Are you a Sheep?

Are you a Sheep?  2021 09 26

John 10:1 – 18; 24 – 30

There’s a lot of talk about sheep these days.  We just came home from a missions trip in northern BC and discovered one of our neighbours had been busy while we were away.  The hydro pole in front of our house was covered with signs about the pandemic accusing people of being fools and sheep.  Sadly, there are even pastors accusing people of being sheep right now.  I have personally been accused of being a socialist and a sheep by a fellow pastor for not openly defying the public health orders put out by our governments. But what does the Bible say about Christians?  Is it a sin to be sheep?  Should we be wolves?

John 10:1 – 18; 24 – 30  

A sheep is an interesting animal.  It does not worry about what’s going on around it.  It is very comfortable to be part of the herd.  A sheep trusts those in charge, the shepherds, without question.  A sheep doesn’t start questioning its shepherd. Sheep follow their shepherd wherever he takes them. They trust him to protect them and to lead them to good pasture. People use the term derisively, today, in reference to anyone who trusts those in authority.  But Jesus called those who believe in Him “sheep.” So, are you a sheep? Or are you a bold, self-respecting, independent wolf who plots your own course through this life?

I. The Shepherd

  1. Jesus referred to Himself the shepherd.
    1. A shepherd doesn’t sneak up on the sheep, because they know him. He enters the sheepfold openly, being clearly seen by the sheep, and they aren’t spooked, at all.
      1. (A sheepfold is a safe shelter where the sheep are kept at night.)
      2. When the shepherd speaks, his voice is known and comforting to the sheep.
    2. Sheep follow a shepherd willingly.
      1. When the head shepherd goes out to the pasture in the morning, he calls the sheep, and they follow him willingly. He doesn’t have to chase them.
      2. He walks ahead of the sheep, leading them to pasture.

II. The Thief

  1. A thief or “sheep rustler” is a stranger to the sheep. He has to sneak into the sheepfold to try to steal them.
    1. The thief doesn’t come in the main door. He climbs over the wall, or through a window.
    2. He moves with stealth, so as not to startle the flock until he gets what he wants.
    3. But the sheep will not follow a stranger. His voice is not familiar to them, and they will run away from him.

III. The Door

  1. Jesus said that He is the door of the sheep.
    1. There is only one way into the sheepfold for the sheep. That is the door.
    2. There is only one way into heaven for all human beings. That is through Jesus Christ.  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6

IV. The Good Shepherd

  1. Jesus said that He is the good shepherd.
    1. He looks after His sheep. He protects them and gives His life for them.
      1. That’s what Jesus did for us. He died in our place.
      2. We are His sheep, if we are trusting in Him as our Saviour.
    2. He said that He knows His sheep, and they know Him.
    3. He said that His sheep hear Him and follow Him.
      1. Who are you following?

V. The Hireling

  1. The hireling, the one who works for the shepherd, doesn’t own the sheep and doesn’t care for them like the shepherd does.
    1. A pastor is supposed to be an undershepherd, utterly committed to the care of the flock he has been called to by God.
      1. Being a pastor is a calling, not a profession.
    2. Unfortunately, many pastors are hirelings, making a career out of being a preacher, but not committed as someone called by God.
      1. Anyone in this position needs to quit.
    3. A hireling tends to run when there is trouble. When he sees the possibility of harm coming to him, he abandons the flock and looks out for himself.

VI. Grievous Wolves

  1. Jesus taught that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”  Acts 20:29
    1. These grievous wolves have always been attacking the church. They look for any way they can find to subvert the church or to drag people away from a sound church.  “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”  Romans 16:18
    2. These thieves, these grievous wolves have taken full advantage of this worldwide pandemic to drag away unsuspecting sheep out of their church.

VII. Sheep

  1. It is a certainty (and I don’t want to offend anyone) that all humans beings are sheep.
    1. It is vanity to say you don’t follow anyone. Yes, you do.  Jesus made that clear.
    2. Jesus used different words in another exchange, but it meant much the same thing. He said that you are either following Him, the Good Shepherd, or the devil (John 8:38 – 47).
  2. You might find it very offensive to be called a sheep these days, but you should be more concerned with whose sheep you are!
    1. Many pastors and churches have gotten so wrapped up in being free, rather than sheep, that they are putting their witness at risk and in fact, are leading people astray to their hurt.
    2. There are wolves infiltrating the church all over social media, today, who are pretending to belong to Christ. They are false prophets. Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”  Matthew 7:15
  3. Some of these wolves have done such a great job of pretending to be shepherds that they have developed large flocks of their own. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people are flocking to their Internet channels and podcasts to hear them drip their latest warnings about the deep and evil conspiracies going on around us.  “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”  Titus 1:11
    1. This is not to say there are no conspiracies going on! The world is filled with evil and violence, just as it was in the days of Noah.  People with power are always looking for ways to take advantage and increase their power.
    2. But God is in control of everything!

VIII. Get Over It

  1. Perhaps I should have said, “Get over yourself,” but I don’t want to offend anyone. But accept the fact that you are a sheep.  You’re following someone whom you trust.  The sooner you recognize that fact, the sooner you might start taking a closer look at who you’re following to see if it’s still Jesus and make sure you haven’t been distracted by what’s going on!
    1. There are those who are taking great advantage of the present pandemic. But if you’re focused on fighting that, you’ve lost your focus.  You’re in great danger of trusting in the wrong shepherd to lead you.  The Bible says, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:  whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:3 (Read that in context!)
  2. Get over wearing the label of “sheep” and accept that your best is not to fight the label, but to make sure you have the right shepherd!
    1. Jesus made it clear that He would lay down His life for His sheep – and He did. He paid for your sins and mind with His own blood, then He rose from the dead on the third day after He died, just like He said He would.  You can trust Him!

IX. Beware!

  1. This is an unprecedented time for anyone alive today. We are living in the “Information Age,” the “Social Media Age.”  We have a vast amount of information coming at us, even as we move about our day with all our “smart” gadgets bringing us the latest about everything.  It’s difficult to sort, and impossible if we let too much in.
    1. Beware, lest you spend so much time taking in manmade information that you have no time to verify it. There are many who ARE taking advantage of that fact.  The Bible says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel;  for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”  2 Corinthians 11:13, 14
    2. Spend time, every day, in prayer and Bible reading. Go to church.  Trust God.  Be a good sheep and follow Jesus Christ, God our Saviour, the Good Shepherd and greatest of all.