W.D.Peter

John chapter 10 describes specifically and pointing towards Jesus, who He is, the true and gentle shepherd who leads His sheep towards the green pastures. Psalm 23 also describes the characteristics of the good shepherd. Jeremiah, also 23, and the book of Ezekiel 34 describe Jesus as a Good Shepherd. 

In John 10:9, Jesus said, “ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”.

Jesus is described as the door, as a gate, as a way, as an opening, as an entry point through which the sheep is going towards the specific destination. 

In John 10:14-16, I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Here the Lord Jesus Christ is  described as a Good Shepherd, who knows intimately His sheep, and His sheep have a deep relationship with Him, and they are His own. He was speaking concerning His Jewish people but also, He’s speaking of other sheep, which is not out of the Jewish stock, but there are Gentiles who are born again, Spirit-filled, who are accepting Him as a Good Shepherd and are entering into His sheepfold. They are also becoming His own, that He’s leading them to His sheepfold, and they also hear His voice. In this generation, where technology is increasing at such tremendous speed, and all kinds of voices are engaging in our daily life, in media, arts, entertainment, news, and all the technology, all the voices, and all the different politics, and different manoeuvres, storms, and lightnings with all kinds of natural and supernatural voices. There are so many voices, but the sheep that belong to Christ, who are of His own, they are to learn how to hear the voice of the shepherd. And they have the desire inside of them to grow in hearing His voice and to step out by faith into the work, into the pastures that the shepherd leads because they know His voice. And before we are really effective and fruitful in the work of God in our life, we must be able to hear, distinguish the frequency of His voice, and the message behind the voice. We must discern and obey the voice of God, not listen to those strange voices. God desires to train and equip the ears of His sheep who are becoming an army to distinguish His voice before He launches them into the battlefield of seeking to save and hunt souls for the Kingdom of God. For this very purpose, the shepherd is leading, guiding to bring more souls into His kingdom. As we are maturing and growing to the full measure of the stature of Christ, we are developing the ability to discern His voice and receive His specific instructions. We must pay attention to His voice. 364 times and more, Jesus was saying to His people, “Sh’ma Israel, Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad.” Hear Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one. Hear Israel and obey. The more quality time we are spending with the shepherd, the more we are acquainted with His voice. Whatever He speaks, through the still small voice, audible voice, through the written ‘rhema’ word of the scriptures, or the word of prophecy, or through circumstances in our lives, we will be able to recognise the voice of the good shepherd. And it is our desire as a sheep to develop that ability to hear His voice, so that we will not make mistakes. Some of the great prophets also make mistakes, but as you go step by step, God will lead you if you have a sincere desire to be led by His Holy Spirit. Hear His voice, and you have the surrendering heart to obey His voice. He will speak to you and give you specific instructions because He knows that you will obey His voice. It is the time for God’s people, His army in the harvest field, to walk, to move forward with great manifestation of His power and authority, wrapped in the mantle of the glory like never before, to prepare the way for the shepherd’s second return, Jesus Christ to the Earth. Step out in faith and be led by His voice into the victory in this time, for you have been raised up for such a time as this.