“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; no man is able to pluck them out of my hand.

I and my father are one.” John 10:27-30

Such comforting words, our souls hear him as our Shepherd, we feel his leading and his guidance protects and leads us to better places and also discourages us against taking paths that would lead to our harm or destruction.

That still small voice, that gentle feeling in your heart and sometimes that twinge of dread or uncertainty that alerts us to dangers unseen, these are some of the ways that he leads us and as his children we carefully follow his leading.

Often, we later discover the reason why we have felt led to change plans or take another route and realize that little nudge prevented from stumbling into calamity,

With the understanding that he will lead us, and he will guide, and he will always go before us to protect our way brings not only comfort but peace.

Notice that he twice promised us that no man would take us from his hand, he gave us this assurance because there are many voices in the world that will try to lure you away and lure you into those paths of destruction.

1 Timothy 4:1: ” Now the Spirit speaketh expressly (divine revelation) that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

This is how people can be led astray, they can never be taken away, once we have committed to God, we are his and only by our free will do we walk away, no one has the power to take us away from him.

Here are a few points to remember as a checklist when you may question is something of God or from God.

#1. God will never depart from his word, if actions or views are contrary to his word or not found there at all, it is not from him.

#2, Peace, some choices can be uncomfortable, but you will have peace in your spirit about your decision.

#3. The absent of peace, if something looks right, sounds right but just leaves you with a gnawing sense in the pit of stomach. This is letting you know to not proceed and if that is coming from a person, be very aware and avoid that contact.

You may have heard some say, “I just can’t get any peace about it” when trying to make an important decision, the reason is that there is no peace because that is not the right path for them.

Always pray about it, if it’s just anxiety over an important decision, which is perfectly normal, prayer will relieve it but if you pray and ask the Lord’s will about it and still have that uncertainty after you have prayed, that will be your answer.

Be careful what and who you listen too, many a lamb have been wounded, hurt, and scattered by heavy handed ministers wielding swords in the wrong direction and many more have fallen prey to the spiritual wolves whose true agendas are in our verse above,

Trust your Shepherd and follow only his voice and use this as a comparison test for extra clarity.

James 3:1-17: ” Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated (accepted and understood) full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy,”

Jesus is kind, merciful, gentle and his word is simple, beautiful, and holy and it uplifts, edifies, encourages and gives hope.

It is also correct that there are judgments and judgments to be pronounced as he desires but those judgments come through prophets and are directly addressed to the wicked of the world and against the ungodly in the world, and those judgments were never intended to be used as spiritual food for his flock.

Trust your Shepherd and follow him, rest in his peace and flourish in his freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (freedom),”

Let that freedom be yours today!

Love & Peace! to you today!

NBJ 2024/Rev. N. Brown Johnson