Sermon nuggets Weds June 18, 2008
Theme- The Good Shepherd
Verses- John 10:9-10 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)
A GOOD SHEPHERD SAVES HIS SHEEP.
When Jesus referred to himself as the door He was not only referring to their protection, but also through Him and through Him alone men find access to God. Jesus opens the way to God. Until Jesus came men could only think of God as a stranger, someone to be worshiped in fear. Jesus came to tell and to show mankind what God was like. He came to open the way to God.
It is Jesus' claim that He came that men might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The phrase more abundantly is Greek phrase which means to have a surplus, a super abundance of something. Life in Christ is far greater than people can realize.
I remember being at a meeting where people went around at Christmas time sharing Christmas memories. One man had his eyes light up and said simply, “Christ makes Christmas meaningful.” As he lived in a non-Christian home there was love, there were presents, there was fun and activities, but there was not Jesus Christ. But when he accepted Christ into his life as an adult, he became aware of the spiritual reality of the abiding presence of God who loved him and saved him from his sin and eternal death. That thought was overwhelming.
Christ was always part of my Christmases growing up in a Christian home and accepting Jesus early in life. But for many who grew up without the reality of Jesus' personal presence, they understand even more fully the meaning of this statement, “I will give you life and give it to its fullest.” He not only gave eternal life, but meaningful life for the here and now.
The disciples considered it pure joy to suffer for the sake of Christ. They did not have material goods; they did not have lives of ease when they were jailed, beaten, and persecuted. But they had something the others didn't. They had the joy within that made it all worth it.
Beware however of the false shepherds. I read a testimonial yesterday of a woman who had given up on church. She was involved in a smaller congregation when the beloved pastor of many years was forced out. The people wanted someone who was dynamic in the pulpit. The church then grew. The new pastor asked her to go with him in her teens to witness in the community. When they returned he invited her into his home for ice cream. She was confused when he snuggled up to her and starting feeling her. He was a man of God so it must be okay she thought. But since that day she kept her distance, until he was forced out two years later for adultery.
The next pastor was found to have a stash of pornography. The following pastor introduced a false teaching and split the church down the middle. She gave up on church.
Jesus said to beware of false teachers, prophets, and leaders. False shepherds are in it for what they want and not for the love of the sheep. Behind these false shepherds is the thief probably a reference to Satan. The thief wants to steal the sheep from the Master, and have eternal punishment as they consequence. He wants to destroy them, and us. He wants you to think there are other ways to be saved than trusting and following Jesus. He wants you to think you must earn your way, or that you are without hope for forgiveness, or that you will be so embittered with life that you will hate God. He will cause circumstance to be so good you will not want Jesus, or so bad you will blame Jesus. Some will see shepherds get abused. Others will see the shepherds doing the abusing. But keep looking to the good Shepherd and persevere in what you know He says and wants of you.
When you go through the door you receive life and you are saved. As you go in and out, you enjoy abundant life in the rich provision of the Lord. God's sheep enjoy fullness and freedom. He who enters by the door will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Pastor Dale
