How many times, do we tell our children not to talk to strangers. How many times do we tell them not to be nieve and believe everything they hear. My daddy use to tell me believe none of what you hear, and only a little bit of what you see. When God gave me this topic this morning about the Good Shepherd, and how His sheep should know His voice, it's sad to say so many Christians do not. We really are a microwavable people....we want quick fixes; and we will listen to the first person that will prohesy over our life what we want to hear. Everyone that speaks into your life has not been sent by God to speak life into you. The one thing that I love about Jesus is that He is love, He loves unconditional, some of us don't want to share our food... let alone our life...but Jesus did, and He gave his life for all of us...not just the saved but the unsaved as well. If you really take the time to read the following passsages you will understand the true definition of a shepherd... I am sure I am going to step on a few toes....but I am on a mission for God and not man.... everybody that pastors, has not been necessary called by God to lead.
John 10:1-12
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.
2) But he that enterth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3) To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
* Sheep know only their own shepherd's voice. In the Near East several flocks belonging to diffrent shepherd may be in one fold (a fenced-in-area). But only a shepherd's own sheep will follow him out of the fold. Cattle can be driven, but sheep must be led.*
4) And when he putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow His voice.
5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
8) All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
7) Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
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.
10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and kill, and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantely.
11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
12) But, he that is a 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 scatterth the sheep.
* A hirelng (a servant for pay) will flee in time of personal danger, because he is working for money, and neither owns nor love sheep. You will know if you are with a good shepherd, when the time of trouble comes what does your shepherd do?*
Jesus is the example of what a shepherd should be to his sheep, Jesus died..... and never once, asked for anything in return. In these last evil days, Jesus said the very few elected will be deceived, make sure that where you are, you are being fed the word of God and not man, make sure that the man or woman of God puts God first, and takes no glory, make sure that you are growing spiritually, the same way we have to have air, water, and food for our human being, we have to have GOD for our spiritual man. (HOSEA 4:6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. The cause of man's problem is lack of knowledge. It does not come from a shortage of information, but rather from rejection of information.
