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John 10:1-10 The Shepherd Door
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. There are many ways to view this. Jesus says truly truly, I speak to you (all that would read and hear including ME) you have to go through the door to have access to God. The Pharisees believed in great obedience to the Law and in doing so found themselves believing access to God was achieved through works! In a few verses Jesus tells us He is the door and the sheepfold would be the eternal Church. Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Jesus took on the form of man and walked through that door of access to God himself to be qualified to be our door. He is the great Shepherd of our soul. You are either a sheep (saved) or a goat (lost).
3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. A Porter (doorkeeper) opens the way for us to hear the voice of the Lord. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the porter that draws us towards the door and opens the way to Jesus and we hear in our heart and soul His voice speak! HE knows our name. He KNOWS our name. He knows OUR name. He know our NAME. And He being the Shepherd will lead you. Every soul has a master, is yours Jesus?
4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Again Jesus proclaims, those that would accept me will follow me because they know my voice. When I hear Jesus speak to me, I have an undeniable urge to just follow him. Where He leads I will follow, I’ll go with him all the way!
5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. The stranger here is a voice that calls you to follow that is not from God. Jesus says, my sheep will run from these voices into my arms because their ears aren’t open to any other leader. This world is filled with a lot of stranger’s voices but they are all originating from the deceiver in verse 10. Oh, to teach our lost people this simple verse and to see them run to the Savior.
6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. The Pharisees again lack the spiritual understanding of the grace and access to God through Jesus Christ the Son. They have ears yet not hearing, they have eyes yet not seeing.
7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I see Jesus say this with a raised voice of great authority, “I Am” the door OF the sheep. Remember every time that Jesus says “I am” to the Jews he is repeating the voice that came to their father Moses out of the burning bush.
8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. Not only are those that don’t except Jesus thieves and robbers but also those that try to be Jesus the Savior. Many have tried to be the Savior of their own soul. Baal was a thief and Pharoah was a robber. Judas stole and the rich man robbed. What about you? If you deny Jesus, you have robbed God the Creator from the blessings of Mercy in your life.
9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. How we get to Heaven is the most debated subject in the history of man! Here is the answer, Jesus. The debate is ended with 1 word. The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. And when you accept Jesus the pasture of your life with be filled with green grass, still waters, and rest for your soul.
10The 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. What is Satan’s motive? What is he really trying to do in our life? Again it is simple, He wants you to be destroyed. He wants the little children to be murdered, he wants teenagers to overdose on drugs. He is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The word destroy means absolute ruin, the word kill means no chance left to live, the Devil wants to kill you! Jesus lays out the option of life and death, good and evil, right and wrong in 1 verse of the bible. “I am” come to the door of your heart that you might have life. (I’m crying right now!!) Praise the Lord I have found eternal life in Jesus Christ and have escaped the penalty of sin by having the blood of Jesus wash them away.
The devil may fight me, cancer might kill me, friends will forsake me, I may crawl through valleys, stand in sorrow, walk in wonderings, crumble in anxieties, but satan can’t touch my soul!!!!!!! I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I will never give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, and my mission clear.
I am a disciple of Jesus, I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me – my banner will be clear! I’m His and He’s mine. My soul has found a Savior and the Savior has found my soul. My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed!
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Old Time Revival at Perry Point Church in Kermit, WV with Bro Aaron, Paul Staton and Rayburn May Sept 10th-11th, 7 pm nightly.