1 00:00:06,510 --> 00:00:11,800 Before Andrew comes and shares with us God's Word and the 2 00:00:11,810 --> 00:00:14,380 message today, I think we're continuing the I Am series. 3 00:00:14,390 --> 00:00:16,550 Let's look to the Lord in prayer. 4 00:00:17,270 --> 00:00:22,450 Let's pray, Father, we thank you, Lord, as we come before you 5 00:00:22,460 --> 00:00:29,040 today that we not only can sing about the Amazing Grace. 6 00:00:30,660 --> 00:00:34,760 Father Gordy, as the Scripture says at the time, it says that 7 00:00:34,770 --> 00:00:39,540 your mercy endures forever. For because we thank you that 8 00:00:39,550 --> 00:00:43,750 this morning we can come and acknowledge you as our ship at 9 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:48,700 the Lord's are shipped, that we as believers shall not want. 10 00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:53,830 And Father, as we were reminded by the psalmist, you are not 11 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:58,320 only the God who is enthroned above on high, but, as Simon 12 00:00:58,330 --> 00:01:01,710 Says, who humbles himself to look into the affairs of each 13 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:06,660 and everyone of us. So Father God, we thank you that 14 00:01:06,670 --> 00:01:11,640 you are a God who cares. Father God, we thank You for 15 00:01:11,650 --> 00:01:15,370 your hand of provision for each and everyone, and we pray our 16 00:01:15,380 --> 00:01:22,100 Lord, that as we offer Lord what you have provided for us, that 17 00:01:22,110 --> 00:01:25,600 He will take this offering further and use it for your 18 00:01:25,610 --> 00:01:28,740 ministry and for your work. And that will bless the Lord 19 00:01:28,750 --> 00:01:31,460 God, everyone who's involved in the work and the ministry in 20 00:01:31,470 --> 00:01:35,260 your Kingdom. We also thank you, Lord, for our 21 00:01:35,270 --> 00:01:40,930 little children and especially those, Lord who have been born 22 00:01:40,940 --> 00:01:42,820 very recently. We thank you, Father, that they 23 00:01:42,830 --> 00:01:48,050 are They are a gift from you for for Zed, for Melissa and also 24 00:01:48,060 --> 00:01:52,230 Lord for for Basil and Angeline. Both their little boys are 25 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:53,930 called Adam. We thank you for these two 26 00:01:53,940 --> 00:01:56,570 Adams. Father God, they'll give from 27 00:01:56,580 --> 00:01:59,000 you for these two families. And we pray, Father, that you 28 00:01:59,010 --> 00:02:01,520 will give them wisdom and understanding as a raise up 29 00:02:01,530 --> 00:02:03,150 their children in the ways of the Lord. 30 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,130 And for once again, as we said, we thank you for your word. 31 00:02:07,890 --> 00:02:10,880 We pray a lot that as your world is being proclaimed today that 32 00:02:10,889 --> 00:02:17,210 you would use Your Word Father to not only teach us your ways 33 00:02:17,220 --> 00:02:21,880 and your things, but also enable us a lot to understand the 34 00:02:21,890 --> 00:02:25,050 greatness and the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one 35 00:02:25,060 --> 00:02:29,180 who is our Shepherd so far. The once again we commit all of 36 00:02:29,190 --> 00:02:32,400 these things into your hands, and we ask these things a lot in 37 00:02:32,410 --> 00:02:36,470 the Saviours precious, and in His word, in Him, Amen. 38 00:02:39,490 --> 00:02:42,650 Thank you, Peter. Thank you, music team. 39 00:02:42,660 --> 00:02:45,030 And what a lovely rendition of Psalm 23. 40 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,300 It was just beautiful. So thank you for that special 41 00:02:48,310 --> 00:02:50,050 welcome to our visitors this morning. 42 00:02:50,730 --> 00:02:54,800 Good to have you with us. I came across a poster in a shop 43 00:02:54,810 --> 00:02:59,910 once and it said there's no strangers here, only friends we 44 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:03,230 haven't met. So if you feel like a stranger, 45 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,790 you're not a stranger. You're most welcome and good to 46 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:13,080 have you with us. Did you know that in June 2024 47 00:03:13,090 --> 00:03:18,740 the number of sheep in New Zealand was 23.6 million? 48 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:26,710 So that's about 4 1/2 sheep to every person in New Zealand. 49 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:31,240 So I'm going to just show you the the four sheep that we have 50 00:03:31,250 --> 00:03:33,730 at home. We're doing our bit for society 51 00:03:36,110 --> 00:03:40,490 and they all have names. The one at the front? 52 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:43,590 Noisy. The second one I've called Kiwi. 53 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:48,610 That's because this one likes Kiwi fruit and the one at the 54 00:03:48,620 --> 00:03:50,900 back is always at the back, and there's a reason for that. 55 00:03:50,910 --> 00:03:58,640 And her name is Stumpy. Now there is another name to to 56 00:03:58,650 --> 00:04:01,340 add for the one on the left. I'll tell you about that in a 57 00:04:01,350 --> 00:04:03,350 minute. We're going to be looking at 58 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,420 John chapter 10 today about the Lord as our shepherd. 59 00:04:07,150 --> 00:04:12,980 But as we think of sheep, it's amazing how God knows us all by 60 00:04:12,990 --> 00:04:17,329 name. That's very important. 61 00:04:18,209 --> 00:04:22,150 And shepherds know their sheep, and we're going to hear more 62 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:27,630 about that today. And every sheep, every shepherd 63 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,360 will tell you there's a story. And so this one on the left, I 64 00:04:32,370 --> 00:04:38,380 think we're going to call this one Josh, probably Rogan Josh 65 00:04:38,390 --> 00:04:45,110 for short. And so his name is Carrie, so 66 00:04:46,580 --> 00:04:54,730 we'll leave it there. The seven I AM statements in the 67 00:04:54,780 --> 00:05:00,530 Gospel of John are a wonderful declaration of the Lord Jesus. 68 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:05,390 And in the closing chapters of John, the writer states his 69 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,130 purpose. These are written that you might 70 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:10,970 believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that believing you might 71 00:05:10,980 --> 00:05:15,230 have life in his name. And then in chapter 21, he says 72 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,910 something very interesting, and I'll just point you to that. 73 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:23,310 John chapter 21 verse 25 he says this. 74 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,660 There are also many other things that Jesus did where everyone of 75 00:05:27,670 --> 00:05:30,420 them to be written. I suppose the world itself could 76 00:05:30,430 --> 00:05:33,310 not contain the books that would be written. 77 00:05:33,570 --> 00:05:37,530 And so the writer is actually explaining that the selection 78 00:05:37,540 --> 00:05:41,490 that he has chosen for this book is actually a very condensed, 79 00:05:41,500 --> 00:05:45,540 very compressed record of the Lord Jesus. 80 00:05:47,010 --> 00:05:51,600 And packed into these 21 chapters are a cameo selection 81 00:05:51,610 --> 00:05:55,700 of events and statements that reveal who Jesus is. 82 00:05:57,190 --> 00:06:02,390 And like in John chapter 1, these I AM statements declare 83 00:06:02,750 --> 00:06:08,430 and reveal the Lord's eternity from everlasting to everlasting. 84 00:06:09,690 --> 00:06:13,720 They reveal His deity, His divinity, the fact that He is 85 00:06:13,780 --> 00:06:18,450 God and flesh, the Son of God, the pre existent 1. 86 00:06:20,370 --> 00:06:24,440 They reveal his identity. His character is revealed and 87 00:06:24,870 --> 00:06:27,120 expressed and revealed in his humanity. 88 00:06:27,170 --> 00:06:30,670 And so last two weeks we've thought about the Lord Jesus as 89 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:35,230 the light of the world and the resurrection and the life. 90 00:06:35,300 --> 00:06:39,230 And so today we explore two I AM statements that are very 91 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,410 precious, very special, my favourites. 92 00:06:43,460 --> 00:06:45,730 I think if you can have a favourite. 93 00:06:45,740 --> 00:06:49,470 And that is I am the door and I am the Good Shepherd. 94 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:55,390 So please turn to John chapter 10 and we'll split the reading 95 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:00,480 into two parts today reading first of all, from verse 1, John 96 00:07:00,490 --> 00:07:06,010 chapter 10, verse one. Truly, truly, I say to you, he 97 00:07:06,020 --> 00:07:09,850 who does not enter the sheep fold by the door, but climbs in 98 00:07:09,860 --> 00:07:13,430 by another way. That man is a thief and a 99 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:18,350 robber, but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the 100 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,860 sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens, the 101 00:07:22,870 --> 00:07:27,820 sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and 102 00:07:27,830 --> 00:07:31,630 leads them out. When he has brought out all of 103 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,780 his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for 104 00:07:35,790 --> 00:07:40,180 they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, 105 00:07:40,190 --> 00:07:43,900 but they will flee from Him, for they do not know the voice of 106 00:07:43,950 --> 00:07:48,140 strangers. This figure of speech Jesus used 107 00:07:48,150 --> 00:07:52,100 with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to 108 00:07:52,110 --> 00:07:56,050 them. Now this passage is actually 109 00:07:56,060 --> 00:08:00,010 sandwiched between two questions from the Pharisees and the Jews. 110 00:08:00,910 --> 00:08:04,680 In Chapter 9 verse 40, the Pharisees said are we also 111 00:08:04,690 --> 00:08:08,290 blind? And then chapter 10, verse 21, 112 00:08:09,130 --> 00:08:13,110 verse 20, why listen to him? These are not the words of one 113 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,700 who's oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the 114 00:08:16,710 --> 00:08:18,670 blind? So those two questions, keep 115 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,050 those in your mind. Are we also blind? 116 00:08:21,730 --> 00:08:26,660 Why listen to him? Each of the I M statements 117 00:08:27,580 --> 00:08:31,270 deserve and invite a response from us. 118 00:08:33,169 --> 00:08:35,919 We heard last week about the resurrection and the life He 119 00:08:35,929 --> 00:08:40,460 that believeth in me. We heard about the light of the 120 00:08:40,470 --> 00:08:46,650 world to follow the light and likewise today these I am 121 00:08:46,660 --> 00:08:49,510 statements will require response from our hearts. 122 00:08:50,220 --> 00:08:52,170 And secondly, these are the words of Jesus. 123 00:08:52,180 --> 00:08:55,010 If you have a a red letter Bible, you'll notice that very 124 00:08:55,020 --> 00:08:58,470 clearly and the passage commences with those two words 125 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:03,010 truly, truly or verily, verily, they are words of emphasis. 126 00:09:03,020 --> 00:09:06,430 They are words of truth, very important words. 127 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:11,630 Without any doubt, these words are profound and emphatic. 128 00:09:14,230 --> 00:09:16,580 Now the other thing I want to point out to you before we get 129 00:09:16,590 --> 00:09:20,440 too far, and that is each of these seven I am statements. 130 00:09:20,850 --> 00:09:24,070 Most of them refer to objects or concepts. 131 00:09:25,430 --> 00:09:28,830 To think about the bread, think about the light, think about the 132 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:34,470 resurrection of life. But this I am statement is the 133 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:41,630 only aim statement that refers to a person or a role a shepherd 134 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,740 and as part of that shepherd relationship with the sheep. 135 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:53,570 And for me, this makes this I am statement incredibly important 136 00:09:54,430 --> 00:09:59,840 because it requires a response, a personal response from our 137 00:09:59,850 --> 00:10:03,120 heart. You see, he could have chosen 138 00:10:03,130 --> 00:10:07,100 any title to reveal himself. He could have revealed himself 139 00:10:07,150 --> 00:10:13,640 as I am the judge. He could have said I am the 140 00:10:13,850 --> 00:10:20,670 Conqueror, I am the general of the army, I am the king. 141 00:10:21,900 --> 00:10:26,910 But he chose to reveal himself to us as shepherd. 142 00:10:28,780 --> 00:10:33,200 Very, very profound, very precious, very personal and 143 00:10:33,210 --> 00:10:39,530 profound. These first 5 verses are a 144 00:10:39,540 --> 00:10:43,090 figure of speech, an illustration, and it is not 145 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:49,160 understood by the listeners. And it's interesting that people 146 00:10:49,170 --> 00:10:52,760 throughout the Scripture are likened to sheep, and we've 147 00:10:52,810 --> 00:10:55,640 heard many verses this morning about that and sang about it 148 00:10:55,650 --> 00:11:00,570 too. Isaiah chapter 53, verse 6. 149 00:11:00,630 --> 00:11:03,740 All we like sheep have gone astray. 150 00:11:03,810 --> 00:11:05,900 We've turned everyone to his own way. 151 00:11:06,810 --> 00:11:10,960 Sam 119 verse 176. I have strayed like a lost 152 00:11:10,970 --> 00:11:14,960 sheep. And so it's repeated again and 153 00:11:14,970 --> 00:11:18,300 again the theme of the shepherd and the sheep. 154 00:11:20,770 --> 00:11:24,100 But as we think about sheep and as we think about sheep going 155 00:11:24,110 --> 00:11:27,040 astray, we often think, well, that's about it, about sheep. 156 00:11:27,050 --> 00:11:28,680 That's about all there is to know. 157 00:11:28,750 --> 00:11:31,520 Sheep go astray. And so you go into the paddock 158 00:11:31,530 --> 00:11:33,430 and say, ohh, that she's going to run out that gate. 159 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,720 Gotta watch it. It's actually bit more than 160 00:11:35,730 --> 00:11:37,530 that. Is he cheaper? 161 00:11:37,540 --> 00:11:42,940 Actually very interesting. They are actually those that are 162 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,290 representing humanity in their behaviour. 163 00:11:47,300 --> 00:11:50,180 And so there's actually a lot more in these verses. 164 00:11:52,940 --> 00:11:56,290 To unpack this, we actually need to understand two or three 165 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:58,730 things in these verses. First of all, the sheep fold. 166 00:11:59,910 --> 00:12:04,940 Now let's picture of a sheep fold in Palestine and we don't 167 00:12:04,950 --> 00:12:07,260 often see those today here in New Zealand. 168 00:12:07,330 --> 00:12:10,420 The reason being that we are very structured and we have, we 169 00:12:10,430 --> 00:12:14,330 have farms and we have, we have fences and we have boundaries. 170 00:12:15,090 --> 00:12:21,510 But in ancient Palestine, the grazing was sporadic and, and 171 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,250 sparse and scattered. And so typically the typical 172 00:12:25,300 --> 00:12:29,160 shepherd and flock would be out on the hills foraging. 173 00:12:29,540 --> 00:12:33,950 They were nomadic and they would travel for some distance to find 174 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,790 grass. No fencing, no, no clear 175 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,970 boundary points. And so we read about, for 176 00:12:39,980 --> 00:12:44,170 example, Joseph and his brothers and they were out to get to get 177 00:12:44,180 --> 00:12:48,910 food for their for their cattle. So the sheep fold is not a 178 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,270 typical thing that you will see in New Zealand, but the sheep 179 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,870 folders are protecting enclosure, especially at night. 180 00:12:56,610 --> 00:13:00,180 You would find these scattered around the hillsides and 181 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,730 countrysides and also in the winter time. 182 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:09,490 And this passage is actually spoken during the winter, so it 183 00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:12,120 would be very vivid and very real to the listeners. 184 00:13:15,050 --> 00:13:18,360 Secondly, in this passage, we we, we hear the reference to the 185 00:13:18,370 --> 00:13:20,420 gatekeeper. And so you'll notice in that 186 00:13:20,490 --> 00:13:24,500 sheepfold there that there's not actually a clear door. 187 00:13:25,350 --> 00:13:29,020 Typically the entrance is not actually enclosed. 188 00:13:29,150 --> 00:13:34,420 It allows groups of shepherds and sheep to into, in and out, 189 00:13:34,510 --> 00:13:37,340 and typically a middle man, a contractor. 190 00:13:37,570 --> 00:13:42,650 An intermediary would be the gatekeeper and would actually be 191 00:13:42,740 --> 00:13:46,430 pretty much the housekeeper, and the shepherds would come with 192 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:52,570 their flocks and actually gather as a group within the protecting 193 00:13:52,580 --> 00:13:56,720 enclosure. In the morning. 194 00:13:58,010 --> 00:14:03,280 The shepherd would call their individual flocks and the sheep 195 00:14:03,390 --> 00:14:07,000 that were numerous would hear the voice of the shepherd and 196 00:14:07,010 --> 00:14:09,280 follow. And that is the picture that the 197 00:14:09,290 --> 00:14:15,590 Lord Jesus is expressing here in these verses. 198 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,010 In this illustration, this figure of speech, the Lord Jesus 199 00:14:19,020 --> 00:14:22,640 is actually explaining several things about sheep and their 200 00:14:22,650 --> 00:14:27,290 behaviour. And you probably can't see too 201 00:14:27,300 --> 00:14:32,390 much in these these pictures here, but there's several things 202 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,020 about sheep that are very significant. 203 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:40,350 And one of the things that we notice about sheep are that they 204 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:46,050 are very vulnerable. Sheep are incredibly vulnerable. 205 00:14:46,150 --> 00:14:49,130 They don't have claws to defend themselves. 206 00:14:50,730 --> 00:14:53,380 They don't actually have a very severe bite. 207 00:14:53,390 --> 00:14:55,860 They do bite, but they don't have a severe bite to defend 208 00:14:55,870 --> 00:15:00,850 themselves. They don't have a protective 209 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:04,440 scaly coat that is hard to attack. 210 00:15:06,250 --> 00:15:08,430 They're not incredibly fast with they're running. 211 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,640 They are hard to catch. I can testify to that. 212 00:15:11,650 --> 00:15:14,920 But they're not amazingly fast and they're not incredibly 213 00:15:14,930 --> 00:15:17,240 cunning either. They're not actually kind of 214 00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:20,540 like, ohh, if I hide behind this pool but you can't see me, No, 215 00:15:20,550 --> 00:15:23,280 actually they're going to run into the corner if you kind of 216 00:15:23,290 --> 00:15:26,440 try and chase them. I think if we had a sheet folder 217 00:15:26,450 --> 00:15:29,170 in this room, I think I would choose the sound, the sound 218 00:15:29,180 --> 00:15:31,750 booth and that would be quite effective. 219 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,050 But they would actually be very scared. 220 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:35,590 And because they're very vulnerable. 221 00:15:36,380 --> 00:15:41,550 And in fact, when you look at their their throat, it's 222 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:47,920 incredibly easy to take their life because sheep are 223 00:15:47,930 --> 00:15:53,020 vulnerable, their defenceless, they are weak and helpless. 224 00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:56,560 And in fact, sheep always seem to find new ways to die. 225 00:15:58,870 --> 00:16:02,560 I don't know what it is. We've lost about 4 sheep in the 226 00:16:02,570 --> 00:16:08,590 last year, but they are amazingly defenceless and weak. 227 00:16:09,830 --> 00:16:14,480 And so the Lord Jesus refers to the sheep fold, knowing fully 228 00:16:14,490 --> 00:16:18,080 well that sheep are vulnerable. Secondly, sheep are very 229 00:16:18,090 --> 00:16:25,650 relational sheep. Listening and responsive 230 00:16:25,660 --> 00:16:32,250 creatures stay recognise faces. They say that sheep are actually 231 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:38,800 able to recognise up to 50 faces and remember those faces for two 232 00:16:38,810 --> 00:16:42,610 years or more and I've certainly seen that. 233 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,610 I remember we had a a pet lamb which went away to another 234 00:16:46,700 --> 00:16:51,390 another farm and I remember visiting the farm calling by 235 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:56,140 name and the sheep responded. That was after several months. 236 00:16:56,190 --> 00:16:58,740 Incredible, Very, very relational. 237 00:16:58,790 --> 00:17:05,750 They are creatures that are very keen to have a connection with 238 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:12,250 those around. The sheep hear his voice. 239 00:17:12,890 --> 00:17:18,980 I had a photo of a sheep and I had a shape that actually was 240 00:17:19,270 --> 00:17:24,890 moving its ears to hear the voice of the shepherd. 241 00:17:27,630 --> 00:17:33,730 Sheep are very communal. Verse 3, it says that they are 242 00:17:33,740 --> 00:17:39,090 led by the shepherd together. Sheep like to flock together. 243 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:42,340 In fact, when they sleep, they like to be together. 244 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:46,750 They like to lie together. They are ones that have herd 245 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:48,810 instinct. They group together, they seek 246 00:17:48,820 --> 00:17:52,010 company. Generally you won't see one 247 00:17:52,020 --> 00:17:57,910 sheep on its own unless it's a very, very unusual situation. 248 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:04,260 So sheep are communal. Fourthly, sheep are very 249 00:18:04,340 --> 00:18:08,730 habitual in their in their interactions and in their 250 00:18:08,740 --> 00:18:13,720 behaviour. They are prone to follow not 251 00:18:13,730 --> 00:18:16,650 just to go astray, but to actually do the same thing again 252 00:18:16,660 --> 00:18:18,930 and again. They tend to group together. 253 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:26,470 They tend to be willful and stubborn, and I've seen sheep to 254 00:18:26,540 --> 00:18:30,960 the most amazing things when they're following the leader and 255 00:18:31,990 --> 00:18:38,170 doing things together. Sheep are very fearful. 256 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:43,000 They are timid, they are needy, they are easily startled and 257 00:18:43,010 --> 00:18:45,080 she, believe it or not, can get depressed. 258 00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:50,060 They can get cast down and they can give up. 259 00:18:51,030 --> 00:18:55,500 I was hurt in sheep on the roads on the West Coast of the South 260 00:18:55,510 --> 00:18:58,480 Island. And I can remember several times 261 00:18:58,490 --> 00:19:02,110 where the you mother would actually give up because the dog 262 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,980 was annoying and would just say, no, that's it. 263 00:19:06,050 --> 00:19:08,620 I'm not, I'm not moving, you know, and you'd have to actually 264 00:19:08,630 --> 00:19:12,750 physically lift the sheep up and give it a little bit of a tap 265 00:19:13,550 --> 00:19:19,800 and send it on its way. Sheep can die by getting cast. 266 00:19:20,910 --> 00:19:25,510 The sheep can actually get into a sitting position and then be 267 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:29,410 unable to stand again, and that is a picture of our behaviour. 268 00:19:29,470 --> 00:19:33,860 We can get cast down, we can get depressed and we can give up. 269 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:40,020 In summary then, as we see this figure of speech, sheep are not 270 00:19:40,030 --> 00:19:44,690 just going astray, but this is the message. 271 00:19:44,940 --> 00:19:51,520 Sheep need a caring shepherd. Sheep need a shepherd, simple as 272 00:19:51,530 --> 00:19:55,010 that. Not a careless stranger, but a 273 00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:58,000 caring shepherd. And that is the point that the 274 00:19:58,010 --> 00:20:05,240 Lord Jesus is making here. Shape of vulnerable their 275 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:09,610 relational take him, you know they're habitual and they're 276 00:20:09,620 --> 00:20:12,600 fearful. And by the way, if you've looked 277 00:20:12,610 --> 00:20:16,170 at the eyes of a sheep, you might notice that their pupils 278 00:20:16,180 --> 00:20:19,600 are actually rectangular. And that's the reason for that 279 00:20:20,260 --> 00:20:23,350 is because they are so vulnerable and fearful that even 280 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:26,240 when they're eating, they can still see around them. 281 00:20:27,620 --> 00:20:32,070 They can see completely around them except right behind them. 282 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:37,560 And that is why when you are herding sheep, you kind of try 283 00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:40,560 not to kind of sort of look them in the eye too much. 284 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:42,910 It kind of just sort of stroll around and justice sort of, 285 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,460 yeah, yeah. And then choose here we go. 286 00:20:46,670 --> 00:20:48,850 And that is what we do with our sheep. 287 00:20:49,650 --> 00:20:53,290 And if not, well, that's another story. 288 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,360 So she need a shepherd and that is the point. 289 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,090 The figure of speech Jesus used with them. 290 00:21:03,100 --> 00:21:06,520 They did not understand what he was saying. 291 00:21:07,230 --> 00:21:11,360 And this is where the Lord Jesus steps into the figure of speech, 292 00:21:11,430 --> 00:21:13,300 and it becomes alive. So we're going to take another 293 00:21:13,310 --> 00:21:17,930 reading and that's from first 7 to 18. 294 00:21:22,670 --> 00:21:27,900 So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am 295 00:21:27,910 --> 00:21:31,800 the door of the sheep. All who come before me are 296 00:21:31,810 --> 00:21:35,480 thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to 297 00:21:35,490 --> 00:21:39,280 them. I am the door. 298 00:21:39,980 --> 00:21:43,550 If anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and out 299 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,920 and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal 300 00:21:47,930 --> 00:21:52,320 and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life 301 00:21:52,330 --> 00:21:56,670 and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. 302 00:21:57,020 --> 00:22:00,090 The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 303 00:22:01,660 --> 00:22:04,970 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the 304 00:22:04,980 --> 00:22:09,330 sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees and 305 00:22:09,340 --> 00:22:11,770 the wolves, snatches them and scatters them. 306 00:22:12,550 --> 00:22:16,500 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the 307 00:22:16,510 --> 00:22:19,410 sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. 308 00:22:19,460 --> 00:22:24,100 I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, 309 00:22:24,110 --> 00:22:27,850 and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the 310 00:22:27,860 --> 00:22:31,980 sheep, and I have other sheep that are not of this fold. 311 00:22:32,020 --> 00:22:35,010 I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. 312 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,350 So they will be 1 flock 1 Shepherd. 313 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:46,810 Verse 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow 314 00:22:46,820 --> 00:22:50,170 me. I give them eternal life and 315 00:22:50,180 --> 00:22:53,960 they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my 316 00:22:54,120 --> 00:23:03,200 Father's hand. The Good Shepherd is firstly 317 00:23:03,210 --> 00:23:06,270 preceded by the statement I am the door. 318 00:23:06,670 --> 00:23:09,960 You remember the enclosure. You remember the sheep fold. 319 00:23:10,190 --> 00:23:13,380 The picture here is that the Lord Jesus is actually literally 320 00:23:13,390 --> 00:23:18,020 the door of that sheep fold. Jesus is the door to the 321 00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:22,770 security found in verse 9. He is not just the gatekeeper 322 00:23:22,780 --> 00:23:27,070 pointing to something better, He is the security himself. 323 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,290 The sheep fold had no door, but he is both the door and the 324 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:36,130 shepherd. Then the Lord Jesus reminded his 325 00:23:36,140 --> 00:23:40,610 listeners, Don't be deceived by thieves and robbers that come 326 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:42,500 and pretend that they are shepherds. 327 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,960 Don't be deceived. Don't be deceived by imposters. 328 00:23:46,910 --> 00:23:50,840 Don't be confused that people say I am the one. 329 00:23:51,570 --> 00:23:53,450 This is the one that we need to hear. 330 00:23:54,100 --> 00:23:56,720 The Lord is the Good Shepherd. He is the door. 331 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,210 And by the way, don't be confused that people say to you, 332 00:24:00,260 --> 00:24:03,430 you need a councillor. By all means find a councillor. 333 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:09,870 But if you want to know the way to God, you need to run to the 334 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:14,820 Lord Jesus. Not to a councillor, not to a 335 00:24:14,830 --> 00:24:18,240 priest. Turn to the Lord Jesus and hear 336 00:24:18,250 --> 00:24:21,280 his voice. By all means seek advice, but 337 00:24:21,290 --> 00:24:26,620 run to Christ because He is adore and He is also the Good 338 00:24:26,630 --> 00:24:31,780 Shepherd, just as the sum is said. 339 00:24:31,790 --> 00:24:34,620 I am sorry the Lord is my shepherd. 340 00:24:34,630 --> 00:24:37,620 I want to give you 5 things about the Good Shepherd today 341 00:24:37,630 --> 00:24:41,900 from these verses. 5 things that are expressed here in this 342 00:24:41,910 --> 00:24:44,930 verses. First of all, the Good Shepherd 343 00:24:44,940 --> 00:24:49,910 is the one who saves. 1st 9:00 He will be saved, and will go in 344 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:55,360 and out and find pasture. The Good Shepherd, the Lord 345 00:24:55,370 --> 00:25:00,280 Jesus, has come to seek and save the lost. 346 00:25:01,810 --> 00:25:04,360 You recall the words spoken about Him. 347 00:25:05,060 --> 00:25:09,550 You will give him the name Jesus because He will save His people 348 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:15,070 from their sins. The Son of Man has come to seek 349 00:25:15,130 --> 00:25:20,130 and to save, and even from the cross his enemies taunted and 350 00:25:20,140 --> 00:25:24,730 said he saved others himself he could not save. 351 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,910 Why was that? Because the Good Shepherd is the 352 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:32,650 one who saves the Lord Jesus. Speaking to Nicodemus, 353 00:25:34,170 --> 00:25:38,940 explaining to him the way chapter 3 verse 17 says this. 354 00:25:39,050 --> 00:25:42,600 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 355 00:25:42,790 --> 00:25:46,950 but in all of that, the world might be saved through him. 356 00:25:49,570 --> 00:25:53,970 This rescue is from the penalty of sin. 357 00:25:54,850 --> 00:25:59,160 It is from all that would keep us away from knowing God in a 358 00:25:59,170 --> 00:26:04,700 personal and a real way. It is a salvation that is not 359 00:26:04,710 --> 00:26:08,260 just from ourselves, but it's from the penalty of sin, because 360 00:26:08,270 --> 00:26:12,750 the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life 361 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:19,060 through Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus rescues us from hell, from 362 00:26:19,070 --> 00:26:23,840 death, from despair. This Good Shepherd is the light 363 00:26:23,850 --> 00:26:26,540 of the world. He is the resurrection and the 364 00:26:26,550 --> 00:26:29,430 life. He is the one who saves. 365 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,550 In verse 10 we find that this Good Shepherd is the one who 366 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:39,120 satisfies. He speaks of one that has come 367 00:26:39,170 --> 00:26:42,920 to have to give life and give life in all its abundance. 368 00:26:42,970 --> 00:26:47,760 I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. 369 00:26:48,090 --> 00:26:50,490 It is life that is full and free. 370 00:26:50,500 --> 00:26:56,990 It is life that is eternal. It is a life that is reliable 371 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,550 and secure. The Good Shepherd finds pasture 372 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,160 for the sheep. He provides for their need. 373 00:27:03,180 --> 00:27:07,050 It is a plentiful life, and the Shepherd is the one that the 374 00:27:07,060 --> 00:27:10,570 same was described as finding green pastures and still waters. 375 00:27:10,660 --> 00:27:15,120 And there's a reason for that. You see, sheep thrive when they 376 00:27:15,130 --> 00:27:19,330 have good food. In fact, when sheep are doing 377 00:27:19,340 --> 00:27:22,190 well, you'll notice that they sit down and they're chewing. 378 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,640 That's a good sign. If your sheep are not sitting 379 00:27:25,650 --> 00:27:29,610 down, there's a problem. Typically, sheep will not ship, 380 00:27:29,620 --> 00:27:33,230 sit down and rest if they are not safe and satisfied. 381 00:27:34,380 --> 00:27:37,950 And what is true in the panic is also true in the church. 382 00:27:40,690 --> 00:27:44,430 Shepherds will tell you that there are three hindrances to 383 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:49,430 sheep. Finding rest, lack of food, 384 00:27:51,030 --> 00:27:57,410 enemies or foes, and friction or trouble within all of those 3 385 00:27:57,420 --> 00:28:02,010 will cause sheep not to rest. Lack of food. 386 00:28:02,650 --> 00:28:07,470 The Good Shepherd is the one who satisfies, who brings his sheep 387 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,770 to abundant pasture, who provides for their needs, who 388 00:28:11,780 --> 00:28:16,260 goes before them and finds that which will satisfy them and meet 389 00:28:16,270 --> 00:28:23,340 their need. Thirdly, in verse 11 to 13, the 390 00:28:23,350 --> 00:28:28,060 Good Shepherd is the one who is the one who sacrifices. 391 00:28:28,070 --> 00:28:31,780 He lays down his life, and this phrase is repeated again and 392 00:28:31,790 --> 00:28:35,560 again. The Good Shepherd is the one who 393 00:28:35,570 --> 00:28:41,740 gives his life for the sheep. I stood beside an X-ray screen 394 00:28:41,830 --> 00:28:47,980 last year and the X-ray operator said Mr. Linton. 395 00:28:47,990 --> 00:28:52,210 That is where the sheep hits your leg and it's broken. 396 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,410 The next question, he said, was have you killed the sheep? 397 00:28:58,970 --> 00:29:02,340 The simple answer is this. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is the 398 00:29:02,350 --> 00:29:06,960 one who not only forgives us, but he's the one who died for 399 00:29:06,970 --> 00:29:09,100 the sheep. A hired hand will run from 400 00:29:09,110 --> 00:29:13,090 trouble, but the faithful shepherd will never leave the 401 00:29:13,100 --> 00:29:16,130 flock. The Good Shepherd will sacrifice 402 00:29:16,140 --> 00:29:19,790 everything for the sake of his sheep. 403 00:29:19,830 --> 00:29:23,250 And this phrase I lay down my life for the sheep is repeated 404 00:29:23,340 --> 00:29:29,240 at least four times in this passage, The Good Shepherd. 405 00:29:29,250 --> 00:29:36,700 And verse 14 is the one that supports I am the Good Shepherd. 406 00:29:36,710 --> 00:29:40,200 I know my own, and my own know me. 407 00:29:40,270 --> 00:29:43,580 You see, sheep need care and attention. 408 00:29:45,310 --> 00:29:50,130 They are not an easy pet. They are not paints that you can 409 00:29:50,140 --> 00:29:54,080 leave alone shee struggle with foes and fear, but they also 410 00:29:54,090 --> 00:29:58,150 have external predators and internal parasites like worms. 411 00:30:01,590 --> 00:30:07,280 Hae will be very, very unhappy if you don't look after their 412 00:30:07,290 --> 00:30:10,650 feet. They will struggle if you don't 413 00:30:10,660 --> 00:30:15,770 look after their fleece. Sheep need regular drenching and 414 00:30:15,780 --> 00:30:18,760 worming. They even need dagging and 415 00:30:18,770 --> 00:30:23,390 crutching to protect from flies. And the shepherd knows the 416 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:29,050 sheep's need, and therefore the Lord Jesus said, I know my own, 417 00:30:29,990 --> 00:30:35,590 and my own know me. This sheep here is not dead. 418 00:30:37,340 --> 00:30:39,370 It's very much alive but very scared. 419 00:30:41,370 --> 00:30:44,540 This is the shape that we have called Stumpy and there's a 420 00:30:44,550 --> 00:30:48,680 reason for that. Got a message from the run off 421 00:30:48,730 --> 00:30:52,640 block and they text it and they said we think one of your sheep 422 00:30:52,690 --> 00:30:59,610 has broken its leg. We went out to find Stumpy and 423 00:31:00,860 --> 00:31:03,610 by the way, Stumpy didn't have the name Stumpy until this day. 424 00:31:03,620 --> 00:31:09,570 But anyway, we before we left we actually went to the shed and 425 00:31:10,020 --> 00:31:13,900 got the crook. The interesting thing with sheep 426 00:31:13,910 --> 00:31:16,640 is that even if they've got 3 lakes, they still try and run. 427 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,610 The crook was able to fetch Stumpy and then we were able to 428 00:31:22,620 --> 00:31:27,570 put Stumpy into the the back of the cargo van and we said to 429 00:31:27,580 --> 00:31:29,640 Stumpy, we're going to take you home. 430 00:31:30,900 --> 00:31:33,470 By the way, as shepherds, we didn't say to Stumpy. 431 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:38,320 Stumpy, you are so dirty. Stumpy, that wasn't very, very 432 00:31:38,330 --> 00:31:40,400 wise. You have been very silly. 433 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:45,750 We didn't actually say to Stumpy you should not have broken your 434 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,410 leg. What we said to the sheep was 435 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:56,930 we're going to take you home. The process was actually to get 436 00:31:56,940 --> 00:32:01,750 Stumpy lying down and if you look at that photo closely, 437 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:06,750 Stumpy is very traumatised, but we've actually splintered the 438 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:12,670 leg and we haven't been able to rescue the life of that sheep. 439 00:32:15,580 --> 00:32:21,230 Sheep needs support, they need a shepherd that knows their need, 440 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:25,890 a shepherd that is able to carry and to rescue. 441 00:32:26,060 --> 00:32:29,210 And the shepherd of Scripture, the Lord Jesus, is the one that 442 00:32:29,220 --> 00:32:33,000 is strong and caring. He's like the shepherd in Luke 443 00:32:33,010 --> 00:32:36,620 15 that goes after the sheep and when he finds the lost sheep, 444 00:32:37,690 --> 00:32:40,660 takes them up and puts him on his shoulder. 445 00:32:40,970 --> 00:32:47,190 This shepherd is gentle and tender, and it's one thing to 446 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:56,310 rescue and to support. 1st 16 The Good Shepherd is the one 447 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:04,260 that speaks. 1st 16 says this. They will listen to my voice. 448 00:33:07,010 --> 00:33:11,370 Verse 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. 449 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:17,300 The Good Shepherd is constantly communicating with the sheep. 450 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:23,810 Unlike the motorbike that just roars and chases, a sheep is one 451 00:33:23,820 --> 00:33:27,970 that a shepherd is, one that speaks and goes before the 452 00:33:27,980 --> 00:33:33,420 sheep, walks amongst them, prepares a table for them, 453 00:33:33,510 --> 00:33:37,340 comforts and calms us. And I like to think that David, 454 00:33:37,350 --> 00:33:42,600 the the shepherd's Samus was one that played the harp to his 455 00:33:42,610 --> 00:33:44,400 sheep. I'd like to think that as he 456 00:33:44,470 --> 00:33:48,300 played that harp, the sheep would know that Shepherd is 457 00:33:48,310 --> 00:33:52,120 nearby, speaking to them, calming them. 458 00:33:53,150 --> 00:33:56,780 The Good Shepherd knows all about us and desires a 459 00:33:56,790 --> 00:34:04,190 relationship with us. The listeners were confused 460 00:34:04,300 --> 00:34:07,750 again and again. The question was, well who is 461 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:11,120 this man? There was division amongst the 462 00:34:11,130 --> 00:34:15,010 Jews because of these words. Many said he has a demon verse 463 00:34:15,020 --> 00:34:17,179 20. Why listen to him? 464 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:20,010 Others said. These are not the words of one 465 00:34:20,020 --> 00:34:24,889 who's oppressed by a demon. Verse 24. 466 00:34:24,900 --> 00:34:28,010 The Jews gathered around him and said, How long will you keep us 467 00:34:28,020 --> 00:34:31,770 in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us 468 00:34:31,860 --> 00:34:39,810 plainly again and again we have this question brought to us in 469 00:34:39,820 --> 00:34:41,850 the Gospel of John. Who is Jesus? 470 00:34:42,739 --> 00:34:45,840 Who is this? 1 And in this passage we find 471 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:49,290 that the Lord Jesus is the door, not just the gatekeeper. 472 00:34:49,679 --> 00:34:53,170 He is the Good Shepherd. He's not a stranger, and he's 473 00:34:53,179 --> 00:34:56,949 the Son of God. First. 36 He is the Christ, the 474 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:02,320 Son of the living God. Again and again we have brought 475 00:35:02,330 --> 00:35:06,430 before us the need to determine our relationship with this One. 476 00:35:07,140 --> 00:35:11,470 Who is Jesus to you? The good, The Good Shepherd is 477 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:17,260 the one who speaks and knows. And his sheep here and follow 478 00:35:19,070 --> 00:35:24,720 again we have those questions. Are we blind? 479 00:35:25,420 --> 00:35:27,970 Are we blind? Are we deaf to the voice of the 480 00:35:27,980 --> 00:35:31,220 Good Shepherd? Why listen to Him? 481 00:35:31,270 --> 00:35:33,760 It is because He has the words of eternal life. 482 00:35:34,660 --> 00:35:36,870 We can run to the Lord Jesus in our need. 483 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:41,000 We can find that abundant life. We can find salvation. 484 00:35:41,010 --> 00:35:44,520 We can find rest. We can find security and 485 00:35:44,530 --> 00:35:48,580 sustenance in the journey of life. 486 00:35:48,590 --> 00:35:52,660 We need a shepherd. We are like sheep going astray. 487 00:35:52,910 --> 00:35:55,460 We can get cast down. We can get burdened. 488 00:35:55,670 --> 00:36:00,840 We can get lost. We need to look to the shepherd 489 00:36:00,910 --> 00:36:06,980 to find guidance, to find rest, to find food, to find security, 490 00:36:07,700 --> 00:36:11,200 to find their relationship. The Lord Jesus is the Good 491 00:36:11,210 --> 00:36:15,630 Shepherd and this morning He is calling us again to hear His 492 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:23,020 voice and to follow Him. We were at the run off block and 493 00:36:24,020 --> 00:36:28,970 there was a mother in you and there was 3 little white blobs 494 00:36:29,860 --> 00:36:34,910 in the paddock. One was completely motionless 495 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:39,310 and was dead, just born, possibly stillborn. 496 00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:48,560 A little lamb was by its mother feeding, but there was this 497 00:36:48,610 --> 00:36:50,940 other little lamb and I, I haven't brought the photo 498 00:36:50,950 --> 00:36:54,170 because we didn't want to go too close, but so you have. 499 00:36:54,180 --> 00:36:56,910 The little lamb could not even lift its head. 500 00:36:58,330 --> 00:37:03,840 It was too weak to move and the mother in you was just nearby, 501 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:09,080 didn't know what to do. We had to catch the you without 502 00:37:09,090 --> 00:37:13,200 disturbing it too much with its other little lamb, and we had to 503 00:37:13,250 --> 00:37:19,690 hold the you and lift up this little lamb so that it could 504 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:27,050 take a few life giving drops of cholesterol, milk, just a few 505 00:37:27,060 --> 00:37:31,210 drops, and within a few days that little lamb was on its feet 506 00:37:31,220 --> 00:37:35,370 and wagging its tail. That is how precious the 507 00:37:35,380 --> 00:37:38,590 relationship is between the shepherd and the sheep. 508 00:37:39,710 --> 00:37:43,360 It was an amazing morning because if we had not been there 509 00:37:43,370 --> 00:37:47,580 as shepherds that shape that little, that little lamb would 510 00:37:47,590 --> 00:37:51,430 have died. And so today I played with you 511 00:37:52,150 --> 00:37:57,410 that you will be part of this shepherd's flock. 512 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:02,470 You see, it's very easy in life to go through life and not even 513 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:07,560 hear the voice of the Shepherd, not even know that the Good 514 00:38:07,570 --> 00:38:10,290 Shepherd is one that has given his life for you. 515 00:38:12,630 --> 00:38:17,240 Life gets busy and as we get older we actually get more and 516 00:38:17,250 --> 00:38:21,720 more independent and we try and work things out in our own 517 00:38:21,730 --> 00:38:26,090 strength, in our own wisdom. But the Lord Jesus said I am the 518 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:30,490 Good Shepherd. My sheep hear my voice, and I 519 00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:37,150 know them and they follow me. Today we have a choice to hear, 520 00:38:37,980 --> 00:38:42,570 to listen and to follow. As sheep, we are very needy, 521 00:38:42,860 --> 00:38:45,900 very vulnerable, very fearful. We need a shepherd. 522 00:38:47,060 --> 00:38:50,870 That shepherd is the Good Shepherd, the one who gave his 523 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:57,250 life for the sheep. Let's pray, Father, we thank you 524 00:38:57,260 --> 00:39:02,740 for Your word, which reminds us of this one who is the great I 525 00:39:02,750 --> 00:39:07,690 am the door and the Good Shepherd. 526 00:39:08,020 --> 00:39:18,160 And today, as weak and helpless, lost and strain, struggling even 527 00:39:18,170 --> 00:39:21,170 burdened and confused, we turned to you. 528 00:39:22,170 --> 00:39:30,240 We run to hear your voice. We pray today that as as your 529 00:39:30,250 --> 00:39:32,900 people, we will hear your voice and follow you. 530 00:39:32,970 --> 00:39:37,960 But if there's anyone here who is lost, who is without you, who 531 00:39:37,970 --> 00:39:42,520 is like that little lamb, unable to even raise its head, Lord, I 532 00:39:42,530 --> 00:39:47,700 pray that your voice will reach and save, will rescue and help. 533 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:52,140 And for those of us who are on the road and following you, 534 00:39:52,190 --> 00:39:55,440 Lord, may we follow Michael more closely. 535 00:39:55,490 --> 00:39:59,330 May we hear you more clearly. May we love you more, Lord. 536 00:40:00,060 --> 00:40:04,570 As we have sung today of their Amazing Grace, we thank you for 537 00:40:04,580 --> 00:40:08,190 your love, thank you for your protection, for your provision, 538 00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:11,430 and we look to you and give thanks in Jesus name.