Matthew 9:36 – Choose Jesus – Bible study

Matthew 9:36 Choose Jesus Matt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. The "he" here is Jesus. When Jesus saw the people, Jesus was moved with compassion for them. Did you know that sheep are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. That is more than any other animal. http://www.sheep101.info/sheepbible.html Why does God mention sheep so often? I think it is because their nature is so much like that of people. This morning, let us look at some of the 500 Bible verses to see how sheep describe the human race and its condition. I. \#Matt 9:36\ People, like sheep, need a Shepherd. A. Would you note that sheep wander when they have no shepherd, and the wandering is not good for them. 1. The Bible describes the wandering nature of the sheep. Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. 2. Sadly, wandering sheep do not live very long in the wild. a. Sheepand common sensemay be yeo of the best proofs that evolution is false. b. Evolution proclaims the survival of the fittest. c. Sheep are certainly not fit for survival. d. Sheep have absolutely no means of defense. (1) They lack sharp teeth to bite with. (2) They lack sharp claws to scratch with. (3) They cannot run, swim, or fly. (4) They do not camouflage or in any way blend into their surroundings. (5) To any and every other animal, sheep are dinner in a hairy to-go bag. (6) The truth is, God made sheep to be cared for. (7) Without a care-giver, their days are limited at best. e. If evolution were true, the only place sheep would live would be the artic regions of the world. (1) Did you know sheep do not shed? https://www.asas.org/taking-stock/blog-post/taking-stock/2014/07/14/ there-is-no-such-thing-as-humane-wool-when-it-is-left-on-the-sheep- why-sheep-shearing-is-absolutely-necessary-for-sheep-welfare#:~: text=Unlike%20other%20animals%2C%20most%20sheep,a%20number%20of %20problems%20occur.&text=This%20can%20cause%20sheep%20to,flies %2C%20maggots%20and%20other%20pests (2) The only way their wool can be removed is by being sheered. (3) How long do you think sheep would live in hot climates with all of that wool on them if they did not have a shepherd to sheer them? B. But people, like sheep, also need a Shepherd. 1. I have said many times before that man was not designed to live as a sinner. a. Man was not built to withstand sins temptations. (1) We do not see sins dangers, its traps, or its consequences. (2) To be blunt, we are too simple minded to deal with sin. b. Neither man was built for to carry the consequences of sin. (1) He is miserable experiencing guilt, shame, regret. (2) Look at the soaring statistics of abandonment, addictions, depression, and suicides. 2. Man, like sheep, need a Shepherd! a. Jesus is our Shepherd. b. Without Him, we are lost. c. Choose Jesus! C. We must be careful not to confuse having no shepherd with having no master. 1. It is sad but true. This world and all that is on it belongs to the devil. a. \#Ephesians 2:2\ calls him the prince of the power of the air. b. \#2Corinthians 4:4\ calls him the god of this world. c. \#Luke 4:5\ The devil offered Jesus all of the kingdoms of this world, 2. The lost world does have a master, an owner, one to whom they belong. a. That is the devil, but the devil is no shepherd. b. It takes more than ownership to be a shepherd. c. Jesus gave us a parable to help us to see the unique character of the shepherd. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. d. What does the Shepherd do? In reverse order: (1) \#14\ He knows the sheep. (2) \#13\ He cares for the sheep. (3) \#12\ He lays down His life for the sheep. e. What does the devil do for the sheep? Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (1) He comes to steal (2) to kill.. (3) to destroy. f. All of Ezekiel 34 describes how the devil treats his sheep. Eze 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. g. Again, in reverse order, the devil leaves his sheep: (1) sick (2) broken (3) driven and scatter (4) lost. D. People, like sheep, need a Shepherd. Choose Jesus. II. Some people, like sheep, have a Shepherd, the good Shepherd. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. A. Let there be no question, To belong to the good Shepherd is the right choice. 1. While there are some similarities between sheep and people, there are some things that do NOT fit. a. Sheep have no choice about what flock they belong to but people do. b. Sheep are born to a flock and typically live all of their lives under the same shepherd. c. People can decide to join Jesus flock! d. If you join Jesus flock, you will know what it is to be loved and protected. 2. Choose Jesus! B. However, let me fully disclose here. 1. Even belonging to a good shepherd did not mean the sheep were completely free from danger. 2. Two dangers existed even when the sheep belong to a good shepherd. a. They can be stolen. b. They can wander off. 3. Now the shepherd does his best to protect the sheep from both of these. a. I was listening to a message Adrian Rogers preached years ago about the shepherds ability to protect the sheep with his rod. b. Psalm 23 mentions Gods rod and His staff. (1) Most are familiar with the shepherds staff, with the crook at the top of it to lift up and to guide the sheep. (2) But on the other end of the staff was a rod. (3) Dr. Rogers said that some shepherds made their rod separate from the staff to give it a wider range of function. (4) Either way, the rod would be the root ball of a sapling, either attached to the staff or with a shortened handle. (5) That root ball would be smoothed out and weighted down, usually by driving metal or rock into it. (6) Then, like a hammer, the shepherd would learn how to hurl it against any predators of the sheep. (7) Many a thief paid with his life for trying to steal the good shepherds sheep! C. Jesus warned His sheep that thieves will try to steal us too! Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbed up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 1. Who would be foolish enough to try to steal one of Gods sheep? That would be the devil. a. Again, let me point out there is a difference between sheep and people. b. People have to choose to be stolen! c. Christians actually have to help the devil to steal them by following the devils temptations! d. The devil uses the same methods today to steal Gods sheep that he used to steal Eve from God, temptation. e. He finds something we like, something we think we might want, and then he offers it with "strings attached." 2. But Christians dont have to be stolen. a. We are capable of wandering back out into the wilderness all by ourselves! Ps 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. b. David prayed to the Lord and confessed that he had not been stolen by the devil; but rather, he wandered from God on his own! 3. It doesnt really matter much whether the devil has a part in it or not. Either way it still us that got us away from the Shepherd and back into the wilderness of sin! D. But the good thing is that we were ever part of Gods flock, we still are and God does not give up on a lost sheep. Matt 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 1. This parable gets applied to the unsaved, and it does have great application to the lost. 2. However, this parable is about Jesus finding HIS sheep, not the devils! a. If you are Gods sheep, whether you wander off on your own are allow the devil to run off with you, Jesus never writes you off. b. Jesus will spend the rest of your days looking for you and trying to bring you back into the fold! c. The good news to any Christian is that just like you choose to pull yourself out of the flock, so you can choose to put yourself back into the flock. (1) The good Shepherd actually knows where you are. (2) He has been following you since the day you left the fold. (3) He is just waiting for you to choose Jesus again! 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. III. People, like sheep, can benefit from having a shepherd. A. What are the perks to being one of Gods sheep? B. Believe it or not, Psalm 23 is one of the best passages to describe the blessedness of being one of Gods sheep. 1. Most associate Psalm 23 as a "death" psalm. 2. There is only reference \Psalm 23:4\ to death in the whole psalm. 3. The remainder of the psalm talks about the good life that God gives His sheep. 4. Psalm 23 then is a "life" psalm filled with God describing the conditions of being one of His sheep! Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. a. Gods sheep have no needs. God provides for them. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: b. Gods sheep can lay down and rest. Sheep in the wild must be guarded at all times, even while they sleep, for they are always in danger. 2. he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. c. Gods sheep are lead. (1) That is, they do have boundaries. (2) These boundaries are not to keep us from enjoying lifes pleasures. (3) They are to keep us safe. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. d. There is the one verse that mentions death. (1) Please notice that it is not even given to direct our minds toward death. (2) It only states that when the worst thing that can happen to one of Gods sheep does happen, it will not be a bad thing for our Shepherd will go with us even in death! 5 thou anointest my head with oil e. Gods sheep are protected. (1) Oil poured on the sheeps head is not for medication. (2) It is for prevention. (3) It prevents the sun from causing a heat stroke and keeps the parasites off the sheeps head and out of his ears. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies my cup runneth over f. Gods sheep are well feed! While we enjoy a banquet table, the good Shepherd deals with our enemies. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. g. Gods sheep get Gods best all the days of our lives! Oh, friend, would you choose Jesus today? Several times I have pointed to the fact that sheep and people are different in one respect. People have a choice. Today you can choose to be one of Jesus sheep. I pray that you will.