Today's scripture comes from John, chapter 10, verses 1 through 21. John, chapter 10, verses 1 through 21. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all of his own, he goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow but they will flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers. This figure of speech Jesus used with them but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep all who come before me are thieves and robbers but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own in my own know me just as the father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me but I lay it down on of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my father. There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said he has a demon and is insane. Why listen to him? Others said there are not the these are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? These are the words of the Lord. Don't be a sheep. These are the words I saw as I was entering into the golf store by the brown because I lost too many golf balls. And as I was going into the golf store to buy some golf balls they are on the window of a car. Read these words. Don't be sheep. Now obviously this is response of many to kind of being mandated certain lifestyle changes during our times of social unrest and COVID-19 pandemic. When the governor of the state of Washington issued a mandate that all the citizens of Washington needed to wear masks inside and outside, there was a local sheriff who issued his own video and on the video he said don't be a sheep.
The idea, beloved, is that sheep are blind followers and do just what they are told to do with without question. In our times of our overactive conspiracies and oversensitivity to regulations, the call more and more is to question everything, right? And therefore don't be a sheep. I'm sorry, I gotta get down, so it's interesting to me that there are times when when people don't mind being called all kind of various animals, times you don't mind being called a dog, as long as it's a big dog, as long as it means that you get bite. Some people even don't mind being called a cat, long as it's a cool cat. And people who carry the weight are sometimes called horses. My mother calls my oldest sister as long as I can't remember, she called her chick in the series roots, Alex Hayley's roots. There was a man known as chicken George and in the dukes of hazard. There was both all. Well, there is one animal in the bonja that I can't find anybody who wants to be called that animal. And that is a sheep. When people warn you or want to warn you about being led or being led astray or by being duped into following blindly, they say don't be a sheep. The problem beloved is that the warning is too little and way, way, way too late, thousands of years too late because as far as the Bible is concerned, God is like, oh, McDonald. Oh, McDonald had a farm. EIO. And on that farm, he had some sheep. EIO. It was sheep here and sheep there, here is sheep, there is sheep everywhere, sheep, sheep. Oh, McDonald had a farm. EIO. Oh, it's what the Bible says. The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 53 and 6 that we all like sheep. We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to our own way. We all are sheep beloved. This is the testimony of scripture when Adam and Eve fell into sin. You know what they were demonstrating? They were demonstrating that they are sheep and ever since Adam and Eve, the whole world has been populated with sheep. Only question, really beloved, the only question is not whether or not you are sheep. The only question is whether or not you are a faithful sheep or a foolish sheep. The only question is whether or not you are a lost sheep or a found sheep because we're all sheep. Faithful sheep have faith in the Lord. Faithful sheep say like Jacob said in Genesis 48 and 15 that the Lord had been my shepherd all the days of my life. What does he say that all the days of my life I have been a sheep and the Lord had been my shepherd all the days of my life. Faithful sheep put their trust in the Lord. Foolish sheep put their trust in everything and anything else in the context of our text in chapter 9. As we saw last week, what we saw, beloved, what we saw working itself out was the difference between faithful and foolish, the difference between lost and found sheep. The blind man was a found sheep who put his faith in Jesus. The Pharisees were lost sheep who put their trust in themselves and their own traditions. This, this, this beloved is the universal struggle in the Bible and thus this is the struggle in your hearts and minds this morning. It is the struggle of the sheep who will they listen to, will they follow? Listen, lost sheep, follow of the sheep, call them false shepherds but really they just lost sheep themselves, lost sheep, follow of the sheep. That's what Jesus said. Matthew chapter 15 and verse 14 he says it's the blind lead and the blind. It's a sheep following sheep. They follow false shepherds which is in essence just sheep following sheep, faithful sheep, follow the good shepherd, those sheep who are found follow the true shepherd. This is the battle, beloved. Now hearts in our minds you do realize that every day your heart and your mind is a battle field. If you are not aware of this since it's probably because you already been fallen prey to following lost sheep. There is a battle that rages every day and contrary, contrary to public discourse it is not a battle between the Democrats and the Republicans it is not a battle between the progressives and the liberals and conservatives it is not a battle between Fox News and CNN and NPR. It is a battle for the sheep, lost sheep and faithful sheep, foolish sheep and those who are found.
This is what we have explained further to us in John chapter 10 John 10 is significant because it continues the explanation of the events in John 9 and you remember last week how we mentioned how important and how significant was the events in John 9 and revealing who Jesus is and what Jesus came to do. Jesus giving sight to the blind man. Well last week beloved what we saw was the blind man giving explanation to the events. What we have in John 10 is now Jesus gives explanation to that most significant event. Jesus explained that what was happening is that the good shepherd was getting distinguished from the false shepherd but even more importantly for us this morning don't miss this it is that the true sheep were getting distinguished from the foolish ones. That's going to be our focus this morning. I come to this text see I'm already losing it. I come to this text this morning and obviously when you read John chapter 10 the first thing that comes to your mind is that Jesus is the good shepherd and yes he is and I had a whole sermon on that and yesterday I trust it
trust it because I want you to see beyond the scriptures telling us that Jesus is a good shepherd had his obvious but it is also here reminding us of who are the sheep what does it mean to be a sheep in the flock of Jesus Christ. Beloved there are only two types of people in the world sheep who are lost and sheep who are found and Jesus came to seek and to save his sheep the question that is left for us this morning are you one of them are you a sheep in the flock of the good shepherd. I want to show you this morning if you are saved if you are saved this morning I want to show you what it means for sheep to be saved what it what it means for sheep to be saved the blind man was saved because his eyes were opened and he saw Jesus because he was lost and the good true shepherd found him you are saved this morning it is because of the ministry and the mission of the true shepherd for his sheep
so this text this morning beloved not only tells us who the good shepherd is obviously that's Jesus but more importantly it tells us who the sheep are it tells us who are the true sheep of God and Jesus reminded them really that not only where they fall shepherds the Pharisees but they were full of sheep because that's what false shepherds really are right they're just the foolish sheep who need the foolish sheep they are the foolish sheep that the other foolish sheep put up front to lead the blind lead in the blind they are the foolish sheep that the other foolish sheep listen to they are the foolish sheep that the other foolish sheep trust they are the foolish sheep that the other foolish sheep follow Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are just foolish sheep he is the good shepherd he is the only true shepherd and he has come to claim his sheep he has come to find and to save his everyone has a sheep this morning you ask that everyone is a sheep this morning but not every sheep belongs to Jesus in verse 3 and chapter 10 the Bible says the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd all the sheep are gathered in the pin all the sheep are gathered in the pin the gatekeeper recognizes the shepherd the gatekeeper opens the door opens the gate so the shepherd can come in and notice what the Bible says the sheep listen to his voice he calls who his own sheep by name and those other ones he leaves out I don't think you hear what I said he comes and he calls his own sheep out from amongst all of the other sheep he calls them by name and he leaves them out his own sheep his own sheep beloved because he knows them by name this is the reality and the intimacy of God's salvation this morning this is the particularity of redemption and Isaiah chapter 43 in verse 1 God says fear not if I have redeemed you I have called you by name you are mine you are mine because I call you by name when the Lord says it is personal it is personal he calls his people by name he called Abraham by name he called Moses by name he called Samuel by name beloved he called Peter by name he called Paul they were saw but he called him name that's what the good shepherd does the good shepherd knows his sheep and he calls each one by name
listen listen you and I you and I may not know the name of the blind man that Jesus gave sight to but I guarantee you that Jesus knew his name because the good shepherd calls his people by name Jesus found him Jesus called him and he followed his you see that the blind man was there amongst all the other sheep and Jesus came and called him by name and he heard him and he followed him and Jesus let him out this is what happens when true sheep meet the shepherd how about you this morning question do we have any true sheep in the house this morning
well let's see because the Bible tells us who the tree of true sheep are first of all the Bible reminds us of the true sheep who listen to Jesus the true sheep listen to Jesus John chapter 10 verse 3 and 4 the sheep hear his voice he calls his own by name and leave them out when he adds brown out all of his own those are the only ones he's bringing out beloved those who are his own he goes before them the sheep follow him for they know his voice and I'm losing my beloved with all the many voices in this world true sheep are the ones who are always listening for Jesus they are listening for Jesus the Pharisees prove themselves foolish and lost sheep in that they refuse to listen to Jesus they refuse to listen to Jesus the blind man showed himself a true sheep because he listened to Jesus why because Jesus tells you the truth listen what he says truly truly I say to you in other words he says I tell you the truth now don't get it twisted beloved don't get it twisted don't get it twisted because everybody claims to tell you the truth everybody claims to tell you the truth that's why the foolish sheep put the other foolish sheep forward because certain foolish sheep claim to know the truth and today there are many voices out there claiming to know true they got they got YouTube channels they got podcasts they're talking heads in the media but I want to encourage you this morning I want to encourage you this morning and when you listen to the news hopefully you have already been listening to Jesus listen for the shepherd's voice when you listen to all those podcasts I do pray that you have a clear understanding of the voice of Jesus already listen Jesus is the one who says I tell you the truth in fact Jesus is the only one who can say I tell you the truth and always be true because the Bible tells us of God is not a man that he should lie he has no reason to lie that's why I tell my children when I'm talking to him I like to tell him I am the one man in your life who is going to always tell you the truth you know why because I don't need anything from you I'm not trying to get anything from you I'm not trying to trick you into anything I'm not trying to pull the wall over your eyes so that you would come with me I'm telling you the truth because I have your best interest at heart and still I fall way short of Jesus Jesus is the only one when he says I tell you the truth he always tells you the truth and true shepherd doesn't want anything from you except what's best for you and true sheep understand this and they listen to Jesus they listen to Jesus after they have heard all the voices they want to say yeah but what does Jesus say true sheep listen to Jesus but not only true sheep listen to Jesus the Bible says that true sheep follow Jesus verse 5 a stranger they will not follow a stranger they will not follow but they will flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers beloved there is only one way to the green and safe pastures of God's grace and it is through Jesus you must follow him this is what it means this is what it means to be a Christian this is what it means to be a Christian the only way to be a Christian is to understand and admit that you are sheep and the only way to be a true sheep is to follow Jesus to follow Jesus and this is a calling that Jesus lays upon his disciples he laid it upon its disciples from the very beginning in Matthew chapter 4 and verse 19 when he found Peter and Andrew what did he say to them follow me follow me when he found Philip and John chapter 1 and verse 43 what did he say follow me this is what he says to all his disciples anyone who would be a disciple of Jesus Christ Jesus says in Matthew 16 and verse 24 whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves take up your cross and do what follow me there's no other way there's no other way you can't be a true sheep and not follow the good shepherd yet to follow Jesus and Jesus makes this distinction very clear even when he's speaking the lost sheep when he had the encounter with the rich young ruler and Luke 18 22 Jesus said to the rich young ruler you still lack one thing sell everything you have give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven then come follow me follow me follow me beloved that those are the words that when the true sheep hear them they hear nothing else everything else in the world is drowned out when they hear Jesus say follow me follow me follow me why because it is suddenly pressed upon them that there are many ways to go to hell beloved there are many voices that will call you unto the broad road but there is only one path to eternal life there is only one high way to heaven who must follow Jesus that's it heaven as their hope that's what true sheep do true sheep listen to Jesus true sheep follow Jesus because true sheep true sheep beloved true sheep have life they do sin verse 10 when Jesus says that he comes to steal and kill and destroy but I the good shepherd have come that my sheep might have life and have it abundantly the sheep who listen to Jesus the sheep who then follow Jesus they follow Jesus into life and not just life but they follow Jesus into the Bible says abundant life for the shepherd comes to the sheep not to make their life worse but to make their life better the shepherd comes to make life better the enemy of the sheep the other sheep they take they take and they take until there is no more but Jesus comes not to take but Jesus is not here to make your life worse he comes to make it better he comes so that you might have more the sheep who follow Jesus have more they get more and not necessarily more this world they get more of him he get more and the more you follow the more you get you get more for in Jesus life is better life is abundant and abundant is more more more it is more and quantity beloved you get more life because you get eternal life all the sheep in this world have is this life and therefore their philosophy is summed up and how they say it yolo you only live once grab all you can can all you get sit on the top and poison the rest beloved those who follow Jesus know that for all that this life offers there is more there is more they have life and that life is eternal and that this world is not all there is it's what the Apostle Paul says right when he tells us and it's Corinthians 15 that at this world as all there is we are of the most pitiful we are not beloved because we are Christians who believe in the resurrection of Christ and because we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ we believe that we will experience that resurrected life to not only in the life to come but we experience that resurrected life now that's more beloved if you are saved this morning I know it doesn't feel like it all the time I understand it doesn't feel like it all the time but let me explain something to you whether you feel like it or not if you are saved you are more alive than any unsaved person could possibly be you are more alive now
you and life yearn to be set free this changes this changes everything this changes how you should think about this life this changes how you should live in this world we are resurrection people
that's why we live life like we do and Jesus came to bring life and that life is without end
that's what he says in John 316 isn't it the gods so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that all of his sheep should not perish what have everlasting life he yet he got the abundant life because it is a life of quantity he had more longer eternal unending everlasting life but it is not just an abundant life in the quality it is also more abundant in the quality in the quality this morning beloved the abundant life is the overflowing life it is the sufficient life it is the life that is more than enough the good shepherd comes to give his sheep a life that is more than enough more more more now I want to understand something this morning y'all don't think I sound a little word faith this morning I am not word faith this is not naming and claim it we don't believe that God has promised us in this life heaven on earth heaven is it to come it is promised it is guaranteed it is bound up in our hearts and we know it's coming because in this world in this world beloved into every life some rain must fall every life we are not immune to suffering we are not immune to pain we are not immune to loss this morning and yet despite all the pain despite all the suffering despite all the loss I testify to you this morning what the Psalmist says in Psalm 37 and 25 I have been young and now I'm old but I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bed why because the good shepherd promises more more more more than just the pain in the suffering more than just the loss more promises abundant life my abundant life is the confident life it is the confident life don't you understand something beloved Christians do some bad things did you hear what I said I know y'all I wanted a minute the Christians do some bad things I've sat with someone y'all know Christians do some bad things it is interesting we turn our TV and we look at Afghanistan and we and we see them people with with with the scarves over their face like brother Anthony over there at the scarf over their face and we say whoa look how wicked the Taliban look how evil ISIS look how wicked and terrible I kind of and I say to myself but what about the Taliban in my own heart what about I kind of in this heart what about the ISIS that is standing before you beloved my life it's filled with sin it is filled with failure it is filled with shortcomings it is filled with weaknesses
and yet and yet I am confident of this one thing that there is nothing in all of creation that can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my shepherd and my Lord nothing nothing nothing nothing not my sin and not yours not my wickedness and not he is not my terror or hers can separate me from the love of God that is in my good shepherd because the abundant life is the confident life confident beloved confident if you are a sheep in the flock of Jesus this morning you can be confident this morning not confident that everything will go the way that you wanted to go constantly probably won't not confident that everyone will do what you want them to do because they probably won't and not confident that you will always make the right decision because you probably want but confident of this beloved Philippians 4 and 19 that my God will meet all your needs according to its riches and glory through your good shepherd Jesus Christ that's where the confidence is and that is the abundant life confident assured saved that's what true sheep are true sheep are saved John chapter 10 and verse 9 Jesus says I am the gate whoever enters through me will be saved will be saved they will go in and go out and find pastures they are saved beloved they are saved because as he says in verse 15 the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep and they are saved he lays down his life for the sheep and they are saved Christ died so that the lost could be found so that the lost sheep his lost sheep could be found so what the Bible says first Peter chapter 2 in verse 15 for you were like sheep going astray but now you have returned to the shepherd the overseers of your souls what it means to be saved beloved it means that the good shepherd has laid down his life for you he has found you and you are now his you still a sheep you just have found one now you just a saved one now and not only are you saved but because he has laid down his life for you you are also a secure sheep you are a secure sheep no sheep for whom Christ 5 is ever lost no sheep for whom Christ dies ever perishes a sheep perishes he was not a sheep of the Lord beloved there are no sheep of Christ in hell this morning the sheep that Christ came to save get found all the sheep that Christ came to redeem our saint john 10 verse 27 28 my sheep listen to my voice I know them and they follow me I give them eternal life and they shall never perish no one will snatch them out of my hand the good shepherd loses no sheep it's what it means to be saved beloved this is the confidence with which we live our lives that with we have been saved by the shepherd then we are secure in the shepherd now losing a one not losing a one everyone who follows him follows him in the glory and not one not one not one is law and this is why this is why love it they are satisfied I mean this is a satisfaction this is a satisfaction that comes in being in the flock of God this morning beloved I'm not desiring to be anywhere else I am not in desire of being anywhere else but in the flock of Jesus Christ and look at me I don't mind you calling me a sheep as long as I can say that the Lord is my shepherd that's what it means this is a satisfaction and this is why true sheep are never never disappointed true sheep are never really disappointed yeah yeah there are some temporary setbacks yes there are some temporary setbacks in this life the trials and things don't always go as we dream relationship fail children become a challenge health deteriorates parents become difficult finances get tight sin and guilt can become unbearable but through it all true sheep find rest in satisfaction with Jesus because they understand that Jesus is enough Jesus is enough true sheep say like David and some 23 and one because the Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need he makes me lie down in the metal's grass and he leads me beside the choir's streams he restores my failing help and he helps me to do what others him the most and how does the song say that's why I'm safe that's why I'm safe that's why I'm safe safe in his arms this morning true sheep let's pray