Who are you listening to?
Notes
Transcript
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
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.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.
20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”
21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
What does our text say about Jesus? As we examine this question this morning, we see Jesus comparing Himself to the enemy. The question is who are you listening to? Let’s begin by looking at verse 9 and 10
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus’ first point seems pretty simple doesn’t it? What do you want this morning? Do you want to go in and out and find pasture? Now Jesus is obviously speaking in a metaphor but then in verse 10 He speaks plainly, Jesus wants to give you life but not Just life, life more abundantly, but the enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy. That seems straight forward, but why is it difficult to see in our lives. Why do we struggle with complaining and arguing and division. If you are listening to the shepherd. You should have life and not just life, but life more abundantly. So what is the problem?
I want to talk about a hearsay in the church.
The life that Jesus is talking about isn’t material possessions, perfect health, or other forms of selfish blessings. He is talking about possessing and love and a joy and a peace that is unshakable by circumstances.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Your car is going to break down and cost thousands to fix when you were finally saving some money, people are going to hurt you and break fellowship right when you feel like your are finally starting to walk close to The Lord. Remember the enemy’s game plan, Jesus just gave it to us. Look again at verse 10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
We know our enemy wants to steal kill and destroy. So how do we allow him to do that in our lives?
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Do you see what makes this difficult?
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
We are born self centered. Our sin nature is self centered. By default that is all we know. But Jesus this morning is offer freedom, if you will listen to Him.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
If your desire is to follow Jesus, He has a promise for you. Look at 2 Timothy 3 verses 12 and 13
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Why because we are self centered. Why is the prosperity gospel so popular? Because our own selfish desires want health and wealth right? But what does Paul tell us about money?
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
See it is about Jesus not our circumstances. If you come to Jesus for your own selfish desires, He will eventually let you down because in His economy it isn’t about blessing you, if is about reconciling you to the Father so that
What does our passage say about us?
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.
20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”
21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
We must chose who we are listing to! Why was there division among them? Some accused Jesus of having demon and being insane but others believed in Jesus and asked can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
What hope do we have this morning?
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
