John 10:14b devotional

Some time ago for Christmas my wife had given me a devotional book by Charles Spurgeon called “Morning and Evening” (I recommend this book to all). Now over the last year I have been attempting to write devotionals on specific scriptures the Lord has given to me. I tell you there are times when I sit down to write that my hand can’t even keep up with my mind. Other times (which is more often then the first) I find myself sitting and meditating on one passage of scripture for hours. But nothing comes out, an hour goes, and still nothing comes out (my wife has come to terms with the fact that I am crazy in this way) an hour and a half goes still nothing comes out. By this point I usually get frustrated and turn in for the night and as I come to bed my wife asks me well what did you write, (I tell her well I wrote out the scripture very nicely on the paper and maybe one or two sentence’s, and then she laughs) Please note: her laughs are in love (at least I think they are). So to make a long story short I wanted to share this devotional I wrote about 3 months ago on John 10:14b. I did use a couple of quotes one is from Spurgeon and the other is from Manton, you will find them italicized.

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, And am known by My own. John 10:14b

It is to those who have received Him, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (being born again) that the Master will call His own. The Lord knows those who are His, and to His own He calls by name and leads them out. We should not be content to just know of Him, because it is through a knowing relationship with our Lord that we our brought to a absolute certainty of our place in the sheepfold. (“Faith must be a confident knowledge; not “I think” I hope” but rather “I know” is the language of faith”1st). We know the voice of our redeemer, so let us not be swayed to follow the world or be conformed to this world which should be a stranger to us. Rather when we hear (“His voice & feel His holy presence let us with out hesitation follow Him, and follow Him closely”2nd). Beloved, if you have found yourself treading the miry clay, if you have found your self swallowed up by the seas of desperation, if you have found your self lost amid a world of questionable uncertainties, let this truth not escape you, for He Himself has said, (“I will never leave you nor forsake you”3rd). Paul tells us (“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecutions, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword 4th)? There is nothing! But with out this truth of being known with a knowing and personal relationship with our Lord, with out that we are lost and helpless amid a dying & hurting world. And if Christ in not found in you this day I plead with you to look unto Jesus and flee to Him at once.

1. (Manton).

2. (Spurgeon).

3. (Hebrews 13:5).

4. (Romans 8:35).

Jason Villalobos.

The Pulling Down Of Strongholds.

PAUL TELLS US that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.

We must sharply grapple the false doctrine, driving the sharp hook of truth between its joints; we must clearly understand the error, and study the Word of God, so as to be able to controvert it. Then unitedly with earnest tug of prayer and faithful testimony, we must throw down piece by piece the mischievous system of falsehood, be it never so great or high. Stone by stone the wall comes down, it is long and arduous work to destroy error; many hands and hearts must unite, and then with perseverance all must labor and wait. Tracts, sermons, lectures, speeches, prayers, all must be ropes with which to drag the bulwarks down. God's blessing rests on the faithful endeavors of those who overturn the castles of error, and though their work may not speedily succeed, the great result is sure. A Reformation is as much needed now as in Luther's day, and by God's grace we shall have it, if we trust in him and publish his truth. The cry is, "Overturn, overturn, overturn, till He shall come whose right it is."

Are you doing service in the Lord's war, which he is now waging? Infidelity is still mighty, do you contend for God and for his Word? Sin still reigns over millions, do you seek their salvation? If not, why not? Are you yourself on the Lord's side? Oh may the grace of God lead you to trust in the great blood shedding of Jesus, by which he has put away sin; and then may his love constrain you to aid in dragging down the ramparts of evil.

C.H Spurgeon.