SHEPHERD

Sunday Morning - December 1, 1996

Text: Read John 10:1-14
Genesis 4:2 " Abel was a keeper of sheep...."
John 10:1-4

1. "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.

Sheepfold was a stone wall, perhaps ten feet high, surrounded it, and an opening served as the door.

The shepherds in the village would drive their sheep into the fold at nightfall and leave the porter to stand guard.

2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

PORTER

The porter (or one of the shepherds) would sleep at the opening of the fold and actually become "the door."

1 Chronicles 9:17-20 "And the porters were, ... in the companies of the children of Levi. ...over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and ... were keepers of the entry. 20. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, ..."

2 Chronicles 23:19 "And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in."

4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

More than one flock in the sheep fold at one time.

HE KNOWETH THEIR NAMES

John 1:47-48 "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

Matthew 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."

OTHER SHEEP - ANOTHER FLOCK

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."

Ephesians 2:13-14 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"

JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd"

Genesis 4:4 "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:"

THE 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, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

THE CHIEF SHEPHERD

1 Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

SHEEP WITH NO SHEPHERD

Matthew 9:36 "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

SHEPHERDS TEACH

Mark 6:34 "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

PASTORS - SHEPHERDS

Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors [SHEPHERDS] and teachers;"

PETER - SHEPHERD MY SHEEP

John 21:16 "He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed [SHEPHERD] my sheep."

ELDERS - FEED THE FLOCK

"Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:29 "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."

Jeremiah 23:4 "And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD."

PSALMS 23

1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

SHEPHERD: Companion, Friend, Pastor, Ruler, Keeper, Feeder.

WANT: Become empty, Have lack, Deprived

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

LIE DOWN: Make to rest

GREEN: Tender grass or herb, a sprout

PASTURES: Pleasant place, house.

HE LEADETH ME: Carry, Feed, Guide.

STILL: Quiet, resting place

3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

RESTORETH: Brings back, Refreshes, Returns

HE LEADETH ME: Carry, Feed, Guide.

4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

SHADOW OF DEATH: Deep Darkness

ROD: a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking.

COMFORT: Change, Repent

5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

PREPAREST: Arrange, Set in order.

PRESENCE: In front of, Straight ahead.

ENEMIES: adversary, affliction, distress, oppression, be in a strait (trouble), vex.

ANOINTEST: take away the ashes

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

SURELY: Indeed, Certainty

GOODNESS: Beauty, Good things

MERCY: Lovingkindness

SHALL FOLLOW ME: Pursue, Chase, Persecute.

DWELL: Settle down, Live, Inhabit, Remain.

Psalms 139:14-18 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee."

Psalms 40:5 "Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

Hebrews 13:5 "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."