A Sheep in God’s Flock
The Biblical Portrait of a Christian. • Sermon • Submitted
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1. Israel, God’s Flock
1. Israel, God’s Flock
The Jewish nation prided itself on being God’s special flock.
Jehovah God is called “the Shepherd of Israel” (Ps. 80:1), and the nation is “his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Ps. 100:3).
When God delivered Israel from Egypt, he led them “like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Ps. 77:20; and see 78:52).
When God called David to become Israel’s king, he chose an experienced shepherd (Ps. 78:70–72).
When the nation was in decline under King Ahab, the prophet Micaiah “saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd” (1 Kings 22:17, and see Mark 6:34).
As he contemplated the Babylonian captivity, the prophet Jeremiah wept when he saw the “Lord’s flock … carried away captive” (13:17).
The people of Israel saw God as their Shepherd and their own leaders as “under shepherds” who received authority from God to care for the flock.
In these modern days of dictatorships and democracies, it is difficult for us to believe that government leaders are God’s shepherds.
There are times when some people in office seem more like hirelings or even thieves.
Israel was God’s elect people, and no nation today can claim the privileges that Israel enjoyed, particularly God’s special presence and his covenant blessings.
Today those privileges belong to his church scattered around the world.
Israel was often a flock that went astray and disobeyed the Lord.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
2. The Church, God’s Flock
2. The Church, God’s Flock
What Israel was under the old covenant, the church is today under the new covenant:
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
God has certainly not abandoned Israel (Rom. 11:1), but in this present age, he is working in and through his church to get the gospel to every creature.
The church is his “little flock” (Luke 12:32) made up of “lost sheep” that the Good Shepherd has rescued (Matt. 18:10–14).
Why does God compare his people to sheep?
Why does God compare his people to sheep?
Sheep are “clean” animals
(Lev. 11:1–8).
This means they are acceptable to God.
Of course, no sinner is acceptable in himself; our acceptance comes only through the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior.
But unlike dogs and pigs that often identify with filth, sheep prefer the green pastures and the still waters.
The nature of a creature determines its appetite, and it is the nature of sheep to desire the pasture and not the garbage dump.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Sheep know their shepherd.
Jesus said,
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
The Eastern shepherd has an intimate relationship with his sheep and knows their names and their personal characteristics and needs.
He can actually call them by name the way you and I might call a child or a pet dog.
The sheep know the shepherd’s voice and obey it, but they will not follow if they hear another voice.
There are many voices calling to us today, and some of them even sound “religious.”
But a true child of God will not follow when he hears the voice of strangers.
God’s voice to us today is the Word of God, taught by the Spirit of God.
Any professed “shepherd” that denies this Word is a false shepherd, a thief and a robber, and is dangerous to the flock. False prophets are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7:15) who will entice Christ’s sheep if they can.
It is encouraging to realize that Christ knows each of his sheep by name. Remembering names has always been a problem for me, and I never quite know how to reply when somebody approaches me and says, “Hi! Do you remember me?”
Our Lord doesn’t have that problem, and we don’t have to wear name tags to help him recognize us.
We may be statistics and numbers as far as the world’s computers are concerned, but we are precious individuals as far as our Shepherd is concerned. He knows his sheep personally.
Sheep desperately need a shepherd.
For the most part, sheep are defenseless animals, easily frightened, and quickly led astray.
Unlike predatory beasts, or even cattle, sheep need someone to guide them and guard them or they will get into trouble.
Without the loving care of the shepherd, the sheep would be helpless.
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Why?
Jeremiah gives us the answer:
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Unless we follow our Shepherd, we will soon go astray.
Just as the people of Israel had undershepherds to direct the affairs of the nation, so the local church has pastors to give spiritual direction and protection to the flock.
The English word pastor comes from the Latin word shepherd.
The local pastor holds a responsible position before God and the people, and his ministry is not to be taken lightly.
So long as the pastor obeys the Word and follows the Lord, the sheep should follow him.
Sheep are useful animals.
In Bible times, the shepherd did not keep his flock in order to slaughter them, because meat was a luxury to the Jews.
He wanted his sheep alive since he profited from their wool as well as from their young.
Sheep were killed for Passover and festive family occasions and sometimes for sacrifices to the Lord.
But for the most part, the sheep were protected as part of the family wealth. The loss of a lamb or a sheep was a costly thing to a family.
Certainly the Good Shepherd has every right to expect his sheep to be useful to him.
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
In return for all that he gives to us and does for us, we as God’s sheep ought to be giving our very best to him.
If all we do is enjoy the “green pastures” and “still waters”, and do nothing to serve him, then we are indeed selfish and useless.
Sheep flock together.
It is the nature of sheep to want to be with the flock, and it is the nature of believers to want to be with one another.
The New Testament knows nothing of isolated Christian living.
In those days when a person trusted Christ, he let it be known by identifying himself with other believers.
The isolated sheep is not only in danger but is also dangerous because he could lead other sheep astray.
The place of safety, sufficiency, and service is with God’s flock.
3. Christ, the Shepherd
3. Christ, the Shepherd
The Bible presents the shepherding ministry of Jesus Christ from three different perspectives.
As the Good Shepherd, he died for the sheep (John 10:11, 15, 17–18);
as the Great Shepherd, he lives for the sheep to perfect them (Heb. 13:20–21);
and as the Chief Shepherd, he will return to gather his sheep and take them to heaven (1 Pet. 5:1–4).
These three shepherd titles encompass his ministry to us in the past, present, and future.
The Good Shepherd
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The word good carries with it the idea of “beautiful, noble, blameless.”
Many great men in Scripture were shepherds—Abel, the first martyr; the Patriarchs; David—but none is greater than Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In the Old Testament, the sheep died for the shepherd; but under the new covenant, the Shepherd died for the sheep.
Jesus was not murdered or martyred.
He willingly gave his life for the sheep.
The Great Shepherd
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
As the Good Shepherd, our Lord finished the work of redemption and on the cross purchased his people.
Then, he returned to the Father in heaven and took up his new ministry as the Great Shepherd, who perfects his people.
What is Jesus doing in heaven today?
He is ministering as the believer’s High Priest and Advocate.
He is reigning from a throne of grace, not a throne of judgment; and he is seeking to work in us and through us to accomplish his perfect will.
What tools does the Lord use to perfect us?
Primarily, he uses the Word of God and the fellowship of the local church.
But he also uses prayer and even suffering.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Each believer should be available to the Lord to help perfect other believers who have failed (Gal. 6:1).
The purpose of church discipline is to reclaim the offender, not destroy him. It is like setting a broken bone in the body of Christ—and that requires patience and tenderness.
Psalm 23 is often read at funerals, mainly because of the comforting promise found in verse 4; but the psalm really describes what the Great Shepherd does for us “all the days of [our] life” (v. 6).
It explains that the Lord’s ministry to his sheep is for the present as well as the future, and that what he does is for the days of our life as well as the hour of our death.
The psalm begins with a great affirmation—“The Lord is my shepherd”—
and then points out two assurances based on this affirmation:
“I shall not want” and “I will fear no evil.”
Because the Lord is our Great Shepherd, we have provision (vv. 1–3) and protection (vv. 4–6), sufficiency and security.
As his sheep, we may not always understand what the Shepherd is doing, but we know we can trust him.
Whether in the pastures, beside the pools, or on the paths, he is caring for us and meeting our every need.
Why?
“For his name’s sake” (v. 3).
All that he does for his sheep is for the glory of his name.
Our Lord has more to lose than we do if ever he should fail.
We don’t see it now, but one day in glory we shall look back and see that “goodness and mercy” have followed us all the days of our lives!
This is David’s version of Romans 8:28.
The Good Shepherd died for the sheep and the Great Shepherd lives for the sheep, to protect them, perfect them, and direct them.
The Good Shepherd gave his life for the sheep, and the Great Shepherd gives his life to the sheep.
The Chief Shepherd.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
One day the Chief Shepherd will return, gather his sheep, and take them to heaven.
He will come as the King of Glory, defeat all his foes, and establish his kingdom.
He will reward his faithful undershepherds with a crown of glory that will never fade away.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, and the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd.
Are you one of his sheep?