Our Holy Lamb: Lifting the Fleece, #1

By Bil Howard

With persecution of Christians increasing, our temptation is to become frustrated and to kick against the goads. Our true answer is to look toward Our Holy Lamb.

In Our Holy Lamb, the preeminent power of Jesus as the Worthy Lamb of God is displayed in both written words and illustrations. Its purpose is to motivate Christians toward fearlessly advancing forward behind the Holy Lamb of God, without looking behind them, to the left or to the right, as we march.

Our Holy Lamb also makes use of the lives of seven of the Holy Lamb’s great warriors as examples of how, by putting their trust in the Lord, they were able to do great things and overcome great obstacles.

Sharpen your focus on following the lead of the one who will shepherd His people to living fountains; the Holy Lamb of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bil Howard
• Release date: Feb 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386734727

Book preview

Foreword

This book developed out of blog posts on my blog, Lifting the Fleece. As I considered compiling it into a book, I shared it with my sister, Karen John. Karen told me that it inspired her. She was so inspired that she started painting pictures, initially using PC Paint, which she likened to an Etch-a-sketch. The first picture was pretty rough, but I liked the concept and she started putting together illustrations for each of the chapters and the cover. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, then she has nearly doubled the length of this book. I am thrilled to share her work with you. I know that many of you will be equally inspired by her graphic interpretations of the biblical truths that are contained in this book. May Jesus be glorified in the work of our hands and in you as we share it with you. Amen.

Introduction

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1&2

Christianity, in general, is drifting. It has been drifting for quite some time, but it is far out at sea with no land in sight at this point. Why would I make such a claim? I make that claim because of several tendencies of those who confess to be Christians. Those tendencies are:

Lukewarm attention toward Jesus.

Inability to speak the name of Jesus.

Failure to focus solely on Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith.

The time is already upon us that those who are the true sheep of His fold will be called out by Him. They will receive His rebuke, repent and turn to following their shepherd.

Lukewarm toward Jesus

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. – Revelations 3:15 & 16

This is a warning to the Lukewarm Christians. These are Christians who are on fire for Christianity on Sunday morning, maybe Wednesday night and during special church programs, but are cold toward Jesus throughout the week. The result of that sort of living makes them lukewarm. He who sits on the throne would rather those Christians were hot or cold.

God showed us the manner in which He wants us to commune with Him when He provided the manna and quail for the people of Israel in the desert (Exodus 16). God might have provided those things once a week. He might have provided them on Sunday mornings only or He might have provided them on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. That’s not what He did.

We are to eat of the manna daily. We are to eat of the Bread of Heaven daily. We are to commune with Jesus daily. If you are not in the word and in prayer daily, then you are lukewarm and you will be vomited out of God’s mouth.

Inability to Speak the Name of Jesus

This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:11 & 12

The power for salvation is in the name of Jesus. If you’ll read through the book of Acts, you’ll see a phrase that is used over and over again in the name of Jesus. Take a look:

For the remission of sins in Acts 2:38

The lame walk in Acts 3:6

Salvation in Acts 4:10

The name of Jesus is forbidden in Acts 4:18

Healing in Acts 4:30

Baptized in the name of Jesus in Acts 8:12 and 8:16

Preaching in the name of Jesus in Acts 9:27

Disputed the Greeks with the name of Jesus in Acts 9:29

Risked their lives in the name of Jesus in Acts 15:26

In total, there are 18 direct references to this phrase in the book of Acts, which is more than half of the references throughout the New Testament. What was recorded in Acts was the most powerful period in the history of the church. The disciples going forth and preaching, baptizing and healing in the name of Jesus was so much of a threat that the name of Jesus was forbidden.

I’ve been as bad as or worse than anyone else. For a very long time I was afraid to speak the name of Jesus. I would use every other name that He has. I would speak of God, Christ, the Lord, the Savior, the Messiah, the Good Shepherd, etc., but for some reason, speaking the name of Jesus was very difficult. I got over that fear and began to watch my life change.

Christians, listen! There is power in the name of Jesus. Speak His name boldly. Stop avoiding it. Yes, all of those other names are who He is, but the name of Jesus has special significance and power behind it. Call your brother, Jesus, by name. Speak of Him boldly.

Failure to Focus Solely on Jesus

...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. – Hebrews 12:1&2

If