Ninety-nine sheep vs one sheep
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your FATHER in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
This week on August 9th ,marked the anniversary of the birth of Whitney Houston, a woman gifted with a wonderful and great voice, a beautiful woman, an icon in this world. A woman I greatly love and admire. The fact that she is dead and that she died in eerie, weird and strange circumstances still stuns many. I’m still stunned. I do not want to die like that and neither do I wish it on anybody. The truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Her daughter and adopted son also died in similarly strange, eerie and weird circumstances a few years after the star died. An icon wiped out together with her children, a generation gone forever.
That is how she ended and transited into the next world. Let us look at how she started. Believe it or not, she started singing in the church, in the house of GOD, as a sheep in a church somewhere.
The scripture under reference makes it clear that not all sheep that wander off will be recovered. Our SAVIOR is very clear, “..and if he finds it..”... “..and if he finds it..”
I have some questions for my fellow workers in the vineyard of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
i. What makes the sheep wander off?
ii. Where are the shepherds/pastors/ministers?
iii. What interest does the shepherd have in the sheep wandering off? Does the shepherd/pastor/minister hope to get a bigger offering from the sheep wandering in the world?
iv. If so, is this not trading in the house of GOD?
v. Are the shepherds/pastors/ministers aware of the present and eternal consequences of letting sheep wander off without going after them?
vi. Is it too much work to go after wandering sheep? if so what exactly is your work in the Kingdom of GOD?
vii. What exactly is our problem?
Nobody forced you to enter ministry, pastorhood or work in the vineyard of The SAVIOR? Once you are there, kindly care for the sheep, go after the wandering ones and see if it is possible to bring them back. May The LORD send us committed shepherds/workers in the vineyard.
Most Christians have heard of Cece Winans, another great woman gifted with a wonderful and great voice, a beautiful woman, an icon in this world. A woman I greatly admire. Cece Winans is still with us. She started in the church and continues ministering powerfully. She pays tribute to Whitney. Most people pay tribute to Whitney Houston and weep internally. We are still stunned.
Some similarities between the two:
i. JESUS CHRIST is known to both and testified about by both women .
ii. Physical beauty
iii. Amazing voices that influence
iv. Both have two children, one male and one female.
v. Both are famous and celebrated
vi. Both are recording artistes
Some differences between the two:
i. One is dead , one is still living
ii. One the children are both dead, the other both children are living and is already a grandmother
iii. One met Clive Davis, a worker in the secular music industry and another met Andrae Crouch who used to sing about JESUS and HIS Blood.
iv. One married a servant of GOD, the other married an entertainer with a reputation for not living the way scriptures say we should live. As I write, he is still alive, with his children and baby mamas, and of course the fame of having married an icon.
NB : Beloved, children of JESUS CHRIST should stop yoking themselves with unbelievers. You will be the loser. Don’t do it. I beg you. The unbelievers will suck and milk you dry even in death.
v. One is reaping the fruits of service to CHRIST quietly and peacefully, the other her benefits are being enjoyed and used by others, probably not in the way she would have wanted.
Beloved, this situation played out in front of our very eyes and is partly of living memory and currently ongoing.
So, what?
If you are a Pastor, shepherd, minister or a worker in the vineyard of our LORD JESUS CHRIST:
i. Please go after the wandering sheep, it is in your job description
ii. Ensure the gifts given to your ministry by The MOST HIGH are not stolen used, abused and destroyed by the world, you are answerable.
iii. Remember this scripture, use it frequently when dealing with sheep that are prone to wandering “What does it benefit it a man or a woman to gain the whole world and lose his soul”
iv. JESUS CHRIST makes a big difference. Being in HIS Kingdom makes and brings about a big difference and makes a great difference. Preach HIM.
v. Pray for your sheep.
vi. Provide a spiritual covering for your sheep by dedicating and committing them to The LORD.
vii. Guide your sheep using scripture. Ask for directions from The HOLY SPIRIT.
viii. Do not exploit your sheep by sending them into the world so that you gain finances or fame, that is not the purpose of the sheep, they are children of The MOST HIGH.
ix. Guard them fiercely like David the shepherd who became the greatest King next to JESUS, everybody knows him. He went fearlessly after his sheep and ripped them from the mouth of the devourer. The MOST HIGH liked that and greatly promoted this lowly shepherd. You too pastor, fiercely protect your sheep, pray for them, there is nothing impossible with The LORD. HE is able to deliver and HE will help you actually it is HIS battle. HE will fight and has already won.
Lastly but not least, ensure you are called to this. If you are a charlatan or servant of satan masquerading as a servant of JESUS CHRIST, may The LORD JESUS CHRIST expose and disgrace you right now for the sake of HIS precious sheep.
May The MOST HIGH avenge HIS children, the ones who were recovered and the ones that were not, in JESUS NAME. AMEN
Beloved, the scripture informs us, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
