Good Afternoon,
Today was a big day for you and your children - being the first day of school. This morning I prayed that God would touch your children and anoint them to go to their schools in boldness. Today, school is a battle field. It is something that you must be prepared and equipped for. The enemy may think that he is in control of the school realm. What he doesn’t know is that your child is coming to take over. The enemy is going to be taken by surprise when he sees your sons and daughters ignite their schools on fire for God.
THE MESSAGE
TITLE: Is It In You?
Because of today being the start of the school year we talked about taking our schools for God. I began by reading John 10:11-13 in the message Bible: “The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep
mean nothing to him. He sees the wolf come and runs from It, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.” Jesus compares the differences between the Good Shepherd and the Hired man (hireling). He is relating this to our lives teaching us a very valuable lesson. As a Christian you are either a hireling or a good shepherd.
I then laid out the differences between the hireling and the good shepherd. 1. The hireling is working to get paid. He’s only in it for the money. The hireling is in Christianity because he knows he will get paid—go to heaven (fire insurance), feel better about himself, receive God’s blessings (good grades, sports, dancing success…). On the other hand, the good shepherd wants the sheep to prosper. He wants the One he works for to benefit and be honored by the work he does for Him. I then asked, “Why did you come tonight? Was it to have fun and be blessed or to bless God? So many times we place fun above God.” I then asked the question, “What motivates you to be a Christian? For personal gain? Feel good? Going to heaven? Or is it because I am in love with Jesus Christ and I want to honor Him with my life?”
The second area that I compared was the hireling’s and shepherds happiness. 2. The hireling’s happiness is getting paid. Therefore when the money runs out there is no motivation to work. The shepherd’s happiness comes from seeing others prosper. His motivation is love, therefore, his joy is eternal. I then asked, “What happens when your athletic career, your beauty, blessings, dance disappear?” If your relationship with God weakens you are playing the role of the hireling.
The next area I compared was work ethic. 3. The hireling is looking for the bare
minimum. As long as he doesn’t mess up too bad and make everything look okay then he will keep his job and money. If he just does almost all his boss tells him to do he is okay. But the Shepherd goes the extra mile. Just like running a triathlon, unlike a track race, you have no one to push you. You set the pace. You determine how much is accomplished. It is what you do when you are alone that determines your growth!
The third area I compared was when they work. 4. The hireling works when watched. I then asked, “Do you still obey when no one is there? Would you read your Bible? Would you pray every day? Would you get a ride to church even if your parents did not take you? Do you do it because you have to, or because you want to?” The enemy never gets off pace. The hireling says, “If I just rest a second. I’m so tired. If I just skip one day of reading my Bible. If I just finish my homework first. If I just watch 5 more minutes of t.v., listen 10 more seconds it won’t hurt me…” THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS FIGHTING AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO BREAK YOU. THE MOMENT WE STOP GROWING IS THE VERY MOMENT WE BEGIN TO BACKSLIDE. THERE IS NO LIFE IN BETWEEN. YOU ARE EITHER GROWING OR FALLING. The Shepherd does not have to be told what to do. His focus is on others. He doesn’t want to bless himself but God.
The final area compared was how each reacts to those around them. 5. The hireling does not recognize those around him. To him people are just objects of matter. But the shepherd is constantly on the lookout for those God has placed around him. He has an unselfish heart that places others above him because he wants to see the lost sheep found. I then asked, “When you walk into your school can you feel the pain of your lost friends or is it all about you?” If you choose to be a shepherd tomorrow you will notice those around you and will be waiting and ready to step out and show God’s love to them, no matter how insecure you are. You will have a positive attitude. You will lay down your pride and show God’s love. You will be on the lookout for the WOLF and be ready to rescue your friends from him.
Finally, I asked, “How is the Good Shepherd able to do this?” Because of Love. I finished by reading I Cor 13:4-8 “Love never fails…” The good shepherd has Jesus at the center of his life who is love and not himself. This is what makes him different than the hireling.
MAKING IT REAL
When I finished speaking I said, “If you are willing to be a good shepherd this school year stand to your feet.” (Of course everyone stood. Who wouldn’t?) We then prayed for God to make us become the shepherds he has called us to be and change our schools for Him.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Every day before your child goes to school, whether it is in the car or at breakfast, pray with
your child. Pray with them and have them pray too (important). Pray that they would be a witness to their friends, to show God’s love to their teachers and coaches by respecting and honoring them. Pray that they would be the good shepherds God has called them to be, to not give into insecurity but to find their security in Jesus. This is a battlefield they are going into. If we don’t pray with them we are giving the enemy a foothold. God has planned something great this year but we must be ready!
Today was a big day for you and your children - being the first day of school. This morning I prayed that God would touch your children and anoint them to go to their schools in boldness. Today, school is a battle field. It is something that you must be prepared and equipped for. The enemy may think that he is in control of the school realm. What he doesn’t know is that your child is coming to take over. The enemy is going to be taken by surprise when he sees your sons and daughters ignite their schools on fire for God.
THE MESSAGE
TITLE: Is It In You?
Because of today being the start of the school year we talked about taking our schools for God. I began by reading John 10:11-13 in the message Bible: “The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep
mean nothing to him. He sees the wolf come and runs from It, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.” Jesus compares the differences between the Good Shepherd and the Hired man (hireling). He is relating this to our lives teaching us a very valuable lesson. As a Christian you are either a hireling or a good shepherd.I then laid out the differences between the hireling and the good shepherd. 1. The hireling is working to get paid. He’s only in it for the money. The hireling is in Christianity because he knows he will get paid—go to heaven (fire insurance), feel better about himself, receive God’s blessings (good grades, sports, dancing success…). On the other hand, the good shepherd wants the sheep to prosper. He wants the One he works for to benefit and be honored by the work he does for Him. I then asked, “Why did you come tonight? Was it to have fun and be blessed or to bless God? So many times we place fun above God.” I then asked the question, “What motivates you to be a Christian? For personal gain? Feel good? Going to heaven? Or is it because I am in love with Jesus Christ and I want to honor Him with my life?”
The second area that I compared was the hireling’s and shepherds happiness. 2. The hireling’s happiness is getting paid. Therefore when the money runs out there is no motivation to work. The shepherd’s happiness comes from seeing others prosper. His motivation is love, therefore, his joy is eternal. I then asked, “What happens when your athletic career, your beauty, blessings, dance disappear?” If your relationship with God weakens you are playing the role of the hireling.
The next area I compared was work ethic. 3. The hireling is looking for the bare
minimum. As long as he doesn’t mess up too bad and make everything look okay then he will keep his job and money. If he just does almost all his boss tells him to do he is okay. But the Shepherd goes the extra mile. Just like running a triathlon, unlike a track race, you have no one to push you. You set the pace. You determine how much is accomplished. It is what you do when you are alone that determines your growth!The third area I compared was when they work. 4. The hireling works when watched. I then asked, “Do you still obey when no one is there? Would you read your Bible? Would you pray every day? Would you get a ride to church even if your parents did not take you? Do you do it because you have to, or because you want to?” The enemy never gets off pace. The hireling says, “If I just rest a second. I’m so tired. If I just skip one day of reading my Bible. If I just finish my homework first. If I just watch 5 more minutes of t.v., listen 10 more seconds it won’t hurt me…” THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS FIGHTING AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO BREAK YOU. THE MOMENT WE STOP GROWING IS THE VERY MOMENT WE BEGIN TO BACKSLIDE. THERE IS NO LIFE IN BETWEEN. YOU ARE EITHER GROWING OR FALLING. The Shepherd does not have to be told what to do. His focus is on others. He doesn’t want to bless himself but God.
The final area compared was how each reacts to those around them. 5. The hireling does not recognize those around him. To him people are just objects of matter. But the shepherd is constantly on the lookout for those God has placed around him. He has an unselfish heart that places others above him because he wants to see the lost sheep found. I then asked, “When you walk into your school can you feel the pain of your lost friends or is it all about you?” If you choose to be a shepherd tomorrow you will notice those around you and will be waiting and ready to step out and show God’s love to them, no matter how insecure you are. You will have a positive attitude. You will lay down your pride and show God’s love. You will be on the lookout for the WOLF and be ready to rescue your friends from him.
Finally, I asked, “How is the Good Shepherd able to do this?” Because of Love. I finished by reading I Cor 13:4-8 “Love never fails…” The good shepherd has Jesus at the center of his life who is love and not himself. This is what makes him different than the hireling.
MAKING IT REAL
When I finished speaking I said, “If you are willing to be a good shepherd this school year stand to your feet.” (Of course everyone stood. Who wouldn’t?) We then prayed for God to make us become the shepherds he has called us to be and change our schools for Him.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Every day before your child goes to school, whether it is in the car or at breakfast, pray with
your child. Pray with them and have them pray too (important). Pray that they would be a witness to their friends, to show God’s love to their teachers and coaches by respecting and honoring them. Pray that they would be the good shepherds God has called them to be, to not give into insecurity but to find their security in Jesus. This is a battlefield they are going into. If we don’t pray with them we are giving the enemy a foothold. God has planned something great this year but we must be ready! 
