Maranatha Baptist Church January 08, 2006

Transcription

1 The Abundant Life: The 3 Doors of the Abundant Life 1. introduction 1.1. Text: John 10: Introduction Our Theme this year is The Abundant Life In all the counselling and other encounters with members, one thing I find most needful is that MANY do not experience an Abundant Life 1.3. Background to this Parable Jesus told this parable to the disciples in response to the encounter in the previous chapter with the Pharisees there was a man blind from birth that was miraculously healed the Pharisees rejected that miracle and demanded proof but they kept rejecting the evidence that was brought to them and kept interrogating the man blind from birth (Joh 9:23-33) but the pharisees were so blinded by their own self-righteousness that they threw him out of the synagogue Joh 9:34* They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. listen to the cruelty of their words - they claimed that this man was not only born in sin, but that it was because of his sin that God blinded him not only that, but they now threw him out of the synagogue because they accused him of being a disciple of Jesus - he was kicked out but I want us to see this - God was able to use an INJUSTICE to bring about God s Glory as this blind man was gloriously saved thereafter (Joh 9:35-38) note the last phrase in v.38 - Lord, I believe. And he WORSHIPPED him the blind man knew now that not only did God heal him, but that he stood in the presence of God Himself and he fell down to WORSHIP his Saviour Our Lord made a very interesting remark Joh 9:39* And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. that this very situation demonstrated the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees who claim that they know all and see all, but were blind to their own Need of Salvation and blind to their Saviour who stood before them notice their reply to Him 40* And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 1 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

2 41* Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. What do you mean we re blind? We re not blind? How dare you say that I m blind? we need to see here that Salvation is a very simple thing, but it is often LOST to those that see themselves as wise and intellectual because seeing Christ as Saviour requires us to SEE with our eyes of faith and not with our physical eyes now, we haven t gone on a detour here, but rather this situation is the opening scenario that sets the stage of the Parable 1.4. Outline: Jesus is the Door to Salvation Jesus is the Door to Nourishment Jesus is the Door to the Abundant Life 1.5. Jesus is the Shepherd that comes through the Door v let s first understand what the sheepfold is in places like Jerusalem, shepherds would come to the sheepfold to bring their sheep in for the night when they return to town this is a pen which has very high walls made out of stone and there is a door through which the sheep can enter in there the flock actually spends the night there with sheep from other flocks once the door is shut, there are only 2 ways in which you can enter in v.1 either by climbing over the walls, which is difficult and is what a robber or a thief would do v.1 or by coming in through the door, which is what the shepherd does v it is here that Shepherds would pay the Porter so that the sheep could be kept safe, while the shepherd rested and the porter stands and watches so that only those who are Authorized to enter the sheepfold could enter v and notice how the sheep that are mixed up in there are automatically SORTED out v.3 the sheep HEAR the voice of their shepherd and they follow that voice because they KNOW that voice, they are familiar with that voice Now there were 2 Threats to the sheep v.1 the thief is one who would use stealth to come and TAKE away sheep 2 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

3 the robber is one would potentially use VIOLENCE & FORCE to take away the sheep this was the reason why the sheep had to be put in the sheepfold for safety because shepherds were constantly in danger from thieves in the field who would sneak in to steal sheep, while they were in danger of being attacked by robbers these sheep would be taken to be either slaughtered for food or to be sold for money Jesus used this as a picture of the kind of False Shepherds that the Pharisees were the pharisees claimed to be the leaders among the common people while the scholarly and intellectual Sadduccees ruled and controlled the synagogues the intellectuals & scholars did not care for the people in the first place, but the pharisees claimed to be the ones who taught the common people ie. they claimed LEADERSHIP of the people, or the lost sheep of Israel but they exploited the people for Money, for Prestige, for Fame and for Priviledges they were in reality - Robbers and Thieves, not sparing even the widows Mt 23:14* Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation What he was referring to was that John the Baptist was the Porter and that John had been preaching and teaching all of Israel, the sheep - about the coming Shepherd this was the very shepherd that Ezekiel had prophesied to the people Eze 34:23* And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. and John s ministry was to be the Forerunner of the Messiah to teach and proclaim to all of Israel that their shepherd was going to come in this parable also you will see that there were some who Believed and had been waiting for this Saviour and these were the sheep that belonged to the shepherd 3 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

4 Jesus claimed to be the REAL SHEPHERD How? Because He is the only one who is allowed to come in through the Door he was the Authorized one, the one that the Scriptures had prophesied about to the people he was the one that the porter - John, had opened the door to show to the people and now He was going to be the one who LEADS the flock, the New Testament church OUT of Judaism v.4-5 they will follow the voice of Christ, not any other voice 2. Door 1: Jesus is the Door to Salvation v v.6 we see that the Disciples once again were puzzzled about what was told to them and Jesus now Explains it how I thank God that we have the Holy Spirit today who is able to teach us ALL things Joh 14:26* But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you Jesus taught that He ALONE is the Door to Salvation v not only was He the shepherd that came in through the door but He was the door OUT of the sheepfold - the Way of Salvation Ac 4:12* Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved Jesus also said that He was the ONLY Way Joh 14:6* Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me the sheep belong to Him and they only hear His Voice 2.3. Middle Eastern shepherds do not brand or tag their sheep the sheep grow up hearing the shepherd s voice and recognize it what the shepherd does is to enter the sheepfold and call them out notice in v.3 that he calls them by Name - Salvation is a Direct, Personal Calling to the Individual (1 Corinthians 1:22-24) 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto 4 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

5 the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God Have you HEARD and RESPONDED to the Call of God to Salvation? that is the only DOOR - your only hope - you MUST go through that door, by FAITH (Romans 10:9, 10) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation you may have been sitting here for weeks, months, years even - but until you Heed the call and OBEY the Gospel, it would not help you notice that the sheep not only Hear the voice, but they OBEY the voice Have you obeyed the Gospel Call yet my friend? God says that Jesus will come back some day to Judge those that Obey NOT the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; belief in the existence of God or Jesus Christ is not enough, the Devil believes in it alright - that s why he tried to destroy Jesus while He was on earth Jas 2:19* Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble in contrast, anyone aside from Jesus Christ is a thief & robber and is a False Shepherd v the sheep did not hear them - they follow Christ 5 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

6 2.6. Illus: Pastor Sumatra brought up the example of the difference between goats and sheep that the goats that they had were stubborn and will not obey - you have to literally pick them up, carry them to bring them in from the storm whereas the sheep LISTEN & SUBMIT to the Master s Voice it could be that there are some who have been sitting in church for many years - but have never Listened nor obeyed nor submitted to the Voice of the Saviour - you are not a sheep, but a goat 2.7. I want us to note something here - the Shepherd OWNS the sheep and conversely the sheep BELONG to Him this is an important TRUTH to the Believer - that we belong to Him fully Ps 100:3* Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture this SETTLES me and SECURES me in this life - the sheep that belong to him have this security 2.8. can I say this also that IF we belong to Him, then it is also Christ that TAKES ON the Responsibility of CARING for us, not ourselves because He is the Shepherd - it is not God helps those who help themselves but that Christ cares for us and leads us as sheep 2.9. Jesus one day will sort out the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-33) 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left one day Jesus will sort out the Wheat from the Tares as in Matt in that day, baptism will not count, praying a prayer will not count, belief in the gospel will not count only those who have OBEYED the Gospel will be spared from the Lake of Fire 3. Door 2: Jesus is the Door to Nourishment v.9 Joh 10:9* I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 6 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

7 3.1. With Salvation comes a New Life 2Co 5:17* Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new I want us to see a wonderful truth here - that Salvation in Jesus Christ opens up to us the Door to GREATER THINGS, even in this life on earth 3.2. Saved here means Delivered Safe and Sound it carries the idea of being saved from our sins but it is also translated in other verses as made whole Did you realize that Christ came not only to save from our sins, but that in THIS life - He wants to make us whole? that He seeks to save us from our own flesh and our own dysfunctions? 3.3. Go in and out has to do with the idea of going about to carry out our daily Affairs of life and so this has the idea that when we are IN Christ, we will be able to go about our daily affairs of life and find pasture - ie. to be FED by Him 3.4. I want us to Note that All Living Things need to FEED you feed in order to LIVE you feed also in order to GROW an unbalanced feeding leads to a LACK OF GROWTH because 3.5. Christ Feeds us through His Word Job said, even in the midst of his suffering that God s Word was NECESSARY for his EXISTENCE Job 23:12* Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food it was more necessary than even to eat Christian, is your walk with God becoming dry? Maybe you need to consider that as you ve been Growing that you need to FEED more to continue to sustain your growth are you UNDERNOURISHED? are you starving yourself? friend, you cannot live the Christian life is you are not feeding enough to sustain LIFE!! that is a fact of life 7 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

8 there are many sheep who are NOT GROWING because they have the WRONG DIET Heb 5:14* But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. if you have been a Christian for some time and are still living on the light things of God s Word, on the milk - then you are on a Starvation diet and are on the path of Stunted Growth worse - you could possibly be sickly spiritually We talked about Resolving to be a Diligent Student last week make it a GOAL this year to GROW in your INTAKE of spiritual food I challenged a brother yesterday to INCREASE in the daily bible reading - reading through the Bible once a year is too little for a mature Christian to INCREASE in Memorization, in listening to good sermons daily, in REACHING the new level of SATURATION point otherwise, there is no way you can RENEW your mind to be conformed to Christ 3.6. Christ Feeds us through His Pastors the Pastor is to FEED the flock 1Pe 5:2* Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; this involves more than just standing at the pulpit the FEEDING involves Nourishing the flock 1Ti 4:6* If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. ie. it means to feed and cause to GROW Christ gave to the church Pastors and Teachers to help members to GROW (Ephesians 4:11-14) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 8 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

9 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; the work & responsibilty of equipping the members, building the body and bringing it to spiritual maturity is one of the ROLES of the pastor that s why I m focusing so much on not just Sound teaching and preaching, but on very DETAILED APPLICATION because the part of the Bible that we believe and hold to be true - are the parts of the Bible that we APPLY in our daily lives 3.7. Proper Care and Feeding requires the Involvement & Supervision of Shepherds to guide the flock to the right places to feed, not feed anywhere that may make them sick to guide the flock AWAY from dangerous places to FEND of thieves, robbers, bears, wolves that may TEAR the sheep apart to SEEK the sheep that have wandered away and are a danger to themselves to RESCUE sheep that have fallen into a ditch or hole and can t come out I want us to note that the Pastors are given the special grace and insight from God to SEE & Discern a direction or course of action that may be dangerous to the sheep Heb 13:17* Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. and that s why members are reminded to protect and guard the special relationship that they have with their pastor because there is someone watching protectively over them and because they have a responsibility before God to watch for you but sometimes, when sheep want to be stubborn like goats - it is a task that is full of grief, not joy and it becomes a situation that is unprofitable to that person 4. Door 3: Jesus is the Door to the Abundant Life v.10 10* The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 9 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

10 4.1. We see that Jesus is the DOOR to the Abundant life you must first go through the door of Salvation you must continuously go through Jesus, the door of Spiritual Nourishment and we see that IF we do that and are Growing, we will come to the ABUNDANT LIFE 4.2. I want to make the Observation that Jesus didn t come for us to MERELY GET-BY he said not only did He come for us to have LIFE, but not just any ordinary life but to have it MORE Abundantly the word here means superabundantly the greek word here also carries with it some force and violence eg. Mark 14:31 it is the word vehemently, 1 Th 3:10 - it mentions to be praying exceedingly interestingly Romans 3:1 translates it as advantage 4.3. I want us to see the picture here that when Jesus came to give us Salvation it wasnt just business as usual, we don t just get on with our normal lives He s given us the POTENTIAL & the PROMISE of a kind of life that is superabundant that is an UNFAIR Advantage over everyone else and He states is VEHEMENTLY - IT IS SO!! 4.4. It is not the kind of life that so many Christians whine about oh yeah, the Christian life is soooooo hard, it is so difficult for me to live for Jesus, I have to do this, do that, so many things it is such a big sacrifice, i have to give up so much of the good things in life just to follow Jesus NO!! the Abundant Life that Christ gives to us is SO MUCH BETTER! it is far more exceedingly SUPERIOR to any other type of life that you can make for yourself or imagine it is far more EXCITING than anything that you can ever hope to accomplish on your own and if you cannot see or understand that then I STRONGLY suggest to you that you TEAR that page out from your bible RIGHT NOW! RIP it out!! because you DONT BELIEVE GOD, you dont trust God s Promise, and you might as well say that God, you re a liar! 10 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

11 you know, we can become so blind, like the Pharisees, when it comes to claiming the Vibrancy of our Christian Walk with God it is soo hard to take a stand for God at the workplace, it is soo hard to be a faithful Christian at school Really? Do you WANT to exchange places with the early church in Jerusalem? when you dont know when you or the deacon or an usher might get DRAGGED out and stoned to death? Do you want to exchange places with one of the Hmong people at the Thai-Laos border who could be sent across back to Laos anytime, and be EXECUTED for being a Christian? yet they choose to profess Christ, to be faithful and be baptized yet they choose to join a church that might not exist in 6 months 4.5. God gave His only Begotten Son to us for a Purpose and that purpose extends to our LIFE on earth Jesus poured out His soul unto death for us to LIVE an Abundant life, an exceedingly, overflowing Life not merely to EXIST and sit around like a bunch of crybabies and whine about how hard things are IF things are hard - it is because you have NEVER APPROPRIATED the Power & Grace that was already GIVEN to you you are blind and you are broke & bankrupt, despite having a few million dollars in your bank account that ALL you need to do is to use your ATM card 5. Conclusion: WHAT to Do? 5.1. I want us to see one last point here as we Close I want us to see that Jesus PROMISED to us the Abundant Life something that was given to ALL who Believe and come to Salvation the context of v.10 is that there are thieves and robbers that come to ROB us of the Abundant Life they come to STEAL the joy, pleasure and success of your Abundant Life they come to KILL & DESTROY the believer they come to DESTROY the Abundant life of the believer it could be people, external things -- that steal, kill and destroy, but I want us to see a greater danger - OURSELVES 5.2. Christian, are you ALLOWING yourself to be ROBBED? IF you are not FEEDING - you are robbing YOURSELF 11 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

12 IF you are not GROWING - you are allowing yourself to be robbed of all the Riches of Christ Bro. Junxiong, has made a 3 yr commitment to sign up for the FBI course and work on it, no matter how difficult it may be, regardless of the financial cost - what about you? IF you are not allowing your Pastor or others that watch over you to come to you in your time of need, you are allowing the trials and afflictions to ROB you of the abundant life instead of allowing the shepherds to bind your wounds, you are destroying yourself by allowing the wounds to get INFECTED 5.3. Some of us are Robbed Blind already because we think that our church membership, our baptism, or that our shallow belief in God is the Door to Salvation and the Abundant Life you need to see that you are bankrupt before you even started and you are NOWHERE near coming to the Abundant Life that Abundant Life starts with Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ until you recognize that you are utterly lost and guilty before God for your sin and crimes against Him you have not come to a point where you realize you NEED a Saviour but you can come to Him today 5.4. Finally, there could be someone out there today you are LUKEWARM, neither hot nor cold where once you were HOT, you have stopped GROWING, there s no more ZEAL and worst, are now DISCOURAGED let me say that you have become Spiritually Complacent and have robbed yourself in the process Listen to what Christ says to the Spiritually Complacent (Revelation 3:15-20) 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 12 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng

13 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see If you in that situation, Listen to the Shepherd s CALL and OBEY it! 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me the Shepherd stands at the DOOR today Don t shut Him out and remain lost, die and end up in Hell Christian, Don t shut Him out when He wants to bring you out to good pastures and feed so that you can have the Abundant Life it says if ANY MAN - it requires individual action, an individual decision Jesus says that he WILL come in - not only to feed you, but to SUP with you 13 of 13 Prepared & Preached by Pastor Jesse Sng