The Shepherd

God Our Deliverer

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

A Deliverer To Lead

Book of Exodus Chapters 3 and 4

We should understand that when God wants someone to step up and lead His people, He will make His will known to that person and even to those that need to be delivered or led to freedom.

We should also understand that when God selects us to do something then He will empower us to do that thing!

When Moses defended that Israelite to the death of that Egyptian, he thought no one had seen him.

God knew He was going to choose Moses, so this thing had to be made known.

God will not allow the sin of His leaders to remain hidden from the public!

This thing ended the first 40 years of Moses life as a prince in Pharaoh’s court.

Moses went to the Midianites because they were in fact distant kin to the Israelites, and he felt he would be welcomed there and he was, and it was at this time he found himself a Gentile Bride.

Great typology can be seen in the life of Moses.

After learning much about the military and the ins and outs of government, Moses next spends 40 years as a Shepherd with his Gentile Bride.

We can see that God had His hand upon Moses all the days of His life.

We should also understand that we may never know the process God uses to select people for specific uses.

All Christians have been called by the Lord Jesus Christ as we learned from Matthew Chapter 28.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We are told how we are to live after we are saved:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

But God does call others for specific special purposes such as the Apostles, including the Apostle Paul, and here we see Moses, but there are many more.

Moses had lived the life of a prince until he became a murderer.

We should understand that YHWH, Jehovah, the I Am of the Bible, does not need anyone’s help to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.

He allows His creation, the humans to serve for Heavenly rewards.

Moses would spend the next forty years leading a rebellious nation to become a legitimate nation called Israel.

God has had His hand upon Israel since that day.

*Exo 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

It is this Moses, who was called to be the Deliverer of Israel, and yet not a word was said to him until he was 80 years old.

Mount Horeb is actually a chain of mountains with Mount Sinai being called the Mount of God.

God had been watching Moses and placing him in certain positions to learn how to lead a nation.

God uses this method with most of those He calls.

It is a shame that what we get to choose as leaders here in America, they are most all career politicians who know nothing about how real people live.

They make laws that they excuse themselves from following.

It was refreshing to see a man such a Donald Trump come out to lead our nation for those years he did, and we need more like him, but the water of the political swamp is so deep it is hard to overcome.

Moses had been in God’s training camp for 80 years and it was time to put him to work, but remember God will not force anyone to do what He ask of them.

We learn many things here of the workings of Jehovah God.

Moses married a gentile woman who had dark skin and there was nothing wrong with that.

The color of the skin is never mentioned in the Bible in a negative fashion.

The 613 commandments had not been given to Israel at this time.

We did see Jochebed and Amram the parents of Moses had married both descendants of Levi which would soon be a commandment of God for reasons that God will state for us as they lived in the Promised Land.

Moses had left the riches of Egypt to live the poor life and he was happy with his new life.
Moses had left a throne behind to walk as a shepherd.

Again we see the typology in the Scriptures as the Lord Jesus Christ left the wonders of Heaven to walk as the true Shepherd here upon Earth.

What does a shepherd do?

They see that the sheep have food and water.
They guide the sheep to safety.
They seek and save any lost sheep.
They protect the sheep even willing to give their life for the sheep.
They keep the sheep separated from the goats.

We should know that God’s call does not come to any particular profession.

God seeks particular hearts, hearts that are willing to serve.

It takes a particular people to be servants of the Almighty God!

It takes people of great “faith” to succeed in the army of God!

*Exo 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
Exo 3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

It would be a great sight to see an object in flames and yet no burning was occurring.

This should bring to mind those three Jewish boys and Jesus, walking in the flames of that oven that belonged to Nebuchadnezzar.

It should also bring to mind that those in Hell will burn for eternity, but Hell’s flames cannot consume them, but they will feel the pain of those flames.

As we read this passage, we should note that this Angel of the Lord is the Lord Himself.

In this verse it says, “the angel of the Lord”.

When Moses observed this great thing, he knew that he needed to take a closer look.

If Moses had just passed on by, with no concern for this thing, God would have chosen someone else to lead the Children of Israel away from bondage to Egypt.

*Exo 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Now if we read this verse carefully, we will begin to see that it was the Almighty God who was speaking from that burning bush.

What is the first thing we need to do when God calls out to us? We need to respond.

Moses was seeing a portion of the Shekinah Glory of God.

We will notice that once the Lord began speaking, He had much to say to Moses.

This message was urgent because the Lord called Moses’ name twice.

There are only ten places in the Bible where we see this double calling.

Where we see the title Lord written in all capital letters, we know that we are speaking of Jehovah the God of the Bible! (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit)

*Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Moses was approaching a place of Holiness.

Moses was approaching the perfect God and our perfect God considers all His creation to be evil at this time.

Holiness belongs to God alone!

Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

It is from God’s Holiness where we get God’s “Goodness”!

Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

This is also a place where the Muslim mock Jehovah by taking their shoes off to do a mocking prayer to Allah or the Prophet Mohammed.

The Muslim Allah and Jehovah are not the same God. Allah can mean multiple gods and it does.

There is only one God, and His name is Jehovah who to Israel is (Yahweh)!

We can only be made perfect by the “Grace” of God, Jehovah through the Lord Jesus Christ!

We begin to be “Holy” once we are a home for the Holy Spirit!

We cannot be servants of God unless we are called of God, realizing that we are filthy sinners and repent and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

We cannot even repent until we are filled with the Holy Spirit, because we will not understand the Word of God.

Jehovah said let’s be clear about this Moses!

*Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

We had better understand that when we are in the presence of God, we had better be respectful.

God is my friend, but He is not my chummy friend!

God is my Heavenly Father, but He is not just “the man upstairs”!

I must be respectful, humble, and reverent.

God has a sense of humor, but He can never be the center of my jokes!

God is my Heavenly Father, but He cannot be my grandfather. God does not have any grandchildren!

We make a serious mistake when we always seek the arm of God when we should be seeking the face of God.

Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We serve the only God who can truly fulfill His promises!

God would say this same thing to us today. “I am the God of Abraham”.

Rom_4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom_4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Those who have the “faith” as of Abraham are those who are saved by “Grace”!

We serve a God who knows all things that go on in this world!

*Exo 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Exo 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Exo 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Exo 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Can you just imagine the prayers going up from God’s people just in a place called Afghanistan today?

Add to that all Christians in North Korea, China, Iran and the many other places where good Christians are doing their best just to survive the cruelty of this world and their corrupt governments.

God hears their cries, and He will not hold back very much longer.

We should be calling out to God also! Maybe not just for ourselves but also for them!

God was deeply concerned about the suffering of these people and at this time a Deliverer could lead them to safety by the hand of God.

Note: This is the very first time in the Bible that Jehovah called these children of Israel, “His people”.

Jehovah has been connected to Israel ever since that day!

So has the Christian, if you can see that all these things are written for those who love the true Deliverer, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was God’s intention to deliver Israel from bondage just as it is God’s intention to deliver all those held by Satan in bondage.

We have to want to be delivered!

We must make our voices to be heard in Heaven!

Note: “I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians”.

We should understand that God is able!

God is able to do everything He has said He would do!

God has the physical power to do as He wishes in this world that He has created by Jesus Christ!

Where would the nation of Israel dwell? In the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

These people were so wickedly evil and immoral that God decided they did not need to live.

Our world is approaching this type of wickedness today and God will do the same thing!

We will read further of this Promised Land and know that we also are promised a land much better that any land of this earth!

Since God had claimed these descendants of Abraham, He certainly would not allow them to be oppressed for very long.

Moses knew this Pharaoh very well for he had once called him grandfather.

In my words Jehovah said, “look Moses just be my voice and I will do all the work it will take to redeem my people”

How can we miss the typology of Jesus Christ here?

After making many excuses, Moses says when they ask me for your name, what should I tell them?

*Exo 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Were these people ignorant of God?

We could ask this same question today and the answer is that yes, most people are ignorant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is the only sin that cannot be forgiven.

God did not come down to deliver these people because they were all believers.

God came down to deliver them because He made a promise to Abraham!

Many of them remembered Abraham, but they did not remember the Almighty God!

These people had lived in Egypt and understood the many gods of Egypt and to Moses, at this time he knew he needed a name to tell them.

God settles things really quick for Moses.

At this time Moses did not believe he would be accepted, nor did he believe some new god would be accepted.

We can just imagine the anger of Jehovah, but Jehovah does what Jehovah wants to do anytime Jehovah wants to do it!

We might ask ourselves just why would such a God as our God Jehovah want to deliver anyone on this earth?

What does this name “I Am” mean? Jehovah is saying, I am the true God who is beyond the reach of human intellect, and I cannot be contained by my own creation!

For our own benefit, why would we want a God who will not reveal Himself.

Jehovah says this is just who I Am!
Jehovah is independent of His creation.
Jehovah is absolute, He is complete in Himself.
Jehovah says “I Am” eternal and I can make you eternal also!
Jehovah says “I Am” unchangeable for there is no need for Me to change everything I do is perfect.
Jehovah says “I Am” life!
Jehovah is the One God who seeks to have a personal relationship with us, caring for us, and providing for us.

Moses continues with his excuses.

*Exo 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Excuses are said to be pleas that are offered to be free of guilt or to seek a pardon because of some fault we think we have.

Moses made every excuse he could think of to try to avoid what the Almighty God had told him to do.

The thing we must realize is that the Lord God Jehovah, will not ask us to do things that He will not equip us to do!

Excuses are in fact rebellion!

What did Moses mean?

I try to teach a Sunday School Class and I can relate to these words Moses used here, for I definitely am not an eloquent speaker.

I believe this is the reason the Holy Spirit works in me to prepare a lesson every week.

I am not at ease when I stand before any size group of people, but I know I do not stand alone.

Without God’s help, I could not stand before my class every week.

Moses felt some of these same things and he was standing for a moment in the Throne Room of God.

I am not sure, but I believe Moses is the only man in the Bible that did not fall on his face in fear as they stood before God.

We must understand we should be very careful in the way we approach the Living God!

What God required was not a man who was an eloquent speaker.

God requires men who will speak the unchanging Word of God!

Remember God had already shown Moses how He had control over the human body by turning Moses’s hand to a leprous hand.

Leprosy will spread all over the body eating away at the flesh.

Leprosy is a type of sin in the Bible and leprosy will eat away at the flesh until it causes death.

God had told Moses how He also had control over our environment.

So God said to Moses, “who made you”?

*Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

If we cannot understand that Jehovah God is our Creator, we will never get very far with Him!

God has reasons for everything He does!

It is true all of our sicknesses come because of the curse which comes by sin!

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Many things happen to our bodies because of this and many from other man-made remedies.

It is also true that God can heal anybody from any sickness or any deformity at any time if He so desires.

Ask Isaiah:

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Ask Jeremiah:

Jer 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jer 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Ask Ezekiel:

Eze 33:22 Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.

Eze 3:26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.
Eze 3:27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

One preacher said when we want to serve the Lord “just get out of His way”.

Just agree that the Lord can do all things and then put Him to the test and agree to serve.

*Exo 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

If I can get out of the Lord’s way on Sunday morning, then He will be my mouth and He will do the same for every teacher and preacher who preaches the truth of God.

When we make excuses, we are being irreverent and ungrateful to our Holy God!

You see the Lord offers opportunities!

Opportunities to build treasures in Heaven.

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God is always looking for those with a servant’s heart.

God is always looking for those who are teachable.

God is always looking for those who make themselves available.

As Christians we are already filled with the Holy Spirit.

Moses did not have this option, but if Moses chose to obey, God the Holy Spirit would be with him all the days of his life.

We know how Moses chose and we know that Moses became one of the greatest characters in the Old Testament.

We know that by the power of God, Moses led the Children of Israel out of Bondage and took them on their journey to the Promised Land.

Exo 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Exo 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

You see Moses had to have “faith”!

Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Before these things could be true, we see Moses beg Jehovah and the Lord relented and gave Aaron to be the spokesperson and Moses as a type of God.

Exo 4:13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
Exo 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Exo 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
Exo 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

God will have His way and it would pay for us to less like Moses when the Lord calls us to be His servant!

God looked into the heart of Moses and knew He had selected the right person!

It was Moses who had to believe God!

Amen

Jesus Begins to Instruct the Church

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Instructions For Subjects of King Jesus
Book of Matthew Chapter 18

As “Born Again” Christians the greatest asset we have is our “faith”. Hebrews 11:6 says without “faith” it is impossible to please Jehovah God!
You might be able to please the false gods of this world because they do not exist, but you will never please our Righteous Living God without faith!
Remember the Holy Spirit provides “saving faith” so here we are talking about faith above and beyond this “saving faith” that is freely given.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We did not have to work for it, nor could we earn it, all the things of salvation are freely given to us by our Merciful God!
This faith must remain with us all our lives and it must grow, it is our shield against the evil of this world!

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

In the first part of this chapter Jesus teaches us we must become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
The disciples were consumed about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven and Jesus said you must humble yourself as a child.
Most children are not trying to get to the front of the line they are simply excited to be in the line and not be left out!
They will take the back of the line if that is all that is available.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

There must be some modesty along with that faith.
A little child knows nothing about ambition.

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

In this context, every Christian, even “babes in Christ” must be allowed access to the things of God!

Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Then we must realize that these children, “babes in Christ” and those who have been led away from Christ, are the same ones the Lord Jesus is referring to in our lesson today.

*Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Why did the Living God pour Himself into a body of flesh? He came to save that which was lost, which is all of His creation.
How will He do this?

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Then Jesus uses another parable to explain these things. The Parable of the Lost Sheep.
Jesus is very serious about all those with “childlike” faith who have received Him as their Savior!

Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

We should clearly understand that the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible, Jehovah, takes His stand with those who love Him and believe in Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ says: “I Am Your Father”!
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Lord!

What did Isaiah write of our Savior?

Isa 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

The Lord Jesus was afflicted on the cross, but every time one of His children is afflicted today, He suffers with them.
We should keep this in mind as we witness all the suffering in our world especially the persecution of the Church.
As we honor those who love the Lord, we do honor unto our Lord!
If we have a hand in any persecution of the Church, then we are persecuting our Lord and our Savior over and over again!
We should allow this to sink in to teach us how to behave one toward another!
Jesus came to save those who are lost, He certainly will not lose any of them!
The Lord Jesus Christ left Heaven with a purpose!
The world is full of those who have strayed from our Creator.
Those that remain astray are doomed to be destroyed unless they are reached and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

There is no one outside the scope of God’s love, but we must come when He calls us to return to Him!
So Jesus teaches these disciples so that they clearly understand their purpose and the purpose of each disciple today.
Jesus said: think like, I think.
We should understand this “certain man” as our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He has gathered a 100 sheep, but one is gone astray before it reaches the safety of the truth of salvation.
I do not like the term “once saved always saved’ because it suggests that we can do as we please after we are saved, and God does not care, and this is very wrong.
The fact is that once we have given our heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, our goal is to be like Him which is the reason of the term Christian, (Like Christ).
There were 99 of these sheep safe in the hands of the Lord and one who was lost and had not found its way to the Lord.
The Lord Jesus has done everything He can to insure our salvation for, whosoever will come to Him, and it can be said that He is actively seeking all those who are lost.
Why?

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The Lord rejoices at the salvation of every soul!

*Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

We must never think that these lost sheep mean more to Jesus than those who are safe in the sheepfold!
We must understand that this parable is about Jesus building onto His Church.
The Apostle Paul got it right:

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

We already know the Lord Jesus is the “Good Shepherd”!

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

We should know the Jesus is talking about His Sheep, the Church and then later on He will deal with Israel.

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

All of Heaven rejoices over every soul that is saved.

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Here in the Book of Luke, Jesus uses a similar parable to teach us about those who justify themselves, but there is joy in Heaven over every sinner that is saved.
We always ask about the will of God.

*Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

God has provided the only means there is for us to be saved.
God poured Himself into a human body just to die for our sins!

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Once the Lord finds us lost and rambling through this lost world and we see the truth of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ and believe, we become a member of His family.
He becomes “Our Father”!
He then expects our help to reach out to other “lost sheep”!
Keep in mind He does not need us, but He promises rewards for becoming employed by the Holy Spirit.
We are also expected to help care for the flock by helping them to be witnesses of the “Gospel” and fishers of men!
What we refuse to do someone else will be sure to do!

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus Christ died for those weak in their faith just as He died for those who are strong in faith!

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
1Co 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

When we do things that are offensive to those, weak in their faith, we may cause them to stray.
These things must be avoided!
We are to be as forgiving as Christ Jesus, but the Lord Jesus also gives us some guidelines on how to deal with them.

*Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Again we see Jesus teaching us about the Church.
If the Lord Jesus is teaching us then, He is teaching us how to be more like He is!
A brother would be a brother in Christ, a member of those who assemble for Christ, the Church.
We see the Church in this world, all those who go through the Door, which is Christ, have become enemies of each other, rather than unified in defense of the Gospel!
We still live in these bodies of flesh so we will be at odds with each other from time to time, but that is no reason for these things to cause us to be enemies.
If we go in good faith to that one and explain how we feel about what that person has done to us, we may actually make a better friend.
If we have not already forgiven them prior to confronting them, then we will not help the matter come to a good conclusion.
***There is no need to broadcast these things to any others until this first step has been taken.
We are to confess our faults to one another and pray to the Lord before we confront each other.

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jesus admitted that this will not always work.
Sin is not always easy to get away from, and it cannot happen without the Lord!
The next step is to take one or two more who were witnesses to this trespass.
What one may deny in front of one may not be so easy to deny because of others who witnessed this sin.
Still, do not resort to making this thing known to others or to the assembly of other Christians.
Mistakes are made in our lives and can be forgiven, but a ruined reputation may not ever be overcome.
We must keep in mind the purpose of these things is gain a brother and not to lose a brother.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

If this does not work restore this brother, then it is time to go before the assembly, all those who assemble in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must remember all God’s Children are already “justified” so this assembly is not set in place to judge this person.
Only the question of Christlike behavior is to be considered, knowing we all fail from time to time.
We simply cannot live in denial of the truth of God!
The sin that occurred is now to be made public to the Church and it is the assembly that is to seek to restore this brother or sister.
Again, keeping in mind the Lord Jesus is teaching us how to build on to the Church and not to tear down the Church.
We cannot rate the growth of any assembly by numbers.
The rate of the growth of any Church should be how well we adapt to the truth of the Scriptures and to be more like Christ Jesus!
We must understand that the Church did not exist at this time, so the Lord Jesus is teaching these things for future use.
There will still be those who will not listen to the assembly of God’s people and then, it is time to ask them to leave that assembly.
Remember these are Holy Ghost filled people who are trying to obey the complete Word of God and we cannot allow any one person to deny the truth of God because, one bad apple can certainly ruin the whole bunch.
This person has forfeited the right to assemble with God’s people, but it does mean we should not continue to seek to restore this person as the opportunity arises.

*Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We should clearly understand that the Body of Christ has every right to discipline in their assemblies, but the one caution needs to be observed is that only the Word of God should be used.
Those who break man’s laws will be disciplined by those laws without Church interference, except for the times when man’s laws conflict the Word of God.
The Word of God is always right, rightly divided!
We should understand that personal matters are not up for discussion in the Church unless that person causes it to happen and not many will.
This is not a testimony unless that person causes it to be a part of their testimony.
We should clearly understand that no one but God can forgive sin!
We should clearly understand that no one but God can doom anyone to Hell!
We should understand that no one but God can make us free!
When that person refuses to reconcile their sin with the Church, then he is lost to that group of believers!
This means, the Church has failed to reach him or her and they are bound to earth, their business between them and a Holy God.
If this person ever comes to their senses and reconciles with the Church, they can be received as a redeemed brother or sister.
Those who attempt to divide the Church must be dealt with!

Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Divisiveness causes the Church to look corrupt and weak, it must be put down immediately!
Divisiveness threatens all the ministries of the Church that first one being making disciples to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Notice that it is the Lord Jesus, upon which the Church is founded, that gives these instructions or better said, commandments!
The Church must always stand on the Word of God!

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

What is a true Church? Those who are gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

No other group who gathers in assembly are part of God’s Church!

*Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!
***Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!
You see the Church must be united in this prayer and all divisiveness put down.
We are ambassadors for Christ, and we need to act like we are!
When a local assembly comes together in agreement with the Word of God, in prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, then and only then will that body of believers know how to handle that one who has divided himself or herself from the Church.
We must seek God’s will and God’s approval before we close the doors to anyone!
We must be unified in the name of Jesus Christ!
Notice this is not seeking the arm of God, it is seeking the face of God that many of us have forgotten to do.

1Ch 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

The greatest truth here is, that how can we ever attempt to correct a brother or sister if we do not have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ ourselves?

Then Peter asked another question.

*Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Again this is a fair question when we think like humans. There must be some limit to our forgiveness.
But with the mind of Christ, then there can be no limit to our forgiveness.
Think back to just how sinful we have been and continue to be, yet the Lord continues to forgive us our sin.
In fact, it should be harder for the Lord to forgive our sin since we have made a promise to follow Him in His ways.
I cannot help but to remember the Apostle Paul.

Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:for
to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

A good study of Romans Chapter 7 will help us all in this matter of living in this body of flesh!
I know we find it difficult, but in all things, we are to have the mind of Jesus Christ this means, we need to think as He says and as He does.
He has given us multiple examples when He was upon this earth.
He has shown us time after time how He reacts to sin, to abuse, to government, and to the Church and we know He will never change.
There is no way to improve on the “Goodness of God”!
There is no way to improve on the “Mercy of God”!
Because there is no way to improve on the “Love of God”!
God can save anybody anywhere at any time!

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There is always another side to what God says and far too many travel this path to destruction!

Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Amen