JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."
John 10:14 (NKJV)

• There should be proofs, or evidences, or facts, to show that you are a follower of Jesus Christ—that you belong to Him (Mark 16:17,20).

• The pharisees who did not believe in Jesus Christ and His Ministry could not outrightly condemn His work—because of results and proofs in His Ministry (John 10:37,38).
• Thus, God will give you results and distinguish you, to substantiate, prove or show, that you are following Him (Malachi 3:18).
• The pharisees, the religious people, doubted and did not believe or agree that Jesus was the expected Messiah, the anointed One; but they marvelled and could not ignore His work—the signs and wonders of His Ministry.
• Someone says, only a fool argues with results. If there were results to show in your life and ministry, you would not be ignored or rubbished by anyone.
• Consequently, someone who truly walks with God in the light of His Word would not lack or be devoid of signs (Mark 16:20).
• If there were no signs or results in your walk with God, It means something is wrong somewhere; because signs are meant to follow every genuine believer in Christ Jesus (Mark 16:17,20).
• Signs are the initial evidences that you see in the following of Christ Jesus, and afterwards, His ways would begin to be unfolded to you—If you are going to be a leader of His people, an instrument of honour in His hand (Psalm 103:7; 2 Timothy 2:19-21).

• Jesus is the good Shepherd who laid His life down for the sheep (John 10:11-14).

• Christianity is not a religion, so to speak; It is about establishing a relationship with God, reconciling to Him, through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18,19).
• To have proofs or evidences or results, you had to be a sheep that follows the Shepherd with all his or her heart.
• The secrets of the Kingdom are revealed to those who follow wholeheartedly (Psalm 25:14). And the level or the doggedness seen in your following shows the intensity of His understanding you possessed.
• You had to follow Christ Jesus with your heart, your spirit, NOT with your head or mentality.
• Many believers who claimed to be following Christ, who claimed or presented themselves as His followers, allow their senses to dictate for them—they walk by sight, in the flesh, being controlled by their human nature (Galatians 5:16).
• Believers are called to be disciples. And a disciple means a learner, a pupil, or a follower, who learns and practices the teachings of the Master, Jesus Christ.
• Someone who claims to be a believer, a disciple, but had his or her own personal agendas, follows the dictates of his or her brain, would not receive full directions on whatever to do and God's full attention.
• The sheep that know the voice of the shepherd would not be listening and following the voice of the strangers and at the same time with that of the Master (Matthew 6:24; 16:13; John 10:4,5).
• The Scripture says His sheep would not follow the voice of the stranger, not that they would not hear. They may hear the voice of the stranger, but they would not follow, because they can differentiate between the voice of the Master, Jesus Christ, from that of the strangers—the devil, the world, and the flesh (John 10:5).

• A sheep who derailed, or deviated, from following the Shepherd's voice poses to be a prey in the hand of the predator—the devil.

• One significant and important thing in the life of a believer is, the knowing of God's voice and the ability to differentiate His voice from that of the strangers—the flesh, the world, and the devil himself (Romans 8:14).
• Christianity, also known as, walking with God, would be delightful and fulfilling If you can hear His voice whenever He is calling and speaking.
• You as a believer has the responsibility to be able to differentiate between the voice of God, Jesus Christ, which comes through the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, from that of the flesh, the world, and the devil himself.
• The true sheep of Jesus Christ recognizes His voice: "MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME" (John 10:27 NKJV).
• God would not leave His own in the dark on the matters or issues that pertain his or her life—the life of the believer concerned.
• If you are following God wholeheartedly and sincerely, He would uniquely build an intimacy with you—ways of communicating with you—As an individual believer or a child of His.

• The journey of being intimate with God started with a new birth or being born-again (John 3:3-5; Romans 10:9,10).

• Afterwards, you would be endued with power through the baptism of the Holy Spirit: "BUT YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU; AND YOU SHALL BE WITNESSES TO ME IN JERUSALEM, AND in ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH" (Acts 1:8 NKJV).
• And the major evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the speaking in the new tongues (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19:6).
• One of the major essences of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life is the giving of directions—guidances: "HOWEVER, WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, HAS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT WHATEVER HE HEARS HE WILL SPEAK; And HE WILL TELL YOU THINGS TO COME" (John 16:13 NKJV).
  READ: John 14:26
• The presence of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you links you with Jesus Christ and God the Father (John 16:13-15).
• Your relationship with God and Jesus Christ is made a reality by the presence of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you (Romans 8:9).
• Thus, you are being shepherded by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, and being submissive to His leading and guidance (1 Peter 2:25).
• Jesus might not be here presently on the earth as a shepherd to lead and direct you, but He is here in the person of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you; to guide, lead, and direct you in every affair of your life (John 14:16,26; Romans 8:9,14).
• You will do well to develop and follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, because He was given to you as the Helper and a Companion in your journey on earth (John 14:16,18).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment or sickness in your body As you read this piece, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Whatever is not planted by God in your body, which is contrary to your health, is rooted out now in Jesus' mighty name.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!