LOVE PROTECTS
MEMORISE: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
READ: John 10:11 -15
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.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
MESSAGE
When Jesus was physically leaving the earth, He assured His disciples that He would never leave them that He would always be with them until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). This gives us – His disciples, great comfort. If He had not said until the end of the age, you would wonder if He was protecting us now from all the evil in the world. However, He said His protection will continue until the end of the age. He assures us in Isaiah 60:2:
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Although there is much chaos in the world, there is no need to panic. If you are truly a child of God, Jesus already assured us in John 16:33 that although there may be tribulations in the world, we should be cheerful because He has overcome the world.
If anyone can testify about the protection of God, it is I. Many years ago, during one of our Holy Ghost services in Nigeria, as I got on the altar to preach, the Lord opened my ears and I heard a conversation going on between two witches who were preparing to launch an attack on my life at that moment. I announced that I could hear the two witches and if they did not want to die within 7 days, they should come out and repent. To the amazement of the congregation, the witches came out. In 2 Kings 6:14-17, Elisha’s servant was afraid when he saw an entire army surrounding them ready to attack. Elisha however, was relaxed because he knew that the One protecting him was far greater than the army outside his city. He prayed for God to open the servant’s eyes and when the young man saw the number of heavenly soldiers who were on their side, he became relaxed too.
If you have been toying with sin, you have actually been toying with your life because the Good Shepherd will only protect His sheep. Only those who are truly children of God are safe in the secret place of the Most High God (Psalm 91:1).
PRAYER POINT
Heavenly Father, help me to continually dwell in Your secret place, so that I may constantly abide under the shadow of Your protection in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 40-42
HYMN 3: DEEPER, DEEPER IN LOVE WITH JESUS
1 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev'ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.
2 Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3 Deeper, deeper! tho' it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4 Deeper, higher, ev'ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
