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9/15/2012 recording date. audio/video is 15 minutes takes a few minutes to load so be patient please. Or just read ahead. Also the following week it is air on utube on turtle30cshell channel. Just type in website name when you got to utube. The Good Shepherd Today coming live from Turtle30cshell.com, I am your host Christina Farris. Jesus is the door. If you have a sheep farm there always has to be gate or a door to the sheep fold/pen. In order to get to the sheep one has to open the gate, to climb over is the way a thief would go. It same principal the owner of a house uses the door, but a thief unless they break the lock, will go through window. In other words they force entry into the pen. Now let us begin today’s passage: John 10:1-6 KJV (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 entereth 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. (4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (6) This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. The gatekeeper or porter as they were called in Bible days could go to the door and open it and call the sheep out and the sheep would listen and follow. We might play follow the leader but in truth, one can not follow a leader without either observation or instructions from the leader. Jesus when he calls the sheep they listen and follow. Jesus is the Word of God reprehensive of God the Father. Let us continue John 10:7-15 KJV (7) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (8) All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (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 to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (12) But he that is an 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 scattereth the sheep. (13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (14) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (17) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Jesus is the door to God. One has to hear the Word of God to believe, or to hear God. Jesus is the word of God. With Jesus being the Word the door is open to God when one hears God speak to their hearts by the Holy Spirit this is Jesus. Yet Jesus was in flesh. Because Jesus came in the flesh. Salvation coming in physical form for you and I to see physically, not only spiritual. Now someone that speaks not truth of God’s word is a thief, is someone wanting to steal the sheep. If you have sheep in a pen and a hungry wolf outside he will do his best to find a way to get to those sheep but he never comes through gate. The reason being the shepherd is on guard at the gate. That wolf thinks he so cleaver he will do anything to by pass the gate to bring harm to one innocent lamb, but because they are in the fold and guarded by the shepherd the wolf can not harm them as long as they listen to the shepherd. If the shepherd hires a person to tend to the sheep and the hireling sees the wolf coming then the hireling will flee. Very few people will stand up to a wolf now a days. Yet there are those that work jobs that stand up against criminals at the risk of their own lives. Sometimes ministers have to stand up against the devil. Yet if minister refuses to stand against the devil, I guarantee that he is nothing more then a hireling, one that will take bribes and say whatever someone else wants them to say. Watch out for these people. The one you want to follow is Jesus, the word of God in the flesh, because He is the doorway to God. John 10:19-30 KJV (19) There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. (20) And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? (21) Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? (22) And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. (23) And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. (24) Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. (25) Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. (26) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one. Then Jesus began to be questioned by the crowd if he was the Christ. Jesus plainly tells them you would know if you were my sheep. Meaning if you follow God’s word you know Jesus was the Christ the one to come. Prophesy of Old Testament spoke of who Christ was. Yet those knew not the Word of God so they did not understand Jesus or his language. He also says He is one with the Father and the way He is one with the Father is because He is the Word of God. So God the Father speaks then salvation comes from the mouth of God. Yet it also came in the flesh so that it could manifested in a visible way for us to understand. 1 Timothy 3:16 KJV says this (16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. God is manifested in the flesh, His very Word was in human form. Came as a baby so that we might not only understand who God is, but so we understand that God knows we suffer in this life, for He was touched by our infirmities when they nailed him to the cross. Christ knew what was to fast, to pray to wait. If a minister can not fast, can not pray, and can not wait on the Lord then he is not a minister. To wait on the Lord is to do nothing, but to sit back and wait until the Lord speaks. Not to move without his leadership. Christ not only set the example for us, but set the example for our leaders in our churches. John 10:31-42 KJV (31) Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. (32) Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? (33) The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (34) Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? (35) If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; (36) Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (37) If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. (38) But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. (39) Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, (40) And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. (41) And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. (42) And many believed on him there. Jesus declared Himself equal with the Father. A few years ago I sent through a journey, not because I did not believe in the equality of Christ with the Father, but I never heard the term before. If you never heard the term equality of Christ with God do not be surprised, I do not think it talked of much. Why because it not something discussed, it something understood by the Spirit of God. There many terms as believers we accept on faith without ever examine the truth of the matter. Even when we read and study scripture on our own. The term we are gods is mentioned in this passage of scripture, but it goes to show those Christ spoke to knew not the scripture. Genesis 3:5 KJV (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. We are like gods, without the power of God and even with the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we are not God, for the Holy Spirit power is not controlled by us but by God. Jesus’ Spirit was the Holy Spirit, but being the Word of God He moved by the power of God. Jesus’ decisions are the same as God because of who He is. God is consistent whether it be His Word, or His Spirit or the Father. It makes no different the consistency is there. Yet little gods may have knowledge between good and evil and the ability to create, but all things little gods create is not consistent, or everlasting. Everything man creates will pass away. Everything God creates has eternal life. However where eternity is spent is up to you. If you believe in Jesus then your eternity is secure in heaven, if you believe not in Jesus then your eternity is secure in eternal lake of fire. Christ wanted to know why they had problems with this language because even they claimed to be little gods. Christ claim of equality disturb the crowd and they sought to stone him. Christ is the only one to have the title of equality with God. Philippians 2:5-11 KJV (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We must remember who did Christ come to save those that were lost, who was lost the gentile nation. Yet Christ came to unite all people to Himself. The Word coming so that the law of the Old Testament would not be a task master to those who never knew Him, but for the law of love to penetrate the hearts of every believer. To love God and to love others. Christ equality to God the Father should not be confused by us being united by the Spirit of God, for our spirit is not God, but God spirit comes into our hearts and sups with us by the Word of God. God’s Spirit seals us declaring us His child upon salvation, yet we are not equal to Christ because we are not the word of God though we speak the Words of God. For this reason the people wish to destroy the Son of God because of who He claim to be. Persecution still exist. Why because of those who believe not who Jesus is. Dear Heavenly Father help those who are struggling with the equality of Christ to you find truth in your word and understanding by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus precious name, Amen. |