The Good Shepherd (3 things)

• 1^st – Only one way in… vs. 1-9 (3 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus gave the leaders a parable – ‘The Good Shepherd’… vs. 1-2 / 6-7
    • But the leaders did not understand the real meaning of the story…
    • As far as they were concerned Jesus was giving advice on how to raise sheep…
    • So Jesus told them the story a second time – explaining it so they would understand…
    • There are going to be things the Bible says we do not understand…
    • Do not get frustrated / instead get excited – you are about to learn something new…
    • The most valuable treasures – gold / diamonds – are not just lying around…
    • You have to dig deep / put in a lot of effort to be able to pull them out…
    • In the same way we need to ‘dig in’ to the Bible – pull out ‘treasures’…
    • Asking Jesus to help us understand – so He will open our eyes so we can see!
  • 2^nd – The two main characters in the parable – the ‘Sheep’ and the ‘Shepherds’…
    • The sheep in the sheepfold – represent all the people in the world…
      • And there are many ‘shepherds’ who try to come and lead the ‘sheep’…
      • Parable contrasts the true Shepherd/Jesus and false shepherds/religious leaders…
    • I tell you the truth – anyone who sneaks over the wall of the sheepfold – is a thief…
      • The owner of the sheep fold does not need to ‘sneak’ in / but a thief does…
      • Referring to the religious leaders – who sought to sneak in and deceive the people…
      • They were thieves in the sense they were ‘stealing’ God’s sheep…
      • They were trying to lead people away from the one true Shepherd – Jesus!
      • The leaders were teaching Religion – and Religion was keeping people from Jesus!
      • Religion makes you trust in traditions and rituals to save you rather than Jesus…
      • Religion has power – demands discipline / sets moral standards – Colossian 2:21…
      • The danger is it can only control your actions – it does not change your heart!
    • But the Shepherd enters through the gate…
      • There is only one way to be saved – there is only one ‘gate’ that leads to heaven…
      • Jesus told them – ‘I am the Gate’ – He is the only way to get to heaven!
      • And anyone can enter that gate – and they will be saved / and find pasture…
      • God desires that all men be saved – He does not want any to perish – II Peter 3:9

• But it is up to us to decide if we where we want to spend eternity…
• God opened the ‘gate’ for us to go to heaven – but we have to choose to go through!
• If we reject the one-way God has provided – there is no second option…
• The one and only way to get to heaven – is through faith in Jesus!
• 3^rd – The TRUE sheep follow THE Shepherd… vs. 3-5 / 8-9
  • The ‘gatekeeper’ opens up the gate for the Shepherd…
    • The ‘gatekeeper’ is referring to the Holy Spirit – who opens up our hearts to believe…
    • The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin – even before we believe in Jesus – John 16:7-8
    • He shows us our need for salvation – He is the one who opens the door…
    • If we listen to the conviction of the Spirit – He leads us to the Gate – Jesus Christ!
  • God knows which sheep belong to Him…
    • God calls the TRUE sheep all by name…
      • I helped out at the orphanage in Bacolod – they had over 150 children…
      • No matter how hard I tried I was never able to get down all their names…
      • With all the billions of people in the world – does God know my name…
      • God not only knows us – He never stops thinking about us – He calls us by name!
      • Psalms 139:17 – “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!”
    • How do you know if you are one of the TRUE sheep…
      • The TRUE sheep recognize Jesus voice / the know His Word…
      • You might ask – what if I have never heard Jesus’/the Shepherd’s voice…
      • Then you are not a sheep – and you are not going to go to heaven…
      • You might say – ‘but I want to go to heaven’ / then choose to listen to the Word…
      • Then you will find out you are a sheep – and God has known your name all along!
  • The Shepherd ‘pushes’ the true sheep out of this world – and into heaven…
    • Not all ‘sheep’ are eager at first to follow Jesus – they need a little ‘kick in the pants’…
      • Sometimes it can be hard to let go of this world – realize life is about heaven…
      • It is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of the things of this world / and forget…
      • So the Lord will allow the things of this world to fail us – to remind us…
      • He gives us a little push – so we remember what life is really all about – Jesus!
    • Jesus goes before them – giving them the example they are to follow!

• Often in life as we are trying to follow Jesus – we end up getting ahead of God…
• And God sometime takes unexpected turns – and if we are not watching closely…
• We can assume we know where God is leading us – we end up getting lost…
• Never get so far behind of the Lord you loose sight of where He is leading…
• But also never get ahead of Him – thinking you know where He is taking you…
• Instead step out in faith always keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus!
• Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
  
  
• True sheep run from the stranger – because they do not recognize their voice…
  • A sheep cannot be misled – because they know the Shepherd’s voice…
  • The voice of the Shepherd / Jesus – is the Word of God…
  • The way a banker learns to spot counterfeit money – is to study the real thing…
  • When a counterfeit note comes along – they can spot the imitation immediately!
  • We are to be so well versed in the Word – that when false doctrine comes along…
  • We can spot it as an imitation immediately – and completely avoid it!
    
• 2^nd – Three different kinds of ‘shepherds’… vs. 10-16
  • 1^st – The thief/false teacher – whose only purpose is to kill and destroy… vs. 10
    • The false teach / inspired by satan – only seeks to keep people from knowing God…
    • They kill and destroy – because they keep people from the saving Grace of God…
    • Satan’s tactics have not changed – he still tries to get us to doubt the Word…
    • Satan subtly tires to get us to look elsewhere for answers – not to Jesus…
    • He tries to keep us from church from the Bible – from listening to the Word!
    • Just because someone says they go to church – does not make them a Christian…
    • Just because a man says he is a pastor – does not mean he is from Jesus…
    • I John 4:1 – “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…”
    • We need the discernment of God – to know what is truly from God!
    • Because the reality is satan has only one desire – to deceive / kill and destroy us!
  • 2^nd – The hired hand – is the pastor who is only ‘serving’ because of the money… vs. 12-13
    • It is a blessing to the church to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister…
      • If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
      • But a pastor should NEVER demand/even ask – for money – I Corinthians 9:15
      • I Peter 5:2 – “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you… not for dishonest gain.”
      • If a church ‘hires’ a pastor – then it is their responsibility to pay him a salary…
      • But if God chooses a pastor to love His people – it is God who pays his way…
      • If you asked me to build you a bench – I would expect you pay me for the work…
      • But if someone else asked me to build it for you – they would be the one to pay!
      • If a pastor is truly called by God – then God will provide for all his needs!
    • Many become ‘pastors’ because they think of it as a job – a way to make money…
      • They are not there to love and provide from the people – they take from them!
      • They are just there for the paycheck – as a result fall under the judgment of God…
      • Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”
      • Too many pastors today abuse they authority they are given in the church…
      • They use the pulpit as a means for personal gain – take advantage of God’s people…
      • The result is people are wary of the church – the Gospel message become tainted…
    • When the wolf comes to devour the sheep – the hired hand runs away…
      • When satan attacks / things get tough – the hired pastor is quick to run away…
      • Because the hired pastor does not love the sheep – or care what happens to them…
      • When times get tough – when people do not show – when there is no money…
      • They leave – without any thought for the sheep – only caring about themselves…
  • 3^rd – The Good Shepherd – lays down his life for the sheep… vs. 11 / 14-15
    • Jesus said ‘I am the Good Shepherd’…
      • There are seven ‘I am’ statements given by Jesus in the book of John…
      • The ‘I am’ – is one of the titles given by God to Moses (burning bush) – Exodus 3
      • These 7 statements reveal the character of God through Jesus Christ…
      • 1^st – Jesus already showed us He is the ‘Bread of life’ – He is our Spiritual food…
      • 2^nd – Jesus is – ‘the light of the world’ – show the way to heaven…
      • 3^rd – Jesus is – ‘the Gate’ – the only way to get into heaven…
      • 4^th – Jesus is the ‘Good Shepherd’ – the one who came to die to save us!
    • Jesus came that we might have abundant life – everlasting life!
      • The Good Shepherd is willing to do anything / even die – for the sheep…
        • When David was a young man – before he became the King – he was a shepherd….
        • I Samuel 17:34-35 – “When a lion comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth… I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.”
        • He did not run from danger – David ran after the sheep / and attacked the lion…
        • Satan wants to devour us – he wants more than anything to steal God’s sheep…
        • I Peter 5:8 – “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
        • A Godly Pastor goes after the sheep / taking them out of the jaws of satan…
        • Because He knows that it is only in Jesus we have abundant life!
• The Good Shepherd is an example to the sheep…
  • A Godly pastor should not just be telling others what to do – but show them as well…
  • A Godly pastor does not tell you to serve – he serves as an example…
• I Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow me as I follow Christ…”
• The Good Shepherd has other sheep – in a different fold – who also will hear His voice…
  • He was speaking to an all-Jewish audience – Jesus was in the Jewish sheepfold…
  • The ‘other sheep’ are the rest of the world – Jesus was talking about us!
  • The Godly Pastor realizes there are a lot of other sheep in different folds…
  • Any time people start making it about a church / religion / person – stay away!
  • They are not looking to draw you towards Jesus – they are trying to lead you away!
    
• 3^rd – Dying for the sheep… vs. 17-21
  • Jesus gave up His life – but would take it back again… vs. 17-18
    • Jesus knows the Father – and the Father knows Jesus – and they had a plan…
      • For Jesus to lay down His life – die on the cross that we might be forgiven…
      • Giving us both an abundant life here – and eternal life in heaven after…
      • Jesus did not have to go to the cross and die for our sins – He wanted to!

• It was not men who put Jesus on the cross there – it was not nails that held Him
• It was our sin – sin that separated us from God – that put Jesus on the cross…
• It was His GREAT love for you and me that held Him there!
• But the grave also had no power to hold on to Jesus…
  • He had the power to take His life back again – speaking of the resurrection…
  • The Gospel is God so loved the world – that HE – Jesus/God – gave His life…
  • But the Good news is not that Jesus died – everybody dies – it is the resurrection!
  • By believing in Jesus – and only by faith in Jesus – we are forgiven – saved!
• There was a great division over Jesus parable… vs. 19-21
  • Some said – ‘He has a demon’ – why do you bother listening to Him…
  • Others said – ‘Can a demon possessed man open the eyes of the blind’…
  • The reason was because some of them were sheep / and some of them were not!
  • The question we are left to ask is – which one are we – are we following ‘other shepherds’…
  • Or are we following the Good Shepherd – do we hear the Word of God…
  • So that God know our name – and gives us abundant life / eternal life in Jesus!