The Pursuit of the One
Healthy people donât need a doctorâsick people do. Luke 5:3
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. Luke 5:32
â4 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Wonât he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, âRejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.â 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and havenât strayed away! Luke 15:4-7
Who does He think that He is?
â4 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Wonât he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, âRejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.â 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and havenât strayed away! Luke 15:4-7
Who does He think that He is?
I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, John 10:14
Then Samuel asked, âAre these all the sons you have? âThere is still the youngest,â Jesse replied. âBut heâs out in the fields watching the sheep and goats. âSend for him at once,â Samuel said. âWe will not sit down to eat until he arrives.â 1 Samuel 16:11
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1-6
Radap [raw-daf] - pursue, persecute, chase, or dog
Then Samuel asked, âAre these all the sons you have? âThere is still the youngest,â Jesse replied. âBut heâs out in the fields watching the sheep and goats. âSend for him at once,â Samuel said. âWe will not sit down to eat until he arrives.â 1 Samuel 16:11
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1-6
Radap [raw-daf] - pursue, persecute, chase, or dog
Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation is the intentional journey of growing in your relationship with God, discovering your purpose, and developing a deeper understanding of yourself and your faith.
âSpiritual formation in Christ moves toward a total interchange of our ideas and images for His.â - Dallas Willard
"We have real difficulty here because everyone thinks of changing the world, but where, oh where, are those who think of changing themselves?â - Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline)
The Pursuit of Saul
24 So Moses went out and reported the Lordâs words to the people. He gathered the seventy elders and stationed them around the Tabernacle. 25 And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Then he gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this never happened again. Numbers 11:24-25
And dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:58
Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. Acts 8:1a
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lordâs followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring themâboth men and womenâback to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, âSaul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? 5 âWho are you, lord?â Saul asked. And the voice replied, âI am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.â 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someoneâs voice but saw no one! 8Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. Acts 9:1-8
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, âBrother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.â Acts 9:17
And dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:58
Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. Acts 8:1a
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lordâs followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring themâboth men and womenâback to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, âSaul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? 5 âWho are you, lord?â Saul asked. And the voice replied, âI am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.â 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someoneâs voice but saw no one! 8Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. Acts 9:1-8
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, âBrother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.â Acts 9:17
The Sound of His Voice
From where [Joe] is, he can scarcely see the sheep as they are so far away. He is farther away than we are. I don't think it is possible. The dog lurches back, onwards, up and up, climbing higher and higher towards the distant skyline. A whistle or two reassures it that it should keep going for sheep it cannot see yet because of the lie of the land.
I came to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see, that they are blind. John 9:39
1 I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. John 10:1-4
I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures⌠My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:7-10
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. John 10:11,14-16
1 I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. John 10:1-4
I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures⌠My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:7-10
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. John 10:11,14-16
Then the dog sees the sheep it has been sent for, and knows what to do. It circles behind them and pushes them out of the crags. They twist and turn ever downwards and back towards us, then disappear down the far side of the hill. Ten minutes after the dogs were sent for them, the sheep rise out of the gill close to our feet. They are beaten and they know it. They trot obediently across the moorland and join the flow of sheep heading home.â
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1-6
Ezra determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.â Ezra 7:10
God knows the real you (Submission & Fasting)
1 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when Iâm far away.
3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD .
God is always leading you (Prayer/Surrender & Worship)
5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
God is closer than you think (Silence & Solitude)
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
God is with you in the darkness (Meditation & Confession)
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become nightâ
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
God has always been at work in your life (Study & Sabbath)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my motherâs womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelousâhow well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
18 I canât even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
God hears your heart (Guidance & Simplicity)
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name.
21 O LORD, shouldnât I hate those who hate you? Shouldnât I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.
God will find you (Holiness & Community)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
4 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1-6
Ezra determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.â Ezra 7:10
God knows the real you (Submission & Fasting)
1 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when Iâm far away.
3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD .
God is always leading you (Prayer/Surrender & Worship)
5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
God is closer than you think (Silence & Solitude)
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
God is with you in the darkness (Meditation & Confession)
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become nightâ
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
God has always been at work in your life (Study & Sabbath)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my motherâs womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelousâhow well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
18 I canât even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
God hears your heart (Guidance & Simplicity)
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name.
21 O LORD, shouldnât I hate those who hate you? Shouldnât I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.
God will find you (Holiness & Community)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
4 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.