Sermon Tone Analysis

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! The Voice of God (1)
!
Security
 
!!!! John 10 vv 27-30
 
27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30  I and the Father are one."
We return this morning to John’s Gospel and to Chapter 10, in which the evangelist tells us of the sayings of Jesus about Himself as shepherd – on two occasions – and how the hearers of His voice then failed to listen to what He was saying.
John weaves together the words of our Lord and the reaction of the people so that we see in bold relief what it means to really LISTEN to God’s voice.
We also see something that we shared with the children a few moments ago – that the familiar voice brings security.
(Tonight we shall look at the other side of the coin and consider the Voice of God and our responsibility.)
On two occasions at least Jesus taught the people about His ministry as Shepherd.
At the beginning of the chapter He seems to be speaking to them at about the same time as the healing of the man born blind – in verses 22 onwards he is speaking on the occasion of the Feast of Hanukkah – the festival of lights.
On the first occasion His words are not understood:
 
*10* /“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
3 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.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.”
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them./
In the second occasion they not only fail to understand – but they turn on Him and accuse Him of blasphemy.
I want to look at what Jesus says about HIS VOICE in both instances and draw out from it some teaching to *remind us of the significance of hearing the voice of the Lord.*
As with the crowds of His day – so with the sheep He describes –
 
! Hearing His Voice is a Matter Of Relationship
 
Jesus makes this very clear in what He says about His sheep:
 
In the opening verses Jesus points out that the sheep RECOGNISE the Shepherd, they do not recognise a stranger.
/He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.”/
/ /
That part I can voice for by experience.
The sheep might hear my voice – but they don’t follow.
Notice how Jesus emphasises the BELONGING of His people:
 
By name
Leads them out
Brings out His own
Goes on ahead of them
They know His voice
 
This thought is extended by Jesus to the non-Jewish members of His flock:
 
/16 //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./
There are two essential components to that relationship:
·        My Father has given them to me   v 29
·        They believe in Me v25
Throughout John’s Gospel we see that being worked out – those who are His and those who reject Him.
The Christian faith is a matter of RELATIONSHIP by order of the Father in Jesus His Son.
Those who trust Him hear His voice regularly.
They recognise Him.
Vv25 & 26
 
/“I did tell you, but you do not believe.
The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me./

What a precious relationship it is!
 
·        The Father has given to Jesus the ones who are His.
·        They hear His voice and recognise it
 
·        They are called by name
 
·        They follow Him
 
·        They do not listen to other voices.
·        There will be one flock and One Shepherd.
Secondly,
!
This Relationship Exists Because Of What Jesus Has Done
 
/He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
V 3/
 
/9 //I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.a
He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
V9/
/ /
/11 //“I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
V11    I lay down my life for the sheep    /v15b
/28 //I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;       v28/
 
Jesus makes it very clear that His sheep are His because of the Father’s will – but they are His because:
 
·        He calls them by name
·        He is the gate – the Way
·        He gives His life for the sheep
 
·        There is no avoiding of His voice
·        No avoiding of His exclusive claim
·        No avoiding of the Cross
 
 
If you would hear the Voice of God you must know Jesus – Jesus who died for you.
You must come to Him at His call and trust in Him – and listen for His words.
Thirdly
!
Hearing His Voice is a matter of profound Security
 
/27 //My sheep// listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”/
We live in the most uncertain of times – despite the material benefits of our age we are fearful of what waits around the next corner.
Like the flock of which Jesus speaks – there are those who have no regard for the sheep:
 
/the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is *a thief and a robber*./
/ /
/5 //But they will never follow *a stranger*; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.”/
/ /
/10 //The thief comes *only to steal and kill and destroy*;/
 
Against such enemies we need a defence – in the face of such threats we need the Saviour’s blood bought security – who protects because He lays down His life.
See what manner of security Jesus promises us in these verses:
| /27 //My sheep// listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”/
|
 
\\ There are FIVE POINTS TO IT:
 
·        My sheep
·        My voice
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