Untitled Sermon (5)

We are going to start with a reading from the Gospel of John, chapter 10. These are red letters in the Bible, meaning Jesus said them verse one. Most assuredly. I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief. And a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers Jesus used. This illustration. But they did not understand the things which he spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, Most assuredly I say to you, I am the door on the sheep. All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not hear them? I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out. And find pasture, the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that you may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

Let's pray. Holy, gracious and merciful Father in Heaven. All the praise and glory is yours. Im Grateful Lord God, For this wonderful body of Christ in Atlanta. I thank you Lord God for giving us multiple chances daily to get more right with you. More things right Today than we did the day before and the day before that for by grace, we are saved. By your blood. Jesus, our sins have been paid and we have been ransomed. And now are guaranteed A room. In a mansion that you have prepared. You, Lord, are the Good Shepherd. I prayed boldly Lord God for my family here today, my brothers and sisters. To Seek God in his wisdom and understanding. That they are strengthened. By the Lord. Resisting temptation. And gaining a relationship. With you Jesus, to have peace and love more abundantly. Thank you Jesus. For taking the cross for us. For making a way for us to be in a right standing with our Father in heaven. Holy Spirit. Guide my heart and my mind. Use my voice to proclaim your message in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 

There is a lot to unpack here. For starters, Jesus is calling everybody sheep. And I'm sure everybody here knows that sheep are not very smart.  They have to be. Watched constantly. So they don't get hurt in the trouble. Lost. In fact, if you have sheep today, you probably have a dog that watches over them and keeps them in a group. They can't fight off enemies. They have no defense they may type. Their teeth are not sharp. They are extremely vulnerable. Also. Very skittish. If one of them steps on the branch it sounds funny. They all freak out. Run around, the dog gets to play Jackson Hole back into a group and then one. Makes a funny sound, they freak out again, the dog chases them, brings them back. They're not bright. If one walks off the Cliff, they all walk off the Cliff. They're sheep. And Jesus is calling us a sheep, all of us. 

As I was preparing this and reading, I had a little chuckle because the sheep isn't used for any sports events as a mascot, there not tough but they are used for a mattress company.  

Verse 4. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  

This verse holds a big key. Knowing his voice. This here is making it very clear that he wants a relationship with us, not religion.  

The world today is full of so many distractions between the TV with commercials, the radio. Cell phones. Billboards. There are many different voices pulling our attention in different areas. But the question is, do you know his voice? Are you reading your Bible? How is your prayer life? 

Quick story. There was a guy in Alaska. Two guys were flying out, the pilot and the other guy who didn't know how to fly and as we're leaving in the air, The pilot suffered a heart attack. The passenger. Quickly get on the radio Called for help. He couldn't see nothing because of the weather. However, the guy on the radio told him to follow his every word and he would get him home safely, but he must follow every single word where he will die. The guy has to listen to the voice. To survive.  The plane lands Both guys. Ended up living. However. The man on the radio showed up to meet the guy he was speaking to and when he met. He thanked them. You thank them for listening. And doing as he said, the guy stated that most people don't listen to the voice. They do their own thing and they smash into the mountain because they can't see where we're going. But I can see. I watch them. I watched them kill themselves. 

For us to hear God. You must know God. We have to read The Gospel of Jesus Christ. That by the cross and by his blood. We are saved. For verse 9, Jesus says I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved. 

Verse 10. Verse 10. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. 

The devil wants to steal our joy. Kill the spirit and destroy our relationship with God. 

The second part, verse 10 I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. 

 Praise God, thank you Jesus. For going to the cross and freely giving your life to save all of us.