"The Good Shepherd" John 10:1-18, 25-30 INTRO. Have you ever watched a flock of sheep? Where one goes they all seem to follow. They seem to have no since of direction unless someone guides them. In Matthew 9:36, "But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep with no shepherd." If you' re here and lost today, that is how you must feel! Faint, alone, weary, frightened with no one to guide you. But there is Hope for you---The Good Shepherd! In Jesus' parable of the lost sheep, a man had 100 sheep but one became lost. So He left the ninety-nine and went out in the wilderness to find the one that was lost. He didn't give up his search until he found it! That's how much the Lord desires you to be found of Him. When the man found the sheep, he laid it on His shoulders rejoicing and brought it home to tell his friends that, "I have found my sheep which was lost." Lost friend, Christ is seeking you this morning; Will you heed His voice as He calls you? Each child of God, here today, once was in the same condition. Lost, out in the wilderness of sin and death, but the Good Shepherd sought and found us. I'm SO glad He found me!! Thank God I can say as David, "The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalms 23). ‘ I Pray each one here today can say, “The LORD is my Shepherd!” I want to title the message today, “The Good Shepherd.” If you're here and lost, I want to introduce you to the "Good Shepherd." Christian, if you're weary in the work of the LORD, I want you to look once again, afresh and anew, to the "Good Shepherd" and consider all He does for His Sheep! We need His guidance, We need His grace, and We need His glorious presence in our lives! We can have all these things if we belong to Him! So, consider with me, if you will, the Good Shepherd this morning. He will always lead us into the right path. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He cares for His sheep! CONSIDER: (1) The Good Shepherd Calleth His Sheep By Name Text: John 10:3b, 14, 27 A. HE KNOWS MY NAME AND HE KNOWS ME. It was customary, and is still, we are told by travelers, for shepherds to give particular names to their sheep, by which they soon learned to regard the voice of the shepherd (Albert Barnes’ Notes on The Bible). These are Christ's own, by the Father's gift of them to him, by the purchase of his own blood, and by the power of his grace upon them; who looks them up, and finds them out, and brings them home, and takes care of them as his own, and feeds them as a shepherd his flock: these he may be said to "call by name", in allusion to the eastern shepherds, who gave names to their sheep, as the Europeans do to their horses, and other creatures, and who could sit and call them by their names: this is expressive not only of Christ's call of his people by powerful and special grace, but of the exact and distinct knowledge he has of them, and the notice he takes of them, as well as of the affection he has for them. (John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible B. HE KNOWS MY NEED (Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 4:19). He knows exactly what I need and when I need it. He is my supplier, my sustainer, and my satisfier. His plans for me are all for my good and His glory! (2) The Good Shepherd Leadeth Them Out Text: John 1O:3b—“He..leadeth them out.” A. HE LEADS US IN HIS WAY. We must be led, we can't find our way on our own! Jesus said in John 14:6--"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me." B. HE LEADS US IN HIS WILL (Psalms 37:23-24; 86:11). (3) The Good Shepherd Goeth Before Them Text: John 10:4-5—“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 they will not follow, but they will flee form him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” A. HE GUIDES ME. He goes before me and I follow Him. I must follow Him in all areas of my life. Jesus said in John 12:26—“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be...” B. HE GUARDS ME. The Lord protects my steps and provides my strength. "Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon be consumed by that which is about us."- Unknown (1 Peter 2:21-25). (4) The Good Shepherd Giveth His Life For The Sheep Text: John 10:9-11 A. THE GOOD SHEPHERD DIED FOR US (v11; Isaiah 53:3-6; Hebrews 2:9). B. THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS THE DOOR FOR US (vv. 9-10). Jesus said, “I am the door..” The word “door" literally means “gate, opening.” He is the ONLY way of Salvation (Acts 4:12)! Jesus said in v10a—“The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” Satan is the thief! He is the robber of men’s souls. Warren Wiersbe writes, “Satan, through his false teachers (thieves and robbers) wants to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep; but Christ gives abundant life and cares for the sheep” (Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines On The New Testament. Warren W. Wiersbe. p. 238). (5) The Good Shepherd Layeth Down His Life For The Sheep Text: John 10:15-18 A. HE LAYED DOWN HIS LIFE BY HIS OWN POWER (vv. 17-18; Matthew 20:28). B. HE LAYED DOWN HIS LIFE BY OF HIS PRECIOUS LOVE. We read in John 15:13—“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." His great love is seen in the fact that He laid down HIS life for HIS enemies (Romans 5:8). (6) The Good Shepherd Giveth Eternal Life Text: John 1O:28a—“And I give unto them eternal life…” A. SALVATION IS PERMANENT (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). B. SALVATION IS PRECIOUS (1 Peter 2:5-10). (7) The Good Shepherd Keepeth His Sheep Text: John 10:28b-30

A. WE ARE KEPT BY HIS POWER (v29; 1 Peter 1:3-5). B. WE ARE SECURE BECAUSE OF HIS PROMISE (v28; Romans 8:35-39). 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." John 6:37-40 CLOSING: Aren't you glad we have a Good Shepherd today? We no longer must wander aimlessly through this life, but can be lead by His nail-scarred hand! Lost friend, Will you come to the Shepherd today? He wants to be your Shepherd and lead you out of sin into life everlasting. Christian, are you following closely your Shepherd today, or do you need to draw closer to Him? If so, you come also and get right with Him today!