January 17, 2010
Evening Service

St.Jn. 10:22-42

 

Review:

1.       This morning we talked about a very close personal relationship with the Lord.  That Great Shepherd of the sheep.

2.      Jesus will tell us soon that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light,  and that no one could come to the Father, but by Him.

3.      He told us in chapter six that no one could come to Him, unless the Father drew them to Him.  Hopefully we can see that this is still the way it works.  The Spirit of Love ( For God is Love ) draws you to the person that Jesus is.  His whole manner of life emanates Love, and goodness.

4.      This morning was the fourth time that Jesus referred to Himself as the I Am.  I Am the Door of the sheep.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture.   Peter said, “There is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved.”

5.      And then the fifth time, “I Am the Good Shepherd.”

6.      And I love it when Jesus tells us that His sheep hear, and know His voice, and they will not follow another.  We can easily see why the Bible is so important to us.  It is the Living Word of God, and Jesus is alive, and well in it’s pages.

7.      Jesus also told us this morning that He laid down His life for His sheep, and that He can take it up again, as He did.

 

Let’s see if we can finish this chapter this evening:

 

Joh 10:22-42 KJVR  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. 

• Listen to this;  Read concerning the dedication.

(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:   

• Joh 8:25-30 KJVR  Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.  (26)  I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.  (27)  They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  (28)  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.  (29)  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  (30)  As he spake these words, many believed on him.
• Do you see how it works?  These that believed on Him were His sheep, they heard His voice, and believed.  Just as the 3000 on the day of Pentecost, and all others that have accepted Him as Lord.  We are His sheep, and we know His voice, and we follow it.
• The religious leaders, and others that did not believe were not His sheep, and these are the ones that will carry out God’s divine plan, that takes Jesus to Calvary.

(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.

• This salvation we have is a no so experience.  Listen to John;  1Jo 5:13 KJVR  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
• This plan that God has made for mankind is perfect.  The only way you can lose your salvation is by taking your hand out of the hand of God.  He will never take His out of yours.  Jesus is coming back for a people that are preparing for His coming, and it’s daily preparation.

 

 

Again we see the wonderful spirit that these Jews posess:

(31)  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.  (32)  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 

• Wouldn’t that have blown your mind? 

(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. 

• Again look at the wisdom in the Lord’s answer which comes from the Word of 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. 

• Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
• John tells us in 1Jo 3:1-2 KJVR  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
• And the Scripture cannot be broken;  The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, and what is thus saith the Lord, is final.
• Jesus said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
• And here is another challenge from God.  We, as Jesus, should look at our walk in this world, as having been sanctified, or set apart by the Father, and sent into the world.
• And here, if I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me, but if I do, then believe me.  Do you see how it works?  The life we live here below should witness to all those around us that we are children of God.

(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.

 

John Baptist said this;  Joh 3:30 KJVR  He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

John came to bear witness of the Light of the world, not to take away from It’s glory.

 

We also should bear witness of the Light, and give Him all the glory.

 

And the statement is made, “many believed on Him there.”  More sheep for His fold.

 

HAVE YOU BELIEVED ON HIM, AND WILL YOU BELIEVE ON HIM?