Characteristics of Sheep

As I was preparing a lunch, the Lord softly and gently whispered...“Take good care of My sheep” I was asking the Lord about a certain situation today with certain people. Then He said, “I said SHEEP, I want you to take care of SHEEP” I was like, 'Oh, sheep, right, sheep. Thank you for reminding me.'

I kind of know and have some ideas about the characteristics of sheep. But wanted to research a little bit more about them.

“Sheep depend heavily upon THEIR vision.”- I was like.. 

'This is true God.. You are answering me in such a way.’ Many christians are depending on what they see and moving accordingly and not by faith.

“Sheep have poor depth perception (three dimensional vision) especially if they are moving with their heads up.”- 

This is another characteristics pastor Steve and I always experience with the “sheep”. Many christians have no ability to see things from the different angles. All they see is from one particular angle. This is why many christians conflict with God’s way and His authorities. Specially with pride (heads up!) they become more blind to see what may be going on around them.

“Sheep have difficulty picking out small details”- 

Christians needs to train themselves to exam themselves in detail. This is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians do not see every thoughts, words, and actions which may have caused problems and therefore sinned. 

“ They are reluctant to go where they can't see.”- 

Because the “Sheep” are heavily depend on their sight, they do not want to go unless they can clearly see and know that it will be completely safe. They do not want to risk. Many christians are as same. They often refuse to move forward because of lack of faith or lack of trust. Many christians are too scared. Many Christians do not want to take risk.

“Sheep are frightened by sudden loud noises, such as yelling or barking. In response to loud noises and other unnatural sounds, sheep become nervous and more difficult to handle. the handler should speak in a quiet, calm voice.”-

Many christians have no ability to handle rebukes. Like sheep in natural realm, many christians as spiritual sheep, they are too weak to handle discipline, rebukes and warnings. Although it is for their sake and good, "sheep" do not have ability to see it. 

“Sheep are more likely to move into the wind than with the wind, so they can use their sense of smell.”- 

We need to move towards God instead of continuously waiting for the Holy Spirit (wind) to come to us. In fact, the Holy Spirit is waiting for you to come with contrite heart. When we are in the Wind, we will be able to smell the dangers of enemy. 

James 4:8 (AMP) Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].

“A sheep or lamb that is isolated from the rest of the flock is likely showing early signs of illness” 

We witnessed many times, when church members begin isolating themselves away from other church members, this was because they were offended, resented, being angry or due to other problems. They were getting spiritually sick. This must be resolved as they come to their pastors or spiritual leadership or authorities and be counseled. 

“Healthy sheep are eager to eat. They are almost always hungry. 

Lack of appetite is probably the most common symptom exhibited by a sick sheep.” Spiritually, when christians begin not spending time with God, stop praying or reading, this also means that they are spiritually getting sick. They must seek the Doctor, who is our Lord. They must sincerely come to the Lord for restoration. 

Pastor Yoojin

Fire of God Church

Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the sea

Mark 11:23-24 (AMP) I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will]. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you

I am sure many Christians have literally looked at mountains and commanded it to be lifted up and thrown into the sea. But as all of us know, we have yet to see this occur. However, we must look at scripture not always so literally but spiritually. What do mountains represent? 

In the physical, Mountains are usually something that is in our way during our spiritual travel. If the mountain is very large and tall, then for most people, it would be an impossible task. 

But spiritually, a spiritual mountain is something that is hindering our ability to move spiritually forward to our next destination and eventually to our spiritual promise land. Therefore, the bible commands us to use our faith believing we can cast this spiritual mountain that is hindering and affecting our financial blessings, health, and peace. Many Christians assume they have faith and attempt to press forward confessing with their mouths healing and/or blessings. But for many, they become physically and spiritually exhausted. Many Christians are literally stuck in their walk with God. They are but going in circles. The only thing that is moving forward is "time" and that is running out for most.  

The help and hint are in the next verses.

Mark 11:25-26 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others]. 26 [“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]

Christians are praying but for many their prayers are not answered because a spiritual mountain in front of them. Mountain represents blockages in christians lives, "if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others]". It is because these christians have something in their hearts which have never been resolved but still remains. It could be anger, unforgiveness, resentment, jealousy, envy, greed, and much more. IF we have these filthiness in our hearts, we cannot be “in accordance with God’s will”. Unless we “drop the issue and let it go” the “mountain” will not be removed. 

The Lord said to the cripple who was lowered down from the roof, "your sins are forgiven, pick up your matt." When his sins were forgiven, healing came. Perhaps, pride and not fearing God is our mountain. In Proverbs 3, healing for the body is conditional to humility and fearing God (obedience). 

Proverbs 3:7-8 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8  Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

Many Christians think they have forgiven others but it has only been with their minds and not hearts. Therefore, the bible says, unless we forgive, Father God cannot forgive us. If we are not forgiven in certain areas of our heart, we cannot be healed nor restored. Ask the Lord to search your hearts. Ask for a spirit of repentance. There are reasons why your prayers are not answered. There are reasons why your physical and spiritual lives are stuck. God says, "Let it go!" After you let go of the resentment, hurt, abuse, anger, and such, now you can say with His confidence and as you believe, "mountain, be gone!!"

Pastor Steve

Do you think you are really following Jesus?

Many Christians tell God they love HIM so much and they will follow HIM and do whatever they ask. Do they really mean it?

Jesus replied with an indirect answer, "Foxes have holes and birds have a nest but the Son of Man has no place to rest His head."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfBiPh3mn2M

No middle ground

Ephesians 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

When we disobey, live in sin, or follow the desires of our flesh, we are obeying the devil. Although we have a free will, we are called to choose two paths. We can choose to obey God or we can choose to obey the devil. There is no middle ground. Many people and Christians think when they are choosing, they are being led by their own choices. But in reality, when we follow the desires of the carnal nature, we are actually being led by Satan. Sometimes, the desires of the carnal nature can also be viewed as benign or harmless but, in realty, we are actually deceived thinking we are making our own choices. When we lust after the things of the world over God, we are being led by the spirit of the world. Yes, we are in the world and not of it. Therefore, we must choose and be in control of our priorities. Our main time is focused and spent on who we serve. Many Christians deluded themselves by mixing God and the worldly things to justify their time with the world.

However, our choices or free will is granted and surrendered to God or the god of this world. When we are truly surrendered to God, we will begin to walk with the Spirit of the Lord. We will do what God desires for our lives. When we are not fully surrendered to God, then our heart or some areas of our heart will be surrendered to Satan. When we sin or give into temptation, we are surrendering and choosing to obey Satan. If we do not change, then in the end, the wages of choosing to obey the god of this world will be death even for saved Christians who have lived a life of disobedience and rebellion.

Romans 8:5-9 NLV 5 Those who let their sinful old selves tell them what to do live under that power of their sinful old selves. But those who let the Holy Spirit tell them what to do are under His power. 6 If your sinful old self is the boss over your mind, it leads to death. But if the Holy Spirit is the boss over your mind, it leads to life and peace.7 The mind that thinks only of ways to please the sinful old self is fighting against God. It is not able to obey God’s Laws. It never can. 8 Those who do what their sinful old selves want to do cannot please God.9 But you are not doing what your sinful old selves want you to do. You are doing what the Holy Spirit tells you to do, if you have God’s Spirit living in you. No one belongs to Christ if he does not have Christ’s Spirit in him.

Pastor Steve

Fruit of obedience or disobedience

Jeremiah 18:9-12 (NLT) And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, 10 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.11 “Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”12 But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.”

When God spoke of a nation or kingdom in the book of Jeremiah, HE was speaking about His people which is you and I. We are a kingdom or nation and from our loins will come our descendants which are the nation or kingdom. Many good things were spoken over previous kings and of God's people but such promises and blessings are all conditional to our continued obedience. In the above verses, there is a warning. Even if God speaks good things over us but if we turn to do evil refusing to obey God, then HE said HE will NOT bless us but plan disaster or judgment.

We must look at our lives and discern our fruit. Our type of fruit is the manifestation of obedience or disobedience. We cannot just blame the devil, generational curses, our past, people, and etc to stay and live in our disobedience. We all have been given the power and grace to overcome and arise to a new life.

What are the fruit of disobedience? Many Christians think they are all obeying God but their fruit does not correspond with obedience. If we are fully obeying, then we should be bearing obedience types of fruit and if we are disobeying, we will be bearing disobedient types of fruit. We cannot look at the previous word spoken over us and think we will still be blessed if we are on a path of disobedience.

When we disobey, we are NOT being led by the Holy Spirit and thus such fruit will manifest in our lives as spoken in Galatians chapter 5 verses 18 to 21.

Galatians 5:18-21 NLV If you let the Holy Spirit lead you, the Law no longer has power over you. 19 The things your sinful old self wants to do are: sex sins, sinful desires, wild living, 20 worshiping false gods, witchcraft, hating, fighting, being jealous, being angry, arguing, dividing into little groups and thinking the other groups are wrong, false teaching, 21 wanting something someone else has, killing other people, using strong drink, wild parties, and all things like these. I told you before and I am telling you again that those who do these things will have no place in the holy nation of God.

If we are fully obeying God, then the fruit of obedience will manifest in our lives as spoken in Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 to 26.

Galatians 5:22-26 NLV But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, 23 being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires (self control). The Law is not against these things. 24 Those of us who belong to Christ have nailed our sinful old selves on His cross. Our sinful desires are now dead. 25 If the Holy Spirit is living in us, let us be led by Him in all things. 26 Let us not become proud in ways in which we should not. We must not make hard feelings among ourselves as Christians or make anyone jealous.

The demons are like maggots, flies, and all other unwanted nasty insects that thrive in dung and garbage. Dung and garbage represent disorder. The demons thrive in disorder and where there is disorder there is confusion. Where there is confusion, there are curses in our finances, health, mentality, families, etc.
When proper order is established, order is fruit of obedience. Where there is obedience, then order comes to manifest healing, restoration, power, life, etc. The demons cannot thrive in the realm of obedience. There are no flies and maggots in a clean orderly home. They are in the garbage where they thrive.

Which road are you on? The road of obedience or disobedience? Exam your fruit and make a choice to obey to the end. Be led by the Holy Spirit and not by your flesh or your personal desires. Learn spiritual authority and submission. Proper order in our lives will bring the good of the land. For many, they need to just go back to basics. They need to return to their first Love by praying, reading, worshiping, spending time with God, obeying their authorities, and to just stop sinning.

Do not make the same mistake as God's people previously had. They by their actions told God to stop wasting His breath. They told HIM they will continue to live as they desire and not change.

Pastor Steve

We already have been blessed

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”

Ephesians 1:3-4 NLT

We have been blessed with Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. Scripture does not say, we will be but has been blessed. The term and statement is past tense. 

How do we receive what is already given to us within the natural realm. We intersect the physical and spiritual with full obedience and submission to the King. We intersect the natural and spiritual by giving all we have to the point of our limitations. With all our effort, strength, mind and soul we obey the first greatest commandment through His Grace and mercy.

The areas of our lives that are not blessed are signs of disobedience, pride, and deception by the enemy. He chose us to be holy and without fault. We must choose with Him to live a holy life. Perhaps assuming we are living a holy and obedience life, perhaps we need to ask Him what areas in our life we are not.

Do you belong to Christ?

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.”

Galatians 5:24 AMP

Do you belong to Christ? Characteristics of true believers have lost their appetite of worldly things. Sin and worldly desires are godless human nature. True faithful ones do not make excuses of their weaknesses or sin. They do not return to their vomit.

Rend your hearts and tear down those strongholds. Move forward, fast, cry, weep, pray, obey, worship, read, apply, and continue to submit to authority until every hinderance and strongholds are removed and proper fellowship with the King is restored.

True and full obedience to the Word brings order, peace, deliverance, restoration, blessings, and favor. Disobedience brings worries, anxiety, harassment by demons, poverty, judgment, pestilence, war, confusion, and disorder. All such things related to disobedience are symptoms of hell. 

In order for our prayers to be answered, we need to be in proper order to God's Kingdom. This requires repentance, proper belief/teaching, and full obedience/submission.

Pastor Steve