JOHN 10 - THE TRUE SHEEP AND THE TRUE SHEPHERD

 

As we meditate God’s Words today, let us ask ourselves – 

AM I A TRUE SHEEP OF THE LORD?

ARE MY PASTORS TRUE SHEPHERDS OF GOD? 

AM I IN THE TRUE CHURCH?

Jesus showed us the answer to these questions in John 10.

AM I A TRUE SHEEP OF THE LORD?

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."

In verses 3-5 it explains to us that the TRUE SHEEP:

-          Knows the voice of His shepherd

-          when called by name the true sheep follows the shepherd

-          he will never go astray of follow a stranger

-          he flees from strangers

-          he reproduces

Let us reflect:

-          Do I know the voice of Jesus, I claimed I am a Christian but do I know His Words?

-          To truly know the voice of Jesus, we must meditate His words day and night for the Words is Jesus.

-          When I hear Jesus calling me to do something, do I respond with a humble heart and follow Him?

-          Do we sometimes find ourselves doing all the worldly things rather than spending time with the Lord? Where you spend most of the time is your god. You are following a stranger.

-          Do you flee from temptations?

-          Do you reproduce?

ARE MY PASTORS TRUE SHEPHERDS OF GOD?

 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. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

Verses 8-11 answer this question.

-          Are your Pastors feeding you spiritually? Aside from the regular service, do they extend their time teaching you and equipping you?

-          Are your pastors praying for you when you are sick, or when you are missing services and other fellowships – do they look for you?

-          Do they encourage you to join all the fellowshipping activities of the church – soaking, prayer meeting, bible study etc.?

-          Do they bring you blessing or life instead of problems? Are they your burden or they are your comfort?

 

Let us reflect:

If your pastors are feeding you spiritually, protecting you, teaching you and comforting you, praying for you and encouraging you – how do you respond to them?

 

AM I IN THE TRUE CHURCH?

³⁷ If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; ³⁸ but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."

Jesus himself explained in verses 37 and 38 that if He is not doing the works of the Father we should not believe Him.

Jesus as the head of our church:

– Is our church doing the works of Jesus?

 -Is our church going out to preach the Gospel, cast out demons, heals the sick and raise the dead?

 

-Is our church equipping the saints and sending them in the field?

 

-Is our church gathering daily to pray and meditate His words?

 

        -          Is our church fulfilling the Great Commission?

 

If WE ARE, then believe that you are in the TRUE CHURCH. If we are NOT, run away.

 

Thank you, Lord, for clarifying to us, what a true sheep, a true shepherd and a true church must be. Thank you for your Word. Amen.