Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Christ is the faithful keeper
of his sheep, one who will never desert them at any time or for
any reason. The Lord Jesus said, I am the
good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his
life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling and not the shepherd,
who has owned the sheep or not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth
the sheep, and fleeth. And the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because
he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good
shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the
Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down
my life for the sheep." Christ is the powerful keeper of his
sheep. Time and time again we are reminded in the scriptures
of the power of God who orders all things to occur according
to his own purpose. It is also quite clear in the
scriptures that it is the purpose of God to keep those who he calls
his own. He will keep the feet of his
saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by
strength shall no man prevail. Christ is the invincible keeper
of his sheep. I, the Lord, have called thee
in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee.
Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise
in the islands. The Lord shall go forth as a
mighty man. He shall stir up jealousy like
a man of war. He shall cry, yea, roar, he shall
prevail against his enemies. None can stand against him who
has determined to deliver his people from the death and destruction
that waits for the wicked. He shall cover thee with his
feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall
be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for
the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flyeth by day,
nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction
that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy
side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not
come nigh thee. Christ is the continual keeper
of his sheep. The psalmist said that he shall
neither slumber nor sleep. His eyes are always fixed upon
those who are the apple of his eye. The eyes of the Lord are
upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. This
is seen in Paul's declaration. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. Christ is the ultimate keeper
of his sheep. Now unto him that is able to
keep you from falling and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Every one of God's
elect children shall be preserved and kept by the hand of him who
has determined to bring many sons unto glory. The Lord will
keep his bride in the present time and forevermore. Some tell
us that the Lord's children must remain faithful or the Lord will
cast them away. There would be no hope nor comfort
in such a thought for those who are acquainted with the depravity
and unfaithfulness of their own sinful flesh. Not only that,
but it would be futile to build one's house upon the quicksand
of man's supposed ability or faith. Except the Lord build
the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord
keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Give us help from
trouble, for vain is the help of man. Unless the Lord should
keep that which he has started by preserving his people in the
midst of all their calamities, they should all despair of ever
arriving in his presence. Yet Paul clearly was confident
that he not only could, but would preserve that purchased possession
until the final day. Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ. But the Lord is faithful, who
shall establish you and keep you from evil. Christ is the
keeper of his saints. He guards them by his power,
subdues their numerous complaints in every gloomy hour. What though
they fear each dread alarm tried and severely tossed, held by
the Savior's mighty arm, none, none can e'er be lost. He'll
lead them on Pharaoh Zion's road, though weary, weak, and faint.
For oh, they ne'er shall lose their God, or God e'er lose a
saint. How sure his great salvation
shines, how full the vast reward, how firm the promise ere remains,
how faithful is the Lord. The Lord has designed each trial
that he is pleased to send to his children, both to remind
them of their own weakness and to manifest his glory and faithfulness
in their deliverance in them. Those things have I spoken unto
you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall
have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.