To every clime, where lost by sin, The grace of Christ a soul may win, From here Thy messengers go forth From east to west, from south to north.
Perchance, in heaven one day to me Some blessed soul may come and say, All hail, beloved! But for thee My soul to death had been a prey.
Ah, then what sweetness in the thought One soul to glory to have brought!
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Good Shepherd. "Feed the flock of G.o.d which is among you, taking the oversight thereof." 1 Peter 5:2.
The Shepherd And His Work
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Feeding The Five Thousand. "Give ye them to eat." Matt. 14:16.
1. Who did Christ say is the good shepherd?
"I am the good shepherd." John 10:11.
2. What is Christ elsewhere called?
"The Shepherd and _Bishop of your souls_." "The _chief Shepherd_." 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4.
3. What does the expression "the _chief_ Shepherd" imply?
That there are _under_-shepherds.
4. How does the good shepherd manifest his love and care for the sheep?
"The good shepherd _giveth his life for the sheep_." John 10:11.
5. What does the hireling, or false shepherd, do, and why?
"The hireling _fleeth, because he is an hireling_, and _careth not for the sheep_." Verse 13.
6. What example will the true shepherd set before his flock?
"In all things showing thyself _a pattern of good works_." t.i.tus 2:7.
7. What is the special work of the gospel shepherd?
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, _to feed the church of G.o.d_, which He hath purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28. "_Feed the flock of G.o.d_ which is among you, _taking the oversight thereof_." 1 Peter 5:2. See also John 21:15-17.
8. With what kind of food will the true shepherd feed the flock?
"I charge thee therefore before G.o.d, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: _Preach the word_." 2 Tim. 4:1, 2. "O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore _thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me_." Eze. 33:7. See Eze. 3:17-21.
9. Was there to come a time when people would not listen to plain Bible truth?
"_For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine_; but after their own l.u.s.ts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the _truth_, and shall be _turned unto fables_." 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.
10. Instead of the straight testimony, what kind of preaching will such demand?
"Prophesy not unto us right things, _speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits_." Isa. 30:10.
11. What test is given by which we may distinguish between true and false shepherds?
"_To the law and to the testimony_: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. "For the priest"s lips should keep knowledge, and _they should seek the law at his mouth_." Mal. 2:7.
12. What will those servants be doing upon whom Christ p.r.o.nounces a blessing when He comes?
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, _to give them meat in due season_? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods." Matt.
24:45-47.
13. What excuses are made by some for not expounding the prophecies?
"And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to _one that is learned_, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and _he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed_: and the book is delivered to him that is _not learned_, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, _I am not learned_." Isa. 29:11, 12.
NOTE.-The prophecies of Daniel were to be unsealed at "the time of the end." See Dan. 12:4, 9, 10; Rev. 10:1, 2. In Jer. 25:34-37 is found a warning message addressed to unfaithful shepherds.
14. After receiving his commission to preach, how did the apostle Paul feel?
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, _woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel_!" 1 Cor. 9:16.
15. How faithfully will the true shepherd watch the flock?
"They watch for your souls, _as they that must give account_." Heb. 13:17.
NOTE.-Mark Guy Pea.r.s.e once said to Mr. Spurgeon: "When I was a young fellow in London, I used to sit right over there and hear you preach, and you will never know how much good you did me. You used to wind me up like an eight-day clock. I was bound to go right for a week after hearing you."
16. If G.o.d"s watchmen fail to warn the wicked, what terrible responsibility will be charged to their account?
"If thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but _his blood will I require at thine hand_."
Eze. 33:8. See Isa. 3:10, 11.
Watchman, blow the gospel trumpet, Every soul a warning give; Whosoever hears the message May repent and turn and live.