MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE

'I tell you the Truth,

The man who does not enter the sheep pen by the Gate,

But climbs in some other way, is a Thief and a Robber.

The man who enters by the Gate is the Shepherd of His Sheep.

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.

BUT THEY WILL NEVER FOLLOW A STRANGER;

In fact, they will run away from him

BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZED A STRANGERS VOICE.'

Jesus used this figure of speech,

But they did not understand what He was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again,

'I tell you the Truth,

I AM THE GATE FOR THE SHEEP.

ALL who came before Me were Thieves and Robbers,

But the Sheep did not listen to them.

I AM THE GATE;

WHOEVER ENTERS THROUGH ME WILL BE SAVED.

He will come in and go out, and find Pasture.

THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY;

I have come that they might have Life,

And have it to the Full.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep.

The hired hand is not the shepherd who OWNS the Sheep.

So when he sees the Wolf coming,

HE ABANDONS THE SHEEP AND RUNS AWAY.

Then the Wolf attacks the Flock and Scatters it.

The man runs away because he is a hired hand

And cares Nothing for the Sheep.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD;

I know My Sheep and My Sheep know me--

Just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father--

AND I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.

I have Other Sheep that are not of this Sheep Pen.

I must bring them also.

They too will listen to My Voice,

AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FLOCK AND ONE SHEPHERD.

The Reason the Father love Me

IS THAT I LAY MY LIFE DOWN—ONLY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN.

No one take it from Me,

But I lay it down of My own accord.

I HAVE AUTHORITY TO LAY IT DOWN

AND AUTHORITY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN.

This Command I received from My Father.

At these words the Jews were Divided.

Many of them said, 'He is demon-possessed and raving mad.

Why listen to Him?'

But others said,

'These are not the saying of a man possessed by a demon.

Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?'

(John 10:1-21)

Today, Many Christians will not put up with Sound Doctrine;

They are not listening to the Voice of the Good Shepherd,

And have gathered around them

A Great Number of Teachers

To say what their Itching Ears want to hear.

They have Turned Away from the Truth

And turned to Myths.

(2 Timothy 4:3, 4)

They have Conformed themselves to the Culture around them,

The World, Ruled by the “god” of this Age,

Who has Blinded their minds

So that they cannot see the Light of the Gospel

Of the Glory of Christ, Who is the Image of God.

(2 Corinthians 4:4)

Just as the Good Shepherd laid down his life for the Sheep,

The Sheep must be willing to lay down their lives for the Good Shepherd.

Those who Overcome this Wicked World and Satan who Rules it,

Do so by the blood of the Lamb

And the Word of their Testimony,

Not loving this life so much as to Shrink from Death.

(Revelation 12:11)