HE IS “THE DOOR” TO  SUSTENANCE…SATISFACTION;

“…and will go in and out and find pasture…” -{John 10:9}

The sheep “will go in and out,” about their business,  it speaks of the freedom He provides. Free from bondage, free to follow Him and safe because of the Shepherd, who provides for them so they have no unmet needs, and who makes them lay down “…in green pastures.” He is their Security! “…and find pasture.” He provides SUSTENANCE  for them. They can lay down in safety and feed on His provision for them. For the follower of Christ, HE IMPARTS  Sustenance, what will sustain them, satisfy them, nourish them, namely, Himself, His Word. Unlike the goal of the thief, “who comes to kill, steal and destroy.”

“If a thief came at night and climbed the wall, he would have a difficulty getting the sheep out willingly because the sheep don’t know his voice. And so very often, they would slit the throat of the sheep in the fold and throw it over the wall.  They knew that.  They knew the kind of work that robbers did.  They would take the wool and then eat the sheep.  The thief comes to kill, comes to destroy after he has stolen.  On the other hand”-{Mac Arthur}. Such were the religious leaders of Jesus day, peddling a false message and fleecing the people of truth, and the way to GOD, they were spiritual thieves and robbers, seeking their own selfish gain at the expense of others!

We have a cruel evil enemy who seeks our destruction, Peter writes, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, …”-{1 Peter 5:8-9}. The word “devil” means ” slanderer, accuser,” {diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man’s spiritual interest ( Job 1:6 ;Revelation 2:10 ; Zechariah 3:1 ). He is called also “the accuser of the brethren” ( Revelation 12:10 ). He slanders God to us and he accuses us constantly.  He seeks to “devour” us, “kill…steal…destroy..” his intent is evil for he is evil devoid of love unlike the Good Shepherd. We must not be ignorant of his schemes, and this is where we must go to God’s Word and take up the sword of the Spirit- which is the Word of God and use it when slanderous and accusations come to our mind, for the attack is on our mind to attack the character of GOD ultimately!  God again provides for us, His Spirit to empower us {Read Phil 2:13 NLT} and His Word. “…take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”-{Read Eph 6:16-17}. The enemy injects thoughts and uses people and false messages, systems, to lead others astray, with false hopes of “peace” when there is none;

“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is greedy for gain,
And from the prophet even to the priest
Everyone deals falsely.
 “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.”- {Jeremiah 6:13-14}

Some offer “legalism”which is joyless, loveless, peace-less, graceless, because it is Christ-less! It substitutes love with lists, to try to appeal to GOD with self works and worth as the Pharisee who went to pray and told God how good he was and went through a list of his works to merit god’s approval of him, Self works rather than the work of Christ alone and His gift of grace to save and sustain {Eph 2:8-9}. Believers are not averse to falling back into these old ways as is seen in the Book Of Galatians where Paul confronts the believers who have embraced a false gospel! a “gospel” of self works rather than the Gracious work of Jesus Christ! The Pharisees, “SCAM ARTISTS”- seeking to scam people for their own good and making them twice sons of Hell. And those in Galatians  leading God’s people astray were deceived,

As in John 10 the “Thief” is a religious person, his ministry is plundering and  peddling for the soul’s of people for selfish gain! The Ministry of the Thief  and The Ministry of the Good Shepherd are in complete opposition in their Motivations; How unlike they Good Shepherd they are!

The Thief seeks to Take Life

The Shepherd  Gives life

The Shepherd Protects Life

God gives us His Word for SUSTENANCE to nourish and feed our souls; Just as what we eat must with good  nutrients be able to nourish, energize, satisfy, strengthen our bodies in the physical realm. For example a rock cannot nourish our bodies but fruit can. So for our soul there must be healthy “food,” full of nutrient goodness, that is beneficial to us. The Scriptures compares food and drink to His Word as a picture for us to understand we need spiritual nourishment to grow. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”-{James 1:17}; “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. “–{John 6:35}. “I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” .'”-{John 6:48-51}.

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”-{Matt 4:4};”How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”-{ Psalm 119;103}; “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, SO THAT by it you may grow up in your salvation,  now that you have tasted that the Lord is good ” -{1 Peter 2:2-3}. “…nourished on the truths of the faith  “-{1 Tim 4:6} “Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart…” -{Jer 15:16}; “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.“-{John 6:63}

As we take in spiritual food, it strengthens, sustains, satisfies us, it is God’s SUSTENANCE to us, provided by God for our spiritual good  for our soul, to be strengthened, enlightened, empowered to know Him better and live the Christian life. In the physical realm if we go long without food or eat junk food, our body becomes weaker and weaker, so in the Spiritual inner person, if we do not Feed on Him, His Word we will be weak, immature, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”-{Heb 5:14}. His Word is compared to Food and Drink…SUSTENANCE, given to nourish and STRENGTHEN US SPIRITUALLY. As we partake we grow! Taking in His Word,”Drink and Food,” are not optional but necessity for the spiritual well-being of His people. a steady healthy diet of His Word is what is needed! “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”-{Col 3:16}. We are to be “WEALTHY” in His Word. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”-[Psalm 1:2}.

Spiritual nourishment, Sustenance is supplied and found in Jesus the Shepherd! 

The thief is that, a thief, he takes, he seeks destruction, while the Shepherd provides deliverance and dispenses what is needed to sustain and satisfy the sheep.

“…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”-{v9-10}

“The Greek word for ‘abundance,’ perissos, has a mathematical meaning and generally denotes a surplus…The abundant life is above all the contented life, in which our contentment is based upon the fact that God is equal to every emergency and is able to supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.” (Boice).

The Greek word for “abundance,” perissos,…and generally denotes a surplus. It is translated “remains.”  It is illustrated by the twelve baskets  of food that were left over after Jesus fed the five thousand.  The picture is that there was more than enough, there was a surplus, more than enough. There were left overs and this is after everyone had been fed and “satisfied!” Not mere portion that left people hungry and wanting more but “satisfied,” And there were still more left over! – Our English word “abundance” comes from the two Latin words “ab”and “undare” which mean “to rise in waves” or “to overflow.”  One wave after another – a constant flow – upon the Shore –

“Whereas Jesus Christ has come to impart life to the dead, even though they live. He has come to overpower this present darkness, 1:5, to give “grace upon grace,” 1:16, to “baptize in the Holy Spirit,” 1:33, to open up the way to heaven, 1:51, to provide incomparable wine, 2:10, to impart a second birth, 3:3, to substitute the serpent’s venom with eternal life, 3:14-16, to “speak the words of God,” 3:34, to bestow “living water,” 4:10, to give life to the dead, 5:21, 25, to mediate spiritual manna from heaven, 6:32-33, 51, to satisfy the thirsty, 7:37, to give light to those in darkness, 8:12, to give sight to the spiritually blind, 9:35-38. Is this not an abundance, a fullness, a spiritual cornucopia or horn of plenty such as has never been presented by any other man?” -{ anonymous}.

Abundant life is contentment In Jesus, with Jesus, because He satisfies, meets the deep deep needs of our spiritual life! Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through  Him who gives me strength.”-{Phil 4:11-13}. The word “content” speaks of sufficiency, enough, with the implication of satisfaction, and the secret to contentment he tells us is found in the Lord Jesus!

Among the reasons Jesus came was to provide life, not mere existence but a quality of life, contented, satisfied with Him and that overflows. Note in Psalm 23 some of His provision, “The LORD is my Shepherd… I shall not lack, HE makes me lay down in green pastures, HE lead me…beside still waters…” Note,  sheep will not lay down unless it is secure and the Good Shepherd does this HE PROVIDES safety and satisfaction. He is the “BREAD of Life”  He is the heart’s Sustenance, Sustains, Satisfies, with Himself and the life He imparts to us!  His gift is not just a new quality of life but abundance it overflows…love, joy, peace, hope, new desires, new ambitions, new goals. “New creations in Christ.” We have a  new life, God the Father causing us to be “BORN AGAIN to a LIVING HOPE” through His resurrection.{1 Peter 1:3}. His “grace is sufficient” for us, even in the hard times the word “Sufficient” means “enough” with the implication of “satisfaction!” Jesus through Grace,… His kind and empowering is enough and SATISFIES! -{2 Cor :12-9-10}

Jesus promises “REST”- “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” -{Matthew 11:28-30}. Jesus Imparts PEACE – “I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. “-{John 14;27 NLT }. Jesus imparts JOY – “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!“-{John 15:11 NLT}. Jesus imparts LOVE – ” And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.”- {1 Thess 3:12}. Jesus Imparts GRACE– “ For of His fullness we have all received, and Grace upon grace “-{John 1;16} GRACE THAT ABOUNDS – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” -{2 Cor 9:8}. HOPE ABOUNDS- “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “-{Romans 15:13}. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.“-{John 6;47}; “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. “- {John 17:3};”God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. “-{1 Cor 1:9}

Jesus is SUSTENANCE. He Nourishes and Strengthens the soul. He SATISFIES, as the Psalmist said, “TASTE and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!”-{Psalm 34:8 NLT}.

“…Pastures..” and “abundant life” is not speaking of abundance of material things but an abundance to satisfy the heart, the soul,the person, who has a personal relationship with the LORD as their Shepherd, “The LORD is my Shepherd I shall not want {lack}”-{Psalm 23:1}. All the spiritual needs of the heart He promises to meet! SATISFACTION that is internal, constant to all who enter through The Door of Jesus Christ!

JESUS is ” The Door,” To SALVATION

JESUS Is “The Door, ” To SECURITY

JESUS Is “The Door,” To  SUSTENANCE, SATISFACTION!

Jesus is your Answer and the answer of all people. What motivation to worship and follow Him and to share with others who are seeking blindly for “Something” to Satisfy them, give them Security and rescue deliver, Save them- This is found in  A PERSON – The LORD JESUS CHRIST…. our GOOD SHEPHERD!

In JESUS we find He is “THE DOOR” To SALVATION, SECURITY, SUSTENANCE, SATISFACTION.