John 10: 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father.
Here is what distinguishes the salvation of God from every other belief, invented or imagined. Religions have differed through the ages. Babylon is the source of the oldest false religion in the world. It is here that the Tower of Babel was and where false religions began. The people of Babylon were deceived. As we’ve been studying in Sunday school, God opened their eyes to the God of heaven who was not available via soothsayers and astrologers. He delivered the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace and Daniel from the den of lions; both of these miracles were little things for God.
The buzz word today is “empower.” Many think they are empowered through their religion, but when they lay down at night it is in fear. The power of God is missing. People are lost and on their way to hell. Sin is raging. Verse 10 calls Satan what he is—a thief. It says 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. Satan’s desire is to steal the souls of mankind. When you look to the Bible for salvation, you must relinquish your own will. The power of your sins eats you up like a disease. Jesus has the power. He is the power that can help. The thief tries to make other doors to the sheepfold. They are only images that look like doors to make you think eternal life has many doors. It has only one. When you come to the end and try to go in through these images you will find they are fake doors.
There is one door, one way. Jesus said I am the door. In both verses 11 and 14 Jesus said I am the good shepherd. It only needed to be said once, but I’m hard of hearing in my soul sometimes. I let the world and Satan speak too loudly to me at times. If we listen we’ll hear the still, small voice of God. Jesus is not a has-been shepherd. He said I AM the good shepherd. He was years ago and still is. Because of his goodness I could feel my sins. I needed Jesus. We need doctors, banks, our family and friends, but we need Jesus more than anything else. He is committed to us. He made the plan of salvation and laid it down. It is the incorruptible and undefeatable plan. The gospel of God is the power of salvation regardless of sin, regardless of the world, regardless of people, principalities and powers. I need a power greater than any other. The one with that power is Jesus Christ.
Jesus said he is the good shepherd of the sheep. Sheep is a remarkable word. It can mean any kind of sheep and can be applied to a group or individually to each one of us. With his own life he provided salvation to all who believe. Whether you’re a lost sheep, a black sheep, or a dumb sheep he knows you. As the shepherd, he knows more than the sheep. He carries a rod and staff. The rod will keep the devil away. The staff pulls us back in line. The crook of that staff fits our necks just right.
What kind of sheep are you? Lost and on your way to hell? Backslidden, fallen by the wayside? Down and out? He knows how to be the shepherd. Let him. The book with the plan is in our hands and written by his blood. He’s alive to make it continually work. He had the power to be conceived in the womb of a virgin named Mary and be born as one of us. He placed himself in the hands of sinners to do what they would. He was crucified. In order for us to have the opportunity to go into the sheepfold, the shepherd laid down his life. The greatest power in this world was the divine God coming as a baby. He was tempted as we are but never sinned. We have someone to trust in. He overcame the devil as a human being and can lead us through this world to the sheepfold of everlasting life.
Hasn’t he always been good to us? Jesus had the power to lay down his life and take it back up. The Father gave Jesus the power and authority for one reason. He loves us and the power of salvation shows us that love. We have a shepherd! No man could take his life. He laid it down on the cross to the death. He had the power to die as the Son of God. He, the good shepherd, gave his life for the sheep so we could have everlasting life.
You don’t have the power to save yourself. A gospel of power has been provided by Jesus. Placed in us is the power to believe and trust him so that we can become one of his own. He knows us, and we know the shepherd. Ephesians chapter 1 states what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. If you are not saved, you have just been told the gospel. You now have a responsibility to do something with it. Ephesians 3:20 says now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. You have the power to listen to God. Don’t listen to anything else. You have the power to believe and repent. You have the power to call upon the Lord. Paul said whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You have the power. Use it and call on the shepherd.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 