"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand."
On the eve of a new year - whose hands are you in?
Examples - manager, boxer, marriage
How many hands are there to be in?
Sinners in the hands of satan
Sheep in the hands of the Shepherd
Sons and daughters in the hands of the Father
Sinners in the hands of satan
Jesus says "My sheep hear My voice"
Sin is of satan
Isa 14:12-15
The fallen angel took hold of the human race from this moment on
He entered the Garden of Eden
Gen 3:1
Adam and Eve sinned (v6)
If you are not a Christian - you are under the power of satan
2 Cor 4:4 - "the god of this age"
John 12:31 - "the ruler of this world"
Eph 2:2 - "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience"
John 8:34 - if you are not converted, you are a slave to sin and in the hands of satan
Sinners in the hands of satan
Sheep in the hands of the Shepherd
"My sheep hear My voice"
The Shepherd is listening and looking
He will find you
The Shepherd
He comes seeking the lost - Luke 19:10
Luke 15:4-7 - He goes after the lost sheep
Will heaven rejoice at your salvation - this morning?
Scarred/marked hands - John 10:11
John 15:13 - He lays down His life
1 Pet 3:18 - Jesus' scarred hands bring us to heaven
Jesus receives all those given Him (v29)
The value of a sinner is seen in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ
A great number placed in Jesus' hands
Example
None can be taken from His hands (v28)
Shepherds generally had a bad reputation (v8)
Jesus is completely different (v10-11)
Quote
The sheep are secure (v28)
In His hands
Leap for life - search for the Good Shepherd
Sons and daughters in the hands of the Father
v29-30
Not just the Shepherd's hands but the Father's hands too
Double security
Personal example
The love of the Father makes our love look sparse
It outshines our own love for our families
We can call Him "Abba, Father"
Example
Rom 8:14-15
Isa 49:15-16
Lyrics from song by Augustus Toplady - A debtor to mercy alone
Closing Remarks
Whose hands are you in?
How are you going to begin the new year?
Call upon God - be a sheep in the hands of the Shepherd
Whose hands are you in for 2024 and the rest of your life?
