There are several metaphors for Jesus in the Bible. One that stands out the most to us is the good shepherd.  This isn’t just about a literal shepherding of sheep. This is about caring for people. Jesus is the shepherd to the church

View Full Service

Sheep aren’t very smart. They can’t be trained to do tricks, but they know their shepherd’s voice. And, they follow their shepherd out into the pasture. The church is sheep, and it is so important for the church to know God’s voice.

Jesus is the door

John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 10:4-5 says,
“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

How amazing would it be for the church to have the ears of discernment and know the enemies voice is not our shepherd and not follow him.

John 10:8
 ^“All who ever came ^[a]before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The Holy Spirit is the window in the sheepfold

1 Corinthians 2:9-11
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” ¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Any other way is a thief and a robber

Jesus is the only way into heaven and salvation. If anyone says there’s another way, it’s a lie. The thief, the enemy, will tell you lies to get you to give up on church and give up on God.  He wants to scatter the sheep (God’s people). The enemy wants you to get in your own head and in your feelings and think no one cares about you. When Jesus is telling us you to cast your cares on him because he cares (1 Peter 5:7).

John 10: 1
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

John 10:10- 15
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

The enemy may be coming at you trying to get you to turn away from God, just remember that Jesus is a very present help in the time of need and He’s coming back.