Photo by Steven Lasry on Unsplash
You may listen to this message on my Anchor podcast Moving K.O.R.E. WORD by clicking on the link here: Episode 3
In the previous message, Valley of the Shadow, we looked at Psalm 23 and the LORD being our Shepherd who leads us, guides us, provides for us, walks with us, is present with us when our enemies are near, refills us, restores us, and allows us to live with HIM forever.
We continue our walk with JESUS and our relationship to HIM as HE, HIMSELF, announces that HE is the Good Shepherd of HIS sheep… Read John 10:1-18
It is initially entitled The Good Shepherd and HIS Sheep.
We learn that the Good Shepherd is JESUS and HE leads HIS sheep:
- through the gate to open pasture for their provision.
- to always be available and ready to defend them against predators within the sheep pen for their protection.
- to always be willing to lay down HIS life and take it up again by HIS providence as HIS promise to HIS flock with personal salvation to all who believe and trust in HIM for their promotion into HIS heavenly Kingdom.
In this message, I am focusing on and writing about John 10: 1-4
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. John 10:1
The Pharisees were the religious leaders who did not believe in JESUS nor HIS Words. They spoke out against HIM or were left speechless upon hearing HIM. They were often filled with anger and even outrage from interactions with HIM. Though they were religious, they had no clue to spiritual realities that JESUS revealed that were meant to warn them, teach them, lead them to repentance, and to ultimately save them. JESUS told them that there is only one way to spiritual freedom within and one way for entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom which is through HIM alone…
We learn that the Pharisees are thieves and robbers who have climbed into their position of “religious authority” lacking true spiritual insight/wisdom for shepherding GOD’s people and that they:
- are prosperous materially because of greed/wickedness and not generous to the poor (Luke 11:39-41)
- promote giving a tithe, but are unpracticed in justice and love of GOD (Luke 11:42)
- seek power, prestige, and prominence as their primary motivation (Luke 11:43)
- presume to know about eternal life, but are in fact the exact opposite (Luke 11:44)
- preload onto people with heavier burdens to carry, but won’t step in and help them with the problems they have created (Luke 11:46)
- pacified to build tombs for the prophets who were pummeled to death or persecuted and will be purportedly held responsible for these senseless acts (Luke 11:47-51)
- are in poverty because they have taken away the key to knowledge, persist in not entering by the correct way into salvation, and prevent GOD’s people also from entering (Luke 11:52)
- have pride in being confident in their own righteousness (not seeing their need for a Savior) and looking down on others (not being loving, gracious, merciful, or compassionate) (Luke 18:9)
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. John 10:2
JESUS is talking about HIMSELF here and HE is the one who enters by the gate. So, HE alone is the Shepherd of the sheep. HE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life so HE is intimately aware of the “gate” -its location and the green pasture that leads to provision, protection, and promises…
- to behold the mystery foretold by history and enrolled in the new covenant of the Spirit to be showing and experiencing intimately…
- to hold onto faith/hope/love for knowing continually…
- to mold within for growing spiritually…
- to uphold and keep for the sheepfold bestowing willingly…
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. John 10:3
I believe the gatekeeper here is GOD the FATHER who opens the gate for JESUS. The sheep, GOD’s people, listen to the Good Shepherd JESUS when HE calls them by name and leads them out…
- out of their demise of sin
- out of their darkness into Light
- out of their deafness to hear spiritually
- out of their blindness to see spiritually
- out of their disability to walk spiritually
- out of their hunger to be nourished spiritually
- out of their thirst to drink spiritually
- out of the valley of the shadow of death to be with us in the midst of our enemies, to be anointed spiritually, to be refilled spiritually, to be restored spiritually, and to live eternally spiritually
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:4
HIS sheep, those who have believed and trusted JESUS as their Savior, follow HIM for they know HIS voice…
How do we follow HIM? By hearing HIS voice!
How do we hear HIS voice? By drawing near to HIM, staying with HIM, and walking with HIM each day…
How do we draw near to HIM, stay with HIM, and walk with HIM each day? By getting to know HIS Words in spending set aside times with HIM…
- listen to the Word (Romans 10:17)
- read the Word and meditate on it to believe and trust in it (Psalm 119:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13)
- pray through the Word often, even continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
- encourage one another with the Word (Romans 15:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
GOD’s Word as revealed in the Bible is HIS message, character, heart, promises, and instructions for us to learn about and know…
Furthermore, JESUS is the Word made flesh… John 1:1-14
Since HE is the Word HIMSELF, we can get to know HIM, listen to HIM, be led and guided by HIM, and ultimately follow HIM…
A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Luke 9:35
Here are some insights, wisdom, promises of listening to JESUS’ who is the Word to whom we can listen to and follow:
- Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
- Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
- He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28
- Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
- Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
- Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 - The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Let me encourage you to begin if you haven’t started in reading GOD’s Word. I started getting more diligent in spending time with the LORD a few years ago. I started in Matthew and read through the New Testament and then through the Old Testament one chapter for each day of the week. I am currently on my second go around reading through the Bible having started in the Old Testament. Right now, I’m in the Psalms. My first time reading through the Bible, my goal was to read a chapter a day, but I’d mostly read the 7 chapters on Saturdays. I’ve recently begun to read a morning chapter and then an evening chapter of the Bible on a daily basis more consistently. I write down in my journal a favorite verse or one I am needing/praying for to occur in my life. It has been refreshing and rewarding…
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
If you’re not sure where to start you may begin in Matthew in the New Testament and read from one of these choices:
- a chapter in the morning and a chapter in the evening
- one chapter each day
- a few verses from a chapter at a time
Then pick up where you left off the next day. Be sure to get a spiral notebook to write down a favorite verse or one that you want GOD to answer and do in your life. The important thing to remember is to start spending time with JESUS to know HIS voice and grow in your walk with HIM…
If you are prompted to believe and trust in JESUS as your Savior for the first time, then you may do so now here: Personal Gift of Salvation for your very own to receive…
If you are prompted to ask GOD for forgiveness in JESUS name for not listening and following HIM, then do so now: FATHER GOD, I haven’t been listening and following JESUS and I ask for forgiveness. I receive YOUR forgiveness and please cleanse me from unrighteousness. JESUS, I recommit to listening and following YOU… Thank YOU, Amen. Let me know if you prayed and I will be praying for you: Share Your Life
If you need prayer, have questions, or need support and encouragement, please reach out here as well: Share Your Life
As we spend time listening to the Word, reading the Word, believing and trusting the Word, meditating on and practicing doing the Word we grow in JESUS increasing within more faith, hope, and love in our salvation moving forward in our new life journey…
Remember: JESUS love you…
✟K.O.R.E. 