View source for THE LITTLE FLOCK

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<p>&quot;Remember&nbsp;<em>the  words of the Lord Jesus</em>, how He said,&quot;<br><br>
  <em>&quot;Fear  not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the  kingdom.&quot;</em>&nbsp;— Luke  12:32<br><br>
  The music of the Shepherd's voice  again! Another comforting &quot;word,&quot; and how tender!&nbsp;<em>His</em>&nbsp;flock,  a&nbsp;<em>little</em>&nbsp;flock,  a&nbsp;<em>feeble</em>&nbsp;flock,  a<em> fearful</em>&nbsp;flock — but a&nbsp;<em>beloved</em>&nbsp;flock  — loved of the Father, enjoying His &quot;good pleasure,&quot; and soon to be a&nbsp;<em>glorified</em><em>&nbsp;</em>flock — safe in the fold, secure within the  kingdom! How does He quiet their fears and misgivings? As they stand panting on  the bleak mountainside, He points His crook upwards to the bright and shining  gates of glory, and says,<em>&nbsp;</em><em>&quot;It is your Father's good pleasure to give you  these!&quot;</em><em>&nbsp;</em>What gentle words! what a blessed consummation!  Gracious Saviour, Your&nbsp;<em>gentleness</em>&nbsp;has  made me great!<br><br>
  That kingdom is the believer's — by  irreversible and inalienable&nbsp;<em>covenant-right</em>.  Says Jesus in another place, &quot;I  appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father has appointed unto Me.&quot; It is as  sure as&nbsp;<em>everlasting love</em><em>&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<em>almighty power</em><em>&nbsp;</em>can  make it. Satan, the great foe of the kingdom, may be  injecting foul misgivings, doubts, and fears as to your security; but he cannot<em> divest</em><em>&nbsp;</em>you of your purchased immunities! He must first  pluck the crown from the 'brow upon the throne', before he can weaken or impair  this sure word of promise! If &quot;it pleased the Lord&quot; to&nbsp;<em>bruise</em>&nbsp;the  Shepherd — then it will surely please Him to glorify the purchased flock.<br><br>
  Believers, think of this! &quot;It is  your Father's good pleasure.&quot; The Good Shepherd, in leading you across the  intervening mountains, shows you signals and memorials of paternal grace  studding all the way. He may &quot;lead you about&quot; in your way there.&nbsp;<em>How</em><em>&nbsp;</em>did He lead the children of Israel of old out of Egypt — to their promised kingdom?  By forty years'&nbsp;<em>wilderness discipline</em>&nbsp;and  privations! But trust Him; do not dishonour Him with guilty doubts and fears.  Do not look&nbsp;<em>back</em><em>&nbsp;</em>on  your dark, stumbling paths, nor&nbsp;<em>within</em><em>&nbsp;</em>on  your fitful and vacillating heart; but&nbsp;<em>forwards</em><em>&nbsp;</em>to the promised heavenly kingdom!<br><br>
  Let the melody of the Shepherd's voice  fall gently on your ear, &quot;It is your Father's good pleasure.&quot; I have  given you, He seems to say, the best proof that it is&nbsp;<em>My</em><em>&nbsp;</em>good pleasure<em>.</em>&nbsp;In  order to purchase that kingdom — I died for you! &quot;I will be like a  shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find My sheep and rescue them  from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy  day.&quot; Fear not, then, little flock! Though for a while, you are in the  bleak mountain and arid wasteland, seeking your way Zion ward, it may be &quot;with torn fleeces  and bleeding feet;&quot; for, &quot;It is not the will of your Father who is in  Heaven — that one of these little ones should perish!&quot;</p>

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