Are you safe?

 Meditation John 10: 11-19

1. Jesus said he is the good shepherd and he gives his life for the sheep. (V11)

2. But the hireling, who is not the shepherd and the sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and flees from the sheep. The wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.  (V12)

3. The hireling flees from the sheep because he is an hireling and does not care for his sheep. (V13)

4. Jesus said he is the good shepherd and he knows his sheep and the sheep knows him. (V14)

5. The father knows Christ and Christ knows the father and he lays down his life for the sheep. (V15)

6. Jesus said there are some other sheep outside that fold which are his. They shall hear his voice and them also he should bring in that there will be one fold and one shepherd. (V16)

7. Jesus said his father loves him because he lay down his own life that he might take it back again. (V17)

8. Jesus said no man takes his life from him, but he lay it down himself. For he has the
power to lay it down and to take it again. This commandment Christ has received from the father. (V18)

9. The Jews got divided because of these sayings. (V19)

 LIFE APPLICATION:

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

But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
John:10:12

In this passage, we see three personalities in the scene. Let us go through their nature one by one.

1. The RAVENOUS beast:

We have a devourer who comes to steal, kill and destroy and that is the devil. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy every blessing that God has for us.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John:10:10

B. We have an adversary, the devil who go about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.


Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter:5:8

C. The lion roars against the multitudes of the voices of the shepherds and is not afraid of them.

For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
Isaiah:31:4

Dear Child of God,
This is how the enemy comes looking out for our souls. Are we safe from his hands? Let go further down and know more.

2. THE HIRELING:

The hireling is a shepherd who does not take responsibility for the sheep, as he was hired to work and the sheep are not his own.

A. They do not feed the flock but they feed themselves:

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
Ezekiel:34:3

B. With cruelty, they rule over the sheep.

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Ezekiel:34:4

C. They scatter the sheep but not gather them, that they become meat to the beasts of the field.

And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
Ezekiel:34:5

Dear children of God!
It is our responsibility to identify the hirelings from the true shepherds.

Hirelings rule over God's flock. They never work on keeping the flock of God together neither take responsibility for their souls. Hirelings save themselves at the cost of the flock.

Let us pray that as the flocks of the most high God, God will give us Christ-like shepherds to guide us and lead us in the ways of God.

3. Christ our good shepherd:

A. As a good shepherd, God searches for us and seeks us.

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Ezekiel:34:11

He will deliver us out of all the places wherever we may be scattered, though it may be dark and cloudy.

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Ezekiel:34:12

B. He will gather us to be his holy people.

And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Ezekiel:34:13

C. He will feed us with good pastures.

I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel:34:14

D. He makes us to lie down and gives us rest.


I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel:34:15

E. He seeks the lost, binds our brokenness and heals our sickness.

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Ezekiel:34:16

F. He carries us in his bosom and gently lead us.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah:40:11

G. He will have compassion over us.

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew:9:36

H. He is the bishop of our souls.

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter:2:25

I. More than anything the good shepherd lays his life to save from the enemy, that by his blood we can live.

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

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Hebrews:13:20

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews:13:21

The wolf scatters the sheep from the flock and isolates them. Today, you may be a victim of the darts of the enemy.

He uses weapons like unforgiveness, shame, guilt, ego, self-centeredness, bitterness, misunderstandings,  to scatter us from the very flock of God. He isolates us and once he succeeds we become a meat to him.

We may be like the sheep gone astray. We may be trusting on to hirelings, be it money, friends, job and so on... for a false sense of comfort.

But today is the day, let us come back to our shepherd who will bind our wounds and make us whole. When he gave his himself to die on the cross he will make sure he will perfect everything that concerns us too.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah:53:6

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans:8:32

To GOD BE THE GLORY.... amen.

Dealing with offense

 Meditation John chapter 6:58-71

1. Jesus taught about eating his flesh in the synagogue. (V59)
2. Many of the disciples said that it is a very hard saying and who could hear it. (V60)
3. Jesus asked them if this teaching can offend them then how will they react when they see him ascending up to heaven. ( V61, 62)
4. Jesus said the spirit quickens us and the flesh profits nothing. The WORD of GOD is spirit and is life. (V63)
5. Jesus knew before time who don't believe in him and the one that will betray him. (V64)
6. That is when Jesus told them that no one can come to him unless given to him by his father. ( V65)
7. Many of disciples got offended and they walked no more with him. (V66)
8. Jesus then asked the twelve disciples if they will also go away, for which Peter said, where they can go as CHRIST has words of eternal life. (V67,68)
9. He also said that they believe that he is Christ the son of God. (V69)
10. Jesus then said though being chosen to be among the twelve Christ said there is one that will betray him and he is a devil. (V70)
11. Jesus talked about Judas Iscariot who will be betraying Christ though being one among the twelve. (V71)

LIFE APPLICATION:
Are you offended? Are you hurt deep within? Are your emotions broken because of things happening around you, to you and in you? Then today's meditation is for you. Today let us see how to handle internal hurts God's way.

1. Why do we get offended?

A. People can offend us intentionally or unintended.
Jesus said offences will come. We can in no way avoid being offended. But woe unto the one by whom the offence come.

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!
Matthew:18:7

B. When we are offended in our hearts ...we end up with broken hearts as David says,

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm:69:20

We get hurt because of reproach.
Our heart becomes heavy. We try to find comfort in someone or something, but we do not find any.

C. We can offend ourselves.
Sorrow of heart can make our spirit broken.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs:15:13

D. We can even be offended with God... if we do not have the right perception about him.

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mark:6:3

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
Mark:14:27

E. We can be offended to that extent to leave God when persecutions come and our faith is tested for the word sake.

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark:4:17

F. We get offended because of our own lusts... when we are unable to feed them.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James:4:1

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James:4:2

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James:4:3

2. How do we know we are offended?

Do not deny you are hurt. Initially hurt  portrays as anger and bitterness; but it leaves us with a deep sorrow and brokenness within.

A. We feel our spirit is broken.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs:15:13

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm:51:17

B. We feel sorrow and bitterness in our soul.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1 Samuel:1:10

The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Proverbs:14:10

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Isaiah:38:17

C. Sorrow dries up our bones. We feel we are all dried up and nothing left to be happy in us.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
Job:17:7

3. How do we handle hurts and offenses?
Here are a few ways in the light of the scriptures how to handle emotional hurts.

A. Identify and acknowledge your deeper hurts and transgressions before God.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psalm:51:3

B. Choose to forgive and let go everyone who caused you the hurt... even if you are hurt by yourself or offended with God.

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
Genesis:50:17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John:1:9

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark:11:25

C. Allow God to work and heal your broken heart.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psalm:51:8


Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalm:51:12

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psalm:6:2

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
Psalm:41:4

The WORD of GOD says it is God who healeth your heart.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm:147:3

So run to him for healing and comfort. This is why the comforter has come. To heal us and to fill us with joy.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
John:16:20

Jesus speaks about the comforter, the Holy Spirit that we will not be offended by him.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
John:16:1

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John:16:7

So we have PEACE and comfort in Christ through the spirit of God.

D. Work on having a correct perception about God.
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark:4:17

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mark:6:3

Jesus said blessed is he who is not offended by him.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Matthew:11:6

3. How can we avoid being offended or atleast stay not being offended?

A. Love the word of God:

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Psalm:119:165

B. Be rooted in Christ that nothing can shake us.

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark:4:17

So be rooted and grounded in the love of CHRIST.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians:3:17

C. Ask God to reveal you more of him.

What was revealed to Peter was not revealed to the people who were offended by Christ. (V66)

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
John:6:68

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew:16:17

Dear Child of God,
You may be hurting and broken within. But rise up.... you have a heavenly  father who heals broken hearts and sets captives free. Come to the healing streams.... and be healed. GOD BLESS YOU!