Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:12-13
21:12. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
21:13. three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
The New Jerusalem has twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
So, each gate of the New Jerusalem has one angel.
Revelation 1:20
1:20. "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The angel refers to the shepherd who is the basic need of the congregation from now on up to entering the gate of the New Jerusalem.
But, a shepherd may not feel that he is great or needed by congregation, because it is his duty to be responsible over the sheep from now on until he delivers them to the gate of the New Jerusalem. And he may not become masterful over the congregation because they have been bought by the blood of Jesus, so they belong to God forever.
The shepherd must pay attention to the things as follows:
Who is God's sheep? The Israelites.
Matthew 15:24
15:24. But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Matthew 15:25-26
15:25. Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
15:26. But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
The Gentiles are just like the dog or unclean animal that has no relationship with God or heaven but just to be destroyed.
Matthew 15:27-28
15:27. And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
15:28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
The way out is that the Gentiles receive a chance to become God's sheep by eating the crumbs, namely the revelation of the Word and Christ's sacrifice or holy communion, so we experience the double purification, namely to our physical and spiritual life. We are purified from the characteristics of paganism, namely dog and swine. We are lifted up to become the sheep that are shepherded by God.
So, the Israelites and the Gentiles can become God's sheep, namely one flock or one family of God.
[John 10:11] Jesus, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep, so we become the good sheep that are shepherded well and correctly.
John 10:9
10:9. "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Entering the sheepfold through the narrow door is the crucifixion of the flesh or suffering with Jesus, so we are always in the sheepfold, namely the perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God. As a result, the sheep find the pasture. It refers to the abundant shepherding food.
It is the exercise to enter the gate of the New Jerusalem, the last sheepfold.
Luke 2:8
2:8. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch overtheir flock by night.
One of the activities in the shepherding on the last days is watching.
The three things that must be watched by the shepherd and sheep are as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 21:12-13
21:12. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
21:13. three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
The New Jerusalem has twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
So, each gate of the New Jerusalem has one angel.
Revelation 1:20
1:20. "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The angel refers to the shepherd who is the basic need of the congregation from now on up to entering the gate of the New Jerusalem.
But, a shepherd may not feel that he is great or needed by congregation, because it is his duty to be responsible over the sheep from now on until he delivers them to the gate of the New Jerusalem. And he may not become masterful over the congregation because they have been bought by the blood of Jesus, so they belong to God forever.
The shepherd must pay attention to the things as follows:
- The shepherd may not become idol who is worshiped by the congregation.
Zechariah 10:1-2
10:1. Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
10:2. For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.
A shepherd who rules well must be counted worthy of double honor, namely he who preaches and teaches--the double food. - The shepherd may not become a leader who preaches the vain wordswhose contents are just entertainment--the happiness of the flesh--and prosperity--the physical blessing--but without purification.
- The shepherd may not leave the congregation no matter risk may come, unless God moves him. The fact is the increasing of his ministry. The congregation must be shepherded. Do not walk about to the place of the extension of the hand of death! If one walks about, he will be neglected. It means that there is none who is responsible for his salvation, so he is very miserable.
The shepherd must be sent by God, not himself or his organization. If he is not sent by God, he will not be able to do his duty to feed the congregation, so they suffer. - Do not become a foolish shepherd! A foolish shepherd just looks for his own advantages from the sheep. He does not care for the sheep.
Zechariah11:15-16
11:15. And the LORD said to me, "Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd.
11:16. "For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces. - The shepherd must enter the sheepfold through the narrow door, namely the tearing of the flesh or the suffering.
John 10:1-2
10:1. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
10:2. "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
The shepherd must watch over the door of the sheepfold. It is the same as watching at the gate of the New Jerusalem. - The shepherd must follow the example of Jesus.
John 10:11
10:11. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
He willingly suffers all things even his life to graze the sheep well and correctly.
Who is God's sheep? The Israelites.
Matthew 15:24
15:24. But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Matthew 15:25-26
15:25. Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
15:26. But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
The Gentiles are just like the dog or unclean animal that has no relationship with God or heaven but just to be destroyed.
Matthew 15:27-28
15:27. And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
15:28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
The way out is that the Gentiles receive a chance to become God's sheep by eating the crumbs, namely the revelation of the Word and Christ's sacrifice or holy communion, so we experience the double purification, namely to our physical and spiritual life. We are purified from the characteristics of paganism, namely dog and swine. We are lifted up to become the sheep that are shepherded by God.
So, the Israelites and the Gentiles can become God's sheep, namely one flock or one family of God.
[John 10:11] Jesus, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep, so we become the good sheep that are shepherded well and correctly.
John 10:9
10:9. "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Entering the sheepfold through the narrow door is the crucifixion of the flesh or suffering with Jesus, so we are always in the sheepfold, namely the perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God. As a result, the sheep find the pasture. It refers to the abundant shepherding food.
It is the exercise to enter the gate of the New Jerusalem, the last sheepfold.
Luke 2:8
2:8. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch overtheir flock by night.
One of the activities in the shepherding on the last days is watching.
The three things that must be watched by the shepherd and sheep are as follows:
- The shepherd watches to receive the angel's news or the shepherding Word through the prayer, reading the bible, and fellowship.
Luke 2:10
2:10. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
The shepherding Word becomes food to grow our spirituality up to perfection. The Word becomes the command which rules the things which we can and cannot do, so we please God.
Luke 2:20
2:20. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
The sheep watch, so they can enjoy the shepherding Word. It means hearing the shepherding Word until it becomes the real form in our life. We hear the Word until we understand, trust--it becomes faith in our heart--, and practice it. It is the faith and its works. We see the real form of the Word in our life. The facts are as follows:- We experience the purification of body, soul, and spirit, so we live in holiness.
Ephesians 4:11-12
4:11. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, - The atmosphere of fear and anxiety becomes the one of happiness and peace, so all things become easy and light.
Luke 2:9,20
2:9. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
2:20. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
We cannot be blocked by anything. We do not leave the ministry until the finish line.
- We experience the purification of body, soul, and spirit, so we live in holiness.
- Watching over the enemies in the shepherding, namely the wolf or the beast.
John 10:12
10:12. "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
It means as follows:- The false teachingsthat tempt us, so we are interested and unable to reject it.
Romans 16:17
16:17. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
The false teaching deceives us, so we do not reach the gate of the New Jerusalem.
The false teaching causes divisions and divides us.
We must watch over to avoid the false teaching. Do not have fellowship with the false teaching! - The spirits of evil, uncleanness, and bitterness that trigger sinsup to the peak, namely the sins of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage. It is the sin of Babylon and bitterness.
The shepherd and the sheep must watch, so they do not fall into the sin of Babylon but keep living in righteousness and holiness, so they can keep ministering to God. - The wild lust of the flesh.
James 1:13-15
1:13. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
1:14. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
1:15. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
The lust of the flesh has the power to entice and draw away, so one goes out of the will of God or the Word or the true shepherding.
Acts 20:28-30
20:28. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
20:29. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
20:30. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Consequently, one gets problem and falls into sins up to perdition.
- The false teachingsthat tempt us, so we are interested and unable to reject it.
- Watching,so we keep being in the hand of mercy and goodness of the Great Shepherd.
John 10:27-28
10:27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
10:28. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
The way is hearing and obeying the voice of the Shepherd until the flesh does not speak anymore.
John 10:5
10:5. "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Psalm 23:6
23:6. Surely goodness and mercyshall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
The false teaching wants to draw us away from God's hand to Satan's, so we are destroyed.
That is why we must worship God a lot, so we experience the tearing of the flesh with all of its lusts, emotions, and characteristics. As a result, we can hear and obey the voice of the shepherd until the flesh does not speak anymore. We can stretch out our hand to God. We surrender our weakness and infirmity to God. So, God will stretch out His hand of mercy and goodness.
The results are as follows:- God's hand is able to protect and take care of us physically and spiritually.
John 10:28
10:28. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. - The winning power over the temptation or impossible problem. God finishes all things in His time.
- God gives the guarantee of certainty for eternal life.
- God's hand is able to protect and take care of us physically and spiritually.
God blesses us.