Five Ways The Good Shepherd Cares # Part I

                                            FIVE WAYS THE GOOD SHEPHERD CARES

PART I:  Psalm 23:1-2a

 

This past week, we have come through one of the most historic elections in years. The party whose candidate won celebrates with joy whenever elections are over, and the party that loses is upset, worried, and even angered. After the elections, I attended two clergy groups, and the mood in those groups was vastly different. One group was proud and joyful, and the other was fearful and uncertain. If you are joyful over the victory, don't be overconfident. If you are afraid and uncertain about the future, don't lose heart.

No matter the outcome of the elections, no one person or group can bring about the change you are looking for and offer a better future and trouble-free life. Where can we find hope and rest during challenging times? In moments of uncertainty, our faith becomes our anchor, providing us with the strength and reassurance we need to navigate through life's storms.

During my doctoral studies, I learned a few things about shepherding and the beautiful relationship between the Shepherd and his sheep. When a sheep learns to trust the Shepherd, stays closer to him, and follows his lead, it will remain safe and secure. When it rebels against the Shepherd and wanders away seeking freedom, it can be attacked and even get killed. In Psalm 23, we find five ways The Good Shepherd Cares, and we will look at one of them.

From the Sheep Pen To The King's Palace

What do we know about David, the author of Psalm 23? David was the youngest of seven sons of Jesse. He was glowing with health, had a fine appearance, and was handsome when the prophet Samuel spotted him (I Sam 16:12). As the youngest of the family; he was assigned to take care of the family sheep while his brothers fought in Saul's army. As a shepherd boy, he was faithful in tending to the sheep. He fought against a lion and a bear with bare hands and rescued his sheep. He learned to rely on his simple yet effective tools to care for his sheep.

Despite his older brother Eliab's angry rebuke, David volunteers to join Saul's army in God's providence. After killing Goliath with a sling and stone, Saul keeps David with him in the palace. David was successful on whatever mission he was sent, so Saul gave him a high rank in the army, and eventually, his daughter Michal in marriage, who was in love with David.

David wrote Psalm 23 while he was fleeing from Saul. He had been wandering from place to place, in exile from his own people, and constantly living among strangers, even enemies. His life was continually being threatened. This Psalm is a testimony of David's confidence in the Lord's care for him in every moment of his life, even unto his death.

The rich imagery in this Psalm shows how David secured himself by thinking of his younger days as a shepherd who totally cared for his sheep and in whom his sheep had complete trust. What a comforting thought for him to see the Lord as his Shepherd. David saw himself not as a shepherd but as a fearful, hungry, and vulnerable sheep who needed the care of a Good Shepherd. Let us also see ourselves as sheep desperately needing the Good Shepherd's care. Here is one way in which the God Shepherd cares for his flock.

 

I. The Good Shepherd Feeds His Sheep (Vs. 1-2a)

            Vs. 1-2a: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures." This Psalm begins with "The LORD." Who is this, Lord? What is His character? David was referring to Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel. His statement was confirmed by Jesus Christ when he declared emphatically, "I am the good Shepherd."

            By calling the Lord my Shepherd, David saw God as His Lord and a Shepherd with abundant resources to care for him in times of trouble. Similarly, when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, He will care for us. David uses this vivid imagery of a sheep lying down in green pastures. When does a sheep lie down in green pastures?

            Philip Keller, a shepherd himself, notes in his book The Shepherd Trilogy, "The strange thing about sheep is that because of their very make-up, it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. Owing to their timidity, they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear, free from friction from other sheep, free from parasites, and must be free from hunger."[1]

            Only a good shepherd can provide such a safe and peaceful environment for his sheep to rest. It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to our own way. Isaiah 53:6. Jesus used the same sheep analogy in Matthew 9:36, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

            The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways. Our mass mind (or mob instincts), fears, timidity, stubbornness, stupidity, and rebellion are all similar to sheep's nature. For instance, what are the two biggest fears that drove millions of Americans to choose the kind of leader they chose in recent elections? Fear of the crumbling economy and lack of safety from the enemies within and without. These two fears keep people awake at night.

            The elected leaders may address these fears temporarily, but ultimately, we must look to our Good Shepherd to care for us. If you fear how to put food on the table, fear not. Jehovah God cared for over 600,000 people with food and clothing daily for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, turned small portions of bread and fish several times and fed thousands of people. If God could do that then, he can do that now. An early 20^th-century researcher found that Bedouin tribes in the Sinai knew the attributes of over one hundred plants.[2]

            A good shepherd who cares for his sheep knows which plants are helpful and which are harmful. For that reason, he takes them to green pastures. Besides providing food for our physical bodies, Jesus the Good Shepherd is also concerned about nourishing our souls. In the wilderness, God humbled Isreal for 40 years, feeding them when they were hungry and providing Manna from heaven to teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut 8:3.

            When Jesus called Peter to feed my sheep, he called Peter to express his love for him by providing spiritual food. The connection between caring for people as sheep and nourishing them with God's word is visible in the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Before he fed them physically, he taught them many things. Mark 6:34.

            Our divine Shepherd, Jesus, fed people physically and spiritually. He referred to himself as bread from heaven in John 6:33-35. "For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "always give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." What does this mean to us today?

            In this world, we may face many uncertainties and troubles. We may be genuinely afraid of a depleting economy and a lack of security and protection. Who do we turn to during such situations? We turn not to our elected officials but to our divine leader, the Good Shepherd.

            You may have heard this teaching about Jesus being our Good Shepherd, but have you made him your Lord? This means surrendering your whole life to the Lord; trust Him with your life so that he will take care of your life no matter what happens. Making Jesus Lord of your life means giving up your rebellious ways and following him closely. Then we can say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want him. He makes me lie down in green pastures."

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Philip Keller, The Shepherd Trilogy, Page 29

[2] Timothy S, Laniak, “While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, page 55

 

Pray For The Persecuted Christians

                                      PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

Hold your Bible up High! If you are converted from Islam to Christianity and hold a Bible, you might be imprisoned and tortured in Iran. In 52 countries, the Bible is illegal to have, and Christians are severely persecuted. [1] Look around the beautiful sanctuary where we gather to worship freely and without threat. Have you considered the cost of following Christ?

A German Lutheran pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote in 1937: "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." How could he have known that he would be hanged in a Nazi concentration camp? His only crime, he was a Christian. The persecution of Christians around the World is more severe than ever. The 20^th century saw more martyrs than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Here is how widespread the persecution of Christians has been.

·       In Sudan, Christians are enslaved. In Iran, they are assassinated. In Cuba, they are imprisoned. In China and India, they are persecuted and even beaten to death.

·       In more than 60 countries worldwide, Christians are harassed, abused, arrested, tortured, or executed. Their only crime is that they follow Christ.

·       It is estimated that every 5 minutes, a Christian is killed for their faith.

·       An average of 105,000 believers are killed each year for simply being Christian.

·       That means in the past ten years, we've seen more than 1 million martyrs.[2]

These are not just rumors; they are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus himself reminded His followers of the cost of following Him. If the World hates you, remember that it hated me first… Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:8-20.

Jesus told his disciples,  “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this World, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the World.” John 16:33. Today is the International Day Of Prayer for the Persecuted Christians, and we will join our voices with those who are Praying for the Persecuted Christians around the World.

I. The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church!

Tertullian, one of the 2nd-century ecclesiastical writers, wrote, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," implying that a martyr's willing sacrifice of their lives leads to the conversion of others.[3] The underlying message of this famous quote is that the Church grew whenever there was intense persecution against Christians. This was the case in the early Church, which is still true in the 21^st century. Let's see how the early Church grew under persecution.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He met with his faithful disciples one last time and said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

According to the promise, a group of 120 disciples kept meeting, praying, and waiting for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. As promised, the Holy Spirit fell on this group of 120 disciples. With the bold witnessing of the Apostle Peter, the Holy Spirit convicted 3000 people who joined the Church, which grew to 5000. They kept meeting in homes and assembling at the synagogue. Their faith practice and witnessing were limited to Jerusalem, the temple town.

God's plan for the early Church was Acts 1:8, which was to be witnesses not only in Jerusalem but also in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Contrary to God's plan, the early Church had a good time of learning, worshipping, and fellowshipping in Jerusalem only.

They failed God's command in Acts 1:8. That failure resulted in great persecution of the Church in Acts 8:1, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… "Those who had been scattered preached the Word wherever they went." The Gospel was spreading everywhere.

            The seed of the Church kept growing by the blood of the Martyrs. Those scattered by the persecution traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. At Antioch, the disciples were called Christians for the first time. In Acts 12:1-18, we read about Peter's Miraculous Escape from Prison. Let's see how it all unfolded. King Herod arrested some who belonged to the Church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death.

When he saw that act met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter, also. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

What was the Church doing in the meantime? The Church began to pray to God on behalf of Peter. As a result of the Church's earnest Prayers, God sent an angel to free Peter from imprisonment. Once freed from the prison, Peter returned to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people gathered and prayed. After briefly rejoining the brothers and sisters, Peter left for another place. What can we learn from this story?

II. Pray For The Persecuted Christians.

We can learn from this story how God intervenes when the Church prays earnestly. The early Christians taught us to pray as they modeled their Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Intercessor. Knowing his time on earth was ending, Jesus offered this prayer on behalf of His disciples, who were to remain and carry His word throughout the World.  ^"I will remain in the World no longer, but they are still in the World, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name..While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. "I am coming to you now...I have given them your word, and the World has hated them, for they are not of the World any more than I am of the World. My prayer is not that you take them out of the World but that you protect them from the evil one." John 17: 11-19.

While remaining at the Father's right hand in heaven, He is still interceding for His brothers and sisters, His Church (Romans 8:34). Jesus modeled prayer for the persecuted followers so we, too, can pray. Let us pray scriptures over the Persecuted Christians. These were shared with the Open Door Ministries by those who were persecuted in various places.

Psalm 91:4, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”  “This was my scripture when my husband was imprisoned for his faith. I had great faith in the Lord to keep him safe. I was confident he would be fine because he had God in his life. I believe in God’s promise.” —Bouapha, Laos.

Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” “We like this verse because it reminds us that when we pray, our needs are fulfilled by God. We had to leave our house with nothing but the clothes on our backs because of our faith. We always prayed, claiming this verse. Gradually, God made provisions for us through His people. We have income sources now.” Chendo and Kamala, Nepal.
  

Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 “I had to move from more than three villages because villagers and anti-Christians opposed me. I faced false accusations and have been imprisoned and interrogated. Yet wherever I went, I never stopped serving the Lord. I was able to gather people and pray. These verses always remind me that nothing can separate me from God's love; God’s love empowers me to face trials and opposition. With my family, I will continue to serve the Lord all the days of my life.” —Shekhar*, northern India.

 

For those of us living in relative peace and comfort, the least we can do for our persecuted brothers and sisters is to uphold them in prayer and support them where we can. I encourage you to support ministries such as Open Doors and The Voice of the Martyrs.

Read books such as Tortured For Christ: The Story of Richard Wurmbrand. If I Die, by Vernon Brewer. Let’s be informed about the plight of our persecuted brothers and sisters and support them in prayer. After watching this six-minute video of the Martinez family ministering to the Cartels in Columbia, we will pray for the persecuted Christians in the World. As you go home, please take a Prayer Guide and continue to Pray for the Persecuted Christians. Amen!

 

 

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[1] https://lovepackages.org/bibles-dangerous-illegal-covert/

[2] Vernon Brewer, If I Die, Page 14,15

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyr#:~:text=Tertullian%2C%20one%20of%20the%202nd,to%20the%20conversion%20of%20others. 

A Witnessing Community

                                            A WITNESSING COMMUNITY

If you have been a Christian and as long as I have attended Churches, you may have heard Pastors and Preachers hammering a message: you must share your faith. Go and save the world." But that's where things get complicated. Yes, Jesus commanded us to be the salt and the light in our communities. Yes, we must preach the gospel, make disciples of all nations, etc. But how? Our passage in Acts 1:4-8 helps us understand how we do that.

During a meal, Jesus commanded his disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The disciples' primary calling was to be Witnesses of Christ.

What does a witness do? A witness is someone called upon to testify to what they have seen, heard, or experienced about a particular crime situation. In the scriptures, the Greek word Martus, translated into English as Witness, literally means, "One who remembers, one who has information or knowledge or joint knowledge of anything and hence, one who can give information, to bring to light or confirm anything."

Jesus told the disciples, "When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be empowered to be my Martures or Witnesses." They were to announce the facts to the world about Christ's birth, works, crucifixion, and resurrection, for which they were the eyewitnesses. The first community of 120 disciples was a community of Christ's witnesses. Let's see how the task of witnessing became a central pillar of how the early Church organized itself.

When they wanted to find a replacement for Judas, they chose Matthias. What was his job? It was to join them as a witness of Jesus' resurrection. (Ac 2:22-26). After being empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly proclaimed who Jesus was and what He had done to save people from their sins to a large group of Jewish people worldwide.

Peter confidently explained that God did not abandon the Messiah to the realm of the dead but raised Jesus to life, and we were all witnesses of it. Acts 2:32. Listening to Peter's brave testimony, 3000 people were baptized after being convinced by the Holy Spirit. They joined the other 120 disciples, forming the first Witnessing Community of Christ. Acts 2:40-42.

Can you imagine the buzz in Jerusalem? People were getting saved daily and joining the witnessing community. They joyfully lived out their newfound faith in worship, fellowship, prayer, listening to the apostles' teachings, and sharing with those in need. As a result, even more people began to join the community, growing it to about five thousand people. (Acts 4:4)

All that did not go unnoticed by the Pharisees, particularly one young Zealous Pharisee named Saul. He tried hard to destroy this community, and in the end, he had a divine encounter with Jesus, the very one he was fighting against. That changed his life, making him an ardent member of the Witnessing Community. Later, this was how he testified, defending his faith in Christ in front of King Agrippa. Acts 26: 9-21, "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem.

On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time, I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

"On one of these journeys, I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'

'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me." I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them." True that calling, Paul proclaimed Christ to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, and kept testifying to the ends of the earth.

If you are a true follower of Christ, you are part of that Witnessing Community. You and I are called to testify about who Jesus was, what He did to save sinners, and how remarkably he changed your life. Where do we begin our witnessing? Start at home, among your friends and colleagues, in your neighborhood, and as God leads the rest of the world.

When I first gave my life to Jesus, I started sharing and showing that joy to my family members and college friends. As a result, my family became serious followers of Christ. Later on, I have been in YWAM for twenty years, and now, for the past sixteen years as a pastor, I testify for the Lord. You can tell a story if I ask how God changed your life.

Your story is unique to others. Write a blog, make a Facebook post or a podcast, or share it with others on how God had set you free from addiction, depression, and anxiety and how he met you on a hospital bed when you tried to commit suicide. Whatever your story, please don't hold back but confidently tell it. It is not about you but about Christ, who saved you. It is not how convincing we are that changes a person, but the power of the Holy Spirit convicts someone to repent. As a Witnessing Community, let's boldly testify for our Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we do that practically? Suppose four members were inspired by this sermon and decided to go to Downton to Witness for Jesus. They took four signs with them containing the following messages: 1. "All the LGBTQ people will go to Hell." 2. Baby Killers will not go to heaven. 3. Jesus said, "I am the way, and truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). 4. "Jesus has set me free from…? Which one of these signs will get a positive response? Which ones are repulsive? All four of them are truthful statements. The first two contain a harsh tone that could drive them further away from God and knowing the other half of the truth, which is if they repent and believe in Christ, they too can go to heaven. That is the hopeful message and the Good News.

However, our combative approach and condemnation will prevent the hearers from hearing the most loving and hope-giving message we are called to share. Remember, when witnessing, you represent a loving savior, Jesus Christ, who loved all sinners, so he died on the cross to give them eternal life. That is the Good News! Please share it with a smile on your face.

Scaring and condemning people would further drive people away from a loving God. "For God did not send his Son in the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17. Apostle Peter shows us a better way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. I Peter 3:15-16, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

Regardless of who they are, all people need love and are to be respected, even when we disagree with their ideology and belief system. We are called to be witnesses of a loving and gentle savior, so our approach should be of love, gentleness, and respect. It is love, not hate, that brings people to Christ. So, let's go out and become compassionate witnesses for Christ.