Encouragement

Feed My Sheep--Understanding the Message

by Janice S Ramkissoon 
09/15/14
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As we look at the Scripture before us the four points I would like to highlight are:

1. Feed My lambs—verse 15;


2. Feed My sheep—verse 16;


3. Feed My sheep—verse 17; and


4. Follow Me—Verse 19.

“The church is required to feed the flock, according to John 21:15-22:

When they had finished eating,

Jesus said to Simon Peter,

‘Simon son of John, do you truly

love me more than these?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘You know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’

Again Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of

 John, do you truly love me?’

He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’

The third time he said to him, ‘Simon,

son of John, do you love me?’

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him

the third time, ‘Do you love me?’

He said, ‘Lord, you know all things;

you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep . . .’

Then He said to him, ‘Follow me! . . . You must follow me.’

The new-born believers and our youth are the lambs referred to in verse 15 of that Scripture. Where our children are concerned, most church groups may do this very well while they are in Sunday school but it needs to continue when they reach teen years and beyond. They need constant injection of life into their system so that they can have a healthy spiritual development. They need to be prepared for the future. Without them getting that constant teaching and opportunity to mature in Christ, they will be ill-prepared to take on such responsibilities when our generation moves on. They will grow older in age, still struggling with the foundational values of Christianity. Those who remain will then move into leadership in the church, unprepared for the journey ahead. Their inability to lead effectively will then cause more problems in the various ministries within the church which inevitably will cause a trickle-down effect.

People will experience spiritual abuse (soul wounds) and suffer in silence or walk away from ministries, the church they attend and (in some cases) lose their faith. For lack of knowledge, leaders sometimes contribute to their flock’s spiritual decline. That is why constant training and re-training is necessary. While we are on this side of heaven we are being perfected; that is why it is important to digest the latter part of that Scripture, in following Christ’s lead. Jesus gave the instruction for Peter to feed His lambs and His sheep but he did not stop there, He continued by telling Peter to follow Him. We must follow His instructions in order to lead well.

The effective leadership of our youth today, means that we can hand over the baton in confidence when we have finished the race. We need to provide a forum for them, where the sermons can be broken down into bite-sized portions so that they can digest it properly. They need it in terms relevant to them and in ways they can understand it well enough to share with their peers. They need leaders they can look up to—leaders of integrity and courage. For that reason those leaders need training, resources, prayers and encouragement. They need support to play that role confidently, knowing that they are equipped and have the ability and the authority to do so. Following Jesus’ lead as you lead them will find them learning to do likewise as they lead others.

The church is the backbone of the community. We have to set the standards for others to follow. We are all connected, and so one sector cannot wash its hands of the other. The same children in our fellowship are the same ones in our schools. They also go to our community projects, with their friends. When they are not in our presence, they are constantly being exposed to all forms of negative influences. If they do not have a strong foundation, they can become easy targets for the enemy. It is that easy being influenced by or becoming gang members or leaders; dealing with drugs; carrying the knives and the guns. Whether they get involved of their own free will or under duress that is the reality they face.

We, as the church, need to play an active role in their development (one that is proactive rather than reactive). They need guidance; they need to see us as role models instead of choosing to be like the folks who are being glamorised, idolised and promoted (for ungodly behaviours) as role-models on our T.V. screens and on the cover of the magazines they are exposed to in the shops.”

Excerpt from Embracing Forgiveness (pages 214-216) 2014.

Continues in part three: Feed My Sheep--The Authority Given