Hello I Am | The Gateway To Life | Pastor Vanessa

John 10: 7 “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

In the ancient world shepherds would bring their sheep into sheepfolds at night to keep them safe. The structures had no door so shepherds would sleep with their sheep and would lay down at the entrance. The shepherds became the gate to protect the sheep from robbers who would come to steal them or animals who would come to eat them. In this illustration Jesus says that we are like sheep. Defenseless and vulnerable, and He is the one that stands as our protector against the enemy in our lives. He is the gate for the sheep.

What is the purpose of a gate? Primarily, it’s to keep the wrong things out. If Jesus has placed himself as the door to our life, that means He then becomes the filter through which all things must pass through. But Jesus only protects those who “come in” through Him. If we do not surrender to God’s ways, we will not receive his protection.

So the question is, does our life pass the Jesus filter? Are the things that we are intentionally putting in our life bringing glory and honor to God? If they’re not, it’s our responsibility to follow God’s commands and get rid of them. 

The purpose of a gate is to keep the wrong things out. But it’s also to keep the right things in. God’s blessings live inside God’s boundaries. The protection and provision of God live inside His parameters. There are good pastures waiting for us when we live within God’s commands. (see verse 9)

Ultimately, we can trust that God’s commands are for our good because the enemy came to take, but Jesus came to give. The enemy will use any tactic that he can to steal our joy, kill our dreams, and destroy our future. But Jesus came to give us hope, and life and freedom in abundance. We can trust that He is fighting our battles, protecting and providing for us because He laid down his life so that we could have ours.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some of the enemies in your life right now? How have you seen Jesus' protection against them?
2. What are some things in your life that you KNOW are not bringing glory to God? What is stopping you from getting rid of them?
3. Be honest: Do you believe that God’s commands are for your good? Why or why not?
4. How has following God’s commands changed your life for the better?

PRAYER POINT

God, help me to trust that your commands are for my protection and provision