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thank you foreign good morning everyone there's going to be a fellowship for lunch on today afternoon morning service this is our difficult so if you haven't come prepared to know that everyone so please join us in the fellowship hall after the morning service this Wednesday night we'll have Bible study in the fellowship hall as well at 7 30 as usual and then just a reminder that the newsletter is out now for the month of March this is only published once a month usually there's a electronic version that goes out by email first most have probably received that but if you want the paper copy prefer that grab a copy if you want to pass it on to your friends or relatives go ahead for some interesting articles in here not only theological articles but some follow-up to the annual general meeting in particular announcing the partnership of free Grace Baptist Church with the international reform Baptist seminary in Mansfield Texas that's right on the front page there which gives us access as attendees to the church to a lot of good solid teaching and information from that Seminary so take advantage of that so this morning we're going to start our worship by turning to Psalm 100 for our call to worship psalm 100. a Psalm of Thanksgiving Make a Joyful Shout to the Lord all you lands serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing know that the Lord he is God it is he who has made us and not we ourselves we are his people in the Sheep of his pasture enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankful to him and bless his name for the Lord is good his Mercy is Everlasting and his truth endures to all generations amen please take your Hymnal and turn with me to Psalm 80. in the front of the book Psalm 80 selection B and we will stand as we sing together Psalm 80 b as in bravo [Music] thank you foreign [Music] oh my God [Music] thank you Lord forever [Music] please [Music] glorious songs foreign [Music] let us see restore happy shall we sing this song [Music] may be seated let's turn to our God In Prayer our gracious Heavenly Father we thank you for your mercy and your kindness in bringing us together this day we thank you for the privilege that is ours in meeting with each other and especially in meeting with you and we do pray that your presence would be here in our midst we pray oh God that you administer to your people we pray that you would bring encouragement that you would bring chastisement that you would bring whatever our soul needs at this time o God and for those who are not your people but are sitting in our midst this morning I pray that the Holy Spirit would be to work in their hearts to apply the word of God and to bring Faith and repentance and Lord we pray that there would be rejoicing in heaven this day over one sinner that repents we thank you that you are God who loves to forgive and The God Who is in the business of adopting children into your great family we thank you that all over this world this day the gospel is being preached by ministers that you have chosen and appointed and we pray that that word would go forth powerfully we pray that you would guard and protect your people we pray that you would cause your spirit to work in the hearts of many many individuals this day May a thousand Hearts be made your own across the face of this Earth today we do pray for our brethren in places that are being persecuted for their faith the Lord we pray that you would give them the tenacity to hold fast we pray that this day would be a day of reprieve and that this day would be a day of rejoicing even amongst those who are who are suffering impoverished or even in prison Lord we know that you have told us to pray for those who are in prison as if we were in prison with them chained with them and Lord we pray that you'd be gracious to your saints that are enduring persecution this day continues to gather your church together and continue to prepare us for that great day when we will eventually stand Before the Throne all United from every age from the beginning of the Earth to the very end and from every tribe tongue people and Nation we look forward to that day of great rejoicing Before the Throne the redeemed of the lamb and we give you all praise and honor and Glory we know that nothing that we do can can bring us to that place only what Christ has done on our behalf and we thank you for your kindness and your mercy toward us Lord we pray that your will would be done here on Earth even as it is done in heaven we know that when we arrive in heaven there will be no more murder there will be no more adultery there will be no more lying or stealing stealing or killing and Lord we pray that that will would be done here on Earth as well that we know that it's not going to happen by political means it's going to happen by the spirit of God renewing men and giving them a heart for your law and a love for your truth and we pray o God that even as the gospel go for Goes Forth you would break the chains of Darkness all across this world Lord we pray that you would restrain those who are uh wickedly opposed to your name to your gospel into the Church of Christ not only abroad but even in our own land even our own magistrates Lord we see the the encroaching dangers of of the secular humanists and atheist philosophies in this country much more threatening to us perhaps than than the threat of Islam or other religions and yet we know oh God that you are victorious over all and that you test and try your people for your own purposes and we pray oh God that you would work a wonderful work in our day and age strengthen those Ministers of the Gospel that are holding fast and preaching the gospel and purify your church oh God we pray we do pray for our sister churches and we have close communion with here bless the congregation out and ride in Ontario this day encourage them encourage Josh and Dan as they lead that congregation pray for the work in Armstrong that you would be gracious to them this day give them a sense of your presence and unity give Pastor Mel jars the ability to preach accurately and powerfully the word of God and continue to to bless that congregation with spiritual growth and growth in numbers as well bless our brethren in Surrey encourage them today bless Pastor Kirkpatrick as he ministers the gospel there and continue to add to their numbers such as should be saved we pray for our Brethren down in Honduras as well encourage them encourage Pastor Carlos Pastor Luis cause that congregation to grow in unity and love for each other and love for the truth we pray that you would bless the curries in their stay there cause them to be a great encouragement to the people of God there I pray Lord we pray that you would be gracious to us here this day I pray that you would administer to each member that is with us this this morning to the young people the children even the infants in arms the state even the babies in the wombs I pray oh God that your spirit would bless your people for the elderly amongst us and those who are chronically ill or unable to attend and who are at home this day we pray that your mercy and your kindness would be with them and they would know the comfort of the Holy Spirit please continue with us as we worship you forgive us this day of our sins and our iniquities oh God purify us through the blood of Christ and may our worship be acceptable to you we pray in Jesus name amen for our next hymn let's turn to number 153 in your Hymnal o day of rest and gladness 153 please stand with me again as we sing together this is thank you guys foreign yes foreign foreign for our New Testament scripture reading this morning we are turning to Revelation chapter 10. Revelation chapter 10. I saw still another Mighty angel coming down from heaven clothed with a cloud and a rainbow is on his head his face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire he had a little book opened in his hand and he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land and cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars when he cried out seven Thunders uttered their voices now when the seven Thunders uttered their voices I was about to write but I Heard a Voice from Heaven saying to me seal up the things which the seven Thunders uttered and do not write them the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever who created heaven and the things that are in it the earth and the things that are in it and the Sea and the things that are in it that there should be delay no longer but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel when he is about to sound the mystery of God would be finished as he declared to his servants the prophets then the voice which I heard from Heaven spoke to me again and said go take the little book which is open in the hand of the Angel who stands on the sea and on the Earth so I went to the angel and said to him give me the little book and he said to me take and eat it and it will make your stomach bitter but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth then I took the little book out of the Angel's hand and ate it and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth but when I had eaten it my stomach became bitter and he said to me you must prophesy again about many people's Nations tongues and kings amen let's pray gracious Father in heaven we are so thankful that we serve the creator of all things the one who made Heaven and Earth the Seas and all that are in them and we thank you that you not only put this World spinning into motion but we thank you that you still govern all things according to your most wise will and that nothing occurs that is outside of your plan we thank you that your good and gracious and kind to your people we pray that you would continue with us as we worship this morning in Jesus name amen for our final hymn this morning we're going to turn to him 440 440 Come Ye Sinners poor and wretched we won't be singing it to the tune that is written here we'll sing it to another familiar tune I pray uh please stand with me and we will sing together four four zero [Music] discuss [Music] foreign [Music] talking to you later the same requirement is to be glorious [Music] this is [Music] well you can turn with me in your Bibles to John's gospel as we continue to work our way through this fourth gospel account we come to chapter 10. in the life and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ chapter 10 is closely connected to chapter 9 not just numerically but certainly thematically as well the Pharisees and the religious leaders of Jesus Day cast out a man who had been born blind that Jesus healed and so Jesus now in John 10 specifically in verses 1 to 10 indict them they are the thieves and robbers that controlled access to the synagogues into the temple so I want to read chapter 10 beginning in verse 1 we'll read to verse 21. most assuredly I say to you he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way the same as a thief and a robber but he who enters by the door is The Shepherd of the sheep to him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own Sheep by name and leads them out and when he brings out his own sheep he goes before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his voice yet they will by no means follow a stranger but will flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers Jesus used this illustration but they did not understand the things which he spoke to them then Jesus said to them again most assuredly I say to you I am the door of the sheep all who ever came before me are thieves and robbers but the Sheep did not hear them I am the door if anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd gives his life for the Sheep but a hireling he was not the shepherd one who does not own the Sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and fleas and the Wolf catches the sheep and scatters them the hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the Sheep I am the Good Shepherd and I know my sheep and am known by my own as the father knows me even so I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep 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 therefore my father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it again no one takes it from me but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again this command I have received from my father therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings and many of them said he has a demon and is mad why do you listen to him others said these are not the words of one who has a demon can a demon Open the Eyes of the blind amen well let us pray Our God and Father we thank you for this Lord's day we thank you for your graciousness and your goodness revealed to us in the created order and in the gospel of our Salvation we thank you for Jesus Christ Our blessed Lord we thank you for his life his death his resurrection we thank you for the current session at the right hand of the father and we look forward to his coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead and until such time help us to worship and to serve and to glorify you and father we pray that you would just give us the uh the grace of the holy spirit to guide us in our in our thoughts and understanding as we consider this passage as well for any and all who've come here that are dead in their trespasses and sins may they hear the voice of the Shepherd by the power of the spirit as it comes through the word of God and may you awaken dead Sinners and cause them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation forgive us all for our sin and all that which does darken our understanding cleanse Us in that precious fountain is open for sin and uncleanness and we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ amen well as we come to this section in the ministry of our blessed savior remember that the narrative had sort of focused around the Feast of Tabernacles in chapters seven and eight and then there's an unspecified time that passes and then chapters nine and ten and this is around the Feast of dedication so uh in terms of chronology there's a few months separating seven and eight and nine and ten and we see that specifically in chapter 10 at verse 22. it was the Feast of dedication in Jerusalem and it was Winter and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch as well as I mentioned at the outset or in the introduction chapter 9 and 10 are very closely related if you go back for just a moment in chapter 9 specifically at verse 34 after questioning the man and then questioning his parents and then questioning the man again the religious establishment in Israel cast out the man so in 934 they answered and said to him you were completely born in sins and are you teaching us and they cast him out and so when we get to chapter 10 specifically verses 1 as I said to ten but even beyond that Christ is indicting that Christ is upgrading that Christ is reproving the Pharisees and the scribes and the religious leaders and remember they weren't just religious leaders the Sanhedrin in Israel functioned both religiously and politically and it is intriguing today we're never ever supposed to question the ethics of anybody that is over us for fear that we are engaged in some sort of usurpation Christ says these are thieves and robbers Christ said that they come to to to steal to kill and to destroy Christ does not have truck with people that profess leadership roles and positions but engage in this kind of Oppression the Lord Jesus Christ takes these men and shows them what they are and by extension he shows the rest of his people what he is now as well when we look at this passage Jesus refers to himself God willing will see this next time I am the Good Shepherd in verse 11. the shepherd imagery runs rampant through this section of scripture and it certainly recalls for us much of the Old Testament we sang Psalm 80. that theme of God shepherding his people is prevalent we read Psalm uh at the outset 100 we are the Sheep of his pasture of course we have Psalm 23 that great Shepherd theme of the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want you have the prophecy in the in the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 34 where God will give a davidic Shepherd to the nation of Israel to lead them and to guide them and direct them so it's very rich in terms of imagery and in terms of the Blessed things that it communicates to us now in terms of structure since we're starting a new chapter here what Jesus Jesus does in verses 1 to 6 is he gives an illustration of his mission so verses one to six there's an illustration of his meshet and then in verses 7 to 21 he gives an explanation of his mission and he uses two figures there he speaks of himself as being the door of the sheep and then he speaks of himself as being the Good Shepherd so let's just jump right into the illustration of his mission in verses one to six and notice in the first place the false teachers and the sheep fold notice in verse 1 of chapter 10 most assuredly I say to you if we ask the question who the you are it is the you of verses 39 to 41. notice that Jesus Saves the man that was born blind he not only heals him physically but even more gloriously he saves him by his grace through faith go back to verse 35 when Jesus heard that they had cast him out and when he had found him he said to him do you believe in the Son of God he he answered and said who is he Lord that I may believe in him and Jesus said to him you have both seen him and it is he was talking with you then he said Lord I believe and he worshiped him so the miraculous healing of his eyes did not save it he needed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he needed to look in faith and confess the Savior and on the heels of that Jesus says in verse 39 for judgment I have come into this world that those who do not see may see and that those who see me may be made blind than some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words and said to him are we blind also Jesus said to them if you were blind you would have no sin but now you say we see Therefore your sin remains and then he goes right on into verse 1 of chapter 10 most assuredly I say to you you blind Pharisees you blind leaders you blind man that cast out this man that had been born blind that had now come to me in faith he is addressing these false Shepherds and when it comes to this particular passage we remember that Jesus mixes mixes it up a lot with the religious leaders we have in the synoptic gospels Matthew Mark Luke we have Jesus stand before the Sanhedrin prior to his passionate and having to give a defense of himself John gives us this trial all throughout his gospel at every step of the way we see these people opposing him we see the enmity growing we see this chapter end in the same fashion they want to Stone him to death because he being a man made himself equal with God so this is a time of controversy this is a time of opposition and Jesus doesn't shrink back he doesn't say well I'm just going to let you guys do your thing in in disregard of all the people that are subject to you no Jesus points his finger in their faces to tell them what they had done wrong and Jesus doesn't shrink back from declaring what we call hard truth in fact Jesus doesn't shrink back from speaking truth power that is precisely what our blessed Christ does In this passage he asserts his authority in verse 1. most assuredly I say to you and then he underscores the false teachers and the sheepfall he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way the same as a thief and a robber now in terms of the Sheepfold I believe this is the people of God you see this in verse two and then you'll see it again in verse 16. Jesus speaks in verse 16 of other sheep I have I have to go collect that he's talking about the Gentiles Jew and Gentile together will be one-fold under God under the authority of our blessed Christ notice what he says in verse 1. he says most assuredly I say to you he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the door he's talking about unauthorized access he's talking about unauthorized persons he's talking about the kinds of guys that control access to Temple and synagogue that just willy-nilly put people out if they don't like that that's what happens to them man was born blind they just put him out he didn't give them the response that they wanted when they pressed him the man actually took the offense and started to speak to them in terms of theology in terms of the nature of the miracle and then he summarizes it by saying if this man were not of God he couldn't do this miraculous thing well if they didn't like that so what do they do they put him out you can't have that kind of an approach to the Sheepfold of God most high the temple and the synagogue were God's Property and so these men had irrigated to themselves the position of doorkeeper the position of Shepherd the position of the one who was able to put out at their own whim and so he condemns that notice I say to you he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way the same as a thief and Robber now the Sheepfold was probably a a courtyard surrounded by people's houses people that incidentally had sheep and so those people around these this Courtyard would put their particular flocks into that particular pan or that sheepfall well you had to you had to control access just like today we have to have lots we have to have dogs we have to have alarms we have to have security companies we have to have all that so people don't steal our stuff well it was much the same way in the first century you didn't want your sheep stolen you didn't want your stuff taken so what did you do you regulated access to that particular pad and so Jesus says there's authorized persons involved with the Sheepfold there's authorized persons relative to the temple or synagogue of God and these men are not authorized these men have shown themselves to be robbers and thieves these men by their actions in putting men out willy-nilly have demonstrated that they're fakes they're false they're wrong they're incorrect they are heretical men they are men that are founded or or grounded upon their own authority and their own desire for a a repute or for Fame but notice what he says he who does not enter the Sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way the same as a thief and a robber you got one Central Access Point there's one particular place where you can access if somebody comes over the fence they have bad intentions they are thieves and robbers John Gill makes the observation I think he took it from a Jewish commentator the difference between a thief and a robber with the Jews was that the former took away a man's property privately and the latter openly listen to that again the difference between a thief and a robber with the Jews and by that he means the unbelieving religious leaders in this particular context so the difference between a thief and a robber the guy that robs the bank the guy that robs the drugstore the guy that steals things from people he ought not so the difference between that thief and Robert with the Jews was that the former the guy who steals stuff took away a man's property privately in the latter openly these men were not Godly men these men were were not righteous men they were the kind of men that devoured widows houses have you remember remember that in Matthew chapter 23 when Jesus pronounced the woes upon the scribes and the Pharisees what does he mean by that did these unbelieving religious leaders wake up in the you know oh Dark Thirty and go to some old lady's house and throw her out on her ear and take their take her property no most likely her husband died where would she go to for help and assistance she would go to the leadership the structure in Israel that was to provide for the widows and the orphans and to provide care but through extortion and through malevolence and through wickedness and sin they ended up actually taking things from her they ended up extorting her so Jesus is not uh shrinking back from declaring to these people what their problems were and in fact he is similar to all the prophets that preceded it to Jeremiah not upgrade the nation of Israel at the time of his ministry did Isaiah say you know everything's great air you guys are doing wonderful you're doing a splendid job the prophet Micah from Laura Chef what does he do in terms of the leadership he points the finger at that again speaking truth to power everybody likes that until it actually happens everybody wants that until it actually comes to fruition we start to get a bit uncomfortable oh you can't say that you can't think that you can't do that because then you'll be seen as somebody that is rebellious against the Holy scripture when the master speaks truth to power I think that the the follower the the disciple the sheep of the shepherd can do the same thing as long as we're not violent we're not shooting anybody in the face we're not doing it in a way that's ungodly or unrighteous the Lord Christ sets the pattern that Godless leadership needs to be upbraided so we've got the false teachers in the Sheepfold in verse one now notice the true Shepherd and the Sheepfold in verses two to six you need to be mindful that some of the figures that are used figures of speech that are used in two two to five differ a little bit from seven to ten door in the the first section two to five isn't the exact same thing as Jesus identifies in verses seven and nine so let's just pick up the narrative specifically at verse two notice the identification of the Shepherd in verse two he who enters by the door is The Shepherd of the sheep later it's going to talk about the Sheep entering through the door well that door in verses 7 and 9 is Jesus right now remember what his design is right now remember what his purpose is right now remember that he is indicting the religious leaders the temple the the synagogue the the Sheepfold the the people of God has an access point has leadership has somebody that is involved in controlling access and entry and and exit from that particular vantage point so Jesus says in verse 2 he enters by the door is The Shepherd of the sheep this is Jesus this is Christ this is the mediator between God and man this is the one sent by the father this is the one in contrast to the Pharisees this is the one that they hate that they've expressed enmity to that they oppose and that they ultimately want to kill and they will kill ultimately so Jesus is the one who enters by the door he is the one who is The Shepherd of the sheep now notice the doorkeeper in verse 3 it says in verse 3 to him the doorkeeper opens so you've got somebody keeping the door and you've got Jesus the shepherd entering through that door again it's a communal pan several flocks might be in that you control the access point and then the man that is authorized to come in is let in and so Christ is highlighting that these thieves and these robbers they're not authorized because they don't function in a manner consistent with The Godly ones that are supposed to rule Israel it's Christ that is the shepherd it's Christ who gains access by the doorkeeper that's what the emphasis in verse 3 is now when we ask the question who's the doorkeeper we'll answer it notice in verse 3 to him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own Sheep by name and leads them out so who's the doorkeeper we might suggest gospel ministers they preach the gospel and it's Christ that that is the Shepherd that they are preaching I don't think that's wrong I don't think that's incorrect but I don't think that's what he's talking about here I think the doorkeeper of verse 3 a is God the Father remember one of the constant sticking points between Jesus and these man is who is Jesus Jesus is the scent one from the father who's the doorkeeper in terms of the Sheep full who's the doorkeeper in terms of the flock of God well it's God most high just saying that in Psalm 80. we see it in Psalm 23. we see it throughout the prophets and the psalter we see it in the New Testament we see this imagery all over the place so the doorkeeper lets one in to function as the true Shepherd the verse two true Shepherd comes as a result of the doorkeeper verse 3A so who's the shepherd he's the son of the father who's the father he's the doorkeeper that lets the Shepherd in in other words he is the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us and and we beheld as Glory the glory as of the only begotten from the father full of grace and truth so all the theology that we've been studying in the Book of John all the theology concerning the father and the son and their relation one to another all that theology is assumed by the Savior he's the true Shepherd that enters through the door who's the doorkeeper it's the father who sent him on this Mission of Mercy to save his people for from their sins fact John Gill makes the observation but rather this intends God the father from whom Christ as man and mediator derives his authority and by whom he is let into and invested with his office as The Shepherd of the sheep he's condemning the false teachers he is condemning the leaders he is condemning these men for what they had done in chapter 9 verse 34 in putting out of the synagogue this man who had been born blind if the man was a murderer if the man was a robber if the man was you know ungodly or an apostate or an idolater they'd have every right to put him out but there'd still be a process but because he didn't answer their questions in the way that they wanted because he answered their questions in a way that favored the Lord Jesus Christ they had no right to put him out they had no authority to not deny him access they had no right as the the so-called Shepherds to cast a sheep out like that so Jesus is condemning the leadership Jesus is condemning these vile men now notice as we move on in the particular narrative he says what the Sheep do relative to the shepherd so verse 3 to him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice you've probably heard the stories you've probably heard this passage preached that the Sheep they not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier they're not the brightest creatures in the world in fact when the Bible Compares us to sheep that's not the best possible analogy that we could receive these weren't brain surgeons these weren't Little Rocket scientists you know surrounded by fur or wool these were dummies by and large I don't mean to be vicious or unkind but you know one thing they were able to do they were able to discern their Master's Voice they were able to discern their master's voice and that's what Jesus speaks to here just like that man who had been born blind when Jesus leads him by the hand of this confession of Faith he hears his master's voice Lord I believe and then what happens he worshiped him Christ is speaking concerning the reality that God's people hear the voice of the master the shepherd effectually calls them notice in three to him the doorkeeper opens and the Sheep hears hear his voice and he calls his own Sheep by name and leads them out now there are many ways to lead sheep or Shepherd sheep I don't speak by experience I I haven't done this but I've read enough to know that you can use a sheepdog Sheepdogs are incredible Sheepdogs you know sheep the dogs they they are a dog the Sheep they keep them pan they they keep them in the right direction you can you can drive the shape you can be behind them and lead them that way but this particular analogy is what Christ does he he leads us he leads us out of this particular pen in the direction that he calls us to go it is most glorious imagery Brethren our blessed Shepherd leads us it doesn't send a dog to surround us he doesn't set us out in front and say you guys you know do the best you can I'll pick you up when you fall I mean that still happens even with him leading us from out front but that's the imagery employed by the master in this particular situation verse 3 the sheep hear his voice and notice he calls his own Sheep by name and leads them out it's a beautiful sort of reference there the Salvation wrought by Christ isn't General vague or ambiguous he came to save his people from their sins it's not just kind of out there for anybody who might want to activate it through their own free will Brethren if that was the case nobody would ever activate it but he comes in a specific manner to redeem his people from their sins to save his sheep to call them to himself to enable them to hear his voice and to respond favorably to him the reality that he calls his Sheep by name Isaiah 43 1-2 but now thus says the Lord who created you o Jacob and he who formed you o Israel fear not for I have redeemed you I have called you by your name you are mine the fact that the shepherd calls us by name indicates that that possession that ownership we're not our own we're bought with a price we're bought by the the blood of Jesus Christ Our Lord when you pass through the waters I will be with you and through the river they shall not overflow you when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned nor shall the flame Scorch you he calls his own by name second Timothy chapter 2 verse 9 uh verse 19. nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands having the seal the Lord knows those who are his and let everyone who names the name of Christ apart from iniquity so the Lord Jesus leads his sheep now just practically in the context what a contrast between him and these Pharisees the Pharisees were upset their noses were bent out of shape they got basted in an argument by a man who had been born blind I mean this man didn't go to Bible school this man didn't have a PhD this didn't man didn't have an end and any advanced degree whatsoever this man had been born blind he was a beggar he was you know not somebody that you'd look upon and say wow this is a brilliant guy but he brilliantly argued against their foolishness and they got upset about that so instead of leading him instead of directing him instead of assisting him or helping him they just cast him out not so with our Master our blessed Shepherd leads the people of God our blessed Shepherd leads us he doesn't leave us he doesn't forsake us and that emphasis in the prophet Isaiah is beautiful the leading of the Sheep by the shepherd He leads them out and the shepherd goes before them again Psalm 23 he makes me to lie down in Green Pastures he he leads me beside the Still Waters he he restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake what do you think think the psalmist says that because I wasn't going in the paths of righteousness I was not following the master I did not want the Lord I was not seeking him he leads me in the paths of righteousness we typically read that in Psalm 23 and go wow isn't it wonderful that that our savior is there to comfort and help us yes that's what the psalm is about but don't miss the element of redemption he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his own namesake why because I'm unrighteous because I'm filthy because I'm disgusting because I'm a transgressor because I'm a lacker of Conformity unto that law of God and if if one doesn't come and Lead Me into the paths of righteousness I will perish in my sin and suffer hell and Damnation forever this is what our blessed Master does and this is what he's communicating to these men this is what he's upgrading them with revelation 14. Revelation 14 is is a beautiful beautiful wonderful passage of scripture now in Revelation 14 it follows Revelation 13. you're getting some Cutting Edge exegesis here today aren't you Revelation 13 and 14 are are are a contrast but they're inextricably connected what happens in chapter 13 you've got two beasts you've got a beast from the land you've got a beast from the sea and what do these beasts do as the name might suggest they terrorize the people under their rule they terrorize the people under their government they terrorize the people that are unfortunate enough to be under them they're like the the thieves and the robbers their mission is to uh steal and to kill and destroy so you've got these beastly characters in Chapter 13 but when we get to chapter 14 the scene shifts what do you find in chapter 14 you find the Lamb with his fair Army on Mount Zion you see God's response to the beastly characters of Revelation 13. if Revelation 13 causes you turmoil if Revelation 13 causes you fear if Revelation 13 defines your life you need to repent and you need to continue to read Revelation 14. you need to continue to read the rest of the Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation is not about Christ losing the Book of Revelation is not about the people of Christ losing the Book of Revelation is about the kingly office of our Lord Jesus and the way that he comes to the aid in defense and protection of his people so if you're a bit down and you're looking around you're saying wow we live in a in a revelation 13 kind of an age go to 14. see the Lamb with his fair Army standing on Mount Zion well who's the fair Army they're described in the the passages or in the tax that follow and one of the things that is characteristic of them it says these are the ones who follow the lamb wherever he goes beautiful identifier isn't it and I know there's that in us now you know I don't always follow the lamb wherever he goes I I still have a you know a tendency to go the other way I still have the tendency to be prone to wander and prone to leave the God that I love but characteristic of the sheep of Christ is that they follow the lamb wherever he goes they they love his word they love his voice when they sin against him they repent they ask for forgiveness they they plead the blood and Merit to their blessed Shepherd but in terms of an identifying quality or a Mark or characteristic they follow the lamb wherever he goes and notice that Jesus now draws out the characteristics of the sheep he identifies who the false are relative to the to the Sheepfold and now he's identifying the true relative to the Sheepfold and now he's going to deal a bit with the characteristics of the sheep so no notice in verse 3 or verse 4 and when he brings out his own sheep he he goes before that and the Sheep follow him for they know his voice yet they will by no means follow a stranger but will flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers again just like we see Illustrated in chapter nine that man born blind that was healed by Jesus didn't say to the Pharisees you guys are right on he's a fake he's a fraud he's a he's a a deceiver no he rejects their interpretation of who Jesus is he rejects their interpretation of the facts as as he's witnessed that no he follows the master actually the master followed him saved him and now this man follows the master but notice in terms of the characteristics of the sheep the Sheep follow the Shepherd in obedience to his voice so 4B again when the Sheep brings out or when he brings out his own sheep he goes before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his voice the Sheep follow him for they know his voice well what have we learned in John's gospel up to this particular point well we have learned that the Sheep are not sheep because they're brilliant and decided for Jesus we have learned that the Sheep are not sheep because they exercised their Free Will and came to Jesus we have learned thus far that the Sheep are sheep because of God making them sheep and by making them sheep I'm not suggesting he puts a gun to our heads and says you need to be a sheep that's not how he makes us sheep he makes us Sheep by the exercise of his power John 3 unless a man is born again he shall not see the kingdom of God the Sheep are those who were dead in their trespasses and sins but through the power of the Holy Spirit they've been made Anew by the power of the Holy Spirit they've been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit they've been born again and as well what happens when when when they're when they're born again what's the reflex what happens when when the spirit moves them or moves upon them in such a way as to bring them out of Darkness into marvelous light as to convey upon them life as to move them from a place of of death into life what's the reflex well they believe on the Lord Jesus right there's not this span of time you're regenerate in March of you know 1978 and and then you're you're believing on Jesus you know so many years later no there's a chronolog a a logical progression but but chronology you're born again and what's the first thing you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that's told us in John 1 12 told us in John 3 16 and it's told us in John 20 30-31 that believing in him you might have everlasting life well well now we come to to this issue what do they look like what is somebody born again by the power of God who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for its salvation what do they look like in other words how do we know that this person is a sheep it's a good question isn't it I I think it is perhaps you hadn't thought of it I'm thinking of it for you and hopefully we'll get some answers here but but what does it look like for somebody born again who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ what does he look like well verse 4 tells us when he brings out his own sheep again we're talking about the Sheepfold the people that are saved they're within that sort of confine and the shepherd comes wants to trot them out to the pastures and wants to do great things for them and and lead them and bless them and all that sort of thing so notice in verse 4. the Sheep follow him for they know his voice the Sheep follow him for they know his voice you understand what what Jesus is saying you say you're born again you say you've believed on the Lord Jesus Christ now I'm not talking about perfect following Brethren I am not you know me better than to to think that I would suggest you're following better impeccable your following better be spot on you're following better be perfect no I I don't believe that I mean I believe that's the norm or the model but I don't believe we achieve it on this side of Heaven first John chapter 2 my little children I write these things so that you may not sin it's beautiful thrust in John's epistle when he goes on and if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous John knows the remaining corruption Paul knows the remaining corruption Romans 7 Galatians 5 the hymn writer knew it when he said prone to wander prone to leave the God I love he wasn't a renegade or a Maverick he spoke in the tradition of reformed theology our our confession acknowledges this at several places this is why that old dry Orthodox Dusty sort of confession of faith is more lively and more vibrant and more powerful than a whole host of books written today that aren't candid enough to admit the reality that Paul admits in Romans 7 the good that I I wish to do I don't always do the evil I don't want to do I I find myself myself doing or in Galatians 5 the flesh lost against the spirit the spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary to one another so you don't do the things you want oh we're almost afraid to suggest such stuff because we think it will give Sinner's cause or save Sinners cause to go out and sin well that's because we think like the devil Romans 6 1 what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound may it never be the only people that take that implication are devilish shorts of people that want to use the gospel as a pretext for their sin not the saint that has remaining corruption that is conflicted on a lot of days and that doesn't always do what he what he ought but he confesses it and he forsakes and he finds Mercy from God but in terms of an identifying characteristic of the sheep of Christ they hear his voice and they respond to his voice they're Sanctified by the spirit through the word they grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior when the shepherd comes to the pan and he says okay sheep we're going out for the day it's not so you can go run a mock it's not so you can go smoke crack it's not so you you can go visit prostitutes it's not so you can go basking yourself righteousness it's so you can follow the lamb wherever he goes That's the purpose for which the shepherd fetches us out of the Sheepfold for a day it's to go enjoy the blessings that he affords to his people it's not to depart from him we're free now and we could go do whatever it is we want the Sheep of Christ don't want that freedom is found in the master freedom is found in the shepherd freedom is found in those good pastures that he brings us to an identifying characteristic an identifying Mark of the sheep of God is that they hear his voice and the Sheep follow him why because they know his voice there's a wonderful hymn In The Trinity Hymnal I didn't check to see if it was in the I didn't check to see if it made the cut in the Trinity Salter Hymnal that we're now using but stanzas three and four are quite I mean one and two are great but three and four Jesus my shepherd is twas he that loved my soul to his he that washed me in his blood was he that made me whole it was he that sought the lost that found the wandering sheep it was he that brought me to the fold tis he that still doth keep why would we leave him why would we not follow him and again I'm not talking about you know the the the the remaining corruption Lord forgive me I I sin I thank you for the blood of Jesus I'm talking about a departure I'm talking about rejection talking about resistance I'm talking about I don't want his voice well if you don't want his voice you're not his sheep it's just that simple that last stanza says I I was a Wandering sheep I I would not be controlled it's not a good description A Man Apart from Jesus I was a Wandering sheep I would not be controlled you're not the boss of me I don't need God I don't need his Christ we're the men of Psalm 2. why did the Nations rage and the people plot a vain thing why do the rulers in the the kings of the universe are the kings of the Earth take their counsel against Yahweh and against his Christ what is it but that expression of I'm not going to be controlled I'm the king of this Empire I'm the king of this this this Kingdom I am the the leader I'm the ruler and I want Yahweh and his Christ sort of butting in and telling me what I I must do I think this this imagery is beautiful I wasn't wandering sheep I would not be controlled but now I love my shepherd's voice is that true we may not always understand everything Peter acknowledges that some things in Paul are hard to understand I think there's some things in Peter that are hard to understand I think there's some things that are difficult in the scripture but the perspicuity of scripture teaches it's Clarity on matters concerning salvation on matters concerning of justification by faith he says this so the hymn writer says this but but now I love my shepherd's voice but he goes on to say I love I love the fold you mean we'll love the church too oh yeah it's the church for whom Jesus died in other words if Jesus loves the church that much what should we think about the church it's full of Hypocrites precisely where you want Hypocrites so they can hear the preaching of the Gospel to cleanse them from their sin oh the hospital's full of sick people precisely where you want them so they can get a cure we love the Church of Jesus Christ because it's the Church of Jesus Christ we love the Sheepfold we love the pan we love the people of God doesn't John tell us that in his first epistle by this we know we've passed from Death to life if we love the Brethren won't Jesus say this in the upper room discourse in John 13 by this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another hate the fold hate the church despise the people of God that's an anomaly this Maverick approach I all I need is my Bible in the Holy Spirit but your Bible in the Holy Spirit has told you you need the church you didn't hear that part you didn't listen to that part you don't read that part you don't heed that part see to esteem the master to steam the shepherd is to esteem the Sheepfold as well back to the hymn I was a wayward child I once preferred to Rome not true what was it Wayward childhood I once preferred to Rome my daughter told me a story I don't know is it true where the Sheep all kind of followed the one that was in front of them and they jumped off a cliff and of course as you might imagine the first jumpers died because that's what happens it's not the fall it's the Sudden Impact at the end that kind of does yet but by the time there was a bit of shape there the others jumped off and they didn't die they just bounced right off the the wall of the ones that had gone before that again not the brightest creatures on the face of the Earth Brethren but in terms of the Sheepfold in terms of the flock we love it I just thought of that and wanted to continue I was a wayward child I once preferred to roam but now I love my father's voice I love I love his home again him today beautiful illustration of John tan beautiful illustration of what we'll find in the in the explanation of his mission he uses those two figures I am the door of the sheep in verses 7 to 10 and then he speaks of him being the Good Shepherd in verses 7 to 17. and then of course we'll see the response to that we'll see the enmity with that we'll see the opposition to that and we'll see their rage concerning him as it culminates at the end of the of the chapter but back to our Exposition notice not only do they hear the voice of the shepherd but they reject the voice of The Stranger and if you're interested in this I don't typically make Shameless plugs to attend the evening sermon but I'm going to today because the evening sermon really complements what we're going to be doing here in a moment look at what the the Sheep does he doesn't hear the voice of The Stranger what do you think Paul's dealing with in Ephesians chapter four Christ according to verse 11 gives gifts to the church what gifts well he gave some to the apostles some to be prophets some to be evangelists some to be Pastor teachers well why did he do that so that the children of God could be built up so that the children of God could be strengthened so that the children of God could learn not to listen to the voice of strangers we're going to see that tonight so that we're no longer tossed to and fro by by every wind of Doctrine so that we're not Subs subject to the trickery of men so that we're not subject to The Crafty cunning of men who plot deceit the Apostle Paul highlights what Jesus says figuratively right here in verses four and five the true sheep follow the shepherd the true sheep don't follow the false look at verse 5 yet they will by no means they will by no means follow a stranger but will flee from him for they do not know the voice of strangers the Sheep reject the stranger for a very simple reason they don't they don't recognize his voice and I understand his voice it doesn't resonate with them being New Man in Christ Jesus they resist it they reject it they want no truck with it they won't want no participation in it because it is contrary to the shepherd's voice Brethren that does assume a few things it assumes that the Sheep know the voice of the Shepherd that means they're in somewhat connection with the word of God privately they read it they read it as families they come to church and they hear it preached they have some understanding what the voice of Christ is such that when the voice of The Stranger Comes they don't they don't take it in and and hold on to it they resist it they reject it they even run from the heretic they run from the Falls going through this passage in Ephesians 4 I think that you see something highlighted that we don't pay enough attention to in our own generation I think we're trying to do that in our church so I'm not here to scream at you for this but in terms of our generation is the premium place on truth is it placed on accurate exegesis of Holy Scripture exposition of that scripture the proclamation of that scripture and the application of it or is it misplaced is it about me and my feelings is it about me and my experience is it about me and my perceived needs is it all about me well if it's all about me then it's not the voice of the shepherd and if it's not the voice of the shepherd we are going to Rome we are going to stray we are going to be in Jeopardy and in Ephesians 4 the emphasis is upon these gifts not because they're wonderful specimens of human beings not because they're the right Reverend sir but because they've been equipped by Christ uh recognized by the church to do what to teach the voice of the master to the sheep and when the Sheep received the voice of the master they will be inoculated against the voice of strangers so that they won't be tossed to and fro by every wind of Doctrine so they won't be susceptible to the trickery of man there's a whole host of people out there that are vying for your Soul there's a whole host of people out there that are vying for for opposition to the Lord Christ to rise and to Prevail do you think it's accidental the culture that we live in do you think that the celebration of murder and sexual perversion well it's interesting that this sort of happened I mean that's man's disposition that's man's sin but to celebrate it to make it the norm to make you accept it as the norm Brethren this is calculated they hate God they hate his Christ and they want to throw him off his his throne but they can't get to him so they'll go after us that's just the reality of it do you ever notice anybody who hears the voice of a stranger and flees from him oh no we're much more polished and nice than that well you know he's nice he sounds right he he sounds good he looks the part Brethren if he's not preaching the Master's Voice run from him he is a fake he is out for bad things he is a thief and a robber what does he do he steals from you he kills you and he destroys you that's what Jesus says in verse 10 B that's their ammo that's what they're about that's how they Thrive and flourish imagine that what's your job what's your joy what's your privilege in life my joy and privilege is to steal from people my joy and privilege is to kill these people my joy and privilege is to destroy these people most of us can't enter in most of us in this room are like what why would you be like that because remember Jesus makes the connection in John 8 that thereof their father who the devil and the desires of your father you want to do and what are the desires of your father he's a murderer from the beginning and he's a liar so Brethren when The Stranger Comes and apes his father his father the devil it's not wrong for you to run wasn't wrong for potiphar or rather Joseph to run from Potiphar's wife in fact I'd say that was the best run he ever made it's not wrong to run from heresy why do we think it's okay to give them our attention why do we think it's a well we we need to be kind we need to be gracious what does the Sheep do when he hears the stranger's voice he flees why because the Sheep knows all he wants to do is fleece me all he wants to do is hurt me all he wants to do is destroy me all he wants to do is ruin me in other words find a place where the voice of Christ is preached in the Church of Christ turn to Romans 16. we're not going to continue we're going to end our Exposition here at verse 6 in just a moment but just a couple of passages that that further sort of illustrate this notice in Romans 16. the Bible's not silent here Old Testament very loud very prevalent very much conspicuous get away from those idolaters get away from those Bayless get away from those who worship Ashraf New Testament same thing Romans 16 verse 17. now I urge you Brethren note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary notice to the doctrine which you learn and avoid that avoid that not have them over have coffee you know get you know love them even more no no avoid that I don't know how clearer it could be and then he says for those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but put their own Valiant by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple it's not wrong to be simple in this context it's not wrong at all I I'm simple and this deception and these flattering words and these things that I don't understand it it could Captivate me it could capture me I've often thought that a brand new born-again believer should not necessarily open the door to a 20-year seasoned veteran of Jehovah's Witnesses they know a lot I'm not saying they're right they know a lot and you know you just come out of the womb of regeneration and you're ready to fight for God and Country and that Jehovah's Witness is going to stand there and answer everything you say again wrong heretical Aryan bad her you know Judah new Judas all that but you don't know that that's not a date at you it's not a an insult to you there's gradation in the Christian life isn't it we come out of the womb of regeneration what are we kind of like when we come out of the womb of our mothers we're we're babies for infants then we toddle and then we had adolescents and then we're really obnoxious and then we move on to Young adulthood we're still obnoxious and we get a little bit older we're not as obnoxious we get to some hoary hair we're still obnoxious for other reasons but but you get the point tonight Paul's going to say that so that we're no longer children again being a child isn't bad if you're a child be a child enjoy your childhood go play hide and seek go play you know cops and robbers dare I say it you know the things we used to do as kids but to be a child when you're a grown adult that's what Paul is opposing in Ephesians 4. the Church of Christ Light the individual in Christ has to grow up we celebrate Adolescence in society and in the church but that's not what we should celebrate we celebrate maturity we celebrate thinking we celebrate good Doctrine we celebrate accurate exegesis we know those who cause divisions and we we avoid that why because they're dangerous people notice in first Timothy chapter 6 First Timothy chapter 6 specifically at verse 20. oh Timothy guard what was committed to your trust what was that that was committed to his Trust was the truth of God's word it was the truth of the Gospel not your winning personality Timothy your ability to have coffee with the best of them Timothy what is Timothy supposed to guard the sacred deposit of God's holy word you guard it Timothy you hold on to it and you avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith notice second Timothy chapter one second Timothy chapter 1 verse 13 hold fast the pattern of sound Words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus that good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in US Brethren our task in the grand link of God's church is not to stop the progress of the truth it's to facilitate it to the next Generation it's to retain it in such a way and defend it in such a way and fight for it in such a way to contend for it in such a way that we pass it on to our children and our grandchildren this is our task this is our calling this is our privilege to to hear the voice of the master to preach the voice of the master so that the Sheep are edified the Sheep are built up the Sheep are strong instructed and the Sheep don't go astray as much they follow the master they resist the heretic they they run from the stranger Jude 3 contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints and then one final text is in Revelation two Revelation two we all know the uh the Church of Ephesus we're studying the book of Ephesians in our evening service the Ephesians the F the church in Ephesus we we know them as the church that that lost their first love that's not a good thing but when he says that he doesn't mean they're apostates he doesn't mean they're gone it doesn't mean it's over it doesn't mean you're done now here here's what I think I think that the Ephesians lost their first love in this way their hearts were not waxing with love for Christ the way they had been that's I think a simple interpretation and if we ask the question well well why not I think the taxed answers for us look at Revelation 2 1 to the angel of the Church of Ephesus right these things says he who holds the Seven Stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seventh golden lamp stands I know your Works your labor your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil notice the next section in verse 2 and you have tested those who say they are Apostles and are not and have found them Liars I I think that while they're on the the the the front lines fighting Heretics fighting men that claim to be Apostles testing those men to to protect the sheep for Jesus you know what they weren't doing they weren't reading John Owen volume two on communion with God they weren't reading spurgeons morning and evening they they weren't firing up their hearts with love for Christ the way that perhaps they used to but it's not that they had a band in the faith they were fighting for the faith they were defending the faith but as is often the case we're not always equipped to fight on two fronts at the same time you divide the energies of the men in the leadership position and and it can be a bad thing so these guys are fighting false Apostles and at the same time Christ can condemns them for for losing or leaving their first love but the the point is is that he does commend them for guarding the sheep from these men who claim to be Apostles and were not so back to our text we notice what the response to all this is in verse 6. they didn't get it they didn't understand it so he talks about the Sheep hearing the voice of the shepherd He talks about the Sheep rejecting the voice of the stranger and then in verse 6 Jesus used this illustration but they did not understand the things which he spoke to them do not understand the things that which he spoke to them now in the context this is intriguing because these were men who thought they saw these were men that thought they were not blind these were men who paraded themselves on seeing better than the rest of the people in Israel and yet they were blind spiritually blind they didn't hear they didn't follow they didn't understand what the Lord Christ is saying what's the implication they weren't as sheep they didn't hear his voice they didn't follow him they didn't go after him it was the man in John 9 who had heard that Jesus was in fact the Son of God who confesses faith in the Son of God and then who worships in light of that confession of faith that was in fact the Sheep the sheep and the story is the man the shepherd and the story is the Lord Jesus the thieves and the robbers and the story of the Pharisees the religious leaders the scribes these ones that had authority over the nation of Israel and these are the ones that not surprisingly didn't get it they didn't understand they didn't receive his truth it was an anomaly to them it was a conundrum to them it was enigmatic they couldn't get it and that leads him then into seven to 2017 to discourse concerning himself as the door the entrance to the Sheepfold is through him again the image is shifted a little bit because in the first section he is the the one that gives or has been granted access by the father to be The Shepherd of the sheep but in the latter part he is the door by which the Sheep enter and and are saved that's the structure God willing will look at it next week just in conclusion I want to highlight two things I know that's one I got two here first we need to hear the voice of the master the the voice of the shepherd we need to listen now Brethren it's not just preaching but preaching is vital the Church of Jesus Christ is you know Central and God's Redemptive plan it's a it's a necessary feature Gene to region we've been blessed with Bibles I mean everybody's got Bibles Bibles for days we got Bibles stacked up at home we got Bible apps on our phones we we don't even have to read the phone it reads it to us anymore the lack of biblical or familiarity with Biblical uh themes or stuff the the lack of hearing the voice of the Shepherd in this environment is really unconscionable I mean if we found ourselves before the you know the the invention of the printing press okay they didn't have cell phones either they didn't have you know all these vast resources of ways that that we can ingest the Bible we need to ask the simple question am I seeking the Master's Voice am I seeking to hear from him in private as a father am I seeking to lead my family to that voice in Family Worship and in the church if I found a church or am I looking for a church where they put a premium on the truth of the shepherd's voice because in the end of the day we probably like more programs we'd probably like more happiness we'd probably like more joy we'd probably like more whatever that the churches often you know uh give but what is it at the in the final analysis that we need from the church Preach the word be ready in season and out of season convince rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and teaching that's it that's no again not that's it you know you come in here and you're just miserable and you get hit and punished but you know the words preach no no uh we look for it all obviously but we don't compromise at the place of the voice of the master that's most important and then secondly if you have not heard the voice of the master may God most high open your ears open your heart if we ask the question who is the shepherd go back in the tax go back into John 9 John 9 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out and when he had found him he said to him do you believe even the son of God if you ask that question have you wrestled with that thought if you ever entertained the reality that there is a Son of God upon whom your Eternal Destiny depends if you haven't I'm going to suggest you ask the question I'm going to suggest you think in this direction I'm going to suggest that you stop thinking about everything else that that buses your mind and heart and think about who the Son of God is look at the response to the the man who was born blind he answered and said who is he Lord that I may believe in him is that wonderful do you believe in the in the Son of God well who is he Lord that I may believe in him so what does Jesus do Jesus says it's me it's me the one you're talking to the one you're now seeing remember he would had been congenally uh blind from for birth he sees Jesus physically but he sees Jesus spiritually because he confesses I believe and in light of that belief he worships Jesus that's your take-home message today Jesus is in fact the Son of God Jesus is in fact the Good Shepherd Jesus is the one whose voice is able to bring Sinners to himself and give them everlasting life he comes to give life and to give it abundantly according to verse 10. he leads me to these pastures he enriches my soul He blesses me he keeps me he protects me there is that tendency in me to wander there is that tendency in me to roam away but what does he do he uses his faithful Shepherd's Crook and he pulls me back he chastens me he disciplines me he keeps me by his power and for his glory that is the Son of God and believing in the Son of God means you will have everlasting life that's John's message well let us pray Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for the voice of the master that comes through the pages of Holy Scripture that great Shepherd of the sheep that one who came to live to die and to rise again so that all who believe in him will have everlasting life may you be merciful to us as sheep cause us to follow the lamb wherever he goes and as well we pray that today would be the day of salvation here and elsewhere wherever the voice of Christ is communicated we ask this in the name and for the glory of our Lord Jesus amen well you can turn in your hymn books to 568. 568 will stand in saying the doxology of Praise unto God [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh foreign [Music] and then I'll pray and we'll give thanks for the food so as was said at the outside of worship please enjoy some time a fellowship and food up in the fellowship hall will give thanks to God for that so when we're dismissed you can find your way up there so the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen Our Father we thank you for these blessings these good things that you give to your people we thank you for your mercy your grace your loving kindness displayed and revealed in the gospel of our Salvation thank you for the Lord's day thank you for the Lord's House thank you for the Lord's people and for the blessing of gathering together we thank you as well for food and for fellowship and we pray that you would watch over us now help us to eat and drink for your glory and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well you may be seated for a brief time of meditation after the music is over if you'd like to go upstairs that would be wonderful