Feed My Sheep

Joseph Herrin (04-21-2010)



Often during my walk of the past eleven years as I have followed the Father there have been seasons of heightened spiritual attacks. There is a very real warfare to be waged. As Christians we not only are called to rule over the enemies within our own flesh, but we have an external adversary as well.

I Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Although the apostle Paul tells the saints in Ephesians chapter 6 that they do not wrestle against flesh and blood, Satan does stir up many men and women to act as hindrances to God’s people. Satan stirred up the jealousy of the Jewish leaders in Christ’s day resulting in His arrest and crucifixion. Paul encountered similar opposition from human quarters and was on different occasions stoned, beaten, whipped, and in the end martyred.

In recent days and weeks I have been experiencing an increased level of attack spiritually. A brother in Christ from New Jersey suggested that I should share such things with the saints that they might stand in prayer with me. I know that a number of you will do so. I have felt the tremendous beneficial effects of the prayers of the saints before when I entreated them to pray. I am walking in such a time now that I believe your prayers will prevail much to break through the enemy’s walls of opposition and to release strength to stand against all his fiery attacks.

I will briefly summarize the character of the opposition.

About two weeks ago my original website, www.heart4god.ws, came under attack. I do not know the specific nature of the attack, but it resulted in the Internet hosting company’s automated defenses kicking in and taking the website offline to prevent unauthorized access or damage to it. The man who owns the company, and who hosts my site at no charge, brought it back online.

I sensed this event was symbolic. At the same time I began to receive an increased level of e-mail, and blog comments that I would characterize as personal attacks. Such things are not new to me. Having had an Internet ministry for over a decade I have encountered many “flames” and un-Christlike communications. These have served as opportunities for me to grow in the grace of Christ, to speak a blessing when reviled, and to refuse to take up personal offenses.

Such experiences are necessary for the sons of God to grow in conformity to Christ. I think those who are called as ministers must especially be tried in many ways. God’s intent in permitting us to endure persecution is always to promote spiritual growth. As Paul testified:

I Corinthians 4:12-13
When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

Following are a couple examples of the stones of offense that have been thrown my way.

Mr Herrin,

This will be our last response to any of your blogs. As we see your not able to break the chains of Secular Christianity, in word therefore deed. Not able to understand the words and their meaning in the different languages you profess to be a teacher of - when you Preach. We leave you with this last comment.

We do not consider you to be in the body therefore we will not judge you.

Secular Christians are known by the fruit of their Mouth. Out of yours are being taught to others who simply do not understand. The mouthed words that have meanings we oppose as they are against Yahshua Messiah.

We shall no longer respond to your blog as Secular Christianity is Not the Messiah's.

At least 15 (7 being language scholar graduates of The Hebrew University) of us agree - you have 'need' in many things said we can not agree we do not Judge- but only Rebuke you.

Good bye

A couple days later I received the following comment when I posted the information on my upcoming meetings.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Notice of Upcoming Meetings":

The truth is that you are WAITING
on people to mail you a check...
so that you can have a nice trip.

You still cant buy gas food and
lodging on GOD Bless Yous...It still takes money...In which you
take freely of... Get a job!!!
You don't have to take a trip/vacation to spread the word,
you can contiune to do Facebook
twitter, your're website etc etc
without going on the road.
What a farce... Quit living off
other people..and WORK!!!!

May YOU get understanding!!!!

The assaults have come from other directions as well, including family, and from within my own soul. While spending two weeks camping at Pine Mountain, Georgia recently I was going to Callaway Gardens to enjoy the beauty of Yahweh’s creation and to get exercise by riding my bicycle. Callaway is a very family oriented place. There were parents with children everywhere. Couples were walking hand in hand. People were traveling together on tour buses and with friends.

Satan did not fail to point out to me that I was the only person by myself. When I would stop at a park restaurant for a meal I was made aware that I was the only person sitting by themselves at a table. The adversary was tempting me to pity myself for the loneliness of this walk the Father has called me to.

One evening as I was back at my campsite the enemy began to bring many of these thoughts together in my mind. The attacks via e-mail, letters, and blog comments were before me. The enemy poised the question of why I would persist in sharing things publicly when it invited such animosity. The humbleness of my living situation was cast up before me, and I was made to know that I could live a much more comfortable life by returning to work in the computer field. The loneliness was then set before my attention, with the question, “What could be worth such a solitary walk?”

At that moment I picked up a book I had pulled out to review. The book was one I had authored some months ago. I opened it up and read the following passage:

Those who would be firstfruits unto God must anticipate that rejection by their brethren will be their portion. One cannot be too attached to a desire for fellowship among brethren if they would attain to the high call of their Father in heaven. A time will come when such sons of God will recognize that their devotion and love for the Father will lead them to be rejected by their brethren, and they must be willing to bear the cost. They must be willing to walk alone, separated from the companionship of other earthly relations.

John 1:11
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”

The walk of the firstborn is a lonely walk. It is a life set aside for the pleasure of Yahweh, our heavenly Father. When one walks with God, they will find themselves with little earthly company. The church today has lots of fellowship. There are myriads of brethren who meet together regularly, feasting together, playing together, dwelling together, while the Joseph’s are alone.

One might think that Joseph finally knew fellowship when his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain and were reunited with him, but this is not so. We read the following about Joseph’s circumstances.

Genesis 43:32
And the servants set out the food for Joseph by himself, and for his brothers by themselves, and for those Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, according to the Egyptian custom not to eat food with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Three groups of people are revealed here in type. The Egyptians are a picture of the world. Joseph’s brothers are a type of the church. Joseph is a type of the overcomer in Christ.

We find that those who will walk as overcomers will dine alone. The world despises the overcomer. The church cannot eat from the same table, and therefore the overcomer must dine alone. The overcomer can take food from his table, speaking of the revelations of God, and send them to his brothers, but he will find that it continues to be his lot to abide by himself. As much as his heart may yearn to be seated among his brothers, there is always something that keeps the separation in place.
[End Excerpt]

Reading that passage at the precise moment was a great encouragement. It reminded me that these experiences, although trying to the soul, all follow the pattern through which the Father perfects those sons He has determined to promote. The day came when Joseph forgot all the difficulties he had experienced.

I realized that the consistent theme of these attacks was to goad me into forsaking the ministry entrusted to me and returning to secular employment. The Spirit reminded me of the call He had placed upon my life, the many affirmations that I was in His will, and the faithfulness He has manifested in caring for all my needs.

As I was leaving Pine Mountain to drive back to central Georgia this past Sunday, these things were still on my mind. I was thinking about the upcoming speaking trip, and the experiences to be passed through. I felt that what I really needed, and all that was necessary, was for the Father to say, “You are walking where I want you to walk. I have appointed you to go and speak to My people.” When He sends He will be faithful to provide all that is necessary for His will to be accomplished.

I had some songs I had downloaded from the Internet playing on my van’s stereo system. On one particular song I felt the presence of the Spirit manifest in a special way. I knew I was hearing the voice of Christ speaking to me. The song was written by Karl Kohlhase and is titled “The Question.” It was the chorus that really spoke to my spirit. It said:

What do you love?
Do you love Me?
Do you love?
If you love Me, feed My lambs

Do you love Me?
What do you love?
Do you love Me?
If you love Me, feed My lambs

This chorus played several times over, and I could hear the voice of the Spirit of Christ in the words as if they were spoken to me.

(All of Karl’s songs can be downloaded, or played for free at his website. The link to this song is provided below.)

http://www.k4communications.com/karl/downloads/question.mp3

As I heard this invitation in my spirit I knew that I wanted more than anything to finish the course appointed for me. I desired to return the Savior’s love by feeding His sheep that He would send me to.

The attacks have continued this week. I have often seen Satan stir up individuals at critical times. They are not even aware that they are being used as pawns of the enemy of Christ. The taunts of the enemy do not sound like the voice of the Father. They are lacking the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. There is no gentleness, no humility, no love.

Satan has been able to discourage many through such methods. I know the adversary does not want Christ’s sheep to be fed, encouraged, challenged, or strengthened.

I would invite those who are willing to lift up the meetings which will begin Friday evening and run through Sunday. They will be held in the home of Kevin O’Connell and his wife Julie. Please pray that there would be a profound manifestation of the Spirit of Christ. Where the Spirit is present there is unity, there is love, there is edification. I ask you to lift up those who will be attending that they might truly be fed and strengthened in profound measure. And pray that in my weakness that the Lord might reveal Himself in strength. May the anointing of Christ be present to accomplish all the Father’s will.

Through the parable of the attack on the Heart4God website, a witness has been given that there are attacks coming against those who are walking with a heart after God. The enemy desires to bring down the message of Christ, to keep it from going forth. He does not want Yahshua’s people to find the path to life, or to receive the encouragement to follow the course to its end. One of Satan’s methods is to bring down the messenger. He finds many who are willing to serve as his accomplices in this work, but there is One stronger, wiser, and full of love Who walks with us.

Perhaps you are also experiencing a season of attack. The enemy would have you to be discouraged. He would seek to depress you, to bring you down. Hold up the shield of faith. Through it you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. Hide yourself in the One who is a Strong Tower and a shelter from the storm. You will receive strength for the journey.

Draw near to Him. Your Shepherd is waiting with open arms.



Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063