be gathered into the sheepfold

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10:1-2)

The words from our key scripture that I want to highlight are, “into the fold of the sheep.” One morning during the week of the 14 - 21 August I was in prayer and in a state of quiet reflection before the Lord. My attention was turned to the portion of scripture in John chapter 10 where Jesus talks about the shepherd and the sheep. I became very aware in the spirit that God had a name for every sheep and that every sheep was to be gathered into a sheepfold. The sheepfold is a place where the sheep are protected and kept safe as they are being watched over by the shepherd. I saw the sheepfold not as a mystical place but as a very real place of fellowship where I needed to be committed to. I also saw many sheep coming to the sheepfold and hearing the voice of the shepherd proclaiming their name and finding their place amongst the flock within the sheepfold. I saw sheep hearing and knowing the voice of the shepherd to their lives and not being deceived by other voices who knew not their name and who did not have a true shepherding heart towards them. I saw sheep at rest and in peace. I responded to the Lord and said, ‘Lord that’s what I want to be a part of.’ I then felt the still small voice of the Spirit speak into my heart and say, ‘You do belong to a true fold and I have many sheep that I want to gather that they may learn and know their name and find a place of safe keeping.’ The Holy Spirit wants to heal many sheep from their continual straying and return them to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls. (1Pet 2:24-25) I was greatly comforted by the Holy Spirit.