Separation of Sheep from Goats

Dear beloved: Everywhere we look these days we see the evidence of God's hand of judgment falling not only on this nation, but on all nations all over the world. There is a great separation going on; those who are gathering for the kingdom are being separated from those who are scattering. This is the earthly rehearsal for the eternal separation yet to come, when the sheep and the goats will be separated according to their works and treatment of Israel and their fellow man.

Jesus laid this plan out in great detail in Matthew chapter 25:31-46. The separation comes after all the nations of the world have been gathered in front of the Son of Man, and all the holy angels with him. V33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. v34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then Jesus goes on to list 6 groups of people that the sheep had ministered to: He said," I was hungry and you gave me meat, thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, naked and you clothed me, I was sick, and in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous asked the Lord, when did we minister to you in these places and in these ways? v40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."

Then Jesus goes on to separate out the goats and judge them on the same grounds that He judged the sheep, but He said to the goats (v41) "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels": And the King condemns them because they did not minister to Him in those same six groups of people. He wraps up His charge against them by saying in v45 "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these of mine, you did it not to Me. v46 And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Although this judgment is concerned primarily with the persecution and treatment of Israel, it is a primary motivator for anyone who is looking for kingdom work. What does Jesus value when He makes His judgment? Look for the poor, the broken, those sick, in prison, that's where you will find Jesus. You will see Him when you look at and minister to these people. This scripture is what prompted me to answer the call to prison ministry, and has now opened up the doors to international crusades, orphan care in Africa, and many other open ministry doors. If you are wanting to step out in ministry, look for Jesus in the faces of these people, and you will see Him. God bless you, in Christ, Jim