LIFE WITH THE
SHEPHERD
John 10:7-18
THE DOOR TO HEAVEN
V:7. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."
A. Jesus has an
established relationship with all believers.
1. He is the only
way one can enter into heaven.
2. The word
"verily'' means trustworthy.
a. Jesus
gives us this truth and He confirms this truth with His Word.
3. If you want to
be the sheep of Jesus, you must receive Him as your savior.
B. Jesus is speaking
to each and every one of us.
1. Everyone is
given the opportunity to be saved.
2. Not everyone
will go to the door to be saved.
V:8. "All that ever came before me are thieves and
robbers: but the sheep did not hear them."
A. There are those
who are false shepherds.
1. Their real
purpose is to steal physically and spiritually.
B. Notice, God fixed
the mind of His sheep so they are not deceived by false teaching.
1. Those who are
connected with Jesus know the difference between the true Shepherd
and the
Imposters.
V:9. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
A. Salvation comes
through Christ and Christ only.
1. "Any Man". Everyone is given the
opportunity to be saved.
2. "Shall
be saved". Coming to Christ is effective.
a. You shall
be saved.
b. There is
no sin to bad, that salvation is not given by God.
B. 'Shall go in and out"
1. Through out
the affairs of life, the believer is secure in Jesus.
2. His salvation
cannot be lost.
C. "Find
Pasture"
1. Jesus provides
for the provisions of the believer.
2. Jesus is the
peace of the believer.
3. Jesus is the
rest of the believer.
THE IMPOSTOR
V:10. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to
kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly."
A. The mission of
Satan
1. Satan came to
Steal.
a. Satan came
to steal the peace and joy of the believer.
2. Satan came to
Kill.
a. If it were
possible the eternal life of the believer would be taken.
b. If we let
him, he can kill our ability to be effective witnesses for Christ.
3. He came to
destroy.
a. Satan came to
destroy the Church and the body of Christ.
B. THE MISSION
1. He came to
provide eternal life for the believer.
2. He came to
provide useful effective life for the believer while he lives on earth.
3. He came to
provide Joy for the believer.
4. He came to
provide peace for the believer.
5. He came to provide
security for the believer.
V:11. "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth
his life for the sheep."
A. The commitment of
the Good Shepherd.
1. Protect the
sheep
2. Provide for
the sheep
3. Direct the
sheep into the path of righteousness.
4. Teach the
sheep the Word of God.
B. The Sacrifice of
the Shepherd.
1. Death on the
Cross so that sheep can inheritant eternal life.
V:12. "But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the
sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep."
A. If Christ is the
Good Shepherd, then there are some Bad Shepherds.
1. The Bad Shepherd
is not in the ministry for the sheep.
a. The Good
Shepherd is in the ministry for the Sheep.
2. The Bad Shepherd
is in the ministry for personal gain.
a. He is in the ministry to get paid a
wage.
b. He is in the
ministry for vain glory.
c. He is in the
ministry for power and control.
d. He is in the
ministry to get glory for himself.
e. The Good
shepherd is in the ministry to see that sheep gets the gain.
f. The Good
Shepherd is in the ministry to see that God gets the glory.
3. The Bad Shepherd
leaves when trouble arises to protect himself.
a. The Good
Shepherd stays to protect the sheep.
4. The Bad Shepherd
does not care if the sheep get hurt.
a. The Good
Shepherd tries to ensure that sheep do not get hurt.
5. The Bad Shepherd
will divide the Church to get what he wants
a. The Good
Shepherd will stand up for the sheep to see that God's will is done.
B. The Bad Shepherd
will pervert the Word.
1. The Bad
Shepherd teaches only the Word that lets the sheep feel good in their
situation.
2. The Good Shepherd
teaches the Word that convict the sheep of their sins and
encourages
the righteousness of God.
V:13. "The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling,
and careth not for the sheep."
A. The Bad Shepherd
is in the Ministry for himself.
1. The Bad
Shepherd flees from the ministry of Jesus when his ministry will be hurt.
2. The Bad
Shepherd will not teach the Word that will upset the Sheep.
3. The Bad
Shepherd teaches the word that pleases the Sheep.
B. The problem in the
ministry of Christ Jesus is too many folk have lost their focus and
their purpose
which is the SHEEP.
1. Whenever we let
our individual hurts and feelings direct our decisions in the body of
Christ, the
SHEEP suffer.
2. When our focus
is on us, it is not on the SHEEP.
3. Instead of
being GOOD SHEPHERDS, we become BAD SHEPHERDS.
C. Christ Jesus died on the cross for the SHEEP.
1. It was the
SHEEP who cried crucify Him.
2. It was the
SHEEP who stood by with a closed mouth while an innocent man, Jesus
was put to
death.
3. It was JESUS
who said, "Father forgive them (THE SHEEP)
for they do not know
what they do."
D. The evidence of a
BAD SHEPHERD is he runs back to the world when trouble comes.
1. The GOOD
SHEPHERD stands because protection of the SHEEP is his mission.
2. The GOOD
SHEPHERD stands because he loves the SHEEP more than his own life.
3. The GOOD
SHEPHERD stands because the SHEEP needs continuous directions for
their journey
to heaven.
V:14. "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and
am known of mine."
A In order to know
the Sheep, you have to get involved with them.
1. To know the
Sheep, personal distraction have to be laid aside.
2. To know the
Sheep, you have to know their hearts.
3. To know the
Sheep, you have to know their wishes
4. To know the
Sheep, you have to know their circumstances.
5. To know the
Sheep you have to know their problems.
6. The Sheep will
take up all your time.
B. For the Sheep to know the GOOD SHEPHERD, they have to be
taught the WORD.
1. The Good
Shepherd must know the Word.
2. The Good
Shepherd must spend much time in the study of the Word.
3. The Good
Shepherd must live the Word as an example for the Sheep.
4. The Sheep must
know the GOOD SHEPHERD as their protector and their Savior.
V:15. "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."
A. A Good Shepherd
has an intimate relationship with the Father.
1. A Good Shepherd
is trusted by the Father.
2. The Father can
trust the Good Shepherd to follow His commands.
B. The Good Shepherd
is obedient to the Father, even unto death.
1. The Good
Shepherd knows that He must live His life so that it is worthy
as a sacrifice
to redeem the sheep.
2. We must live
our lives worthy as role models of Jesus for others to follow.
V:16. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be
one fold, and one shepherd."
A. There are those in
the Church and those waiting to be drawn to the Church.
1. There are
those who know the Lord and those who are still in the dark.
2. Those in the
Church are role models for those outside the Church.
B. All believers were
predestined before the foundation of the world to be part of the
1. Believers were
not born in the Church, but were called out of the world to be part of
the Church. 1
Cor 1:9
2. Now since we
know it is by the Grace of God that we are called out of the world,
we have an
obligation to walk worthy of our calling. Eph 4:1, 2 Thes 1:11
3. We are the
"Light of The World" that draws those in darkness to Christ. Mat 5:16 ,
Luke 1:78-79
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER
V:17. "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay
down my life, that I might take it again."
A. Adam disobeyed
God's command and as a result all mankind was born in sin and in
need of a
Savior.
1. God's plan of
redemption for man rest in Jesus Christ.
a. Christ became man through a virgin birth.
a. Christ became man through a virgin birth.
b. Christ
became the light of the world teaching the Word of God for three and a half
years.
c. Christ died
on the cross to redeem mankind.
b. On the
third day He was resurrected and is seated at the right hand of the Father
making
intercession for the sheep.
B. The Father loves
the Son because He fulfilled all requirements of the Law making
redemption of
mankind acceptable to Him.
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS
V:18. "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father."
A. Jesus came down
from heaven with the power and authority to complete His mission
of salvation to
man.
1. Jesus death on
the cross was voluntary.
2. Jesus death on
the cross was by divine plan.
3. Jesus death on
the cross accomplished God's purpose.
4. Jesus used the
evilness of man to display Himself on the cross as the sacrificial lamb.
5. Jesus death on
the cross was by His own power.
6. Jesus death on
the cross was the final sacrifice for the atonement of sin for all time.
B. The resurrection
of Jesus was by His own power.
1. The
resurrection of Jesus was the beginning of the Age of Grace.
2. Jesus is the
High Priest making intercessions for man to the Father.
3. Jesus is the
true friend of man.
4. Jesus is the
permanent and final message from the Father.
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