One Shepherd and One Sheepfold

Transcription

1 One Shepherd and One Sheepfold John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Who is the Shepherd? The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want! Psalms 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. This psalm has been spoken or sung at countless funerals, because of the comforting words that apply to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The last line of this psalm states that I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Will you? Who is the LORD? Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. The LORD is God, who made the heavens and the earth and everything that is therein. Our LORD God has done mighty things, which evolutionists deny to their infinite peril. Please carefully read this next psalm. Psalms 19:1-14 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

2 When we look up into a clear night-sky, no matter where we are on earth, surely the magnificence and beauty of the stars cannot fail to fill us with awe at the sight and magnitude of God s creation. How could anyone imagine that all this began with a big bang as atheist scientists would have us to believe? Everything runs like clockwork, seasons come and go, the sun rises and sets, and the moon gives light to the earth by showing her phases as she waxes and wanes. Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. In the final line of Psalm 19 above, King David writes: let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. The LORD is also our Redeemer The Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly gave His life that we should be free from the law of sin and death, is our Redeemer. By paying the price for not only our sins, which we inherited through the fall of man, He has also given us life eternal, enabled us to share in His victory and made us joint heirs with Him. Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. In this present world, many ways of religion are presented that purport to show the way to eternal life. All other religions except Christianity are the product of men who are now dead and gone. Jesus is alive seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven and ever lives to intercede for us. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that, who was raised who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Christianity originated with God, who made the world, the universe and all that is in it. He is the Creator of all things, and gives life to all creatures. He also graciously provides us everything for life and health and strength. Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. Matthew 5:45b For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. He even causes the birth of animals through His mighty voice. Psalms 29:9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, Glory! God had a purpose through Adam, whom He made and placed in the garden of Eden to tend it. God also made a help meet for Adam, from Adam s rib, and Adam named her Eve. God gave them instructions that they may eat from all the trees in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they were not to eat, for they would surely die.

3 Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Then along came the serpent that was more subtle than any other creature on earth and he spoke to Eve. Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. But the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So tempted, Eve took the fruit and ate and gave some to her husband and immediately, they knew they were both naked, and so they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves a covering. A little later God came into the garden walking in the cool of the evening calling, Adam, Adam where are you? Genesis 3:10-14 And he said, I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? The man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. Then the LORD God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate. The LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. Man fell from a perfect relationship with God because of disobedience to God s instruction. The idyllic garden changed; for God cursed the ground to bring forth thorns and thistles, and in sweat would Adam have to till and work the ground until he died, when his body would return again to the dust from which it was made. The woman was cursed with greater conception, in sorrow would she bring forth children and her husband would rule over her. The serpent was also cursed. Genesis 3:14-15 The LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. In this last scripture, enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman was a prophecy of the One who was to come, who would have a profound effect on the whole history of mankind by restoring our right standing with God. The One is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who alone was worthy to make amends for the sins of the world. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

4 This was prophesied approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ by Isaiah, the prophet. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Immanuel meaning, God with us). Luke 1:26-31 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Greetings, O favoured one, the Lord is with you! But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Jesus set aside His majesty, humbled Himself and was born in a stable in Bethlehem to a lowly virgin and her espoused husband Joseph. Luke 2:4-7 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Only the shepherds in the fields tending sheep were alerted to this great event by angels singing, Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. God chose not to splash this great event all over Israel by the mouths and splendour of Kings or Princes; the birth of the Son of God took place in a lowly stable, with a manger for a bed because there was no room for them in the inn. In the Gospel of Luke, we read how Jesus was brought to the temple at Jerusalem to fulfil the requirements of the law of Moses. Luke 2:22-24 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. Whilst they were there, the Holy Spirit alerted a devout man named Simeon that the Messiah (or Christ), meaning anointed one, was in the temple with his parents. Simeon had been promised by God that he should not see death until his eyes had seen the Lord Jesus Christ who was born to be the salvation of the world. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. The Jews, as a nation, are mainly still blinded to the fact that their Saviour came and went and yet they did not recognise Him. Jesus was humbly born, lived an exemplary life and died in obedience to His heavenly Father s will.

5 Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Even though the Jews had many prophecies of the coming of Christ in the Old Testament writings, especially Isaiah, they were blinded to the truth. Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Not only His birth, but His death was also prophesied: Isaiah 53:1-12 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. Jesus himself told of His crucifixion and the scattering his disciples and referred to Himself as the Shepherd of the Sheep. Matthew 26:31 All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

6 Matthew 26:1-2 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified. In due course Jesus was crucified, died and rose again from the dead and was also spoken of by the writer to the Hebrews as that Great Shepherd of the Sheep. Hebrews 13:20 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, He laid down His life and took it up again in order to fulfil the will of God, the Father. John 10:17-18 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. Jesus spoke in a parable to His disciples that He was the door of the sheep John 10:1-5 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus said no one can come to Father God except by me. Jesus is the door to eternal life. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Again in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus reiterates that He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. John 10:11-16 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. Finally He says, there is only one Shepherd and one sheepfold, which is the title of this treatise. I pray that 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, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Are you unsure whether or not you are saved? Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. * * * * *