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Book: John
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John 10:10 The Good Shepherd
I. The contrast in this chapter is between the hireling and the good
shepherd.
A. One of the curses through the years are those who look upon
religion as a way to control people and to take advantage of
them financially.
1. Before Jesus came, there were many who had come
claiming to be the Messiah, and had gathered disciples
around themselves, but they used their disciples to
help them live a luxurious and opulent life style.
a. When a man declared to Jesus that he wanted to
be a disciple, Jesus in effect said, consider
the cost, for the foxes have their holes, the
birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man
has no place to lay His head.
b. When the tax collector was badgering Him for an
illegal assessment Jesus did not have the money
to pay so He sent Peter to catch a fish.
c. When He wanted to use a coin to illustrate a
point, He had to borrow that coin.
d. He surely did not use his position to
enrich himself, He said that He did not
come to be ministered to but to
minister, and to give His life as a
ransom for many.
2. There have been many in the past who were false
prophets, and there are many today who disguise
themselves as sheep, but as Jesus said, they are wolves
in sheep's clothing. Their chief goal is to mix among
the flock in order to devour the flock.
Peter warns of the false prophets who he described as
being covetous, and by using feigned words, make
merchandise of the people.
a. This age of computers has added greatly to
their ability to use feigned words.
b. That is, deceiving people through words that
are not true but intended to give the
impression that they are.
c. The computer will personalize the letters so
that your name is repeated over and over
through the body of the letter so that it seems
that the dear evangelist has written you a
personal letter to tell you about his financial
crisis.
d. They can write such things as Dear Sister
Jones, As my wife and I were in prayer this
morning the Lord laid you on our hearts, and
the burden was so heavy we are sure that
something must be wrong. Sister Jones please
write to us so that we may pray more
specifically for your need.
And yes, if you could enclose an offering it
would mean so much to us at this time for
unless we receive a generous offering from all
of our partners this month, much of God's work
will suffer tremendously. We will forced to
curtail the work of our orphanages and send the
dear little children back out on the streets.
You may use the enclosed envelop to send your
gift. Just consider it seed faith money, and we
will pray that God will return it to you one
hundred fold. God bless you sister Jones and
send the money as soon as possible.
3. Jesus said that they were thieves and robbers.
a. He declared that the thief comes to steal, to
kill and to destroy.
b. I think of all of the destruction that these
faith teachers and healing evangelists leave in
their wake.
c. One of the things that is always prominently
featured in their meetings is the offering, as
they seek to steal from your pocketbook.
4. Jesus called them hirelings. They really do not care
for the sheep. The sheep are not on their hearts.
a. The true shepherd seeks the green pastures to
feed the flock. The welfare of the flock is his
chief concern.
b. The hireling is always looking for some way by
which he can fleece the flock.
B. Jesus said to His disciples, freely you have received, freely
give.
II. Jesus said, the thief comes to rob, kill and destroy, but I have come
that they might have life and that more abundantly.
A. Jesus does not come to take from you, but to give to you.
1. Many ministries exist to be ministered to.
2. They are always calling on you for support so that the
ministry might be maintained.
3. Other ministries exist to minister.
4. They are more interested in giving than receiving.
5. Jesus came to give to us life more abundantly.
B. Jesus said that He was the good shepherd in contrast to the
hireling.
C. The things that He tells us about the hireling.
1. The hireling will desert the sheep in the time of
danger.
2. He is more interested in saving his own hide than of
protecting the sheep.
3. The hireling cares not for the sheep.
D. The things that He tells us about the good shepherd.
1. That He is the door of the sheep.
a. When the shepherd would bring the sheep into
the fold at night, which was a rock walled
enclosure.
b. He would have the sheep pass under him as they
entered and he would count them and inspect
them, pulling off any briars, and checking for
wounds.
c. Once he was certain that all the sheep were
safely in the fold, he would then lay across
the opening so that nothing could get to the
sheep except by passing over him.
d. In the same token the sheep could not escape
from the enclosure without passing over the
shepherd.
e. It is so comforting for me to realize that the
enemy cannot get to me except by passing by my
Shepherd. How secure can you be?
d. He said that He was the door of the sheep, and
if any man would enter in by Him, he would be
saved.
2. He said that He knew His sheep, He called them by name,
and He led them.
3. He said He went before His sheep and they knew His
voice and would follow Him.
4. He said that He was the good shepherd and He would lay
down His life for the sheep.
5. He said that His sheep heard His voice and followed
Him and He gives to them eternal life, and they shall
never perish, and that no man could pluck them out of
His hand.
6. Are you following the true Shepherd, or a hireling?
7. Peter exhorted the elders to feed the flock of God,
watch over them, not by constraint, but willingly. Not
for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Neither were
they to Lord over God's people, but be an example to
them and when the chief Shepherd would appear He will
reward them.
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