My Sheep

Pastor Jason preached an awesome sermon today and I wanted to share my notes...I take no credit for this...it is just notes that I wrote from the sermon...I thought it might bless someone. 

My Sheep - John 10: 22-27 

John 10:22-27

New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

 ²² It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. ²³ He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴ The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”  ²⁵ Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. ²⁶ But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

My Sheep - Greek-base root word - one who goes forward - progessing - those who believe Jesus, hear His Word.  Jesus expects us to move forward...and we move forward by hearing His voice.

1.  Listen to my (Jesus) voice - attend to-understand-to look after.  Listening is more than just hearing, there are action steps with listening.  Listening requires a response.  When you are hearing only...this can cause you to bend the Word...When we listen we apply what we heard and move forward.

2.  I (Jesus) know them - to have knowledge  of, to have intimate knowledge of - mere association is not enough.  We need to spend quality time with Jesus, talking with Him, fellowshipping with Him, asking Him to speak to us...crying out for Him to come in and search us and change us...to be more like Him...for Him to reveal the things inside us that need to be changed...for Him to show us His direction for our lives...

3.  They follow me - Continously following Him.  Tiem to start asking Jesus where He is going, because our will should be to follow Jesus.  What are you doing Father, where are you directing, where are you going?  Take steps to follow Him. 

We can fake man out but we cannot fake God out...He knows our hearts.  Are you saying, "Yes Lord", or are you saying yes, Lord but???  Quit trying to identify yourself with what you do...and realize that everything is done for God's glory not your own.  God wants us to see thing and speaks things to us so that we can be more like Him...He wants us to see what we fear so we can conquer it! 

I know I did not do this sermon justice with my notes...but I pray it ministers to someone...Taste and see the Lord is GOOD!!!!!  If you are Jesus sheep, then Listen to His VOICE...realize Jesus knows you intimately ( and if not, He wants to), and realize that you need to follow HIM! 

Book Review: "The Captive Heart" by: Dale Cramer

This book was great.  I love Amish books but I believe this may be one of my very favorite series.  In The Captive Heart, which is book 2 of the series, the Bender family have other Amish families move to Mexico to start new lives.  However, hardship hits with a breakout of Diphtheria and Bandits...which really put to test the faith of the Amish families.  This Amish story just seemed to be more what real life is about.  It is more than just being different or being made fun of because of how you dress or how you look.  It was about living your convictions and realizing that sometimes those convictions are not always easy to live.  I started this book around 8p.m. and finished it at 2:00a.m.  I just could not put it down.  The only thing that bothers me is that I have to wait for book # 3 to see what happens next.  I don't think anyone would be disappointed by this book.

I reviewed this book for Bethany House Publishers. 

Book Review of: The Essential Guide to Healing Equipping All Christians to Pray for the Sick

This book was written by Bill Johnson and Randy Clark.  I must say it was an excellent book.  The book starts off with both of their journeys and how they came to a place to believe God's Word and to believe in walking in the gifts given by the Holy Spirit.  God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever,   His promises never lie and they don't change.  A quote from the book, "Becoming "self focused works against the anointing He puts upon us to touch others with His grace."  Healing and miracles take place because of the grace of God.  Spiritual warfare is real...and this book shows how the devil uses it to keep us from believing and doing what God's Word tells us to do. 

Also, it reminds of us of how much the word of our testimony brings faith to others.  We need to begin to testify of God's goodness and what He has done for us.  These testimonys bring FAITH!  FAITH in the GRACE of GOD!!!!! 

The primary purposes of the gifts of the Holy Spirit - "their primary purpose is to make the mercy, love, and power of God tangible to us today.  There are places in the book that shows the shift of where we stopped believing at times and instead started just believing everything in life happened due to the predetermined will of God.  This is a lie the devil wants us to believe.  "Now, instead of believing that sickness was brought on by the devil (who ought to be resisted), people believed that God brought on sickness for a person's spiritual sanctification."  What a lie...the thief (the devil) comes to steal, kill, and destroy...not God. 

This book went into how other gifts of the Holy Spirit flow with the gift of healing and miracles.  The illustrations were built faith within me.  It is one of the few books that also brings out how the "pre-trib" concept came about...This view was never even heard of until the 1830's after a 15 year old had a dream....I applaud them for putting this truth into the book.

Realizing that many sicknesses are present because of sin or unforgiveness in our lives is so important to all of us.  Unforgiveness brings bitterness, which can cause the body to become sick in and of itself.  We have to forgive and we have to release others of wrongs they have done to us.  We also have to look to see if there are generations curses that might need to be broken...things that happened that brought trauma to our lives...things that might be a spirit that needs to be cast out.

We have to look at what the Word says and not just what man says...Keep God's word formost in front of you and believe that it is His will to Heal and Restore...I really enjoyed this book and believe others will enjoy it as well.  The scripture references are great...which we all need to look at and not just take anyones word for.  Believe God's WORD...WALK IN IT.  Lets God use you to bring words of knowledge, words of wisdom to bring healing to others.  Stay humble and be open and listen and obey...it is not about us...it is all ABOUT GOD!  I recommend this book to everyone!  Great book and good book to use for teaching others as well.