Divine Encounters: When God Speaks (Part II)
April/20/2010 01:22 PM
John 10:3-4 "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known by mine."
In Palestine, several flocks would graze together during the day, but as night approached, each shepherd called his own sheep and led them into their own sheepfold at night. Jesus is our great Shepherd who has brought us out and brought us into His sheepfold. Just like this verse says, once He has brought us close to Him, He goes ahead of us and we follow Him because we know His voice. Just like natural sheep and shepherds, we spend so much time with the great shepherd that we know His voice in the midst of many voices. When we hear His voice we follow Him and only Him; a stranger's voice, we won't follow. Not only do we know Him, but it says He knows us! He knows us individually by name!
There is provision and protection in the sheepfold. There is safety and security in recognizing His voice. We need to be always listening so that we won't go astray or do without anything we need. If we walk a little too far to the right or to the left of the right path, He will gently call or nudge us to keep us on course.
Sheep need protection from the elements. They also need to be moved from place to place to ensure there is good grazing land and a good water supply. If one sheep stumbles and gets an injured foot, the shepherd is right there to help. The shepherd is also keenly aware of the enemy. He knows that there are coyotes and wild dogs that would like to devour the sheep. The shepherd also guards his sheep from thieves that would come to steal or frighten the sheep in order to scatter them.
A person who is injured or weak is easy prey for the enemy. The devil is like a roaring lion, walking about seeking whom he may devour. Also, the young babies have to be kept tight within the fold for protection. Our shepherd knows that if we get isolated or driven off course by falling into sin or be preyed upon by the sinfulness of others, that we can be devoured. Sometimes it is not a matter of sin, but a matter of making right choices. We need the voice of the great Shepherd to lead us to the green pastures!
Psalm 23:1-2 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the quiet waters, He restores my soul.”
The scattered and lost sheep are never forgotten because the Shepherd goes out after them to rescue and restore them. There are no throw away sheep! He loves them all unconditionally and desires all the sheep to come back into the fold. Even when one sheep has strayed too far to hear the Shepherd's voice, He leaves the ninety-nine in order to bring the one lost one home. How great is God's love for you and me!
We can trust the voice of our Shepherd:
John 10:27-30 "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
John 12:49-50 "For I did not speak of My own accord, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it. I know that His commands lead to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say."
We must stay close and listen for the Shepherd's voice. Everything he says is straight from the Father to us. He has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light and leads us forward. The word says He goes on ahead of us in order to lead us. We never have to "miss it" if we will learn the Shepherd's voice and follow it. The Holy Spirit is speaking and He dwells in you. Listen and be led to green pastures and quiet waters!
Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with Him and he with Me."
kimconnor@whwc.org
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