Series Beholding The LAMB 22- “ARE YOU SAFE?” John 10:27-29

Intro- I want to begin by asking the Question: Are You Safe? Here in the Holy Bible, the Son of God is telling about Eternal Security. Eternal meaning without end; Security meaning “to be secure” or “to be protected”. In other words, for the child of God you are assured for Heaven whatever this world & the devil may Try to throw at you! Knowing at the end of life when you step through the doorway of death, Heaven is waiting for you! That is Eternal Security. The Question today is- ARE YOU SAFE?

We live in a world of Uncertainty. Almost daily we’re seeing that anything happen! Flooding has occurred all over and across our country. Record snowfall amounts shut down our nation’s capitol this past winter. We have witnessed record cold temperatures. Almost weekly we are hearing of more and more earthquakes in divers places.

At the top of News is National Security. It is becoming more and more common hearing of another attempt to bring death and devestation to our country by Muslim Extremist! There was the Fort Hood Shootings. There was the Christmas Day attack aboard an airplane passenger carrier. Then here recently the failed car bomb in New York City. Someone recently said, we have reached a time where No One is Safe!

Let’s Look into the Word of God and see where True Safety is found!

I. THERE IS SAFETY IN THE SHEPHERD’S POSSESSION- (vs.27) “Jesus said “My Sheep”. If you are Saved, you are the Shepherd’s Possession. You belong to Him. You say well we are ALL God’s Children. That is not correct. We were All Created in the image of God. But when Adam & Eve sinned in the garden, man became a child of darkness. Children of the Devil.
John 8:42-44 42Jesus said unto them,If God were your Father, ye would love me…” 44Ye are ofyour father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. (You either belong to GOD or you belong to the Devil!) (Look at John 10:24- Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Vs.25- Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed me not: ( I wonder how many Lost Church Members have sat in Churches and heard the Gospel preached time and time again- Yet Still you have Not Believed?)

You Are Safe in the Shepherd’s Possession because:

A. A SEARCH WAS MADE- Did you know that you are Lost, wandering in the darkness of Sin? And yet Somebody is looking for you?

Luke 15:4-7 Jesus said: 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

1. It was an INTENSE SEARCH The Bible says “and go after that which is lost, until he find it” Thank God He didn’t GIVE UP or STOP LOOKING! But He was so Intense that He KEPT ON SEARCHING in His search UNTIL HE FOUND US!

5And when he hath foundit, he layethit on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth togetherhis friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

2. It was an IMPORTANT SEARCH Do you realize just how intense the search was for your soul? God the Son left Heaven, came beyond the Galaxies and crossed over the Milky Way, came all the way to earth. He Began a Full Scale Search, out of All the Billions of people, looking for you & I who were Wandering Aimlessly Lost in the darkness of Sin.

There’s Safety in the Shepherd’s Possession Because a Search was Made but also:

B. A SACRIFICE WAS MADE John 10:11 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (Jesus gave His Life for our life)

In Acts 20- The Apostle Paul is giving His farewell address. Paul tells of the Sacrifice that was made. Acts 20:28 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

When you “purchase” something it’s a sacrifice. The Food & Clothing we buy is a Sacrifice of our time spent down on the job. Jesus purchased the Church through the Sacrifice of His own Blood. Leviticus 17:11 11For the life of the fleshis in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for itis the bloodthat maketh an atonement for the soul. (Jesus literally gave His Life when He shed His Blood on the Cross and He PURCHASED our Pardon.)

(Can I tell you, Jesus did not go down to the Grocery Store and Purchase us? He did not go down the King’s Palace and Purchase us! But Jesus went all the way to Calvary where He Purchased with His own Blood as Pardon for our Sin.)

#1-There’s Safety in the Shepherd’s Possession!

II. THERE’S SAFETY IN THE SHEPHERD’S PURPOSE- (vs.28a) “I give unto them eternal life”

A. It’s A PERSONAL GIFT- “I Give” This gift of Eternal Life is a Personal Gift.

B. It’s A PRECIOUS GIFT- Jesus said in John 10:10 “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus was saying, a Life that can’t wait to wake up in the morning and thank God for the Sun that is shinning! A life that enjoys the Beauty of God’s Creation and see’s His Handy Work behind it all! A life that is Filled to the Brim with Joy and Gladness (that’s what abundant is) because you have your Sins forgiven and have overcome the Wicked One!

C. It’s A PERPETUAL GIFT- “I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE” . Somebody asked a little old boy in Sunday School one time what was the definition of eternity and he thought for a moment and he said, "Something that won't quit."

III. THERE’S SAFETY IN THE SHEPHERD’S POWER- (vs.28-29) “…and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.’

A. THE SHEEP ARE POWERLESS- Sheep are entirely defenseless. They are described as thin-skinned and fragile. They are not strong. They cannot run fast. They are totally dependent upon the shepherd. (But on the Other hand)

B. THE SHEPHERD IS POWERFUL- 1. His Power is seen in HIS SHOULDERS-

Luke 15:5 5And when he hath foundit, he layethit on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Can I tell you that His Shoulders are powerful enough to Carry Us through the storms of life? Can I remind you His Shoulders are Powerful enough to Carry Us when we don’t have the strength to go another mile! “he layeth it on his shoulders”

Those are the same shoulders that carried our Cross through the streets of Jerusalem. Those are the shoulders the bore the weight of our Cross as he carried it up Calvary’s Hill! Those are the same shoulders that held our sins as He hung there 6 hours on the Cross dying for our sins! Isaiah 9:6 speaking of that day during the Millennium Reign of Christ, 6”… and the government shall be upon his shoulder: …” He’s not only got the Government on His Should- but the whole Universe on His shoulders! If Jesus can carry the Load of Sin on His Shoulders! If Jesus can carry the Government on His shoulders! I’m glad to tell you He can Well Handle Us little sheep!

2. His Power is Seen in HIS HANDS- Jesus said Vs.28- neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (Have you ever thought about the Hands of God?) a. He has Creative Hands- His hands created this whole world! Those hands that formed the Mountains & High Hills and yet scooped out the oceans and carved the rivers. Those Creative hands formed man out of the dust of the ground. b. He has COMPASSIONATE Hands- So many times, Jesus reached out his hands in compassion and healed the sick, touched Blinded Eyes! c. He has CORRECTIVE Hands- Hands that Chasten Us! d. He has CRUSHED Hands- “… they pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalms 22:16) e. He has CALLING Hands- Romans 10:21 21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Can you see the Calling hands of GOD? They’re saying Come Unto Me! I’ll Give You rest!) Thank God we’re On His Shoulders and In His Hands!

There’s Safety in the Shepherd’s POSSESSION= My Sheep! There’s Safety in the Shpeherd’s PURPOSE= I give unto them eternal life! There’s Safety in the Shepherd’s POWER= No man shall pluck them out of my hand! (ARE YOU SAFE? ARE YOU SAFE FOR ETERNITY?)