LISTEN #3 - SHEPHERDS

LISTEN - BIO

  • “How can I hear God’s voice?”
  • “Are such communications possible?”
  • “Are these personal moments random, or are they supposed to be common?”
  • “Do you have to be an elite Christian to hear God?”

Yes, God is speaking. It is possible to hear God. It is supposed to be common. You don’t have to be elite to hear. And, even a struggling Christian can be confident in what they are hearing. So, isn’t it time that you simply learn to LISTEN? In our new message series, LISTEN, we explore how to interpret God’s communication styles. Pastor Patrick from LifePointe Church will help you build a resume of life-changing experiences with God. We invite you to come and LISTEN.

John 8:47 AMP Whoever is of God listens to God. [Those who belong to God hear the words of God.] This is the reason that you do not listen [to those words, to Me]: because you do not belong to God and are not of God or in harmony with Him.

PSALM 37:23-25 NKJV The STEPS of a [good] man are ORDERED by the LORD, And he DELIGHTS IN HIS WAY. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds [him with] His hand. 25 I have been young, and [now] am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.

  • ORDER IS HIERARCHICAL
  • ORDER IS SEQUENTIAL

 

FLUX CAPACITOR

  1. SCRIPTURES
  2. SEEKING
  3. SHEPHERDS
  4. STAGES
  5. SCREENINGS

 

SHEPHERDS – TODAY

SHEPHERD = PASTOR (GREEK - Poimen)

 

JOHN 10:2-5 NKJV [Jesus said] "… But he who ENTERS by the door is the SHEPHERD [GREEK - PASTOR] of the sheep [believers]. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep HEAR his VOICE [MSG – RECOGNIZE his VOICE]; and he calls his own sheep by name and LEADS THEM out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they KNOW [MSG – FAMILIAR with] his VOICE. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger [MSG – STRANGER’S VOICE], but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers [MSG – they aren’t used to the SOUND of it]."

 

THERE IS A VOICE

BEHIND THE VOICE!

 

EPHESIANS 4:11-12 NKJV And Jesus Himself gave some [to be] APOSTLES, some PROPHETS, some EVANGELISTS, and some PASTORS [SHEPHERDS] and TEACHERS, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…

JOHN 10:7-21 NKJV Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the DOOR of the sheep. 8 "All who [ever] came before Me are THIEVES AND ROBBERS, but the sheep did not HEAR them. 9 "I am the DOOR. If anyone enters by Me, he will be SAVED, and will GO IN AND OUT and find PASTURE. 10 "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.

 

JOHN 10:1-10 – THE SHEPHERDS VOICE DOES THIS…

  • VS 3 – LEADINGS = “LEADS them…”
  • VS 4 – KNOWINGS = “Sheep KNOW his voice…”
  • VS 5 – MUTES DOWN THE STRANGERS VOICE = “No means FOLLOW a stranger, but will FLEE from him…”
  • VS 7 – ENTER DOORS IN GOD (DEPTHS) = “Enters the DOOR…”
  • VS 9 – FREEDOM TO MOVE ABOUT = “sheep GO IN and OUT…”
  • VS 9 – BE FED, NOURISHED AND SATISFIED – “finds PASTURE…”
  • VS 8, 10 – PROTECTION FROM THIEVES AND ROBBERS = “Because the sheep DID NOT HEAR them…” and “The thief came to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY…”
  • VS 10 – WHOLE LIFE PROSPERITY – Jesus said, “I am come that they may HAVE LIFE, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

 

THREE KINDS OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

  1. Prof
  2. Peer
  3. Pupil

 

Everyone should always have SOMEONE,

that is POURING into THEM,

and someone THEY are POURING into.

 

PSALM 133:1-3 NKJV Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for BRETHREN to dwell together in UNITY (ALIKE)! 2 [It is] like the precious OIL (ANOINTING) upon the head, RUNNING DOWN on the beard, the beard of Aaron, RUNNING DOWN on the edge of his garments. 3 [It is] like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; FOR THERE the LORD COMMANDED THE BLESSING--Life forevermore.

 

It will COST you

if you UNDERESTIMATE

God's appointed LEADERS in your life!

 

CALL TO ACTION

WHAT ONE THING

CAN YOU DO NOW

THAT WILL MAKE

THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE? 

Patrick NorrisComment