Saturday, December 11, 2010

God's Sheep - Lisa Patterson




Today we will be studying about God's Sheep. The Shepherd knows His Sheep. John10:25 says My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father is greater than all and given them to me. And no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. For I and the Father are one.
John 10:1 He who does not enter the sheep fold by the door but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To Him the door keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him. For they do not know the voice of strangers,(v 7). Jesus said again, I am the door of the sheep. All whoever come before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not hear them and I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. I have come that they will have life.
The thieves and robbers were the Pharises. The stranger is anyone whom the sheep do not know, but not always a thief and a robber. Sheep won't follow a strangers voice, even if he used the shepherd's call and imitated his tone. A heirling is a hired shepherd, a mercenery who tends the flock for his won interest. When a hired shepherd sees a wolf coming, he flees, not caring about the sheep.
Jesus had the power to voluntarily lay down His life for the sheep (v 11,15,17), but also to take it up again. No one but God can do that.
The characteristics of sheep are (1- they hear his voice (v4), (2 they follow Him (faith), (3 they shall never perish. Their eternal life can never be taken away. The Father's hand is more powerful than the enemy. And the scripture says I and my Father are one (Jesus). So today take a look and see if you and Jesus are one and the same, and if you are truely His sheep. He loves everyone and wants us all to come into Him today and take that step of faith and belong to Him.
It is my wish for everyone to have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the Lord bless and keep you another year as we study the word again. This is Lisa Patterson with the Good News that God Loves you and so do I.