Knowing the Shepherd's Voice

Introduction

SHOW VIDEO

This ties in well with our Sunday school talk. We are continuing the theme of shepherds. Tonight we will talk about Jesus being the good shepherd. Sheep don’t follow their shepherd by sight but by voice (2 Corinthians 5:7). Reading the word is hearing the voice of God. Wee cant directly see God but we can listen to his voice and walk the path prepared for us. They know his voice and trust his voice and understand his commands. We are to know the voice of the shepherd. Our relationship needs to be deep enough that we can trust Him to lead us through the valleys and through the treacherous paths of life. We must spend time with the shepherd so we can understand the commands he speaks. So tonight we are going to talk about the benefits of following the Good Shepherd.

Proverbs 28:1 ESV

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Tonight we will see why the wicked flee for no reason. tonight we will see why sheep can roar like lions.

Dangers of False Shepherds

When we know Jesus’ voice it protects us from false shepherds / shepherds with bad intentions. The Pharisees were false shepherds who in a sense sneaked into the sheepfold claiming to be something they are not and in doing so were leading ,many sheep to damnation.

False shepherds have bad intentions.

Why do you have to pretend to be something if you mean well?

Knowing the shepherds voice keeps us from going down a strange path by following a strange path such as the flying spaghetti monster. Many false shepherds are whispering in your ear. And they may look attractive and sound good, but in the end their voice is equal to all the characters in that video, illusion that leads to no eternal good.

False shepherds offer pretty illusions hiding the eternal destruction at the end of the path.

When we recognize a false shepherd what do we need to do? Warn and flee. We don’t have to be secretive, we should not. A false shepherd should be exposed out of love for those around us. Don’t just sneak out the back door.

We live in a world full of false shepherds. That offer all types of grass to offer peace. They don’t want you to be sheep who follow by hearing, but by addiction. Addiction gives them a grip and distracts you from the voice of the true shepherd. Don’t think you can nibble from the grass and come out unscathed. The alcoholic started with just a sip. The dope head started with just a puff/a hit. The addict started with just a look. The workaholic started with just one want.

Addiction gives false shepherds a grip on your life and distracts you from listening to the voice of the true shepherd.

Compromise, compromises your soul. A false shepherd never has your best intentions in mind. A false shepherd will only steal, kill, and destroy.

Steal. Your joy will be taken. Your true purpose will be taken.

Kill. False shepherds will steadily stick knife after knife in you. Leaving you less and less lifeless. False shepherds will have you looking like zombie sheep. Addiction slowly kills parts of you, changing you

Destroy. If you spend your life following false shepherds it will lead to eternal destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Don’t follow a careless false shepherd in a march of death.

The True Shepherd’s Voice Leads to Life

The true shepherd is Jesus Christ.

Why does his voice lead to life?

Verse 3 says Jesus calls his sheep by name and leads. Jesus knows you. Your not just one face among a sea of faces. Jesus knows your every struggle and strengths.

Jesus knows your every detail.

He protects life. When night comes the sheep can rest well because they know their shepherd is the gate. Anything going in or out must come through him. That protects us from wolves and protects us from wandering out.

Jesus is the only gate to eternal life.

He leads to life because He is the shepherd that has laid his life down so his sheep may live. This passage makes it clear he done it by his choice and his authority. Man could not have put God on the cross unless God allowed it. Imagine the look on the soldiers faces the day they stood before Christ in eternity. Realizing they had nailed God to the cross, the had beat on God, they had spit on God.

Man could not have put God on the cross unless God allowed it.

Why are my actions not what I know to be righteous? My Savior's blood is now on my hands I am the betrayer I am the betrayer It is my sin that holds him to that cross I don't deserve what You have done for me... Have done for me But through Your grace and Your love You have saved me

-Field of Blood by In the Midst of Lions

We played just as much of a role. Our sin put him on the cross. Our sin caused him to walk through the beating.

We also are like the people in verses 19-21. We must make the decision tonight to either listen to the shepherds voice or to reject the shepherds voice.

Tonight do you realize you are a sinner in need of grace? Do you realize you need the transforming power of Christ in your life? Don’t reject the voice no longer, start following the true shepherd.