Post by Deleted on May 3, 2022 6:17:04 GMT -5
THE SHEPHERD
Every day is an opportunity to be used of God for edification, exhortation, and comfort. Spiritual life is a matter of seriously seeking a personal relationship with God. When someone is in tune with the mind of Christ they find solace in understanding the will and purpose of God. In scripture people are often defined as sheep. The scene is painted in our minds of the shepherd attending his sheep in fields and streams that sustain them. According to scripture the body of Christ is the flock of God and Christ is the Shepherd of our souls who leads and guides through life. Psalm 23 is a beautiful example of how the shepherd tends the flock with tender loving care. He literally supplies every physical need of the flock he tends and also protects them from any danger they may encounter with his rod and staff. The rod is for protection and the staff is for safety.
(10) Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
(11) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
(12) Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Isaiah 40:10-12 KJV
The good shepherd neither sleeps nor slumbers but stands at the front of the flock; he is filled with the wisdom of experience and selects the time and place to assure rest for the weary, the weak, and the wounded. When he prepares the table before them he go out into the pasture and removes anything poisonous to his sheep; he observes his flock and finds the wounded and attends to them; he anoints their heads anew to keep the flies from lay eggs in their ears. He stands ready to defend them with his rod and watches over them while they sleep. He counts his sheep and knows them all by name; when one wanders; he leaves the rest to find the one that is lost. Our Christ our King our Bishop and Shepherd of our souls!
(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,
(21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV
Our task is to follow the Great Shepherd where he leads us. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. It is apparent how intimate the shepherd is with the sheep of his fold; and as we follow him receiving the tenderness but the discipline of his love we are perfected in the work and will of God. He leads us through perilous times when danger surrounds us on all sides.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 KJV
The shadow of death has lost its power in the shadow of the Almighty; fear has faded and faith has risen in its place; the Shepherd Warrior welds his mighty rod and our enemies are scattered; his staff stays me in place and the spirit of comfort consumes me. O the LORD my God the Shepherd of my soul; the Lilly of the Valley the beautiful Rose of Sharon; the Bright and Morning Star; thou O LORD are my comfort whom shall I fear; thou O LORD are my Shield and Buckler what shall I fear. I will give praise for you have filled me with your Holy Spirit! You have trained these hands to war; you have made us a weapon of your righteousness!
I will stand and declare the goodness of the Lord; he who is mighty to love and he who is mighty to save. He is worthy the Lord strong and mighty; he is worthy the Lord wise and all seeing; he is worthy the Lord my God and my King! Selah
Brethren, keep the faith and the faith will keep you!
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie
Every day is an opportunity to be used of God for edification, exhortation, and comfort. Spiritual life is a matter of seriously seeking a personal relationship with God. When someone is in tune with the mind of Christ they find solace in understanding the will and purpose of God. In scripture people are often defined as sheep. The scene is painted in our minds of the shepherd attending his sheep in fields and streams that sustain them. According to scripture the body of Christ is the flock of God and Christ is the Shepherd of our souls who leads and guides through life. Psalm 23 is a beautiful example of how the shepherd tends the flock with tender loving care. He literally supplies every physical need of the flock he tends and also protects them from any danger they may encounter with his rod and staff. The rod is for protection and the staff is for safety.
(10) Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
(11) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
(12) Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Isaiah 40:10-12 KJV
The good shepherd neither sleeps nor slumbers but stands at the front of the flock; he is filled with the wisdom of experience and selects the time and place to assure rest for the weary, the weak, and the wounded. When he prepares the table before them he go out into the pasture and removes anything poisonous to his sheep; he observes his flock and finds the wounded and attends to them; he anoints their heads anew to keep the flies from lay eggs in their ears. He stands ready to defend them with his rod and watches over them while they sleep. He counts his sheep and knows them all by name; when one wanders; he leaves the rest to find the one that is lost. Our Christ our King our Bishop and Shepherd of our souls!
(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,
(21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV
Our task is to follow the Great Shepherd where he leads us. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. It is apparent how intimate the shepherd is with the sheep of his fold; and as we follow him receiving the tenderness but the discipline of his love we are perfected in the work and will of God. He leads us through perilous times when danger surrounds us on all sides.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 KJV
The shadow of death has lost its power in the shadow of the Almighty; fear has faded and faith has risen in its place; the Shepherd Warrior welds his mighty rod and our enemies are scattered; his staff stays me in place and the spirit of comfort consumes me. O the LORD my God the Shepherd of my soul; the Lilly of the Valley the beautiful Rose of Sharon; the Bright and Morning Star; thou O LORD are my comfort whom shall I fear; thou O LORD are my Shield and Buckler what shall I fear. I will give praise for you have filled me with your Holy Spirit! You have trained these hands to war; you have made us a weapon of your righteousness!
I will stand and declare the goodness of the Lord; he who is mighty to love and he who is mighty to save. He is worthy the Lord strong and mighty; he is worthy the Lord wise and all seeing; he is worthy the Lord my God and my King! Selah
Brethren, keep the faith and the faith will keep you!
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie