Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to share something with you.
One time there was a young boy who sat down at the supper table with a group of his relatives. While the family ate and talked about current events, the granddad would smile and quietly eat his food. When the conversation was directed towards the grey haired gentleman, he just kept eating and smiling. After a few minutes, all eyes at the table started staring at him, expecting some kind of response, but again, all he did was nod, smile and eat his meal. Eventually the young boy placed his hand on the granddads arm, and pointedly asked him a question. “Just a moment….” he said, and reached behind his ear, to turn on his hearing aid.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Some people are completely oblivious to things that are being discussed. How many of you parents have commanded your children to do something, but later they say, I didn’t hear you? Some students can sit in class for hours on end, and never even hear a thing that is taught. One thing is for certain, God’s sheep are good listeners, and they hear His voice perfectly.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
The sheep of Jesus Christ listen to His voice. They listen to His voice through the teachings of scripture. They listen to His voice as He guides them in the truth. They listen to His voice when He calls them out of darkness. They listen to His voice as He turns them away from sin. Hearing God’s Word is proof that you are of God.
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
The evidence of a true Christian, is their response to biblical truth. If they don’t want to do what it says, then you know for certain that they are not of God. This is because they won’t follow the shepherd of the sheep! Only those who are of the truth, will listen to the Words of Christ.
John 18:37 ….and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
In the world, people might listen to a teacher at school or a professor at college. They might listen to their next door neighbor or their children. They even might listen to their boss at work or their wife, but the true sheep of God will listen to God over and above all others. Scripture was given to us by men who were filled with the Holy Spirit of God. They preach what Jesus taught them, guiding the flock of God to loving obedience to Christ. The world will listen and be influenced by the world, while those who are of God will listen and be influenced by the Spirit of God.
1 John 4:5-6 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Obviously, In order to follow someone, you must listen to what they say. Many times a pet won’t listen to strangers, but they certainly give heed to the voice of their owner.
John 10:1-5 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.
True sheep of God are ready and willing to obey Gods Words and His commands. They will follow their Shepherd wherever He leads them, as He guides them down the narrow road to eternal life. Some people may appear as sheep on the exterior, but inwardly prove that they are wolves. True sheep can quickly discern the false ones because the counterfeits refuse to obey Gods Word. They claim to be followers of Jesus, but they really don’t follow what He commands, proving they don’t love the shepherd.
John 14:21, 23-24 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
The Lord speaks to us through the teachings He gave His Apostles. Those who won’t hear them are certainly not one of God’s sheep.
Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Salvation depends upon being a good listener, following Gods instructions and directions, given through Holy scripture.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Someday God is going to have a place at His right hand, for His true sheep.
Matthew 25:32-33 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
The Lord certainly knows those who completely belong to Him.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
The proof that you have truly heard and received God’s Word into your heart, is becoming a faithful doer of what it says.
James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
So I ask you today, are you listening to the teachings of God’s Word? Are you really….
…..Hearing His Voice.
Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 