The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
Hello, great to have you back here worshiping with us as we get started this week. It's really hoping that I can announce what Sunday we will come back together for face-to-face worship. But after just listening to a governor Holcomb and his address, I'm not quite sure what would be best that would fit within those guidelines on a spend some time a digging deeper and reading those little more closely and will probably have a board meeting later next week to discuss those so Stay tuned. We will give you an update as to win that will be you no want to places you can find information on that stuff as we update asked me to Church website. Also, the church Facebook and do you know the church Instagram Church? Online giving is up and running but I just want to say a big thank you to those who have been mailing in their ties and offerings to church or dropping them off here. And thank you for continues to support us know. We're not meeting face-to-face every week. We are still here every day doing Ministry and even more Ministry with what we've been doing with the farm biking and food bank. Like I said, don't forget church in stem Facebook website great places to stay updated on things. Choice and concerns just want to remind people since we aren't seeing each other as much face-to-face if you have prayer concerns that you want to share with your church family. Please call us email us, whatever. Let us know what's going on. We want to be lifting each other up in prayer that you have to communicate with us. So please be doing that and letting us know. Please remember those in our care facilities as it's a difficult time for them. They can't receive their normal visitors. And there's a lot of fear of the covid-19 breaking out and especially nursing home facilities pray for continued healing for those that you see some like Ron stuck in Jim Schuler who just recently had surgery on Myers who just came home from the hospital and others be praying for them that God will continue to walk with them during this time and heal them and give the doctors treating them wisdom. Pray for our service members is a lot of them have been pressed into service and helping with the efforts to slow the spread of this virus, especially pray for the families of those who might have the virus and also be praying for our healthcare workers who are on the front lines facing this everyday.
This week our messages the Good Shepherd and his sheep John chapter 10 verses 1 through 10.
Yes route Israel's history shepherding. It always been a familiar part of everyday agricultural life. The people all news that sheep are one of the most helpless defenseless and produce tray of all the farm animals. They require constant oversight leading and rescue in cleaning or simply put they'll die. What turns out that being a Shepherd was good training for leading people. Some of the Patriarchs of our faith like Abraham Isaac and Jacob had been Shepherd's Moses and David often considered two of Israel's greatest leaders were also Shepherds. This demanding career prepare them to lead God's people who also seemed to be helpless defenseless and prone to stray a lot of the time.
Yeah, so it's not surprising then that the Old Testament writers frequently used shepherding as a metaphor for leading God's blocking receipt at the New Testament writers also used that same familiar terminology. That's a metaphor to describe the early church. So it's easy to see that Jesus continues to use this metaphor during his ministry because his audience can easily relate to it. In John chapter 10 verses 1 through 10 Jesus contrast himself with Israel's false Shepherds by using two images the first we'll look at is that Jesus talks about how he is the true Shepherd of the Sheep. Then the second one that will look at a little bit later is how Jesus is the only door to the sheep in? Let's get started in this purse when that Jesus is the true Shepherd. John chapter 10 verses 1 through 6 is where we'll start.
Very truly I tell you Pharisees anyone who does not enter. Steep then by the gate but climbs them by some other way is a thief and a robber.
The one who enters by the gate is The Shepherd of the Sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the Sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own Sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. Jesus use this figure of speech but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. You know Jesus begins this discussion by identifying himself as the true Shepherd in sharp contrast all the false Shepherds. The East Village in the shepherding Regents of Palestine had a communal sheep pen where she protected nine. The Shepherds were Grace their flocks in the surrounding Countryside during the day and then lead them back to the communal sheet pan in evening. They're the shepherdsons stop each cheap at the entrance with their rods and staffs and carefully inspect it before allowing it to enter the PIN. Once independent sheep were in the care of the doorkeeper who would keep watch over them during the night since the doorkeeper obviously, but not let strangers and thieves and robbers had to climb the wall of the sea pen to get at the sheet. The only one who is allowed to enter through the gate was the actual Shepherd of the Sheep.
In each of these common elements of everyday life and early Palestine had a symbolic meaning in the Lord's metaphor. The doorkeeper is Jesus himself who alone has the authority to lead out of Israel's fold his own elect sheep. The thieves in the robbers represent the self-appointed Jewish religious leaders who doing the work of the enemy not God climb the walls of the sheep pen to spiritually fleece and Slaughter the people
Those leaders were the latest in a long line of false Shepherds and Israel. Gotham and Jeremiah chapter 50 verse 6. Their Shepherds have led them astray and cause them to roam on the mountains. They watered over mountain and Hill and forgot their own resting place.
No, lying prophets often posing is true Shepherds also threatened the early church just as they still do today. That's why Jesus cautioned in Matthew 7 15 watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Paul warned the elders the efficient Church in Acts chapter 20 verse 29. I know that after I leave Savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare.
or Peter roads in 2nd Peter chapter 2 verse 1 But there were also false prophets among the people just as there will be false teachers among you they will secretly introduce destructive heresies. Even denying The Sovereign Lord who bought them bringing Swift destruction on themselves.
I could go on and on about this but I think with the ever-widening theological divide within the United Methodist Church. We understand this reality all too. Well, we have seen this play out first hand. False teachers who come in and slowly slowly introduce these theological Doctrine set sound great. But when you dig into them, they are not holding true to God Scripture.
Continuing with a figure of speech Christ said that his sheep hear his voice when he calls him out of the world and into his flock. You know this imagery pictures the human response to the Divine call to Salvation. Jesus calls his own Sheep by name because they are his their names were written from the foundation of the world in The Book of Life. Look up the lamb who has been slain.
After calling his sheep Christ leads them out of the pan or out of the world into the pasture as the Good Shepherd. He goes ahead of them in the Sheep follow him. In the near East the shepherd often went ahead of his flocks so that he could alert them to any potential dangers making sure the trail was safe and passable and leading the Sheep to feed in the Green Pastures that he'd already scouted out to make sure that they were safe.
It's the same with salvation. Jesus saving Lee calls his sheep and leave them out of the world where they were kept taking them to the Green Pastures and Quiet Waters of God's truth and blessing. The reason the Sheep follow the shepherd is because they know his voice.
This isn't just a nice analogy. It's truth your actual sheep recognize the voice of their on Shepherd, and they will not respond to another. Keller rights keep quickly become accustomed to their owners particular voice their acquainted with unique tone. They know it's peculiar sounds and inflections. They can distinguish it from that of any other person. The Stranger should come among them. They would not recognize nor respond to his voice in the same way. They would to that of the shepherd even if the visitors should use the same words and phrases instead of their rightful owner. They would not react in the same way.
simply put quickly recognized one calling to them they know whether the one speaking to them is their true Shepherd or not and they quickly respond to their Shepherds call and flee from all others who might attempt to control them. The same should hold true for Christians True Believers will not abandon Christ the Good Shepherd to follow false Shepherds. That is false. Shepherds can be very slow at times. they can say things in such a way that they sound biblically sound and they sound like something that might come from scripture, but when they're tested they're not. No matter how politically correct her in line with the latest cultural Trends. It may seem if it doesn't match the standards set forth in God's word. Then the True Believer reject the false teaching. He flees from it just like those sheep flee from the false Shepherds. John Express that truth in his first epistle first John Chapter 4 verses 1 through 6 just your friends do not believe every Spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God his many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the spirit of God every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in. The flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, but you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You and your children are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the Viewpoint of the world and the world listens to them. We are from God and whoever knows God listens to us. But whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of Truth in the spirit of falsehood.
John then contrast such departure from the truth the voice of the shepherd with faithfulness to his voice he writes of the true sheep in first John chapter 2 verses 20 through 24.
You have an anointing from the Holy One and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
Who is the liar and his whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ such a person is the Antichrist denying the father and the son. No one who denies the son has the father whoever acknowledges the son has the father also. as for you what you have heard from the beginning remains in you if it does you also will remain in the Sun and in the father. Does for Christ don't leave him to follow those who deny the truth? That is why it is so important for churches to be discussing what is going on in our denomination and for those to believe the truth to take a stand.
The Apostle John concluding this first metaphor here with a bit of a footnote. John chapter 10 verse 6 Does Jesus use this figure of speech but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. You know the Greek word that's translated figure of speech implies using veiled or mysterious language that conceals a symbolic meaning. Another figure speech was presented plainly enough to the religious leaders. They failed to grasp at 6 significance. This is because they were so ingrained in their belief that as Abraham's descendants. They were simply entitled to be a part of God's flock that they completely and Miss Jesus indictment of them when he stated that he was the tree Shepherd and if they were the false Shepherds to whom the Sheep would not listen.
Like his Parables this figure speech serve to fold purpose. It revealed spiritual truth to his follower followers and it concealed it from those who rejected him. It's just like those within our denomination who think it's all about social justice. What are failing to recognize is the power of the Gospel if we preach and teach the same message of the Gospel you are full of potential. The social justice issues will take care of themselves as individuals communities, and yes even entire country.
And it's next passage of scripture. Jesus changes the metaphor slightly. The first figure speech key was the Shepherd in this next one. Jesus is the only door to the Sheep pen. John chapter 10 verses 7 through 10 Therefore Jesus said again, very truly. I tell you I am the gate for the Sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers put the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy. I have come that they might have life and have it to the full. Incense religious leaders had failed to understand his first figure speech. Jesus said to them again, very truly. I tell you I am the gate for the Sheep. And sometimes the shepherd literally slept in the opening of the sheep pen to guard the Sheep. He did this his body body literally served as the door to the Sheep pen. No one can enter early if except going through him.
In Jesus's metaphor. He is the gate through which the Sheep enter the safety of God's flock and go out to the rich pastor of his Blessing. Is only through him that loss centers can approach the father and receive salvation. He provides. Nazarene John 14:6 Jesus alone is the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me. Only Jesus is the true source of knowledge of God and salvation Christ. Alone is the basis for our spiritual security.
You know the Lord's assertion that all have come before me are thieves and robbers.
That is not of course include Israel's true spiritual leaders such as Moses Joshua David Solomon Ezra Nehemiah, Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel among others. Jesus was referring to Israel's fall Shepherds. You know her Wicked Kings corrupt priests the false prophets the pseudo Messiahs. However, the true sheep do not listen to any of them. You did not heed them. They didn't not allow themselves to be led astray by them. Benji Jesus reiterated the vital truth of birth 7 I am the gate. And he added the promise whoever enters through me will be saved from sin and health. Price cheap watch brands God's love forgiveness and salvation. It will go always go and come as they like and they will always have access to God's blessing and protection. We will find satisfying pastures the Lord feeds them on his word.
Yeah, this stands in complete contrast to what does thieving fall Shepherd's offer those who listen to them? It's just like their father the devil they have come only to steal and kill and destroy the Sheep. The offer a path that seems easier. It only leads to destruction they offer a past. It seems more inclusive of everyone.
What is a path? Built on lies and it can only lead to their destruction.
Jesus came that they may have life and have it to the full. Some translations say abundantly the Greek word describe something that goes far beyond what is necessary?
This makes perfect sense because the matchless gift of eternal life with our Saviour and Heaven exceeds anything that the road could ever offer us.
Call Shepherds try to make their way seem more attractive by lowering God standards by widening the gate. Instead of making the way narrow they attempt to make it wide more inclusive but wise sheep will know that what they are selling does not match up with the truth of scripture. They promised health and wealth and zero sacrifice.
They claim that you'll be able to enjoy the riches of Heaven while still keeping all of your chairs simple ways. They preach it as being love loving to condemn. No, sin.
Would you consider it loving if I watched my child run into traffic or stick a fork in electrical outlet because I didn't want to hinder his fun. No, you'd be outraged and rightly. So is not loving for us to allow people to continue to live in sin and a piece them with li that they can continue to live that life and still enjoy all the riches of Heaven. All because we want them to feel accepted.
Baseball had to confess our sins and to call Paul God's mercy and Grace to become children of God. We take those things out of the Gospel. When we remove that fact that you must confess your sins that Jesus often told people when he met them to go and sin no more. Really giving them part of the gospel and we want to give them the whole gospel. So self watering things down. We need to preach the story of the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. We need to preach repenting of our sins so that we can enjoy a full measure of God's grace and blessing in our lives. Otherwise They're just selling people a cheap imitation of God's grace. We need to Proclaim all of God's truth. Not just the parts people like This one always be popular It won't always be accepted. But it is what we are called to do to Proclaim God's truth. Please bow with me in prayer. Most gracious Heavenly Father. We thank you so much for the Good Shepherd that you've provided us. Lord I pray that each of us will be digging deeper into your word everyday Lord so that we can recognize the voice of Our Shepherd. That would we hear different things proclaimed by.
Call Shepherds around us that will easily be able to recognize that those things don't match up with what your holy word says.
Or do we know that Jesus Christ is your holy word incarnate Lord, if we believe in Jesus, we should believe in all of your holy word or let me know that they are one in the same. Lord help us to be able to tell the difference between true teaching and false teaching. But I pray that you protect our hearts and Minds always so that we may know these things in order to give us the strength and the courage we need to boldly stand upon those truths to pray the Saul in your most. Holy name. Amen.
He knows we closed sticking with our benediction. You knowing that this has been a challenging time in many ways for most of us. This is an unprecedented situation. It's something we've never faced in our life and often when we Face things like that. It can lead to a lot of anxiety. 1st Peter 5:7 says cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Know that the Lord cares and he knows exactly what's going on and he is there for you in the midst of this situation no matter what?
We don't need to be afraid as it says in Hebrews 10:39, but we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed but to those who have faith in her saved. Lord I pray that you will help us to stand strong in our faith in to not shrink back from the truth. But you know that our faith will save us.
Lord we add to it this week. 1st John 4:4. I want to add that to our benedictions. It was one of our purses we said in the message this week. You dear children are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. That's why we don't shrink back. That's why we don't have anxiety because we know that the one who is within us is greater than he is in the world. Have a great week. Hopefully be updating you soon when we can see each other face-to-face. Love you all bye-bye.