His sheep know His voice

Jesus only calls those sheep whose names have been written down since before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4). Those sheep know His voice and listen to them. Those sheep follow Him out of the sheepfold and into green pastures. He doesn't put a general call into the sheepfold and wait to see who will come out. He knows them by name, and He calls them.

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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:1-4)

John 10:1–2. Verses 1–5 describe a morning shepherding scene. A shepherd enters through a gate into a walled enclosure which has several flocks in one sheep pen. The enclosure, with stone walls, is guarded at night by a doorkeeper to prevent thieves and beasts of prey from entering. Anyone who would climb the wall would do it for no good purpose.
John 10:3–4. By contrast, the shepherd has a right to enter the sheep pen. The watchman opens the gate, and the shepherd comes in to call his own sheep by name (out from the other flocks). Shepherds knew their sheep well and gave them names. As sheep hear the sound of their owner’s familiar voice, they go to him. He leads them out of the pen till his flock is formed. Then he goes out toward the fields with the sheep following him. 
John 10:5–6. If a stranger enters the pen, the sheep run away from him because his voice is not familiar. The point of this figure of speech consists in how a shepherd forms his flock. People come to God because He calls them (cf. vv. 16, 27; Rom. 8:28, 30). Their proper response to His call is to follow Him (cf. John 1:43; 8:12; 12:26; 21:19, 22). But this spiritual lesson was missed by those who heard Jesus, even though they certainly understood the local shepherd/sheep relationship. In their blindness, they could not see Jesus as the Lord who is the Shepherd (cf. Ps. 23).
John 10:7–9. Jesus then developed the shepherd/sheep figure of speech in another way. After a shepherd’s flock has been separated from the other sheep, he takes them to pasture. Near the pasture is an enclosure for the sheep. The shepherd takes his place in the doorway or entrance and functions as a door or gate. The sheep can go out to the pasture in front of the enclosure, or if afraid, they can retreat into the security of the enclosure. The spiritual meaning is that Jesus is the only Gate by which people can enter into God’s provision for them.
When Jesus said, All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, He referred to those leaders of the nation who cared not for the spiritual good of the people but only for themselves. Jesus the Shepherd provides security for His flock from enemies (whoever enters through Me will be saved, or “kept safe”). He also provides for their daily needs (the sheep come in and go out, and find pasture).
Source: Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 309–310). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The People's Bible Encyclopedia, Charles Barnes

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Comments

  1. Your photography is gorgeous, Elizabeth! Thank you for posting it. Here is the link to a You-tube video that shows a "test" done in a Norwegian farmer's sheep field. Three strangers to the farmer's sheep walked to the side of the fence, individually one at a time and called to the sheep. They did not respond at all. Then the farmer himself, using the very same words, went to the fence and called them. One by one the sheep began to lift up their heads, turn to listen, and then gradually at first, but then faster, began to run to the farmer, their shepherd. They knew his voice and came when he called, but not when either of the three strangers called. The whole flock just ran fast to him! The video is copyrighted so I can't send it; but it will be well worth your time
    to go to the link and watch this short 7-minute video that so very aptly illustrates your post today and the Scripture supporting it. Here's the link. You will need to copy and
    past it into your browser in order to view it:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_PwPzra_w

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  2. TO Ruby Isaac and to whom it may concern,


    I started listening to the link that you posted regarding the “sheep hearing the great Shepherd’s voice”. After a few moments of listening to the fellow preaching/teaching, I discovered that he did not sound just right - after checking him out further I discovered that he is a “Word Of Faith” false preacher that believes in raising the dead, and many other abominable lies! See the link below.

    Case in point - True Christians can spot a false Shepherd, just as I JUST DID!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wommack


    With delight I NOW WARN OTHERS TO BEWARE!

    Rick :: > /
    Metro Atlanta

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    1. Thank you Rick, and I apologize. I usually check out links first, then post. This time I was running short of time and posted first then promised myself to check the link later. Of course I forgot. I'm sorry to expose you and others to his false teaching. And also, the link did NOT bring us to a 7 minute cute sheep experiment, but an hour long heresy-fest by Andrew Wommack. Again I apologize. Thank you for warning the readers and the commenter.

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  3. Absolutely right, Jesus calls His sheep into His fold, the ones who have been chosen by the Father and given to Him before the foundation of the world. And no others are allowed entry, for they cannot choose to come into the fold by choice of free will. God is a God who chooses...and, hence, rejects as well. His sovereignty and choices of individuals for His purposes is stated throughout scripture...it is a continuous message. He has the right, for He is the Creator. Yet the concept is vehemently fought and rejected. People will not conceive or accept such a God. But that is exactly what makes Him magnificent, powerful and glorious beyond description. And once the Holy Spirit reveals that truth to you, there you will find rest and security in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross to redeem His sheep. Indeed, IT IS FINISHED!

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  4. The pastor at the church I attend. Spoke on this very text yesterday (Sunday). He mentioned several of the same things in his message. It was like hearing again. Best of all a revelation of Our Shepherd I've not had before. Great post
    Thanks
    Bob

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    1. thank you so much Bob! That was very encouraging to me.

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  5. To Elizabeth, Rick, and everyone else -- I am so very sorry that my attempt to share
    a delightful, short little video illustrating that sheep hear and follow their master's voice turned out so badly! I, too apologize for the error of how this false Word Faith preacher video popped up at the link I sent. I do not know how this happened; and rest assured that I would never knowingly or deliberately recommend listening to
    such deceit. Thank you very much Rick for warning us to BEWARE. I went back to check this out and was amazed to see that what was presented at that link was not at all what I had seen and what I had intended to share. I'm going to try again to share the same You-tube video at a different link--but it is about two minutes, not seven, as previously stated. Elizabeth please verify that this time it is as I described before--a video of a "test" in a Norwegian sheep farmer's field where three strangers call to his sheep (and the sheep pay no attention); but when the owner farmer himself calls the sheep using the same words, they all come running after jerking up their heads one by one in recognition of their true master's voice. Try this other link: [Note: Removed for the reason explained below]

    FOLLOW-UP COMMENT: Well guess what! I typed in the other link as indicated, but when I tried to send it, a barrier message popped up saying "URL contains illegal characters", and it would not send. I really would like to share that 2-minute sheep test, but since it is prevented from being sent, the only other way for you to see it
    would be go directly to You-tube and search for it there using key words such as or put those or similar key words into a search engine and look for it that way. Again, I am so sorry and ask you all to forgive me, hoping that you can find the REAL video I wanted to share. God bless.

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    1. Ruby a reader named Jacco from the Netherlands commented with the link. It's an incredible video! I posted Jacco's comment and then made a separate post with just the video and the John 10:27 verse about the sheep knowing his voice. Thanks so much Ruby (and Jacco for finding it). I appreciate it so much! It gave me goosebumps!

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  6. Elizabeth, Ruby, and to whom it may concern,

    Elizabeth, Thank you for your apology, but as far as I am concerned - I did not feel that you owed me one. I believe that you have long ago demonstrated that you are a real saint zealous for the UNadulterated pure TRUTH of our great God and Lord Jesus Christ! Besides this is a family effort that the Lord God has set in motion. Thank God for all the Lord’s key personnel in place! Praise Him NOW and Forever!

    Ruby, back when I was posting online extremely heavy all over this nation and selective parts of the world on the topic of“ A Divine Indictment”, strange things were going on! I am not surprised by the mishap on the posting link - nor do I plan to be off guard on any other possibilities that the underworld uses through their pawns.

    I am glad that you have stepped up to the plate in setting the record straight! Thank you!

    Rick : ~ )
    Metro Atlanta

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  7. Dear Ruby,

    I think you meant this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e45dVgWgV64

    Jacco Pippel
    The Netherlands

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