Sheep Looking for the Good Shepherd

God's Sheep Find Their Shepherd

Ezekiel Chapter 34

Today we will begin this quarter in the Old Testament, and we will see that God was the same in all His "judgments" as He is today and the answer to every question is still our "Perfect Shepherd" the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must remember, all the Old Testament teaches us about the character of our Heavenly Father.

How He expects us to live a holy life.

How He will chastise us when we go against His Word.

How He will judge those who reject Him.

How He will be a Shepherd to those who love Him.

In the world of animals, sheep may be the dumbest of all animals.

This is evident as a trait of our own human character! I realize main will object to this statement, but the truth is never well accepted by all!

What is the truth? If you have a flock of sheep, then there is a great need of a shepherd!

In our lesson today we will meet a nameless shepherd who would eat from his flock. He would kill them for meat and clothing. He would take from them their milk for nourishment and the products that come from the milk, and he felt that this was the only reason for having this flock.

What do we find? We find that this shepherd would not feed his flock. He would not lead his flock to drinkable water. He would not fight off the predators. He saw his sheep only as merchandise.

What would these sheep do? They would go in search for food and drink, they would be scattered. Their strength would soon fade. The stronger sheep would push away the weaker sheep until those weaker sheep would become weaker and diseased and become easy prey for their enemies and worthless or be of very little value.

This shepherd did not care for his sheep. He would just continue to take from this flock for his own personal needs, regardless of the needs of his flock.

Obviously, this flock of sheep would one day perish if no one would help them and so would this shepherd for he would run out of sheep to slaughter to meet his own needs.

We must learn from this lesson and carry our learning into the Church of today, and not forget we now serve the True Shepherd, the Good Shepherd.

Joh_10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The Holy Spirit is using this word "shepherd" to represent not only "shepherds" but also "the religious leaders of Israel" and "the government of Israel" who knew they had been told by the Word of God to take care of God's people, but they had become so greedy they could only think of themselves and had forsaken the people of Judah and the nation of Judah would go into captivity and their lands destroyed. Even the Temple the House of God was destroyed.

This is a picture of things going on today as most governments are forsaking the people of God, in fact all people, while doing their very best to destroy the Church.

This makes no sense because Christians are normally the most productive and law abiding, people you will ever meet. They just will not go against the Word of God.

Today we see many false shepherds of the Church are doing their best to destroy the Church of the Living God from inside the Church.

*****Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Who is the Shepherd of these sheep? The Lord God says, "my sheep". All those who belong to the Lord are "His sheep" and He is their Shepherd!

Bad shepherds are selfish and do their best to exploit the sheep.

Our Good Shepherd loves His sheep and diligently cares for His sheep!

The nation of Israel had been destroyed. The House of God had been destroyed. Yet the True Shepherd keeps up with each of His sheep.

The True Shepherd of Israel knows exactly where every true Jew is today and there are no lost tribes and there are no lost sheep of Israel.

It is the same for each Christian, God knows exactly where all His children are and what is going on in their lives!

Notice Jehovah says "I will" search for and seek out my sheep.

Jehovah likes to get up close and personal with all His children!

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

Isa 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

You know when the Lord says, "I will" then you had better believe "He will"!

He will deliver His people!

*****Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

What does the "Good Shepherd" do? He will seek out and find all His flock!

Again this Good Shepherd is Jehovah, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

He will return His people to the promised land!

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

He will feed His flock!

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He will lead His flock to good pastures!

We should understand that if we "rightly divide" the Scriptures, we will see that God wrote somethings to the Nation of Israel that will not involve the Church, and all these things will occur according to God's timeline.

After the Church is removed and the Lord focuses on fulfilling His promises to Israel, we will be with Him wherever He goes, and He will rule Israel from the city of Jerusalem, and we will be with Him.

Also "rightly dividing" the Bible there are some things that will happen to non-believers and these things will be fulfilled also!

Remember all those who reject the Word of God are already "judged"!

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death"; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This death being eternally separated from our loving God, in a place of eternal torment!

The Lord knows His sheep and His sheep know Him!

God will deliver His people.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

There are no lost tribes of Israel in fact God knows each of the Israelites and where they are located today!

*****Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Lost sheep that are scattered, will feed off whatever they can find, and it is not always good for them.

They haven’t been cared for and they become ragged.

They end up around other people who do not care for them and certainly do not love them.

They become lost sheep in a lost world!

Listen to the promises of Jehovah God.

God will gather them away from those lost people of the world who only care for themselves in most case by robbing the poor.

God will gather them away from those people who live by false hopes in countries where there is no hope of the truth.

God will gather them into their own land and feed them in a land of pleasant pastures.

God will gather them into a land where they can be loved and cared for.

Over and over again we see that God will get up close and personal with these lost sheep. Why?

Because Jehovah is the true Shepherd of Israel. He is also the true Shepherd of all those who are lost!

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

We cannot read this passage of Scripture without seeing the love, the passion, the pity, the caring, of Jehovah God, Yahweh, for His people.

We cannot read this passage without thinking about what God has said about His people.

Deu 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

God said I will take you home!

*****Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.

If we count, we will see God use the "I" 15 times in this passage. He uses the word "my and myself" 3 times.

There is nothing on this earth God will not do for those people who obey His commandments!

We know that God never changes because these things are the basis of the love our Savior has for the Church.

Joh_10:30 I and my Father are one.

Joh_14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Our God does not have two messages but only one!

We will be fed in a good pasture.

That good pasture is upon the high mountains of the promised land.

This is where the fold of God will be and there is no mountain higher than Heaven.

This is the place of "rest" is only for the believer!

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

There cannot be many shepherds, there can only be One Shepherd!

*****Eze 34:23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Eze 34:24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.

King David had been dead 400 years when Ezekiel penned these words by the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel is a prophet of God and in this Scripture, he prophesies of the Messiah.

This Shepherd/King who will feed them and be the true Shepherd that will come from the line of King David!

David was a shepherd who minded the sheep of his father Jesse.

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isa 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Isa 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

Jer 30:9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Hos 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Again we see the object of Jehovah, is to get up close and personal with His sheep and be the Good Shepherd and even more than this, a Righteous King.

We know that this has not taken place yet, so this prophesy will come together after the Church has been called to be with the Lord.

God's promises will be fulfilled one by one, but we can see that God's timing will come quickly once the Church has been taken out of this world.

What will King Jesus do?

*****Eze 34:25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

Eze 34:26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

When King Jesus sits on the throne from the city of Jerusalem, He will rule this world! The Scriptures say for 1000 years. This promise He made to the people of Israel.

There will be peace:

1) The animal world will finally be at peace as in the first days of Adam and Eve.

Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

2) The human world will finally see peace when King Jesus sits on His throne.

Col_2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

3) The lands of all the world will finally be at peace.

*****Eze 34:27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

Eze 34:28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.

This will be a time when all foods will be grown without fertilizers and poisons, without even organic fertilizers and pest controls!

Farmers will not have to go to Monsanto to buy seed. The plants will produce their own perfect seed.

What precious promises the Lord makes and rest assured, our Lord never breaks a promise!

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Amo 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

Amo 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Amo 9:15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

In America, I can remember when we did not have to lock our doors and most of the population still feel that we are safe in our homes.

In reality we are just not as safe as we use to be!

Weapons are in the minds of most all Americans. Some in a good way and some in a bad way. You want to stop the rise of gun purchases, make us feel safe in our homes again? Quit providing for the needs of the crooks, robbers, and murderers and provide for the victims!

Today the people of Israel never know when the sirens will blare telling them that a rocket is headed their way.

Where that greatest part of their national budget must be spent on the defense of their nation.

Where everyone born must spend some time in the military, so a defense force is always ready.

These people simply do not know what peace is all about, but one day in the future, the City of Jerusalem will become the City of Peace and the enemies of Israel will all be destroyed!

They will dwell safely in that land, because they will have chosen to serve the Lord.

Luk 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

Luk 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

Luk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

God will remember His promise!

Luk 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Luk 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

Luk 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Luk 1:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

Isa 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Isa 44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

There is coming a day when the children of Israel will have no fear of any nation!

This day has not come yet, but is still in the future and I would hope that all of that nation feel security in the Word of God.

*****Eze 34:29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

Eze 34:30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 34:31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

That plant of renown is none other than, the "stem of Jesse", the Lord Jesus Christ, the True Messiah.

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isa 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

All these prophesies meant much in the past of Israel, but their true fulfillment is still in the future at the return of Christ Jesus.

And the Lord picks up where He began, because we are all still sheep in need of a Shepherd!

Our Divine Shepherd is Adonai, His name is Jehovah the one true God!

Today if you want to be in the flock of the true God you must realize that you are a sheep in need of the true Shepherd!

If you have not found your Shepherd, I will tell you that He is seeking for you today.

Call out for Him and He will find you!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

Book of John Chapter 10

Before we start Chapter 10, we need to look back to Chapter 9.

Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Jesus had just boldly said that He was the Son of God and some truly believed, but the Pharisees and the High Priest and those close to them rejected everything that Jesus had said.

These are the same men who had all the Scriptures, who spent much time studying the Scriptures and swore to abide by them.

These men were not blind to what Jesus was saying, in fact some them believed that Jesus could be who He said He was.

These men just refused to give up their places of leadership and thought that they could resist God.

These same foolish men still exist today, and they will exist when Jesus returns and then they will be no more, till in the end when they will face the Lord again at the White Throne Judgment.

These men were followers of Satan, even if they did not know this was true.

They clung to their sin so tightly that no one could deprive them of it.

What is said of Satan?

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Jesus told these evil men that if they did not know the Word of God, they would have believed but because they knew so much of the Scriptures and had so many means of knowing the truth and rejected the truth, then there was no hope for them and Jesus continues in Chapter 10.

*****Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

If we look at the original Greek manuscripts, we will see that the word used for "thief" is the same word used for "Judas" and the same word used for "robber" is used to describe "Barabbas".

Jesus begins with a passage much like a parable and a parable is an earthly story that has a Heavenly meaning.

This lesson boldly states that it is Jesus Christ who is "the door" of the sheepfold and we will see this soon.

The sheep fold will one day include most all the Jews but at this time the sheep fold is the Church.

Those who try to enter the Church by some means other that Jesus Christ become as a thief and a robber and as the trained servants of Satan!

Jesus was probably looking straight into the eyes of these Temple leaders as He said these words.

Most of these men only thought of shepherds as the low-lives of society and had nothing to do to them. A true shepherd was with his flock 7 days a week.

We could say that Jesus was also pointing out what a true Church leader should be. These who were before Him knew nothing of caring for God's people!

We should clearly understand that God does not deal with us a General over a His great army, the Lord deals with us a Shepherd over his valuable flock!

In this parable the sheepfold is the place where the Lord keeps His sheep.

This parable will deal with the false shepherd and the true Shepherd.

The true Shepherd is Jesus Christ and the false shepherds are all those opposed to Jesus Christ!

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

No one can get inside the pen where the sheep are kept unless they come through the Door and that Door is the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

We should understand that a flock of sheep are led by the shepherd and the shepherd’s boy will bring up the rear.

When there is a journey that shepherd's boy will lead the sheep while the shepherd drives the sheep.

When darkness comes the sheep are herded into enclosures to keep them safe and the shepherd becomes the door to enter into that enclosure. Nothing gets by the shepherd to cause harm to the sheep.

The Shepherd knows each and every one of his sheep and the sheep know him.

It is sin for Christian people to suppose that they are just part of a crowd. The Lords knows each child of God as a shepherd knows his sheep!

In fact the Lord knows each of us so well that He knows when one hair on our head has fallen out or if we stumped our toe while walking.

God also does not so much convert the masses as He deals with us one on one.

The Lord Jesus wants a personal relationship and we can have one with Him if we just accept Him as the truth!

In the short time the Lord spent upon this earth in the flesh, He personally felt every infirmity that we deal with and so He knows what we are going through in every situation.

Note: Christ even felt what it like to be hated by other people even by some His own family for a time!

Christ does not just know something about us, He knows all about us and He makes the effort to know more that He can help us through this life until He takes us home to present us to His Father.

Note: Christ does not watch over us as if we are in a prison. We are never treated as slaves even though Christ purchased us from the slave-market of sin. Christ treats us members of His own family and He is our older Brother.

Note: Christ is the true Shepherd of the Christian sheep and the Holy Spirit is then the Porter or the Doorkeeper.

As sheep, the Christian will listen for the call of the Shepherd and He knows our name and we will follow and obey the Shepherd.

We should understand that the Lord deals with us individually. The only time the Lord will call us as a group is at the "Rapture" of the Church.

The truth of the Shepherd:

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

If we do not know these things, then we are subject to be led by a false shepherd.

*****Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Once we know the Lord as our Redeemer, we will know His voice and we will never forget the sound of His voice.

We must trust the voice of the Lord. He will speak to us through the Holy Spirit just as we speak to Him through the Holy Spirit.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Our true Shepherd does not just go before us as some man, but He goes before us with all the power of God.

1Jn_5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

When the Lord puts forth His sheep none are ever left behind, and He will feed them with the truth.

When a false shepherd puts forth his sheep it is to rid himself of trouble, making merchandise of them.

2Pe_2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The true Christian will never follow a stranger whom they do not know as a Christian.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Those who do not put forth the truth of the Scriptures are all strangers and have nothing of God within them!

What is the path of the stranger? Humanism, materialism, worldliness, fame, false religion, false science, false philosophy.

We are to flee from these things!

Again we see a parable that these Pharisees could not understand so Jesus explains this parable to them.

*****Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Without the Holy Spirit who abides in each believer, these things cannot be understood.

Pro 28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

If we can see the truth, then we can see that these things are a fulfillment of prophecy.

Isa 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Jesus continues to teach the truth that these men would not accept.

*****Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Jesus begins with "Listen to Me, these things are very important"(verily,verily)

Jesus explains that He is not only the Shepherd, but He is also the Door.

Maybe the most important thing in this parable, (some say proverb) is that we must understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Door to the sheepfold or we could say "The Church"!

The fact of this is that the sheep cannot leave without confronting the Door and enemies could not enter without going through the Door which is impossible.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Notice in verse 8 the "I Am". When the Lord says "I Am" we know He is Jehovah or Yahweh!

Who are those thieves and robbers?

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

By knowing these about these things, we should never be fooled by them!

All those who disagree with what the Lord is saying here need to get a true Bible and study and believe!

The Lord's sheep will never be sheared again but those who follow a false prophet or priest, or false pastor will be sheared over and over again!

All those who reject the Lord as the Messiah, as Lord, as the True Shepherd, as our Redeemer cannot come through the Door where the sheep of the Lord are located.

Their message is a message of plunder and murder, they will not have a message from Heaven and God the Father because they cannot know Him!

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

*****Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Door to salvation.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

He Lord is the "Door":

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

He is also the Shepherd:

Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

He is also the Pasture.

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

His Pasture contains not only the "Bread of Life" but also the "Water of Life"!

Joh_4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Joh_6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Notice again, no one enters except by the Lord. (by Me).

*****Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Again Jesus is blunt when He says all those who say there is another way get to Heaven are just "thieves" and "robbers". The only thing that they know to do is to kill and destroy.

Some just want the wool which is all the things of value.

Next, they will want the life of each sheep.

Life is the power behind our being!

Even as Christians we cling to life not willing to let go and there is nothing particularly wrong with this, as long as we know that true life comes after the death of our flesh.

True life is the deliverance from condemnation and death!

True life is forever.

True life is satisfaction.

True life is security.

True life is enjoyment.

True life is found only in God!

True life comes only by Jesus Christ!

True life begins when we are filled and sealed by the Holy Spirit!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

*****Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus Christ is our Perfect Shepherd and He knows we cannot be left alone so He will care for us all our days.

Jesus is the good Shepherd because He gave His life for His sheep!

Jesus is the Great Shepherd!

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the "Ideal" Shepherd

Isa 49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

Isa 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of our souls:

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Who are those that are false leaders of God's people?

*****Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

There are many of these "hirelings" behind the pulpits today.

They are men and women who are hired who care not for the children of God but they are more like the mercenary who will leave when things look bad because they serve only their own interest!

These men and women who are wolves in sheep's clothing who spend their time attacking the Christian faith.

They attack Christian liberty.

They attack the Christian life.

A wolf will capture some and scatter the rest intentionally destroying the flock of God and those that follow them are just as bad!

The hireling will never defend the cause of Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus Christ is the owner of all the Christian sheep.

They were "given" to Him by His Father.

He is the Creator of all things and He "created" the Church and His flock.

Jesus laid down His life for His sheep and the Christian sheep are "paid for with His own blood".

In a day that is close by, Jesus will "Redeem" His sheep and take them home to a New Heaven.

This is why His sheep know Him. He knows my name and your name if you love Him.

What is on the mind of Jesus Christ today? His sheep.

Every thought of the Lord is always on His sheep every day.

He is concerned about our joy and our happiness.

He is concerned about our trials and our sorrows.

He is there to pick us up when we stumble or if we stray from the path.

He is concerned about or needs and our wants.

Jesus keeps His mind on His sheep every moment we live and is waiting with open arms when He takes us home.

This is why the Rapture is guaranteed, so the world will know that Lord has redeemed His sheep and then proof that those left behind chose wrong.

Because those left behind all got an opportunity to know the Savior!

*****Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

As the Lord was speaking to the Jews of course, these other sheep would be of the Gentiles, that includes us who here today.

This included all other nations and every generation until Jesus returns!

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In the end there will be only one church!

There will be only one flock of sheep because there is only one Savior who is also the true Shepherd!

That word "must", is very important. It means Christ Jesus is compelled by His Father to reach out to the Gentile sheep!

There are not Jews nor Gentiles, there are only Believers!

*****Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Had Jesus not died we would all still have our sin.

Had Jesus not arose from the dead we would still have our sin!

Our Good Shepherd sacrificed His life for our sin to become the Perfect Shepherd!

The Fathers infinite love for His Son would not allow for Him to stay dead.

It is because of the Son's infinite love for His sheep that He arose from that death.

We must realize that Jesus as the Son of God could not die.

This passage means, it was Christ's human life that died, and Christ had to take on that human life again in order that we be saved.

Christ was still in that human life when He ascended even though it was glorified to teach that we will certainly be like Him when we meet Him!

Jesus Christ will free us from death by providing eternal life to each and every believer!

If Jesus had not taken up that human life again, then we would still be lost in this dying world.

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

So we see that our Father in Heaven not only sent His Son to die but to also rise from that death.

Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

We know that our Father in Heaven has given us the choice to follow Him or not and Jesus had this same choice. Jesus could have said no and just went back to Heaven, but had He done so then as far as truth goes there would be no God at all.

The Scriptures must be fulfilled just as they are written, or we would have nothing to to put our "Faith" because remember this plan was conceived before creation week began.

So, all these things being true it should increase our "faith".

1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus did all these things to glorify His Father another example for us to do the same!

Amen

Let's Pray!