I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 10:11-18; Luke 15:3-7

I. Jesus Christ- Our Good Shepherd
a. He is the good shepherd who loves us and takes care of us!
b. The Shepherd’s Staff of Jesus is the HOLY SPIRIT
i. John 16:5-16
ii. It convicts us, teaches us, leads us, and reaches us.
II. The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life For His Sheep
a. Jesus is different from false teachers and prophets because he did not just talk the talk and walk the walk, he died our death.
b. He protects the flock because he loves his sheep.
i. 1 John 4:14- And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
ii. Luke 9:56 (KJV)- For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
iii. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14)
iv. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness, judgment
III. The Good Shepherd Knows the Sheep of His Flock
a. He has made himself known to the flock.
b. He speaks to the flock and his flock listens!
i. John 14- 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
ii. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)
c. He knows and tends to the needs of the flock.
i. Psalm 23:1- The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
ii. Romans 5:6- You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
iii. Psalm- You fill my cup until it overflows- ABUNDANT LIFE
IV. The Good Shepherd Leads the Flock
a. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (Message)- In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.
b. You may be obeying the laws of God and not following the lead of God.
c. John 16- 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
i. The Shepherd is leading us from Glory to Glory
d. The Shepherd has cleared the path before us
i. Psalm 23:3- He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
ii. He has prepared a table in front of my enemies- Jesus is taking care of us in the midst of our enemies
1. Psalm 23 (CEV)- You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as a guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
2. Where he is leading us? Amongst our enemies.
3. Ephesians 2:6- And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
V. The Good Shepherd Brings Others Into the Flock
a. Isaiah 56:8- The Sovereign LORD declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."
VI. The Good Shepherd Goes After the Lost Sheep
a. Luke 15:3-7
b. You can’t sin your way out of the love of Christ.
c. Where you are is where He is.