I Am The Good Shepherd

John 10:10–16 (ESV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

We’re picking up right where we left off last week.

In this message you’re gonna notice some overlap from last week. As Jesus talks about being “The Door,” he also goes more clearly into what we talked about last week. He is also the Shepherd. He declares “I am the Good Shepherd.”

John 10:10 was the verse we ended on last week. There two options here. Listen to the voices the doors of the world and walk into destruction and death. Or listen to the voice of Jesus. Walk through HIS door and have life. And as He says, have life abundantly.

When we look at the life of a Christian. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes not so much. It can be easy to be obedient to God in our lives with specific things. But there’s other times where it’s just hard to listen and follow where God is leading. But all of it results in a life that is abundant. The result of following God will always lead to a more joyful and peaceful life. A life that IS stable and secure. A life that is firmly planted because we’re rooted In JeSus.

So… Jesus declares “I AM the Good Shepherd. And what does he say after that? The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.

Jesus is foretelling his death on the cross. He will eventually lay his life down for his people. And the people are completely unaware

I’d like for us to jus stop here and reflect. that

Jesus laid down His life for us.

Do we understand the importance of this? Without this sacrifice, we have nothing. There is no everlasting life. There is no saving.

Romans 5:8–11 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Don’t look over this point… If you are a follower of Christ. Remember what Christ has done for you. Don’t forget. Don’t ever move on from this good news. We not only share the good news, but we live by it. We are no longer lost But found in Christ JeSus.

And if you are here. And you don’t know Jesus. What do I mean by know?

You don’t know him as Lord. You haven’t put your faith in Him. Today is the day. You have a God who is inviting you into a relationship with Him. You have a good who, no matter what you’ve done and where you come from has extended his underserving love to you through Jesus on the cross. The invitation is open. And while we walk through this message I pray that the Lord would continue to stir in your heart and move you to respond.

Jesus moves on, talking about the difference between the good shepherd and a “hired hand” in verses 12-13.

John 10:12–13 (ESV)

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

This isn’t the shepherd. He’s just been hired for a temporary amount of time to look after the sheep. But if it gets too dangerous… He’s out! It’s not worth it for him. He’d rather save his own life than save the sheep. Jesus says, he cares nothing for the sheep.

Jesus could have been directing this to false teachers, leading people away from Christ. And maybe the religious leaders, many of the Pharisees, just in it for their own gain. Not really caring for the people.

Jesus may have been targeting a specific group, but we can consider this truth:

Any person or thing we put in place of God to function as god for our life, will not last. Let’s call it an idol, because that’s what it is.

That idol will fail when life gets to difficult. That idol will suddenly not be enough to fulfill you. That idol will abandon You.

Instead, run to the Good Shepherd.

John 10:14 (ESV)

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

It’s clear who the good shepherd Is in this story. And Jesus is also saying, I’ll know my sheep. IN other words, he knows his followers. And his sheep, his followers know Him.

2. As believers, we know the voice of the Good Shepherd.

John 8:47 puts in plainly

John 8:47 (ESV)

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Do you hear the voice of God?

Not necessarily an audible voice. When people say they hear from God it can be easy to assume they’re getting this clear voice from heaven. Not saying that can’t happen, but in most cases we don’t see that.

If you’re a believer think about the times you had clarity and peace after praying to God. Or when something finally made sense after reading a passage of Scripture. Or another follower affirming what’s already been on you heart. God speaks to us in many different ways. But, the bottom line is, we hear Him. If we know Him.

We know His truth. Even when we’re conflicted on what the next step to take in life is, we know His overall purpose for our life. The voice or will of God is clear.

And just a side note: if you believe you’ve heard from the Lord through your own thoughts Or from someone else and that answer doesn’t line up with Scripture. Instead it contradicts Scripture, that’s not the Lord. Don’t try and convince yourself it is.

The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy and sometimes we might get deceived thinking the advice or answer we’ve received is from Him, when it doesn’t even resonate with His WOrd.

When listening to God in asking for direction, clarity, an answer on something. Weight and test the word you believe you’ve received. Don’t just run with it.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 (ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Paul gives some solid advice to the church of ThessaloniCa. Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks in all circumstances! But do not quench the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, in other words a word from the Lord. But test everything. Pursue God in everyThing. And when we believe we’re hearing from Him, test it. Put it up against Scripture. Bring it God in prayer. Turn to other believers who are older and wiser that can help you affirm what you believe is from God. But it’s made clear, Paul says to abstain Or avoid every form of evil. If what you’re getting is contrary to God’s word, it’s evil. And needs to be avoided. Instead hold to what is good.

And I can tell you what’s good. God’s Word. His guidance and will. His purpose. What’s good is the Good ShepheRd.

Lastly, let’s look At verse 16.

John 10:16 (ESV)

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Who are these other sheep? That haven’t been brought into the sheepfold?

Jesus is talking about the Gentiles. At this point in the redemption story of humans, Jesus was still on earth doing his earthly ministry primarily amongst Jews. His disciples were Jews. The Jews were God’s chosen people, but the mistake they made was thinking that God was just for them. This was an exclusive group, no one else is invited. But Jesus Breaks Down those walls and makes it clear that the message he has is for ALL people. Not just the Jews. Not just a specific race or ethnicity. Not for a specific class of people. ALL people.

The Gentiles, anyone who isn’t Jewish hadn’t been brought into the story yet. But Jesus was letting them know that soon a day would come when they would be and they will not only hear God’s voice but listen to his voice.

This leads to, as Jesus says, one flock. One shepherd.

There’s 2 points here I believe are worth unpacking.

3. Believers not only hear God’s voice, but LISTEN to his voice.

You see the difference? We can hear him all day and do anything with what he’s saying. What good would it do if the sheep heard the voice of the shepherd and were just like “hey there’s the shepherd calling us over. And then they just turn around and keep eating grass.”

It does no good. Listen to God! Don’t just hear him.

We talked about this last week. He’s made it clear what door you need to walk through. Stop dancing around the other ones.

Story of friend who stayed in sin.

STop playing with sin. And don’t use this cop out of well I’ll step out of this door this sin once God calls me.

Guess what… He already has!!!

His WOrd has already spoken that over your life.

A sheep listens to the voice of the good shepherd. Are you listening to the voice of God?

4. Believers are one body under Christ.

Lastly, Jesus states that we will be one flock. One flock of sheep under one shepherd. He was speaking to the divide between Jews and Gentiles. It was tense, they’d didn’t like each other but Jesus said nope, we are one.

I’d venture to say there’s people in this room, maybe they’re not here today, that you don’t like very much. You but Heads. You never see eye to eye. Oh and I bet you gossip about each other.

If you’re gossiping and throwing people under the bus can I remind you that doesn’t reflect Christ? It’s sinful. That isn’t following the voice of God. He’s calling you to turn away from that today.

And He may be calling you to reconcile. Make up. Move passed your difference and acknowledge that you are both looking at a child of God. Don’t forget that. The Jesus you love, loves that person that you might even say you hate.

Don’t let pettiness, past mistakes, or even current issues divide this body. If you are a follower of Christ, you are a part of the body of Christ. You are a part of the flock.

John 13:35 (ESV)

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Those who don’t know Jesus are watching. Whether you know it or not. And when we are divided what message does that send to those who are searching and curious about God. Man if they’re treating each other like that, I don’t want any part of it.

People will recognize us as disciples of Christ by the way we love one another.

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are one! Don’t forget that.

And above all, don’t forget who makes us One. The Good Shepherd, Jesus, who laid His life down for us so that we could have eternal life in HIm.

So what is it gonna be for you tonight?

Do you know the Good Shepherd?

If so, have you been listening to his voice? Maybe tonight you need to surrender an area of your life to him.

If you know him, are you loving your brothers and sisters in Christ well?

If not, maybe tonight you need to find that individual, if there here, and pray with them.

And if there not here, make it a point to find them tomorrow and reconcile.

Do you know the Good Shepherd?

If not, are you willing to come to know him tonight?

You have that opportunity…

Highs/Lows

Jesus Moment

What are the three “I AM” statements we’ve covered?

Can you explain the statements we covered before tonight?

What does Jesus mean by “I am the Good Shepherd”?

What does it mean to hear the voice of God?

What does it look like to both hear and listen to God? Is it difficult for you to listen?

Why should we we seek after unity as believers? How can we begin to do that if we’re not already?