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John 10:10 "The thief comes only in order to steal, and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
Jesus' call is a fulfillment of Wisdom's crying out in the streets to see if anyone hears and responds (Prov 1:20-21). The focus here, however, is not on a general call, for he calls his own sheep by name (v. 3). Each particular sheep is known by this shepherd. They are not simply units in a flock.
Jesus says the one who enters through him (through me is emphatic in the Greek) will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture (v. 9). This is said to be true of each individual, as just illustrated by the former blind man--the shepherd knows each sheep by name (v. 3). Jesus protects our salvation by sending the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth; He leads us to true knowledge of God, who is himself the sole source of life.
Jesus refers to bringing out all his own (v. 4). The word for brought out (ekballo) is the same word used to describe the leaders' throwing the man out of the synagogue (9:34-35). The picture of the shepherd who leads them out (v. 3) to find pasture and water thus interprets what has just occurred to the man born blind. Jesus goes on ahead of his sheep, calling them personally, and they follow him because they know his voice (v. 4). They don't follow strangers; indeed, they flee from them, because they do not recognize a stranger's voice (v. 5). The word for know and recognize are the same word in Greek (oida), so the sheep will be known by whom they know. Here is a beautiful picture of both divine sovereignty in the shepherd's call and the human response in the hearing, knowing and following by the sheep. We also find the theme of discernment, since there are more voices calling to them than just their own shepherd's. Following Jesus means refusing to follow others who are claiming to be shepherds. Put in this perspective, the expulsion from the synagogue is no great hardship--indeed, Jesus' sheep will actually run away from strangers.
Galatians 5 22-25 "The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law []that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit,we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]"
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [ telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions ( divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [ divinely suggested] dreams." Acts 2:17
John 7:37-39 " In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
Revelation 22:17b "And let him that is athirst come")
As Christ was the great sacrifice for sin and through His death the Church (or the fish) was brought into life, we now see that fish sustained in life by the risen Christ. The Resurrected Christ promised the Holy Spirit to His people once He ascended to the right hand of the Father. Now, He is there and He is the Water-Bearer, who is pouring out the water of His Holy Spirit upon the living fish (the people of God). This is a great picture of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church of Jesus Christ.
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This is a very important part of the message of Christ. It is repeated in so many ways throughout the Scripture, showing that God will pour out His Spirit like water upon a thirsty land, and that all of those who are athirst can come and drink. The Scripture ends with this fact; "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).
Those of us who receive Jesus Christ receive His spirit into us. But as the fish lives in the medium of water, so the Christian must live in the medium of God's Spirit.
Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
The hand of Gehazi, and even the staff of Elisha, could not heal the lifeless boy. It required the living touch of the prophet's own divinely quickened flesh to infuse vitality into the cold clay. Lip to lip, hand-to-hand, heart, he must touch the child before life could thrill his pulseless veins.
We must come into personal contact with the risen Savior and have His very life quicken out mortal flesh before we can know the fullness and reality of His healing. This is the most frequent cause of failure. People are often trusting in something that has been done to them, or in something that they have believed intellectually. Their spirit, however, has not felt its way to the heart of Christ; they have not drawn His love and faith, and so they are not quickened. The greatest need of our souls and bodies is to know Jesus personally, to touch Him constantly, to abide in HIm continually.
May we this day lay aside all things that could hinder our near approach to Him and walk hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart, with Jesus.
The Attitude of Trust
Matthew 7:7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you"
We must receive, as well as ask. We must take the place of believing and recognize ourselves as in it. When we believe for a blessing, we must take the attitude of faith and begin to act and pray as if we already had it. We must treat God as if He had given us our request. We must lean our weight upon Him for everything that we have claimed and just take it for granted that He gives it and is going to continue to give it. This is the attitude of trust.
When we take Christ as our Savior, our Sanctifier, our Healer and our coming Lord. He expects us to fall into the attitude of recognizing Him in the very capacity that we have claimed. Therefore, expect Him to be to you all that you have trusted HIm for.
You may bring Him every care and burden. You may tell Him every need in prayer. You may trust Him for the darkest moment. He is caring, wherefore need you worry? Faith can never reach its consummation.
The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
John10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
GOD IS YOUR SOURCE
2 Cor. 8:9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
2 Cor. 9:8 -10 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!
And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. |
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