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SHEEP OR GOAT?
do you know the difference between a sheep and a goat in the bible?
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Written by Missionary/Pastor David R. Cox of Mexico City, Mexico
All verses below are from The King James Holy Bible!
Matthew 25:32-33
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
The Bible describes the truly saved ones as sheep. But it also speaks of goats among the sheep. The difference between the two is tremendous. Have you considered how you fit into one of these categories, sheep or goat?
(1) Goats eat trash.
(2) Goats are arrogant.
(3) Goats are aggressive against others.
(4) Goats jump the fence regularly.
(5) Goats are always in a bad mood.
(2) Goats are arrogant.
(3) Goats are aggressive against others.
(4) Goats jump the fence regularly.
(5) Goats are always in a bad mood.
(1) GOATS EAT TRASH:
One of the marks of a goat is that it will eat almost anything. Much more than just eating it, it thinks that trash is delicious. There are Christians who do not feed themselves well spiritually speaking. In place of going to a good church with healthy spiritual food, these will feed themselves on anything, but mostly trash. While the Bible clearly tells us in (1 Peter 2:2).
1 Peter 2:2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
The goats will feed themselves on what is popular, what is exciting, and what has little or no eternal value. Often they stay home to watch a false prophet on the TV instead of seeking good spiritual food. They miss the point of (Hebrews 10:25).
Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
God has created us with a spiritual need to have fellowship with good Christian brothers of the same faith, so that we can grow into maturity. Goats greatly disdain this both causing problems among the brethren and hating them. They come to church to discourage, attack, or destroy the community of faith, not to receive from it and build it up. This definitely marks a goat.
(2) GOATS ARE ARROGANT:
We have all seen the famous goat on top of something where he pridefully stands, saying, “I am the king of the mountain.” The nature of goats is that they like to exalt themselves. It is a classic sight to see a goat with his head high in the air, while sheep have they heads bent down feeding. All this pride goes with their nature inherited from the devil, their father. In (Isaiah 14:13-14) describes Satan their father.
Isaiah 14:13-14
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Is it any surprise to know that in Satanistic ceremonies they use the image of a goat to identify themselves? The goat is proud, and his most important priority it seems is to get into a position of highness over others so that he can look down on them (whether physically, financially, or in pride), and especially dominate and control others. He sees himself as “better than the rest”, and he thinks that "HE" should be over and above the rest. On the other hand, a sheep always has his head bowed; concerned principally with feeding himself with what is lowly. You can be assured that any minister or Christian who has pride, arrogance, or is boastful is a child of the devil, and has the attitude of his father the devil.
Proverbs 8:13
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 16:5
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
How can a true child of God “take pride in” the moral character of pride and arrogancy that is so hated by God? The person who rejects humility is deceived by the devil. By this character trait, you see who is a goat and who is a sheep.
(3) GOATS ARE AGGRESSIVE:
Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Another mark of goats is that they are very aggressive. They are always going head to head with everyone, especially with each other, and with any who crosses them. They look like sheep but have horns for hurting others that they use very well for that purpose. God commands us to seek tranquility and peace with others, because every true Christian has the peace of God dwelling in him and will seek peace with others in this life.
The goat is like his father.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Galatians 5:15
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
God commands and causes a tranquility within his children, and with other people in place of constant attacks, conflict, scandals, aggressions, and backbiting.
The Christian is prohibited from gossiping (1 Timothy 5:13).
1 Timothy 5:13
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
The Christian is prohibited from blaspheming (Colossians 3:8) and (2 Timothy 3:2).
Colossians 3:8
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
2 Timothy 3:2
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
The Christian is prohibited from slandering others (2 Timothy 3:2-5) and (1 Peter 3:16).
2 Timothy 3:2-5
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
1 Peter 3:16
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Especially, slandering his brethren in Christ. You really see the difference between sheep and goats on this one. Paul exhorted us in (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
1 Timothy 6:3-5
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Paul is saying that sound doctrine produces piety in the life of the person who believes it. Simply put, the mark of a goat is when the person wants or always gravitates to seeing their brethren as evil and themselves as good. They are contentious people as in (1 Timothy 3:3) and (Titus 1:7). They always seek fights and conflicts.
1 Timothy 3:3
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
Titus 1:7
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Look at (Titus 3:2).
Titus 3:2
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Very simple brethren, the person, who is like a goat, is always seeking contention and arguments, and he will constantly have problems with others because he is like Satan his father.
(4) GOATS CONSTANTLY JUMP THE FENCE:
While sheep have a deep and beautiful relationship of love and respect with their pastors, goats are always mischievous, jumping the fence constantly because they are never satisfied with where they are.
Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Sheep naturally have a loyalty to a good man of God who faithfully feeds them from the goodness of the Word of God. For the pastor it is a pleasure to have in his congregation true Christians who are obedient. He will not have complaints about his people on judgment day. They have problems, and he helps resolve them (sheep are willing and receiving his help). We understand here that God will demand pastors an accounting on judgment day for every member of his church.
Many people don’t even qualify as members of the church, because:
(1) They don’t attend regularly with faithfulness.
(2) If they come, they don’t seek communion and fellowship with their brethren (they arrive late, and leave immediately).
(3) They do not participate in church activities like evangelism, teaching, nor church community things.
(4) They don’t economically support the work of God which suggests where their loyalties lie (outside their own spiritual family).
(5) they do not permit the pastor to counsel them on their personal lives. They don’t talk over the matters of their life with the pastor, neither do they seek nor receive pastoral advice. The most famous here is when the pastor makes a comment that their life is out of order with Scripture, and they attack the pastor and their brethren getting mad in the process instead of heeding good counsel.
(2) If they come, they don’t seek communion and fellowship with their brethren (they arrive late, and leave immediately).
(3) They do not participate in church activities like evangelism, teaching, nor church community things.
(4) They don’t economically support the work of God which suggests where their loyalties lie (outside their own spiritual family).
(5) they do not permit the pastor to counsel them on their personal lives. They don’t talk over the matters of their life with the pastor, neither do they seek nor receive pastoral advice. The most famous here is when the pastor makes a comment that their life is out of order with Scripture, and they attack the pastor and their brethren getting mad in the process instead of heeding good counsel.
Every pastor has to represent the will God by his personal example. He has to be somebody that is exemplary in his own life. But in our churches it seems that the rule is that church loyalty is only seen where they give it to wicked ministers (which absolutely demand it). Everybody ignores the humble man of God that doesn’t demand loyalty to himself. This happens because the people don’t really feed themselves on the Word of God. When a Christian obeys and puts into practice what he learns of the will of God from the sermons and classes of a good man of God, then this loyalty will naturally exist. But this loyalty is first and over all to Christ, and then to the humble servant God has called to the ministry of feeding the people of God, because sheep exalt the authority of the Scriptures and honor those who handle the Scriptures correctly and wisely, supporting the warriors who fight in spiritual things. The ministry is involved with rebuking and exhorting those who hear so that they will be cleansed from their sins, and this is not very popular nor easy. Many brethren will be offended and leave the church.
Look at (1 Corinthians 16:15-16).
1 Corinthians 16:15-16
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
The idea of helping and supporting here is to work beside them. We should submit to hard working ministers. We should have loyalty to those who are serving (deaconing) the saints, and we should labor with them. “Laboureth” means to grow weary through work, to be exhausted because of work. Goats are notorious for not sacrificing or supporting the man of God among them, but jump from place to place.
(5) GOATS ARE ALWAYS IN A BAD MOOD:
Perhaps the worse mark of a goat is simple his attitude. He is never satisfied with anything. If you give him attention, he gets mad, and if you don’t he complains you are ignoring or slighting him.
Look at (Colossians 3:13).
Colossians 3:13
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
The mark of the children of God is their cooperation among themselves, and their spiritual and emotional support for the lives one of another, and their aversion to complaining and conflict within the family of God. They put up with things and take personal loss to keep the peace.
Look at (James 5:9).
James 5:9
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
The Christian faithful to God is always with the thought that God is near, God is watching, and because of this, he does not act poorly with his brothers, nor towards authority.
So what are you? a sheep or a goat?
god knows! one day he will make this clear to you!
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You can download
Do you know the difference between a sheep and a goat?
here in pamphlet form!
Do you know the difference between a sheep and a goat?
here in pamphlet form!
"TRUST IN WHAT CHRIST DID FOR YOU!"
From The King James Holy Bible, John 6:29
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
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REVELATION 20:15
