Knowing God is knowing the Good Shepherd

Sermon

John 10: 11-18

Knowing God is knowing the Good Shepherd

Song::

Prayer: Prayer Dear Lord God, most heavenly Father, let us pray today for your strength. We cannot do without your strength. You are our provider. Today I am looking for the strength to preach your word to your people. Let the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. I am praying for preaching power. Let me not say anything that contradicts your divine and inspired word. Help me to cut it straight with your people who are called by your name. I know I cannot preach on my own power, so I come asking for your power. I am thanking you in advance. Amen.

Introduction to the Church:

Introduction: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I want to thank God for this opportunity to preach his word today. I would like to thank Paster Redd for this opportunity topreach God's word to God's people today at Sugar Creek Baptist Church this morning. I want to thank my wife for joining me today. Greeting from Pastor Jerimiah Walker and Lewis Wimberly Missionary Baptist Church. It is so good to be here again at Sugar Creek Baptist Church.

The scripture today is John 10:11-18

11 I am kthe good shepherd: the good shepherd lgiveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an mhireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth nthe wolf coming, and oleaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and pscattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and qcareth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and rknow my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 sAs the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and tI lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And uother sheep I have, which are not of this wfold: ythem also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; yand there shall be one zfold, and aone shepherd. 17 bTherefore doth my Father love me, cbecause tI lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but tdI lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and eI have power to take it again. This fcommandment have I received of my Father[1]

In the US Army, it was said, The Officer Corps is well trained. Back in the 80' and 90' they sent young Company Grade Officers to Fort Leavenworth. We were being trained to be good staff officers. The training consisted of several elements, but the most important was how to brief Superior Officers. During our briefings, we were taught to give the bottom line upfront. They called it the BLUF. Bottom Line Upfront. I will attempt the Bottom line upfront with this sermon today. So, I will state each of my three points, back them up with God's word, and then move on to our text of scripture.

Point 1.

Effects of knowing God

Synopsis

Knowing God has a transforming effect on a person spiritually and morally and makes that person bold in actions for God. Not knowing God in the present will result in dissatisfaction and degeneration into wickedness and in the future will bring eternal alienation from him.

The effects of knowing God

The effects of knowing Godis Spiritual transformation: from death to life

Colossians 1:9 (ESV) — 9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Galatians 4:8–9 (ESV) — 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Colossians 2:2 (ESV) — 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,

The effects of knowing God.

Point 2.

The peril of not knowing God

The peril of not knowing Godis a lack of satisfaction and degeneration in the present

Romans 1:21–25 (ESV) — 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Titus 1:15–16 (ESV) — 15To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Jeremiah 4:22 (ESV) — 22"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."

Point 3.

The peril of not knowing God

The peril of not knowing Godis Eternal punishment in the future

Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV) — 22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Romans 1:18–19 (ESV) — 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

Romans 2:5 (ESV) — 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

But God sent his only begotten Son!

The bottom line upfront

This scripture is parable about Jesus being the Messiah and willing to give his life for his followers. A leader is willing to giving his life to those who have chosen to follow him.

John 10: 11 - 18 The Good Shepherd

The story of the Good Shepherd is a parable. It is an ancient middle eastern parable that is familiar about a sheepfold.

Shepherds, sheep, and a sheepfold are not familiar images in modern

day America - So we need a little help!

What's a parable? A parable is a story that uses symbolic meaning. We sometimes call it a metaphor or simile

A simile.

:a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox).

This Parable is based on an Old Testament Imagery - Example - Isaiah 40:11 and Psalm 23:1

Isaiah 40:11

11 zHe shall afeed his flock like a shepherd:

bHe shall gather athe lambs with his arm,

And ccarry them in his bosom,

And dshall gently lead those ||that are with young.[2]

And Psalm 23:1

1 The Lordis amy shepherd; bI shall not want.[3]

Parable: a short moral story with a symbolic meaning.

The shepherd symbology - In the Ancient Near Eastern culture, the shepherd usually referred to as a King or Priest; some leaders of people the sheep were considered the kings' subjects

The sheepfold the Kingdom or the King's realm.

In the first verse of our Parable, we have a declarative statement.

11 I am kthe good shepherd: the good shepherd lgiveth his life for the sheep.

In English grammar, a declarative statement is a statement that makes a declaration. The declaration provides a fact, offers an explanation, or conveys information.

In the case of John 10:11 as well and verse 14 verse, Jesus is declaring a statement of fact.

He says "I am" - the good shepherd

He doesn't say I am a good shepherd

He says "I am" the good shepherd,

" I am "one of the seven I am statements - that Jesus made in John's Gospel.

All seven "I am's" are declarative—all strongly express emotion.

Jesus Christ clearly stated that He was the eternally existent One, the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

We are considering the "I am" statement in John 10:11. This is the fourth "I am" statement in John's Gospel.

11 I am kthe good shepherd: the good shepherd lgiveth his life for the sheep.

This I am the good shepherd; signifies the shadow of His coming substitutionary death-not only guiding His sheep but also dying for them.

In the Greek language, the word shepherd means pastor, synonymous with our modern-day pastor. He is like the good shepherd. The people hear his voice, and the pastor is willing to give his life for his sheep.

Pastor Wallace Redd here at Sugar Creek Baptist Church.

Who are the shepherds' sheep?

In near eastern custom, they are King's subjects, So the sheep are people.

Verse 12.

V. 12 12 But he that is an mhireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth nthe wolf coming, and oleaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and pscattereth the sheep.

The Good Shepherd tells the difference between the hired man and the shepherd.

When danger comes, the hired man runs away. The hired man does not own the sheep.

Jesus owns the sheep (people) who believe. Jesus owns the people who believe.

Jesus says 37 bAll that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and chim that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. [4] John 6:37.

He also says in John 10:28 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and uthey shall never perish, wneither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.[5]

Jesus is not like the hired man who is just in it for the money.

This is a comparison.

This sounds like the peril of not knowing God in Point 2.

Verse 13.

V.13, 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and qcareth not for the sheep.

The hired man flees because he cares nothing for the people.

Verse 14.

Jesus says, V. 14 14 I am the good shepherd, and rknow my sheep, and am known of mine.

This verse is a restatement of verse 11.

In addition to the original declaration, Jesus states he knows his own people, and they know him. Jesus gives a comparative statement again.

Verse 15.

15 sAs the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and tI lay down my life for the sheep.

The Lord of the Universe, as a shepherd is willing to sacrifice his life for his sheep.

13 tGreater love hath no man than this, uthat a man lay down his life for his friends.[6]John 15:13.

The best news is the shepherd lays down His life freely.

He beckons all to come to Him. In Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto pme, all ye that labour and are qheavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 rTake my yoke upon you, and slearn of me; for I am tmeek and lowly in heart: and uye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For xmy yoke is easy, and my burden is light.[7]

Isn't it wonderful that we have such a gracious God?

The effects of knowing God

Verse 16.

16 And uother sheep I have, which are not of this wfold: ythem also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; yand there shall be one zfold, and aone shepherd.

The Lord promised thru the Prophet Isaiah 56:8 that he would gather others that are not Israel.

8 The Lord God which gathereth rthe outcasts of Israel saith,

Yet swill I gather others to him, †beside those that are gathered unto him.[8]

The plan of God: Is from the beginning of time to gather a people unto himself.

We have the sheepfold; it is the place where the sheep are safe at night.

We know the sheepfold has a gate.

The only sheep (people) in the sheepfold are those that belong to the Shepherd (Jesus).

Jesus said, "I am the door." John 10:9 9 I am gthe door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and hshall go in and out, and ifind pasture.[9]

Indicating exclusive entry into the sheepfold.

The universal Church is the sheepfold.

Verse 17.

17 bTherefore doth my Father love me, cbecause tI lay down my life, that I might take it again.

For God so loved the world as in Isaiah 53:10.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath hput him to grief:

||iWhen thou shalt make his soul kan offering for sin,

lHe shall see his seed, mhe shall prolong his days,

And nthe pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.[10]

Jesus went to the cross to pay our sin debt in full. Fully paid or paid in full.

Verse 18.

18 No man taketh it from me, but tdI lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and eI have power to take it again. This fcommandment have I received of my Father[11]

The best news of the greatest story ever told.

The Love of God the Father for His beloved Son is the root source of every other love in the Universe, for it is the one love that is eternal.

John 17:24 sums it up best: "24 Father, I will that pthey also, qwhom thou hast given me, be with me where rI am; that sthey may behold my glory, lwhich thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me tbefore the foundation of the world.[12]

The effect of knowing God

The Bottom line up front.

The Cross

God sent his Son; we call him Jesus.

It was God's plan from all eternity to redeem us thru his Son.

Jesus came to redeem mankind. Jesus went to the cross, Jesus suffered at the hands of evil men. Jesus was nailed to an old rugged cross. Jesus gave up his life. But the Good news is Jesus rose up on the third appointed day with all power.

Jesus is our redeemer

We, the body we are the Church. We are to share the Good News of this gospel message. So, our walk-in Christ in oneness walking in the Spirit of the bond of peace. In the manner of our upward calling.

The effects of knowing God. A word of God for the people of God.

Knowing God is knowing the Good Shepard

Thank you.

k Isai. 40:11. Ezek. 34:12. Heb. 13:20. 1 Pet. 2:25. & 5:4. So Jer. 3:15. & 23:4. l ver. 15, 17, 18 (Gk.). m Comp. ver. 5. n See Matt. 7:15. o Zech. 11:17. p So ch. 11:52. q So Zech. 11:16. r ver. 27. 2 Tim. 2:19. So Nah. 1:7. s See Matt. 11:27. t ver. 11 (Gk.). ch. 15:13. u Isai. 56:8. w ver. 1 (Gk.). y So ch. 11:52 Eph. 2:14–17. y So ch. 11:52 Eph. 2:14–17. z Gk. as 1 Cor. 9:7, not as ver. 1, 16. a Ezek. 34:23. & 37:22, 24. So 1 Pet. 2:25. Comp. ch. 17:11, 21, 22. b So Phil. 2:9. c So Isai. 53:7, 8, 12. Heb. 2:9. t ver. 11 (Gk.). ch. 15:13. t ver. 11 (Gk.). ch. 15:13. d Comp. ch. 19:30. 1 Pet. 2:23. e ch. 2:19. So Luke 23:46. But see Acts 2:24. f ch. 12:49. & 15:10. So ch. 6:38. & 14:31. [1] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 10:11–18. z Ezek. 34:23. Zech. 13:7. See John 10:11. a Luke 12:32. John 21:15. So Acts 20:28. b So Luke 15:5. a Luke 12:32. John 21:15. So Acts 20:28. c Num. 11:12. d Gen. 47:17. ch. 49:10 in the Heb. See Ps. 23:2. || Or, that give suck. See Ps. 78:71. [2] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Is 40:11. a Isai. 40:11. Ezek. 34:23. See John 10:11. b Phil. 4:19. [3] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ps 23:1. k Isai. 40:11. Ezek. 34:12. Heb. 13:20. 1 Pet. 2:25. & 5:4. So Jer. 3:15. & 23:4. l ver. 15, 17, 18 (Gk.). k Isai. 40:11. Ezek. 34:12. Heb. 13:20. 1 Pet. 2:25. & 5:4. So Jer. 3:15. & 23:4. l ver. 15, 17, 18 (Gk.). m Comp. ver. 5. n See Matt. 7:15. o Zech. 11:17. p So ch. 11:52. b ver. 39. ch. 17:2. So ver. 45. ch. 10:29. & 17:6, 9, 24. c So ch. 10:28. [4] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 6:37. u So ch. 17:12. & 18:9. w ch. 6:37. [5] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 10:28. q So Zech. 11:16. r ver. 27. 2 Tim. 2:19. So Nah. 1:7. s See Matt. 11:27. t ver. 11 (Gk.). ch. 15:13. t So Rom. 5:7, 8. Eph. 5:2. u ch. 10:11 (Gk.), 15, 17, 18. 1 John 3:16. [6] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 15:13. p Comp. ver. 3. q Luke 11:46 (Gk.). r Ecclus. 51:26. So Lam. 3:27. s So John 13:15. Phil. 2:5. 1 Pet. 2:21. 1 John 2:6. t Zech. 9:9. So Phil. 2:7, 8. u Cited from Jer. 6:16. x 1 John 5:3. [7] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Mt 11:27–30. u Isai. 56:8. w ver. 1 (Gk.). y So ch. 11:52 Eph. 2:14–17. y So ch. 11:52 Eph. 2:14–17. z Gk. as 1 Cor. 9:7, not as ver. 1, 16. a Ezek. 34:23. & 37:22, 24. So 1 Pet. 2:25. Comp. ch. 17:11, 21, 22. r See ch. 11:12. s John 10:16. Eph. 1:10. Comp. Eph. 2:11–16. † Heb. to his gathered. [8] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Is 56:8. g ver. 7. So ch. 14:6. See Eph. 2:18. Comp. ch. 15:1. h Acts 1:21. So Acts 9:28. See Num. 27:17. i So Ps. 23:2. Ezek. 34:14. [9] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 10:9. b So Phil. 2:9. c So Isai. 53:7, 8, 12. Heb. 2:9. t ver. 11 (Gk.). ch. 15:13. h Mic. 6:13 (Heb.). || Or, When his soul shall make an offering. i See ver. 4, 6. k Heb. as Lev. 5:15, 16, 18, 19, &c. l So Ps. 22:30 ch. 66:22. See Job 42:16. m Rom. 6:9. 1 Cor. 15:4. n Comp. Eph. 1:5, 9. 2 Thess. 1:11. [10] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Is 53:10. t ver. 11 (Gk.). ch. 15:13. d Comp. ch. 19:30. 1 Pet. 2:23. e ch. 2:19. So Luke 23:46. But see Acts 2:24. f ch. 12:49. & 15:10. So ch. 6:38. & 14:31. [11] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 10:11–18. p See ch. 12:26. q See ver. 2. r See ch. 8:58. s 2 Cor. 3:18. So 1 John 3:2. l ver. 24. ch. 1:14. t 1 Pet. 1:20. So Eph. 1:4. See ver. 5. [12] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 17:24.