10-1-17 Thrive - Identity Theft
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There’s an identity thief who steals from us the knowledge of who we really are.
The shepherd has “authorized access” (WBC) to his flock.
Identity
You belong (to the shepherd)…rather than you are lost…all alone.
We can “hear” his voice.
the sheep follow…the butcher drives
We are called “according to our name...” He knows our name.
Jesus is the “door” through him…and by him…we can enter into life…life in his name.
The thief tries to draw us away from the shepherd
We are restless because we know () of the “more than”…all the “less than” does is keep us distracted from the, ache in our heart that one day....all will be okay…that God will put all things back to rights.
The hireling just isn’t invested…they run at the sign of trouble.
I. Me and We
Everyday we are bombarded by messages. Companies, trying to sell products, redefine us as customers, so, of course, we need what they are selling.
Our families define us as well. Who we are, what our priorities should be.
What does it mean to thrive? We are going to explore what it means to thrive, to truly thrive. I’ll let you know now, that I believe we only thrive when we are connected to our source and the One who loves us more than any other.
Scripture (that you may have life in his name!) We all have "life" but John wrote his gospel so we could have "life" in the name of Jesus. Jesus said that the enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy, but he has come to give life and give it abundantly. God wants us to have life, not simply existance. Jesus has showed the way, but also paved the way so that we might have "life" the life that God intended us to have. calls Jesus the author and perfector of our faith...and I would say...of our "life." Perhaps you know someone who could use "life"...maybe you are that person.
II. God
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
We all have "life" but John wrote his gospel so we could have "life" in the name of Jesus. and life abundantly. For me, that’s a pretty good definition of what it means to Thrive.
John is the only Gospel writer who tells us WHY he wrote his gospel. In , he shares that he wrote what he did so that we might “come to believe” and that through believing we might have life in his name.
John is the only Gospel writer who tells us WHY he wrote his gospel. In , he shares that he wrote what he did so that we might “come to believe” and that through believing we might have life in his name.
John knew that God created us for MORE. More than simply existing. More than simply “hanging in there.” More than keeping up with the Jones’. More than having the latest tech, or the best care, or the nicest house. God created us so we might THRIVE.
In Jesus tells his listeners:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
The thief was trying to get to the sheep.
John 10:1
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.
There are those who have no rightful claim to the sheep. The shepherd goes through the gate, but thieves come in anyway they can.
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:2-3
Not only does the shepherd enter by the gate, he calls to the sheep by name. The sheep know the shepherds voice.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
John 10:4-5
One of the commentaries pointed out that the butcher drives the sheep, but the shepherd leads the sheep. The sheep trust the shepherd and that’s why they follow. They have learned that they can trust the shepherd and that he will never lead them into harms way.
Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
John 10:7-9
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Jesus talks about the thieves and bandits that try to lead the sheep astray. They talk to the sheep as well…perhaps they call to the sheep, but the sheep, Jesus says, don’t listen. They don’t know the voice of hte stranger, but they do know the voice of the shepherd.
Could it be that we have forgotten the voice of the Shepherd?
Could it be that Jesus is calling us, but we get his voice mixed in with all the others, or his voice simply disappears in the midst of our noisy lives? Maybe we don’t THRIVE because we no longer hear the shepherd.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus is not some hired hand. We are his. He knows us and we can know him. Jesus showed his love for us by dying for us.
John 10:14-
III. You and Us
God created us to THRIVE. He created us for more, but we settle for less. We settle when we listen to the voice of the bandits and thieves.
Identity
You belong (to the shepherd)…rather than you are lost…all alone.
We can “hear” his voice.
the sheep follow…the butcher drives
We are called “according to our name...” He knows our name.
The shepherd, the good shepherd, the one who loves you and died for you is calling you by name. He wants to lead you to places of blessing. He wants to lead you so you might THRIVE.