong to this family. So thank you for that as well. It is spring. Hello, Donna called me. Thank you for another opportunity to share your word to learn that your feet will, pray that as we go on, as we listen to your world, as we share your word, is your word, cease, the entrance of your word. This morning will bring the light and understanding in Jesus name and will pray that our souls to the blessed and transformed by Your Word, to the glory of your name. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. I like to introduce, but tendinosis story is the story of Elias and Luna. Alas was an old Shepherd who had the flock and looked after this flux in. It was a young boy. So, over the years with a flock, he had it shipped by name and in turn, they had gotten familiar with his voice. So one evening while he lets his ship back to the food, he observed, that there was a storm brewing in the distance and them dark clouds creeping in the hills of yesterday. It was going to rain. So you quickened his space and then it got the shift to the food just in time. I just use your custom. I mean I supposed to Studio Custom, Decided to take counts pretty much like when when school does this and they'll start calling out names for attendance? And then you say, all I need is Samuel and I say, hi, I'm here. So he went on and counted, the shape one after the other and then realized one was missing.

That was Luna and when I was a young lamb but was also prone to wandering. That was not just the one that too far. Still. I asked immediately latest Lantern and settled in the growing Darkness inside for Luna. The wind was howling. The rain began to fail, it became even more difficult to find, his ship, was hoping to hear. Even the faintest bleach something that could direct him to where the ship was. And after what felt like, has he had the same team offense bleeding from the distance quickly, followed the sound and then he found Luna trapped at the edge of a cleft in the rock. It looked it looked tired as though is. I tried so many times to to free itself but it had been stuck for so long that it was beginning to giving Elias was overwhelmed with a mixed with a mixture of feelings. From from compassion to Joy on passion, for Luna, who was in pain, was beginning to do. Sumo Joy at the same time. Because after several has a what folk like us he found Luna this way. I imagined was using kind words, do not do not just come down. I'm here for you. It's cooked. He scooped his feet into his arms and his arms and then shoot him from the rain. And they went home. They brought Luna back to safety. Wiley W divided ship through the night. Last story about how much you love this flock. Not because they were perfect. But because the way he is, Delete this leads me to ask. Have you ever felt like Luna? Have you ever been stock? Have you ever felt like Jonah in the belly of a fish? Jeremiah and David in a cave. Have you ever felt like like the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace? Have you ever been? Right, I've ever tried so hard to to let out a cry for help and all you could do was Mata. Just offend blades leading with pain, fear apprehension or despair? Are you beginning to give in under pressure? After trying so hard to save yourself without results. Have you ever needed is Shepard recklessly loved in Alliance? Leave the 99 and come after you. Who would extend a hand and comfort you with his presence? Well, today, I want to share good news with you. I'm talking about the great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, and the chip Shepherd or beautiful and United in one, which is the trinity. These are the three hepatitis mention in the Bible about Beyond Titus their roles their expressions of actual persons, God the Father God, the son and God the Holy Spirit. The Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ. Who redeems on the great Shepherd is God, the Holy Spirit who who walks with those hand-in-hand as an ever-present companion and God the father is the chief shepherd. He rewards us with the Crown of Glory.

We didn't ask so what or who is a shepherd? A Shepherd is someone who feeds and gods and guides the ship. So, intending to the shift, it caters for every need of the ship and if you know what is she? Pees if you if and we will talk about that shortly, if you have an idea of the kind of needs is ship, has you'd realize how important it is to tend sheep. He feeds the ship with the right quality of grass or they will be malnourished, the gods and protect the ship from danger and the guide them to good pastures with plenty of food and slow-moving accessible water. The ship in ton. We're highly valuable animals in the Bible times, but they were also quite fascinating. They relied upon the shepherd for a wolf. I mean, they were relied upon for food and ship in the Middle East. So obviously if you had quite a number of them, then you must be a rich person. However, that was not the only thing. All the only reason why they needed is Shepherd. Sheep has a natural tendency to 1 Duro. Ultimately defenseless. They, they are slow so they can't even escape from prieto's. They can camouflage like some other animals. Have that as a defense mechanism. They've got no weapons. No claws. Smoke shop, who's off strong? Jaws to fight off a predator. When they wander off the den in danger and then job getting lost in danger of being stolen and then getting attacked by wild animals or even getting themselves killed by my drawing of falling off a cliff. Unfortunately, I have this herd mentality so we can actually lose an entire flock of sheep in one day. Because they tend to just follow each other. So, they've got that herd mentality. They also have special wedding requirements. They need good quality grass, they need slow-moving, what all they will be too afraid to drink. This features are the reasons why they need a shepherd. They obviously cannot survive for long without one and the Bible frequently as describes us as sheep. And guess what? It is true.

Isaiah 53:6. The Bible says all we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. To like sheep with 10 to go astray in the song that we have just signed that devices, prone to wonder. And that is just who we are. It is our in a tendency to want to go off on way. Unfortunately, we also can survive for too long when we do that. event like sheep, we need a shepherd So, let's talk about the Good Shepherd. Who is Our Redeemer? In the text Alex right for us and thank you Alex for that John 10:11 215 we can turn their as we go on. Jesus Christ opens by saying I am the Good Shepherd. Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep and then it goes on in verse 14 and 15 to say, I am the Good Shepherd. I know my ship and I am known by my sheep. I mean and I'm not by my own father knows me even so I know the father and I lay down my life for the Sheep. Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd. The word good used in that text is from the Greek word Caleb's. I need to know which is intrinsically good. It is also it also describes that which is Noble wholesome fare and beautiful. It signifies that it's not only good in Woodley, but it is also good in character. I mean it is also good on the external or on the outward. It is good in Woodland types of character. At the same time it is attractive in Woodley and speak and say that it is some sort of goodness. Now we ask ourselves if we're talking about the Good Shepherd, then why is it? Because there are other kinds of shepherds Jesus mentioned in verse 12 border hireling. He who is not the shepherd one, who does not know the Sheep sees. The wolf coming and leave the ship and flees the wolf catches. The wind is she and Scott has been received from there that apart from being a good shepherd is also possible that possibility that this ship and looked after by a hireling. A hireling in today's terms, will be a Hyatt friend or a help. What band is the difference? What makes the Good Shepherd? Good, the distinguishing feature of the Good Shepherd is sacrificed. I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd gives his life for the Sheep. He says, as the father knows me even so I know the father and I lay down my life for the Sheep. I prefer plain tortilla. Soup can be gullible. Prone to wandering about the Good Shepherd. Even when the ship was unaware, lay down his life for the ship. Bear in mind that at the time that Jesus was making this a session. It was if it was yet to be crucified, I imagine that his disciples probably did not understand what you were saying as with many of the other times that he talked about his death and crucifixion. They probably want that. What's this about? What the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Lamb of God slain from the beginning, from the foundations of the world Revelations, 13:8, isn't it? How does it feel to know that the Good Shepherd, sacrificed his life for you even before you found yourself in that? Fix? In Romans 5:8. The Bible says, but God demonstrates his love towards us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us and some 22 verse 1 and 16 to 18, David prophesied about Jesus, the Good Shepherd centuries before he was born. It says my gold, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me from the word of my grooming, for dogs at Serenity of surrounded. Me, the congregation of the wicked, hadn't closed me the pierced, my hands and my feet, I can count on my bone, the look and stare at me, the Divide McDonald's among them. And from for my clothing, they cast lots. While David must have written this song, out of his personal experience of pain, I believe the spirit of God lifted him Beyond himself to prophesied about Jesus Christ, was the poem. He spoke of Jesus death almost as if he had witnessed the crucifixion in person. Yet this method of death had not even been invented in the days of David. He is song about his anguish pain is loneliness on the cross. When laying down his life for you and me the nail piercing on his hands and his feet, perhaps more painful with his tasks, the mockery and humiliation from the people. He loved and died for but glory be to God through Christ death and Resurrection with is ultimate sacrifice, we have victory. Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:4 26.

I just opened a new minute, Isaiah 53, verse 4, to 6 and bruised for our iniquities. He says he is despised and rejected by Men. A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief and we heat as if as it were our faces from him. He goes on to say, surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows stricken Smitten by God and Afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. Oh what joy to know that Christ already took our suffering and our pain that he brought it brought us peace. And healing by taken upon himself, the punishment that was. All right. That when we won that off like sheep and turned to our own way God through Jesus Christ. Kim looking to redeem house. Here's another amazing truth about the ship. I mean about the shepherd, the Good Shepherd knows you. Jesus saves in a text in John. 10:14, I am the Good Shepherd and I know my ship. Because ship tend to flock together. It is easy to assume that they're all the same. But then that's the thing about the Good Shepherd. He knows the individual capacities characteristics and tendencies of Bishop. You remember Elias I grown to know each ship in his flock by name he knew that Luna was prone to wonder of I want that too far that I said tooth account and it got to say at the hundred as a go-to number 19 and it could already tell that the remaining are not up to ten. I imagine by the time you go to number 93, was wondering is going off again, and then 927, he's gone. The Good Shepherd in knossos, he knows our individual capacities, he knows our weaknesses and strengths of passions of failing. You do not desire, he knows, I detest fears, those that we don't get to share that with pain that we don't get to talk about two people Christ music of his life and his blog. Does olive of the need for reciprocity, a mutual knowledge, between the between Jesus and his own ship, between the shepherd and the Sheep to Jesus says, in the same verse 14. I know my sheep and I am known by them. Did you know him? When you find yourself in in the Jeep trapped helpless, when you find yourself in that difficult situation, you realize how close he is. Are you conscious that is actively searching for you? The Good Shepherd, is God revealing his eternal love to us to Jesus Christ? You made the ultimate sacrifice when he suffered and died for us, he died to save us. So what is our response to this Reckless? Love of God. Suppose Elias after he got Luna out of the clave, so who's the? Let's do not suppose if he got well, there you go. I tried for you, you're free now. You can do whatever you like. Suppose he did not pick him up putting on his arms and take him back to the food. That would have meant that Luna would have been left out there. Free reign in the dark, back to the flock.

And that brings me to talk about the great Shepherd, who is our companion? Receive that mentioned in Hebrews 13:20.

Hebrews 13:20 the Bible says peace, who brought up our Lord? Jesus Christ, from the dead, the great Shepherd of the ship through the blood. I mean, the great Shepherd of the shipyard through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, breast 21, makes you complete in every good work to do. His will is working in you. What is well, pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. A gold does not engage in abandoned Prudence. He does not rescue us and then leave us to wander off again. Rather he holds our hands in his head and he walks the walk with those. David in Psalm 46 verse 1 causing a very present help.

The term Chef hot in that text is the Greek word is from the Greek word play main, which means the feed protector and ruler of a flock of men. So in that case, the shepherd was not necessarily being being used metaphorically, to refer to, as Shepherd of men, not necessarily the ship had four ship, all right, it was the manager that the presiding officer of the director of an assembly technically technically speaking. That was Jesus Christ, the head of the church to do his will We see more of that and even better explanation of that in this popular Psalm, Psalm 23. Is something 3. We see David who was a Shepherd boy himself before he was called To The King service and before he himself became a king. I imagine that when you wrote that some it was reflecting on his experiences as a Shepherd boy and his relationship with God while he wrote the Popular Song. In the first verse of that Sam, the declared, the Lord is my shepherd. And you know, when I was much younger, I think this must be the first vice alignment by heart and I imagine that that may be true for many of us. What was the very first bass Island?

I did not know anything. Was about six years old. I said Nursery student, I think when they say Psalm 23 verse 1, we say the Lord is my shepherd and then we'll rest. Because in our minds that zip talked about it and probably that was all the way out because we're much were very young then I think I go to save primary one. I don't I think it's basic one here and at that point, one day on the assembly, ground

Psalm 23 verse one. And we said all of us, the Lord is my shepherd and stop and it said. And we were like But that's it. And then this is Psalm 23, verse 1. The Lord is my shepherd and then we stopped on three times before. I think he then said, I shall not want. And that was when we realized so devices, actually, two sentences, not mad. We see, David hair, declaring God, at his Shepherd. And then he goes on to declare a results. And that was, that is what you find in all the other verses, I shall not want. In declaring that he shall not want. He's saying that God is its provider. That all I meant by God. We'll see. This is Philip Philippines, Chapter 4, verse 19. And my God will provide for your needs. According to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus is a psychological needs emotional needs. Their there are times when with you soon. So depressed and we don't even know what the next thing should be in that moment. The Lord Is Our Shepherd and we will not want. There Are Spiritual needs. There are times that we can tell that on a so just needs something more something more than the pleasures of this world, something more than the books. Something more than going out to have fun. We can just tell that there's a deep-seated void in all that only the presence of God can fill I call it a starving. So, An evil at this point. The Lord is Our Shepherd and so we will not want He goes on to say, he he makes me to lie down. In Green Pastures. He leads me beside the Still Waters some other versions will see. You makes me wrecked. Is it their fault for cutting and needs? That must be met before you see if she lie down.

There must be peace, such that there's no fear. They must not be friction sway must be so much space that they can each take their space 3D. They must be because then they are uncomfortable. And lastly, they must not be family. Obviously, they must have had food and water. And that just tells you how intentional God has to be to be a ship at all. These conditions are met just to bring rest to our souls. You will agree with me. That it is practically impossible for another man to provide all of these for us. Even when we don't have flies to make us uncomfortable and we've got food and there's no friction. We often live in fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of Tomorrow. Sometimes it's a fat-free of the right now. But David in that text says, he makes me to lie down. It makes me to write because God brings peace to our. So he goes on to say, he needs me beside the Still Water. You see? The ship will not likely drink water from a, from a Russian. River is too much, too much space outside for them. Maybe if it's a slow-moving water then they might bring one when it still water. Define so much peace, so much come for and guess what? The good the Good Shepherd, the great Shepherd God leaves us. Who was that? He gives us Direction. He gives us Guidance, just to bring comfort care and rest to wall. So it goes on to say, he leads me in the paths of righteousness, that that is Direction guidance. That is God saying that I will not let you just wander off and Isaiah. The Bible says whether you turn to the right or to the left, you a voice in your ear is seen. This is the way walk D in it. And then he says he restores my soul who refreshes others will redeem. So it brings us back. Can you imagine how much peace do not must have felt on the lass's shoulders while going home from the wind, the wind was howling. The rain was falling, everything was going on, so much drama would say into this text and context was only arms and so he was all right. I imagine god-awful time scaring Us in his arms and saying just rest I am here. In that way, it brings us restoration. He had been trapped in the rocks for so long Alliance peace in his mind is finally here. Now, we'll finally get home. Now I'll finally be out of the rocks. And so he goes on to talk to David, goes on to talk about times. When we find ourselves in a difficult situation, is it even though I walk in the Valley of the shadow of death, I think about it is a low land between two mountains, isn't it? All too high side, one guy in the valley you already fuel hatch in the Valley of the shadow of death. you need to make it so dark so vivid, but then we often find ourselves in such situations where

we say all things that can go back have gone bad yet in such situations by fear. the Bible says, I shall fear. No evil. For you are with me. He doesn't remove the valley. He doesn't remove the challenges, but the presence of God, in the midst of this difficulty brings peace eliminates fear. It eliminates when it when the danger subsist while we are there the presence of God brings us so much peace. That has a blown blown away. What's the sweetest of all in this text is David saying the Lord is my shepherd.

I mean, you could have said that I need to not make sense, but it said, the Lord is my shepherd. It was a personal relationship is that unlike the things that are so. So constantly size and desire, do we still need rest and direction? Do we still sometimes fill the void? That only the loving presence of God can feel? I can only imagine. Peace.

Being the shepherd is not the most prestigious of carriers in the Bible, and that's another thing. Sew-in, if you remember David, when someone, when they're two are 19 and he said, bring all your son's first abroad India and someone thought to himself. This must be the man is tall is answering. I know that God's chosen King was the last bone and guess where it was in the fields. Tending, the flocks. That's the kind of carrier. Business Shepherd was if you need those dates, if you need it shipped, but it has to be the last one. If you can't, I have someone from outside. But you see God? Gold laws and Casualty, test for us so much. He the creator of the universe calls himself. The great Shepherd. He's always beside. He doesn't, he doesn't feel this. Damn, to bring himself to that point where it can can't directly for us.

The Bible says that he has given us all that we need for life and godliness. As the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls himself. Caught him before he walks with all the waxing us to do to Will and to do book for God's good pleasure. But how do we respond to this? The response is Miranda. We need to rest on God's ability to lead and guide us to do. His will as ship. We need to allow God to take care of us. Yes, it can be in our nature to wonder if I'm to be foolish dependent week defenseless and what have you? But that is why we need a Shepherd, we have to trust the Holy Spirit to restore all are thirsty. Souls Alcala photos, when we are dismayed Even in our errors and mistakes when the devil tries to filled with Despair and do we have to allow the Holy Spirit to remind us of the Father's Love and present right there in The Valleys of Life. Remember his thoughts to what sort of good that of peace to give us a future and a hope. How did we do this pyramid end? What hope? And future do? We really have? Is there really anything for the fitful believer who wants to race to the end? That brings us to talk about the chief Shepherd as we close, the chief Shepherd is our reward in 1st Peter, chapter 5 verse for the Bible says, and when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the Crown of Glory that does not fade away. As Believers are Johnny does not end here on Earth. We know that Christ is coming again. We know that the sufferings of this present times are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in US. Romans 8:18 Apostle, Peter talks about the redeem, the reward, the chief Shepherd God. The father, he will reward us with a crown of glory and imperishable Crown in a home where there will be no way. Chino National cheats in a place where thieves do not steal a moths, do not destroy a new Heaven, and a new Earth, and inheritance, for those who have relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the very end of it, speaks of the king of glory. Come in twice in Psalm 24, verse 7, to 10, yet again to Rancho the below so that we can leave and rain with him forever in blurry. None of this is a way to make a face. Going is not a waste a commitment. I was with you than with a physical toiling for the kingdom. They're not going unnoticed. And what is a testimony to the Lost? Trying to bring them back to the phone? We are Only store in La, Porte Frazier's in the right place. The reserve Crown. It's a Crown of Glory and it's comes at the end of a surgeon. How exciting is that? Please make no mistake friends that we are convinced of this thing's. The Bible says being confident of this very thing that he who has begun this good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. The church in Philadelphia was a faithful charge Revelations, chapter 3, verse 11, the word and did not deny Jesus Christ and just as they were astonished, I beseech off to hold on to what we have. So that no one would take our crown. I leave us with this works. The Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ. The sacrificial lamb who redeem sauce The great Shepherd is the Holy Spirit who lives in us and works through us to do God's pleasure. He is a companion and God the father is the chief Chef who will reward us for the Crown of Glory, an indestructible Kingdom at the end of this. Dispensation God bless you.