All About Sheep

All About Sheep

“Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we

                      ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”   Psalm 100:3

            Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to many people after that, but one day he called the disciples to meet him at the Sea of Tiberias.  After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep”.  John 21:17 (NKJV)   Why do you think he said that?"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 

Did you ever wonder why Jesus calls believers his sheep?  Did you know that sheep are among the stupidest animals in the world? They don’t follow commands at all.  Did you ever see sheep in a circus or an animal trainer showing off his trained sheep?  Of course not, because they won’t do what you tell them.

            Sheep can’t protect themselves from anyone or anything so that’s why they need a shepherd to watch over them.  They can’t even run very fast.  When the enemy sneaks in to attack them, they are an easy target, unless there is a shepherd there to ward off the enemy.  Typically, predators like wolves, fox and wild dogs go after sheep. The Lord warns us of this same danger. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15

Did you know that sheep have very poor eyesight?  They can’t even recognize the enemy right in front of them. If sheep get knocked down and fall on their back, they can’t get up by themselves.  They need help to get back up on their feet. They flail their legs in the air, bleat and cry and after a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs.  The stomach then hardens and the air passage is cut off.  The sheep will eventually suffocate if there is no shepherd to help them.  This is called a “cast down” position.  It reminds me a scripture, “Why art thou cast down, O, my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”  [Psalm 42:5]    We like sheep can get in a spiritual life threatening situation and our only help and hope is in God.  We aren’t always able to see the danger around us.

Sheep have excellent hearing and can easily recognize the voice of their shepherd from other sounds and voices.  What was it Jesus said?  John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” If we have a close relationship with Jesus, we listen for him and want to follow after him.  If you have the opportunity, read the book, “Hinds Feet in High Places”.  It’s about listening to Jesus and following Him.

Sheep exhibit both Flocking and Following behaviour.  As people,  we tend to have the same behavior as Hebrews 10:25 explains “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Those of us who love the Lord like to gather together and with prayer and praise encourage and lift each other up.

Sheep prefer to move from a darkened area to a lighted one. Christians also prefer to be in the “Light”.  I Peter 2:9 explains why that is;  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

With sheep there is safety in numbers and if you notice they try to remain close to each other. It is harder for a predator to pick a sheep out of a group than to go after a few strays.  It seems to be the same with people.  When we walk out of the will of God and into the world, the enemy is waiting to devour us.  The Bible explains it this way, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8 

From birth, lambs are taught to follow the older members of the flock.  That’s how they learn to do the things they do and to be protected from harm.  We know about bringing up children; to take care of them by teaching them how to grow up.  They don’t always listen to us, but they always watch us and learn from us.  Sadly, not all parents follow the scriptures of “…bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4   

Sheep have no idea how to balance the amount of food they take in.    It seems that people have the same problem and I don’t mean of ‘overeating’.  People don’t realize they are in danger of taking in too much of the world.  Many keep taking in more and more and end up in danger of falling away from God.  We also need to beware of the dangers of over indulging in worldly pleasures.  In the parable of the ‘Sower and the Seeds’, we read about the seeds that “fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”  Luke 8:14

Can you see that it’s no wonder Jesus refers to us as sheep and himself as the Shepherd.  He knows each of us from the inside out and those who have accepted him as their shepherd know Him; really know Him. "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15 

No wonder Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep.  Friends, we still need to be fed and we still need a shepherd.  Thank you, Jesus, for being my Shepherd!

 

 

If You Were There

If You Were There

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

         This old hymn has always touched my heart whenever I’ve heard it and my mind rushes directly to the day of Christ’s crucifiction. “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,  where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.”  John 19:17-18

            I began to wonder how I would have reacted to this if I had been there and had no knowledge of Jesus.  So I wrote this story many, many years ago and just came across it recently and felt I should share it with my friends.

            The mob pressed closer.  The stench of sweat was overpowering; dirty, unwashed beggars and people of other classes mingled together, working themselves into frenzy, like a herd of frightened cattle.
            My heart beat faster and my own body felt clammy as I pressed forward with the throng of people.  They were yelling, “Crucify him; crucify him”.  I was not tall enough to see over the crowds lining the street, but I knew they were watching a condemned man on his way to being hung on a cross to die.  They were headed out the gate of the city.  I looked up at a hill standing stark against the blue of the sky.
            My mind was reeling; searching for reason.  What was a crucifixion to me?  I cared for neither the Jews or the Romans; I was only a visitor to this place.  I wasn’t even sure of why I was here.  I wasn’t a sadist who enjoyed seeing the pain of others, nor was I a person who followed crowds.  Yet today some unknown feeling closed in on me; demanding me to witness another Rome’s atrocities.
            At last they reached the hill.  I heard someone call it Golgotha, which meant, ‘place of the skull’.  My thoughts were suddenly stilled as I heard the blows of a heavy hammer driving nails through soft flesh.  I cringed at the sound and felt nausea began to rise in my throat.  Then there was stillness; heavy and fearful; broken with the thud of the heavy cross as it dropped into place.  A sigh like the wind, rushed through the crowd in a wave.  I looked up and dark against that same blue sky stood the cross.  They nailed a sign above his head which read, “King of the Jews”.
            There were groups of people here and there; some were crying and I heard some saying, he was the Son of God.  Although a stranger, I knew of the Israelite’s God. I also heard that they looked for the coming of a savior.  Surely this sad figure hanging on the cross was not the one they were looking for. As the soldiers were putting a couple of other men on crosses, I was overcome with a longing to get closer; to see this man that was slumped down; the weight of his body hanging from the outward spread of his pierced hands.
            I began pushing my way through the mob; my breath came in harsh gasps and perspiration dripped from my face.  At last, breathless, I stood before the cross.  I only glanced at the hands and feet dripping with dark blood which fell softly to the ground.  It was the face that held my attention.  It was neither a face of beauty or ugliness; bruised beyond recognition, but through the dirt, sweat and blood, it held a certain radiance.  I looked into his face until I could look no longer.
            As I turned to leave this place of death, I heard a sigh and the soft words fell on my ears, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” With a motion, almost spastic, I turned back and looked again into his face.  My heart throbbed; my knees weakened and I dropped to the ground and began to weep.  My tears fell in streams and I, without shame, cried loudly, “I know you are the Son of God; the Savior of the world.  Forgive me, oh God!”
            I wanted to tear that cross from the ground and hold the Son in my arms and offer myself in His place.  I reached out to the cross, but the soldiers, drunk with wine and power pushed me back.  With curses and threats they held me off.  I fought, I swore, I screamed, but at last, exhausted, I fell sobbing to the ground.
            How long I lay there, I don’t know; time was meaningless to me.  I heard thunder and lightning crashing across the sky, which aroused me and I looked up at the Son, who was now scarcely breathing.  “Son of God, I should be hanging there; I am a sinner not you.”  In that moment an overwhelming love filled my heart, mind and soul and I knew a peace such as I had never known.  I was changed forever.

 

Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when he rose up from the grave?

 

           

 

The Luck of the Irish

The Luck of the Irish

           The word ‘luck’, according to Webster means, “a force that brings good fortune, or events that operate for or against a person.  What is this force that so many people believe in?

            Most speak of luck as good or bad.  Even many Christians believe in luck.  Here are some of the things that people use to bring them ‘good luck’.

• Lucky horseshoe
• A penny
• A good luck charm
• Statues of religious figures
• Crystals
• The number 7

     These are just a few of the things that people carry; they kiss them or rub them for luck.  The truth of it is that luck is nothing more than superstition.  If a born-again believer is superstitious he or she better examine their faith.  Christians are called to trust in God almighty, not a superstitious force called ‘luck’.  Pagans and heathen base their whole religion on superstition.
      The word, ‘luck’, is not found in the Holy Bible, but there are things which appear to be a form of gambling such as the casting of lots (dice).  In Old Testament times, different items were used to determine the will of God, or to hear a word from him.  One such method was the URIM and Thummim; objects Israel and the high priest used to determine God’s will.  They were sacred lots that were used to inquire of the Lord.  There were times when God did not give an answer through them, but only through prophets, visions and dreams.  God never spoke to the Israelites by ‘luck’.
      King Saul sought the spirit of Samuel, the Prophet, through a witch, because God no longer answered Saul through Urim or dreams, (I Samuel 28:6-25).  God was not pleased with Saul’s actions and the Lord departed from Saul and became his enemy.
      Today the majority of the world believes in ‘luck’.  Around St. Patrick's Day, we hear of the lucky shamrock, the leprechaun and the ‘luck of the Irish’, who were and are a very superstitious people.  How many times do we wish people “good luck”?  When something good comes our way we say, “This is my lucky day”.  If we gamble and lose, we say, “I had bad luck.”  If we win we say, “I had good luck today.”  Obviously, we seem to judge so many things, good and bad, by luck. 
      You probably won’t believe this, but ‘luck’ is a form of witchcraft just as much as the Irish leprechaun; a mythical creature who supposedly reveals where a pot of gold is hidden. Superstition is also witchcraft; Friday, the 13^th is an unlucky day, as is walking under a ladder, having black cat cross your path.  It’s really a bunch of nonsense.  God wants us to practice faith, not luck.
      Faith is the central concept of Christianity.  A true Christian is one who has faith.  God has always called his people to obedience.  To accept the responsibilities of God’s covenant was to trust His word that says He along is God and to commit one’s life to His promises for the present and future.  That is faith, meaning “trust” or “confidence” in God.
      “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)  In other words, faith is what we believe, it is Christianity itself, but primarily it is the relationship we have with God through what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection.  Depending on luck is the equivalent of depending on voodoo.  Just roll some chicken bones out on the floor and how they fall will tell you how your day is going.  Luck is also comparable to astrology, psychics, tarot cards and the like.  It is depending on a force that is not from God. 
      Buying lottery tickets, playing Bingo, sending in to Publisher’s Clearing House, going to a casino are not sins.  The sin is depending on luck to help you win.  The truth is; someone will win and you may be the one, but that is a ‘possibility, not luck.  Gambling may not be a sin, but some spend all they have because they think it may be their lucky day.  Some may not give God their ‘first fruit’, but use it for games.
      I have found that trusting in God’s promises have given me everything I need.  One day I read in Malachi 3:10, "And all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”   He said to try him and we did about 30 years ago and he has supplied all our needs since that time.  He has blessed us in more ways than I can count.  I choose to trust in Him and not in ‘luck’. 
       Who, or what, are you depending on today?  Ask God to help you depend on him to supply your needs.  The wonderful part in trusting God and having faith in what he can do, can be summed up in these words:  “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

 

           

 

Preparing for Battle

Preparing for Battle

“A sound in the mulberry trees, and it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees then you shall advance quickly. For then the lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”  (2 Samuel 5:24 NKJV)

 

Whenever I have sat with eyes closed in the shade of a leafy tree on a warm summer’s day and heard the wind rustle the leaves overhead, I am reminded that God rides the wings of the winds.  “He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.   He makes winds his messengers.”  (Psalm 104:3-4 NIV).  Feeling the caress of the little zephyrs against my cheek and brow makes me know there is nothing quite as peaceful and comforting.

            Although, I have never recognized the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, I know that it has happened many times in my life, just as it did in David’s time.  The Philistines were the greatest enemy of Israel and were constantly at war with them.  When they heard that David was made king over Israel, they went after him.  They set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim and prepared to do battle.

David knew what was happening, so he prayed and asked God what he should do.  The Lord told him he would deliver the enemy into his hands.  Then he gave David these instructions, “Don’t attack them from the front, but circle around and attack from the rear.  When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, act quickly, for the Lord will go before you.”    David followed the Lord’s directions and drove the Philistines out of the land.

This scripture is a paradigm of the attack by the enemy [Satan] against a child of God.  When we become God’s children, by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become royalty and part of the household of God.  Then the enemy sets out to destroy us, the same as the Philistines did King David.  Each of us must come up against the Philistines [the enemy] throughout our life.

In Psalm 84:6, we read about walking through the Valley of Baca, meaning Valley of Weeping.  This place of trials and sorrow is in actuality thought to be the Valley of Rephaim. 

The mulberry trees spoken of in scripture were actually a type of balsam trees.  Going back to Psalm 84:6, the word, “Baca” has another meaning and it is the Balsam Tree [see TLB]!  This means the enemy sets up the battle in the valley where the balsam tree grows.  It is not coincidental that God showed us the Valley of Weeping and the Valley of Battle (Rephaim) are one and the same.  

These balsam trees are a type of fir tree with branches spreading outward.  The sound of marching in the tops of the trees was that of angelic armies of God going ahead into battle.  These angelic armies going ahead were not unusual; we find them throughout the Bible.  What is unusual in God’s eyes, is Christians no longer believe it.  Most of us go into battle against the enemy under our own power.  God has not changed, nor has he deserted his children.  What was available two-thousand years ago, is still available to us.  His angelic armies have not been defeated, but are still in the midst of the battle.

             “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2 NIV)

When going through battles, we need to be on our knees before the almighty God, crying out to him for direction, then listening for the answer.  How often we tell God, “If you will do it this way, or that way…..”  We should be praying, “God, give me direction and I’ll do as you say!”  Perhaps then, we would hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. 

There are times when we feel like David did when he was just a small shepherd boy and God called him to go out and slay Goliath, a giant the Philistines sent out.  His heart must have quaked with fear and he must have felt very small in the shadow of Goliath, yet he went forth proclaiming, “The battle is the Lords!”  David heard the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.

Had we been there and examined David, we would have seen a small boy, who went up against a giant, as none other was willing to do.  He had no physical weapon such as a sword or knife - only his homemade slingshot.  What made him stand out in a crowd?  God said, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Sam. 16:7 NKJV)

Perhaps you feel very small and weak, without the ability to battle an enemy that seems unapproachable.  Remember, you are not going into battle alone, nor on your own strength and intellect.  There are three things that will give you victory in any battle. 

·       Praying for direction and help at the beginning of the battle.

·       Praying for endurance and wisdom during the battle.

·       Praying prayers of thanksgiving after the victory.

Each time we go through a raging battle, we must be refreshed, with our body and spirit 

healed. 

            The battle was before me, O God.

I asked you for direction and you gave it to me.

I asked you for strength to complete the battle

And you strengthened me.

I heard the sound of your angelic hosts

Going before me into battle.

I ran quickly to fight at your side.

 

Now I am battle-weary, O God.

Heal me with the Balm of Gilead.

Refresh me with pools of refreshment.

May I always listen for the sound of marching

In the tops of the mulberry trees,

Knowing with certainty,

The battle is the Lords!

 

 

[It is interesting to note, in our country, we have a tree called the balsam poplar.  This tree gives off an aromatic resin which is called the Balm of Gilead. In Israel, resin was gathered from a type of evergreen tree and was famous for its cosmetic and medicinal healing qualities.]

Making Sacrifices

Making Sacrifices

            My granddaughter was talking to me last week about those who observe Lent, which in simple terms is to give up something you enjoy during the time leading up to Easter.  Although I do not observe this Lenten practice, I fully believe in sacrificing.  As I thought on this subject I began to think about the various types of sacrifices people make.

            Tithing (giving 10% of what you make) is not considered a sacrifice.  In the Old Testament book of Malachi tithing is what is required of us, but beyond that is gifts and offerings.  What is a monetary sacrifice is when you give beyond what you think you can afford.  It reminded me of the story in Mark 12:42-44 (TLB), “Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies.  He called his disciples to him and remarked, "That poor widow has given more than all those rich men put together!  For they gave a little of their extra fat, while she gave up her last penny.”  This is a true sacrifice when you give all you have.
            Giving of your time may be considered a sacrifice.  Helping a friend, a neighbor, or someone you don’t even know when you hardly have time to take care of your own things is certainly a sacrifice.  
            Giving of your things to those in need can be a sacrifice if what you are giving you really could use yourself. 
            In Old Testament times we read where the Jewish people would take a sheep, or a lamb, or even a dove up to their temple and it would be burned on the altars for forgiveness of sins.  The interesting thing about these sacrifices is that God wanted them to give the best they had; no maimed or blind animals would be sacrificed.
            An amazing story in Genesis about Abraham is that he waited all his long life for a son and then God told him to go sacrifice the boy.  However, at the moment, God stopped him from plunging the knife into his son and nearby was a ram caught in the bushes which he then sacrificed on the altar instead of his son.  Abraham, though grieved beyond endurance was willing to obey God with such a great sacrifice.
            Another type of sacrifice is that of giving a life to save another.  War is a great example of that.  We often hear of soldiers who sacrificed their own life to save that of another soldier.  There are so many heroes in times of war who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
            The dictionary describes sacrifice as “the giving of one thing or one’s self for a greater cause.”  At times I have thought I have made a sacrifice by giving up my plans for someone else’s plan.  After studying what the scriptures define as a ‘sacrifice’, I really doubt I have done this very often.  As a parent, many of you have had to sacrifice for your children in many different ways, but is that really the point of sacrifice?
            I keep going back to the wealthy young ruler who wanted to follow Jesus; “Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."   Matthew 19:21 (NKJV)  I can hear many ask the question, “Everything, Lord?”  I can imagine that Jesus would reply, “Yes, everything”. 

            “Well, what about my home, we have to have a place to live?”

             “Yes, give it all.”

            “What about my car, I have to have a way to get to work?”  

             “Yes, give it all.”

            “What about my spouse and my children?”    

              “Yes, I take them, too.”

            “All I have left is myself, Lord?

            “Absolutely.  That’s what I really wanted in the first place.”

      A sacrifice must be given from the heart, or it’s not really a sacrifice.  I have to admit it is generally hard to get ‘self’ off the throne of our hearts.  I’m working on it because of those in the Bible who have the example.  If our heart is in it when we give of ourselves, it won’t feel like a sacrifice, but will be a great feeling of joy that we can do it.

            After all, Jesus made the greatest sacrifice when he gave himself, who was without sin, to die for our sins.  He poured his life out for you and me so that we can be forgiven and can live for eternity with Him in heaven.  

            If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died so you might be forgiven of all your sins; if you asked him to live in your heart, then heaven will be your home.  Perhaps right now you want to ask Jesus to be a part of your life, you can do this by just quietly ask him to forgive you and come live in your heart.  It’s that simple.  You’ll be glad you did.