DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY JUNE 22, 2019 TOPIC: WHERE ARE SHEPHERDS? Text: Matthew 9:27-38

DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY JUNE 22, 2019

TOPIC: WHERE ARE SHEPHERDS?

Text: Matthew 9:27-38

27. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

28. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

32. As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

33. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

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.

37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Key Verse:“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" - (Matthew 9:36).

Message
As at March 2018, the world's population was estimated to be approximately 7.6 billion. About 2.91 billion of them live in places where they have little or no access to the gospel.

According to a research project, there are approximately 16,500 unique people groups in the world with about 6,900 of them considered unreached.

The vast majority (95%) of these least reached groups exist in the 10/40 window and less than 10% of missionary work is done among these people.

One missionary-minded group called Finishing the Task, said there are 440 unengaged, unreached people groups with populations over 25,000, together numbering over 24 million souls that are still beyond the reach of the gospel.

These 440 are perhaps the neediest of the needy as they are unengaged which means that they have had no contact with church, missionaries, or mission agencies.

Thus, no one has yet taken responsibility to tell them about Jesus Christ.

The summary of Christ's earthly ministry is that, “He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him” (Acts 10:3).

Despite all He did, He never considered the multitude of people that came to him for help as mere statistics. His shepherd heart was always moved to see so many as sheep without a shepherd!

What people see in the multitude determines how they react to them or treat them. A look through a popular busy city will show a sea of heads and humanity in different shapes, sizes and gender.

But the human soul is beyond statistics to God. And it should also be to those who are God's. If we have accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, we must, like Him, seek to have a shepherd's heart and compassion on the many who live around us daily without the knowledge of the true God and stand the chance of spending eternity in the wrong place.

We must, in utmost compassion, reach out to them before it is too late.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It is virtuous to be a shepherd to wandering souls.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 5–7

MEDITATION

Every Believer's three fold ministry

1. The 3-fold ministry v35.

a. To teach in the synagogue.

It is primarily a ministry to the believers including converts. It is meant to make the word of God clearer by using the word of God. Example vv37,38.

b. To preach the gospel

It is declaration of the mind of God, involves a lot of exhortation and persuasion to help people to experience the benefits of the gospel. Example vv28b,29b.

c. To heal heal the infirm.

It brings the power of the gospel into practical manifestation through meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people. Example vv30,32,33.

Remark: The dimensions and magnitudes differ from believers to believers. Every believer is called to be a minister.

Question: Measure your faithfulness: Which of these areas are you failing?

2. Compassion: the essential of ministerial faithfulness and effectiveness

Those who will have compassion must have the following:

a. Experienced what others are lacking.

Question: Have you experienced freedom from sin and healings, including emotional and peace, from Christ?

b. Empathy. Should be able to put his feet in the shoe of others.

c. Selflessness. Not preoccupied with personal needs and prayer points.

d. Have the broken mind of Christ.

Challenge: Each believer is assigned some sheep to win and care for. Have you discovered and won your own?

HYMN: The Ninety Nine

1. There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the flock,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off in the cold and dark;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

2. “Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

3. But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night which the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the bleak desert He heard its cry—
All bleeding and helpless, and ready to die.

4. “Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

5. And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

PRAYER POINTS

1. Ask for a compassionate heart through divine touch.

2. Ask for the unselfish and love centred mind of Christ.

3. Ask God for self discovery and faithfulness in your 3-fold ministry.

4. Pray for the power of healing to be backing the preaching of the gospel by all members.