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