CAN YOU HEAR HIS VOICE?
Your Salvation depends upon it. John 10:1-21
Intro. This morning, I want to speak to you about, Hearing the Voice of God and its relationship to your salvation.
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate [Thyra: door or gate], but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 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. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. [a life of abundance]
I. OUR SALVATION IS ON THE WORD OF THE LORD AND IN FAITH:
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17
- Called by Name: Jesus says that “He calls his sheep by name” and not by tribe, not by family nor by nations, but by name! This calling is personal. His voice is not audible but Spiritual. His Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are His. And the end result is the sheep follow Him.
Example: Zacchaeus was called out of a tree by name. (Luke 19:5)
- Effectual Calling: His sheep hear and follow!
Shepherding 101: Jesus was speaking to people who were all too familiar with sheep, shepherds and the work involved in raising them. They knew that sheep were valuable commodities. For their wool, meat and role in temple worship.
Shepherds were responsible for caring for the sheep from birth to slaughter. The shepherd would lead the sheep into pasture lands to graze by day and lead them back into the safety of the sheep pen by night. The sheep pen had only one gate in and out. And sheep, like your pets were able to recognize the voice of their shepherd. A hired hand would keep watch by night to make sure no carnivores jumped the fence for some lamb chops and would also be on the lookout for sheep thieves who would steal sheep for personal profit. [Ezekiel 34]
- Thieves and Robbers. These so-called spiritual leaders could not hear the voice of the Shepherd because they would not. Israel was called to be gatekeepers of the God’s gracious plan of Salvation to blessed “all the peoples of the world” but they refused the messenger and rejected his word. ( I used to think the thief was the devil, and certainly his aim is to kill but these thieves are religious teachers who care only for themselves)
- God nowadays speaks through and about His Son.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Heb. 1:1-3
- There are many voices out there trying to persuade us to follow their worldly and vain philosophies in regard to spiritual matters.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
II. JESUS IS THE “GOOD SHEPHERD.” v.11-15
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks [harpazo] the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
A. Throughout the pages of Holy Scriptures God is described has the Shepherd of his people.
- The Lord is my shepherd and shall not want. Psa 23
- See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isa 40:10-11.
- Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth. Psa 80:1
Israel from antiquity understood God to be their shepherd but when he shows up, they reject him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:11-12
B. Three things about our Good Shepherd:
- He lays down his life for our welfare. He was not only the good shepherd but also the sacrificial lamb who came to reverse the curse. (John 1:29)
- He knows us personally and calls us by name.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who CALLED you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:29
3. He cares for us. Cast your cares upon him for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
III. JESUS HAS ONE FLOCK NOT TWO: v.16-21
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
A. The Jews could care less about Gentiles and had no love for the Shepherd which is obvious from their response.
- The leaders of Israel though Jesus was a madman who was under the influence of demons.
- Jesus speaks of “other sheep” who were to be included in the flock of God-the Church.
- God promised Abraham to bless the all the peoples of the world through his descendants and be a light of revelation to the entire world. Gen.12:3, Luke 2:29-33
- The Apostle John informs his readers that Jesus came to his own people but they rejected him. This rejection was the catalyst for the gentile world to be grafted in the Vine.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” Eph. 2:13-16
B. Our Good Shepherd was crucified according to the eternal plan of God.
“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” Acts 2:23
C. Our Good Shepherd had and exercised His authority to be raised from the dead!
CONCLUSION: The gospel message opens to gate into the kingdom of God and into abundance here and now. Christ is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life that we would be saved. The flock is the family of God- the church that was purchased by his blood made up of both Jews & Gentiles. People who have heard the voice of their shepherd calling them out by name. People God the Father graced with Sovereign and saving faith.