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DAY 24 OCTOBER 6, 2015 _____________________________________________________________
"I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST;
IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME;
AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH
I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD,
WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME."
(Galatians 2:20)
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RAISE UP THE STANDARD!
"To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious Presence without fault and with great joy - to the Only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 24)
Morning Devotion: Feasting in His Presence - Read John 10:12-13
Under the Old Covenant sacrificial system sheep had to die to make atonement for the sins of the people, but under the New Covenant of grace our good Shepherd and sacrificial Lamb became the final sacrifice for our sin (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12, 26, 28). We have a devoted and loving Shepherd who willingly died in our place to rescue us from the consequences of sin and death. "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Unlike the hired hand in our Scripture reading this morning, who was more concerned with his wages rather than his work of caring for the sheep, our Good Shepherd dearly values His sheep and was sent to pay our debt with His own life. "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Our faithful and good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, did not entrust the work of redemption into the hands of a hireling. The work was far too important, and could not be entrusted to one who would run at the first sign of danger or pain. This work required One who would be willing to suffer humiliation, persecution, pain, shame and eventual death for the sake of the lives of the sheep. Only the True Shepherd could do this work; and our faithful and good shepherd did not desert His post. When the wolf came to tear us to shreds, our shepherd stood between us and the savage beast and gave His life for us. He endured the violent attacks, repeated abuses, torture and tearing of flesh, and eventual death, and He saved us from the hands of the enemy.
The enemy comes only to rob, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). Satan wants to send fear into the hearts of the sheep and scatter the flock. The enemy of God wants the children of God to believe the same old lie he told the woman in the garden; he wants us to question God's word and to mistrust the Lord. Satan hasn't changed his tune or his tactics, and yet there are many sheep who are buying his lies, falling for his deceptions and being led astray. How desperately we need to learn to be still and cultivate the silence in which God can be heard, so we will follow only after the voice of our good shepherd. The Lord is drawing us close to Himself and reminding us during this season of prayer and fasting that He has not left or forsaken us. He is still standing at the gate and guiding us into green pastures to be fed and nourished; He is still watching over His flock and protecting us from the enemy. Our good shepherd is ever-present and leading us down paths of righteousness for His names' sake. If only we would follow Him more closely we would not be in the trouble we find ourselves in so often. "He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those who have young" (Isaiah 40:11).
This morning as we enter into our prayer closets and draw close to the brilliant light of our good shepherd to prepare for our day, let us take comfort in His words, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32); and not be overwhelmed with what the enemy has or may be trying to steal from us, but be mindful that we have been given a kingdom; into our hands has been placed a great trust which is the hope, safety, prosperity and salvation of the world. Let us remember that we are not outnumbered, for greater is He that is with us than he that is in the world. We have nothing to fear for we are safe and protected by our faithful and watchful Shepherd; and there is nothing that can separate us from His love (see Romans 8:35-39)! "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).
Heavenly Father,
You lead me "beside streams of water"
and on "a level path where I will not stumble"
(Jeremiah 31:9)
You daily allow me the privilege of
"feasting on the abundance of Your house;
You give [me] drink from Your river of delights"
(Psalm 36:8)
You are a faithful and good shepherd,
and I have nothing to fear for You are with me.
"Yet I am always with you;
You hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."
(Psalm 73:23-26)
Praise Your glorious name!
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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REVOLUTIONIZE THE WORLD!
"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)
Afternoon Devotion: Filled with His Power - Read Ezekiel 34
Jesus is our good Shepherd and He will not lead us astray. He will never leave us or forsake us (reference Hebrews 13:5). He is always with us, and He will always provide His best for us, if we will place our trust in Him and follow Him in obedience. He is a tender and compassionate Shepherd who cares for His sheep. In contrast, the shepherds described in our reading this afternoon were not concerned for the sheep. They were unfaithful and careless shepherds who were focused on their own selfish interests rather than the needs of the sheep. And the Lord had a harsh rebuke for them: "I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for My flock" (v. 10a).
"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them.
I will tend them in a good pasture.
I Myself will tend My sheep and have them lie down.
I will save My sheep and they will no longer be plundered.
I will send down showers in season;
there will be showers of blessing.
The people will be secure in their land.
They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid."
(Ezekiel 34: 11, 14a, 15, 22, 26b, 27b, 28b)
Jesus set the supreme example on how we are to lead, and instructs us on how we are to be led. The Scriptures tell us that "the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). It is dangerous to fall under the leadership of negligent and unfaithful shepherds who do not feed the sheep. This neglect has resulted in the church becoming weak and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy; many have been carried away by "the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14b), and have been taken "captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8). The church has become a prey to the deception of the world and its' idolatry; and most do not know what poor starvelings they have become, because our shepherds have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and have become more devoted to causes rather than to Christ. Our Good Shepherd is concerned for His flock, and His hand is against these false and negligent shepherds. "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" (Jeremiah 23:1). There is coming upon the church a sifting that is necessary to awaken us from our slumber!
This afternoon, let us pray fervently for the scattered and wandering sheep to recognize our need for repentance so we can return to our Good Shepherd and receive from His hand the godly leadership we so desperately need in the church in this hour. "Return, faithless people,' declares the LORD, 'for I am Your husband. I will choose you - one from a town and two from a clan - and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:14-15). We must pray faithfully, fervently and continuously for our pastor-shepherds to have the Father's heart of tenderness and concern for the flock, so they can lead with love and discharge their duties with wisdom and faithfulness. May our good shepherd bring unity back to the fold and give us wise and faithful shepherds who will feed His people the rich morsels of the full counsel of the Word of God, so we will be a strong, whole, healthy, and holy Body of Christ. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns" (Matthew 24:45-46). Let us pray protection for our shepherds from the temptations of the world that would entice them away from their God-given call as spiritual leaders, and for the priority of their time they devote to the Word of God and prayer, so they will minister from a place of power and not grow weary in their calling. May God give us shepherds who are deeply burdened for the honor of God and the souls of men. "Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar" (Joel 2:17a). Let us pray that they, as shepherds, and we, as sheep, will lead by the example of Jesus Christ, because we are following close beside our Good Shepherd!
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people
to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you;
do not turn from it to the right or to the left,
that you may be successful wherever you go.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth;
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
to do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1:6-9)
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RESTORE PRAISE! "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever, Amen!" (Revelation 7:12) Evening Devotion: Focused on His Praise - Read Psalm 23:2
As we read the first two verses of the twenty-third Psalm we find that there is contentment for all who follow the Good Shepherd. All our needs are met in Christ. He alone is our satisfaction and supply. As our shepherd He faithfully leads us to green, fertile, rich, and lush pastures. We are invited to feed on His goodness - and we will be satisfied. His waters are ever-flowing, they will never run dry. We are welcomed to come daily and find refreshment in His life-giving water; there is infinite supply. " They will neither hunger or thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water" (Isaiah 49:10). How blessed we are to have a good Shepherd who leads us with compassion into His rich pasture where we can experience an abundant and fruitful life as we drink deeply from His "spring of living water" and feast daily on the delightful manna of His Word.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters."
(Psalm 23:1-2)
Our loving Lord leads us with gentleness and compassion, and it should be our greatest desire and priority to follow Him and imitate Him. May we seek daily to stay close to our good Shepherd so that we will not be led astray and taken captive by a world that seeks our destruction. "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray" (1 John 3:7a). This evening, let us offer a prayer of gratitude and praise to the One who, because of His great love for His sheep, leads us beside the still waters and continually pours out His blessings upon us. May we be faithful in prayer and in the diligent study and meditation of the Word of God, so that when others follow our lead they will be led to that life-giving spring of infinite supply and find satisfaction for their weary souls!
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
'Where is your God?'
These things I remember as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs His love,
at night His song is with me -
a prayer to the God of my life."
(Psalm 42:1-5, 7-8)
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