Blinded By Sin
One of the things I appreciate about Pastor Paul's teaching is how well he breaks down the Word of God. He never just reads a verse and keeps it moving. He reads the verse, defines any vocabulary that may need clarification, then he'll read the same verse in a different Bible version for a different perspective -- followed by reading scriptures before and after the initial verse for full context.
Then he'll use an analogy, reference, or a hilarious joke to make the tenor of the text PLAIN to understand & simple to apply.
His sermons are a punch in the spiritual gut, a vocabulary lesson, and a comedy show -- all rolled up into one sitting!
He's truly anointed to do what he does.
It's because of Pastor Paul B. Mitchell, and his teaching style, that urges me to steep in my Word, and take my time while studying scripture. With this mindset, I came across an interesting fact about how susceptible we are to be, well -- dumb.
That's right! I said DUMB...
Have you ever done research on 'sheep'?
They don't have sharp teeth.
They don't have pointy claws.
They don't have a vicious growl capable of intimidating nearby challengers.
Some say they're highly intelligent because they can solve problems, and express their emotions through distinct communication. Nonetheless, expressing emotions and using distinct communication won't save their lives when a predator is too close for comfort...
Other than their sight & ability to run (20 miles per hour, MAX), sheep cannot effectively protect themselves, nor fend for themselves very long. As the Holy Spirit made me realize God's humor in referring to us as this defenseless and daft species (a.k.a without God, we are fully exposed to our spiritual predator, Satan and, respectfully, unable to protect ourselves), He also hit me with this fun fact:
Don't forget, Jesus is the LAMB of God...
WHOA! Holy Spirit, what does Jesus being the Lamb of God have to do with us being sheep?
I've been under Pastor Paul's teaching WAY TOO LONG to let that still, small voice's statement go unnoticed. I realized I had to dig deeper!
Ready for the shovel?
1 - Lamb & sheep are the same species. 'Lamb' are baby sheep. A ewe's (female sheep's) offspring is called a 'lamb'.
OKAY, MARY GIVING BIRTH TO JESUS. OKAY, JESUS HAVING TO COME INTO THE WORLD AS A HUMAN, BEING BORN INTO SIN LIKE WE WERE.
It makes sense that lamb & sheep are the same. Jesus HAD to be the same species as we are...
2 - The animal is considered a 'lamb' from a newborn to one years old. Once older than one years old, the animal is then considered a sheep.
OKAY, JESUS BEING THE LAMB OF GOD, SERVING AS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE. HE IS FOREVER THE UNSPOTTED, MALE LAMB WE USE AS A SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS. <3
3 - Lambs' main source of nutrition is their mother's milk, while sheep primarily graze on grass and drink from water sources.
OKAY, JESUS RELYING ON GOD THE FATHER, CONSTANTLY PRAYING. OKAY, US SHEEP RELYING ON RESOURCES VERSUS THE SOURCE, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
4 - A sheep's wool is directly connotated with their nutrition and diet.
DOESN'T THIS MAKE SENSE? INSTEAD OF DRINKING OUR FATHER'S MILK, PRAYING & COMMUNING WITH HIM, WE'RE OUT HERE GRAZING ON THE TEMPORAL, MATERIAL THINGS OF THIS WORLD. BECAUSE OF OUR POOR SPIRITUAL NUTRITION, OUR WOOL IS GROWING!
Do you know what happens if a sheep doesn't shear it's wool?
WOOL BLINDNESS.
It's when the sheep is so overgrown with wool, that it engulfs the animal, and ultimately impairs them.
Press play to watch Baarack's journey in physical wool-blindness:
Baarack-the-sheep had grown 77 lbs of wool over a span of time. The wool not only weighed him down and made him weak, but impaired majority of his sight. He looked like a lost cause! But God! Praise Yahweh for putting people on this Earth whose mission is to attend to animals in need.
Praise Yahweh for putting Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrificial Lamb, on this Earth -- who brought, and is STILL bringing, all humankind back to Him through salvation. Even with our filthy sin, His saving blood cuts it all away -- forgiving it all!
As the Holy Spirit told me, I'll now share with you: our spiritual "wool" is our sin. An unrepentant heart leads to overgrown sin, blinding our spirits from being able to see and withstand the attacks of the devil. We must crucify our flesh, and die to ourselves, ON A DAILY BASIS.
Pastor Paul B. Mitchell just taught us that there are (5) different personalities of sheep. Which one are you?
CLICK PLAY ON THE VIDEO BELOW TO FIND OUT!
A sheep with NO SHEPHERD is in trouble!
How do you SHEAR?
- with a repentant heart, confess your wooly sins, and ask for forgiveness
- prevent wool blindness, or shall we say sin-blindness, by regularly confessing your sins
- choose communing with God (a lamb drinking its mother's milk) through prayer, fasting, and meditating on His Word
As sheep, all we have is the protection provided by our Shepherd & our sight. Let's keep our eyes open, and our wooly sin sheared.
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Mercedes Saintfleur is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, a professional in the Aviation industry, and a member at Changing Lives Christian Center. When she isn't working or serving others, this 'Creative' can be found studying, dancing or cooking!
We don't know about you, but Mercedes isn't playing with her faith anymore! She's diligently studying her Word, and applying the practical, relevant Word she's learning from Pastor Paul B. Mitchell to her life. With honest transparency, she's utilizing her experiences as a Believer to encourage others to walk the narrow path of King Christ...
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We pray you use this week to cut off the wooly sin you're either knowingly, or unknowingly, allowing to grow! Strive to be a healthy sheep: led by your Shepherd, locked in your Word, and connected to your Spiritual Brook!
Be sure to join Pastor Paul B. Mitchell, and the entire CLCC Church Family, tonight at 8 pm for CHRISTIAN BIBLE TEACHING by clicking the link below:
Until then, be safe, be blessed, and be narrow...
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