PERFECT SHEEP

Sunday Morning:  September 22, 2002

Text:  Hebrews 13:20-21  "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21. Make you perfect [mend, restore, prepare] in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

PEACE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

2 Peter 1:2  "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,"

LET PEACE RULE

Colossians 3:15  "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

PEACE GUARDS

Philippians 4:6-7  "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

SERVE THE GOD OF PEACE

Philippians 4:9  "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

BRETHREN

2 Corinthians 13:11  "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect [present passive imperative, to mend, to restore], be of good comfort [present passive imperative, to exhort], be of one mind [present passive imperative], live in peace [present passive imperative]; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

PREACHING PEACE

Acts 10:36  "The word which God [the word of the kingdom] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)"

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Luke 8:10-11  "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

BRETHREN HEAR AND DO IT

Luke 8:21  "And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

KINGDOM OF GOD IS PEACE

Romans 14:17  "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

GOSPEL OF PEACE

Romans 10:15  "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

SPIRITUAL ARMOR

Ephesians 6:15  "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"

RESURRECTION

Hebrews 13:20  "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, . . ."

GAVE HIM GLORY

1 Peter 1:21  "Who (the ones who are faithful) by him (Jesus Christ) do believe [faithful ones] in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."

RAISED UP JESUS AGAIN

Acts 13:32-33  "And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), 33. God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 5:5-6  "So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever [age] after the order of Melchisedec."

GOOD THINGS TO COME

Hebrews 9:11  "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;"

HIS REST, THE KINGDOM

Hebrews 4:1  "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."

PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

Hebrews 6:13  "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,"

ABRAHAM ENDURED

Hebrews 6:15  "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

GREAT SHEPHERD

Hebrews 13:20  "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, . . ."

MY SHEEP

John 10:27  "My sheep hear [present active] my voice, and I know them, and they follow [present active] me:"

SHEEP

John 10:11  "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth [present active indicative] his life [soul] for the sheep."

HE KNOWETH THE SHEEP

John 10:14  "I am the good shepherd, and know [present active] my sheep, and am known [present passive] of mine."

SHEEP RECEIVE THE KINGDOM

Luke 12:32  "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

ELECT ISRAEL

John 17:9  "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."

ELECT GENTILE

John 17:20  "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe [ones believing, present active participle] on me through their word;"

GENTILE SHEEP

John 10:16  "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."

THE SHEEP BELIEVETH

John 10:26-28  "But ye believe [present active] not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27. My sheep hear [present active] my voice, and I know [present active] them, and they follow [present active] me: 28. And I give [present active] unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."