Listening to the Shepherd’s Voice

¹“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
²But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
³To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
⁴And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
⁵Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

 

 

We live in times where it is crucial that we hear the voice of God, the shepherd’s voice. The world may think it strange when we say God speaks to us.  What should be strange if God does not speak to us.  Our faith started because we heard something.  We heard the Word.

Do sheep only listen to their shepherd?  Sheep hear their shepherd and here is why: (John 10:27)

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[VIDEO]

Lessons learned from the video of a shepherd calling his sheep:

• They were always listening for the shepherd.
• They were in the proximity of the shepherd.
• They stopped what they were doing immediately.
• They ran toward the shepherd.
• They gave the shepherd their full attention.
• They moved with the shepherd.

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They have a RELATIONSHIP

Having a relationship indicates a level of dependence upon God for care and guidance. That relationship is:

• Personal – there is something personal about the relationship you have with God. He calls you by name.
• Permanent – the relationship shall never perish and be everlasting. When we sin it destroys our fellowship not our relationship. (I John 1:5-9)

“When you sin you break fellowship, you don’t break relationship.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

• Provides Protections – When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. (John 10:28)

 

The Result of the Relationship – Hear My Voice (John 10:27)

He hears my sound, my language, and my cry.

 “What you hear, influences what you see.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

 

To hear means to give an audience to, pay attention and listen carefully, when He speaks.  The reason we hear God’s voice, is because we know Him.  It is extremely important that we know God for ourselves, so that He will in turn know us.

 Ensure that through our relationship with God, we know Him. (Matthew 7:21-23)

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The Response After Hearing: They Follow Me (Ephesians 4)

 “The work of ministry is to instruct and build up the body of Christ for the purposes of God.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

 

He knows the end from the beginning; He knows which way to go.  Our job is to follow.

“There will be times when your culture will clash with your Christ.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

 

You must decide who you will follow: your culture or your Christ?

“When we follow Him, it is an indication that we have heard.” – Pastor Billy Johnson.