2026.03.25 - Sheep & Disciples

 

                I.         Disciples are intentional about what they reproduce - 

                               i.         sheep begat sheep

1.      Genesis 30:37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel  and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. 41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the cattle were feeble , he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. 43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses. KJV 

a.     Even though it was likely that it was the Lord's favor that made this miracle happen, Jacob was intentional about what he was trying to reproduce.

              II.         How Disciples Are "Chosen"

                               i.         Rarely does a parent get to choose who their kids, most of the choosing is left up to God

1.     If you choose them:

a.     You may fail to tell them the truth or hold them accountable for the sake  of the relationship

b.     You may not lead them into the life God has called them to but rather the life that you would like to see them walk in 

c.     You honestly may not be the one to get them to the place where God wants them to be even with your best efforts

d.     Do you want God to bless what you are doing or do you want to bless what God is doing.

e.     If  you are not burdened and anointed by the Holy Ghost at some point you may tire of their failing to meet expectations and fall off on leading them

                                                                       i.         If you leave them "in the middle" they may not be able to move forward or back and may be stuck in a place they don’t know how to get out of.

2.     If they choose you:

a.     In the long run they may not respect you enough to stick with either you or the program

b.     They may choose to abuse the relationship and try to take shortcuts on spirituality or ride your coat tails into it

c.     It may crush them when you are their spiritual father instead of being their friend

                             ii.         Examples of God choices:

1.     Elijah/Elisha -  1 Kings 19:16, this was a short time of "discipleship"

2.     Moses/Joshua - Exodus 17:9 records first time he is mentioned, but he is mentioned already in a place of trust, but in Numbers 17:14 God tells Moses to make sure Joshua knows what is about to happen,  then later in Numbers 11:28 we are told Joshua is the servant of Moses, and finally in Numbers 27:18 Moses basically puts forth that Joshua will be his successor 

3.     Jesus/His 12

4.     Paul/Timothy (remember the story of John Mark)

                            iii.         All of them "did life together" for a time

            III.         Disciples & Sheep - Both Are Biblical

                               i.         Jesus would preach to the multitudes, then go into a more private setting and break down to His disciples (the few)  what He had taught (the many)

            IV.         Sheep & Disciples

                               i.         Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. KJV

1.     He was talking to his disciples

2.     He was telling them they would act for a brief time like sheep

a.     There is a difference

              V.         Differences Of Sheep & Disciples

                               i.         Sheep follow because they hear the voice of the shepherd - disciples follow to become more like the one they are following

                             ii.         Disciples tend to stay where they are put,  they are disciplined - sheep will wander off even though clear boundaries are set

                            iii.         Sheep reproduce who they are - disciples reproduce who they follow.  

1.     Sheep begat sheep

2.     Disciples begat who they follow

                            iv.         Sheep know his voice - disciples know his character

1.     Sheep want their "wants" fed

2.     Disciples want their souls fed

                             v.         Sheep follow for what they can GET from the shepherd - disciples follow for 

what they can be THROUGH the shepherd

                                           I.         Peter in Matthew 16:16 made a bold proclamation of faith, that Jesus was The Christ.  

                                                          i.         And . . .John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?KJV

                          VI.   Sheep know his protection - disciples know his power

                        VII.   Sheep are lost and found again and again - disciples are found once then find him again and again

                     VIII.   Sheep may become disciples but disciples aren't often sheep