My Sheep Hear My Voice

Are you listening to God? Once we’ve given our lives to Jesus, we belong to HIM! We need to listen to Him… The word SHEEP is used 16 times just in the book of John! If you want to understand more about following Jesus, I suggest you read ALL of John, but especially John 10. Of course, without saying, to truly know Jesus, you need to read His WORD ~ the Bible!

You might ask…what is it to be a sheep…so I found this description on the internet: Sheep is a meek animal. They are usually very quiet and gentle, holding themselves aloof from the world. In a herd, all the sheep tend to listen to their leaders and show esteem to them. Because of the obedient character, sheep are among the most popular animals beloved by mankind. When sheep are together, the have increased safety from predators. In the Human sense, this is why we group together as Christians…not because Christianity is a religion, but because Christianity is a relationship and together we hold one another up in this treacherous world that we live in! Like sheep we need to be aloof from the world! We need to be in a constant state of listening…

I’ve actually heard some people say with a note of disgust in their voice that they don’t like being compared to a sheep! That they don’t want to be followers…they want to be leaders and they don’t see any value in being a follower as there’s more than enough sheep in the world already. (These people don’t realize that God has a wonderful place for them in the scheme of things if they are willing to follow HIM). They aren’t willing to be meek (Matt 5:5 the meek shall inherit the earth). They look at gentleness as being weak, however 1 Peter 3:14 says But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed. The person who doesn’t want to be a sheep doesn’t want to be quiet, because they enjoy being heard.

Proverbs 17:27-28 ²⁷ The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them…

When Jesus went to be with His Father in Heaven His disciples became His shepherds, so if you’re called by Him to shepherd then do so, but listen for HIS voice to show you the way to shepherd….1st Peter 5 tells us that those we are under are called shepherds. Because we are sheep, we lose our way…we’re helpless without Him! We need to be shepherded… we need to be constantly guided…we can get lost very easily and go astray. We need to be taken care of…just like sheep, we would drown in this world without our faith in Jesus to rescue us. We need to be cleaned by His blood (the wool of the sheep needs to be cleaned frequently because it collects dirt, odors, etc)….just like us humans, they are made filthy and bedraggled by the world. There’s no way that we can cleanse ourselves without the blood of Jesus. He’s the lamb of God and we are HIS sheep.

As the 23rd Psalm says…23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (KJV)

Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Psalm 32: 8-9 tells us to LISTEN! ⁸ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. ⁹ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near

Jesus is asking us to be His sheep…no other animal can be compared to the way we need to humble ourselves before HIM. Once we asked Jesus into our lives as our Savior, God is always speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes His voice is a whisper, sometimes it’s a feeling and sometimes it’s loud and clear! If you want to talk to Jesus, He’s always near…He will hear you! Will you hear Him when he answers?