SupernaturalWarfare

David: The Lord is my shepherd, He may turn out to be your shepherd, too!
Simplicio: I didn’t ask for a shepherd.
David: Most sheep don’t.

Christians are often called “sheep” (Matt 25:32-34) and Jesus Christ is often called the “Good Shepherd.” (John 10:11) Why?

First of all, what is a sheep and what is a shepherd? Sheep are the little animals that go “baa” and give us wool. They stick together in herds, eat grass, and are… well… for the most part, rather stupid. Shepherds are people who guide the sheep to good grass and water, protect them, and care for them. It is the shepherd who keeps the sheep safe.

“But why are Christians sheep?” The better question to ask would be, “Why is Jesus the ‘Good Shepherd?’”

Jesus is our protector. He guards us and watches over us (John 10:1-18). He leads us to the ‘green pastures and still waters’ (Psalm 23) - a.k.a. ‘the good stuff in life.’ He is the one who guides us and lifts us from the valleys. He is the reason we’re alive.

Sheep on the other hand, tend to ‘follow the herd,’ even into danger. They can’t see the big picture and fight against each other. Usually the stronger sheep make it to the center of the herd - the safe spot. Sheep are prey with a ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality.

Most sheep just turn to the nearest one [sheep]!
-Allison

Both sheep and people will often turn to each other and go off in the wrong direction. However, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will guide us in the right direction. He is the one we should follow (John 1:1, Psalm 119:105). God is the true ‘Good Shepherd’ and He will guide you and protect you - if you want Him to. God will be your shield (Psalm 3:3) - He will protect you.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:31

//Bring it World
-Brian Purkiss

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Imagine for a moment you are home alone. Suddenly, you hear glass breaking and a man enter into your house. Instantly, you know that man is in the house for you - not for money, electronics, or jewelry, but for you. You know that if you don’t do something, that man will kill you. “What do you turn to?” Do you grab a phone? Or do you grab a weapon? Or do you run to the door? “What do you turn to?”

“When the pressure is on, who do you turn to?”
-Jim Belt

When the storms come your way, who do you turn to? Do you turn to a friend? Do you turn to a parent? Do you turn to a pastor? Do you turn to a web site? Do you turn to God? Who do you turn to? It’s a valid question - for storms will come. And when they come, you need to be ready for them.

When a hurricane is on a crash course for Miami, everyone prepares for it. They watch the weather, and they get ready. They board up their homes, secure all loose items, gather emergency supplies, and often, leave town. They’re ready for the storm. They have prepared for it, they know what to do, and they have back-up plans. However, sometimes storms hit un-expectedly. Even then, they know storms could come, and they were still prepared for it. They had emergency supplies, and they had plans. They were ready.

But are you ready? Are you ready for the storms? Do you have emergency supplies? Do you have plans? What will you do when the storms come?

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
-2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV

God is always there for you - you just have to call upon His name and He will save you.

When the storms come, who do you turn to?

//Bring it World
-Brian Purkiss

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Every year, it’s the same ‘ol thing - New Year’s Resolutions. “I resolve to not do this…” or “I resolve to do this…” But why do we wait until January first to change our lives? What’s so special about January first? Why do we wait?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus died on the cross as the Perfect Sacrifice so we did not have to live in our old selves. He died so we did not have to take the punishment for our sins. He died so we don’t have to. He willingly gave His life so we did not have to spend an eternity in Hell. His gift to us enables us to have a brand new life in Him!

“It’s a brand new day!”
-Brand New Day by Deeper Still

So why do we wait for New Years when we have a whole a new day? You can become a totally new person - if you want to. No one else can transform you. You have to want to change. If you truly want to become new, then there’s nothing that can stop you. Call upon the name of Jesus and He will give you the strength to change.

…but with God all things are possible.”
-Matthew 19:26b

Why wait for New Years when all you need is new day?

//Bring it World
-Brian Purkiss

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Night at the Museum

In Night at the Museum, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) needs a job - bad. He’s so desperate that he applies for the night guard job at the local Natural History museum. Little does he know that after the sun goes down, all the exhibits come to life! Skipping forward to the climax… (So not to ruin the movie) The living wax figure of Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams) refuses to help, giving Larry his chance to shine. Before walking off, Roosevelt charges Larry with a question:

Larry, I’m made of wax. What are you made of?
-‘Theodore Roosevelt’ - Night at the Museum

It’s a good question to think about. What are you made of? When the first challenge comes your way, will you give up and try and find something easier? Or, will you push on a little, and then give up? Or will you push on until the challenge is overcome?

And there were peaks that we would climb
But in the valley’s where we shined
-Disciple - Purpose to Melody

Hard times will come our way - that’s a fact. During the hard times is your time to shine. What will you do when they come?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
-James 1:2-4

Hard times are not only your chance to shine, but also to grow. Without difficulties, we would have no strength. For a football player to grow stronger, he must work out. During the work out his muscles hurt, but in the end, he’s a stronger man and a better football player. We’re the same way in life. We can’t be strong without the difficulties. Take the hard times, show the world what you are made of, and grow.

What are you made of?

//Bring it World
-Brian Purkiss

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“Everything goes silent when you jump off a 100 ft cliff.”
-Dave Downing

Snowboarding off a one hundred foot cliff is an amazing accomplishment - it’s not something your average Joe can do. It takes years of snowboarding and lots of steps to be able to survive such a feat. And even then, that jump could end in death. Just how do you survive such a feat? Ask a pro snowboarder. Most likely, the first thing he will tell you is practice. The second thing he’ll probably be able to tell you is courage.

Courage
1: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear
2: bravery
3: boldness

Throwing yourself into the open air one hundred feet up is quite a bold move - but so is living as a Christian. Christian’s are often shunned, laughed at, and looked down upon. Christ’s commands are so incredibly different than our culture’s understood rules that non-believers cannot comprehend some of the things we do. According to most of the world, living like Christ is not the “cool” thing to do.
However:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-
His good, pleasing and perfect will.
-Romans 12:2 NIV

As Christians, we have to follow Christ and live as He does, not as the world does (2 Corinthians 10:3). That is quite a bold move. Trusting wholly in the Lord in every aspect of your life is easier said than done. But if we take the stand (1 Corinthians 16:13) and trust in the Lord with all our hearts (Proverbs 3:5) He will sustain us (Psalm 55:22 & Proverbs 10:30). Trusting in God and “walking the Christian walk” is quite a bold move - it is probably the boldest, and hardest, step you could ever take - but it’s certainly the greatest.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.
-1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

//Bring it World
-Brian Purkiss

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