AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – May 13, 2021, Sivan 2, 5781
FEED MY LAMBS
Greetings dear children and sons of God and welcome back to our study of the wonderful Bible Book of John. Please take a moment to share these teachings each day. The featured picture today is of Donna and me at Archer’s on the Pier in Rockland Maine. Our God is so good to give us His Word. He does not intend; it is not His will, that we be in the dark (ignorant) about anything concerning the Kingdom of God. As you are well aware, our study of the Book of John is drawing to a close but I am quite sure the Lord has some very important nuggets to share with us. Last week I spoke about putting God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) first. Do we in the body of Christ really understand this concept, this idea to its fullest extent? Notice, putting Him and the Kingdom first is not a suggestion, it is a command!
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What does this mean to me, to you? Is He serious? Are we to put Him first, seek Him first in all things or are we to pretty much run the show and come to Him when it doesn’t matter to our carnal nature? Look at what Jesus says on this topic in another place.
Mark 12:30 (KJV)
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And in another place.
Matthew 22:35-38 (KJV)
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
Is there one shred of evidence anywhere that Jesus did not practice this? If we are going to fulfill the Scripture to do the works He did and the greater works; what will be required of us? Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text (Complete Jewish Bible) from the Book of John and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
John 21:15-17 (CJB)
15 After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim‘on Kefa, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 A second time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, are you my friend?” Shim‘on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: “Are you my friend?” So he replied, “Lord, you know everything! You know I’m your friend!” Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep!
Between here and the Day of Pentecost the Apostle Simon Peter was transformed from being a friend of Jesus to loving (agape) Jesus, God. We know this for the Scripture does not tell us to be a friend of God with all of our heart, soul, and mind but to love God (all three persons) with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Let’s now look at another interesting facet of our primary Bible text. Jesus tells Peter to feed His lambs the first time and then to feed His sheep the second and third times. Turns out these are different Greek words. The first time refers to young immature, new born, and the second and third time as one who is moving forward. It seems to me at least that there is some implication that if a new born fails to move forward we are not to spend time with them.
The other interesting point is that the word feed used three times is two different Greek words. The first and third time it is the word boskō according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary meaning to feed or keep. The second use of the word feed is poimainō according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary meaning to tend, shepherd and rule. The Apostle Peter and all in leadership positions are to feed the lambs, the sheep of His pasture the pure Word of God and direct and rule them in love. The bread of life (Word of God) brings the harvest (fish).
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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