John 10:1-18
Did you know that the sheep is the only terrestrial animal that has no Defence and that when it distances itself from its herd and it gets lost, it is unable to fend for itself and find its path back home?
Dogs, cats, monkeys, and most other animals have defences, but the sheep is the only terrestrial animal that has no Defences at all, she is totally vulnerable, because her vision is limited, she does not notice danger, she has no sense of direction and she may stray and get lost easily.
Jesus compared us to sheep.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
The Bible compares the Church to a flock of sheep. The word sheep appears in the Bible 191 times. The church of Jesus is made up of sheep and God is our good Shepherd.
Today I want to talk about Jesus our Great and Supreme Shepherd and our pastors, who are earthly representations of our heavenly Shepherd. For it was Jesus who sent us our pastors here to take care of his church and our lives.
Let’s start by reading Psalm 23, which is the best known psalm in the Bible.
1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”
Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
The title of this message was not chosen by chance, it brings profound truths about the identity of the believer and his spiritual needs.
The characteristics of a Sheep Shepherd
““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
John 10:11 NKJV
A shepherd is someone who is dedicated to caring for, feeding and protecting animals like sheep.
The Shepherd’s Function is:
- Taking care of the flock
- Ensuring their health
- Being assertive
- Ensure the wellbeing
That requires great dedication and a lot of love. It is an arduous, difficult but beautiful work full of rewards, where man is not only the leader of the animals, but their partner and faithful protector.
A true Shepherd seeks us out to:
- Offer us hope and relief
- Lift us up and build us up
- Replace fear with joy.
He teaches us to understand about compassion and love and helps us to exercise faith to repent and be healed.
I want to talk a little about my personal testimony. Do you think it has always been easy for me to hear the voice of my Pastors?
Voices told me to do the opposite of what they had directed or advised me to do.
There is always the desire to stop doing things, the feeling of contempt, of not to being valued. But that isn’t true because they were always taking care of me, and that’s why I’m here today.
The only thing that changed was that I took the decision not to listen these voices and listen the voice of my Pastors instead.
I decided to ask them for help.
Talk about my feelings.
I decided not to follow my wishes and feelings.
I decided not to listen to other teachings and the voices of mercenaries.
I decided to obey the word of God and walk in obedience and submission to my pastors.
When we have these bad feelings in our hearts, we usually end up listening to anyone who will say what we would like to hear or who will agree and say that we are right.
12 “But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
John 10:12-14 NKJV
Jesus says here that the sheep know the voice of the good shepherd and follow him, they’ll never follow false mercenary leaders.
I have 3 questions for us to reflect on:
- How to identify the voice of the good Shepherd among so many voices these days?
- Who are you following?
- Who have you been running away and hiding from?
Stop and reflect on what answer you would give yourself.
We are faced with many teachings that are absurd and proclaim things in the name of God. Many people are confused by what the false teachings they have received. But you shouldn’t be afraid because the Good Shepherd Jesus knows his sheep. He called you by your name on the day on your baptism day and you belong to Him.
Jesus said: The True Sheep hears the Voice of their Shepherd! So listen to your pastor’s voice!
If you follow the Voice of your shepherd you will find it.
- Love and care
- Real protection
- Teachings and spiritual growth
- You will get to the end of your life safe and sound.
“ 1Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:1-10 NKJV
Jesus is the door, He is the Supreme Shepherd of the sheep who know his voice and follow him. HE is your protection, when you are in his house which is the Church. Outside the sheepfold, the sheep are risking being devoured by the wolves.
Jesus is your Supreme Shepherd, He is at the right hand of God the Father today, interceding for you! He didn’t abandon us, he has given us pastors to look us!
“And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15 NKJV
We are grateful to God because He has given us shepherds who have grazed us with love, knowledge and intelligence. Listen to the voice of your pastors!
“Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” Hebrews 13:17 NLT
We honour Jesus Our Supreme Shepherd, but God has commanded us to obey and subject ourselves to our pastors because they are taking care of our souls.
Even if you are still going through tribulations and fights, do not forget where you must run to and ask for help, because you have a Good Shepherd and there are difficult situations in which the sheep must allow itself to be carried.
CONCLUSION:
To finish, I want to read the last chapter of the book of John
“16And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father.””
John 10:16-18 NKJV
There are times when we must accept care and let ourselves be led back to the flock. One thing is certain, in the company of the Good Shepherd the sheep will always experience his patience and love.
Let your Shepherd lead you and show you love, let Jesus take the lead of your life, your family and your business.
Do not lose the charms of life by following the voice of mercenaries and liars who don’t care about you and who are not committed to helping you.
Your Pastor cares about you and wants to help you, they give their lives for us so that we may achieve the freedom we want so much.
We are saved by Grace only, by faith, by the word of God and through the works of Jesus Christ.
You can’t let yourself get trapped for anything or anyone. There is no human being, there is no philosophy, there is no ideology or system that gives life the protection you need.
Jesus compares us to a sheep and the vision of a sheep is short, they have no perception of danger, no sense of direction, they lose themselves easily and their survival depends on the directions given by the shepherd!
You have your Supreme Shepherd who is Jesus, but here in this church, you have pastors who love you! Do you hear and obey the voice of your pastors?
Please listen to the voice of your pastors and stop listening to other voices, because your obedience will bring about your protection, prosperity and the right direction for your spiritual, physical and family life.
Jesus Our Supreme Shepherd, He will lead you in peace and security through his kind voice, to green pastures and sources of waters where you’ll find peace.