THE TRIUMPHANT AND GLORIOUS CHURCH: JESUS CHRIST – THE COMPLETE SHEPHERD!
“. . . 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 that he might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that he might present it to himself a GLORIOUS church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. . . .” Ephesians 5:22-33.
The Church is defined as an individual, local and collective body of born-again, Spirit-filled believers in Christ Jesus under a shepherd. And our Saviour And Lord Jesus Christ is the COMPLETE Shepherd of the TRIUMPHANT and GLORIOUS CHURCH – and you can count and account on Him in 24/7, timeless, in life and grace.
And it’s awesome, gracious, and graceful to know that the CHIEF, GREAT, GOOD and PERSONAL SHEPHERD of the TRIUMPHANT and GLORIOUS Church is Jesus Christ – who is our Saviour, King, and Lord of All. For by Him the Church is glorious and triumphant in every way in the grace.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to TRIUMPH in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
“And having SPOILED principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, TRIUMPHING over them in it” Colossians 2:15.
More so, the Holy Scriptures enjoin that Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, is to us, THE CHURCH – both as individuals and as a collective body – the complete shepherd:
The CHIEF Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4.
“And when the CHIEF SHEPHERD shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”
The GREAT Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20-21.
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that GREAT SHEPHERD of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”
The GOOD Shepherd – John 10:11, 14.
“I am the GOOD SHEPHERD: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep . . .14 I am the GOOD SHEPHERD, and know my sheep, and am known of mine”
My PERSONAL Shepherd – Psalms 23
“The Lord is MY SHEPHERD; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” Psalms 23:1-6.
When you can comprehend this, there is no need to worry, live in fear and despondent because He’s ever faithful to who and what He is as our CHIEF, GREAT and GOOD SHEPHERD.
I pray that the BLESSEDNESS of having the CHIEF, GREAT, GOOD, AND PERSONAL SHEPHERD over you will keep your head up, shoulders high, and heels high. More so, may you have the mandate to triumph over all your infirmities, limitations, and CIRCUMSTANCES in your day to day in LIFE and GODLINESS.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK!
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God . . . 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:1-2, 8.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not IMPUTING their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION. 20 Now then, WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
SUMMARY:
This is a pastoral, triumphant declaration of the Church’s identity and her Shepherd.
In one line: It proclaims that Jesus Christ is the COMPLETE SHEPHERD — CHIEF, GREAT, GOOD, and PERSONAL — who sanctifies, leads, and causes the Church to walk in glory, triumph, and victory over every circumstance.
It affirms that the Church is a born-again, Spirit-filled body made GLORIOUS and without blemish by Christ. In Him we TRIUMPH, are NEW CREATIONS, and AMBASSADORS with no reason to fear, and we are mandated to walk with head up, shoulders high, overcoming every limitation in LIFE and GODLINESS. The tone is reverent, declarative, pastoral, and victorious.
Key Points
- TheChurch’s Identity: Sanctified, Spotless, and Shepherded
From Ephesians 5:25-27, Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it to SANCTIFY and CLEANSE it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it a GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having spot, wrinkle, or blemish, but holy and without blemish.
Definition: The Church is an individual, local, and collective body of born-again, Spirit-filled believers in Christ Jesus under a shepherd.
- Christ’s Identity:THECOMPLETE SHEPHERD
Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ is the COMPLETE Shepherd of the TRIUMPHANT and GLORIOUS CHURCH — and you can count and account on Him 24/7, timeless, in life and grace.
He is revealed in 4-fold fullness in Scripture:
THE CHIEF SHEPHERD [1 Peter 5:4] — “when the CHIEF SHEPHERD shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
THE GREAT SHEPHERD [Hebrews 13:20-21] — raised from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant, who makes you perfect in every good work.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD [John 10:11, 14] — “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
MY PERSONAL SHEPHERD [Psalm 23:1-6] — “The Lord is MY SHEPHERD; I shall not want… He restoreth my soul… my cup runneth over.”
Result: For by Him the Church is glorious and triumphant in every way in the grace. When you comprehend this, there is no need to worry, live in fear, or be despondent — because He is ever faithful as our CHIEF, GREAT, and GOOD SHEPHERD.
- The Church’s Posture: TRIUMPHANT OVERCOMER
Triumph in Christ: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to TRIUMPH in Christ” [2 Corinthians 2:14].
Victory Over Enemies: “having SPOILED principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, TRIUMPHING over them in it” [Colossians 2:15].
- The Pastoral Blessing & Mandate
I pray that the BLESSEDNESS of having the CHIEF, GREAT, GOOD, AND PERSONAL SHEPHERD over you will keep your head up, shoulders high, and heels high.
More so, may you have the mandate to triumph over all your infirmities, limitations, and CIRCUMSTANCES in your day-to-day LIFE and GODLINESS.
- The Foundation: Reconciliation, New Creation, and Ambassadorship
Peace & Grace: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [Romans 5:1-2, 8].
New Creation: “if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away” [2 Corinthians 5:17].
Ambassadors: “WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST… be reconciled to God” [2 Corinthians 5:18-20].
Righteousness: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM” [2 Corinthians 5:21].
Key Theme in One Line:
Jesus Christ, the COMPLETE SHEPHERD, makes the TRIUMPHANT and GLORIOUS CHURCH sanctified, victorious, fearless, and sent as His ambassadors of reconciliation.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI