The Good Shepherd and the Sheep by Brother Curtis Hansen

         This morning I ask that you turn your bibles to the book of John. We will be in the 10th chapter of John, and will begin to read at verse 7. 

        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 a hireling, and not the shepherd, who own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep.

        13 The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep.

        14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

        Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows his sheep and they know they are his. There are processes detailed in the Bible that explain debt, equity, wealth, as well as equality to name a few besides salvation, repentance, forgiveness, mercy. There are many scriptures which are selected by some who use them to win souls. If you are going to be saved, use the word shall instead of will.

        If go down to the 30th verse of this chapter you see that Jesus states; I and my father are one. The very first group of Gentiles who were saved by Jesus Christ were those in the house of Cornelius. That story can be found in Acts chapter 10. There are characteristics of evil and good we can perceive with just our basic senses and no spiritual discernment, In evil, when there is trouble afoot, they hide from it.

        The question posed to you this morning is how do we get through the door? Either you believe the words of your father or you don't. Look at the division of the Jews in chapter 10 of John. They think Jesus has a devil and was crazy. Today, you can hear God's voice, yet that alone won't prevent you from hearing the enemy's voice or your own flesh. You are either obedient to the word or you are not believing. 

        Doubt, questioning, spiritual blindness, ignorance of the word. These are just a few things which can cause any Christian to be frustrated on their walk. There is a point where you can stand and say no more to the enemy! If you have that apostolic authority, you can bind and loosen things in your life. With that authority, you can say no more! Begone! to the enemy and he will leave you for a season. You need to know though, understand that there will be more seasons. Life is not like a fantasy tale where the big bad, or the dragon is slain and the prince and princess live happily ever after. One victory over the enemy is not enough. 

        You need to discern in your life the voice of God, the voice of your flesh, and the voice of the enemy. No one man's glory is greater than anyone else and certainly is not greater than God's. As a tree grows, its leaves develop and then fall to earth when the season changes to fall. In this analogy, we are the leaves. If you decide to ignore God's voice, jump out of his hand, seek your own truth than his, you can do all that and more. God is a gentlemen and he will allow you to choose all your choices. 

        As much as we fight against our flesh, we need to also be prepared for the devil. The devil will turn is on the way we see, way we hear, way we read, and way we act if we allow it. What is the purpose of prayer to God? It is to communicate to him any and everything in your mind. With this established, be careful who you vent to in your day. If you are his sheep, you should share with another sheep or those who are watching over us. If you vent your emotions and feelings to someone who is in the world, it's like giving the enemy all the information and blueprints he needs to wreak havoc in your life.

        All your mistakes, faults, they need to pass under the door. Go under the blood. Venting to the world is downloading frustration and anger. It has you allowing the spirit of the world assault you on all fronts and before you know it you may be completely lost. Now is the time to press on in your prayer life and in your walk. Build your confidence in your prayer life! You should know already that God is with you and will fight for you if you let him.

        In the scripture, there are some examples of the will of God which were fulfilled. If you are one of God's, He knows that you are his. If you look deep and your relationship with God, seeing how he fights for you, press in further. There is no quit in this path until glory. If you don't allow God to speak for you, allow him to fight because you allow your ego to take charge and run your life, God will allow to happen all the wrong things to befall you.