The Right Flock for the Good Shepherd

 

The Right Flock for the Good

 Shepherd

Blessed day to you family,

I trust the Lord is keeping you all.

Today, I am here to share a message that has been upon my heart for a long time and I have titled it: The Right Flock for the Good Shepherd.

The main scripture for this message is a familiar one.

In Mark 6:1-6, right from verse 1, we see Jesus entering his hometown (Nazareth) with His disciples. He was coming from a region where he performed so many miracles and healings like raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead, healing the woman with the issue of blood and healing the man with an unclean spirit, just to mention afew. All these miracles and His teachings marked Jesus’ authority and purpose as the son of God.

Now if we read our main scripture, we see that when Jesus began to teach in Nazareth many were astonished and they began to wonder and question where Jesus got all the spiritual insight, power and knowledge from. In verse 3, they went as far as bringing up his family background. They brought up the fact that they knew He was a carpenter, the son of Mary and all His siblings were brought into the picture just to prove that there is no way, a local like Him, who grew up in Nazareth as everyone else there could bring such powerful spiritual insight and power. They found what Jeus was doing offensive, because they did not believe that he could bring anything impactful let alone be the son of God. Their familiarity with Jesus blinded them from seeing the anointing that Jesus carried. The people of Nazareth presented themselves to be the wrong flock for the good Shepherd.

Lets read below the response of Jesus in verses 4-6

4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Here, we see Jeus recognizing that He was leading the wrong flock. The people made the choice to be the wrong flock for Jesus’ teachings and miracles. Their unbelief hindered them from seeing the anointing Jesus carried, from seeing Him as the son of God and from receiving what Jesus was meant to give them. We see here after coming from performing so many miracles, He only laid hands on a few people and left. Jesus left because, He realized the people had made a choice to be the wrong flock for Him. It was not in Jesus' hands to force these people to believe that He was the son of God. Jesus was not going to force miracles on a flock that did not have faith and believe in the power of healing He carried! The power that raised the dead! The power that drove out demons!

As Jeus kept on demonstrating throughout His ministry, Faith is the ingredient that makes the right flock for the Good Shepherd. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him." It was not possible for the people of Nazareth to receive from the son of God because they lacked faith and a personal relationship with Jesus. When we have a personal relationship with Christ, its easy to believe. As Jesus says in John 10:14, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me." If the people in Nazareth had a personal relationship with Jesus, they would have known he was the son of God. They would have known His voice. They would have known that indeed His teachings were all about His authority as the son of God.

Faith is the condition we all need, in order to approach God and command His attention. To be part of His flock, as believers, we must have faith that He is the Good Shepherd who provides, protects, and guides. Without faith, we cannot truly be part of the flock that follows Him. Without faith, in the presence of God, we are the wrong flock for the Good Shepherd.

Let’s go look at Matthew 13;1-23. Here we see Jesus presenting and explaining the parable of the sower where the sower sows seed which fell on different grounds. Some fell on the wayside, some on the rocky place, some on thorns and some on good ground. All these grounds had their own challenges except the good soil. In this passage we learn that to be the right flock for the Good Shepherd, we must have a heart that receives the Word like good soil. This means having faith that is deeply rooted, not easily swayed by trials or worldly distractions, and a heart that produces spiritual fruit through obedience to the Word. Only those who truly receive, have faith in and follow the Word of God can remain the right members of the flock under the care and protection of the Good Shepherd. The good soil, in particular, represents the believers who allow the Shepherd’s voice to guide their lives, growing in faith and bearing fruit that aligns with His will without despising the word or the vessel.

I would like to end by urging you today, to align yourselves to be the right flock for the Good Shepherd, who dwells in you and me and the vessels assigned to lead His flock here on earth. ( On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you: John 14:20). The Lord has placed various vessels amidst us. Vessels of his word, teachings, miracles and healings but we are unable to receive because we have made ourselves to be the wayside, thorny or rocky grounds. We have chosen not to believe because we are way too familiar with the vessel (as in the case of Jesus in Nazareth) or we are busy with worldly distractions.

One day as my husband and I were chatting, I asked him a question: Have you ever noticed how some people can be in a powerful atmosphere of prayer, where God's presence is clearly at work, but no matter how many times they experience such presence, they always leave unchanged? I quickly then said to him: I believe that sometimes these people are the wrong flock for that moment. They are either the wrong ground for the power of God or they are busy questioning the vessel’s authority on the basis of familiarity which breeds contempt. This is the flock that makes Jesus marvel at their unbelief hence leaving them without performing many miracles. 

Dear brothers and sisters, have faith in the power of God. Present yourselves the faithful and right flock for the good Shepherd; through His power, the Holy Spirit and the vessels used of God. 

Let us Pray:

Dear God,

I come to you today fully believing in your power. I believe that you are a good Father whose plans for your children are always good. I lift up in your hands everyone reading this post today. I pray for them to have the grace to overcome worldly distractions and be the right flock for the Good Shepherd. I pray that, may they ascend above familiarity and disapproval of your servants who are sent to them. I pray that they have the grace to know you God personally so that they may be able to discern, hear and know your voice. May none of them be the wrong flock for the good Shepherd. May none of them be the wrong ground for your word. May none of them miss your miracles because they were busy despising your servants. May they dwell in you and your house always and forever. Let your kingdom come and your will be done in their lives. I have prayed all this in the mighty name of Jesus.

 

Amen!

 

Blessed living!