Know the Members of Your Herd!

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ~Matthew 18:20

One day while absently flipping through the television channels I came across a show on the National Geographic channel. This particular special followed the hunting patterns of hyenas. Due to a decrease in their food supply, the pack of hyenas was forced to hunt close to a pride of lions. Night after night the hyenas came up empty handed because the lions were hunting in close groups and dominating any prey they came across. Often times the hyenas would sit on the side lines waiting for the lions to slip up just once so they could get a taste of the prey. After nights of waiting, the perfect opportunity came for the hyenas. A lioness had wandered away from the pride in search of food. She found an animal, quickly killed it, and began to eat her dinner. Just as quickly as she had taken down the animal, a pack of hyenas swarmed her and wrestled her kill away from her. Knowing she was outnumbered, the lioness retreated with little resistance.

While watching this, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me, "See that's exactly how Satan works. When you are with your fellow sisters and brothers in Christ you are strengthened, so he tries to isolate you so he can devour you!" {Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ~ 1 Peter 5:8} Do not be fooled by this trick of the enemy. There is always safety in numbers! When you feel hard pressed on every side, run to Jesus and ask Him to reveal to you the members of your herd for that situation. While we recognize Jesus is our source for all we need, we also recognize that He often works through people He places in our paths. When you come together with the members of you herd; the herd God has joined together for your edification, you will find safety! When the herd comes together (Matthew 18:20), Jesus is there in the midst of them! The hyena (satan) knows better than to attack the entire herd, because he is defenseless against Jesus!

It is imperative that we as believers recognize our "herd" and stick together. Just as the hyenas preyed on an animal they would otherwise be afraid of when they saw an open opportunity, so does the devil attempt to prey on us when we do not seek support from one another. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ~Romans 15:1 Today I may be strong and you weak, but next week the roles may be reversed and I may need you to bear my infirmities. If I pull away from you during my "weak" season and try to "handle" things alone one of us would be lacking in either giving or receiving support. I know there will be times when the Lord will instruct us to speak to Him alone regarding the issues of life, but even then, know He has placed you on the heart and mind of someone in the herd and they are bearing you up in prayer. Know your herd (not necessarily members of your local church body, but often times will be), love your herd (love with the love of Christ, not from your emotions), run with your herd (stick with the people God leads you to stick with)!

It is also important for us to remember in our "strong" seasons not to forget about the weak. God does not strengthen us just for us. He strengthens us that we may strengthen others. In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted strengthen they brethren." When you are experiencing your mountain top, do not forget about your herd members that are still in the valley. Carry the burden of prayer for them (as the Holy Spirit leads) until they see victory or until the burden lifts. In all things, be led of the Spirit of God!

God bless you!