Page 3 - Good News April 2006 paper

IN THIS NEW SEASON

BECOME A FRUIT-BEARER

Pastor Bill Marks, Christian Fellowship, Potchefstroom, Tel: (018) 293 1608 or 082 260 5965
“I will bless them and the places surrounding needs without expecting anything in return.
My hill.” (Ezekiel 34:26a). Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies and do
Let me explain to you in context why the Lord good and lend to them without expecting to
said this to Israel. If we read verse 2, the Lord get anything back. When we are kind and
says to Ezekiel, “Should not the shepherds caring towards one another, it blesses the
take care of the flock,” and in verse 5 the Lord one we are helping and it also blesses us. The
says, “So they were scattered because there Lord is saying to you, ‘Feed My lambs, take
were no shepherds.” care of My sheep and feed My sheep. Feed
Those responsible for providing leadership them with the Word of God and love (agape)
as in Ezekiel 22:25-28, the Princes, the them, for as from this very moment I am
Priests, the Prophets and the Officials, anointing you as a shepherd to care for my
oppressed the poor, committed robbery and sheep.’”
denied justice. We know that the work of the I put my arms around this man and felt his
thief (i.e. devil), is to scatter the shepherds. body shaking and his warm teardrops falling
By doing so he divides and conquers. on my shoulder. I just stood hugging him until
The word in Greek for ‘blessing’ is EULOGEO, I sensed the peace of God.
meaning: ‘to cause to prosper, to make Later I learned that this man (who had come
happy’. God promises Israel that He will be from another country) was separated from his
their True Shepherd. wife and he was facing a divorce. God’s
Verses 15,16: “I myself will FEED MY SHEEP outstretched Hand of love and concern
and have them LIE down,” declares the demonstrated once again His infinite grace
Sovereign Lord. “I will SEARCH FOR THE for all of us!
LOST and BRING BACK THE STRAYS, I will Isaiah 65:8 - “Thus saith the Lord, ‘As the new
BIND UP THE INJURED and STRENGTHEN wine is found in the cluster and one saith,
THE WEAK, and I will SHEPHERD THE FLOCK ‘Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it’: so will I
WITH JUSTICE” (i.e. Divine vengeance). do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not
Romans 12:19 - “Just like a Shepherd, the destroy them all.’”
Lord fed His people in the desert when they The vine-dresser looks at the vine with his
left Egypt.” natural sight; he sees only a twig, but with the
Exodus 16:4 - “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I eye of faith he sees the cluster that will be
will rain down bread from heaven for you.’” produced. So let the vine grow. Destroy it not,
On Sunday night, 5 March 2006, I sat listening for the Lord would say to you, “You are as that
to the worship in the church when the Holy twig in My eyes. I see you not as others see
Spirit spoke to me and said, “Do you love you, not even as you see yourself. When I look
me?” I said, “Lord, You asked Peter the same at you, I see the potential within you. I see new
question.” So the Lord said to me, “Do you wine in your cluster. I will not destroy the twig,
see that man over there?” and I said, “Yes, for there is… A BLESSING IN IT!”
Lord.” Then the Lord said, “Go and ask him: John 10:12,14 “Then the wolf attacks the flock
‘Do you love Me?’” and scatters it, but I am the Good Shepherd, I
After the service I introduced myself to that know My sheep.” The Shepherd’s desire is to
man and said to him, “I just want to be restore the scattered sheep of Israel and the
obedient to the Lord, for He said I am to ask scattered sheep of the Gentiles so that they
you, ‘Do you love Me?’” He stood there will be one flock.
motionless, not saying a word. I was then God promises to bless you with healing in
prompted by the Holy Spirit to say to him, “I this new season, but it is for you to
do not know what you are going through at demonstrate His grace by forgiving any
present, but whatever it is, it will work such a person who was in a leadership position that
compassion in your life. The Word says in hurt or disappointed you.
John 21:15 when He was restoring Peter: THIS IS MY WILL FOR YOU: THAT YOU
‘Feed my lambs’. Compassion is: giving BEAR MUCH FRUIT!
whatever is necessary to meet another’s SPONSORED BY TG TRADERSSPONSORED BY TG TRADERS