Sermon Central
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Listen Up Sheep!
Contributed by Gary Holt on Jan 14, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: God is trying to get our attention. He has things to say, do we want to hear them? Are we listening?
We listen to:
- lying politicians
- to artists and actors who are fools
- the liars on Fox and CNN
- every fool has an audience
Where is the audience for God?
- the people of the planet don’t hear Him
- do God’s people want to hear from Him?
From my eyes I see the world in the days of Judges:
- a circle of rebellion, affliction, and suffering
- followed by people calling to God for deliverance
- and the circle is completed when God brings salvation
- and a brief time of obedience
It is plain as day to me:
- that we need God’s voice more than ever
- because we are amid rebellion and Godlessness
- on the verge of God’s wrath and judgment.
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (ESV)
That certainly describes society,
hopefully it does not reflect God’s people…
The Bible calls God’s people sheep:
- Psalm 23 starts by saying “The Lord is my shepherd”
- meaning we are the sheep
- Isaiah 53 refers to God’s people as wandering sheep
- who are lost and in danger…. read Psalm 53.
So, it is not unusual that Jesus:
o continues the sheep and Shepherd narrative
o with God’s people being sheep and
o Jesus being the Good Shepherd
The theme for the year is “Stepping out in faith”:
- but how do we step out on faith
- without direction from God and
How can we have direction from God if we don’t hear his voice???
That led me to John Chapter 10:27…
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27 (ESV)
There is so much in John 10:
- it is about the identity of Jesus
- that Jesus is the only way to heaven
- there is reference to His sacrifice on the cross
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (ESV)
The part I want to focus on is the sheep/shepherd relationship:
? Sheep are known to be sort of stupid, but
? at least they know the voice of the Shepherd.
Are we as smart as sheep?
? Sheep know the shepherd’s voice will
? provide protection, comfort, and provision.
? A lost sheep would be thrilled to hear the voice of the shepherd.
The voice of the Shepherd meant a return to safety.
Do we want to hear from God?
? Maybe, unless He disapproves of how we live.
? We might not want to hear from God when
? He paints a picture of our future that is not what we planned.
Do we want to hear from God:
? when we are in the pit of pain?
? What about when God takes a loved one from us,
? do we then want to hear His voice?
I fear that when we God the most that we listen to Him the least.
We need a newfound desire for hearing the voice of God:
o Injured, hungry, weak, scared sheep
o don’t fear or flee the voice of the Shepherd
It is time God’s sheep listen and heed His voice.
Think back to the video at the beginning of the service:
- to the man that was about to die
- unless some one came and rescued Him
- He listened to the voice and He lived…
He had to listen to the voice:
- and follow the specific instructions
- or death was a certainty…
The man in the plane could have:
- told the voice, shut up
- I’m going to figure this out
