I had a dear friend of mine who was so good about recognizing the works of the Lord in her life. She had such wonderful eyes to see the Lord moving in things I never would have thought to look. She called the the winks of God. These were the little things that would line up where she saw the Lord just showing off. It would be things like she read a first that really impacted her that day and then ...

Jesus calls for the Jews around Him to look upon His works and let those testify of who Jesus says He is. If you believe in His works, then you will also believe that He is who He says He is.I am sure many of us have encountered people who are all talk. They can put on a nice face and have everyone convinced that they are someone spectacular. But when you get to their works, the evidence testifies...

There is an essential theme that flows throughout the entirety of this section. In fact, it is the same theme that has been there throughout the whole last 10 chapters. Did you catch it?Believe.This same theme continues to play out in John's narrative. Those that belong to Jesus believe upon Him. You will be of His flock if you believe. There is not a load of works attached to that statement. It i...

There is a certain ironic connection going on in the history of this event. If we remember, this is going on during the Feast of Dedication. Part of what this commemorates is a deliverance from Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Now I want to take a moment to take a sympathetic stances for the Pharisees. They most certainly were wrong, but let us think how they thought for a moment.The coming of the Messiah ...

To begin this section, Scripture tells us that it is now the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem and it was winter. This is drawing a distinction between the previous section that was taking place in a different time frame. It should be read and understood then that the event here is entirely distinct.As Jesus walked in the temple, the Jewish leaders surrounded Him and pressed Him on a con...

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not belie...

Pray that you would learn to discern the voice of the Lord. Pray the same for your brothers and sisters in Christ. We, as the people of God, are to follow His instruction. Pray for the lost, that they would be found.......

Many of the weeks that we have gone through John, I have shared about how I am taking a step back from distractions. I believe this has been instrumental in developing my relationship with the Lord. Many view it as radical, and I would agree. However, I believe radical is necessary for fostering a strong relationship with the Lord. Many of the alternative voices in my life have been silenced. It i...

There are a lot of voices out there in our world. There are so many things to follow. We have a multitude of ideologies pushed to us constantly through our phones, media, and entertainment. Everything is calling for us to follow it and we must discern the truth. They are all counterfeits. Part of being a sheep of the Good Shepherd is to know His voice. With all these other voices, it is hard to di...

Jesus, in describing Himself in contrast to the Pharisees, highlights a third role which the reader naturally places themselves in. That would be the role of the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.-John 10:14The sheep knows the shepherd. This gives a certain responsibility to the reader. It would call into question what they are following. Are they followi...

The language used in this passage is very reminiscent of some Old Testament passages that would have drawn the readers attention. Passages like Jeremiah 23 condemns the shepherds that have scattered the sheep and poorly cared for the flock. Ezekiel 34 is a passage that stands out significantly with the language that Jesus is using. There is the condemnation of the shepherds who are failing and how...

Jesus continues in His discourse concerning the shepherd analogy. Drawing this critical distinction, Jesus is highlighting how the Pharisees fail to care for people. They are a counterfeit while He is the real deal. The continuation of the analogy into this section emphasizes that all the more.A comparison is made between a good shepherd and a hireling. A good shepherd was markedly different from ...

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known...

If you who claim Christ have enemies around you seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, then your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ do as well. Pray for one another. Pray for the church. Pray for your pastors. Pray for your bible study leaders. Pray that the Spirit of the Lord would lead and guide them. And lastly, pray that you yourself would be submitted to the Lord in all things.......

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lac...