John Chapter 10:11-16

You are following makes all the difference. Ask yourself this morning. Who are you following without a lot of us, and there was more to produce.

That's great.

That's a good answer that is in fact the answer I'm looking for but are you are you following Jesus is.

You know what happens at certain points in my life I've been like in another pastor going to follow. It is always going the other way, but I thought about growing up is going opposite direction following welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, do you think about how much Jesus knows you what the most important things in life are and who you are following you know we've all want different paths in life and look back at our life.

We probably realized we are following makes all the difference today.

Pastor David McGee discusses why it's important to follow Jesus as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 10 with part three of his teaching the shepherd, John chapter 10 verse 11 I am the good shepherd.

The good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. The real Shepherd protects the sheet first Peter chapter 5 verse forces and when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the classical crown of glory that does not fade away.

Jesus is coming back for sheet is coming back for you and Jesus is the good Shepherd understand what Jesus is saying this when he's talking about himself being a Shepherd when we don't know because we don't really live in that society and that culture when Jesus is referring to himself as Shepherd.

He he's really humbling himself.

We kinda sanitize the whole idea of the shepherd you know we got the little manger scene and they look nice and are always clean and well shaven and smell good as not a real Shepherd. I mean look at the practical aspects.

These guys didn't go in the town very often they hung out with sheet. I don't know we've ever smelled the sheep but there's an odor about a sheet so and they probably were clean-shaven so they do not clean shaven. They smell bad and they don't go to town very much. That's a little clearer picture of the shepherd.

Verse 12 it says in its argument, Jesus being the good Shepherd but a hireling. He who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep pastors need to be. I need to be shepherds and protect the sheep and gas.

I'm very protective of what happens here and we've had an occasion a couple times werewolves came in here it was, it was not good I got from it up from a aberration from a heretical teaching came in there was handing out literature and I got hot.

I got hot. I got anested you need to leave right now because this place needs to be protected. This is a special place in another's glissando only okay you're given out that weirdness here. Maybe somebody believe it or not, that's not my role is Shepherd Ezekiel 34 I'm just gonna mention a couple of the Scriptures and and I would encourage you to read the whole chapter.

Ezekiel 30 forces in the word of the Lord came to me saying Son of Man prophesy against the shepherds of Israel prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God to the shepherds well to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves.

Should not the shepherds feed the flock's you eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the world.

You slaughter the fatlings and you do not feed the flock cc is number one gripe with the shepherds not feeding the flock. What's the food the word of God. We know it the week you have not strengthened nor have you healed those who were sick or bound up the broken or brought back which was driven away, nor salt what was lost but was forcing cruelty.

Have you ruled over them so they were scattered because there was no Shepherd, and they became food for all the beast of the field when they were scattered sheep wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill. Yes, my flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them. Verse 19 says and asked for my flock. They eat what you have trampled with your feet and they drink what you have felt with your feet even the word of God is presented is polluted and and not pure.

We see this today. Verse 14 Jesus says I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep and am known by my own Jesus here again is is doing the we call him the I am statements and if you go back to John six.

Remember you said I am the bread of life. And then he says I am the light of the world. I am the doorway and here he says I am the good shepherd. So these are for. I am statements. I am the bread of life.

I am the light of the world. I am the doorway and I am the good shepherd these I am statements kind of English talked about this before play back to when Moses said to God, who shall I say sent many says I am that I am has sent you. Now you question that that's a statement of Jesus proclaiming deity. Just look what happens every time he says something like that the Pharisees pick up rocks.

The traumatic the Pharisees are such a good Bible study tool if you will okay because what can happen sometimes you can reach up and you can miss it and then you see the Pharisees picking up rocks that traumatic whenever you see that you will limit what just happened that they want to throw rocks at them and you'll get some interesting answers to their counter there to help you if you will understand the significance of somewhat Jesus said, you know it's interesting he says here he knows us. He knows his sheep he knows you. He knows me. I don't know if you really understand the significance of that. I don't know if you've ever had a friendship were in a you started out kinda good and then as you cannot got to know each other. You cannot start a just and apart a little bit because you you saw something in the other person with all my gosh I didn't know they were so messed up. Maybe the person looked at you and said oh my gosh I didn't know they were so messed up that's usually my case. But anyway, Jesus won't do that. Jesus well if you'll excuse the saying Jesus knows how messed up you are. He knows how messed up by any still love you and he still loves me see, understand, he's not going to get to know you deeper and discover something about you go all I Josh you can't you can't come to church here is not good discover something about you. You're not going to be praying the Lord please forgive me of this and him go goodness and be praying in the Lord, go home, you know, when you repent percent say Lord please forgive me of this. What did you do when you shouldn't of done that Mike got is never going to happen here.

He knows now you still need to confess first John is very plain about that. The fact that he knows you. I don't think we think about that as much as we should. He knows you and he loves you. There's no need to be afraid and you know what your fears, whatever your fears are. He knows your fears see that was the role of a shepherd. I shepherd knew what would freak a particular sheep. Maybe one she really didn't like how places are one. She really didn't like shadows. There are dark spaces or something shepherd would know that he would help us sheep through those places. The Lord knows you knows your fears. He knows what freaks you out why because it's his role as a shepherd another's thing and I take such comfort in that. Jesus knows me any cells and am known by my own so he knows us and we are to know him less important question for us is the you know Jesus, the most important thing in this life is to know Jesus as some of you may be centered around not sure it's the most important thing. I guarantee you at some point in life you will recognize that it is the most important thing to know Jesus. You remember the Bible tells us a story about people had done a lot of good things and said the poor and house the homeless visited people in prison and they went to Jesus and Jesus. We did this, Jesus. We did that and Jesus said, depart from me. I never knew you. Jesus didn't say we didn't do enough. You know you are almost therapeutic just done a couple more good things for me that a been great. Jesus is no you didn't know me you didn't know me six key guys to we get trapped in all these good works. Things in an and we are as believers push to perform good works, but if you're thinking that your good works will earn God's favor. That's unscriptural thing is do you know the mind-boggling thing is he stands by waiting to introduce himself at any moment of any day and any place I've heard of people getting saved in the weirdest places I don't know if you've heard some of the day got saved here. They got saved there. They got say rotten down the road they got safely.

I got saved in the bathroom they got saved in jail. They got you know how that's possible. Loved ones. It's possible because he's always standing there going hey hey hey dear, I am me introduce myself. See, that's the picture that we have in the book of Revelation when it says Jesus, Jesus, Creator of the heavens and the earth stands at the door and knocks waiting for us to open the door. What an amazing thing will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want to take a minute to pray for listeners in the cities in Georgia, Warner Robins and Woodstock and also the cities in Hawaii, Hilo, Honolulu, Kahlúa Colegio low. We thank you for the cities and we thank you for the people living in the cities that we get the pray for right now.

We pray that you encourage them in your word that you would encourage them to get plugged into a Bible teaching Bible believing church Florida summer sick.

We pray that you please heal them God. We pray that you would give them wisdom how they can be a blessing to their neighbor for you lower pray for the pastors in those areas that you give them wisdom and discernment and helped him to not grow weary in doing good in Jesus name, amen.

Hey man, thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse verse 15 as the father knows me. Even so, I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep. Jesus meant this in a literal way. Jesus was not the counter shepherd said hey you know where she now hope it works out for you is not the counter shepherd goes you know when when some get lost or struggling.

He doesn't go well you know when. If you lose a few. It's okay. He lays down his life for the sheep. Now it would be one thing if he laid down his life for the sheep because you know he's got just this really prized beautiful sheep. That's just all just works with him and follows him everywhere and ever does everything right and and just you knows just yet. Pride and joy like that, guys. That's beloved. That's not the counter sheep. We are sheep are not. Let's say they don't follow well, okay, they don't follow well think they tend to do their own thing in their own moment at their own time they wander all states.

They walk the fences looking for holes in looking for ways to get out but we never do that duly you yank some of you asked the question in this is that this is a looking for a hole in the fence. Got a question out that you almost everybody and here's asked this question cannot be a Christian and not be a Christian and still drink beer. Can I still be a Christian and go to a bar cannot still be a Christian and do this and do that do that, you know what that is. That's a little sheep running around the single and officer hole in the fence or hole in fences all here's all I get out right here. I've asked the same questions done the same things.

He lays down his life for us. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 20 says now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you.

What is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

See Jesus died for us as the good Shepherd, not because we were good enough because he loves us that much wasn't that we had earned his favor or he saw some spark of innate human goodness that was worth given his life for now. He gave his life for us because he was new. There is no other way. There was no other way for us to gain access and the haven't any any ideas a martyr. Our partner some political conspiracy.

This chapter makes it very clear he laid down his life for us. First Peter chapter 5 verse forces and when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

See Jesus is that chief Shepherd ever.

16 and other sheep I have which are not of this fold them. Also I must bring, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. I believe the Lord is speaking of us as Gentiles here be engrafted in the future. Flocks Jesus is looking for those that are hungry and those that are her those that are called deep and dark in their sin is looking for. This was spoken to people who lived around sheep and Saul sheep a lot. I mean if you go over to Israel today you will see a lot of shepherds outside of Jerusalem keeping their flocks and stuff but you know we don't we don't really understand the symbolism of some of the shepherd.

She thinks of Lord laid on my heart for us to talk about that a little bit. So do me a favor let's go to Psalm 23 Psalm 2310 the Old Testament up out in the middle of the Old Testament. Some of you are familiar with the song and understand this is a Psalm of David, who was a shepherd but David is not writing this Psalm as a shepherd is writing it as a sheep and he starts out nieces. The Lord is my shepherd, will that right there is really awesome. David's not just shepherd by anybody were not just shepherded by anybody were shepherded by God. How awesome is that this is God who created us and knows us. Who knows our weaknesses, knows our frailties knows we like to wander look for holes in the fence, but he still wants to be our shepherd.

What an amazing thing in the mass question better qualified to be our shepherd than the God who created us, he knows us. We ask a question here and that I'm not about to do, like an expositional teaching a Psalm 23 because were in John 10. I just wanted to mention a couple things are. How did we come to be one of God's sheep. He bought us he paid for us in Gaza.

We were cheap so you can tell the value someone places on an object when you look at what they were willing to pay for that object friend. God was willing to pay extremely high price for you. He places that kind of value on you that he was willing to lay down his life so that you could be one of his. She what a precious thing. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. There something about us. That's always molten Walton. Walton will in their but you know what that is our flesh.

And that's part of this we need to leave that behind because you know if that's left on checked it will kill us.

It will kill us that part that always wants more. You can look at the world and there always want more. It's never enough. Whether it's money or sex or drugs or whatever. It's never enough, but that should not be the hallmark of a believer pulses I've learned to be content you know what that means that it can be learned. But it's not something we have naturally see being content is not something we have naturally but it can be learned and it says I shall not want. No verse two he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters to understand is Jesus is your shepherd, and he wants to be your shepherd. You should be following him. You know what happens to sheep when they don't follow the shepherd they get in trouble they get in trouble pretty quick. I don't know if you can relate to that are not.

I sure can. When you're not following the shepherd you get in trouble quick and you know what were all following something or somebody currently it was everyone of us know the Second Life lesson is who you are following makes all the difference who you are following makes all the difference. Ask yourself this morning.

Who are you following not a lot of us in here this mortgagees and follow Jesus. Prisco that's great that's a good answer that is in fact the answer I'm looking for but are you are you following Jesus is.

You know what happens at certain points in my life have been like in another pastor going to swallow it is always going the other way but I'm followed a Mongol luggage going opposite direction following you don't happen sometimes on this is really bizarre. We follow ourselves.

We follow ourselves see when you look to do your will, your drinking from your own well when you look to do the will of the Lord of the father in your drinking from his well how often than this just you don't need answer out loud, but how often have you followed yourself even doing what you want to do and following yourself only give your graphic picture.

This is everything a small dog small puppy cats don't seem to do this may be there more intelligent out of anyone that our mission Points to nature cat lover give me some here that puppies they chase their tails out there doing their following themselves. You know how often we must look like that to God what are you doing I'm doing some here, Saul and myself. I you know I'm busy, I'm going somewhere and given notice when the dock station and still do you know isn't going anywhere, no, it's just in a circle is not going anywhere. That's Sometimes Here's Another One. I Love This One.

John the Fund Myself. How Bizarre Is That White Men You Lost You What You Mean You're Trying to Find Yourself.

You Recognize That Your Lawsuit You're Going to Find You Know You Need Somebody That Has a Sense of Direction Sheet Don't Have a Sense of Direction, Guys Are His.

Another One I'm Looking for the Truth within Your down That's Another Good One, and It I'm Looking for the Piece within 20 Mean a Piece with It.

I Don't Have Peace You Don't Have Peace. So You're Looking for the Piece That's inside You That You Don't Have Is Is It Just Me Who Are You Following Because Who Your Following Makes All the Different He Makes Me to Lie down in Green Pastures.

He Leads Me beside Still Waters. He Restores My Soul He Leads Me in the past of Righteousness for His Namesake. Jesus Wants to Lead Us into This Type of Life and Cheaper Tend to Be Wandering and Rebellious. I Want to Be Content with What the Lord Is Provided in, and I Want This Kind of Relationship with the Lord, the Still Waters. There Is a Thirst and a Hunger That Seems to Drive People That Don't Know the Lord That Sometimes Could Drive Me As Well. Shouldn't Be Should Be for You. It Shouldn't Be for Me to Fact That's a Ask of a Heart Check.

Sometimes the Another Thing about Sheep Is They Tend to Run.

That's What She'd Do Whenever They See Something That's Freaks Them out in the Least Little Bit. I Was Reading a Book Shepherd and They Said They Had like 200 Sheep and This Guy Came and Visited the Ranch and and and a Little Pekingese Dog Got Out Of the Truck and the Chief Weren't Really Sure about the Picnic, so They All Ran the Opposite Direction That Make Me Cheaper, They I'm Sure and There's 200. I'm Thinking They Could've Taken the Pekingese Okay but They Did and They Were Freaked out. So They Ran You Know Why Because That's What Sheep Do but They Can Get Him in Trouble and Very Often Puts Him Right in the Face of Danger, They Run so That They Will Feel Safer, but in Running. They Place Themselves in Danger. Beloved, I Don't Know If You Relate to That or Not but I Sure Do, Because I Have a Propensity to Do That As Well to Run to Run When the Lord Is Trying to Do Something in My Life. I'm Not so Much Physically Necessarily but Although That Could Work. The Unilever Church Leave a Job, Leave Whatever Because Your Running Because You Got Freaked out about Something. But You Know As a Believer Is a Follower of Jesus Christ You Have To Do That You Don't Have To Run Are You Do Run Your Run to Him. Jeremiah 213 Speak in the Still Waters in Good Waters. Jeremiah 213 Says They Have Forsaken Me Fountain of Living Waters and Hewn Themselves Cisterns, Broken Cisterns That Can Hold No Water to This Verse Tells Kind of What's Going on to Make Sense That in the Sheep Needs a Shepherd That If You Don't Have One That Explains What's up with the with the World Today. That Explains Why People Are Wandering around in the Hurt in Their Loss Than Their Hungry and Their Thirst While Because They Don't Have a Shepherd and Then They Start to Humanly Cisterns That Don't Hold One You See That and Broken Lives in Shattered Hopes in the Lives of People Who Don't Have a Shepherd Friend. You Know for Sure That Your Sins Have Been Forgiven. You Can Know Right Now Only Legion a Short Simple Prayer Simply Telling God You're Sorry and Asking Him to Help You to Live for Him. God Wants You to Pray This Prayer so Much That He Died to Give You the Opportunity and the Ability to Ask Him to Forgive You. Please Pray This Prayer with Me out Loud Right Now. Dear Jesus, I Believe You Died for Me That I Could Be Forgiven and I Believe You Were Raised from the Dead That I Could Have a New Life Not Done Wrong Things I Have Sent and I'm Sorry. Please Forgive Me of All Those Things. Please Give Me the Power to Live for You.

All of My Days in Jesus Name, Amen It Friend of You Prayed That Prayer According to the Bible You've Been Forgiven You've Been Born Again. Jesus Said He Would Not Turn Anybody Away Who Comes Doing and Came for Those People Who Knew They Needed Forgiveness. Those Who Were Sick, Not the Righteous Is a Congratulations Bring You Just Made the Greatest Decision That You Will Ever Make. God Bless You, If You Pray That Prayer with David for the First Time We'd Love to Hear from You.

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David McGee Thanks Again for Listening and Join Us Next Time. As David McGee Continued Teaching Verse by Verse in the Gospel of God