The Sheep
The characteristics of sheep are particular. They need human interaction, protection and guidance. Sheep are meek, highly intelligent and have long term memories. They like to be in groups and will follow others without question. Shepherds would bring their sheep at night to the sheepfold to be watch over and for some rest. Some shepherds when they did not have a porter would lay to sleep on the gate of the fold to protect the sheep. Being allowed to enter through the gate provided a sense of security for anyone who entered, because the gatekeeper was there to watch; especially if the gatekeeper was the owner of the sheep. However, the gatekeeper who was not the owner of the sheep would flee when he saw the wolf come (Jh10:12). They have human characteristics such as using neural processes to remember others for years, that is why Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice and follow him (Jh10:27). God calls his sheep men, and they belong to his pasture (Ez34:31). The things that keep the sheep safe is their ability to distinguish the voice of their shepherd from other voices and the meekness within that led them to follow.
John 10:9-11
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
When the Lord is your shepherd all your needs are met. David said in Psalm 23 that God, his shepherd, provides for his needs, leads him, comforts, restores his soul, and protects him from his enemies. Such an effort for one sheep must set a high value on them. In fact, Jesus said in the parable of the ninety-nine, that the shepherds leave the bunch of the sheep if one goes astray (Lk15:4-6) and goes to find it. One thing is for sure that there is a thief, and he is out to steal, kill and destroy. Satan is more interested in taking from us our spiritual connection with God than the material possession we might have. If he can by touching and destroying the things we value most, he will have achieved stealing our joy. Paul said that we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual principalities (Eph6:12).
All our needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual are the composite of life and they are the reason why Christ came for. Life in Christ does not just and only consist of material possessions, but of something more. This word “abundant” in the Greek is perisson, meaning “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate” (1Co2:9). Abundant life deals with God doing things in us and through us beyond anyone’s expectation (Ep3:20).
John 10:12
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.
John 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Ezekiel 34:31
31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,