Encouragement Letter Feb 07

After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others?”

“Yes,” Peter replied, “you know I am your friend.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon, son of John, do you really love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I am your friend.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
Once more he asked him, “Simon, son of John, are you even my friend?”

Peter was grieved at the way Jesus asked the question this third time. “Lord, you know my heart; you know I am,” he said.
Jesus said, “Then feed my little sheep. [John 21:15-17 The Living Bible translation]

Dear friend
Once more we come to you with words of encouragement.
In the world of religion one will not find the nutritious food of the Kingdom.

As an encouragement and refreshment to you please notice the head scripture of Jeremiah 3:15; this verse, when being read within the context, speaks of man’s religious education versus the pure knowledge of the Lord. To know the Father and His kingdom one must have understanding and knowledge, which must lead to wisdom.

What is that wisdom? Wisdom is never earthly, but heavenly. Wisdom is the actual ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The prophecy of Jeremiah was realized in Jesus and then in His fruits, the disciples who became shepherds of His sheep. But we as His sheep, as time has elapsed, have gotten more preoccupied with organizations, numbers and fame than with just simply loving Jesus. But how do we love Him?

When He asked Peter about his love He actually said, ‘am I dear enough to you?’ Three times Peter responded to that question and the reply was “FEED MY SHEEP.” Each time, Jesus said it with more tenderness. He said; if I am dear to you then you will indeed feed MY little sheep. The two accents are placed on ‘FEED’ and ‘MY SHEEP’.

You do not belong to a church neither does any shepherd own you, but you belong to Jesus. If a shepherd loves the Chief Good Shepherd he or she will express it by loving His sheep and by feeding them knowledge and understanding.
How can anyone exclude a lamb from a flock, we might find grounds for such actions, but these were given for the early church only to teach what is holy and what is profane.

The ex-pagans were so depraved, they had no schooling in the holy things; many of them were vile people, having bad influence on others. This corrupting effect Apostle Paul sought to eliminate. These were very drastic measures that lacked tender mercy. But also the shepherds themselves were not mature enough, they were just God’s messengers, but they also had to grow in understanding and knowledge until they had fully embraced the totality of God’s realm and that of His oneness. Fragments only point towards something that was once one; the heavenly logic puts all pieces together and makes them one again.

Jesus appointed the twelve to the work of absolute mercy, this mercy and love covers multitude of sins and when administered long enough it breaks the heaviest yoke of any pride even the ancestral one; it eventually melts the sinner and brings about profound change.

Having obtained this awesome mercy and living it out I look for it everywhere and if I do not find it I wonder why? Yet I cleave to mercy at all cost rather than try my Evangelistic success by hoarding people into the Kingdom using the fear of hell, demons or the devil. (My theology has changed as God’s mercy got hold of me).

Divine mercy is the greatest power in the universe. Although the apostles were called to be tender and forgiving, just as their Master was, they did experience problems handling it; yes, they used the ‘carrot and stick’ approach. You can see it in the letters of Peter [more in 2Peter] Jude and James, nonetheless at the end they had always returned to God’s love.

Amazingly, not too many have the revelation of mercy, and I am not one having the only monopoly on it. It takes self-nullification, not only to feel it, but also to comprehend it.

The fascination with Salomon’s temple and the Ark of the Covenant continues till this day; the Kenite trait in all of us wants everything on the outside, and in terms of religion or heritage, something to be proud of; simply put, to show off. We are obsessed with organizations and their performance; an achievement is often measured with sales, customers and income, which in our [Kenite] eyes equals success. Yet the kingdom of God has nothing to do with these material perishables.

Prophet Jeremiah declared that the Ark of the Lord will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it… but when? [Jer. 3:16] The day when God’s sheep will be fed with the true knowledge and understanding for then wisdom will make it plain that the carnal person will never reach fulfillment while the spiritual one is satisfied and absolutely content.

[I would strongly encourage you to listen and re-listen the tapes on mercy. The CDs about the last reformation will be available next fall; there you’ll find a highly nutritious food, which hardly anyone delivers because the drive for popularity eclipses the drive for the Master’s truth.]

Jesus emphasized MY sheep, feed MY - NOT YOUR - sheep. He was asking us to shield and protect HIS sheep thus showing our love for Him. Then in His high priestly prayer He said, while I was with them, I was keeping them in your name, which you have given me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished... [John 17:12]

Divine knowledge is not just head-knowledge, but a complete immersion in our Father’s mercy.

Jesus said it three times so that Peter would not tend God’s sheep as his own, with just the head-knowledge, but with divine tenderness.

The Father loves you tenderly by bringing you this knowledge today.

Amen