Mat 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Here sheep denotes “one of these little ones’ – the least of human beings.
The Lord entrusts the sheep with the shepherds. The Believers, those who have accepted the Lord are the Shepherds to whom the sheep is entrusted with.
Jesus addressed those who have not accepted him also as sheep.
Joh 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
In 2019, 20, the Lord divided the land of India among 543 SMPs and entrusted the souls of each Constituency with the SMPs. Let us thank God for the SMPs, SMLAs who have taken the responsibility of various Constituencies. Let us thank God for all the mighty deeds and miracles Holy Spirit worked in each Constituency.
The SMPs, SMLAs have two duties.
- Be watchmen for their Constituency and protect the sheep who have already in the Lord. Bring unity by breaking the denominational, doctrinal spirits existing among Christians.
- Bring the other sheep that are not of this fold.
How the one sheep would have gone astray? May be while the Shepherd was away in search of the “sheep that are not of this fold” .
When he came to know that one sheep is missing, immediately he goes after it. He leaves that ninety nine in the mountains. He trusted the ninety nine sheep that they would not go astray. Or even he did not even give a thought to it in his anxiety!
The Lord justifies the Shepherd’s going in search of one soul!
Dear Soldiers! The Lord has trusted you and me and have given many soldiers into your hands. It is our duty to feed them, to protect them and make them grow in Troop Churches. Not a single soul should be lost.
Jesus showed us a model in this.
Joh 17:12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Leaving the ninety nine in the mountains – shows the heart of the Shepherd.
Dear Soldiers, Let us concentrate on the souls the Lord is entrusting us with in the Troop Churches. Even after we disperse the Troop after 8 weeks, we should have an eye on the Leader of the Troop and see that all the soldiers of the Troop Church are growing..
The soldiers should be admitted to the Gift Schools for their further growth. Not a single soul who attended the Troop Church should be lost. Without a calling they can never come and attend 8 weeks of Troop Church. Our mind and concentration should be on them. Let us command a protective force of angels around them.
Pro 27:23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,
Let’s check the growth of the Troop Churches which are branched out. Let us have the fellowship meetings for the Troop Church Soldiers monthly or bi monthly and conduct Lord’s Supper.
When you (each Troop )come together for the fellowship along with your increased flock, with the soldiers multiplied in the Troop Church, what a joy it will be! We will enjoy the heavenly bliss, listening to the testimonies, miracles the Lord did in their midst.
- Bring the other sheep that are not of this fold
While protecting the soldiers in the Troop Churches, simultaneously our eyes should be on the look out for “the other sheep which are not of the Troop Church fold.
By 4th week we should start motivating the Troop Church soldiers to find in prayer, 10 members so that at the end of 8 weeks they can bring 10 more souls to Jesus Christ.
Let’s come out of our “Comfortable places”, send the Troop Church soldiers out to make new disciples. Let’s reach out to the perishing souls. Like Shepherds, let’s take care of the souls we are entrusted with through Morning prayers, Gift Schools, Daniel Academy etc. Let’s fill India with Troop Churches & go outside India to make disciples. From there it will multiply. Let’s motivate the whole AOJ soldiers towards capturing the World now.
May the Lord give each of us the wisdom to be “Fishers of men”. Amen.
Sr. Angelica AJ