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Ps 23:1
1 THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
AMP
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First of all, if indeed we all do claim that the Lord is our Shepherd, then we are acknowledging that we are sheep. Now let us consider a few scriptures on sheep and shepherd and let us see what it means indeed for the Lord to be our shepherd and for us to be sheep.
Joh 10:25 Jesus said in answer, I have said it and you have no belief: the works which I do in my Father's name, these give witness about me. (BBE)
Joh 10:26 But you have no belief because you are not of my sheep. (BBE)
-----First of all, Your status as a sheep of the Lord is attained when you believe that JESUS CHRIST is GOD. This is seen in the discourse which preceded JOHN 10:25. His accusers told Him to make it plain once and for all, whether He (Jesus) was the CHRIST or not. In reply, the good Lord told them that He had said so and yet they refuse to believe Him. They even wanted to stone Him because "He being a man, made himself God". Jesus made it plain that anyone who does not believe in the Truth of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), is not His sheep.
Joh 10:27 My sheep give ear to my voice, and I have knowledge of them, and they come after me: (BBE)
------Secondly, you can tell whether you are a sheep of the Lord or not if you can hear the voice of the Lord. Remember "My sheep know my voice and they follow me". So we need to examine if indeed we know the voice of God, and whether we follow the voice of God.
Do we even make time to hear from God, or are we too busy pursuing our own voices and being our own shepherds??? Which voices do we follow??? The voices of SOCIETY, FRIENDS OR THE DEVIL???
ARE WE SURE WE ARE SHEEP OF THE LORD??? IS THE LORD YOUR SHEPHERD??? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS IN LIFE BASED ON??? ARE THEY BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF GOD FOR YOU OR YOUR OWN IMPROVISED PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE???
It is extremely vital that we seek the voice of God through fasting, prayer, and study of the word consistently. We can also hear the voice of God through anointed and inspired men of God.
The atmosphere we create for and around ourselves, also increase or decrease our sensitivity to the voice of God. This atmosphere can be created through music. The music you have on in your room or in your earphones, creates an atmosphere where the presence of God can be manifested or the presence of demons is evident. Remember that Light and darkness cannot coexist in the same place. Therefore it is necessary that we as children of God, create the right atmosphere where we can hear from God. Remember that when Saul was possessed with a Devil, David played good spiritual music, which caused the presence of God to settle in their atmosphere, thereby, driving out the Devil in King Saul.
So for this first part of this great topic of being a SHEEP, I would like to conclude by saying that check your status and know when you last heard from God. What is God planning for your life this month??? If you do not know, maybe it is because you are not hearing His voice and if you are not hearing, it could be that you are in the wrong atmosphere (friends, music, movies, etc)....
I pray that as you have read this, you would take time to reflect on these words which came by inspiration, and pray that God will cause you to love His voice, and that you would be a true follower of the Shepherd which is Jesus Christ.
Stay blessed.
