You are shepherded by the Great Shepherd! The 3 rd Sunday before Advent Zechariah 10:1-4; 11:4-17 & John 10:1-16

Introduction Zechariah 9 ended on a high note with a glorious hope! 16 The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. 17 How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.

Introduction  Zechariah 9-11 – massa or oracle; the message is a “burden”  Promises of renewal, restoration (chapter 9) turned into God’s judgment – WHY?

Introduction  Failure of “sheep and shepherds” – metaphors for Israel and her leaders respectively!  What should be our response? These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. (1 Cor 10:11)

Introduction  This message is for BOTH the sheep and shepherds For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:17)

1. Shephered to be witnesses The overarching theme of Zechariah & the Bible is missions! … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23) I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10b)

Shepherding in Palestine Staff Rod Shepherds in Palestine typically carries a staff and rod – the 2 “staffs” in Zech 11:7

1. Shepherded to be witnesses Does God only love Israel and not Tyre and the surrounding nations? NO! What or who is our common enemy? God loves all the nations as Creator! Glorious things are said of you … “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me — Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush — and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ” Psalm 87:3-4

1. Shepherded to be witnesses Israel called to be a light on the hill!

Israel, Egypt, Assyria & Babylon

2. Shepherded to be matured “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime” Zechariah 10:1a Rain typically fall in autumn & spring! Witnessing is important but it is NOT the goal in the Great Commission! What is God’s goal?

2. Shepherded to be matured Is God short of faithful witnesses? NO! “if they (crowd of disciples) keep quiet the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40) Creation is far more efficient than us! There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:3) (NKJV)

2. Shepherded to be matured Why “ask for rain in the springtime” or “latter rain” (NKJV)? Latter rains are needed to mature and bear fruit! God is not finished with us! If there is no spring rain  famine and no seeds for planting  more famine God’s goal is to shepherd us unto MATURITY!

2. Shepherded to be matured God shepherding us to … God’s ongoing deliverance … Past Be a Christian – repentance of sins Israel’s exodus from Egypt Present Grow as Christian – our sanctification Israel’s exodus and return from Babylon Future Matured Christian – our glorification! Israel’s restoration in the coming Kingdom of God!

2. Shepherded to be matured Maturity ---- teleios (discipleship) God gives to the church the 5-fold ministry for …. “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” ( Eph 4:13) Discipleship is NOT optional! … he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6)

3. Shepherded to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime Not by might or by power but by the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6) Be open to the Holy Spirit working in and through us! We are justified i.e. relationship to God restored – we need to hear Him

3. Shepherded to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit What are you afraid of? Ministry e.g. evangelism is difficult – we are never adequate in our abilities We are inadequate for ministry BUT through the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ we are more than ADEQUATE!