SHEPHERD & SHEEP - FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS OF GOD’S SERVANTS

Pr. Geoffrey Kibombo

Joshua 6:1-20 (NLT)

But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days…………………...6 So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.” 7 Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.”……………16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town! 

One of the things that have hindered progress in our lives is our failure to follow instructions. As Christians we don't have any difficulty in trusting God and his word, however, our challenge is; not believing the servants God sends us and not following their instructions. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:1 (ESV) that; 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.”

In the scripture above Jesus was urging His disciples to believe in God  and in him too. It is very easy for people to believe in the Almighty God - the Creator of heaven and earth who is all knowing and able, and even the demons too believe as well. James 2:19 (NKJV) says; 

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" 

But the same people find it hard to believe in the messengers or servants of God - the  evangelists, pastors and prophets who are God's vessels. Jesus assured us in John 13:20 (NASB) that; 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” 

As Christians - sheep, we must have a Joshua - pastor or shepherd and our role is to follow the instructions of our Joshua because he is the one to cause us to inherit the land. Sheep by nature tend to wander off the path and also have poor vision – they can’t see very far ahead. That’s why they need a shepherd. God made the sheep in a way that they could not be able to see into the future no matter how much they try. Why did God do this? He did it so that they would depend on the shepherd. 

The word "pastor" derives from the Latin noun pastor which means "shepherd" and relates to the Latin verb pascere - to lead to pasture, cause to eat; so to us it means the spiritual feeding of human beings, just as the bible teaches in Jeremiah 3:15 (NASB) that; 

"And I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding."

Many people have leaders who they serve but their problem is that they do not submit or follow instructions yet the latter if done is the origin of establishment, and prosperity. Deuteronomy 3:28 (NKJV) says; 

“But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.”

In Joshua 6:1-5, God gave Joshua instructions to follow regarding the possession of Jericho. Having received those instructions, Joshua had to send the exact instructions to his men and how they were to be carried out because their victory was embedded in following  the instructions God had given him.

In Joshua 6:6-21, when the Children of Israel followed the instructions Joshua had given them, they were victorious. Sometimes you don't need to use your brainpower or expertise, because if you do, you will surely see destruction and defeat. We don’t overcome with our own intelligence but by following God’s instructions - faith combined with obedience.

Let us look at it from our everyday perspective; for example, if a person is sick, the doctors will prescribe the medication for that specific disease and specific instructions are given on how the medicine should be administered for instance 2×3. The instructions thereof should not be executed in reverse order, and thus if not followed a person can suffer from adverse effects of the medication which can even lead to death. Therefore following instructions of God's servants is very key in our lives. 

Psalm 44:1-3 (NLT) says; 

“O God, we have heard it with our own ears—our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago: 2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free. 3 They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.” 

You need a Joshua - shepherd in your life. The challenges and obstacles you meet will be easy to overcome because God has entrusted the solution for those hurdles with your spiritual father. You don't need to worry or struggle, just stand-still in your rightful place! 2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV) says; 

"..............Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

You need a servant of God who speaks in your lifeo; for you to be established and prosper, you need to believe in God and to follow the instructions of His servants because he reveals Himself to them. Numbers 12:6 (NKJV) says; 

"Hear now My Words: 

If there is a prophet among you, 

I, the LORD, make myself known to him in a vision;

 I speak to him in a dream.”

Let’s be obedient sheep and follow instructions of the shepherd!