1. Jesus Is The Good Shepherd

a) Jesus Is The Door - Jesus used a parable in John 10 to demonstrate that He is the good shepherd and His church is the sheep. In John 10:1-9 it says "1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Notice what Jesus says in verses 7-9: " 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." We can have salvation only through Jesus Christ.

b) The Church Follows Jesus Christ And Knows His Voice - The church in this parable is the sheep. In John 10 :2-4 Jesus says "2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." Verses 22-27 show Jesus talking to the religious Jews of that day. In John 10:22-27 it says "22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" Jesus told them they were not His sheep. He said "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me." If we belong to Jesus then we know His voice. (For more information about developing your relationship with Jesus Christ see the March/April 2000 edition of the Prophetic Messenger newsletter and read the article titled "Are You Prepared For Worship?")

c) The Church Will Not Follow The Voice Of Strangers - Jesus said in John 10:5 "5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." Jesus warned us in many passages of false prophets. In Matthew 7:15-23 it says "15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." In Matthew 24:24 Jesus says "24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." And also in Luke 16:14-15 it says "14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." We are living the days of the falling away of the church or great apostasy. The prophet Amos said in Amos 8:11 "11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:"

2. Jesus Is The Only Way To Salvation
Jesus said in John 10:1,9-10 "1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber....9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Jesus Christ is the door which leads to salvation and all the other ways or false religions lead to hell. (For more information see the September/October 2002 edition of the Prophetic Messenger newsletter and read the article titled "Hell Is Not The Final Destination") In John 14:5-6 Jesus said "5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus said in John 10:28-29 "28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." In Hebrews 5:8-9 it says "8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" In Acts 4:12 it says "12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

3. Jesus Is Coming Back For A Church Without Spot Or Wrinkle
Jesus Christ told us a parable about ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. In Matthew 25:1-13 it says "1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." We see that five were wise and five were foolish. We see that these virgins are a type of Christian. In verses 8 and 9 it says "8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." Notice how the foolish tried to get some oil from the wise but could not. This is a very important passage because it shows that no one else can get us into the kingdom of God. We can only get in by making sure that our own relationship with Jesus Christ is right. In Ezekiel 14:14, 20 it says " 14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God....20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness". In Matthew 25:10-12 it says "10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Those that were ready went to be with Jesus Christ. In I Thessalonians 5:23 it says "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Order Of God. Read this article in the next issue of The Prophetic Messenger.

As Christians if we want to live in victory and if we want to be able to share the Word Of God with others we must know the Word of God ourselves. Let's see what the Bible says about this. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11. " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." John 8:31. We encourage you to put the following scriptures in your heart: Isaiah 66:18, Acts 1:11, II Thessalonians 3:3, I Samuel 12:24, Psalm 118:14, I John 5:5, Deuteronomy 29:29, Hebrews 10:19, Isaiah 12:6, Galatians 1:10. Use only the Old King James version of the Holy Bible. (If you have any questions about this please see the book New Age Bible Versions, by G.A. Riplinger ©1993, ISBN 0-9635845-0-2.)

We invite you to worship with us on Sundays! Our church is called The Ingathering Fellowship. We meet at 9400 NE 72nd Ave, Vancouver, WA (The Barberton Grange). Sunday School is from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Church service begins at 1:45 pm. If you would like a map, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Mysteries From The Word Of God Ministries, P.O. Box 6391, Vancouver, WA 98668.