Deeper Discoveries from May 7th, 2006
Here are some deeper discoveries from this past Sunday’s sermon. I thought you all might find these findings interesting.
“Another fold” (from verse 16 of chapter 10)
This is a brief sermon that I love from Pastor John Piper on this subject
John 10:16: A Basis For Hopeful Evangelism
1. "I Have Other Sheep Not Of This Fold"
Start with these words: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold." Christ has people in the world besides those already converted—other people besides us. There will always be people who argue that the doctrine of God's sovereignty over the will of man makes local evangelism and foreign missions unnecessary. If God chooses his sheep before they believe, why evangelize the lost in Minneapolis? But the fact is, the sovereignty of God over the wills of men doesn't make evangelism unnecessary; it makes it hopeful.
John Alexander, a former president of Inter-Varsity said in a message at Urbana 67, "At the beginning of my missionary career I said that if predestination were true I could not be a missionary. Now after 20 years of struggling with the hardness of the human heart, I say I could never be a missionary unless I believed in the doctrine of predestination." It gives hope that Christ most certainly has a people among the nations. "I have other sheep."
There are numerous motives for pressing on in evangelism in Minneapolis and among the nations—for persevering and pleading and preaching and praying for the lost. One of them is the confidence that God has other sheep, and they will respond. It was precisely this truth that encouraged the apostle Paul when he was downcast in Corinth.
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10)
"I have other sheep that are not of this fold." It is a promise full of hope for those who dream about pressing on in evangelism here and about new fields of missionary labor.
2. Gathering The Scattered Children Of God
Here's another evidence of this hope-filled purpose of Christ to gather other sheep into his fold. Look at John 11:51-52. Caiaphas, the high priest, has given a prophecy which John now interprets like this:
He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Christ died to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. These scattered children are identical with the "other sheep that are not of this fold." Which means that world evangelization, for the apostle John, is the ingathering of the children of God—that is the finding and saving of the "other sheep" that are not of this fold.
The mission of world evangelization is as sure as the death of Christ is effective. John 11:52 says Jesus died to gather into one the scattered children of God. John 10:15 says, Jesus laid down his life for the sheep (including those that are not of this fold). So the evangelistic mission of the church can no more fail than the death of Christ can fail. Gathering in the sheep of God is as positive and sure as the blood of Christ is precious to the Father.
3. "They Will Hear My Voice"—Through You!
Another encouragement in John 10:16 that our evangelism will not be in vain is that the Lord himself has promised to bring his lost sheep home. He promises to do it. "I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also; they will hear my voice." HE will bring them. They will hear HIS voice. But how? How today, when Jesus is not physically here?
The answer is: through your word. As the Father sent the Son to seek and to save the lost, so the Son sends his people. The key verse is found in Jesus' prayer in John l7:20, "I do not pray for these [his disciples] only but also for those who believe in me through their word." "Through their word!"
This is the text that everyone has to deal with who would say, "Well, if Christ calls his own sheep and if Christ gathers the children of God, and if the sheep and the children are already chosen, then we don't need to evangelize." That response is mere human presumption. It's not logical and its not Biblical. The simple fact is Jesus uses us to call his sheep and gather God's children.
Just as Jesus called his sheep with his own lips in Palestine, so he still calls them today with our lips, and in the gospel they hear his voice and follow him (cf. 1 John 4:6). He does it. But not without us!
This is the wonder of the gospel. When it is spoken truthfully in the power of the Spirit it is not merely the word of man. It is the word of God! (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
In other words even today it is just as true as it was in Jesus day, "My sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). It is Christ who calls in the gospel. Christ gathers. We are only ambassadors speaking in his stead. So we can take heart: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the Son of God and he declares, "I must bring in my other sheep." He will do it. "I am God almighty, be fruitful and multiply."
4. "They Will Hear My Voice"
Which implies one brief, final word of confidence from the text: if he brings them they will come! Verse 16: "I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and THEY WILL HEED MY VOICE." None of Christ's sheep finally reject his word. He allows some of his sheep to resist the word for a long time. But never do they reject it finally.
My purpose this morning has been mainly to give encouragement and hope to press on confidently in the great work of personal evangelism and missions, but I close with a word to those who are not yet believing. If you say, after a word like this, how shall I know if I am one of Christ's sheep, or one of the children of God scattered abroad, the answer is: Do you hear the voice of your Shepherd? I speak on behalf of the Son of God this morning:
Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; I lay down my life for all who come; I welcome all how come; I give you eternal life and you shall never perish, and no one shall snatch you out of my hand.
A brief history of Hanukah (from verse 22 of chapter 10)
First celebrated on December 25, 165 B.C., the Feast of lights continued for eight days, commemorating that restoration of the temple after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanies. Like its sister Feast of Tabernacles, this festival was filled with great pomp and joy. It was a bright spot in the winter season and in the winter of spiritual rejection portrayed in chapter 10 of John’s gospel.
Trev Carpenter
www.btmcallen.com
“Another fold” (from verse 16 of chapter 10)
This is a brief sermon that I love from Pastor John Piper on this subject
John 10:16: A Basis For Hopeful Evangelism
1. "I Have Other Sheep Not Of This Fold"
Start with these words: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold." Christ has people in the world besides those already converted—other people besides us. There will always be people who argue that the doctrine of God's sovereignty over the will of man makes local evangelism and foreign missions unnecessary. If God chooses his sheep before they believe, why evangelize the lost in Minneapolis? But the fact is, the sovereignty of God over the wills of men doesn't make evangelism unnecessary; it makes it hopeful.
John Alexander, a former president of Inter-Varsity said in a message at Urbana 67, "At the beginning of my missionary career I said that if predestination were true I could not be a missionary. Now after 20 years of struggling with the hardness of the human heart, I say I could never be a missionary unless I believed in the doctrine of predestination." It gives hope that Christ most certainly has a people among the nations. "I have other sheep."
There are numerous motives for pressing on in evangelism in Minneapolis and among the nations—for persevering and pleading and preaching and praying for the lost. One of them is the confidence that God has other sheep, and they will respond. It was precisely this truth that encouraged the apostle Paul when he was downcast in Corinth.
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10)
"I have other sheep that are not of this fold." It is a promise full of hope for those who dream about pressing on in evangelism here and about new fields of missionary labor.
2. Gathering The Scattered Children Of God
Here's another evidence of this hope-filled purpose of Christ to gather other sheep into his fold. Look at John 11:51-52. Caiaphas, the high priest, has given a prophecy which John now interprets like this:
He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Christ died to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. These scattered children are identical with the "other sheep that are not of this fold." Which means that world evangelization, for the apostle John, is the ingathering of the children of God—that is the finding and saving of the "other sheep" that are not of this fold.
The mission of world evangelization is as sure as the death of Christ is effective. John 11:52 says Jesus died to gather into one the scattered children of God. John 10:15 says, Jesus laid down his life for the sheep (including those that are not of this fold). So the evangelistic mission of the church can no more fail than the death of Christ can fail. Gathering in the sheep of God is as positive and sure as the blood of Christ is precious to the Father.
3. "They Will Hear My Voice"—Through You!
Another encouragement in John 10:16 that our evangelism will not be in vain is that the Lord himself has promised to bring his lost sheep home. He promises to do it. "I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also; they will hear my voice." HE will bring them. They will hear HIS voice. But how? How today, when Jesus is not physically here?
The answer is: through your word. As the Father sent the Son to seek and to save the lost, so the Son sends his people. The key verse is found in Jesus' prayer in John l7:20, "I do not pray for these [his disciples] only but also for those who believe in me through their word." "Through their word!"
This is the text that everyone has to deal with who would say, "Well, if Christ calls his own sheep and if Christ gathers the children of God, and if the sheep and the children are already chosen, then we don't need to evangelize." That response is mere human presumption. It's not logical and its not Biblical. The simple fact is Jesus uses us to call his sheep and gather God's children.
Just as Jesus called his sheep with his own lips in Palestine, so he still calls them today with our lips, and in the gospel they hear his voice and follow him (cf. 1 John 4:6). He does it. But not without us!
This is the wonder of the gospel. When it is spoken truthfully in the power of the Spirit it is not merely the word of man. It is the word of God! (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
In other words even today it is just as true as it was in Jesus day, "My sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). It is Christ who calls in the gospel. Christ gathers. We are only ambassadors speaking in his stead. So we can take heart: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the Son of God and he declares, "I must bring in my other sheep." He will do it. "I am God almighty, be fruitful and multiply."
4. "They Will Hear My Voice"
Which implies one brief, final word of confidence from the text: if he brings them they will come! Verse 16: "I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and THEY WILL HEED MY VOICE." None of Christ's sheep finally reject his word. He allows some of his sheep to resist the word for a long time. But never do they reject it finally.
My purpose this morning has been mainly to give encouragement and hope to press on confidently in the great work of personal evangelism and missions, but I close with a word to those who are not yet believing. If you say, after a word like this, how shall I know if I am one of Christ's sheep, or one of the children of God scattered abroad, the answer is: Do you hear the voice of your Shepherd? I speak on behalf of the Son of God this morning:
Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; I lay down my life for all who come; I welcome all how come; I give you eternal life and you shall never perish, and no one shall snatch you out of my hand.
A brief history of Hanukah (from verse 22 of chapter 10)
First celebrated on December 25, 165 B.C., the Feast of lights continued for eight days, commemorating that restoration of the temple after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanies. Like its sister Feast of Tabernacles, this festival was filled with great pomp and joy. It was a bright spot in the winter season and in the winter of spiritual rejection portrayed in chapter 10 of John’s gospel.
Trev Carpenter
www.btmcallen.com
posted by BT at 8:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home