Shepherd King

Challenge this morning and encourage you not to build alliance with people who don't fall follow God. Don't do that. It never works out. If you're in a difficult problem if you're going to a different time turn to somebody who believes in Jesus Christ turn to someone who follows this book don't go looking through Wikipedia and Google trying to finance of your problem you just heard a portion of the upcoming message titled our Shepherd King by Pastor Abbott on shot Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview.

Our focus is on making Christ visible from the we worship to the way we serve to the way we love one another and check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in anything or visit us online@clearviewdc.org will join us for the rest of this week's message when a series called Royal looking at how Jesus is the King who came as promised, as prophesied to save the world to save his people. Jesus Christ is the true King. In fact, he is the Shepherd King.

What does that mean to be a Shepherd King. It means he leads. He protects he guides, he provides for his people.

He is even willing to lay down his life for his sheep this morning. If you have your Bibles with you, turn to Luke chapter 2 starting in verse eight, working to see a very familiar passage we have read this at Christmas time. I'm sure all of you have heard it seen it.

The Shepherd narrative. But why, why did God send his angels to the shepherds.

Why were they invited to come and see the newborn King in Bethlehem. This morning we to learn why the shepherds she had a Bible's Luke chapter 2 start the start of the stand together for the reading of God's word. Now there were in the same country shepherds living lying living out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid can blame them there afraid. Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. What is the good news for there is born to you pay attention to these worse, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger, something like a feeding trough and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men before. I pray in we get into this message why the shepherds question for all of us is have you heard the good news. I know it's a cliché. Have you heard the good news. Have you heard the gospel but surely.

Have you heard the good news. You see, the good news is good because there is a bad news. The bad news is God's wrath is upon you. Every one of us is born a sinner. Everyone of us sins. And we deserve God's judgment, but the good news. The good news is that the perfect son of God came and took your punishment upon himself so you don't have to but you see the good news cannot be good news for you until you accept it you have to pray and you have to ask him to save you and to be your King.

Have you done that. Now this is our final message in this series called Royal many of y'all have shared with me how much you have enjoyed this series of messages and how much you have learned that I have two people think already know all this information not really what I'm preparing a message or a series I'm spending a lot of time understanding it for myself first and then hombre to preach you see repeatedly the Bible refers to Jesus as our King is hard for us to understand and appreciate that because we didn't grow up in a monarchy. But when you study the Bible repeatedly.

The Bible talks about God being our King but even more Jesus the son of God who came and died on the cross for our sins is repeatedly depicted as our King. So if you fail to appreciate the kingship of Jesus you're going to miss out on most of what the Bible has to say. But this morning Jesus is our Shepherd King. To understand this. There are two things we can look at very carefully. Basically two points in this message that's easy. A man two things.

Number one, we need to change the image we have of shepherds.

I'm sure just like me. You heard many many messages through the years of how shepherds were the Lowell class of society. How Shepherd represented the poor common folk. So when God sent his angel to the shepherds. It was to remind us that he cares about the poor, and flow levels that may be true, but I don't believe that that is the real reason why the angel went to the shepherds.

Sometimes you heard messages where shepherds are described as heaving, conniving, crooked people in their wrestlers. They go around stealing sheep just like back in the 1800s.

They know that there were wrestlers out West stealing horses.

But when you study history.

That's not what you find. Yes, there were shepherds who were thieves but not all shepherds were stealing sheep all the time.

So what needs to happen for us to appreciate that Jesus is our Shepherd King. We need a positive image of the Shepherd positive image. Let's look at verse 81 more time. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields now. That's a big job. You could be at home, but you're out there in the fields because your sheep need to eat highly less hard work and is not just in the daytime but is that night. What you have in the night time you have wild animals you have thieves and bandits and robbers also is dangerous and yet what is essay now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields. What were they doing the sleeping they were keeping watch over their flock by night, which means they were responsible shepherds. They were faithful shepherds.

I want to keep that in mind as we go further into the message using we have to change our image, in our understanding of shepherds. Did you know that in ancient times the Shepherd imagery was commonly used to designate God's and kings. Did you know that God's were called shepherds, but even ancient cultures did you know that kings were usually depicted as shepherds on to give you some quick examples.

Samarian God's like the God and Lil were known as faithful shepherds the god Marduk was known as a shepherd to his people go back to 2000 BC about the same time as Abraham in Mesopotamia, the king of Baroque is called a shepherd to his people. What does that mean it means he cares for his people. It means he provides for his people. It means he protects his people. What I'm trying to get you to understand is we have to discard the negative image. We have a shepherds as this low-lying, dirty, worthless people that God said okay I'm going to go to them.

Those and I knows him messages have been preach that way I preach one years ago by was no mention that the sins were being honest in church. I got tell the truth I preach those messages to, but the more I studied, I realize these are messages that we have created then on fit the evidence. How about in the Bible. Did you know in the Bible repeatedly God is described as a shepherd to his people give you several references very quickly. Genesis 4924 when Jacob is blessing Joseph. He says the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, for there is the shepherd. Jacob describes God as a shepherd to his son Joseph in Exodus 1513. I want to read every verse but Moses when he is describing how God led the people out of Egypt, he says, is like a shepherd.

He guided them with his long alarm listen to Isaiah 40 verse 11, Isaiah is prophesying God's future care for his people. He says God will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the of the lambs with his arm and he would carry them in his bosom. You see the tender imagery of a shepherd picking up the lamb and carrying it what what Isaiah is saying is that's how God cares for his people, and then he says this is as powerful to me and gently leading those who are with young means God is not harsh.

God is not impatient if there is a there is a person there who is struggling. God doesn't say but get on with it. Let's get moving, just like a shepherd sees a pregnant shape. He will he will wait and and and let her get up on her own time.

He's patient is he that's how God is to us. Jeremiah 1317 Jeremiah sorrowing for the sins of the people. Listen to what he says. He says my eyes when we bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock has been taken captive God's people have been described as a flock. We are the sheep of his pasture. Being a shepherd you have to be patient. Being a shepherd you have to be protective right sheep over the grazing away and here comes a lion. What is, what did David have to do was his job.

He was a shepherd. He fogged the line. He fought the better you see repeatedly God's leaders in the Bible where shepherds deleting actual sheep and then they lead people and then be read Psalm 23. Yelena read Psalm 23 I did not sound very convincing, while those who would like.

I would encourage you to read with me about that Psalm 23 verse one already, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Which means this. The goal of the shepherd is to get his sheep back into the pen. The goal that God has for you is to bring us safely home. So before we can understand how Jesus is our shepherd king. We have to understand that shepherds were not looked upon as negatively or low-lying scums of the earth. In fact, they were looked upon as gods and kings. My question to you this morning before you go to the second point. How do you see God do you view God as a dictator you know some people view God as a weak old man. I want to challenge you this morning to give a new image to God that if a shepherd God is your shepherd.

He leads you he guides you sometimes are you listening. He may even put that croak around your neck and yank you out. It doesn't feel good when he does that. Amen. Acknowledgment stay here. There's more grass on the other side of the ditch.

God says no. You're about to fall into a pit when you go to the valley of the shadow of death difficult times in your life you may be physical or financial relational singleness. Whatever you're facing in your life. Do you know that he is there with you and what is his goal to bring you safely home in a lesser pauses that he has this confidence that he who has begun a good work and you will what will completed until the day of Jesus Christ.

So there is a positive image and I pray this morning you will choose to see God you will choose to see him as a shepherd, rather than anything else.

But here's number two. The second point, the prophecy of the shepherd king not go back to Luke chapter 2 verse 15 listen what is says so it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven got away from the shepherd into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass. Listen to this, which the Lord has made known to us. My question is why did God choose to send his message to the shepherd why the shepherds both to understand that you have to go back 800 years.

It hundred years before the coming of Jesus Christ was happening. It hundred years before the coming of Christ.

Well, keep in mind after King Solomon the nation of Israel was divided into two halves, the north and the sound just like we did back in the Civil War there was a north and then there was a South, so also God's people of Israel were divided into the northern kingdom that Their name, Israel by the southern kingdom which was predominantly the tribe of Judah took the name Judah.

The North was repeatedly going into sin and God told them it's a matter of time you are going to lose the land.

You will be driven out at a profit by the name of Micah came to the southern kingdom and he told them, listen, you keep looking to your God.

He's gonna save you. You see the southern kingdom of Judah was surrounded by enemies who were waiting to attack them to the South were the Edomites to the west where the Philistines to the north, their own brothers and sisters, Israel, and further to the north was Syria.

They were surrounded by enemies waiting to pounce on them. So one of their kings do.

They said we need help. So they decided to go back to this map right here. They decided to go to to do a Syria for help. They said maybe a Syria can help us conquer Syria and Israel and be our friend. Let's build an alliance with the Assyrians.

Micah said oh no, do not do that cannot challenge you this morning and encourage you not to build alliance with people who don't follow follow God. Don't do that.

It never works out if if you're in a in a difficult problem if you're going to a difficult time turning to somebody who believes in Jesus Christ turn to someone who follows this book don't go looking through Wikipedia and Google trying to find answer to your problem but the people of Judah said all we don't care were going to the Assyrians because God has forsaken us and Micah promised them. He's a look God is coming to save you wait on him.

But if you turn to Assyria not only what a Syria come and destroy Syria and Israel, but is no destroy you as well and just the way he prophesied it happen.

The people did not listen the turn to Assyria. Syria came to notice the map and it it vanquished Syria. By the way, those are two different nations, and then went after Israel took them into Assyrian exile and just when the kings of Judah thought all were safe. Is that all know you're not.

And he started marching towards Jerusalem, but then in the midst of all that Micah gave a prophecy, a promise and I want to see that promise, and Micah chapter 5 in verse two. It's on the screen but you, Bethlehem. If Rado as the Assyrian army is coming in King Ahaz is refusing to turn to God. Micah says King is coming wait on him is like I don't see any help, Micah says, but you, Bethlehem, you go back to this map right here there is Bethlehem a tiny little village listen to Micah 52. But you, Bethlehem, in front of door you are little among the thousands of Judah.

You see how big Judah is and I just give you half the map look how tiny bedroom. Jerusalem was big. Bethlehem was like a spec but there was something about Bethlehem was about Bethlehem can hereby tell me it was the birthplace of David. It was known as the city of David, so Micah 52. But you, Bethlehem door you are little among the thousands of Judah get out of you shall come forth.

What's the word, a ruler music King is coming a descendent of David.

The right King is coming but something else about this king whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. In other words, although he will be born yet he has no beginning. 800 years before the coming of Jesus Christ. The prophet Micah prophesied that someone is coming who will be born, but he has in the beginning when people say things like Bible, is not the word of God. Jesus is not user just like any other real famous prophet. They haven't studied the Bible folks 800 years before the coming of Jesus. It was prophesied is coming the exact town he was going be born what he was gonna be like that he was going to be a king who will be born, and yet he has no beginning, which means what he is God. What else first floor and he shall stand.

This is power violent. You look at the screen knotted me out. I'm good looking valid you look in screen, and he shall stand and feed his flock means he will not just be another king. He will be a shepherd. King and what would he feed them with in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God means he will feed people the truth.

Coming straight from heaven and they shall abide. For now, he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

Verse five at and this one shall be pees while is Jesus called.

He was called the Prince of peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land did the people listen. Of course not. Would you have listen. Would you of course not. I made it you're in the midst of a crisis. Your your you got that phone call that says we need to bring you back in because we saw some abnormal abnormalities on the on the on your chart would you come back in, or you get that phone call your your son or your daughter were in the rack. You know you're going through a difficult time. Now you're in the hospital or you're going through difficult time you lost your job or your marriage is instructed in trouble and someone comes to you and says brothers look to God what you said that point, look to God. I'm looking to God right now I need some answers here. Here's a question very quickly, as we come to the conclusion why did God do that. Why did God not answer their prayers immediately and defeat the Assyrians and raise of the people of Judah, why did he tell them that one day my king is coming who would be from the line of David and he will be a shepherd king, and he will save his people.

Why did God do this I want you here carefully because God did not want to put a Band-Aid on their problem.

He was scheduling surgery for them.

The time had passed and the people were not listening anymore to repent from their sins and turn to God and God said it's time for my son to come in this world it's time for him to come and die for their sins and all those people can do is look to him and live you're getting this, the shepherd has to come folks your problem.

What you're facing right now in your life and I hope I hope the one who needs to hear will here carefully and and here openly and willingly. Your problem your your solution is nothing but Jesus Christ.

What you need in your life is Jesus Christ looking to this person and that person and that idea and that show in that book.

What you need is Jesus Christ. He will change and transform your life, your marriage, your home, everything.

So what happens 800 years later, there were the shepherds faithful shepherds, brave shepherds lying out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and what happens.

The angel comes you know the shepherd. Some people think there were temple shepherds and that could be the case not preach that way before, but there is no evidence for that.

I believe they were symbolically all awake. They were symbolic of the faithful, good shepherds who were waiting for the chief Shepherd to arrive, unlike King Ahaz of Judah, who was an unfaithful shepherd who did not take care of his sheep. The shepherds were actually taking care of that she see the imagery there a beautiful Morrissey, the Bible, the more I realize I don't know the deaths of the knowledge and the wisdom of God and what happened in verse 17. This is beautiful and we close with this one of the shepherds do when they had seen him, the angel they made why love the pill baby Jesus. They went in, saw the baby Jesus.

When they saw him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child and all those who herded Marvel at those things which were told them by the shepherds, then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them these poor shepherds faithfully share the good news. The good Shepherd has this morning. The question to all of us. This is Jesus your shepherd thank you so much joy and Jesus desertion just as a shepherd cares for his flock. Jesus cares for guards and protects us to understand what needs to be cared for by the shepherd king you see Jesus as your good Shepherd save submit yourself, your shepherd. For more information visit us online at VC gorging the service notes check out Pastor Shah's blog often on shock.com