Bro. Bob Cordell gave a sermon recently about gathering the lost sheep. He set a lightning bolt through my spirit. Five years ago I began feeling a strong impression that God was speaking this selfsame command to me with an urgency that cannot be explained except by the Holy Spirit. It’s time to gather my sheep” has been in my thoughts ever since.
At first I tried to tell every preacher I came in contact with, but it seemed I was just smiled at and with a hand shake was dismissed as the baby Christian I was. So over time, I began to tone back my vocal concern and suppress the urge to speak out about the message I was sure God had given me.
Many times I have been asked to preach, and many times that message came to the forefront in my study for the sermon, but I would again and again smooth over or even omit mentioning His message burned so deeply on my heart. Why, you might ask, would I not say what was on my heart? Fear! Fear I allowed the devil to use against me. Fear that fellow Christians wouldn’t accept my preaching or become angry with me. See I took my eyes off God and placed them on me. It’s not about me; it’s about the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ.
The message given to wandering Christians will cut their hearts, convict their spirits and can cause them to lash out at the one giving the message, instead of seeing Jesus calling them back through repentance and humbleness because He loves them.
Ezekiel 34:6 says “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.” Take the time to read the whole chapter and notice the warnings to the shepherds. I believe God was speaking through time not only to the Israelites, but to His church also.
When a lamb continues to wander off, not obeying to the shepherds call, the shepherd will break one of the little lamb’s legs. Painful, yes, but for its own good, for a wandering lamb is a prime target for hungry wolves. Then the shepherd will splint and bind the leg and place that lamb on his shoulders and carry it for weeks until it heals. By that time, the lamb not only depends on the shepherd, but knows his voice and obeys. Jesus will do the same to His sheep who wander. It is for their good also.
Hungry wolves are gathering more than ever against Jesus’ church and people. More and more of His sheep are being led to the slaughter by the world or false teachers promising worldly treasures and pleasures, forsaking Heavenly things. Preachers are going to have to step up and break some legs, or explain to the congregations why their legs are broken and the only alternative left to them is to depend on Jesus to carry them. Hurt feelings or not, it is their souls at stake.
We are fortunate to have a good Pastor who cares about the truth more than hurt feelings, but I see many looking at their pulpit as a means of making a living instead of a means to lead the flock down that straight and narrow path.
“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees!” Jesus warned them when he was here on earth, he still warns them today. The fear of the judgment seems to be waning as the devil deceives more and more with lies and deceits, but dear reader the Judgment is drawing closer and closer. The message is urgent, Jesus is returning for his sheep, Christians MUST be ready!
“It is time to gather My Sheep!” Do you know and can you hear the Shepherd’s voice calling you?
Or are you wandering and need your leg broken?
