THE 99 (THE SUMMONING)!

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” – Matthew 18:12

Q1. What qualities do the 99 possess that the good shepherd is so sure that when he leaves them behind to pursue the one, they won’t also go astray?

Q2. What measures did He put in place to ensure that the 99 are protected from ‘the thief’ and lion? – John 10:10

It is imperative for us to establish that the 99 are the mature ones. The ones who find contentment in the Lord being their shepherd. Psalm 23 embodies characteristics of the good shepherd and the advantages of being within the sheepfold;

• The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want or lack anything good.

• He makes me to lie down in green pastures.

• He leads me beside the still waters.

• He restores my soul.

• He leads me in the path of righteousness.

• He is always with me even in the valley of Death’s shadow.

• His rod and his staff bring me comfort.

• He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

• He anoints my head with oil until it overflows.

• His goodness and mercy follow me every single day of my life.

And the most important part of this Psalm which we usually gloss over is David giving up his will to dwell anywhere but in the house of the good shepherd forever. It’s crazy to think that after seeing and experiencing all these benefits of dwelling with the good shepherd, anyone would dare think of walking out on this but this is sadly some of us. That 1% that decide to walk out of the love of the good shepherd. Blindly moving from green pastures into the rocky terrain of the mountains where we are exposed to many dangers. The moment the sheep steps out of the flock, the first place he finds himself is in the mountains. Walking out of God’s purpose for your life takes you back into the very place you once viewed as an empty, lonely and dangerous place. The dwelling place of snakes, scorpions, wolves and lions is now your habitation. How can you survive? Some of you are forcing yourselves to be wolves when as a matter of fact you are sheep. You were baptized into God, raised in a Christian home yet you one day decided you were ‘woke’ and lured into the den of wolves because Christianity isn’t cool anymore and the truth of the matter is that you’re empty and dying within because that’s not in your nature. You were created in the image of God and in you is His spirit so there’s always a part of you that’ll yearn for Him. It is not in your nature to be rebellious toward God. The moment you find yourself in constant rebellion then you should know that a spirit contrary to the Spirit of God is involved but after reading this piece you’ll be delivered in Jesus name.

The moment the sheep steps out of the flock, the first place he finds himself is in the mountains. Walking out of God’s purpose for your life takes you back into the very place you once viewed as an empty, lonely and dangerous place.

So back to David, we can decide to dwell in the house of the Lord forever or like the Prodigal Son we can say enough, and request for the portion of the goods that fall to us (Luke 15:12). That parable of the Lost son or the prodigal son is one that embodies the distinction between the 99 and the 1 so I thought it was important to dig into it as well. Luke 15:12 “and the younger of them said to his father, father give me the portion of the goods that fall to me…”. The sheep that walk out of the master’s love are usually the younger ones. Those who haven’t come to the full understanding of who they really are and what they possess. The babes in Christ. Those who don’t want to bring themselves under perfect training because what the younger son didn’t understand was that all that the Father had were his and this understanding was translated in the manner in which he made the request: “give me the portion of the goods that falls to me”. He asked for a portion when in actual fact he was the heir to all. Then the next statement of ignorance was seen in his request for only goods when in actual fact what he had access to were the goods and services of his Father’s estate. The earth(goods/structures/tangibles) is the Lords and the fullness thereof. The world(services/systems/intangibles) and they that dwell therein– Psalm 24:1. God isn’t just the owner of the structures; he oversees the systems of the world as well. In Daniel 2:21, Daniel testified of God as the one who changes times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings. And we are much aware that kings are in charge of the kingdoms of the world so as intelligent readers we can do the math.

Still on the younger son, in verse 13 of Luke 15, the bible says “he gathered all together and journeyed to a far country and there, wasted his possessions with prodigal living”. He journeyed far! This verse alludes to what Jesus said about going to find the sheep in the mountains in Matthew 18:12. A location farther away from the green pastures. One thing that struck me was that if the son was still under the jurisdiction of his father, his father would’ve sent some of his servants to minister to him because in verse 20 of the same Luke 15, the story unfolds that “while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion on him…” meaning his father was always looking out for his return and its interesting to note that he had compassion on his son when he saw him meaning had he not seen him, he wouldn’t have had compassion on him so there’s a relationship between compassion and sight. And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick – Matthew 14:14 so our absence and invisibility before the presence of God sometimes limits us from receiving the compassion of God.

Then the other thing that happened to the younger son was that he walked completely out of the position he occupied as a son and lowered himself to a level lower than that of the servants of his father. Can you imagine that one who was placed in charge of feeding man was now feeding swine? The pearls of talent that were bestowed upon him to minister to mankind were now used to minister to swine who will eventually end up trampling upon them! – Matthew 7:6.

However, one good thing about the younger son was that he was wise enough to realize that it was never too late to return to his father. Some of you are thinking it’s too late to return to God. That you're in too deep in the world and you’re not deserving of His love due to some of your deeds. It’s never too late to start again, dear ones. He’s calling you! He’s still waiting in eagerness for your return. He’s willing to run over to you so he can kiss you and kill the fatted cow for you. He’s waiting so He can feast with you. I love what happened in verse 22 of Luke 15; “the Father said to his servants, bring out the best robe, put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet”. The Father asked that his son be cleansed, be washed anew by replacing his old clothes with new clothes then he put a ring on his hand as a symbol of reinstatement of authority then placed sandals on his feet to depict that he was willing to allow him resume his duties on the field. A holistic act of restoration if you’d ask me! And that’s how God wants to restore us when we get back to Him! What a loving Father.

Some of you are thinking it’s too late to return to God. That you're in too deep in the world and you’re not deserving of His love due to some of your deeds. It’s never too late to start again, dear ones.

Now back to the 99. The first thing that was written about the older son was that he was in the field – Luke 15:25. The 99 are those who are constantly allowing God to work in them and in turn offer themselves to the work of God. Those found in the field! And the field does not pertain only to the work of the ministry or the work of the evangelist. Your office can be a field, your school can be a field, the park can be a field, the gym can be a field. Wherever you find yourself, as a part of the 99 we don’t stop working. Although the older son was displeased with the fathers’ gesture toward the younger son, in his rant to his father he mentioned two characteristics of the 99 that I’d want to highlight. Luke 15:29, “he answered, Lo, these many years I have been serving you (1), I have never transgressed your command (2)…” it’s interesting to note that he used the word transgress instead of the word sin seeing that is impossible to say we have no sin but it is possible to say we have not transgressed because transgression goes beyond sin. In transgression, intent is involved. With sin it may be unknowingly but transgression is premeditated sin. So, the 99 are those who do not entertain any form of ungodliness so just like the Apostle Paul said, “I beat my flesh and bring it into subjection…1 Corinthians 9:27”. When you give in to the desires of the flesh then you can't be counted as a part of the 99.

The 99 are those who are constantly allowing God to work in them and in turn offer themselves to the work of God. Those found in the field!

These are men that the Father can testify that they’re always with him and that everything the father has is theirs (Luke 15:31). Men and women who have given up their will. Who like David have decided to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Men who are being trained to handle the business of the Lord. Who do not and will not bend to the will of the flesh because their satisfaction is in eating from the hands of the shepherd. The firstborns! Men of understanding, sons of Isaachar who are aware of the times and seasons and act accordingly. Men who find the rod and staff of the good shepherd as instruments of comfort. Men who are not easily offended and who do not complain at the least disappointment. Men of Praise! Men who do not fear even as they walk into the valley of the shadow of death. The 99! The ones found worthy to reign with Christ. For because of such men that Elisha said to fear not, for they that are with us are more than those with them. Men of intercession! Men who have not bowed down their knees to Baal even in the face of adversity. Men on their knees in caves and tents making incense continuously unto the Lord. The ones who have received the outpouring of the spirit. Men called to prophesy in the order of Joel! Men like Jason and his friends who turned the world upside down with their acts! Men heavily clothed in the anointing of the Lord! Let them arise! Let them arise! Let them arise! Let them arise! Men who have come in the spirit and fire of Elijah! To call down fire upon the altars of baal. Men who moved between realms to ensure that the will of God be established on the earth. Men who shall bring judgement upon Jezebel and her prophets and cause them to seize their operations in the government. Men in the order of Melchizedek! Kings and priests of the most high God who will ensure that their territories are not invaded by Chedorlaomer, Amraphel and Arioch. Men in the order of Deborah! Who single-handedly decided to bring deliverance unto a nation! Men in the favour and perseverance of Esther who break protocol for the will of God to be established! Let them arise! Let them arise! Let them arise! For I stand in the spirit of Ezekiel and prophesy that the army of dry bones live again! For I hear the sound of an exceedingly great army! A fearless army who have their voices and knees as instruments of war! Let that army arise in the name of Jesus for this is the summon! The earth is about to be shaken to its core. Maranatha! Come Lord come!