Shepherds
December 08, 2019 Series
Born_To_Reign
Isaiah 9:6& 7 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
Luke 2:8-20 (NIV) 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Why Shepherds?
1. Shepherds tend to lambs.
"The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)
2. Prophetic Declaration: He is the Shepherd!
John 10:11 (NIV) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A. Shepherds care.
B. Shepherds lead.
"The greatest demonstration of caring is leading."
"Shepherding is not just looking after but leading forward."
"Let's Go!….. To Bethlehem"
City of David- David was also born there.
The House of Bread
"They spread the word concerning ..."
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
We are shepherds of the gospel we have encountered!
Ambassadors:
We Represent- re-present
1. We live a certain way.
1 Peter 2:11-12 (TPT) My divinely loved friends, since you are resident aliens and foreigners in this world, I appeal to you to divorce yourselves from the evil desires that wage war within you. 12 Live honorable lives as you mix with unbelievers, even though they accuse you of being evildoers. For they will see your beautiful works and have a reason to glorify God in the day he visits us.
2. We carry a certain message.
Romans 10:13-14 (NLT) 13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
How do we shepherd the Encounters we have?
- We have one.
- We live it out.
- We spread the word.
