By Frederick Verner
Good morning, beloved,
I have been jolted out of my nice little pasture. I should have known better. I should never listen to Janet Parshall. Then, I wouldn’t know what is going on in the world and then I could be like an ostrich and stick my head close to the ground and hide. (I’ve heard lately they don’t actually stick their heads in the ground…bugger.) You see, it’s safer to be in a cocoon and pretend that America is safe and nice. Yet, I had time in the car yesterday and turned on the radio. I could not turn it off. I was revolted. Have I your attention? 🙂 First though, I want to work through who are Jesus’ sheep. It’ll make sense. I promise.
27The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.
28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.29My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.
31Again the Jews brought up stones to stone Him.
Sometimes, I have to be honest, I’m not thrilled that I’m compared with a sheep in Scripture. Yet, you must throw yourself into the context of Scripture! Always! And in the context of Scripture, sheep were their life. They lived with, near, around..you get the picture. For Jesus, this is a term of sweet, loving endearment.
The Bible describes close relationships between shepherds and their flocks. The sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd. They follow him (or her). The shepherd protects his flock and would give his life for them.It is known that animals can instantly recognize the voice of a familiar trusted person. Sheep have excellent memories for faces. They remember their handler. Sheep 101
All I can do is smile. And yet it is very convicting. Isn’t it? We need to be listening…
a) to perceive by the ear what is announced in one’s presence
b) to get by hearing learn
c) a thing comes to one’s ears, to find out, learn
d) to give ear to a teaching or a teacher
e) to comprehend, to understand
So we can’t just listen. We’ve got to follow and understand where He is telling us to go! Right?
to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him
2) to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple
a) side with his party
Where did Jesus go, Cara? Jesus went to the Cross. Ahem. To suffering. Ahem. He went towards suffering on behalf of all of us. That is the example set be for us. For us to follow that mean we join Him, as a disciple!
Yet, Jesus then says, I know them. I know them.
1) to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel
a) to become known
2) to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
a) to understand
b) to know
3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
4) to become acquainted with, to know
Friends, He knows us intimately. He knows every part of us. He loves us. He treasures us.
Can we sing that song? Belt it out??? Here I am!!!! Knees to the earth. Be blessed. Be loved. Be treasured here.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
Jesus says this twice in this verse and the next. I’m sure you’ve caught that when the Word says this it’s kinda important. Jesus wants to emphasize this to His beloved.
snatch: harpazō 1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
3) to snatch out or awayHand: cheir
1) by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one
2) fig. applied to God symbolising his might, activity, power
a) in creating the universe
b) in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one)
c) in punishing
d) in determining and controlling the destinies of men
So who is really in charge here? What is Jesus really saying? 😉 My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand. Not only that, but just so you know, beloved, I and the Father are One.
Daniel 4: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. And He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His hand or say to Him, What are You doing?
I think we need to declare the power of God when considering the events I’m about present to you. I have brought before you current brothers and sisters who are being persecuted because of the blood of Christ. Rather than try and give you the story in my words, I’m going to give you good article on the current status of the ongoing persecution of this man in Kentucky. Kentucky, you say? Yes. Kentucky! Not, Iran. Kentucky. This man and his company has chosen to take a stand against a powerful enemy, Satan. Bottom line, friends? We need to be in prayer. We need to support this man. Write the mayor of Lexington..Anyone need any t-shirts? Please be in pray for this man. Please be considering how you could be supporting this man and his company as he boldly took a stand for Christ.
Hands On Originals Lays Out Its Defense Case
Here’s the company webpage: http://www.handsonoriginals.co/
Here are a list of contacts to get you on your way:
- Jay Blanton, UK Dir. for Public Rel./Marketing; jay.blanton@uky.edu
- Jim Gray, Mayor Lexington, KY; mayor@lexingtonky.gov
- Andy Cunningham, Reporter for WKYT; andy.cunningham@wkyt.com
- Tom Shelton, FCPS Superintendent; tom.shelton@fayette.kyschools.us
- Scott Sloan, Herald-Leader reporter on GLSO/HOO articles; ssloan@herald-leader.com
- Sally Scherer, Herald-Leader Life + Faith section editor; sscherer1@herald-leader.com
- WLEX18 news, local news station with ties to HOO and Wildcat Wearhouse; news@lex18.com or news_management@lex18.com
- Melissa Bacon, Fayette County Board of Education, vice chair; melissa.bacon@fayette.kyschools.us
- Doug Barnett, Fayette County Board of Education; doug.barnett@fayette.kyschools.us
- John Price, Fayette County Board of Education, chairman; john.price@fayette.kyschools.us
- Amanda Ferguson, Fayette County Board of Education; amanda.ferguson@fayette.kyschools.us
- Daryl Love, Fayette County Board of Education; daryl.love@fayette.kyschools.us
- Linda Gorton, Lexington City Council Member, Vice Mayor; lgorton@lexingtonky.gov
- Chuck Ellinger, Lexington City Council Member, at-large; cellinge@lexingtonky.gov
- Steve Kay, Lexington City Council Member, at-large; skay@lexingtonky.gov
- Chris Ford, Lexington City Council Member, 1st District; cford@lexingtonky.gov
- Tom Blues, Lexington City Council Member, 2nd District; tblues@lexingtonky.gov
- Diane Lawless, Lexington City Council Member, 3rd District; dlawless@lexingtonky.gov
- Julian Beard, Lexington City Council Member, 4th District; jbeard@lexingtonky.gov
- Bill Farmer, Lexington City Council Member, 5th District; bfarmer@lexingtonky.gov
- Kevin Stinnett, Lexington City Council Member, 6th District; kstinnett@lexingtonky.gov
- KC Crosbie, Lexington City Council Member, 7th District; kcrosbie@lexingtonky.gov
- George Myers, Lexington City Council Member, 8th District; george.myers@lexingtonky.gov
- Jay McChord, Lexington City Council Member, 9th District; jmcchord@lexingtonky.gov
- Doug Martin, Lexington City Council Member, 10th District; dougmartin@lexingtonky.gov
- Peggy Henson, Lexington City Council Member, 11th District; phenson@lexingtonky.gov
- Ed Lane, Lexington City Council Member, 12th District; edlane@lexingtonky.gov
- William Reed, CEO, Kentucky Blood Center; info@kybloodcenter.org
Pray on. Pray on..
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