Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, I want to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
Imagine yourself going in for a job interview, but when you got there, there were approximately fifteen other people who were in line applying for the exact same position. When your name was finally called, you sat down for your interview with the manager, but after a few minutes, you realized that you really didn’t like him very much. When the interview was completed, he thanked you for coming in, but kindly explained that you weren’t exactly the candidate that they were looking for.
As you left the store you became infuriated because a lot of your friends worked at that store, and you wanted to be part of the same team. When you got home, you decided to go around the manager, usurping over him, and wanted to talk to somebody higher up in the company in order to secure the job. Well, it just so happened that your dads high school friend was the owner of that company, so you decided to use that influence and go directly to him, and go around the manager of the store. When you talked to the owner on the phone, he told you that any hiring decision for his company belonged to the manager, and to him alone. After a few minutes of begging for the job, he said, I trust this manager very much,
….my son knows what he’s doing.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
In order to obtain eternal life with the heavenly Father, you cannot go around or usurp over His only begotten Son Jesus, because the only way you can enter in is by following Christ and His teachings. The Father will not allow access to paradise unless you come through His Son. Those who try to go around Jesus are nothing more than theives.
John 10:1-5, 7-11 Verily, 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.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
In the military, they don’t like it when you try to go around or over those who have direct authority over you. A private doesn’t talk to the general because they expect you to go through the proper channels. Those who do this are more than likely power seekers, and should be expelled. These kinds of people want authority but they themselves do not want to submit and serve authority. Its akin to a wife who refuses to submit to their husband or children who will not submit to their dad. These actions are caused by a rebellious nature which God hates. Without repentance damnation will follow.
Maybe some of you can think of a time when you paid for a wristband to get into the county fair, and you got to ride any ride you wanted for one price. When you were riding the ferris wheel, you watched as people climbed over the chain link fence in order to get into the fair, but without the wristband, they were quickly ejected from the park. It happened because they refused to go through the ticket counter. Our Lord Jesus is our ticket to heaven, and the only way to paradise is through Him. Those without a ticket will be expelled at judgement day.
The Apostle Paul was set forth as an undershepherd of Christ to watch over the church, and he was well aware that if he was wasn’t around, or even if he passed away, grevious wolves were waiting to show up to try to ruin the church. As soon as Paul was out of the way, they would quickly appear. Those who do such things are Satan’s ministering devils.
Many people hated Paul and the disciples of the Lord. People hated Jesus without a cause and wanted Him crucified on a cross. Why such hatred? Because they themselves refuse to submit and obey the God of all authority and creator of the universe. The devil has been doing this since the very beginning. He’s a deceiver and rebellious, and refuses to repent of his wickedness. His time is short and Jesus will destroy him with great vengeance. The Lord will battle against him with the sword of his mouth and the brightness of this coming. The devil will be devoured and consumed in the righteousness of our Lord. He will have nowhere to run except into the depths and damnation of hell fire, along with all those who embody the same spirit. Judgement is coming, repent or perish.
True undershepherds of the Lord are given to the church to protect the sheep of God. In order to access heaven you must go through Christ. Years ago people would russel cattle and steal horses. When you steal, you didn’t go to the owner of the cattle or the horses, you simply jumped over the fence and robbed them. The devil is at work today trying to rob sheep from the church. The devil doesn’t want you to follow and obey Christ, but follow and serve Him.
Sheep represent people in the church. A shepherd stands guard over the sheep. James, John and the other apostles stood watch over the church as under-shepherds of the Lord. Their purpose was to protect the sheep from those who were trying to destroy their faith. If you were a wolf trying to attack the sheep, you had better watch out, because they were ready to pull out a scourge or to thump you on the skull with the flat side of the broadsword of God’s Truth. The undershepherds of Christ would call upon Jesus to flight their battle for them, just as He fought for His servant Moses. I guarantee you, those who rebel only have one choice, to repent and come forward for his mercy and forgiveness, or to be utterly consumed by His fire, and eternally destroyed from His presence.
The truth sheep listen to Christ. Refusal to accept his teachings only proves one thing, that you never were of His flock. Jesus is the key that unlocks the gate to eternity. Some people claim Jesus is there Shepherd but they refuse to follow His teachings. Why would you call Him your Shepherd but won’t follow or do what He says? In the civil war, they would recognize the sound of the trumpet, that called them to a specific action. For many years I had a trumpet hanging on the side of our home that I would blow for Andrew to hear in the woods, so he would come home. A shepherd had distinct calls for their sheep that they recognized. The sheep of God listen and obeys when the true shepherd calls. His name is Jesus Christ.
You might be able to get around a pothole on the highway. You might be able to get around a fallen tree on a four wheeler trail. You may even be able to portage your canoe around a waterfall, but there is one thing that nobody will ever be able to get around come judgment day, it is our Lord Jesus Christ and His everlasting teachings.
When it comes down to biblical truth, you can’t go over it; you can’t go under it, and will never be able to……..
……Go around it.
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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